bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epistemic Bystander
Authors: Schwengerer Lukas
Published: June 2024

Epistemic bystanding occurs when an agent has all the competences, knowledge and opportunity to prevent another person from forming a false or risky belief, but does not prevent the belief formation. I provide a definition of an epistemic bystander and explain the mechanism that makes someone an epistemic bystander. I argue that the phenomenon is genuinely epistemic and not merely linguistic. Moreover, I propose an account of the mechanism of epistemic bystanding building on Ishani Maitra’s notion of licensing. An epistemic bystander licenses a risky belief-forming process in another person and thereby performs a blameworthy epistemic action. This form of licensing explains the distinctive wrong of being an epistemic bystander.
Intentional Imperfection Program: A pilot randomised controlled trial to help university students manage perfectionism
Authors: Visvalingam Shanara , Matheson Angelica C. , Magson Natasha R. , Norberg Melissa M.
Published: June 2024

Given that perfectionism has been associated with interpersonal, academic, and mental health difficulties in university students, helping them manage their perfectionism is crucial. This pilot trial examined the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of an online perfectionism program designed to target the mechanisms that link perfectionism to psychological distress. Seventy first-year psychology students from Macquarie University with high levels of perfectionism were recruited into this two-arm pilot trial and randomised to either the intervention (i.e., perfectionism program) or attention placebo control (i.e., lifestyle program) condition. We assessed indicators of feasibility and acceptability, as well as measures related to perfectionism, psychological distress, emotion regulation skills, interpersonal and academic functioning at baseline, one-month post treatment, and three-month follow-up (blinded outcome assessment). Our analyses revealed that, while participants expressed overall satisfaction with the program, there was low engagement with it (Mcompletion rate=36.23%), and retention in the study was low (response rates for post-treatment: 65.71% and follow-up: 48.57%). Bearing this in mind, our linear mixed model analyses revealed greater reductions in perfectionistic traits and cognitions, interpersonal hostility, and loneliness, as well as increases in self-compassion in the intervention group compared to the control group at post-treatment and/or follow-up. However, we did not observe statistically significant changes in other important treatment outcomes (e.g.,psychological distress). Given these findings, adjustments to improve engagement and retention should occur before proceeding with a larger, definitive trial. This trial was retrospectively registered on the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (no. ACTRN12622000960752).
Candida albicans — der Pilz in uns
Authors: Brunke Sascha , Hube Bernhard
Published: June 2024

Fungal infections are often underestimated as a significant cause of mortality. Most pathogenic fungi originate from the environment, but one of the most common and important fungal pathogens, Candida albicans, lives as a commensal within the vast majority of humans. It is becoming more and more evident that many adaptations that allow its commensal lifestyle also support its pathogenicity. These include morphological flexibility and toxin production that serve as competition and virulence factors.
Zytotoxische CD8+-T-Zellen im Alter: unterschätzte Killer?
Authors: Lis Annette , Kaschek Lea , Zöphel Dorina
Published: June 2024

Aging leads to various alterations in immune cell functions. Here, we report our surprising findings that despite immunosenescence, CD8+ T cells’ cytotoxic efficiency increases with age. The FRET-based apoptosis sensor pCasper, stably transfected into tumor cells, revealed fundamental changes in the cytotoxic mechanisms. Antigen-specific CD8+ T cells from elderly OT-I mice shift from apoptotic to necrotic killers. This capability might affect cell-based immunotherapies in old age.
Zellen sind Individualisten — Entscheidungsprozesse auf Einzelzellebene
Authors: Lenhardt Sonja , Hartmann Laura , Legewie Stefan , Loewer Alexander
Published: June 2024

Decision-making is a fundamental aspect of life. However, our understanding of how cells encode and decode information to enable reliable fate decisions remains limited. Employing live cell imaging and automated analysis, our research unveils substantial heterogeneity in the cellular response to TGFβ and sheds light on the intricate link between the dynamics of SMAD signaling, the state of individual cells and their fate decisions.
Antikörper-basierte Zytokinmimetika
Authors: Unmuth Laura , Lipinski Britta , Pekar Lukas , Evers Andreas , Elter Desislava , Zielonka Stefan
Published: June 2024

Antibody-based cytokine mimetics emerged as promising entities in order to modulate an immune response. These surrogate agonists are bi- and multifunctional antibody-derived molecules that mimic the function of a cytokine by agonizing a specific cytokine receptor. Due to the high modularity of antibody-based building blocks, cytokine functionalities can be highly engineered, for instance with regards to signalling strength and bias.
The Mediatization of Jewish–Muslim Dialogue in Germany Amid COVID-19
Authors: Peretz Dekel
Published: June 2024

In the wake of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, religious organizations increasingly mediatized their activities. Studies examining this process mostly focused on communal offerings, while ignoring how rapid mediatization affected programs geared toward interfaith dialogue. This paper examines the effects and possibilities of this shift to virtual spaces by focusing on frameworks that promote Jewish–Muslim dialogue in Germany. It traces how Jews and Muslims intervene in popular discourse using social media platforms to self-define their respective religions and the relationship between them. In this process, those involved in creating virtual spaces focused on the intersectionality between gender biases and Christonormativity. This paper utilizes a broad methodological approach, including participant observation in dialogue events in virtual spaces, discursive analyses of videos and podcasts, and qualitative interviews with Jews and Muslims involved in the creation of virtual spaces. The first section discusses Jewish–Muslim encounters occurring in organized dialogue events on video communication platforms that are ephemeral in nature (no recordings). The subsequent sections analyze German-language formats that have a representative character and are streamed, recorded, and presented on social media platforms.
Development of a Pt(II) compound based on indocyanine green@human serum albumin nanoparticles: integrating phototherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy to overcome tumor cisplatin resistance
Authors: Man Xue-Yu , Sun Ze-Wen , Li Shan-He , Xu Gang , Li Wen-Juan , Zhang Zhen-Lei , Liang Hong , Yang Feng
Published: June 2024

Cisplatin resistance is the main cause for the failure of cancer therapy. To solve the problem, we proposed to develop a novel human serum albumin (HSA) nanoplatform to integrate chemotherapy, photothermal therapy (PTT) and immunotherapy. To this end, we obtained a platinum compound (C5) with significant cytotoxicity in the cisplatin-resistant SKOV-3 cells (SKOV-3/DDP), and then innovatively constructed photosensitizer (indocyanine green (ICG))-encapsulated HSA-C5 complex nanoparticles (ICG@HSA-C5 NPs). The ICG@HSA-C5 NPs exhibited excellent photothermal performances in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, the in vivo results revealed that HSA enhanced the antitumor effect of C5 and that the combination of chemotherapy and PTT could significantly inhibit cisplatin-resistant tumor growth and improved the targeting abilities of C5 and ICG, and reduced their side effects. We also confirmed that ICG@HSA-C5 NPs killed the SKOV-3/DDP cells via gasdermin E (GSDME)-mediated pyroptosis and pyroptosis-induced immune responses, thereby synergistically leading to the death of the SKOV-3/DDP cells.

Graphical abstract
Estimating Risk Factor Time Paths Among People with Type 2 Diabetes and QALY Gains from Risk Factor Management
Authors: Gao Ni , Dakin Helen A. , Holman Rury R. , Lim Lee-Ling , Leal José , Clarke Philip
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Most type 2 diabetes simulation models utilise equations mapping out lifetime trajectories of risk factors [e.g. glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)]. Existing equations, using historic data or assuming constant risk factors, frequently underestimate or overestimate complication rates. Updated risk factor time path equations are needed for simulation models to more accurately predict complication rates.

Aims

(1) Update United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study Outcomes Model (UKPDS-OM2) risk factor time path equations; (2) compare quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) using original and updated equations; and (3) compare QALY gains for reference case simulations using different risk factor equations.

Methods

Using pooled contemporary data from two randomised trials EXSCEL and TECOS (n = 28,608), we estimated: dynamic panel models of seven continuous risk factors (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, HbA1c, haemoglobin, heart rate, blood pressure and body mass index); two-step models of estimated glomerular filtration rate; and survival analyses of peripheral arterial disease, atrial fibrillation and albuminuria. UKPDS-OM2-derived lifetime QALYs were extrapolated over 70 years using historical and the new risk factor equations.

Results

All new risk factor equation predictions were within 95% confidence intervals of observed values, displaying good agreement between observed and estimated values. Historical risk factor time path equations predicted trial participants would accrue 9.84 QALYs, increasing to 10.98 QALYs using contemporary equations.

Discussion

Incorporating updated risk factor time path equations into diabetes simulation models could give more accurate predictions of long-term health, costs, QALYs and cost-effectiveness estimates, as well as a more precise understanding of the impact of diabetes on patients’ health, expenditure and quality of life.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01144338 and NCT00790205
Judgement and Decision Making in Clinical and Return-to-Sports Decision Making: A Narrative Review
Authors: Yung Kate K. , Ardern Clare L. , Serpiello Fabio R. , Robertson Sam
Published: June 2024

Making return-to-sport decisions can be complex and multi-faceted, as it requires an evaluation of an individual’s physical, psychological, and social well-being. Specifically, the timing of progression, regression, or return to sport can be difficult to determine due to the multitude of information that needs to be considered by clinicians. With the advent of new sports technology, the increasing volume of data poses a challenge to clinicians in effectively processing and utilising it to enhance the quality of their decisions. To gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying human decision making and associated biases, this narrative review provides a brief overview of different decision-making models that are relevant to sports rehabilitation settings. Accordingly, decisions can be made intuitively, analytically, and/or with heuristics. This narrative review demonstrates how the decision-making models can be applied in the context of return-to-sport decisions and shed light on strategies that may help clinicians improve decision quality.
Age of First Exposure Does Not Relate to Post-Career Health in Former Professional American-Style Football Players
Authors: Terry Douglas P. , Grashow Rachel , Iverson Grant L. , Atkeson Paula , Rotem Ran , Eagle Shawn R. , Daneshvar Daniel H. , Zuckerman Scott L. , Zafonte Ross D. , Weisskopf Marc G. , Baggish Aaron
Published: June 2024

Objective

Prior studies examining small samples of symptomatic former professional football players suggest that earlier age of first exposure (AFE) to American football is associated with adverse later life health outcomes. This study examined a larger, more representative sample of former professional American football players to assess associations between AFE before age 12 (AFE < 12) and clinical outcomes compared with those who started at age 12 or older (AFE 12 +).

Methods

Former professional American football players who completed a questionnaire were dichotomized into AFE < 12 and AFE 12 + . AFE groups were compared on outcomes including symptoms of depression and anxiety, perceived cognitive difficulties, neurobehavioral dysregulation, and self-reported health conditions (e.g., headaches, sleep apnea, hypertension, chronic pain, memory loss, dementia/Alzheimer’s disease, and others).

Results

Among 4189 former professional football players (aged 52 ± 14 years, 39% self-reported as Black), univariable associations with negligible effect sizes were seen with AFE < 12, depressive symptoms (p = 0.03; η2 = 0.001), and anxiety-related symptoms (p = 0.02; η2 = 0.001) only. Multivariable models adjusting for age, race, body mass index, playing position, number of professional seasons, and past concussion burden revealed no significant relationships between AFE < 12 and any outcome. Linear and non-linear models examining AFE as a continuous variable showed similar null results.

Conclusions

In a large cohort of former professional American-style football players, AFE was not independently associated with adverse later life outcomes. These findings are inconsistent with smaller studies of former professional football players. Studies examining AFE in professional football players may have limited utility and generalizability regarding policy implications for youth sports.
Stability of highly inclined non-circular wellbores in isotropic formations
Authors: Oyedokun Oluwafemi , Schubert Jerome
Published: June 2024

The shear and tensile stabilities of highly inclined non-circular wellbores are investigated in this study. Using the equivalent-ellipse hypothesis, the non-circular geometry was approximated as an ellipse, and the corresponding stress concentration equations are presented. With the new set of stress concentration equations, a comprehensive study of the tensile and shear stabilities of an elliptical borehole was conducted, including the impact of well inclination and azimuthal angles, horizontal stress difference, degree of ellipticity, and orientation of the maximum horizontal stress to the major axis of the ellipse. Using five commonly used shear failure criteria, we observed that both Mohr–Coulomb and Drucker Prager (inscribed) failure criteria predicted higher collapse pressures, relative to the others including Drucker Prager (inscribed), Mogi-Coulomb, and Modified Lade. While Drucker Prager's (circumscribed) failure criterion underestimates the collapse pressure. Both the linear elastic and poroelastic models were used in investigating the fracture initiation orientation and pressure of highly inclined elliptical boreholes. The prediction from the poroelastic model is always less than the linear elastic model. In some instances, they predict different fracture initiation orientations. From this study, we observed that generally, a near-circular wellbore is more stable than elliptical borehole in both shear and tension. Nevertheless, there are some well inclination and azimuthal angles than can make an elliptical borehole have more shear and tensile stabilities than a near-circular wellbore.
A Multivariate Geostatistical Framework to Assess the Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Air Pollution and Land Surface Temperature in Bangladesh
Authors: Rahaman Sk Nafiz , Nelson Jake , Ali Al Artat Bin , Shermin Nishat , Pricope Narcisa G. , Al Kafy Abdulla , Sabuj Md Shahaduzzaman , Toa Sharmin Sultana
Published: June 2024

In the context of escalating urban heat dynamics, the effect of air pollutants on Land Surface Temperature (LST) is an urgent concern, especially in the Global South. These regions are experiencing rapid industrialization, leading to an increase in greenhouse gas concentrations. Although the heat-absorbing capacity of air pollutants is well-recognized, the spatiotemporal relationship between these pollutants and LST remains underexplored, particularly in densely populated and industrialized metropolitan areas. Moreover, studies examining multiple pollutants simultaneously to understand their cumulative impact on surface temperature anomalies are scarce. Our study addresses this research gap by developing a spatial–temporal framework using remote sensing data from Google Earth Engine (GEE). We assessed the levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), Ozone (O3), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), and Formaldehyde (HCHO) in Bangladesh. Utilizing Emerging Hotspot Analysis and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) and complementing these with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to create a Pollutant Impact Index (PII), we provide a detailed understanding of pollutant's impact on LST. The results revealed a global R-squared value of 0.61 with maximum local R-squared value of 0.68. Over 30% of the areas studied exhibit high-high clusters for air pollutant coefficients, with notably alarming levels of NO2 and O3, affecting 48.53% and 54.67% of the area, respectively. The PCA underscored the significant role of these pollutants, with the first three principal components accounting for 75% of the variance. Notably, the spatial distribution of the PII across Bangladesh showed substantial regional variations. Urban areas, like Dhaka and Sylhet, exhibited much higher PII values compared to less industrialized regions. These insights highlight the need for targeted environmental strategies to mitigate the impact of air pollution on urban heat dynamics and public health. The study’s findings underscore the urgency of addressing these environmental challenges, particularly in rapidly developing areas of the Global South.
Thirty-year mystery of birth and fertility in China
Authors: Qiao Xiaochun
Published: June 2024

This manuscript provides a comprehensive analysis of the discrepancies in China’s reported and estimated crude birth rates (CBR) over the thirty years from 1990 to 2020, revealing substantial underreporting influenced by family planning policies and demographic shifts. Utilizing data from National Population Censuses and multiple national surveys, this study highlights how birth numbers, crude birth rates, and fertility rates have been consistently adjusted to align with policy narratives rather than actual demographic data. The findings indicate significant differences between direct calculations, reported figures, subsequent post-census adjustments, and estimations for the reality, reflecting a complex interplay of governmental data management and policy enforcement. By reconstructing the thirty-year trajectory of CBR and fertility in China, this paper offers critical insights into the implications of data accuracy for policy making and demographic analysis. The study concludes that the lack of accurate data over the thirty years and official misjudgments of fertility levels are the most important reasons for the failure to liberalize the fertility policy as early as possible.
Review of the current transducer techniques
Authors: Tang Chunjun , Liang Jiakai , Zhu Qiang , Lu Xiaofeng , Shu Jun , Jiang Cong
Published: June 2024

Current measurement technologies encompass a wide array of techniques, numbering over ten distinct methods. Among these, current sensors such as Rogowski coils and transformers based on Ampere’s law stand out. These sensors utilize electrical insulation between the primary and secondary windings, ensuring accurate and safe current measurement. In practical applications, current sensors play a critical role across various industries. They have become indispensable components in numerous devices, including inverters, DC/DC converters, motor controllers, uninterruptible power supplies, switch-mode power supplies, process control systems, and battery management systems. However, the high performance of these sensors often comes with increased costs, necessitating a thorough exploration of their notable advantages and inherent limitations. This paper aims to provide a detailed overview of the working principles and applications of various current sensors. By offering a clearer understanding of the different operating modes of these sensors and their respective strengths and limitations in practical applications, this paper seeks to furnish subsequent researchers with valuable insights for future investigations.
Back pain in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: frequency and risk factors
Authors: Sarkovich Stefan , Leonardi Claudia , Darlow Matthew , Martin Davis , Issa Peter , Soria Tara , Bronstone Amy , Clement Carter
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Although back pain is commonly reported in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), factors that influence the presence and severity of back pain in AIS, including curve-specific variables, have not been well studied. This study aims to describe the prevalence and severity of back pain in AIS patients and determine the extent to which patient characteristics, including curve-specific factors, are associated with a higher risk of back pain in AIS.

Methods

The study was a retrospective medical records review of adolescents (aged 10–17 years) diagnosed with AIS between 01/01/2018 and 12/31/2021 at an academic tertiary children’s hospital. Patients with previous spine surgery were excluded. Variables collected included demographics (age, sex, race, insurance), Lenke classification, major coronal curve, back pain-related information, Risser stage, vitamin D levels, post-diagnosis brace utilization, physical therapy or chiropractic treatment, and surgery.

Results

A total of 891 AIS patients were included in the analysis. The sample was predominantly female (73.3%) and insured by Medicaid (57.8) with a mean age of 12.8 years. The mean major coronal curve was 26.3 degrees. Most patients had Lenke type 1 (47%) and type 5 (41%) curves. Nearly half of patients reported back pain (48.5%) with average pain severity in the low-to-moderate range (4.7) on FACES pain scale (0–10). Among those who reported back pain, 63.2% specified a location with the majority reporting pain in the lumbar region (56%) and, less commonly, in the thoracic (39%) and scapular (8%) regions. Lumbar pain was associated with significantly higher pain intensity (p = 0.033). Additionally, the location of pain reported was associated with location of major coronal curve (p < 0.0001). No association was observed between pain presence and vitamin D deficiency (p = 0.571, n = 175), major coronal curve magnitude (p = 0.999), Lenke curve type (p = 0.577), and sex (p = 0.069). Older patients, those insured by Medicaid, and those with higher Risser scores were more likely to report pain scores (p = 0.001 for all).

Conclusion

Nearly half (48%) of newly diagnosed AIS patients experience back pain which is higher than the prevalence of 33% seen in the general adolescent population. Pain was more prevalent among patients over the age of 13, with heavier body weight, and those insured by Medicaid. Pain was most commonly reported in the lumbar region, especially among patients with lumbar curves. This information can be helpful in counseling AIS patients, though further investigations are needed, especially to determine the underlying causes of back pain in AIS and to elucidate the discrepancy in pain between patients with Medicaid and commercial insurance.

Level of evidence.

Prognostic Study Level II.
MocFormer: A Two-Stage Pre-training-Driven Transformer for Drug–Target Interactions Prediction
Authors: Zhang Yi-Lun , Wang Wen-Tao , Guan Jia-Hui , Jain Deepak Kumar , Wang Tian-Yang , Roy Swalpa Kumar
Published: June 2024

Drug–target interactions is essential for advancing pharmaceuticals. Traditional drug–target interaction studies rely on labor-intensive laboratory techniques. Still, recent advancements in computing power have elevated the importance of deep learning methods, offering faster, more precise, and cost-effective screening and prediction. Nonetheless, general deep learning methods often yield low-confidence results due to the complex nature of drugs and proteins, bias, limited labeled data, and feature extraction challenges. To address these challenges, a novel two-stage pre-trained framework is proposed for drug–target interactions prediction. In the first stage, pre-trained molecule and protein models develop a comprehensive feature representation, enhancing the framework’s ability to handle drug and protein diversity. This also reduces bias, improving prediction accuracy. In the second stage, a transformer with bilinear pooling and a fully connected layer enables predictions based on feature vectors. Comprehensive experiments were conducted using public datasets from DrugBank and Epigenetic-regulators datasets to evaluate the framework’s effectiveness. The results demonstrate that the proposed framework outperforms the state-of-the-art methods regarding accuracy, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, recall, and area under the precision-recall curve. The code is available at: https://github.com/DHCGroup/MocFormer.
Impact Assessment as a Legal Design Pattern—A “Timeless Way” of Managing Future Risks?
Authors: Wernick Alina
Published: June 2024

Impact assessments are increasingly employed and debated as instruments for mitigating the fundamental rights risks associated with artificial intelligence, platforms and personal data processing. However, before their adoption in connection with technology and fundamental rights, impact assessments have been used for decades to mitigate large undertakings’ environmental and social impacts. An impact assessment is a process for collecting information to identify a future action’s effects and mitigate its unwanted effects. This article proposes that impact assessments represent a distinct legal design pattern with core elements that can be replicated in new legal contexts requiring ex-ante identification and mitigation of foreseeable risks. The tensions between diverging interests, temporality, epistemics and economics characterise this legal design pattern. The impact assessment process seeks to resolve these tensions by enabling translation between the regulator, the executor of the planned action and the stakeholders impacted by it. Awareness of the underlying patterns allows the lawmaker or the regulator to learn across diverse impact assessment models. Design pattern thinking advances research both on law and regulation by uncovering the tensions underling the design solution, as well as pattern interaction between legally mandated impact assessments and those representing other regulatory instruments. Finally, the approach raises awareness of the instrument’s shortcomings, including spheres where relying on complementary legal design patterns, such as precautionary principle, is more justified.
Unraveling the mechanism of assimilatory nitrate reduction and methane oxidation by Methylobacter sp. YHQ through dual N-O isotope analysis and kinetic modeling
Authors: Chen Guojun , Hao Qinqin , Zeng Raymond Jianxiong , Kappler Andreas , Li Xiaomin , Yue Fujun , Hu Shiwen , Yang Yang , Liu Fanghua , Li Han , Qian Dayi , Yang Baoguo , Sarkytkan Kaster , Liu Tongxu , Li Fangbai
Published: June 2024

Assimilatory nitrate reduction and methane (CH4) oxidation by bacteria play important roles in carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) biogeochemical cycles. Here, an investigation of enzymatic assimilatory nitrate reduction and CH4 oxidation by Methylobacter sp. YHQ from the wetlands is presented, specifically concentrating on N and oxygen (O) isotope fractionation with various initial nitrate and oxygen concentrations. The N enrichment factors (15εassimilation) increased from 4.2 ± 0.7‰ to 6.9 ±1.3‰ and the O isotope enrichment factors (18εassimilation) increased from 2.7 ± 0.9‰ to 4.7 ± 0.8‰ during nitrate assimilation when initial nitrate concentrations increased from 0.9 mM to 2 mM. Similar 18ε and 15ε values were observed at different oxygen concentrations. The values of 18ε and 15ε provided vital parameters for the assessment of assimilatory nitrate reduction via the Rayleigh equation approach. The ratios of O and N isotope enrichment factors (18ε:15ε)assimilation ranged from 0.64 ± 0.15 to 0.74 ± 0.18 during nitrate assimilation by Methylobacter sp. YHQ with Nas, which were different from (18ε:15ε)assimilation for assimilatory eukaryotic nitrate reductase (eukNR) from literature data. Thus, N and O isotope fractionation could be useful tools to distinguish eukNR from Nas during nitrate assimilation. Additionally, the rates of CH4 oxidation and nitrate reduction were evaluated with a reaction-based kinetic model, and it quantitatively described the enzymatic reactions of nitrate assimilation. Combining dual N-O isotope analysis with kinetic modeling provides new insights into the microbially driven C-N interactions.

Graphical Abstract
A systematic review and meta-data analysis of clinical data repositories in Africa and beyond: recent development, challenges, and future directions
Authors: Adewole Kayode S. , Alozie Emmanuel , Olagunju Hawau , Faruk Nasir , Aliyu Ruqayyah Yusuf , Imoize Agbotiname Lucky , Abdulkarim Abubakar , Imam-Fulani Yusuf Olayinka , Garba Salisu , Baba Bashir Abdullahi , Hussaini Mustapha , Oloyede Abdulkarim A. , Abdullahi Aminu , Kanya Rislan Abdulazeez , Usman Dahiru Jafaru
Published: June 2024

A Clinical Data Repository (CDR) is a dynamic database capable of real-time updates with patients' data, organized to facilitate rapid and easy retrieval. CDRs offer numerous benefits, ranging from preserving patients' medical records for follow-up care and prescriptions to enabling the development of intelligent models that can predict, and potentially mitigate serious health conditions. While several research works have attempted to provide state-of-the-art reviews on CDR design and implementation, reviews from 2013 to 2023 cover CDR regulations, guidelines, standards, and challenges in CDR implementation without providing a holistic overview of CDRs. Additionally, these reviews need to adequately address critical aspects of CDR; development and utilization, CDR architecture and metadata, CDR management tools, CDR security, use cases, and artificial intelligence (AI) in CDR design and implementation. The collective knowledge gaps in these works underscore the imperative for a comprehensive overview of the diverse spectrum of CDR as presented in the current study. Existing reviews conducted over the past decade, from 2013 to 2023 have yet to comprehensively cover the critical aspects of CDR development, which are essential for uncovering trends and potential future research directions in Africa and beyond. These aspects include architecture and metadata, security and privacy concerns, tools employed, and more. To bridge this gap, in particular, this study conducts a comprehensive systematic review of CDR, considering critical facets such as architecture and metadata, security and privacy issues, regulations guiding development, practical use cases, tools employed, the role of AI and machine learning (ML) in CDR development, existing CDRs, and challenges faced during CDR development and deployment in Africa and beyond. Specifically, the study extracts valuable discussions and analyses of the different aspects of CDR. Key findings revealed that most architectural models for CDR are still in the theoretical phase, with low awareness and adoption of CDR in healthcare environments, susceptibility to several security threats, and the need to integrate federated learning in CDR systems. Overall, this paper would serve as a valuable reference for designing and implementing cutting-edge clinical data repositories in Africa and beyond.
Participation rate and economic cost of ProjectECHO® at an urban academic medical center
Authors: Markossian Talar W. , Wolodiger Emily D. , Wainer Allison L.
Published: June 2024

This paper describes costs associated with establishing and delivering Early Childhood ECHO® (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) program to train community-based early care providers working in Chicago’s West Side communities in identifying and addressing the most common developmental, behavioral, and social-emotional concerns in young children. Results suggest that it costs $33,120 to train 12 providers within a societal perspective and $29,584 within the funder perspective; however, the cost of program delivery decreases as additional cohorts of providers are trained. This program holds promise as a relatively affordable approach to reducing long-term costs associated with behavioral health and developmental problems and improving outcomes for children and youth.
An earthquake spectra parameters near the new capital administrative city, Egypt
Authors: Salama Asem , Moussa Hesham Hussein , Maklad Mohamed
Published: June 2024

Seven Strong Motion stations recorded an earthquake of Mw 3.8 on December, 31 2018 on the Cairo- Suez southern road. The furthest NUB station is about 302 km from the epicenter, whereas the closest KOT station is 10 km away. This event is considered the first recorded acceleration event near the new capital administrative city. The KOT station has the highest recorded acceleration, measuring 16.38 Gal. The peak ground velocity (PGV), peak ground displacement (PGD), and Pseudo acceleration values for the same station are calculated to be 0.00109 m/s, 0.114 cm, and 0.0731 g, respectively. An intensity map was created for this event as a questionnaire gathered information from Facebook and EMSC. In the vicinity of Qattamiya Observatory, the maximum observed intensity is (IV). According to the geological information and average shear wave velocity calculated from previous studies, We classified the station sites into soil types B, C, and D. We correlated them with the HVSR analysis obtained from S-wave earthquake data. The maximum amplification factor (A0) was found for a BANH station equal to 5.8 and equivalent to the Fundamental frequency (F0) of 3 Hz. The minimum amplification factor was found to be for stations of ISM & NUB with A0 equal to 2.8 and 1.6, respectively, while Fundamental frequency (F0) was 0.7 and 2 Hz, respectively. At the KOT station, the response design spectrum indicates a maximum value of 70 Gal. The new Egyptian capital administrative city is strongly advised to set up an early warning system and structural earth monitoring to manage the risk assessment of any potential seismic activities in the future.
Long-range two-dimensional hydrodynamic interaction between a pair of mutually repellent disks
Authors: Yariv Ehud , Peng Gunnar G.
Published: June 2024

While the problem governing Stokes flow about a single particle that is subject to an external force is ill posed in two dimensions (the ‘Stokes paradox’), the related problem of two mutually repellent particles is well posed. Motivated by self-assembly phenomena in thin viscous membranes, we consider this problem in the limit of remote particles. Such limits are typically handled in the literature using reflection techniques, which provide successive approximations to the mutual hydrodynamic interactions. Since their starting point is a single particle in an unbounded fluid domain, these techniques are futile in the present two-dimensional problem. We show how this apparent contradiction is resolved via use of singular perturbations. We obtain a two-term approximation for the velocity acquired by circular disks, considering both rigid and free particle surfaces. We also illustrate our perturbation scheme for elliptic disks, deriving a renormalised single-particle velocity. The utility of our asymptotic scheme is illustrated in the general problem of hydrodynamic interaction between a cluster of remote disks.
The characteristics of bubbly shock waves in a cavitating axisymmetric venturi via time-resolved X-ray densitometry
Authors: Gawandalkar Udhav U. , Poelma Christian
Published: June 2024

The bubbly shock-driven partial cavitation in an axisymmetric venturi is studied with time-resolved two-dimensional X-ray densitometry. The bubbly shock waves are characterised using the vapour fraction and pressure changes across it, propagation velocity, and Mach number. The sharp changes in vapour fraction measured with X-ray densitometry, combined with high-frequency dynamic pressure measurements, reveal that the interaction of the pressure wave with the vapour cavity dictates the shedding dynamics. At the lowest cavitation number (

$\sigma \sim 0.47$

), the condensation shock front is the predominant shedding mechanism. However, as

$\sigma$

increases (

$\sigma \sim 0.78$

), we observe an upstream travelling pressure discontinuity that changes into a condensation shock as it approaches the venturi throat. This coincides with the increasing strength of the bubbly shock wave as it propagates upstream, manifested by the increasing velocity of the shock front and the pressure rise across it. Consequently, the Mach number of the shock front increases and surpasses the critical value 1, favouring condensation shocks. Further, at higher

$\sigma$

(

${\sim }0.84\unicode{x2013}0.9$

), both the re-entrant jet and pressure wave can cause cavity detachment. However, at such

$\sigma$

, the pressure wave likely remains subsonic. Hence cavity condensation is not favoured readily. This leads to the re-entrant jet causing the cavity detachment at higher

$\sigma$

. The shock front is accelerated as it propagates upstream through the variable cross-section of the venturi. This enhances its strength, favouring cavity condensation and eventual shedding. These observations explain the existence of shock fronts in an axisymmetric venturi for a large range of

$\sigma$

.
Analysing Patient Trajectories of Individuals with Alcohol Use Disorders (PRAGMA)
Authors: Manthey Jakob , Becher Heiko , Gallinat Jürgen , Kraus Ludwig , Martens Marcus , Möckl Justin , Murawski Monika , Neumann-Runde Eike , Reimer Jens , Wirth Marielle , Rehm Jürgen , Schäfer Ingo , Schulte Bernd
Published: June 2024

Abstract: Aim: Alcohol use is causing a considerable health burden for individuals and society in Germany. To reduce the burden from alcohol use, ensuring optimal treatment for those who are in need, is key. With this data-linkage study, we aim to provide a comprehensive description of healthcare service use among individuals with alcohol use disorders (AUD) in Hamburg, the second-largest German city. Methods: The study population is defined as adults living in Hamburg, currently insured by one of two statutory health insurance funds and with at least one alcohol-specific ICD-10 code between 2016 and 2021. Additionally, we will obtain data from pension funds and the Hamburg basic data monitoring system of outpatient addiction aid. By using unique identifiers, individual register data from these three sources will be linked. Hypotheses and qualitative analyses are presented in the form of research questions to analyse administrative prevalence rates, patient trajectories and predictors of treatment success as well as to estimate the impact of prototypical care pathways and the COVID-19 pandemic on utilization of alcohol-specific healthcare services. Discussion: The study ‘Patient Routes of People with Alcohol Use Disorders in Germany’ (PRAGMA) will be the first to provide an in-depth understanding of treatment provision for people with AUD in Germany. Following up a heterogeneous sample of people with AUD for six years will provide a unique opportunity to compare current with recommended care pathways as well to identify options for care improvements.
Recently Identified Mesoproterozoic Strata in South‐Central Idaho Document Late‐Stage Rifting of the Nuna Supercontinent in Western Laurentia
Authors: Lever J. P. , Sundell K. E. , Pearson D. M. , Brennan D.T.
Published: June 2024

Sedimentary basins are valuable archives of tectonic processes involved in continental rifting. The northern Rocky Mountains preserve the Belt Supergroup, one of the most complete records of Mesoproterozoic strata on Earth; however, debate remains about its tectonic origin. We investigated a recently identified package of Mesoproterozoic strata at Leaton Gulch near Challis, Idaho, using a combination of traditional and newer sedimentological tools. Results suggest that the Leaton Gulch stratigraphic section was deposited in a fluvial setting ca. 1,380–1,317 Ma, spanning the poorly documented interval between late Belt Supergroup deposition at ∼1,370 Ma and recently characterized Deer Trail Group strata that are less than 1,300 Ma. Detrital zircon age distributions from Leaton Gulch demonstrate a similar provenance signature to Missoula Group rocks of the upper Belt Supergroup; however, Leaton Gulch strata are up to ∼70 Ma younger than most prior age constraints on Belt Supergroup rocks. Regional metabentonites (interpreted as metamorphosed reworked tuffs) found within Leaton Gulch and Missoula Group strata show dominantly radiogenic εHf(t), with a range of −8 to +15, interpreted as a mix of primary mantle and remelted metasedimentary sources. Zircon trace element data of the metabentonite from Leaton Gulch suggest a 1,450–1,300 Ma geochemically consistent and moderate–high silica melt source. Collectively, the strata of Leaton Gulch record basin sedimentation during a critical window of Mesoproterozoic time. We speculate that sedimentation during late‐stage Belt Supergroup deposition thickened and stepped westward, abandoning the main Belt basin, culminating with breakup of the Nuna Supercontinent.
Long‐Term Trend in Black Carbon Mass Concentration Over Central Indo‐Gangetic Plain Location: Understanding the Implied Change in Radiative Forcing
Authors: Mehrotra Bharat Ji , Srivastava Atul K. , Singh Amarendra , Parashar Dirgha , Majumder Nabankur , Singh R. S. , Choudhary Arti , Srivastava Manoj K.
Published: June 2024

For the first‐time, analysis of a decade long measurement of Black Carbon mass concentration (BC) was carried out at a representative central Indo‐Gangetic Plain (IGP) location, Varanasi (25.30°N, 83.03°E, 79 m asl), from 2009 to 2021 to understand its physical, optical, and radiative impacts. During the 13‐year study period, the daily BC mass concentration was found to vary between 0.07 and 46.23 μg m−3 (mean 9.18 ± 6.53 μg m−3) and showed a strong inter‐annual and intra‐annual variations. The inter‐annual variability of BC showed a significant decreasing trend (−0.47 μg m−3 yr−1), with a maximum during the post‐monsoon (−1.86 μg m−3 yr−1) and minimum during the pre‐monsoon season (−0.31 μg m−3 yr−1). The Black Carbon Aerosol Radiative Forcing (BC‐ARF) at the top of the atmosphere (BC‐ARFT), surface (BC‐ARFS), and within the atmosphere (BC‐ARFA) was found to be 10.3 ± 6.4, −30.1 ± 18.9, and 40.5 ± 25.2 W m−2, respectively. BC‐ARF also showed a strong inter‐annual variability with a decreasing trend for BC‐ARFT (−0.47 W m−2 yr−1) and BC‐ARFA (−1.94 W m−2 yr−1), while it showed an increasing trend for BC‐ARFS (1.33 W m−2 yr−1). Concentrated weighted trajectories (CWT) and potential source contribution function (PSCF) analyses were performed at the station to determine the potential source sectors and transport routes of BC aerosols. These analyses revealed that the long‐range source of BC at Varanasi originates from the upper and lower IGP, central highlands, southern peninsular region, Pakistan, and even from the Central East Asia region.
Political voting in the United Kingdom 2019 general election and risk of living with obesity in a nationally representative sample
Authors: Daley A. J. , Roalfe A. K. , Bleich S. N.
Published: June 2024

Background

Limited evidence from the United States suggests that county/state rates of people with obesity are positively associated with voting for the Republican Party presidential candidate, although this question has not yet been studied at the individual level, and/or outside of the United States, where the health and political systems are very different in other countries.

Objectives

Using individual level data, assess differences in rates of people with obesity according to political voting in the United Kingdom 2019 general election, and examine whether people living in constituencies won by Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Conservative Party were more likely to be living with obesity than those living in constituencies won by MPs from other parties.

Methods

Data was obtained by the Ipsos KnowledgePanel where panellists are recruited via a random probability unclustered address-based sampling method. 4000/14,016 panellists were randomly invited to provide data on socio-demographics, health outcomes, voting behaviour and height/weight.

Results

2668/4000 (67%) of invitees provided data, 95/2668 (3.5%) were not eligible to vote, with the remaining 2573 (96.5%) included. Conservative Party voters were more likely to be living with obesity than those who voted Labour (OR:1.42 95% CI (1.01–1.99)) or Liberal Democrats (1.54 95% CI (1.00–2.37)). Conservative Party voters on average had significantly higher BMI scores than those voting Labour and Liberal Democrats; BMI mean difference 0.88 points (95% CI: 0.16–1.61) between Conservative and Labour voters, and 1.04 points (95% CI: 0.07–2.02) between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats voters. There was no evidence participants living in constituencies won by Conservative MPs were more likely to be living with obesity than constituencies won by other party MPs.

Conclusion

Governments and public health agencies may need to focus on the political affiliation of the public when developing strategies to reduce the number of people with obesity.
Severity in the genomic age: the significance of lived experience to understandings of severity
Authors: Kaur Amarpreet
Published: June 2024

This article explores the significance of lived experience to understandings of severity in the genomic age. It draws upon data from structured interviews with 21 people living with monogenic conditions in England. The article argues that while lived experiences are subjective, participants consider the severity of disease by the impact a condition has on a person’s quality of life and mental health; both of these interplays are influenced by social, economic, and environmental factors. The three factors and considerations to the impact of living with disease on mental health are generally absent from current frameworks designed to assess severity for clinical applications of genomic technologies such as preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). This article describes ways in which such factors impact the quality of life and the mental health of people living with genetic conditions. It also indicates what lived experiences, which illustrate the impact of these factors, have to offer policy-makers when they are assessing the concept of severity or seriousness of genetic conditions for applications of existing and potential genomic technologies in the genomic age.