bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Community-based approaches to improve tuberculosis services: observations from preintervention and postintervention surveys in a high TB burden disadvantaged community in India
Authors: Bhat Jyothi , Sharma Ravendra Kumar , Yadav Rajiv , Muniyandi M , Mishra Prashant , Nigam Samridhi , Lingala Mercy Aparna Latha , Rao Vikas Gangadhar
Published: October 2024

An alarmingly high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) was reported among the Saharia tribe in Madhya Pradesh, India. A community-based intervention study was undertaken to improve TB case finding during 2018–2021. The interventions mainly comprised active case detection through village TB volunteers using advocacy, communication and social mobilisation activities. A preintervention and postintervention survey design was adopted to assess the impact of intervention. The prevalence declined from 1357 (95% CI 1206 to 1527) to 752 (95% CI 646 to 875) per 100 000 population (p<0.001). The study findings highlight the importance of innovative community-based approaches in controlling TB in high burden areas.
Concentration-dependent nonradiative decay mechanisms in fluorescence self-quenching: insights from azulene and 1,3-dichloroazulene
Authors: Samantha Priyadarshani Disanayaka M. , Stevens Amy L.
Published: October 2024

A series of steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopies were performed on azulene (Az) and its 1,3-dihalogenated analogue, 1,3-dichloroazulene (DCAz). Understanding the intra/intermolecular interactions in these types of systems is the key to unlocking the potential of these molecules and enabling their application in a range of future devices. Therefore, the concentration dependence of their self-quenched fluorescence intensities and of the reduced lifetimes of their second-excited singlet states were examined. A Stern–Volmer analysis was implemented based on these experiments, which resulted in DCAz exhibiting a higher bimolecular quenching constant, compared to Az, due to its shorter excited-state lifetime. The highly efficient self-quenching at room temperature was a result of a short-range energy transfer mechanism.
Acupuncture: A Review of the Safety and Adverse Events and the Strategy of Potential Risk Prevention
Authors: Huang Chien-Chen , Kotha Peddanna , Tu Cheng-Hao , Huang Ming-Cheng , Chen Yi-Hung , Lin Jaung-Geng
Published: October 2024

Acupuncture is widely accepted as a therapeutic treatment by patients and healthcare providers globally. The safety record has been well established in acupuncture practice although some rare adverse events (AEs) were reported in the literature. While acupuncture-related AEs are generally defined as any undesirable event that occurs in patients during acupuncture treatment that may or may not be associated with the treatment, acupuncture-related adverse reactions (ARs) are defined as any undesirable or harmful reaction induced by trained practitioners practicing acupuncture treatment with standard doses. In this review, we clarify the relationship between AEs and ARs. Furthermore, we compile a list of acupuncture-related AEs reported in systematic reviews and meta-analysis articles. We find that serious acupuncture-related AEs are rare, with serious AEs occurring at a rate of approximately 0.04–0.08 per 10,000 treatments. The most likely serious AEs are pneumothorax, central and peripheral nerve injuries, heart injuries, abdominal organ injuries, infections, and needle breakage. Commonly reported minor AEs include bruising, hematoma, or bleeding at the needling site, as well as vasovagal reactions such as tiredness, dizziness, fainting, or residual pain at insertion points. The analysis identifies contributing factors for serious AEs being deep needle penetration, incorrect acupoint selection, and improper needle manipulation. It also addresses infections caused by contaminated needles, environmental factors, and inadequate skin disinfection. Moreover, other serious AEs, like needle breakage, are mostly due to aggressive manipulation and repeated reheating. Importantly, most acupuncture-related AEs are preventable. To avoid such AEs, acupuncturists in clinical practice should carefully select needling areas, be aware of cautions and contraindications of acupuncture, maintain safe acupuncture depth and hygiene, and strictly adhere to standard operating procedures.
Decision Support Model for Selecting the Optimal Blockchain Oracle Platform: An Evaluation of Key Factors
Authors: Ahmadjee Sabreen , Mera-Gómez Carlos , Farshidi Siamak , Bahsoon Rami , Kazman Rick
Published: October 2024

Smart contract-based applications are executed in a blockchain environment, and they cannot directly access data from external systems, which is required for the service provision of these applications. Instead, smart contracts use agents known as blockchain oracles to collect and provide data feeds to the contracts. The functionality and compatibility with smart contract applications need to be considered when selecting the best-fit oracle platform. As the number of oracle alternatives and their features increases, the decision-making process becomes increasingly complex. Selecting the wrong or sub-optimal oracle is costly and may lead to severe security risks. This article provides a decision support model for the oracle selection problem. The model supports smart contract decision-makers in selecting a secure, cost-effective, and feasible oracle platform for their applications. We interviewed oracle co-founders and smart contracts experts to refine and validate the decision model. Two real-world smart contract application case studies were used to evaluate the model. Our model prioritises and suggests more than one possible oracle platform based on the developer’s required criteria, security assessment and cost analysis. Moreover, this guided decision model serves to reveal issues that may go unnoticed if done haphazardly, reduce decision-making efforts and provide a cost-effective solution.
DeLoSo: Detecting Logic Synthesis Optimization Faults Based on Configuration Diversity
Authors: Jiang He , Zou Peiyu , Li Xiaochen , Zhou Zhide , Zhao Xu , Zhang Yi , Guo Shikai
Published: October 2024

Logic synthesis tools are the core components of digital circuit design, which convert programs written in hardware description languages into gate-level netlists and optimize the netlists. However, the netlist optimization is complex, with numerous optimization parameters to be configured. Any minor optimization faults in logic synthesis tools may cause circuit diagrams to significantly deviate from the original design, posing risks in target systems. We propose DeLoSo, the
De
tector of
Lo
gic
S
ynthesis
o
ptimization faults, the first method specifically designed to identify potential faults in the optimization processes of logic synthesis tools. DeLoSo relies on netlist differences and parameter variations to guide the generation of diverse Logic Synthesis Optimization Configuration (LSOC) combinations to thoroughly test the optimization process. DeLoSo consists of three components: LSOC generator, which generates diverse LSOC combinations through configuration recombination and mutation; LSOC diversity evaluator, which assesses the diversity of optimization configurations; and LSOC validator, which validates the generated LSOC combinations to discover optimization faults. DeLoSo identified 19 faults in two established logic synthesis tools (i.e., Vivado and Yosys); 15 of them have been fixed by vendors. Particularly, the community maintainers of Yosys have considered incorporating DeLoSo into Yosys’ existing test suite.
Explainable Optimisation through Online and Offline Hyper-heuristics
Authors: Yates William B. , Keedwell Edward C. , Kheiri Ahmed
Published: October 2024

Abstract - Research in the explainability of optimisation techniques has largely focused on metaheuristics and their movement of solutions around the search landscape. Hyper-heuristics create a different challenge for explainability as they make use of many more operators, or low-level heuristics and learning algorithms which modify their probability of selection online. This paper describes a set of methods for explaining hyper-heuristics decisions in both online and offline scenarios using selection hyper-heuristics as an example. These methods help to explain various aspects of the function of hyper-heuristics both at a particular juncture in the optimisation process and through time. Visualisations of each method acting on sequences provide an understanding of which operators are being utilised and when, and in which combinations to produce a greater understanding of the algorithm-problem nexus in hyper-heuristic search. These methods are demonstrated on a range of problems including those in operational research and water distribution network optimisation. They demonstrate the insight that can be generated from optimisation using selection hyper-heuristics, including building an understanding of heuristic usage, useful combinations of heuristics and heuristic parameterisations. Furthermore the dynamics of heuristic utility are explored throughout an optimisation run and we show that it is possible to cluster problem instances according to heuristic selection alone, providing insight into the perception of problems from a hyper-heuristic perspective.
JobFormer: Skill-Aware Job Recommendation with Semantic-Enhanced Transformer
Authors: Guan Zhihao , Yang Jia-Qi , Yang Yang , Zhu Hengshu , Li Wenjie , Xiong Hui
Published: October 2024

Job recommendation aims to provide potential talents with suitable job descriptions (JDs) consistent with their career trajectory, which plays an essential role in proactive talent recruitment. In real-world management scenarios, the available JD-user records always consist of JDs, user profiles, and click data, in which the user profiles are typically summarized as the user's skill distribution for privacy reasons. Although existing sophisticated recommendation methods can be directly employed, effective recommendation still has challenges considering the information deficit of JD itself and the natural heterogeneous gap between JD and user profile. To address these challenges, we proposed a novel skill-aware recommendation model based on the designed semantic-enhanced Transformer to parse JDs and complete personalized job recommendation. Specifically, we first model the relative items of each JD and then adopt an encoder with the local-global attention mechanism to better mine the intra-job and inter-job dependencies from JD tuples. Moreover, we adopt a two-stage learning strategy for skill-aware recommendation, in which we utilize the skill distribution to guide JD representation learning in the recall stage and then combine the user profiles for final prediction in the ranking stage. Consequently, we can embed rich contextual semantic representations for learning JDs, while skill-aware recommendation provides effective JD-user joint representation for click-through rate (CTR) prediction. To validate the superior performance of our method for job recommendation, we present a thorough empirical analysis of large-scale real-world and public datasets to demonstrate its effectiveness and interpretability.
Key Performance Indicators of Secondary Health Care in Chronic Kidney Disease: Experience in Public and Private Services in the State of São Paulo, Brazil
Authors: Samaan Farid , Vicente Cristiane Akemi , Pais Luiz Antônio Coutinho , Kirsztajn Gianna Mastroianni , Sesso Ricardo
Published: October 2024

Introduction: The objective of this study was to evaluate quality indicators of secondary health care in chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: This retrospective longitudinal study was conducted in an outpatient medical nephrology clinic of the Brazilian Unified Health System (UHS) and a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic of a private health plan (PHP). The inclusion criteria were age ≥ 18 years, ≥ 3 medical appointments, and follow‐up time ≥ 6 months.

Results: Compared to PHP patients (n = 183), UHS patients (n = 276) were older (63.4 vs. 59.7 years, p = 0.04), had more arterial hypertension (AH) (91.7% vs. 84.7%, p = 0.02) and dyslipidemia (58.3 vs. 38.3%, p < 0.01), and had a lower estimated baseline glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (29.9 [21.5–42.0] vs. 39.1 [28.6–54.8] mL/min/1.73 m2, p < 0.01). Compared to PHP patients, UHS patients had a lower percentage of diabetics with glycated hemoglobin < 7.5% (46.1% vs. 61.2%, p = 0.03), fewer people with potassium < 5.5 mEq/L (90.4% vs. 95.6%, p = 0.04), and fewer referrals for hemodialysis with functioning arteriovenous fistula (AVF) (9.1% vs. 54.3%, p < 0.01). The percentages of people with hypertension and blood pressure < 140 × 90 mmHg were similar between the UHS and PHP groups (59.7% vs. 66.7%; p = 0.17), as was the percentage of people with parathyroid hormone control (85.6% vs. 84.8%; p = 0.83), dyslipidemia and LDL‐cholesterol < 100 mg/dL (38.3% vs. 49.3%; p = 0.13), phosphorus < 4.5 mg/dL (78.5% vs. 72.0%; p = 0.16), and 25‐OH‐vitamin‐D > 30 ng/mL (28.4% vs. 36.5%; p = 0.11). The crude reduction in eGFR was greater in the UHS group than in PHP (2.3 [−0.1; 5.9] vs. 1.1 [−1.9; 4.6] mL/min/1.73 m2; p < 0.01). In the multivariate linear mixed‐effects model, UHS patients also showed faster CKD progression over time than PHS ones (group effect, p < 0.01; time effect, p < 0.01; interaction, p < 0.01).

Conclusions: Quality of care for patients with CKD can be improved through both services, and multidisciplinary care may have a positive impact on the control of comorbidities, the progression of CKD, and the planning of the initiation of hemodialysis.
Detection of Delamination in Composite Laminate Using Mode Shape Processing Method and YOLOv8
Authors: Huang Mingxuan , Xu Zhonghai , Chen Dianyu , Cai Chaocan , Yin Weilong , Wang Rongguo , He Xiaodong
Published: October 2024

In this study, a novel delamination detection method for composite materials is proposed through the innovative use of You Only Look Once v8 (YOLOv8), vibration analysis, and 2D continuous wavelet transform techniques. The method detects the location and size of damage more accurately than existing methods and avoids manual intervention in the detection process. Damage detection performed on the simulation dataset shows that the method is able to accurately identify the delamination location with IoU = 0.9906 and an average accuracy of 91.32%. The proposed method is then compared with the widely used YOLOv5 model, and the superior performance of the YOLOv8 model is verified, with a 37.93% improvement in training speed and 0.81% improvement in detection accuracy. In addition, an experimental dataset of four composite laminates with delamination damage is constructed. By using transfer learning, the performance of the pretrained network achieves a good precision up to 1. The method proposed in this study expands the range of tasks that can be accomplished by mode shape analysis and is very effective in real experiments.
q‐Deformed Glueball Spectrum in AdS/QCD Correspondence
Authors: Santos Fabiano F. , Brito F. A.
Published: October 2024

This work presents the application of the q‐algebra in the glueball spectrum. This algebra is implemented through Jackson’s derivatives in a Schrödinger‐like equation resulting from the gravity fluctuations around the braneworld scenario in five dimensions. In our prescription, we consider a four‐dimensional AdS4 brane, living in AdS5 bulk, that is also known for describing locally localized gravity via quasizero mode. At the appropriate limit, this background leads to confinement and allows us to find the shape of the q‐deformed glueball spectrum in the AdS5/QCD4 correspondence. The introduction of the q‐deformation provides us with a richer glueball spectrum.
Optimal Parameter Identification of Energy Harvesters Using Vector Impedance Quantum Genetic Algorithm: A Case Study With Current Transformer
Authors: Xiang Shiyezi , Du Lin , Yu Huizong , Xiao Jianhong , Chen Weigen , Wan Fu
Published: October 2024

Energy harvesting technology, as an emerging energy technology, has contributed outstandingly to the application of online monitoring sensors in power systems. The accurate parameter identification of the harvesters is crucial for their power supply applications. This work aims to investigate the parameter identification of harvesters with complex equivalent circuit models, here taking a current transformer as an example. However, previous studies focused on optimizing algorithms rather than data sources. This paper demonstrates a vector impedance quantum genetic algorithm (QGA) parameter identification method to identify the amplitude and phase information of the impedance responses. By comparing the results of the proposed method with the genetic algorithm and PSO based on impedance responses and QGA based on load resistance responses, it is proved that the proposed vector impedance QGA identification method is optimal in terms of accuracy, speed, and robustness. The root mean square errors of the output voltage and the phase difference with the primary current for the proposed method are 5.884 × 10−5 V and 4.473 × 10−4 ms. Moreover, the practical applicability of this method is validated, demonstrating its effectiveness in real‐life and industrial settings. The proposed identification method in this paper changes the source data so that the sample data are small in volume and extensive in information, which enables faster and more accurate parameter identification. This study provides a new idea for parameter identification researches.
Volatile Metabolite Profiles of Robusta Green Bean Coffee From Different Geographical Origins in West Java and Their Correlation With Temperature, Rainfall, and Altitudes Using SPME GC‐MS–Based Metabolomics
Authors: Marwani Erly , Syamsudin Tati Surjati , Awaliyah Suci , Maulani Rijanti Rahaju , Hidayat Asep , Husyari Ujang Dinar , Widiyanto Srinanan
Published: October 2024

The chemical composition, including volatile metabolites of green coffee beans, is influenced by geographic origin. The aim of this study was to reveal the volatile metabolite profile of a single variety of Robusta green bean coffee from five major plantation regions in West Java and to correlate these profiles with temperature, rainfall, and altitude. By using solid phase micro extractions and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry, 143 different volatile compounds were detected, with aromatic hydrocarbon, alcohols, monoterpene, pyrazines, sesquiterpenes, carboxylic acids, and terpene the most dominant. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated 64.3% variability, showing that the metabolite profile of Robusta green coffee from the Bogor region was distinctly different from those in Ciamis, Kuningan, Sumedang, and Tasikmalaya, which were more similar to each other. Metabolites such as benzaldehyde, isovaleric acid, toluene, diisobutyl succinate, 1‐heptene, 4‐dodecene, caffeine, acetic acid, and methyl benzoate were identified as key discriminants, with a VIP score greater than 1.5. Temperature increases were linked to higher levels of isovaleric acid, diisobutyl succinate, 4‐dodecene, toluene, and acetic acid, while other discriminant metabolites declined. Increased rainfall was associated with higher levels of benzaldehyde, 1‐heptene, caffeine, and methyl benzoate, but lower levels of the other discriminants. Altitude had a positive correlation with methyl benzoate and 1‐heptene, and a negative correlation with isovaleric acid and 4‐dodecene, with weaker correlations for other compounds. In summary, Robusta green coffee beans from different regions of West Java can be distinguished by their volatile metabolites. Bogor green coffee beans had higher levels of benzaldehyde, 1‐heptene, caffeine, and methyl benzoate, Kuningan beans had more diisobutyl succinate and 4‐dodecene, Ciamis beans had higher levels of isovaleric acid, diisobutyl succinate, and 4‐dodecene, while Sumedang and Tasikmalaya beans were similar, with higher levels of isovaleric acid, diisobutyl succinate, 4‐dodecene, toluene, and acetic acid. This difference is related to the climatic factors of temperature and rainfall, as well as the altitude at which Robusta coffee is grown.
Functional Involvement of TANK‐Binding Kinase 1 in the MyD88‐Dependent NF‐κB Pathway Through Syk
Authors: Kim Han Gyung , Kim Ji Hye , Yu Tao , Cho Jae Youl
Published: October 2024

Inflammation is a vital immune defense mechanism regulated by Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) and the nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) pathway. TANK‐binding kinase 1 (TBK1) is central to immunity and inflammation and influences antiviral responses and cellular processes. However, the precise role of TBK1 in modulating the NF‐κB pathway through interactions with other proteins, such as spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), remains poorly understood. As dysregulation of TBK1 and NF‐κB can lead to a variety of diseases, they are important therapeutic targets. In this work, inflammatory processes involving the TBK1‐Syk‐NF‐κB pathway were elucidated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced macrophages; human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells overexpressing MyD88, TBK1, and Syk proteins and their mutants; and real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunoblotting analyses, and kinase assays. TBK1 was activated in LPS‐, poly I:C‐, and Pam3CSK‐stimulated macrophages. Transcript levels of TNF, NOS2, and IL1B were increased in cells overexpressing TBK1 but not in cells overexpressing TBK1 K38A. The transcription of TNF, NOS2, and IL1B and NF‐κB luciferase activity were inhibited by silencing TBK1 in LPS‐stimulated RAW264.7 cells and MyD88‐transfected HEK293 cells. Syk was the key mediator of the TBK1‐dependent NF‐κB pathway and bound directly to the coiled coil domain of TBK1, which was necessary to activate Syk and the Syk‐p85 pathway. This research advances the understanding of the role of TBK1 in NF‐κB signaling, emphasizing Syk as a key mediator. The interaction between TBK1 and Syk has potential for precise immune modulation that can be applied to treat immune‐related disorders.
Honey as an Alternative Dressing in Post‐Palatoplasty—Two Case Reports
Authors: David Clara , Rasul Irfan , Ariestiana Yossy Y. , Fauzi Abul
Published: October 2024

Palatoplasty is a surgical procedure used to repair a cleft palate. Postsurgery there are times when the healing process is disrupted. Honey has been utilised since ancient times as an antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, and regenerative treatment for wounds, and it has been shown to expedite the wound healing process by promoting the formation of new tissue.
Analysis of Specific IgE Distribution Characteristics of Dust Mite Allergen Components in Patients With Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Cui Zixing , Fang Ling , Sun Min , Liu Juan , Guo Hua
Published: October 2024

Objective: To investigate the distribution characteristics of specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) to dust mite components in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), aiming to provide a reference basis for the development of microarray protein chips for allergen component discrimination diagnosis and personalized desensitization therapy.

Methods: A total of 55 patients who visited Huishan District People’s Hospital of Wuxi City, Xishan People’s Hospital of Wuxi City, and People’s Hospital of Wuxi City from January 2023 to December 2023 were selected. The results of serum total IgE (total IgE) and specific IgE detection were analyzed.

Results: Among the 55 patients, 54 (98.2%) were positive (cutoff value > 0.35 Ua/mL, the normal value for serum total IgE is under 150–400 IU/mL) for serum total IgE antibodies, 52 (94.6%) were positive for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp)–specific IgE antibodies, and 50 (90.9%) were positive for Dermatophagoides farinae (Df)–specific IgE antibodies. The protein chip results were consistent with the existing Phadia detection results.

Conclusion: The development of chips based on CRD (component‐resolved diagnosis) cannot only rely on IgE binding rate to assist in precise treatment of patients but also choose personalized desensitization therapy, providing more practical recommendations for preventing cross‐allergy, avoiding allergic environments, or ingesting sensitizing foods for susceptible individuals.
Taxonomic significance of seeds and seedling morphology in the threatened Indian endemic palm genus Bentinckia (Arecaceae)
Authors: Kamble Mayur Yashwant , J.H. Franklin Benjamin  , Vivek C. Poulose
Published: October 2024

A comparative morphological study was carried out to evaluate the taxonomic significance of seed and seedling traits of Bentinckia condapanna and B. nicobarica (Arecaceae), the threatened endemic palm species. Both species are unique and have specific requirements for seedling recruitment. An effort was made to cultivate these species ex situ at the Botanical Survey of India’s National Orchidarium and Experimental Garden (NOEG) in Yercaud, Tamil Nadu, and Dhanikhari Experimental Garden cum Arboretum (DEGCA), in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The seeds and seedlings of the two species differ in the beak and ridges on the seed, endosperm colour and the shape of the eophyll.
Bits and fragments: documenting an unreported coral genus Heterocyathus Milne Edwards & Haime, 1848 from northwestern Bay of Bengal (Odisha coast) and a call for further assessment
Authors: Behera Durga Prasad , Das Rocktim Ramen
Published: October 2024

The collection of a dead specimen of the coral Heterocyathus cf. sulcatus on a sandy beach in southern Odisha highlights the importance of exploring offshore waters along this coast. The specimen was identified based on prominent taxonomic characters and association with coral boring worm. This genus was previously known to occur along the eastern coast of India, from the Gulf of Mannar/Palk Bay and off the Chennai coast. The presence of rocky offshore outcrops and a sandy substratum in the vicinity suggests that the specimen likely originated from that location.
Evaluating the IUCN conservation status of Tritaxis kurnoolensis (R.R.V.Raju & Pull.) R.Y.Yu. & Welzen (Euphorbiaceae), an endemic tree species found in the Eastern Ghats region of Andhra Pradesh, India
Authors: Sarojinidevi Naidu  , Raja Kullayiswamy Kusom
Published: October 2024

Tritaxis kurnoolensis, a small tree of the Euphorbiaceae family, is endemic to a valley within the Sullavai Sandstone plateau in close proximity to the Paleru Reservoir (Owk dam). The species is a narrow endemic. No documented sightings of this species have been recorded beyond the type locality since its description in 1994 by Venkataraju & Pullaiah as Dimorphocalyx kurnoolensis from the Nandyal District of Andhra Pradesh. In this study, the authors applied the grid method for quantification and subjected the species to a meticulous analysis aligning with IUCN Red List Criteria. The distribution was found to be restricted due to habitat (valley) fragmentation, reservoir which is arresting seed dispersal, and destruction caused by tunnel construction civil works. The area of occupancy (AOO) at 16 km² and the extent of occurrence (EOO) at 0.474 km², were systematically computed using GeoCAT. The species is assessed here using the Red List methodology for evaluating extinction risk. Based on its AOO, EOO, and population size, it has been classified as Critically Endangered.
Typhonium inopinatum Prain (Araceae): a new plant record to the flora of Uttarakhand, India
Authors: Rawat Sachin , Page Navendu
Published: October 2024

Typhonium inopinatum Prain is reported as a new record for the state of Uttarakhand, India. A detailed description of the species supplemented with photographs of diagnostic characters is provided to facilitate identification.
Impatiens devendrae Pusalkar (Balsaminaceae): an addition to the flora of Jammu & Kashmir, India
Authors: Kumar Naresh , Kumari Diksha , Arya Dhani , Rana T. S.
Published: October 2024

Impatiens devendrae Pusalkar is reported here as a new distribution record for the flora of Jammu & Kashmir from the Nathatop area in the forest range Batote of Ramban District. The identifying characteristics of the species include the presence of yellow streaks on the triangular lateral united petals, pinkish-white flowers, oblong-bucciniform lower sepals, abruptly constricted into hooked spurs. Previously, the species was reported from Uttarakhand.
First photographic record of Brown Bullfinch Pyrrhula nipalensis (Aves: Passeriformes: Fringillidae) from Jammu & Kashmir, India
Authors: Javid Mohsin , Ahmad Khursheed , Intesar Suhail  , Orus Ilyas
Published: October 2024

The Brown Bullfinch (Pyrrhula nipalensis) is a passerine bird within the family Fringillidae. This study reports the first photographic record of the Brown Bullfinch from the Gurez Valley, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The bird was sighted through a camera trap installed in Butamali Tullail, a meadow for herders at an altitude of 3,400 meters. This shy bird typically forages in pairs or small flocks and feeds on seeds, berries, and buds. The Brown Bullfinch thrives in dense temperate forests and breeds from May to July. It constructs well-concealed nests in shrubs or low trees, and both parents participate in raising the young. The Brown Bullfinch is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, but habitat destruction poses potential threats. Conservation efforts should focus on protecting temperate forests in the Himalayan region.
Response to “First record of Pieris napi L. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) from Kashmir Valley, India”
Authors: Sheikh Taslima
Published: October 2024

NA
New record of the antlion Palpares contrarius Walker, 1853 (Insecta: Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) in Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: Pearline Esther Anita  , J. Logamanya Tilak
Published: October 2024

Neuroptera is a taxon among Insecta, that is distinct with its highly veined transparent wings. The family Myrmeleontidae includes antlions, whose adult forms are occasionally seen, unlike the larval forms that spend most of their life living in small pits in the soil. Madras Christian College (MCC) is a large scrub jungle, harboring a range of flora and fauna, including a diverse range of insect species. An insect, large enough to be mistaken for the large damselfly, was spotted in the Madras Christian College campus. Taxonomic keys were used in literature search and the insect was later identified as Palpares contrarius (Walker, 1853).
Reply to Sheikh’s Response to First record of Pieris napi L.
Authors: Firdousa Rasool  , Altaf Hussain Mir
Published: October 2024

NA
Flow Diversion for Intracranial Aneurysms With Incorporated Branch: A Subanalysis From the SEASE International Registry
Authors: Dibas Mahmoud , Vivanco‐Suarez Juan , Galecio‐Castillo Milagros , Lopes Demetrius Klee , Hanel Ricardo A. , Rodriguez‐Calienes Aaron , Cortez Gustavo M. , Fifi Johanna T. , Devarajan Alex , Toth Gabor , Patterson Thomas E. , Altschul David , Pereira Vitor M. , Liu Xiao Yu Eileen , Puri Ajit S. , Kühn Anna L. , Guerrero Waldo R. , Khandelwal Priyank , Bach Ivo , Kan Peter T. , Edhayan Gautam , Given Curtis , Gross Bradley A. , Narayanan Sandra , Derakhshani Shahram , Martinez‐Galdamez Mario , Ortega‐Gutierrez Santiago
Published: October 2024

Background

The presence of an incorporated branch as well as its anatomical relationship to the intracranial aneurysms (IAs) and the parent artery may affect the occlusion outcome following flow diversion. This study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of the cobalt‐chromium Surpass Evolve (Stryker), a 64‐wire flow diversion device for the treatment of IAs with incorporated branches.

Methods

This subanalysis uses data from the SEASE (Safety and Effectiveness Assessment of Surpass Evolve) registry to retrieve data related to IAs with incorporated branches. Those IAs were classified by a core lab into 4 categories based on their anatomical relationship to the parent artery and branch: (A) sidewall anatomic, (B) sidewall hemodynamic, (C) neck branch, and (D) dome branch. We compared the outcomes based on their incorporated branch's relation to the dome (A–C versus D).

Results

This study included 67 patients and IAs. Most IAs were in the posterior communicating artery (46.3%), with a median size of 4.35 mm. Age, sex, comorbidities, baseline functional‐status, and IA features were similar between the 2 groups. Among those, 53 (79.1%) had branches emerging from the dome, and 14 (20.9%) had branches originating from other locations (A = 7, B = 2, and C = 5). At a median imaging follow‐up of 10.5 months, complete occlusion was lower in IAs with a branch from the sac compared with those with the neck (60.8% versus 92.9%;
P
= 0.026), with an overall occlusion of 67.7%. Thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications, as well as retreatment, were reported in 1.6% and 3.1% of cases, respectively, with no significant differences between groups.

Conclusion

Our analysis underscores the influence of branch origin on occlusion rates, with the neck‐originating branch demonstrating higher occlusion rates. These insights emphasize the role of anatomical considerations in treatment strategies, follow‐up timelines, and designing future clinical trials. Further studies are warranted to explore these variations across different flow diversion technologies.
Child and Youth Friendly Justice for the Climate Crisis: Relying on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Authors: Daly Aoife
Published: October 2024

The climate crisis is a human rights crisis, and one of the worst affected groups is children and youth. This same group has been key to climate action in and outside of the courts. As well as engaging in numerous consultative fora such as cop, and in the introduction of a General Comment on the right of children to a healthy environment, they have gone on to become key litigators in climate cases/applications at both national and international level. These justice processes are, however, notoriously ill suited to the particular needs of children and youth. Child friendly justice is a concept which has been elaborated in recent years by the Council of Europe. Yet climate litigation is very different to the cases (e.g. in family law) in which children have traditionally been parties – amongst other things it can involve very public campaigns. This article considers child and youth friendly justice in the context of the climate crisis through the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and through the concepts of access, participation, interests, and judgments.
Roadblocks in Child Participation Practices in Academia and Civil Society
Authors: Demiral Seran , Erdiller-Yatmaz Zeynep , Erdemir Ersoy
Published: October 2024

This article discusses the potential and pitfalls of children’s participation in academic and non-academic settings through a child participation project in Turkey by questioning various forms of childism from child and adult perspectives. We first and foremost acknowledge and emphasise the child’s position as a form of political resilience in a world where adult centrism has been the norm, regardless of differences in childhood experiences across cultures, social classes and age groups. Guided by this understanding, we engaged with two distinct fieldwork processes over the years and took steps toward achieving child participation at citizenship action level. In particular, we aimed to create a safe and open space for children from diverse backgrounds to come together, share their life issues, develop strategies to address their everyday problems and build a child-to-child participation network. However, we encountered several roadblocks to fully involving children in these processes. This article illustrates the perceptional and practical limitations we faced on the road that stem from competing dispositions held by children and stakeholders. To showcase the potential impact of our project, we highlight such obstacles as adultism among child participants, challenges of engaging academic research with stakeholders, and variations in motivation and interest among different social actors in the field of childhood. The obstacles are discussed with their implications in ways that they could be overcome.
Salome’s Dance and the Question of Historical Plausibility
Authors: Cook John Granger
Published: October 2024

The Markan account of Salome’s dance before the Herodian court is historically plausible. There is a logical gap, however, between what is historically plausible and what is historically probable. Roman (i.e., pagan) and Jewish individuals that were high born and low born – both men and women – could occasionally dance. Sometimes those dances were seen as transgressive according to Roman mores. Sometimes they occurred in the context of festivals. Mark describes Salome’s dance in such a context. The narrative explains Herod’s puzzlement about Jesus’ identity and his view that Jesus is Iohannes redivivus and is significant for historical Jesus research because Mark uses it to foreshadow Jesus’ own death for seditio.
Dose-response effects of starch in sterilised and unsterilised chicken excreta on Musca domestica larval growth and bioconversion efficiency
Authors: Pisa L.W. , Oonincx D.G.A.B. , Bosch G. , Hendriks W.H.
Published: October 2024

Housefly (Musca domestica L.) larvae can convert animal manure into valuable protein and fat but little is known about their nutritional requirements. We assessed the effects of differential starch content in unsterilised (UE) and heat sterilised (SE) chicken excreta on larval performance and bioconversion. Gelatinized corn starch was added to excreta resulting in 11 diets with 0 to 50% starch of dry mass. Individual larval mass increased from (mean ± SD) 12 ± 0.2 (UE) and 13 ± 0.4 (SE) mg at 0% starch up to 18 ± 0.4 (UE) and 18 ± 0.5 (SE) mg at 15% starch and decreased to 5 ± 0.4 (UE and SE) mg in 50% starch. Higher starch concentrations resulted in non-normal distributions of individual larva mass. Larval wet yield showed a curvilinear relation with starch content, with maxima of 39 ± 2.3 g in UE at 10% starch, and 43 ± 2.8 g in SE at 15% starch. The decrease in yield after the maxima was faster in UE compared to SE. Larval survival was highest in 0% starch, 80 ± 8% (UE) and 72 ± 13 % (SE), linearly decreasing to 14 ± 7% (UE) and 18 ± 3% (SE) in 50% starch. Dry matter bioconversion increased from 4 ± 0.1% (UE) and 4 ± 0.3% (SE) in 0% starch to 6 ± 0.2 in UE with 10% starch and 7 ± 0.3 in SE with 15% starch, decreasing to close to 0 in 50% starch. Highest nitrogen bioconversion was 15 ± 0.5% in UE with 10% starch and 15 ± 0.5% in SE with 15% starch. Optimal starch inclusions increased nitrogen bioconversion with 40% (UE) and 100% (SE) compared to pure excreta. Finally, around 20 to 25% starch uric acid and ammonia contents, pH, and diet residue C/N decreased, indicating a tipping point. In conclusion, adding starch to chicken excreta can substantially increase larval yield and bioconversion while reducing ammonia content in the substrate residue.
Exploring the reliability and profile of frequent mental health presentations using different methods: An observational study using statewide ambulance data over a 4-year period
Authors: Hew Anthony , Young Jesse T , Rowland Bosco , Scott Debbie , Nehme Ziad , Arunogiri Shalini , Lubman Dan I
Published: October 2024

Introduction:

A disproportionate number of mental health presentations to emergency services are made by frequent presenters. No current consensus definition of a frequent presenter exists. Using a statewide population-based ambulance database, this study (i) applied previous statistical methods to determine thresholds for frequent presenters, (ii) explored characteristics of the identified frequent presenter groups compared to non-frequent presenters and (iii) assessed the reliability of these methods in predicting continued frequent presenter status over time.

Methods:

Statistical methods utilised in previous studies to identify frequent presenters were applied to all ambulance attendances for mental health symptoms, self-harm and alcohol and other drug issues between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2020 in Victoria, Australia. Differences in characteristics between identified frequent and non-frequent presenter groups were determined by logistic regression analysis. The consistency of agreement of frequent presenter status over time was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients.

Results:

Thresholds for frequent presenters ranged from a mean of 5 to 39 attendances per calendar year, with groups differing in size, service use and characteristics. Compared to non-frequent presenters, frequent presenters had greater odds of being female, presenting with self-harm, experiencing social disadvantage or housing issues, involving police co-attendance and being transported to hospital. All frequent presenter definitions had poor reliability in predicting ongoing frequent presentations over time.

Conclusion:

A range of methods can define frequent presenters according to thresholds of yearly service use. Reasons for identifying frequent presenters may influence the method chosen. Future studies should explore definitions that capture the dynamic nature of presentations by this group.
Detecting Differential Item Functioning Using Response Time
Authors: Duan Qizhou , Cheng Ying
Published: October 2024

This study investigated uniform differential item functioning (DIF) detection in response times. We proposed a regression analysis approach with both the working speed and the group membership as independent variables, and logarithm transformed response times as the dependent variable. Effect size measures such as Δ[Formula: see text] and percentage change in regression coefficients in conjunction with the statistical significance tests were used to flag DIF items. A simulation study was conducted to assess the performance of three DIF detection criteria: (a) significance test, (b) significance test with Δ[Formula: see text], and (c) significance test with the percentage change in regression coefficients. The simulation study considered factors such as sample sizes, proportion of the focal group in relation to total sample size, number of DIF items, and the amount of DIF. The results showed that the significance test alone was too strict; using the percentage change in regression coefficients as an effect size measure reduced the flagging rate when the sample size was large, but the effect was inconsistent across different conditions; using Δ R2 with significance test reduced the flagging rate and was fairly consistent. The PISA 2018 data were used to illustrate the performance of the proposed method in a real dataset. Furthermore, we provide guidelines for conducting DIF studies with response time.
Evaluation and Revision of Historical ESSENCE Syndromic Surveillance Definition Used to Identify Work-Related Emergency Department Visits
Authors: Harduar Morano Laurel , Kite Powell Aaron , Luckhaupt Sara E.
Published: October 2024

Objectives:

Occupational health surveillance programs have rarely incorporated syndromic surveillance. We documented a process for evaluating and revising syndromic surveillance definitions, using the example of work-related emergency department (ED) visits.

Materials and Methods:

Of 140 331 481 ED visits in the National Syndromic Surveillance Program from May 15, 2016, through October 31, 2017, we extracted 391 827 records for phase 1 that met the previously unevaluated original work-related definition or included a work-related employment status ICD-10-CM code (Y99.0/Y99.1; International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification). Also for phase 1, we evaluated the performance of the original work-related definition using ICD-10-CM work-related employment status codes as a reference standard. In phase 2, we extracted 99 109 records containing candidate work-related keywords. Finally, in phase 3, we examined individual keywords and developed and evaluated a revised definition.

Results:

The revised work-related definition identified 259 153 visits by keyword alone, 104 342 visits by ICD-10-CM work-related employment status codes alone, and 16 385 ED visits by both methods. Sensitivity (13.6% vs 11.3%) and positive predictive value (5.9% vs 4.8%) were higher for the revised definition than for the original work-related definition. Manual review indicated that 91.3% (95% CI, 89.6%-93.0%) of visits identified by the revised definition keywords met the study criteria for work-related visits as compared with 75.5% (95% CI, 73.0%-78.4%) of visits for the original work-related definition.

Practice Implications:

The original work-related definition performed suboptimally because keywords were not sufficiently specific. The revised definition is an improvement but requires testing in real-world scenarios. The presented methods for developing a syndromic surveillance definition are useful, not only for occupational health, but for identification of other subpopulations treated in the ED.
Amenities and housing market dynamics: Implications for population change, urban attractiveness, innovation, and productivity
Authors: Leishman Chris , Goel Satyam
Published: October 2024

This introductory essay aims to provide a comprehensive overview of a collection of 17 articles, previously published in the Urban Studies journal, now consolidated as a ‘virtual special issue’. The articles contribute to numerous strands of what has, over the decades, become an extremely voluminous literature concerning the interplay between population change and productivity within cities. It is important to acknowledge that the volume of this literature makes it effectively impossible to summarise effectively in a single essay. This article instead presents a contextual overview, a glimpse into the various thematic strands arising from the literature, and an introduction to each of the selected virtual special issue articles themselves. It briefly highlights the unique contributions of these articles to the overarching objective of the Urban Studies journal, which is to advance our understanding of the urban condition. Yet, it is also worth noting that the literature does not neatly segregate into distinct strands. Indeed, several contributing authors within the virtual special issue rightly emphasise the significant interdependencies between population change, migration patterns, specialisation, firm location, urban and natural amenities, agglomeration economies, and productivity. This essay attempts to progress logically from one strand to another, with a specific focus on labour and housing markets, as well as transportation costs or systems, as mediators of these complex relationships. Finally, the essay concludes by bringing attention to several strands of future inquiry that might prove fruitful and would be of interest to the readership of this journal.