bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural and Compositional Changes in Two Marine Shell Traditional Chinese Medicines: A Comparative Analysis Pre- and Post-Calcination
Authors: Wu Lizhu , Liu Chenlu , Yao Tao , Shi Yun , Shen Jinyang , Gao Xun , Qin Kunming
Published: March 2024

Background

Arcae concha and Meretricis concha cyclinae concha are two marine shellfish herbs with similar composition and efficacy, which are usually calcined and used clinically.

Objective

This study investigated variations in the inorganic and organic components of Arcae concha and Meretricis concha cyclinae concha from different production regions, both Arcae concha and Meretricis concha cyclinae concha. The aim was to enhance the understanding of these two types of marine shell traditional Chinese medicine (msTCM) and provide a foundation for their future development and application.

Method

Spectroscopic techniques, including infrared spectroscopy, X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, were used to analyze the calcium carbonate (CaCO3) crystal and trace elements. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to investigate the decomposition process during heating. The proteins were quantified using the BCA protein assay kit. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to classify inorganic elements in the two marine shellfish traditional Chinese medicines.

Results

No significant differences were found among the various production regions. The crystal structure of CaCO3 in the raw products was aragonite, but it transformed into calcite after calcination. The contents of Ca, Na, Sr, and other inorganic elements were highest. The protein content was significantly reduced after calcination. Therefore, these factors cannot accurately reflect the internal quality of TCM, rendering qualitative identification challenging. CaCO3 dissolution in the decoction of Arcae concha and Meretricis concha cyclinae concha increased after calcination, aligning with the clinical application of calcined shell TCM. PCA revealed the inorganic elements in them, indicating that the variation in trace element composition among different drugs leads to differences in their therapeutic focus, which should be considered during usage.

Conclusions

This study clarifies the composition and structure changes of corrugated and clam shell before and after calcining, and it lays the foundation for the comprehensive utilization of marine traditional Chinese medicine.

Highlights

These technical representations reveal the differences between raw materials and processed products, which will provide support for the quality control of other shellfish TCM.
OBC shallow water de-multiple based on the principle of Fresnel diffraction
Authors: Xu Qiang
Published: March 2024

In shallow-water ocean-bottom cable (OBC) seismic data, the ineffectiveness of conventional surface-related multiple elimination (SRME) methods due to poor seabed records is addressed. This research utilizes the seismic wavefield received by multiple cables from a single shot gather to predict shallow water multiple models for that shot gather. Initially, the seismic data within a finite aperture around a seismic trace in the time domain shot gather is treated as the known seismic wavefield. This seismic wavefield is then extrapolated along the water layer to this seismic trace, following the Fresnel diffraction principle. The extrapolated data becomes the shallow water multiple model for this seismic trace. This process is repeated for each trace in the shot gather to obtain the shallow water multiple model of the entire shot gather. Forward modeling tests have shown that smaller data apertures can effectively avoid the impact of spatial aliasing on multiple model prediction. To address the overlap of primary waves and shallow water multiples in deep seismic data, which have lower dominant frequencies, the multiple model data is used as a known seismic wavefield and extrapolated along the water layer again. This produces second-order and higher-order multiple models. Applying this model to suppress multiple waves can minimize primary waves loss. This entirely data-driven approach necessitates solely water depth information, imposing no additional conditions. Both forward modeling and real seismic data testing validate the efficacy of this method in shallow water.
Exploiting multimodal biometrics for enhancing password security
Authors: Karampidis Konstantinos
Published: March 2024

Digitization of every daily procedure requires trustworthy verification schemes. People tend to overlook the security of the passwords they use, i.e. they use the same password on different occasions, they neglect to change them periodically or they often forget them. This raises a major security issue, especially for elderly people who are not familiar with modern technology and its risks and challenges. To overcome these drawbacks, biometric factors were utilized, and nowadays, they have been widely adopted due to their convenience of use and ease of hardware installation. Many biometric-based authentication schemes were proposed, but despite the advantages that they offer, recent research has shown that biometrics by itself cannot be considered as an inviolable technique. Recently, we have proposed StegoPass, a novel method that obtains the 68 facial points of a user and utilizes them as a stego message to an image. This produced stego image was the password. Although the experiments conducted showed maximum security, it would be challenging to enhance the robustness of the proposed model for even more attacks. This paper examines the utilization of multimodal biometrics as the secret message embedded in the image. More specifically, besides the extraction of the facial points, we extract the unique minutiae moments and combine them in a feature vector. This feature vector is then embedded in the image. Two different datasets were used, and the security of the method was tested against state-of-the-art deep learning models, i.e. generative adversarial networks, to test whether the image could be digitally synthesized and fool the proposed verification scheme. The results proved that the new enhanced version of StegoPass offers an extremely secure method as its predecessor.
Susceptibility of Mangifera indica (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae) cultivars to fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in 2 agroecological zones of Cameroon
Authors: Mokam Didi Gaëlle , Atougour Ndakabo , Tadu Zephirin , Aléné Désirée Chantal , Awono Ezechiel , Lontsi Tapeo Serge , Ngamo Tinkeu Leonard Simon , Djieto-Lordon Champlain
Published: March 2024

The Sudano-Sahelian and the high Guinea savannahs agroecological zones of Cameroon are suitable for the full development of tree crops, including mango. Unfortunately, fresh fruits exported to local and international markets are frequently rejected due to the presence of fruit fly larvae (Diptera: Tephritidae), resulting in drastic income losses and overuse of chemical control products. To promote sustainable management strategies, a 2-yr study (2020–2021) was conducted in 4 and 3 mixed orchards, respectively. Attacked mangoes showing signs of fruit fly damage were collected and taken to the laboratory to rear and identify fruit flies. Repeated grafting and agroclimatic differences were responsible for dissimilarities between the 2 zones, with 18 and 16 cultivars, respectively. From 2,857 attacked mangoes, 26,707 fruit flies belonging to 4 species were identified: Bactrocera dorsalis, Ceratitis cosyra, Ceratitis fasciventris, and Ceratitis anonae. Climate change was the factor determining the distribution of the 2 most important mango fruit flies: B. dorsalis was a wetland species (dominance/occurrence > 70%), while C. cosyra was a dry-land species (dominance/occurrence > 75%). Both species were responsible for high levels of infestations. Bactrocera dorsalis preferred 3 mango cultivars, namely Palmer and Smith in Zone 1, and Ifack 1 in Zone 2 (infestation > 20 individuals/100 g of mango). The host-plant spectrum of C. cosyra was modified by alternative host plants. Both C. fasciventris and C. anonae were rare. Findings from this study could guide researchers in the development of monitoring tools for fruit fly populations and, subsequently, in reducing the damage they cause to mangoes.
A comprehensive sampling of mitogenomes shows the utility to infer phylogeny of termites (Blattodea: Termitoidae)
Authors: Wang Miao-Miao , Song Nan , Guo Shi-Bao , Yin Xin-Ming
Published: March 2024

The mitogenome sequence data have been widely used in inferring the phylogeny of insects. In this study, we determined the complete mitogenome for Macrotermes sp. (Termitidae, Macrotermitinae) using next-generation sequencing. Macrotermes sp. possesses a typical insect mitogenome, displaying an identical gene order and gene content to other existing termite mitogenomes. We present the first prediction of the secondary structure of ribosomal RNA genes in termites. The rRNA secondary structures of Macrotermes sp. exhibit similarities to closely related insects and also feature distinctive characteristics in their helical structures. Together with 321 published mitogenomes of termites as ingroups and 8 cockroach mitogenomes as outgroups, we compiled the most comprehensive mitogenome sequence matrix for Termitoidae to date. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using datasets employing different data coding strategies and various inference methods. Robust relationships were recovered at the family or subfamily level, demonstrating the utility of comprehensive mitogenome sampling in resolving termite phylogenies. The results supported the monophyly of Termitoidae, and consistent relationships within this group were observed across different analyses. Mastotermitidae was consistently recovered as the sister group to all other termite families. The families Hodotermitidae, Stolotermitidae, and Archotermopsidae formed the second diverging clade, followed by the Kalotermitidae. The Neoisoptera was consistently supported with strong node support, with Stylotermitidae being sister to the remaining families. Rhinotermitidae was found to be non-monophyletic, and Serritermitidae nested within the basal clades of Rhinotermitidae and was sister to Psammotermitinae. Overall, our phylogenetic results are largely consistent with earlier mitogenome studies.
Cascading impacts of overstory structure in managed forests on understory structure, microclimate conditions, and Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) densities
Authors: Hurd Stephanie N , Kenefic Laura S , Leahy Jessica E , Sponarski Carly C , Gardner Allison M
Published: March 2024

Forest management practices designed to meet varied landowner objectives affect wildlife habitat and may interrupt the life-cycle stages of disease vectors, including the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae). Ixodes scapularis transmits multiple pathogens including Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, which is the most common tick-borne disease in the United States. There is evidence that a range of active forest management practices (e.g., invasive plant removal, prescribed burning) can alter tick densities and pathogen transmission. However, few studies have investigated relationships between forest stand structural variables commonly manipulated by timber harvesting and tick ecology. Foresters may harvest timber to create certain forest structural conditions like the mean number of trees, or basal area, per hectare. This study used a spatially replicated experiment in a blocked design to compare forest stands with a range of overstory structures and document variations in the midstory, understory, and forest floor, as well as microclimate conditions within tick off-host habitat. Greater numbers of trees or basal area per hectare correlated with greater canopy closure but less understory cover, stabilized microclimate temperature, higher microclimate humidity, and greater I. scapularis nymph densities. A random forest model identified understory forest structure as the strongest predictor of nymph densities. There was no relationship between the number of trees or basal area per hectare and daily deer (Odocoileus virginianus Zimmermann) activity or nymphal infection prevalence. These findings provide a deeper understanding of tick-habitat associations within a forest stand and have the potential to inform forest management decisions.
Measuring the dynamical length of galactic bars
Authors: Petersen Michael S , Weinberg Martin D , Katz Neal
Published: March 2024

We define a physically motivated measure for galactic bar length, called the dynamical length. The dynamical length of the bar corresponds to the radial extent of the trapped orbits that are the backbone supporting the bar feature. We propose a direct observational technique well suited to integral field unit spectroscopy to measure it. Identifying these orbits and using the dynamical length is a more faithful tracer of the secular evolution and influence of the bar. We demonstrate the success of our observational technique for recovering the maximal bar-parenting orbit in a range of simulations, and to show its promise we perform its measurement on a real galaxy. We also study the difference between traditionally used ellipse fit approaches to determine bar length and the dynamical length proposed here in a wide range of bar-forming N-body simulations of a stellar disc and dark matter halo. We find that ellipse fitting may severely overestimate measurements of the bar length by a factor of 1.5–2.5 relative to the extent of the orbits that are trapped and actually comprise the bar. This bias leads to overestimates of both bar mass and the ratio of corotation radius to bar length, i.e. the bar speed, affecting inferences about the evolution of bars in the real Universe.
Effects of grain magnetic properties and grain growth on synthetic dust polarization of MHD simulations of low-mass Class 0/I YSOs
Authors: Giang Nguyen Chau , Hoang Thiem
Published: March 2024

Thermal dust polarization is a powerful tool to probe magnetic fields ($\boldsymbol{B}$) and grain properties. However, a systematic study of the dependence of dust polarization on grain properties in protostellar environments is not yet available. In this paper, we post-process a non-ideal MHD simulation of a collapsing protostellar core with our updated POLARIS code to study in detail the effects of iron inclusions and grain growth on thermal dust polarization. We found that superparamagnetic (SPM) grains can produce high polarization degree of $p \sim 10\!-\!40~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ beyond ∼500 au from the protostar because of their efficient alignment by magnetically enhanced radiative torque mechanism. The magnetic field turbulence in the envelope causes the decrease in p with increasing emission intensity I as p ∝ Iα with the slope α ∼ −0.3. But within 500 au, SPM grains tend to have inefficient internal alignment and be aligned with $\boldsymbol{B}$ by RATs only, producing lower $p \sim 1~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ and a steeper slope of α ∼ −0.6. For paramagnetic (PM) grains, the alignment loss of grains above $1\, {\mu \rm {m}}$ in the inner ∼200 au produces $p \lt \lt 1~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ and the polarization hole with α ∼ −0.9. Grain growth can increase p in the envelope for SPM grains, but cause stronger depolarization for SPM grains in the inner ∼500 au and for PM grains in the entire protostellar core. Finally, we found the increase of polarization angle dispersion function S with iron inclusions and grain growth, implying the dependence of B-field strength measured using the David–Chandrasekhar–Fermi technique on grain alignment and grain properties.
A new kinematic model of the Galaxy: analysis of the stellar velocity field from Gaia Data Release 3
Authors: Akhmetov V S , Bucciarelli B , Crosta M , Lattanzi M G , Spagna A , Re Fiorentin P , Bannikova E Yu
Published: March 2024

This work presents the results of a kinematic analysis of the Galaxy that uses a new model as applied to the newest available Gaia data. We carry out the Taylor decomposition of the velocity field up to second order for 18 million high luminosity stars (i.e. OBAF-type stars, giants, and subgiants) from the Gaia DR3 data. We determine the components of mean stellar velocities and their first and second partial derivatives (relative to cylindrical coordinates) for more than 28 thousand points in the plane of our Galaxy. We estimate Oort’s constants A, B, C, and K and other kinematics parameters and map them as a function of Galactocentric coordinates. The values found confirm the results of our previous works and are in excellent agreement with those obtained by other authors in the solar neighbourhood. In addition, the introduction of second order partial derivatives of the stellar velocity field allows us to determine the values of the vertical gradient of the Galaxy azimuthal, radial, and vertical velocities. Also, we determine the mean of the Galaxy rotation curve for Galactocentric distances from 4 to 18 kpc by averaging Galactic azimuths in the range −30° < θ <  + 30° about the direction Galactic Centre – Sun – Galactic anticentre. Maps of the velocity components and of their partial derivatives with respect to coordinates within 10 kpc of the Sun reveal complex substructures, which provide clear evidence of non-axisymmetric features of the Galaxy. Finally, we show evidence of differences in the Northern and Southern hemispheres stellar velocity fields.
(Dis)confirming theories of consciousness and their predictions: towards a Lakatosian consciousness science
Authors: Negro Niccolò
Published: March 2024

The neuroscience of consciousness is undergoing a significant empirical acceleration thanks to several adversarial collaborations that intend to test different predictions of rival theories of consciousness. In this context, it is important to pair consciousness science with confirmation theory, the philosophical discipline that explores the interaction between evidence and hypotheses, in order to understand how exactly, and to what extent, specific experiments are challenging or validating theories of consciousness. In this paper, I examine this intricate relationship by adopting a Lakatosian lens. I propose that Lakatos’ philosophy of science can aid consciousness scientists to better interpret adversarial collaborations in consciousness science and, more generally, to develop a confirmation-theoretic model of theory-appraisal in this field. I do so by suggesting that such a model be built upon three Lakatos-inspired criteria for assessing the relationship between empirical evidence and theoretical predictions: (i) the model should represent the ‘distinction between prediction and accommodation’; (ii) the model should represent the ‘structural relevance’ of predictions; (iii) the model should represent the ‘boldness’ of the predictions. I argue that a Lakatosian model of theory-appraisal has both normative and descriptive virtues, and can move the debate forward by acknowledging that theory-appraisal needs to consider the diachronic development of theories, their logical structure, and their relationship with background beliefs and knowledge.
Preclinical evaluation of protein synthesis inhibitor omacetaxine in pediatric brainstem gliomas
Authors: Chen Yongjuan , Khan Aaminah , Katsinas Christopher , Michniewicz Filip , Goldberg Jessie , Franshaw Laura , Tsoli Maria , Ziegler David S
Published: March 2024

Background

Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs) pose a significant challenge as a highly aggressive and currently incurable form of pediatric brain cancer, necessitating the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Omacetaxine, an FDA-approved protein synthesis inhibitor for treating certain hematological malignancies, was investigated for its potential antitumor effects against preclinical DIPG models.

Methods

We employed primary DIPG cultures to study omacetaxine’s cytotoxicity and its impact on colony formation. Annexin V staining and flow cytometry assessed apoptosis. Wound healing assays evaluated migration, while western blotting determined inhibition of oncogenic proteins. We tested omacetaxine’s therapeutic efficacy in an orthotopic DIPG model and assessed brain penetration using mass spectrometry.

Results

We found a pronounced cytotoxic activity of omacetaxine against DIPG neurospheres, with low IC50 values of approximately 20 nM. Omacetaxine exerted its anti-proliferative effect by inhibiting protein synthesis and the induction of apoptotic pathways, evidenced by significant elevated levels of cleaved caspase 3 and cleaved PARP, both key markers of apoptosis. Omacetaxine effectively targeted oncogenic players such as PDGFRα and PI3K without additional effects on the mTOR signaling pathway. Furthermore, our study revealed the inhibitory effects of omacetaxine on cell migration, and a significant reduction in integrin/FAK signaling, which plays a crucial role in tumor progression and metastasis.

Conclusions

Despite these promising in vitro effects, omacetaxine’s efficacy in an orthotopic DIPG model was limited due to inadequate penetration across the blood-brain barrier. As such, further research and advancements are crucial to improve the drug’s brain penetration, thus enhancing its overall therapeutic potential.
Phanerozoic co-evolution of O2-CO2 and ocean habitability
Authors: Lu Zunli , Rickaby Rosalind E M , Payne Jonathan L , Prow Ashley N
Published: March 2024

This perspective reviews how atmospheric compositions, animals and marine algae evolved together to determine global ocean habitability during the past 500 million years.
Christmas Bird Count data are a reliable harvest-independent index for Ruffed Grouse monitoring in the eastern United States
Authors: Geary Brock , Williams Lisa , Long C Robert , Tyl Reina M , Gagne Roderick B
Published: March 2024

Using data from the mid-1990s to the present, we assessed correlations of Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) hunter cooperator reports from seven states to Breeding Bird Survey, Christmas Bird Count, and eBird data to determine which program’s trends best reflected patterns seen in hunter-sourced data that has historically been used for monitoring purposes. Christmas Bird Count data most closely reflected state-wide long-term trends in cooperator flush rates. Using an analytical approach that accounts for sources of bias and examines abundance at a finer spatial scale, we observed a pattern of decline across our study area. In recent decades, Ruffed Grouse populations in the eastern United States are thought to have suffered persistent declines due to a combination of young forest habitat loss and West Nile virus mortality. Declining hunter participation in much of the species’ range has highlighted the need to identify harvest-independent indices of grouse abundance to enable continued monitoring of regional long-term trends. Recent analytical methods can better capture complex trends in population dynamics, account for biases inherent to community-sourced data, and potentially inform designs of future survey efforts aimed at fulfilling priority monitoring and research needs. Comparable results across varying statistical methodologies suggest that our inferences are robust, demonstrating that Christmas Bird Count data can be used to inform regional monitoring efforts for grouse and other cryptic game bird populations, but require careful consideration of program designs and protocols to identify and implement data appropriately.
Leveraging open science machine learning challenges for data constrained planetary mission instruments
Authors: Da Poian Victoria , Lyness Eric I , Qi Jay Y , Shah Isha , Lipstein Greg , Archer Jr. P Doug , Chou Luoth , Freissinet Caroline , Malespin Charles A , McAdam Amy C , Knudson Christine A , Theiling Bethany P , Hörst Sarah M
Published: March 2024

We set up two open-science machine learning (ML) challenges focusing on building models to automatically analyse mass spectrometry (MS) data for Mars exploration. ML challenges provide an excellent way to engage a diverse set of experts with benchmark training data, explore a wide range of ML and data science approaches, and identify promising models based on empirical results, as well as to get independent external analyses to compare with those of the internal team. These two challenges were proof-of-concept projects to analyse the feasibility of combining data collected from different instruments in a single ML application. We selected MS data from (1) commercial instruments and (2) the Sample Analysis at Mars (an instrument suite that includes a mass spectrometer subsystem onboard the Curiosity rover) testbed. These challenges, organized with DrivenData, gathered more than 1150 unique participants from all over the world, and obtained more than 600 solutions contributing powerful models to the analysis of rock and soil samples relevant to planetary science using various MS data sets. These two challenges demonstrated the suitability and value of multiple ML approaches to classifying planetary analogue data sets from both commercial and flight-like instruments. We present the processes from the problem identification, challenge set-ups, and challenge results that gathered creative and diverse solutions from worldwide participants, in some cases with no backgrounds in MS. We also present the potential and limitations of these solutions for ML application in future planetary missions. Our longer term goal is to deploy these powerful methods onboard the spacecraft to autonomously guide space operations and reduce ground-in-the-loop reliance.
A forward-modelling approach to overcome point spread function smearing and fit flexible models to the chemical structure of galaxies
Authors: Metha Benjamin , Birrer Simon , Treu Tommaso , Trenti Michele , Ding Xuheng , Wang Xin
Published: March 2024

Historically, metallicity profiles of galaxies have been modelled using a radially symmetric, two-parameter linear model, which reveals that most galaxies are more metal-rich in their central regions than their outskirts. However, this model is known to yield inaccurate results when the point spread function (PSF) of a telescope is large. Furthermore, a radially symmetric model cannot capture asymmetric structures within a galaxy. In this work, we present an extension of the popular forward-modelling Python package lenstronomy, which allows the user to overcome both of these obstacles. We demonstrate the new features of this code base through two illustrative examples on simulated data. First, we show that through forward modelling, lenstronomy is able to recover accurately the metallicity gradients of galaxies, even when the PSF is comparable with the size of a galaxy, as long as the data are observed with a sufficient number of pixels. Additionally, we demonstrate how lenstronomy is able to fit irregular metallicity profiles to galaxies that are not well-described by a simple surface brightness profile. This opens up pathways for detailed investigations into the connections between morphology and chemical structure for galaxies at cosmological distances using the transformative capabilities of JWST. Our code is publicly available and open source, and can also be used to model spatial distributions of other galaxy properties that are traced by its surface brightness profile.
Data analytics-based evaluation of blood indices and adaptation of medicated and non-medicated broiler chickens under humid tropical conditions
Authors: Alabi Olufemi M , Aworinde Halleluyah O , Adebayo Segun , Akinwumi Akinwale O , Ayandiji Adebamiji , Tatar Ahmad
Published: March 2024

The growth performance and blood indices of medicated and non-medicated broiler chickens have been the subject of this research coupled with a paucity of comparative information on what can actually happen to broiler chickens if not medicated when reared under humid tropical conditions. One hundred unsexed day-old broilers were randomly and equally allotted into two treatment groups of TM (medicated) and TN (non-medicated) in a completely randomized design each treatment with five replicates having ten birds each. The birds were reared on deep litter system for 56 d which was divided into two phases of 28 d each (starter and finisher), during which data were collected with respect to daily feed intake, final body weight, body weight gained (BWG), mortality rate while blood analysis was carried out on 28th and 56th d for starter and finisher phases, respectively. Non-medicated group served as control. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE), were later calculated. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance statistically. There was no significant difference between the medicated and non-medicated broilers for daily feed intake, final body weight, and BWG and also for the blood parameters investigated at starter phase. However, at finisher phase, no significant difference was observed in the daily feed intake of Tm and Tn but there was significant (P < 0.05) difference in the final body weight, BWG, FCR, FCE, and mortality rate between the two groups. Birds on Tm attained higher weight significantly (P < 0.05) than those on TN. BWG, FCR, and FCE followed the same trend and also the mortality rate. White blood cells count of TN was higher significantly (P < 0.05) than TM while TM birds recorded higher packed cell volume, red blood counts, and hemoglobin concentration (Hb) significantly (P < 0.05) than TM birds. Effect of medication was much noticeable at finisher phase as it improved the growth rate though mortality rate was close to that of TN group. These results suggest that broilers can be produced free of medication with good feeding without loss of birds while the growth rate can be enhanced with the use of prebiotics and prebiotics.
Quantification of cooling effects on basic tissue measurements and exposed cross-sectional brain area of cadaver heads from Holstein cows > 30 mo of age
Authors: Anderson Karly N , Hamilton Emma M , Kirk Ashlynn A , Reyes Arquimides A , Woiwode Ruth , Zhitnitskiy Perle E , Vogel Kurt D
Published: March 2024

Penetrating captive bolt (PCB) is the primary method of preslaughter stunning for cattle and is also used for on-farm euthanasia. The objective of this study was to quantify the impact of cooling on the soft tissue thickness, cranial thickness, total tissue thickness, and cross-sectional brain area of cadaver heads collected from mature (> 30 mo of age) dairy cows following the application of a PCB stun in a frontal placement. Hide-on cadaver heads were obtained from culled dairy cows (N = 37) stunned in a frontal location using a handheld PCB device (Jarvis Model PAS—Type C 0.25R Caliber Captive Bolt, Long Bolt) at a commercial slaughter establishment. Following transport to the University of Wisconsin—River Falls, heads were split at midline along the bolt path by a bandsaw and then underwent FRESH, CHILL24, CHILL48, and CHILL72 refrigeration treatments. The FRESH treatment involved images collected immediately after splitting each head, the CHILL24 treatment involved images collected after 24 h of refrigeration, the CHIL48 treatment involved images collected after 48 h of refrigeration, and the CHILL72 treatment involved images collected after 72 h of refrigeration. Measurements of soft tissue thickness, cranial thickness, total tissue thickness, and cross-sectional brain area were recorded for each refrigeration treatment. Soft tissue thickness did not differ caudal to (P = 0.3751) or rostral to (P = 0.2555) the bolt path. Cranial thickness did not differ caudal to (P = 0.9281) or rostral to (P = 0.9051) the bolt path. Total tissue thickness did not differ caudal to (P = 0.9225; FRESH: 24.77 mm, CHILL24: 23.93 mm, CHILL48: 24.27 mm, CHILL72: 42.30, SE: 0.86) or rostral to (P = 0.8931; FRESH: 24.09 mm, CHILL24: 23.99, CHILL48: 24.26, CHILL72: 24.43 mm, SE: 0.79 mm) the bolt path. Cross-sectional brain area was not different (P = 0.0971) between refrigeration treatments (FRESH: 9,829.65 ± 163.87 mm2, CHILL24: 10,012.00 ± 163.87 mm2, CHILL48: 9,672.43 ± 163.87 mm2, CHILL72: 10,235.00 ± 166.34 mm2). This study demonstrated that FRESH tissue parameters can be determined from cattle cadaver heads refrigerated for 24, 48, or 72 h.
Exosomes in tumor‐stroma crosstalk: Shaping the immune microenvironment in colorectal cancer
Authors: Zhang Yawei , Huo Mingyu , Li Wenchao , Zhang Hongyu , Liu Qi , Jiang Jianwu , Fu Yang , Huang Changjun
Published: March 2024

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a multifaceted disease characterized by a complex interaction between tumor cells and the surrounding microenvironment. Within this intricate landscape, exosomes have emerged as pivotal players in the tumor‐stroma crosstalk, influencing the immune microenvironment of CRC. These nano‐sized vesicles, secreted by both tumoral and stromal cells, serve as molecular transporters, delivering a heterogeneous mix of biomolecules such as RNAs, proteins, and lipids. In the CRC context, exosomes exert dual roles: they promote tumor growth, metastasis, and immune escape by altering immune cell functions and activating oncogenic signaling pathways and offer potential as biomarkers for early CRC detection and treatment targets. This review delves into the multifunctional roles of exosomes in the CRC immune microenvironment, highlighting their potential implications for future therapeutic strategies and clinical outcomes.
Modified Tap-drilling Technique for Mid-cervical Pedicle Screw Placement
Authors: Sucu Hasan Kâmil , Sevin İsmail Ertan , Gürkan Gökhan
Published: March 2024

Study Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Objection:

To report our modified tap-drilling technique for mid-cervical pedicle screw placement and to evaluate its safety and accuracy.

Summary of Background Data:

Cervical pedicle screw fixation, which provides a strong stabilization, has been a major concern due to the potential risks to neurovascular structures despite its increasing use. Several insertion techniques have been described so far to improve the cervical pedicle screw placement accuracy.

Methods:

This study retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent mid-cervical (C3–C6) pedicle screw fixation between September 2005 and September 2020. Laminectomy, laminoforaminotomy, or notch-referred anatomic landmark methods were used to adjust the entry point and the direction of the screws. After the cortical bone was removed at the entry point with a diamond burr, the cancellous bone was slowly drilled with a hand drill starting from 8 to 10 millimeters in length. Then, all of the bone walls were checked with a ball-tip probe to determine if there was any breach. The procedure was repeated several times. After completing the drilling, the screw was inserted without tapping. The breach rate of pedicle screws was analyzed on postoperative computed tomography scans.

Results:

A total of 473 mid-cervical pedicle screws were placed in 122 consecutive patients. No navigation or computer-assisted system was used, and the first 2 authors inserted all of the screws. All patients completed the surgery, and no evident intraoperative complications occurred. Postoperative CT scans were obtained for 405 screws. Although deviation was observed for 131 pedicle screws, a critical deviation was observed for only 25 pedicle screws.

Conclusions:

Cervical pedicle screw insertion is a risky but applicable technique. Checking all of the bone walls with a ball-tip probe before gradually advancing the hand drill in small amounts, as presented in this article, may lead to the safe and effective placement of cervical pedicle screws.
Risk Factors for Readmission Following Surgical Decompression for Spinal Epidural Abscesses
Authors: Ng Mitchell K. , Rodriguez Ariel , Lam Aaron , Emara Ahmed , Wellington Ian J. , Ahn Nicholas U. , Khalsa Amrit S. , Houten John K. , Saleh Ahmed , Razi Afshin E.
Published: March 2024

Study Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives:

The study aimed to (1) compare baseline demographics of patients undergoing surgery for SEA who were/were not readmitted; (2) identify risk factors for 90-day readmissions; and (3) quantify 90-day episode-of-care health care costs.

Background:

Spinal epidural abscess (SEA), while rare, occurring ~2.5–5.1/10,000 admissions, may lead to permanent neurologic deficits and mortality. Definitive treatment often involves surgical intervention via decompression.

Methods:

A search of the PearlDiver database from 2010 to 2021 for patients undergoing decompression for SEA identified 4595 patients. Cohorts were identified through the International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision (ICD-9), ICD-10, and Current Procedural Terminology codes. Baseline demographics of patients who were/were not readmitted within 90 days following decompression were aggregated/compared, identifying factors associated with readmission. Using Bonferroni correction, a P-value<0.001 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

Readmission within 90 days of surgical decompression occurred in 36.1% (1659/4595) of patients. While age/gender were not associated with readmission rate, alcohol use disorder, arrhythmia, chronic kidney disease, ischemic heart disease, and obesity were associated with readmission. Readmission risk factors included fluid/electrolyte abnormalities, obesity, paralysis, tobacco use, and pathologic weight loss (P<0.0001). Mean same-day total costs ($17,920 vs. $8204, P<0.001) and mean 90-day costs ($46,050 vs. $15,200, P<0.001) were significantly higher in the readmission group.

Conclusion:

A substantial proportion of patients (36.1%) are readmitted within 90 days following surgical decompression for SEA. The top 5 risk factors in descending order are fluid/electrolyte abnormalities, pathologic weight loss, tobacco use, pre-existing paralysis, and obesity. This study highlights areas for perioperative medical optimization that may reduce health care utilization.
AM-PAC Mobility Score <13 Predicts Development of Ileus Following Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery
Authors: Olson Jarod , Mo Kevin C. , Schmerler Jessica , Harris Andrew B. , Lee Jonathan S. , Skolasky Richard L. , Kebaish Khaled M. , Neuman Brian J.
Published: March 2024

Study Design:

Retrospective review.

Objective:

To determine whether the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care (AM-PAC) “6-Clicks” score is associated with the development of postoperative ileus.

Summary of Background Data:

Adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery has a high complication rate. One common complication is postoperative ileus, and poor postoperative mobility has been implicated as a modifiable risk factor for this condition.

Methods:

Eighty-five ASD surgeries in which ≥5 levels were fused were identified in a single institution database. A physical therapist/physiatrist collected patients’ daily postoperative AM-PAC scores, for which we assessed first, last, and daily changes. We used multivariable linear regression to determine the marginal effect of ileus on continuous AM-PAC scores; threshold linear regression with Bayesian information criterion to identify a threshold AM-PAC score associated with ileus; and multivariable logistic regression to determine the utility of the score thresholds when controlling for confounding variables.

Results:

Ten of 85 patients (12%) developed ileus. The mean day of developing ileus was postoperative day 3.3±2.35. The mean first and last AM-PAC scores were 16 and 18, respectively. On bivariate analysis, the mean first AM-PAC score was lower in patients with ileus than in those without (13 vs. 16; P<0.01). Ileus was associated with a first AM-PAC score of 3 points lower (Coef. −2.96; P<0.01) than that of patients without ileus. Patients with an AM-PAC score<13 had 8 times greater odds of developing ileus (P=0.023). Neither the last AM-PAC score nor the daily change in AM-PAC score was associated with ileus.

Conclusions:

In our institutional cohort, a first AM-PAC score of <13, corresponding to an inability to walk or stand for more than 1 minute, was associated with the development of ileus. Early identification of patients who cannot walk or stand after surgery can help determine which patients would benefit from prophylactic management.

Level of Evidence:

Level—III.
Perennial Disaster Patterns in Central Europe since 2000: Implications for Hospital Preparedness Planning – A cross sectional Analysis
Authors: von der Forst M , Dietrich M , Schmitt FCF , Popp E , Ries M
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Hospitals are vital components of a country’s critical infrastructure, essential for maintaining resilient public services. Emergency planning for hospitals is crucial to ensure their functionality under special circumstances. The impact of climate change and seasonal variations in the utilization of hospital services further complicate emergency planning. Therefore, the knowledge of perennial disaster patterns could help strengthening the resilience of health care facilities.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the Emergency Events Database EM-DAT for disasters in Central Europe between January 2000 and December 2023 (defined as Germany and bordering countries). Primary endpoint was the average month of occurrence of disasters across the overall study period.

Results

Out of 474 events, 83% were associated with a natural cause and only 80 events (=17%) were technological. More than 50 % of the technological disasters were categorized in the transport accident subgroup. Technological disasters were spread equally over the whole year. The vast majority of natural disasters (N=394) were due to storm (n=178, 45%), flood (n=101, 26%) and extreme temperatures (n=93, 24%) with peaks occurring during summer and winter months, while less disasters were registered during autumn and especially spring seasons.

Discussion

Looking at the three most common disaster types, extreme temperatures, floods, and storms are clearly dominating and cause over 90% of the natural disasters in central Europe. An overlap of hospital admissions due to seasonal effects and catastrophic events, mainly triggered by natural disasters in the vulnerable periods may lead to a partial collapse of the health care system. To deal with such a variety of different and potentially simultaneous hazards using an “all hazards” approach could be promising and often has been seen as the most effective strategy for hospital emergency planning.
Predicting Postoperative Delirium in Older Patients: a multicenter retrospective cohort study
Authors: Wu Shun-Chin Jim , Sharma Nitin , Bauch Anne , Yang Hao-Chun , Hect Jasmine L. , Thomas Christine , Wagner Sören , Förstner Bernd R. , von Arnim Christine A.F. , Kaufmann Tobias , Eschweiler Gerhard W. , Wolfers Thomas ,   the PAWEL Study Group
Published: March 2024

Background

The number of elective surgeries for older individuals is on the rise globally. Machine learning may improve risk assessment with an impact on surgical planning and postoperative care. Preoperative cognitive assessment may facilitate early identification of postoperative delirium (POD). This study aims to estimate the predictive ability of machine learning models for POD using pre-and/or perioperative features, with a specific focus on adding neuropsychological assessments prior to surgery.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from the multicenter PAWEL study and its PAWEL-R substudy, encompassing older patients (≥70 years) undergoing elective surgeries across five medical centers from July 2017 to April 2019. A total of 1624 patients were included, with POD diagnosis made before discharge. Data included demographics, clinical, surgical, and neuropsychological features collected pre- and perioperatively. Machine learning model performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), with permutation testing for significance and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) to identify effective neuropsychological assessments.

Results

In this cohort of 1624 patients, 52.3% (N=850) were male, with a mean [SD] age of 77.9 [4.9] years. Predicting POD before surgery using demographic, clinical, surgical, and neuropsychological features achieved an AUC of 0.79. Incorporating all pre- and perioperative features into the model yielded a slightly higher AUC of 0.82, with no significant difference observed (P= .19). Notably, cognitive factors alone were not strong predictors (AUC=0.61). However, specific tests within neuropsychological assessments, such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment memory subdomain and Trail Making Test Part B, were found to be crucial for prediction according to SHAP analysis.

Conclusion and Relevance

Preoperative risk prediction for POD can increase risk awareness in presurgical assessment and improve postoperative management in patients with a high risk for delirium.

Highlights

Analyzed 1624 older patients (≥70 years) undergoing elective surgeries across five medical centers from July 2017 to April 2019.

Established machine learning model to predict postoperative delirium before surgery.

Preoperative cognition enhances predictive performance, comparable to models incorporating all pre- and perioperative features.

Montreal Cognitive Assessment memory subdomain and Trail Making Test Part B drive the cognition-based prediction.

Perioperative surgical features, such as the duration of the surgery, are important predictors.
Normalizing Spinal Cord Compression Morphometric Measures: Application in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy
Authors: Bédard Sandrine , Valošek Jan , Seif Maryam , Curt Armin , Schading Simon , Pfender Nikolai , Freund Patrick , Hupp Markus , Cohen-Adad Julien
Published: March 2024

Objective

Automatic and robust characterization of spinal cord shape from MRI images is relevant to assess the severity of spinal cord compression in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) and to guide therapeutic strategy. Despite its popularity, the maximum spinal cord compression (MSCC) index has practical limitations to objectively assess the severity of cord compression. Firstly, it is computed by normalizing the anteroposterior cord diameter by that above and below the level of compression, but it does not account for the fact that the spinal cord itself varies in size along the superior-inferior axis, making this MSCC sensitive to the level of compression. Secondly, spinal cord shape varies across individuals, making MSCC also sensitive to the size and shape of every individual. Thirdly, MSCC is typically computed by the expert-rater on a single sagittal slice, which is time-consuming and prone to inter-rater variability. In this study, we propose a fully automatic pipeline to compute MSCC.

Methods

We extended the traditional MSCC (based on the anteroposterior diameter) to other shape metrics (transverse diameter, area, eccentricity, and solidity), and proposed a normalization strategy using a database of healthy adults (n=203) to address the variability of the spinal cord anatomy between individuals. We validated the proposed method in a cohort of DCM patients (n=120) with manually derived morphometric measures and predicted the therapeutic decision (operative/conservative) using a stepwise binary logistic regression including demographics, clinical scores, and electrophysiological assessment.

Results

The automatic and normalized MSCC measures significantly correlated with clinical scores and predicted the therapeutic decision with higher accuracy than the manual MSCC. Results show that the sensory dysfunction of the upper extremities (mJOA subscore), the presence of myelopathy and the proposed MRI-based normalized morphometric measures were significant predictors of the therapeutic decision. The model yielded an area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic of 80%.

Conclusion

The study introduced an automatic method for computation of normalized MSCC measures of cord compression from MRI scans, which is an important step towards better informed therapeutic decisions in DCM patients. The method is open-source and available in the Spinal Cord Toolbox v6.0.