bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trial protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy and safety of intravenous ketamine for chronic daily headaches: the “KetHead” trial
Authors: Hoydonckx Yasmine , Singh Mandeep , Gilron Ian , Khan James , Narouze Samer , Dahan Albert , Curtis Kathryn , Cao Xingshan , Kara Jamal , Bhatia Anuj
Published: March 2023

Background

Chronic daily headaches (CDH) are common and associated with significant morbidity, poor quality of life, and substantial burden on the healthcare system. CDH tends to be refractory to conventional medical management and/or patients cannot afford expensive treatments. It is stipulated that CDH share a mechanism of central sensitization in the trigeminocervical complex, mediated by activation of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Ketamine, a non-competitive NMDA antagonist, has been used in the treatment of chronic pain, but its role in CDH has not been completely established. This trial aims to evaluate the effect of high-dose IV ketamine infusions (compared to placebo) on the number of headache days at 28 days post-infusion.

Methods

A multicenter, placebo-controlled, randomized controlled trial will be conducted with two parallel groups and blinding of participants and outcome assessors. The study will include 56 adults with a CDH diagnosis as per ICHD-3 criteria. Participants will be randomized (1:1) to either ketamine (1 mg. kg−1 bolus followed by infusion of 1 mg. kg−1. h−1 for 6 h) or placebo (0.9% saline in the same volume and infusion rate as the trial medication) bolus and infusion for 6 h. The impact on the number of monthly headache days, headache intensity, physical activity, mood, sleep, quality of life, analgesic consumption, and adverse effects will be recorded at baseline, immediately post-infusion, and from 1 to 28 days, 29 to 56 days, and 57 to 84 days after the infusion

Discussion

Despite advancements in treatment, many patients continue to suffer from CDH. This trial investigates whether high-dose IV ketamine infusions can effectively and safely improve the CDH burden as compared to a placebo infusion. This treatment could become a safe, affordable, and widely available option for patients living with refractory headache.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05306899. Registered on April 1, 2022
The effect of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease and diabetic kidney disease on the risk of hospitalization of heart failure in type 2 diabetes: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Lee Seung Eun , Yoo Juhwan , Kim Bong-Seong , Choi Han Seok , Han Kyungdo , Kim Kyoung-Ah
Published: March 2023

Background

Diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for heart failure. A recent consensus statement recommended annual cardiac biomarker testing (e.g. natriuretic peptide or high-sensitivity cardiac troponin) for all patients with diabetes. We aimed to identify patients at a higher risk of hospitalization for heart failure among patients with type 2 diabetes to prioritize those who would require screening.

Methods

Overall, 1,189,113 patients who underwent two medical health checkup cycles (2009–2012 and 2011–2014) and had stable diabetic kidney disease (DKD) phenotype in the Korean National Health Insurance Service database were included in this study. After excluding those with concurrent proteinuria (PU) and reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate, three groups (no-DKD, PU+DKD, and PU−DKD) were identified. A fatty liver index of ≥ 60 was defined as metabolic dysfunction–associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Patients were followed up until December 2018 or until outcomes developed. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to compare the risk of hospitalization for heart failure across groups.

Results

During an average of 6.6 years of follow-up, 5781 patients developed hospitalization for heart failure. After adjusting for covariates, the risk of hospitalization for heart failure was highest in the PU+DKD group [HR 3.12, 95% CI (2.75–3.55)], followed by the PU−DKD group [HR 1.85, 95% CI (1.73–1.99)] using the no-DKD group as the reference category. The risk of hospitalization for heart failure was comparable regardless of MAFLD status in patients who already had DKD. However, in the no-DKD group, the risk of hospitalization for heart failure was 1.4 times higher in patients with MAFLD than in those without [HR 1.41, 95% CI (1.31–1.52)].

Conclusions

In lines with the international consensus statement, we suggest that annual cardiac biomarker testing should be conducted at least in patients with DKD and/or MAFLD.
Residency and space use estimation methods based on passive acoustic telemetry data
Authors: Kraft S. , Gandra M. , Lennox R. J. , Mourier J. , Winkler A. C. , Abecasis D.
Published: March 2023

Acoustic telemetry has helped overcome many of the challenges faced when studying the movement ecology of aquatic species, allowing to obtain unprecedented amounts of data. This has made it into one of the most widely used methods nowadays. Many ways to analyse acoustic telemetry data have been made available and deciding on how to analyse the data requires considering the type of research objectives, relevant properties of the data (e.g., resolution, study design, equipment), habits of the study species, researcher experience, among others. To ease this decision process, here we showcase (1) some of the methods used to estimate pseudo-positions and positions from raw acoustic telemetry data, (2) methods to estimate residency and (3) methods to estimate two-dimensional home and occurrence range using geometric or hull-based methods and density-distribution methods, a network-based approach, and three-dimensional methods. We provide examples of some of these were tested using a sample of real data. With this we intend to provide the necessary background for the selection of the method(s) that better fit specific research objectives when using acoustic telemetry.
Identification of autophagy-related genes in neuropathic pain through bioinformatic analysis
Authors: Tian Sheng , Wu Lanxiang , Zheng Heqing , Zhong Xianhui , Yu Xinping , Wu Wei
Published: March 2023

Background

Neuropathic pain (NP) is one of the most common types of chronic pain and significantly compromises the quality of life. Autophagy is an intracellular catabolic process that is required to maintain cellular homeostasis in response to various stresses. The role of autophagy-related genes in the diagnosis and treatment of neuropathic pain remains unclear.

Methods

We identified autophagy-related differentially expressed genes (ARDEGs) and differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) in neuropathic pain by bioinformatics analysis of the GSE145226 and GSE145199 datasets. These ARDEGs and their co-expressed genes were subjected to Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and friends analysis. Meanwhile, we constructed TFs-ARDEGs, miRNA-ARDEGs regulatory network through ChIPBase database and the HTFtarget database, multiMir R package. Finally, we performed immune infiltration analysis of ARDEGs by Single Sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA).

Results

We identified 2 potential autophagy-related differentially expressed genes (Sirt2 and ST7) that may be closely associated with the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain. GO, KEGG and GSEA analysis revealed that these two ARDEGs were mainly enriched in pyridine nucleotide metabolic process, nicotinamide nucleotide metabolic process, Nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, NF-κB pathway, KRAS signaling, P53 pathway. In the TFs-ARDEGs and miRNA-ARDEGs regulatory network, miR-140-5p and Cebpb were predicted to be as crucial regulators in the progression of NP. For the ssGSEA results, Sirt2 was positively correlated with Eosinophil and Effector memory CD8+ T cell infiltration, which suggested that it may be involved in the regulation of neuroimmune-related signaling.

Conclusion

Two autophagy-related differentially expressed genes, especially Sirt2, may be potential biomarkers for NP, providing more evidence about the crucial role of autophagy in neuropathic pain.
Cascade screening can be life-saving: a family with multiple cases of brugada syndrome and sudden cardiac death
Authors: Ghafouri Parham , Taaghi Sarah , Keykhavani Ala , Bozorgi Ali , diz Abolfath Alizadeh
Published: March 2023

Brugada syndrome (BrS) may cause a spectrum of symptoms from asymptomatic patients to those who experience cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death. The diagnosis is confirmed after observation of type I Brugada pattern on the electrocardiogram. Following the diagnosis, risk stratification can help select therapeutic options. Cascade screening should be started to find other family members with BrS. We present a 41-year-old woman diagnosed with BrS, and cascade screening of her relatives unveiled a pedigree of BrS among their family.
Nutritional composition, bioactive components and antioxidant activity of Moringa stenopetala and Moringa oleifera leaves grown in Gaborone, Botswana
Authors: Ntshambiwa Katso Twinkle , Seifu Eyassu , Mokhawa Gaone
Published: March 2023

Moringa is a multipurpose tree and an important vegetable crop elsewhere. However, it is recently introduced to Botswana and grown in the backyards of households as a shade. Its uses are generally unknown to the community, and it is underutilized despite its huge nutritional and non-food uses. In this study, the nutritional composition, bioactive components and antioxidant activity ofMoringa stenopetala(MS) andMoringa oleifera(MO) leaves grown in Gaborone Botswana were determined. Except for moisture content, no significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed in proximate composition between MS and MO leaves. The moisture content of MS leaves was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of MO leaves. MS leaves had significantly (p < 0.05) higher Na and K contents than MO leaves. However, MO leaves had significantly (p < 0.05) higher Zn content than MS leaves. The two Moringa leaves had comparable Fe, Ca and Mg contents. The Vitamin C content of MO leaves was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of MS leaves. However, MS leaves had significantly (p < 0.05) higher total phenolic, total flavonoid contents (mg/100 g) and antioxidant activity (µg/mL) as compared to MO leaves. The Moringa leaves can be used for development of functional foods with improved nutrition and health benefits.

Graphical Abstract
Sequential Bayesian seismic inversion for fracture parameters and fluid indicator in tilted transversely isotropic media
Authors: Ma Zhengqian , Yin Xingyao , Zong Zhaoyun , Tan Yuanyuan , Ji Lixiang , Yang Zhifang , Yan Xinfei
Published: March 2023

A rock permeated by tilted aligned fractures, which is common in the earth, can be considered as a tilted transversely isotropic (TTI) medium under the assumption of the long wavelength. We develop a feasible method to predict fracture parameters (namely weakness parameters and dip angle) and fluid type in TTI rock using azimuthal seismic data. Based on an approximate stiffness matrix, we first deduce a linear reflection coefficient of the gas-bearing TTI medium in terms of the new fluid indicator and fracture parameters. The reflection coefficient is then rewritten in the form of the Fourier series to decouple the fracture and skeleton-fluid information. Next, the sequential Bayesian inversion method is proposed, which consists of three steps. The first two steps conquer inversion instability owing to coupling of the fracture parameters by constructing a linear relationship between the second- and fourth-order Fourier coefficients. The last step aims at estimating the skeleton-fluid parameters. The sequential Bayesian inversion method alleviates the inversion ill-posedness that is caused by large differences in contributions of the fracture and skeleton-fluid parameters to the reflection coefficient. Synthetic and field cases prove our method is stable and rational in fracture and fluid detections. Finally, we draw the following conclusions from numerical experiments. The approximate stiffness coefficients and derived reflection coefficient are of satisfactory accuracy for the gas-bearing reservoir with low fracture density. The new fluid indicator is sensitive to fluid type but very weakly dependent on mineral composition and porosity. Deconvolution processing can improve the accuracies of different seismic components calculated using the discrete Fourier transformation.
Germinations
Authors: Dawson Ashley , Paik A. Naomi
Published: March 2023

The idea of the Anthropocene has spread far beyond its origins in geology, becoming common in contemporary activist and intellectual circles. But who is responsible for the mounting disasters associated with the age of anthropos, and who should be made to pay reparations? What if the onset of the Anthropocene was tenaciously resisted in various different historical moments and parts of the planet? This issue recuperates the alternative worlds, orientations, and subaltern environmental movements that constitute radical historical alternatives to the Anthropocene. We conceptualize these alternatives as seeds of ecological insurrection, sometimes lying long dormant but always ready to rise up again when the time is right. At a moment when elites have intransigently refused to decarbonize society, we must look back to histories of revolt to broaden the repertoire of militant tactics available to face the environmental emergency.
A Black Belt-ocene
Authors: Richardson LaKendrick
Published: March 2023

Popular conceptualizations of the Anthropocene tend to blur and blend humanity into a singular lump and task it with combating anomalous climate change. This essay questions the dominant narratives of the Anthropocene by excavating the author’s life in the Alabama Black Belt. Through a blend of autoethnography and historical research, it explores life in the Black Belt as an example of the ways in which Black and brown people, and their narratives, are erased in the Anthropocene. The Black Belt is home to rich advocacy movements led by those most impacted. This activism demonstrates that Black people are not passive in the climate movement. In fact, the Black Belt has engaged with ecological injustice movements throughout its modern history. Guided by Kathryn Yusoff’s conception of “a billion Black Anthropocenes,” this article aims to encourage praxis that is guided by inclusive and honest historical accounts of humanity and ecological injustice.
Challenges and opportunities for OSS web applications development
Authors: Κυριακού Κυριάκος-Ιωάννης
Published: March 2023

Αυτή η διατριβή περιγράφει μια κατανεμημένη αρχιτεκτονική βασισμένη κυρίως στη γλώσσα JavaScript (JS), κατάλληλη για την ανάπτυξη σύγχρονων εφαρμογών Ιστού, εντοπίζει προκλήσεις ασυμβατότητας και πολυπλοκότητας και παρέχει πιθανές λύσεις. Διεξάγοντας μια σειρά από stress tests, σε δημοφιλείς τεχνολογίες από την πλευρά του διακομιστή, η συμβατική στοίβα PHP/Apache βρέθηκε αναποτελεσματική για την αντιμετώπιση της αυξανόμενης ζήτησης στη δικτυακή κίνηση. Ο διακομηστής NGINX εκτέλεσε περισσότερες από 2,5 φορές πιο γρήγορα λειτουργίες εισόδου/εξόδου (I/O) από τον Apache, ενώ το Node.js είχε καλύτερη απόδοση και τους δύο. Το Node.js, αν και εξαιρετικό στις λειτουργίες I/O και στη χρήση πόρων, διαπιστώθηκε ότι υστερεί στην εξυπηρέτηση στατικών αρχείων χρησιμοποιώντας τον ενσωματωμένο διακομιστή Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), ενώ το NGINX είχε εξαιρετική απόδοση σε αυτήν την εργασία. Έτσι, για βελτιστοποιημένη η αποτελεσματικότητα, ένας διακομιστής NGINX θα μπορούσε να τοποθετηθεί μπροστά για τα αιτήματα στατικού περιεχομένου, επιτρέποντας στις διαδικασίες Node.js να χειρίζονται μόνο δυναμικό περιεχόμενο.Βρέθηκε ότι η γλώσσα Rust ενισχύει την απόδοση κατά 5 φορές σε σχέση με τον αντίστοιχο κώδικα JS χωρίς την πραγματοποίηση πρόσθετων βελτιστοποιήσεων και εμφάνισε έως και 7 φορές μεγαλύτερη απόδοση από τον μηχανισμό ταυτόχρονης λειτουργίας του Node.js χωρίς αλλαγές στον ενσωματωμένο sheduler. Τα ευρήματα παρέχουν ουσιαστικές αποδείξεις ότι η Rust είναι ικανή να παρέχει τα χαρακτηριστικά χαμηλού επιπέδου που απαιτούνται για λειτουργίες μη αποκλεισμού και πρόσβασης υλικού, διατηρώντας παράλληλα ομοιότητες υψηλού επιπέδου με τη JS, αυξάνοντας την παραγωγικότητα.Επιπλέον, παρουσιάζεται ένα πρωτότυπο πλαίσιο, το οποίο χρησιμοποιεί τις γλώσσες προγραμματισμού Rust και JS, καθώς και τα αντίστοιχα οικοσυστήματα τους, παράλληλα με το πρότυπο WebAssembly, για την επίτευξη ενισχυμένης έκθεσης δυσεύρετων C/C++ στοιχείων λογισμικού ανοιχτού κώδικα (OSS). Οι παρεχόμενες μετρήσεις παρουσιάζουν υπερδιπλάσια αύξηση στις λήψεις για μια ανασυσκευασμένη βιβλιοθήκη, ανώτερη δυνατότητα ανακάλυψης σε σύγκριση με τα τυπικά δημόσια αποθετήρια κώδικα OSS, καθώς και στοιχεία ότι οι προμηθευτές προγραμμάτων περιήγησης Ιστού επενδύουν πολύ στη βελτιστοποίηση του υποκείμενου χρόνου εκτέλεσης.Τέλος, πραγματοποιήθηκε μια ποιοτική μελέτη στον ιστότοπο Open Source Stack Exchange, προκειμένου να ομαδοποιηθούν και να κατηγοριοποιηθούν κοινά προβλήματα που αντιμετωπίζουν οι προγραμματιστές OSS. Τα προβλήματα που συζητήθηκαν χωρίστηκαν σε 26 κατηγορίες προβλημάτων και ομαδοποιήθηκαν σε 6 clusters. Τα αποτελέσματα δείχνουν ότι οι αναρτήσεις σε κείμενα/προϋποθέσεις αδειών και ειδοποιήσεις αδειών/πνευματικών δικαιωμάτων είναι πιο συνηθισμένες, ενώ οι αναρτήσεις για διαφορές αδειών είναι οι πιο δημοφιλείς όσον αφορά τις προβολές από άλλους χρήστες.
Riesgos psicosociales y trastornos mentales en trabajadores petroleros mexicanos
Authors: Carrión-García María Ángeles , Zepeta Hernández David , Santiago Roque Gemma , Martínez Díaz Nazaria , Del Ángel Salazar Erika Mayte
Published: March 2023

Introducción: Los riesgos psicosociales en los trabajadores tienen influencia en la salud, rendimiento del trabajo y satisfacción laboral, sin embargo, este fenómeno en trabajadores de la industria petrolera poco se ha estudiado. El objetivo fue analizar asociación de estrés y desgaste laboral en trastornos en los trabajadores petroleros de la región sureste de México. Materiales y métodos: Diseño transversal y analítico. La muestra estuvo integrada por 501 trabajadores de la industria petrolera terrestre de la región sureste de México. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron el Inventario de Desgaste Laboral, el Inventario de Síntomas de Estrés y el Cuestionario de Salud General de Goldberg (GHQ 28). Se aplicaron los instrumentos entre octubre y noviembre de 2016.  Se utilizó la prueba de Chi Cuadrado para analizar la relación entre las variables, y se determinó Odds Ratio para establecer el nivel de riesgo a trastornos mentales. Resultados: Se encontraron niveles moderados de estrés (21.4l%), eficacia (41.5%) cinismo (30.6%) y agotamiento (39.7%). Se encontró presencia de trastornos mentales en 11.8% de los trabajadores. El estrés y las dimensiones del desgaste laboral se asociaron con los trastornos mentales (p<.050). Finalmente, el estrés y el desgaste laboral son factores de riesgo para sufrir trastornos mentales(OR=12.96, IC95% [7.03, 23.94] p=0.00). Conclusiones: El estrés y el desgaste laboral representan factores de riesgo para presentar trastornos mentales en los trabajadores petroleros.
Entre rebanhos e grãos: apresentando evidências e hipóteses sobre a cidade e o urbano a partir de Campo Grande - MS
Authors: Luquez Juliana
Published: March 2023

ResumoA análise da estruturação urbana é reconhecida como importante corte e montagem na compreensão da produção do espaço e na percepção do movimento que realiza a cidade e o urbano – como materialidade e possibilidade. Este manuscrito discute os processos socioespaciais na realização da urbanização em Mato Grosso do Sul, apresentando evidências e hipóteses sobre o desenvolvimento do urbano a partir de Campo Grande; e, como desdobramento, reconhece a potência da abordagem interseccional na combinação de tríades analíticas que possam ampliar as possibilidades interpretativas sobre o movimento da produção do espaço urbano na capital sul-mato-grossense. Os procedimentos metodológicos adotados neste ensaio consideraram levantamento bibliográfico, levantamento documental conjuntural e circunscrição de um referencial territorial orientado por trabalho de campo e portfólio sistematizado. O raciocínio desenvolvido conclui que a leitura do espaço urbano de Campo Grande apresenta processos socioespaciais estruturalmente complexos, destacando a periferização, a espoliação e a segregação como relevantes para a análise e a discussão da problemática urbana na contemporaneidade.Palavras-chave: relatos de experiência, periferização, espoliação, segregação. AbstractThe analysis of urban structure is recognized as an important cut and assembly in understanding the production of space and in the perception of the movement that produces the city and the urban space – as materiality and possibility. This manuscript discusses the socio-spatial processes in the realization of urbanization in Mato Grosso do Sul state, presenting evidence and hypotheses about urban development at Campo Grande city; and, as a result, it recognizes the power of the intersectional approach in the combination of analytical triads that can expand the interpretative possibilities on the movement of production of urban space in the capital of Mato Grosso do Sul. The methodological procedures adopted in this essay considered a bibliographic survey, a conjunctural document survey and the circumscription of a territorial reference guided by fieldwork and a systematized portfolio. The reasoning developed concludes that the reading of the urban space of Campo Grande presents structurally complex socio- spatial processes, highlighting peripheralization, spoliation and segregation as relevant to the analysis and discussion of the urban problem in contemporary times.Keywords: experience reports; peripheralization; spoliation; segregation.
Policiamento preditivo na era da vigilância: a busca de um modelo constitucional e democrático
Authors: De Araujo Valter Shuenquener de , Araujo Junior Júlio José , Albuquerque Lucca Fernandes de
Published: March 2023

Resumo: Este artigo pretende abordar as potencialidades e os eventuais riscos na adoção de tecnologias em policiamento preditivo, além de avaliar as possibilidades de condução dos processos decisórios pela Administração Pública na definição do uso de Big Data em segurança pública. Em outras palavras, pretende-se responder à seguinte pergunta: quais os riscos e oportunidades que a coleta de um conjunto grande de dados, estabelecidos por algoritmos, sobre padrões de comportamento e entendimentos escondidos, oferece? Ao olhar para as experiências de outros países e os debates atualmente levados a cabo no Brasil, procuramos indicar alguns caminhos para uma discussão constitucionalmente adequada da matéria. A metodologia utilizada é a bibliográfica e o objetivo da pesquisa realizada é o de contribuir para o debate em torno da utilização da tecnologia para a tomada de decisões estatais.
Getting the most out of attending aesthetic conferences
Authors: Bird Vanessa
Published: March 2023

This article will share effective tips on how to get the most out of attending an aesthetic conference to maximise professional and personal growth. From shortlisting what conferences to go to, to the logistics of your trip and whether you want to go with a conference ‘buddy’, the work starts long before you step through the doors of the conference centre. You may already plan what lectures and demonstrations to attend based on your future business and educational goals, but are you making the most of the exhibition, meeting with distributors and networking with your peers? Have you prioritised what you want to get out of attending each conference and do you always review what you learned post-event? This guide will help you focus your time and attention, ensuring your conference days off-site from your clinic leads to business, personal and financial growth.
Guided growth: angular deformity correction through temporary hemiepiphysiodesis with a novel flexible staple (FlexTack)
Authors: Vogt Bjoern , Toporowski Gregor , Gosheger Georg , Laufer Andrea , Frommer Adrien , Kleine-Koenig Marie-Theres , Roedl Robert , Antfang Carina
Published: March 2023

Aims

Temporary hemiepiphysiodesis (HED) is applied to children and adolescents to correct angular deformities (ADs) in long bones through guided growth. Traditional Blount staples or two-hole plates are mainly used for this indication. Despite precise surgical techniques and attentive postoperative follow-up, implant-associated complications are frequently described. To address these pitfalls, a flexible staple was developed to combine the advantages of the established implants. This study provides the first results of guided growth using the new implant and compares these with the established two-hole plates and Blount staples.

Methods

Between January 2013 and December 2016, 138 patients (22 children, 116 adolescents) with genu valgum or genu varum were treated with 285 flexible staples. The minimum follow-up was 24 months. These results were compared with 98 patients treated with 205 two-hole plates and 92 patients treated with 535 Blount staples. In long-standing anteroposterior radiographs, mechanical axis deviations (MADs) were measured before and during treatment to analyze treatment efficiency. The evaluation of the new flexible staple was performed according to the idea, development, evaluation, assessment, long-term (IDEAL) study framework (Stage 2a).

Results

Overall, 79% (109/138) of patients treated with flexible staples achieved sufficient deformity correction. The median treatment duration was 16 months (interquartile range (IQR) 8 to 21). The flexible staples achieved a median MAD correction of 1.2 mm/month/HED site (IQR 0.6 to 2.0) in valgus deformities and 0.6 mm/month/HED site (IQR 0.2 to 1.5) in varus deformities. Wound infections occurred in 1%, haematomas and joint effusions in 4%, and implant-associated complications in 1% of patients treated with flexible staples. Valgus AD were corrected faster using flexible staples than two-hole plates and Blount staples. Furthermore, the median MAD after treatment was lower in varus and valgus AD, fewer implant-associated complications were detected, and reduced implantation times were recorded using flexible staples.

Conclusion

The flexible staple seems to be a viable option for guided growth, showing comparable or possibly better results regarding correction speed and reducing implant-associated complications. Further comparative studies are required to substantiate these findings.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(3):331–340.
Wide arthroscopic dorsal capsuloligamentous repair in patients with severe scapholunate instability
Authors: de Villeneuve Bargemon Jean-Baptiste , Mathoulin Christophe , Jaloux Charlotte , Levadoux Michel , Gras Mathilde , Merlini Lorenzo
Published: March 2023

Aims

A conventional arthroscopic capsuloligamentous repair is a reliable surgical solution in most patients with scapholunate instability. However, this repair does not seem to be sufficient for more advanced injuries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional results of a wide arthroscopic dorsal capsuloligamentous repair (WADCLR) in the management of severe scapholunate instability.

Methods

This was a prospective single-centre study undertaken between March 2019 and May 2021. The primary outcome was the evaluation of the reduction of the radiological deformity and the functional outcomes after WADCLR. A secondary outcome was the evaluation of the effectiveness of this technique in patients with the most severe instability (European Wrist Arthroscopy Society (EWAS) stage 5). The patients were reviewed postoperatively at three, six, and 12 months.

Results

The study included 112 patients (70 male and 42 female). Their mean age was 31.6 years (16 to 55). A total of three patients had EWAS stage 3A injuries, 12 had stage 3B injuries, 29 had stage 3C injuries, 56 had stage 4 injuries, and 12 had stage 5 injuries. There was a significant improvement of the radiological signs in all patients with a return to normal values. There was also a significant improvement in all aspects of function except for flexion, in which the mean increase was negligible (0.18° on average). There was also a significant improvement in all criteria for patients with a stage 5 injury, except for some limitation of extension, flexion, and radial and ulnar deviation, although these showed a trend towards improvement (except for flexion).

Conclusion

WADCLR is a minimally invasive, easy, and reproducible technique with few complications, offering a clear improvement in function and a reduction in the radiological deformity at one year postoperatively.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(3):307–314.
Investigation of the effect of chirped factors on the interference enhancement effect of an Airyprime beam propagating in free space
Authors: Dan Wensong , Zang Xiang , Wang Fei , Chu Xiuxiang , Ni Yongzhou , Cai Yangjian , Zhou Guoquan
Published: March 2023

The first-order and the second-order chirped factors are imposed on the Airyprime beam, and the analytical expression of the chirped Airyprime beam propagating in free space is derived. The phenomenon that the peak light intensity on observation plane other than initial plane is greater than that on initial plane is defined as the interference enhancement effect, which is caused by the coherent superposition of the chirped Airyprime and the chirped Airy-related modes. The effects of the first-order and the second-order chirped factors on the interference enhancement effect are theoretically investigated, respectively. The first-order chirped factor only affects the transverse coordinates where the maximum light intensity appears. The strength of interference enhancement effect of the chirped Airyprime beam with any negative second-order chirped factor must be stronger than that of the conventional Airyprime beam. However, the improvement of the strength of interference enhancement effect caused by the negative second-order chirped factor is realized at the expense of shortening the position where the maximum light intensity appears and the range of interference enhancement effect. The chirped Airyprime beam is also experimentally generated, and the effects of the first-order and the second-order chirped factors on the interference enhancement effect are experimentally confirmed. This study provides a scheme to improve the strength of interference enhancement effect by controlling the second-order chirped factor. Compared with traditional intensity enhancement methods such as using lens focusing, our scheme is flexible and easy to implement. This research is beneficial to the practical applications such as spatial optical communication and laser processing.
Single-photon switches, beam splitters, and circulators based on the photonic Aharonov-Bohm effect
Authors: Hu Yu , Jia W. Z. , Yan Cong-Hua
Published: March 2023

Single-photon devices such as switches, beam splitters, and circulators are fundamental components to construct photonic integrated quantum networks. In this paper, two V-type three-level atoms coupled to a waveguide are proposed to simultaneously realize these functions as a multifunctional and reconfigurable single-photon device. When both the two atoms are driven by the external coherent fields, the difference in the phases of the coherent driving induces the photonic Aharonov-Bohm effect. Based on the photonic Aharonov-Bohm effect and setting the two-atom distance to match the constructive or destructive interference conditions among photons travelling along different paths, a single-photon switch is achieved since the incident single photon can be controlled from complete transmission to complete reflection by adjusting the amplitudes and phases of the driving fields. When properly changing the amplitudes and phases of the driving fields, the incident photons are split equally into multiple components as a beam splitter operated with different frequencies. Meanwhile, the single-photon circulator with reconfigurable circulation directions can also be obtained.
Inferring protein fitness landscapes from laboratory evolution experiments
Authors: D’Costa Sameer , Hinds Emily C. , Freschlin Chase R. , Song Hyebin , Romero Philip A.
Published: March 2023

Directed laboratory evolution applies iterative rounds of mutation and selection to explore the protein fitness landscape and provides rich information regarding the underlying relationships between protein sequence, structure, and function. Laboratory evolution data consist of protein sequences sampled from evolving populations over multiple generations and this data type does not fit into established supervised and unsupervised machine learning approaches. We develop a statistical learning framework that models the evolutionary process and can infer the protein fitness landscape from multiple snapshots along an evolutionary trajectory. We apply our modeling approach to dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) laboratory evolution data and the resulting landscape parameters capture important aspects of DHFR structure and function. We use the resulting model to understand the structure of the fitness landscape and find numerous examples of epistasis but an overall global peak that is evolutionarily accessible from most starting sequences. Finally, we use the model to perform an in silico extrapolation of the DHFR laboratory evolution trajectory and computationally design proteins from future evolutionary rounds.
COVID-19 vaccine equity and the right to health for displaced Venezuelans in Latin America
Authors: Hill David C. , Andrade-Romo Zafiro , Solari Karla , Adams Ellithia , Forman Lisa , Grace Daniel , Silva-Santisteban Alfonso , Perez-Brumer Amaya
Published: March 2023

Given the magnitude of Venezuelan displacement in Latin America, there is a need to assess how migrants were, and will continue to be, addressed in COVID-19 vaccination policies. To explore migration status as a dimension of vaccine equity in Latin America and in relation to international human rights, we assessed national vaccination plans, peer-reviewed, and gray literature published between January 2020 and June 2021. Three key rights-related concerns were found to restrict the health rights of migrants in the region: 1) lack of prioritization of migrants in vaccine distribution; 2) onerous documentation requirements to be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination; and (3) how pervasive anti-migrant discrimination limited equitable health care access. While international human rights law prohibits against discrimination based on migration status, few countries analyzed realized their obligations to provide equal access to COVID-19 vaccines to non-citizens, including displaced Venezuelans. Especially for migrants and displaced people, effective and sustainable vaccination strategies for COVID-19 and future pandemics in Latin America must be guided not only by epidemiological risk but also seek to align with human rights obligations. To achieve this, States must also take special measures to facilitate vaccine access for communities facing systemic discrimination, exclusion, and marginalization.
Racial differences in prevention decision making among U.S. women at high risk of breast cancer: A qualitative study
Authors: Padamsee Tasleem J. , Muraveva Anna , Meadows Rachel J. , Hils Megan , Yee Lisa D. , Wills Celia E. , Paskett Electra D.
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Women at high risk of breast cancer face complex decisions about how to manage those risks. Substantial gaps in current knowledge include how women make these decisions and how decision making may differ across sub-populations. Among these critical gaps are the questions of (a) whether racial differences exist between the experiences of high-risk women navigating breast cancer risk, and (b) what consequences those racial differences might have on women’s ability to manage their cancer risks. The present study is designed to address these questions directly.

Methods

Fifty semi-structured interviews were conducted with high-risk Black (n = 20) and white women (n = 30) between May 2015 and March 2016 in person in Ohio and by phone. Transcribed data were analyzed using grounded theory methods.

Main findings

Our analyses suggest that many of the core decision-making dynamics high-risk women navigate differ by race. The experiences of white and Black women in our study differ in terms of (a) contextualizing risk—how women make sense of their own breast cancer risk, the degree to which they worry about risk, and how they prioritize risk within the contexts of their broader lives; (b) conceptualizing risk management–how, how much, and from whom women learn about and conceptualize their options for preventing cancer and/or ensuring that cancer gets diagnosed early; and (c) constraints–the external barriers women face throughout their decision-making and risk-management processes. In sum, the Black women we interviewed reported feeling less well-situated to consider and cope actively with breast cancer risk, less well-informed about risk-management options, and more constrained in their use of these options.

Conclusions

High-risk women’s accounts of the complex dynamics that shape breast cancer prevention decisions suggest that these dynamics vary substantially by race, such that Black women may experience disadvantages relative to whites.
Impact of digital meditation on work stress and health outcomes among adults with overweight: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Radin Rachel M. , Epel Elissa S. , Mason Ashley E. , Vaccaro Julie , Fromer Elena , Guan Joanna , Prather Aric A.
Published: March 2023

Mindfulness meditation may improve well-being at work; however, effects on food cravings and metabolic health are not well known. We tested effects of digital meditation, alone or in combination with a healthy eating program, on perceived stress, cravings, and adiposity. We randomized 161 participants with overweight and moderate stress to digital meditation (‘MED,’ n = 38), digital meditation + healthy eating (‘MED+HE,’ n = 40), active control (‘HE,’ n = 41), or waitlist control (‘WL,’ n = 42) for 8 weeks. Participants (n = 145; M(SD) BMI: 30.8 (5.4) kg/m2) completed baseline and 8-week measures of stress (Perceived Stress Scale), cravings (Food Acceptance and Awareness Questionnaire) and adiposity (sagittal diameter and BMI). ANCOVAs revealed that those randomized to MED or MED+HE (vs. HE or WL) showed decreases in perceived stress (F = 15.19, p < .001, η2 = .10) and sagittal diameter (F = 4.59, p = .03, η2 = .04), with no differences in cravings or BMI. Those high in binge eating who received MED or MED+HE showed decreases in sagittal diameter (p = .03). Those with greater adherence to MED or MED+HE had greater reductions in stress, cravings, and adiposity (ps < .05). A brief digital mindfulness-based program is a low-cost method for reducing perceptions of stress and improving abdominal fat distribution patterns among adults with overweight and moderate stress. Future work should seek to clarify mechanisms by which such interventions contribute to improvements in health.

Trial registration: Clinical trial registration http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov: identifier NCT03945214.
Phylogenetic analyses of 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 (5-HT3) receptors in Metazoa
Authors: Rao Santosh T. R. B. , Turek Ilona , Irving Helen R.
Published: March 2023

The 5-hydroxytrptamine 3 (5-HT3) receptor is a member of the ’Cys-loop’ family and the only pentameric ligand gated ion channel among the serotonin receptors. 5-HT3 receptors play an important role in controlling growth, development, and behaviour in animals. Several 5-HT3 receptor antagonists are used to treat diseases (e.g., irritable bowel syndrome, nausea and emesis). Humans express five different subunits (A-E) enabling a variety of heteromeric receptors to form but all contain 5HT3A subunits. However, the information available about the 5-HT3 receptor subunit occurrence among the metazoan lineages is minimal. In the present article we searched for 5-HT3 receptor subunit homologs from different phyla in Metazoa. We identified more than 1000 5-HT3 receptor subunits in Metazoa in different phyla and undertook simultaneous phylogenetic analysis of 526 5HT3A, 358 5HT3B, 239 5HT3C, 70 5HT3D, and 173 5HT3E sequences. 5-HT3 receptor subunits were present in species belonging to 11 phyla: Annelida, Arthropoda, Chordata, Cnidaria, Echinodermata, Mollusca, Nematoda, Orthonectida, Platyhelminthes, Rotifera and Tardigrada. All subunits were most often identified in Chordata phylum which was strongly represented in searches. Using multiple sequence alignment, we investigated variations in the ligand binding region of the 5HT3A subunit protein sequences in the metazoan lineage. Several critical amino acid residues important for ligand binding (common structural features) are commonly present in species from Nematoda and Platyhelminth gut parasites through to Chordata. Collectively, this better understanding of the 5-HT3 receptor evolutionary patterns raises possibilities of future pharmacological challenges facing Metazoa including effects on parasitic and other species in ecosystems that contain 5-HT3 receptor ligands.
Ante- and post-mortem cellular injury dynamics in hybrid poplar foliage as a function of phytotoxic O3 dose
Authors: Turc Benjamin , Jolivet Yves , Cabané Mireille , Schaub Marcus , Vollenweider Pierre
Published: March 2023

After reaching phytotoxic levels during the last century, tropospheric ozone (O3) pollution is likely to remain a major concern in the coming decades. Despite similar injury processes, there is astounding interspecific–and sometimes intraspecific–foliar symptom variability, which may be related to spatial and temporal variation in injury dynamics. After characterizing the dynamics of physiological responses and O3 injury in the foliage of hybrid poplar in an earlier study, here we investigated the dynamics of changes in the cell structure occurring in the mesophyll as a function of O3 treatment, time, phytotoxic O3 dose (POD0), leaf developmental stage, and mesophyll layer. While the number of Hypersensitive Response-like (HR-like) lesions increased with higher O3 concentrations and POD0, especially in older leaves, most structural HR-like markers developed after cell death, independent of the experimental factors. The pace of degenerative Accelerated Cell Senescence (ACS) responses depended closely on the O3 concentration and POD0, in interaction with leaf age. Changes in total chlorophyll content, plastoglobuli and chloroplast shape pointed to thylakoid membranes in chloroplasts as being especially sensitive to O3 stress. Hence, our study demonstrates that early HR-like markers can provide reasonably specific, sensitive and reliable quantitative structural estimates of O3 stress for e.g. risk assessment studies, especially if they are associated with degenerative and thylakoid-related injury in chloroplasts from mesophyll.
Contribution of labor related gene subtype classification on heterogeneity of polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Zhou Jue , Jiang Zhou , Fu Leyi , Qu Fan , Dai Minchen , Xie Ningning , Zhang Songying , Wang Fangfang
Published: March 2023

Objective

As one of the most common endocrine disorders in women of reproductive age, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is highly heterogeneous with varied clinical features and diverse gestational complications among individuals. The patients with PCOS have 2-fold higher risk of preterm labor which is associated with substantial infant morbidity and mortality and great socioeconomic cost. The study was designated to identify molecular subtypes and the related hub genes to facilitate the susceptibility assessment of preterm labor in women with PCOS.

Methods

Four mRNA datasets (GSE84958, GSE5090, GSE43264 and GSE98421) were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus database. Twenty-eight candidate genes related to preterm labor or labor were yielded from the researches and our unpublished data. Then, we utilized unsupervised clustering to identify molecular subtypes in PCOS based on the expression of above candidate genes. Key modules were generated with weighted gene co-expression network analysis R package, and their hub genes were generated with CytoHubba. The probable biological function and mechanism were explored through Gene Ontology analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis. In addition, STRING and Cytoscape software were used to identify the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and the molecular complex detection (MCODE) was used to identify the hub genes. Then the overlapping hub genes were predicted.

Results

Two molecular subtypes were found in women with PCOS based on the expression similarity of preterm labor or labor-related genes, in which two modules were highlighted. The key modules and PPI network have five overlapping five hub genes, two of which, GTF2F2 and MYO6 gene, were further confirmed by the comparison between clustering subgroups according to the expression of hub genes.

Conclusions

Distinct PCOS molecular subtypes were identified with preterm labor or labor-related genes, which might uncover the potential mechanism underlying heterogeneity of clinical pregnancy complications in women with PCOS.
Respiration rate scales inversely with sinking speed of settling marine aggregates
Authors: Spilling Kristian , Heinemann Malte , Vanharanta Mari , Baumann Moritz , Noche-Ferreira Andrea , Suessle Philipp , Riebesell Ulf
Published: March 2023

Sinking marine aggregates have been studied for a long time to understand their role in carbon sequestration. Traditionally, sinking speed and respiration rates have been treated as independent variables, but two recent papers suggest that there is a connection albeit in contrasting directions. Here we collected recently formed (<2 days old) aggregates from sediment traps mounted underneath mesocosms during two different experiments. The mesocosms were moored off Gran Canaria, Spain (~ 27.9 N; 15.4 E) in a coastal, sub-tropical and oligotrophic ecosystem. We determined the respiration rates of organisms (mainly heterotrophic prokaryotes) attached to aggregates sinking at different velocities. The average respiration rate of fast sinking aggregates (>100 m d-1) was 0.12 d-1 ± 0.08 d-1 (SD). Slower sinking aggregates (<50 m d-1) had on average higher (p <0.001) and more variable respiration rates (average 0.31 d-1 ± 0.16 d-1, SD). There was evidence that slower sinking aggregates had higher porosity than fast sinking aggregates, and we hypothesize that higher porosity increase the settlement area for bacteria and the respiration rate. These findings provide insights into the efficiency of the biological carbon pump and help resolve the apparent discrepancy in the recent studies of the correlation between respiration and sinking speed.