bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aumentación ligamentaria como tratamiento de lesión parcial de ligamento cruzado anterior con autoinjerto hueso-tendón-hueso: Presentación de caso clínico
Authors: Dávila-Godínez Gustavo E. , la Torre Mauricio Zárate-de , Acuña-Tovar Marco , Osorio-Gómez Natasha , Bolaños-Cacho-Casillas Daniela
Published: December 2024

La rotura del ligamento cruzado anterior es de las lesiones de rodilla más frecuentes en pacientes jóvenes con alta demanda funcional, repercutiendo de manera negativa en su actividad deportiva. El cuadro clínico se caracteriza por el antecedente de traumatismo con aparición de edema, dolor, limitación funcional y sensación de inestabilidad articular. Existen diversas maniobras clínicas y hallazgos en la resonancia magnética sugestivas de su lesión, aunque la artroscopia sigue considerado el método diagnóstico definitivo. Los objetivos del tratamiento están orientados en la rehabilitación y recuperación funcional óptima, el retorno deportivo temprano, así como en la prevención de desarrollo daño articular que condicione un desgaste prematuro de la rodilla. En el contexto de roturas parciales, no existe un consenso acerca de la preservación del fascículo remanente o la reconstrucción total del ligamento. En cuanto a la elección de la técnica quirúrgica se ha preferido la reconstrucción anatómica, sobre la elección del injerto se ha optado por la selección de autoinjerto, aunque existen diversas opciones terapéuticas válidas basadas en las características de cada paciente. En esta revisión se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino de 36 años con diagnóstico de rotura parcial del ligamento cruzado anterior con integridad del fascículo posterolateral, posterior a presentar un mecanismo de lesión de carga axial con la rodilla en flexión, clínicamente se presenta con dolor, limitación a la movilidad e inestabilidad articular. Debido a las características clínicas e imagenológicas del paciente se decidió realizar una artroscopia como método diagnóstico terapéutico. Con base en los hallazgos artroscópicos se optó por realizar una aumentación ligamentaria con uso de autoinjerto hueso-tendón patelar -hueso, esto debido a las ventajas mecánicas de la situación anatómica de los túneles óseos que ofrece la técnica quirúrgica, así como las ventajas biológicas, como la preservación de la propiocepción articular e integración ósea y funcionales de la selección del injerto.
Evaluating the Impact of Improvements in a System-Wide Peer Support Program for Pediatric Critical Care Providers
Authors: Wolf Michael , George Roshan , Smith Kathleen , Rodriguez Zahidee , Gleason Michelle , Border William
Published: December 2024

Health care providers are at risk of emotional distress and Second Victim Syndrome (SVS). We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of improvements in a system-wide peer support program in reducing emotional distress after an unanticipated adverse event, poor patient outcome, medical error, or patient-related injury. The Second Victim Experience and Support Tool was sent to all intensive care (intensive care unit [ICU]) providers (n = 900) in our health care system. The current survey results were compared with the same survey from 2020. The period between the surveys included increased peer supporters and awareness of peer support programs, rapid deployment of unit-based support, and the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. The response rate in 2022 increased to 40% (n = 364) from 28% (n = 266) in 2020. Respondents did not differ in age, gender, home unit, role, or years of experience. The number of providers who experienced psychological distress (42% to 33%; p = 0.02) and physical distress (26% to 17%; p = 0.01) decreased between surveys. Significant decreases occurred primarily in nurses and respiratory therapists. Consideration of turnover increased from 25% to 33% (p = 0.01). Desired support did not change between survey periods with “the ability to take time away” (74% and 73%), “a peaceful location to recover” (64% and 70%), and “a respected peer to discuss the details of what happened” (83% and 78%) being most desired. We demonstrate results consistent with the positive impact of a peer support program on staff and provider emotional distress and SVS in our pediatric health care system. A multidisciplinary peer support program is crucial to staff well-being and resilience in high-stress ICU and inpatient environments.
Understanding the ECMO, Recovery, and Outcome Experience of Pediatric Respiratory ECMO Survivors
Authors: Hennigan Claire M. , Cheung Eva W. , Zygmunt Annette P. , Garey Donna , Morris Marilyn C. , Geneslaw Andrew S.
Published: December 2024

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is deployed to support children with severe respiratory failure. Unlike neonatal and cardiac ECMO populations, childhood respiratory ECMO survivors are rarely studied as a distinct population, leading to gaps in our understanding of their experiences. This study aimed to describe the family and patient experiences and functional outcomes of childhood respiratory ECMO survivors. Retrospective, mixed-methods, single center cohort study of children who required ECMO for respiratory failure in the pediatric intensive care unit and survived to discharge from May 2014 to December 2020. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents, and functional assessments of children were conducted via Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, 3rd edition (VABS-3). Of 22 respiratory ECMO survivors, 15 (68%) were successfully contacted and 12 (55%) completed interviews. Median age was 7 years (IQR: 1-16) at cannulation and 12 years (IQR: 5-16) at interview. Interviews revealed the need for greater preparation before ECMO, and practitioner-led guidance and education during ECMO. Only 50% had a medical home. The magnitude of physical and psychological recovery was unexpected, and mental health needs continued after discharge. VABS-3 was assessed in 92% of participants and varied widely (median, 85, IQR: 74-107). Despite wide ranging outcomes, families shared difficulties surrounding rehabilitation, centralized care, and the emotional toll of their child’s illness. Families desired additional support before, during, and after ECMO, particularly anticipatory guidance. Psychiatric needs were underestimated. Understanding the challenges faced by survivors and their parents will enable pediatric intensivists to better advise families through all phases of ECMO.
Polarization-resolved transmission matrices of specialty optical fibers
Authors: Lamb Erin S. , Kremp Tristan , DiGiovanni David J. , Westbrook Paul S.
Published: December 2024

Transmission matrix measurements of multimode fibers are now routinely performed in numerous laboratories, enabling control of the electric field at the distal end of the fiber and paving the way for the potential application to ultrathin medical endoscopes with high resolution. The same concepts are applicable to other areas, such as space division multiplexing, targeted power delivery, fiber laser performance, and the general study of the mode coupling properties of the fiber. However, the process of building an experimental setup and developing the supporting code to measure the fiber’s transmission matrix remains challenging and time consuming, with full details on experimental design, data collection, and supporting algorithms spread over multiple papers or lacking in detail. Here, we outline a complete and self-contained description of the specific experiment we use to measure fully polarization-resolved transmission matrices, which enable full control of the electric field, in contrast to the more common scalar setups. Our exact implementation of the full polarization experiment is new and is easy to align while providing flexibility to switch between full-polarization and scalar measurements if desired. We utilize a spatial light modulator to measure the transmission matrix using linear phase gratings to generate the basis functions and measure the distal electric field using phase-shifting interferometry with an independent reference beam derived from the same laser. We introduce a new method to measure and account for the phase and amplitude drift during the measurement using a Levenberg–Marquardt nonlinear fitting algorithm. Finally, we describe creating distal images through the multimode fiber using phase-to-amplitude shaping techniques to construct the correct input electric field through a superposition of the basis functions with the phase-only spatial light modulator. We show that results are insensitive to the choice of phase-to-amplitude shaping technique as quantified by measuring the contrast of a razor blade at the distal end of the fiber, indicating that the simplest but most power efficient method may be the best choice for many applications. We also discuss some of the possible variations on the setup and techniques presented here and highlight the details that we have found key in achieving high fidelity distal control. Throughout the paper, we discuss applications of our setup and measurement process to a variety of specialty fibers, including fibers with harsh environment coatings, coreless fibers, rectangular core fibers, pedestal fibers, and a pump–signal combiner based on a tapered fiber bundle. This demonstrates the usefulness of these techniques across a variety of application areas and shows the flexibility of our setup in studying various fiber types.
Weak fault feature extraction method of rolling bearing based on wavelet packet decomposition and optimized MCKD
Authors: Yao A. Jinbao , Wang B. Yizhu , Yue C. Bohao , Wang Jun
Published: December 2024

The early fault characteristics of rolling bearings are weak, especially in a strong noise environment, which are more difficult to extract; therefore, a method based on wavelet packet decomposition, multi-verse optimizer, and maximum correlated kurtosis deconvolution for weak fault feature extraction of rolling bearings is proposed. First, the original vibration signal is decomposed using wavelet packet decomposition, followed by proposing a signal reconstruction method combining the Pearson correlation coefficient and energy ratio to effectively remove noise from the original signal. Second, the parameters L and M of Maximum Correlated Kurtosis Deconvolution (MCKD) are optimized using the multi-verse optimizer algorithm to obtain optimal filter settings. Subsequently, the enhanced reconstruction signal fault features are obtained using the optimized MCKD algorithm. Finally, signal fault features are extracted through envelope spectrum analysis, ultimately achieving the extraction of weak fault features in rolling bearings. The simulation and experimental analysis results demonstrate that the wavelet packet decomposition-MMCKD (Multiverse Optimization Algorithm for Maximum Correlated Kurtosis Deconvolution) feature extraction method not only removes noise from the vibration signal of rolling bearings but also enhances weak fault features, enabling the early extraction of subtle fault features in rolling bearings.
Machine learning prediction of materials properties from chemical composition: Status and prospects
Authors: Alghadeer Mohammad , Aisyah Nufida D. , Hezam Mahmoud , Alqahtani Saad M. , Baloch Ahmer A. B. , Alharbi Fahhad H.
Published: December 2024

In materials science, machine learning (ML) has become an essential and indispensable tool. ML has emerged as a powerful tool in materials science, particularly for predicting material properties based on chemical composition. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current status and future prospects of using ML in this domain, with a special focus on physics-guided machine learning (PGML). By integrating physical principles into ML models, PGML ensures that predictions are not only accurate but also interpretable, addressing a critical need in the physical sciences. We discuss the foundational concepts of statistical learning and PGML, outline a general framework for materials informatics, and explore key aspects such as data analysis, feature reduction, and chemical composition representation. Additionally, we survey the latest advancements in the prediction of geometric structures, electronic properties, and other material characteristics from chemical formulas. The review also provides resource tables listing essential databases, tools, and predictors, offering a valuable reference for researchers. As the field rapidly expands, this review aims to guide future efforts in harnessing ML for materials discovery and development.
Hybrid-order topological phase and transition in 1H transition metal compounds
Authors: Yang Ning-Jing , Huang Zhigao , Zhang Jian-Min
Published: December 2024

Inspired by recent experimental observations of hybrid topological states [Hossain et al. Nature 628, 527 (2024)], we predict hybrid-order topological insulators in 1H transition metal compounds (TMCs), where both second-order and first-order topological (FOT) states coexist near the Fermi level. Initially, 1H-TMCs exhibit a second-order topological phase due to the d orbital bandgap. Upon coupling of p and d orbitals through the crystal field effect, first-order topological characteristics emerge. This hybrid-order topological phase transition can be tuned via crystal field effects. Combined with first-principles calculations, we illustrate the phase transition with WTe2 and NbSe2. The WTe2 exhibits hybrid-order under ambient conditions, while NbSe2 transitions to hybrid-order under pressure. Additionally, the first-order topological bandgap in the HyOTI demonstrates a strong spin Hall effect. Our findings reveal a hybrid-order topological phase in two-dimensional electron materials and underscore spintronic applications.
First hydrodynamic instability and flow transitions between concentric vertical cylinders
Authors: Nouri Sabrina , Mahloul Mohamed , Hadj Arab Belaid , Benmalek Toufik , Aksouh Mohamed
Published: December 2024

This comparative experimental and numerical study investigates the first hydrodynamic instability and flow transitions in the annular gap between concentric vertical cylinders, with the inner cylinder rotating and the outer cylinder stationary. The study contrasts the behavior of a non-Newtonian fluid, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), with that of a Newtonian fluid, potassium sulfate (K2SO4). The influence of inner cylinder rotational speed, represented by Reynolds (Re) and Taylor (Ta) numbers, and filling rates (Γ) on the first instability thresholds and flow modes is examined for both fluids. Experimental visualization and numerical simulations illustrate distinct flow characteristics, emphasizing the significant impact of CMC's non-Newtonian properties on flow structure formation and instability thresholds. Rheological analysis identifies instability thresholds specific to CMC at a 0.2% concentration. The study further analyzes azimuthal and axial wave numbers (n) and (λ) relative to Reynolds number (Re) and filling rates (Γ) to characterize flow dynamics comprehensively.
Microscopic mapping of infrared modulated photoluminescence spectra with a spatial resolution of ∼2 μm
Authors: Chen Xiren , Shao Jun
Published: December 2024

Infrared photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy with micron-scale spatial resolution is essential for the optoelectronic characterization of narrow-gap microstructures and single defects, yet it poses significant challenges due to the exceedingly weak PL signal and strong background thermal emission. This work introduces an infrared micro-PL (μPL) mapping system that achieves a spatial resolution of ∼2 μm, leveraging the inherent advantages of the step-scan Fourier transform infrared spectrometer-based modulated PL technique in the mid- and far-infrared regions. The configuration of the experimental system is described, and a theoretical upper limit of spatial resolution is derived to be about 1.53 μm. A typical application of the μPL spectral mapping system is demonstrated on a mid-infrared InAs/GaSb superlattice that had undergone surface dry-etching for focal plane array fabrication. Successful identification of grooves is accomplished in both spectral energy and integral intensity images derived from the μPL spectral mapping. An actual spatial resolution of ∼2.34 μm remains for the μPL spectral mapping, even though the diffusion of photo-generated carriers is present in the InAs/GaSb superlattice. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the infrared modulated μPL spectral mapping with a significantly enhanced spatial resolution of about 2 μm and an extended functional wavelength range of 2.5–22 μm, which may serve as an effective vehicle for characterizing the microstructures of narrow-gap semiconductors.
Comprehensive analysis of environmental dispersion of buoyant particles in three-dimensional open-channel flows
Authors: Yang Fangyu , Yang Fan , Zeng Li , Jiang Weiquan , Wang Ping , Hu Peng , Wu Zi
Published: December 2024

Understanding the environmental dispersion dynamics of buoyant particles in three-dimensional open-channel flows is vital for comprehending various ecological and hydraulic processes associated with open channels. This study employs Aris' concentration moment method to construct a model to assess the overall environmental dispersion characteristics of buoyant particle transport in the flow through a rectangular channel. Analytical solutions for concentration moments of buoyant particles are strictly derived using the separation of variables method. The overall characteristics of buoyant particle transport are analyzed using multiple-order concentration moments. Results show that the overall drift velocity Veff¯, the overall longitudinal dispersion Deff¯, and the overall skewness γ1¯ will eventually reach a stable state with different necessary times, jointly affected by R and Pez, where R is the aspect ratio and Pez reflects the relative strength of the vertical migration and the effective diffusion of buoyant particles. Veff¯ gradually increases with time for the three-dimensional laminar open-channel flow with R≈1 during the preliminary stage, in contrast to the gradual decrease in the corresponding two-dimensional flow. The skewness of the buoyant particles exhibits a mutual transformation between the positive and negative status. R primarily affects the concentration distribution of buoyant particles during the initial stage. Pez significantly influences the concentration distribution pattern throughout both the initial and long-term evolution of the buoyant particle cloud. The maximum cross-sectional average concentration of buoyant particles gradually decreases over time, with a substantial reduction rate in the open channel of small R.
Solvent-mediated carboxylic acid diammonium spacer for synthesizing FA-based 2D Dion–Jacobson perovskites toward efficient solar cells
Authors: Luo Zhenyu , Wu Jiaxin , Lin Ruiying , Zhang Wei , Liu Yi , Xiao Liangang , Min Yonggang
Published: December 2024

Two-dimensional (2D) perovskites are promising for photovoltaic applications due to their outstanding optical properties and better environmental stability compared to three-dimensional (3D) perovskites. Unlike 2D Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) perovskites, which use monovalent ammonium spacers, Dion–Jacobson (DJ) perovskites employ divalent organic spacers that enhance structural stability by mitigating weak van der Waals interactions. However, the random phase distribution and disorder crystal orientation in 2D DJ perovskites create deep quantum wells, hindering charge transfer and reducing short-circuit current density (JSC) and overall photovoltaic performance. This study introduces an organic diammonium, 1,4-butanediamine diacetate (BDAAc2), to replace the traditional halide spacer 1,4-butanediamine iodide (BDADI2). This substitution regulates perovskites crystallization dynamics, reducing compositional disorder and random phase distribution, thus improving the quality of the perovskite films. The robust coordination interactions between BDAAc2 and the perovskite inorganic framework lead to an ordered [PbX6]4− arrangement, suppressing the formation of complex intermediate phases and significantly enhancing δ phase crystallinity in the intermediate film. This results in a high yield of high-quality α phase. Consequently, the resulting 2D DJ perovskite solar cells based on BDAFA3Pb4(I0.9Br0.1)13 achieve a higher power conversion efficiency of 16.41% and an elevated JSC of 20.46 mA cm−2.
Evaluation of radiological risks due to natural radionuclides in the soil of Khanaqin district, Diyala, Iraq
Authors: Namq Berivan F , Hussein Zakariya A , Othman Sardar Qader , Najam Laith Ahmed , Wais Taha Yaseen , Sayyed M I , Mansour Howaida , Rilwan U
Published: December 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the radiological impacts in Khanaqin, located in the Diyala Governorate, Iraq. The specific activities of natural radionuclides of 238U, 232Th, and 40K in soil samples were investigated by collecting thirty composite soil samples from different locations in the area. Measurements were performed using a NaI(Tl) gamma-ray spectrometry system to acquire the data and analyses were conducted using the UCS-20 program. From the results, the average specific activities of 238U, 232Th, and 40K were 25.15 ± 3.65 Bq kg−1, 12.27 ± 2.28 Bq kg−1, and 300.09 ± 14.50 Bq kg−1, respectively. These results were lower than the global average recommended by UNSCEAR. The radiological risk criteria were estimated based on the specific activities of radionuclides to assess any radiological risks that may be associated with the soil of the study area under investigation. The radiological risk criteria included radium equivalent activity (Raeq), absorbed dose rate (DR), annual effective dose (AEDE), annual gonadal equivalent dose (AGDE), excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR), external hazard index (Hex), internal hazard index (Hin), representative gamma index (I
γ
) and effective dose rate to different body organs (Dorgan). They were compared with the international safe limits. Overall, all the radiological risk criteria had values lower than the worldwide average recommended by UNSCEAR. This work employed statistical techniques to understand and explain the statistical characteristics of measured radionuclide-specific activities and the associated radiological risk criteria , including skewness, kurtosis, correlation coefficients, and K-means cluster analysis.
Off-equatorial deflections and gravitational lensing. II. In general stationary and axisymmetric spacetimes
Authors: Ying Xinguang 英信广 , Jia Junji
Published: December 2024

In this work, we develop a general perturbative procedure to find the off-equatorial plane deflections in the weak deflection limit in general stationary and axisymmetric spacetimes, allowing the existence of the generalized Carter constant. Deflections of both null and timelike rays, with the finite distance effect of the source and detector taken into account, are obtained as dual series of $M/r_0$ and $r_0/r_{s,d}$. These deflections allow a set of exact gravitational lensing equations from which the images' apparent angular positions are solved. The method and general results are then applied to the Kerr-Newmann, Kerr-Sen, and rotating Simpson-Visser spacetimes to study the effect of the spin and characteristic (effective) charge of the spacetimes and the source altitude on the deflection angles and image apparent angles. It is found that, in general, both the spacetime spin and charge only affect the deflections from the second non-trivial order, while the source altitude influences the deflection from the leading order. Because of this, it is found that, in gravitational lensing in realistic situations, it is hard to measure the effects of the spacetime spin and charge from the images' apparent locations. We also presented the off-equatorial deflections in the rotating Bardeen, Hayward, Ghosh, and Tinchev black hole spacetimes.
Search for the lepton number violation decay $\phi \to \pi^+ \pi^+ e^- e^-$ via $J/\psi\to \phi\eta$
Authors: Zhao Ming-Gang
Published: December 2024

Using $(1.0087\pm0.0044)\times10^{10}$ $J/\psi$ events collected by the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, we search for the lepton number violation decay $\phi \to \pi^+ \pi^+ e^- e^-$ via $J/\psi\to \phi\eta$. No signal is found and the upper limit on the branching fraction of $\phi \to \pi^+ \pi^+ e^- e^-$ is set to be $1.3\times10^{-5}$ at the 90\% confidence level.Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI. Article funded by SCOAP3 and published under licence by Chinese Physical Society and the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Science and the Institute of Modern Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and IOP Publishing Ltd.
External kink related sideways force on the tokamak wall
Authors: Abate D. , Yanovskiy V. , Cordaro L. , Pigatto L. , Pustovitov V.D. , Terranova D. , Zanca P. , Zuin M.
Published: December 2024

The external kink related sideways wall force is investigated on ultralow-q RFX-mod plasma discharge. Several theoretical predictions are experimentally verified. The presence of coupled kink modes is observed when the wall is subject to a sideways force. The absence of an integral electromagnetic force on the plasma is analyzed in such conditions. The dependence of sideways force on the mode growth rate is also revealed. A comparison between different theoretical predictions of the sideways force magnitude is performed for both flat-top and ramp-down phases. The results are compared with the direct calculation of sideways force provided by the ex-vessel magnetic measurements. These analyses show that the sideways force related to kink-like mode is much smaller than predicted by models that approximate the plasma as a rigid current-carrying ring or that neglect the presence of the wall.
Current use and development of monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus: a review
Authors: Blagov Alexander , Orekhov Nikolay , Churov Alexey , Starodubtseva Irina , Beloyartsev Dmitry , Kovyanova Tatiana , Sukhorukov Vasily , Orekhov Alexander
Published: December 2024

The development of targeted drugs for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a promising area of research because targeted drugs are associated with a lower risk of severe side effects than systemic drugs. There are only two approved drugs based on monoclonal antibodies (a group of targeted drugs) for the treatment of SLE, so there is an unmet need for the development of new and improved antibody analogs. This review analyzes the effectiveness and safety of both already approved antibodies (anifrolumab and belimumab) for the treatment of SLE and antibodies under development with an assessment of their future prospects for entering the pharmaceutical market. In addition to the antibodies themselves, the choice of their therapeutic targets and what role the targets can play in the effectiveness and safety of the antibodies are analyzed here.
Evaluating the clarity, applicability, and evaluability of an ASHP standard for international pharmaceutical practice in a Quebec healthcare institution
Authors: Bonnabry Elsa , Lebel Denis , Atkinson Suzanne , Roy Hélène , Piaget Iciar , Bussières Jean-François
Published: December 2024

Disclaimer

In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time.

Purpose

The primary objective was to assess the clarity, applicability, and evaluability of the criteria included in the ASHP accreditation standard for international hospital and health-system pharmacy services. The secondary objective was to determine the proportion of the ASHP criteria that could be matched with those of Accreditation Canada’s medication management standards.

Methods

For this cross-sectional descriptive study, a panel of 5 experts was recruited. Each panelist was invited, by electronic means, to consult the ASHP standard and rate its criteria in terms of clarity, applicability, and evaluability. After a 21-day consultation period, a summary grid was produced for a meeting, during which individual results were presented and, after discussion and by consensus, a rating for each criterion was determined.

Results

Regarding the primary objective, the panel of experts considered the criteria of the ASHP standard to be clear (98.8%, 82/83), applicable to pharmaceutical practice in Quebec healthcare institutions (96.4%, 80/83), and evaluable (95.2%, 79/83). Regarding the secondary objective, almost one-third (28.9%, 24/83) of the criteria within the ASHP standard could be matched completely to criteria within the Accreditation Canada medication management standards; a smaller proportion (26.5%, 22/83) could be partially matched to the Canadian standards, and the remainder (44.6%, 37/83) could not be matched.

Conclusion

This descriptive, cross-sectional study showed that the ASHP criteria for international facilities are clear, applicable to hospital pharmacy practice in Quebec, and can be evaluated. However, only a limited proportion of the ASHP criteria could be matched with the Accreditation Canada medication management standards. The applicability to a larger cross section of hospital sites in Quebec or Canada (general hospitals as well as pediatric and specialty hospitals) could also be undertaken.
Adapting situational judgment tests to the postgraduate year 1 pharmacy residency selection process at an academic medical center
Authors: Le Christina K , Stevens Craig A
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Evaluation methods for postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) pharmacy residency positions must objectively rank candidates and assess clinical and nonclinical characteristics. Situational judgment tests (SJTs), many of which have been shown to be both consistent and validated, were used as a structure for a new assessment adapted into our selection process to predict candidates’ future success in our residency program. To our knowledge, no PGY1 pharmacy residency program has published its experience adapting an SJT in a live panel environment.

We formulated a modified SJT with 5 scenarios devised to judge 5 behavioral domains: communication, integrity, assertiveness, time management, and problem solving. These domains align with our organization’s core values and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) required competency areas, goals, and objectives (CAGOs) for PGY1 programs. Similarly, scenarios and responses attempted to reduce risk of bias and ensure measurement of relevant skills. These assessments were intended to expose patterns that suggested fear of authority, lack of awareness, aversion to confrontation, or carelessness. We also noted if candidates struggled to grasp and follow instructions, commit to answers, consider multiple facets of a decision, or defend their choice. This information was not assessed in other components of our current process.

Conclusion

Our modified SJTs and structured rubric assess candidate skills in a standardized manner. By evaluating a candidate’s response and verbalized thought process in search of core values, we move away from using subjective “fit” and instead focus on specific characteristics we seek to nurture and develop in our future residents.
Neuropsychological Functioning in Cognitively Normal, Older American Indians of the Southwestern United States
Authors: Cerbone Brittany , Hanson Krista D , Lomay Vicky T , Wicklund Meredith , Weidman David A
Published: December 2024

Objective

There is a dearth of research on neuropsychological functioning and the validity of assessment measures in American Indian (AI) older adults. The present study sought to comprehensively examine neuropsychological functioning in cognitively normal AI older adults in the southwestern USA (i.e., Arizona).

Participants and Methods

Ninety predominantly female participants (45 AIs and 45 non-Hispanic Whites) aged 44 years and older (mean age of mid-60s) were matched on age, decade, gender, and assessment battery. Participants were enrolled in the Arizona Alzheimer’s Disease Center database. Data obtained included demographics, medical history, psychiatric variables, and raw neuropsychological scores. Analyses included ANCOVAs, chi-square, and stepwise multiple regression.

Results

AIs generally had lower performance across all neuropsychological measures compared with matched Whites, even after controlling for demographic variables. Performance between groups was most discrepant on several measures of global cognition, attention, executive functioning, and language, while performance was statistically comparable on measures of memory and visuospatial abilities. The AI group had higher proportions of diabetes and obesity, but results showed that higher cardiovascular risk was not predictive of lower cognitive performance with the exception of the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale–Sum of Boxes.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that older AIs perform lower on many neuropsychological measures compared with non-Hispanic Whites, even after controlling for demographic variables. This suggests that other factors, including language, culture, educational quality, overall health, socioeconomic status, and level of acculturation may be impacting test scores and need to be considered when assessing and diagnosing older AIs.
Tinea corporis at the injection site of interleukin-17 inhibitor in psoriasis vulgaris
Authors: Takase Keigo , Komatsu-Fujii Takayoshi , Kogame Toshiaki , Otsuka Atsushi , Kabashima Kenji
Published: December 2024

We report a patient with psoriasis vulgaris who developed tinea corporis at the injection site of ixekizumab, an IL-17 inhibitor. This case suggests that local inhibition of IL-17 may reduce dermatophyte resistance, leading to site-specific fungal infections.
A line in the sand: Moving from surface improvement to foundational shifts to develop effective responses to extra-familial risks and harms
Authors: Firmin Carlene , Lefevre Michelle , Langhoff Kristine , Ruch Gillian
Published: December 2024

For over a decade, UK policymakers have responded to global ambitions to protect children from exploitation and other forms of extra-familial risks and harms by recommending that social workers coordinate local responses. This has required a significant shift in the design and delivery of social care services. In this article, we report findings from a three-year Institutional Ethnography of six social care sites that used three innovation frameworks to facilitate this shift. We identify corresponding points of progress and challenge regarding the ability of these sites to create systems in which responses to extra-familial risks and harms were reflective of the dynamics of this harm-type; relational; and interagency. While site progress illustrated improvements in service, delivery challenges indicated an absence of shifts in service foundations. By discussing our findings in dialogue with psychosocial theories, we uncover a direct relationship between day-to-day practice shortfalls and often unseen ‘ruling relations’ that govern safeguarding systems of Anglophone countries. At a time when further UK policy reform is anticipated, we draw a line in the sand and recommend national and international policymakers looks beyond service improvement and commit to reform system foundations to effectively safeguard young people abused beyond their homes.
Synthesis of natural products and their derivatives using dynamic crystallization
Authors: Sato Takaaki
Published: December 2024

Syntheses of natural products and their derivatives require compounds of ever-increasing complexity. Therefore, the control of selectivity becomes more challenging under conventional kinetic and thermodynamic conditions in solution. Dynamic crystallization (alternatively referred to as crystallization-induced transformation: CIT) has been recognized as a practical approach to control the selectivity when the desired product is a less-soluble crystal under equilibrium conditions. This highlight review summarizes the applications of dynamic crystallization to natural product synthesis.
Insights from a year of field deployments inform the conservation of an endangered estuarine fish
Authors: Davis Brittany E , Hammock Bruce G , Kwan Nicole , Pien Catarina , Bell Heather , Hartman Rosemary , Baerwald Melinda R , Schreier Brian , Gille Daphne , Acuña Shawn , Teh Swee , Hung Tien-Chieh , Ellison Luke , Cocherell Dennis E , Fangue Nann A
Published: December 2024

Freshwater fishes are increasingly facing extinction. Some species will require conservation intervention such as habitat restoration and/or population supplementation through mass-release of hatchery fish. In California, USA, a number of conservation strategies are underway to increase abundance of the endangered Delta Smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus); however, it is unclear how different estuarine conditions influence hatchery fish. The goal of this study was to evaluate a year of Delta Smelt field deployments to inform species conservation strategies of suitable conditions for smelt physiology. Hatchery-reared Delta Smelt was deployed in experimental cages (seven deployments) throughout the Estuary in the winter, summer and fall of 2019. Effects of season and location of cage deployments on fish health (condition factor and histological condition of liver and gill), growth, thermal tolerance and survival were evaluated. The results indicate both seasonal and location differences, with high survival in the winter (100%) and fall (88–92%) compared to lower survival in summer (67%). In the summer, one of the study sites had no surviving fish following high temperature exposure, which peaked ~26°C. After 29 days in the cages, surviving Delta Smelt in summer and fall showed signs of nutritional stress that may be related to biofouling of the cages limiting passive food inputs, restriction of natural foraging behaviour by containment in the cages, and water temperatures that were too high given the chronically low pelagic productivity in the Estuary overall. Field measurements of upper thermal tolerance (CTmax) following caging exposures suggest that laboratory measures of CTmax may overestimate the realized tolerance in a more stochastic field environment. This study demonstrates the utility of using cages as an experimental tool to better understand aspects of Delta Smelt physiological responses to environmental changes across estuarine habitats in a more natural-field setting, while also highlighting potential limitations of using cages.
A development-centric perspective on pace-of-life syndromes
Authors: Smallegange Isabel M , Guenther Anja
Published: December 2024

Organism responses to environmental change require coordinated changes across correlated traits, so-called syndromes. For example, animals differ in their “pace-of-life syndrome” (POLS); suites of correlated life-history, behavioral and physiological traits. But standard “gene-centric” evolutionary theory cannot explain why POLSs exist because it assumes that the expression of phenotypic traits of animals is determined by genotype-specified reaction norms; it ignores that developmental processes can bias the direction of evolution so that phenotypes no longer match genotype-by-environment interactions. Here we apply a development-centric perspective to derive new POLS hypotheses that can resolve the conflict that current POLS predictions fail to explain which species/populations are resilient to environmental change.
HemaCisDB: An Interactive Database for Analyzing Cis-Regulatory Elements Across Hematopoietic Malignancies
Authors: Cai Xinping , Zhang Qianru , Liu Bolin , Sun Lu , Liu Yuxuan
Published: December 2024

Noncoding cis-regulatory elements (CREs), such as transcriptional enhancers, are key regulators of gene expression programs. Accessible chromatin and H3K27ac are well-recognized markers for CREs associated with their biological function. Deregulation of CREs is commonly found in hematopoietic malignancies yet the extent to which CRE dysfunction contributes to pathophysiology remains incompletely understood. Here, we developed HemaCisDB, an interactive, comprehensive, and centralized online resource for CRE characterization across hematopoietic malignancies, serving as a useful resource for investigating the pathological roles of CREs in blood disorders. Currently, we collected 922 ATAC-seq, 190 DNase-seq, and 531 H3K27ac ChIP-seq datasets from patient samples and cell lines across different myeloid and lymphoid neoplasms. HemaCisDB provides comprehensive quality control metrics to assess ATAC-seq, DNase-seq, and H3K27ac ChIP-seq data quality. The analytic modules in HemaCisDB include transcription factor (TF) footprinting inference, super-enhancer identification, and core transcriptional regulatory circuitry analysis. Moreover, HemaCisDB also enables the study of TF binding dynamics by comparing TF footprints across different disease types or conditions via web-based interactive analysis. Together, HemaCisDB provides an interactive platform for CRE characterization to facilitate mechanistic studies of transcriptional regulation in hematopoietic malignancies. HemaCisDB is available at https://hemacisdb.chinablood.com.cn/.
Convergence and quasi-optimality of an AFEM for the Dirichlet boundary control problem
Authors: Pal Arnab , Gudi Thirupathi
Published: December 2024

In this article, convergence and quasi-optimal rate of convergence of an Adaptive Finite Element Method is shown for the Dirichlet boundary control problem that was proposed by Chowdhury et al. (2017, Error bounds for a Dirichlet boundary control problem based on energy spaces, Math. Comp., 86, 1103–1126). The theoretical results are illustrated by numerical experiments.
Singular Soergel Bimodules for Realizations
Authors: Abe Noriyuki
Published: December 2024

Williamson defined the category of singular Soergel bimodules attached to a reflection faithful representation of a Coxeter group. We generalize this construction to more general realizations of Coxeter groups.
Peacemaking and the Maintenance of International Order: Alignment under Hegemony versus Multipolar Misalignment
Authors: Richmond Oliver P , Pogodda Sandra
Published: December 2024

With the publication of Agenda for Peace, the UN system opened its peace interventions up to critiques that allowed a tentative incorporation of critical, ethnographic, feminist, and rights-based approaches. Yet, subsequent efforts to reform the international peace architecture have been more limited, reflecting geopolitical interests rather than critical methodologies. Since the 1990s, two trends have occurred: within the liberal international order legitimate political claims from outside Western understandings of peacemaking have been marginalized, while liberal peacemaking has been undermined by competing actors, institutions, and processes in an emerging multipolar order. But has the latter developed a significant capacity for peacemaking? This article argues that the “liberal alignment” appears to have broken down but a “misaligned multipolar” order offers few if any tools that respond to critical arguments about peacemaking. This article critically evaluates the potential for peacemaking in a liberal aligned order versus that of a multipolar misaligned order.
The Serial Killer’s Religion: Religious Racism in Brazil
Authors: Vasconcelos de Castro Moreira Leonardo
Published: December 2024

This article analyzes the case of the serial killer Lázaro Barbosa and religious racism in Brazil. It provides a brief overview of the racialization of religion and the background behind policies and ideologies that tried to “whiten” the country, both racially and culturally. Based on data gathered from the Brazilian media, the article analyzes the case of the serial killer and the ways his religiosity is constructed in relation to Afro-Brazilian religions, leading to cases of violence against practitioners and temples due to their alleged connection with Barbosa. The objective is also to analyze the discourses of demonization that were capable of materializing this persecution. Lastly, this article argues that religious racism in Brazil is not simply about anti-Black racism but also has sui generis features, which include prejudice against African cultural origins.
Doctors’ perceptions of antimicrobial resistance in the Northern West Bank, Palestine: a qualitative study
Authors: Gustafsson Lotta , Nazzal Zaher , Wiskin Connie Mary , Belkebir Souad , Sayeed Shameq , Wood Alix
Published: December 2024

Objectives

In the West Bank, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasingly and alarmingly common. Efforts are being made to introduce antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs). This study explores doctors’ perceptions of AMR and context-specific barriers and facilitators to ASPs at a critical point in national ASP development.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 doctors working in primary healthcare, government and non-governmental hospitals in Nablus in 2019. Two researchers thematically analysed the data.

Results

Participants recognized antibiotic resistance as a major threat to health. Few felt that doctors were well informed about ASPs; many had not heard of them. However, there was willingness to expand and begin new education programmes. Barriers and facilitators to ASPs included: (i) doctors were perceived to ‘misuse’ antibiotics, lack awareness, favour short-term outcomes, and externalize blame; (ii) patients reportedly treat antibiotics ‘like analgesia’ with high expectations of doctors; (iii) resource limitations make ASPs and infection control difficult—a lack of drugs, laboratory services, infectious disease specialists, and research to develop local guidelines; and (iv) top-down policy is recommended to restrict access to antibiotics without a prescription, but should be coupled with support, collaboration and community action.

Conclusions

Doctors’ appreciation of the severity of the issue, and willingness for the expansion of existing programmes targeted at their own prescribing practices, provides a strong foundation for successful ASPs. A top-down approach to prevent inappropriate antibiotic prescribing is welcomed by participating doctors. If financial and resource limitations could be addressed, a continued multifaceted approach may enable physician, pharmacist and patient behaviours to change.