bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supplementary Methods 1 from Clinical Outcomes and Evolution of Clonal Hematopoiesis in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Mouhieddine Tarek H. , Nzerem Chidimma , Redd Robert , Dunford Andrew , Leventhal Matthew , Sklavenitis-Pistofidis Romanos , Tahri Sabrin , El-Khoury Habib , Steensma David P. , Ebert Benjamin L. , Soiffer Robert J. , Keats Jonathan J. , Mehr Shaadi , Auclair Daniel , Ghobrial Irene M. , Sperling Adam S. , Stewart Chip , Getz Gad
Published: December 2023

Supplementary Methods
Supplementary Figure 4 from Clinical Outcomes and Evolution of Clonal Hematopoiesis in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Mouhieddine Tarek H. , Nzerem Chidimma , Redd Robert , Dunford Andrew , Leventhal Matthew , Sklavenitis-Pistofidis Romanos , Tahri Sabrin , El-Khoury Habib , Steensma David P. , Ebert Benjamin L. , Soiffer Robert J. , Keats Jonathan J. , Mehr Shaadi , Auclair Daniel , Ghobrial Irene M. , Sperling Adam S. , Stewart Chip , Getz Gad
Published: December 2023

Effect of IMiDs and CH on overall survival.
Supplementary Figure 1 from Clinical Outcomes and Evolution of Clonal Hematopoiesis in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Mouhieddine Tarek H. , Nzerem Chidimma , Redd Robert , Dunford Andrew , Leventhal Matthew , Sklavenitis-Pistofidis Romanos , Tahri Sabrin , El-Khoury Habib , Steensma David P. , Ebert Benjamin L. , Soiffer Robert J. , Keats Jonathan J. , Mehr Shaadi , Auclair Daniel , Ghobrial Irene M. , Sperling Adam S. , Stewart Chip , Getz Gad
Published: December 2023

Depiction of cell mixtures for the normal (PB) sample and tumor
(BM) sample showing effect of tumor purity and tumor-in-normal (TiN) contamination. Relative areas represent DNA fractions of different cell types.
FIGURE 3 from Clinical Outcomes and Evolution of Clonal Hematopoiesis in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Mouhieddine Tarek H. , Nzerem Chidimma , Redd Robert , Dunford Andrew , Leventhal Matthew , Sklavenitis-Pistofidis Romanos , Tahri Sabrin , El-Khoury Habib , Steensma David P. , Ebert Benjamin L. , Soiffer Robert J. , Keats Jonathan J. , Mehr Shaadi , Auclair Daniel , Ghobrial Irene M. , Sperling Adam S. , Stewart Chip , Getz Gad
Published: December 2023

Mutational properties. A, The maximum VAF attained by each of the 99 patients with CH. B, Distribution of VAF among different variants. C, Distribution of the types of single-nucleotide bp changes seen in all detected mutations.
FIGURE 1 from Clinical Outcomes and Evolution of Clonal Hematopoiesis in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Mouhieddine Tarek H. , Nzerem Chidimma , Redd Robert , Dunford Andrew , Leventhal Matthew , Sklavenitis-Pistofidis Romanos , Tahri Sabrin , El-Khoury Habib , Steensma David P. , Ebert Benjamin L. , Soiffer Robert J. , Keats Jonathan J. , Mehr Shaadi , Auclair Daniel , Ghobrial Irene M. , Sperling Adam S. , Stewart Chip , Getz Gad
Published: December 2023

Classification of mutation origins. A, Scatterplot of observed VAFs in the PB and BM samples (n = 151). Colors specify the classification of each mutation by the winning model: CH (blue), germline (orange), or tumor (green). The scatterplot is in the log scale, with a small offset artificially labeled at y = 0 to visualize VAFs of 0 in select BM samples. B, Bar graph depicting total number of mutations classified as either CH, germline, or tumor.
Intrauterine Inflammation, Excessive Fetal Growth and Respiratory Morbidities in Moderate-To-Late Preterm Neonates
Authors: Yokoi Kyoko , Iwata Osuke , Kobayashi Satoru , Jinnou Hideo , Kato Shin , Saitoh Shinji , Goto Haruo
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Respiratory morbidities in neonates are often progressive and life-threatening, and its early prediction is crucial. Intrauterine inflammation is one of the key control variables of respiratory morbidities in both very preterm and term neonates; however, little is known about its effects in the remaining group of moderate-to-late preterm neonates born between 32+0 and 36+6 weeks of gestation. This study aimed to confirm whether intrauterine inflammation is associated with respiratory morbidities in moderate-to-late preterm neonates. Methods: A single-center retrospective observational study was conducted in neonates born between 32+0 and 34+6 weeks of gestation between April 2013 and March 2018. The correlation between respiratory morbidities (defined as a requirement for invasive mechanical ventilation longer than the median duration of 3 days) and intrauterine inflammation was assessed using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: The study population comprised 242 neonates born at 33.7 ± 0.8 weeks of gestation and weighing 1,936 ± 381 g. The multivariable model to predict the outcome comprised respiratory distress syndrome (odds ratio [OR]: 9.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.7–22.5; p < 0.001), lower gestational age (per week; OR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.3–0.8; p < 0.005), higher birth-weight z-score (OR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.2–2.2; p < 0.005), lower cord blood pH (per 0.10; OR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.3–0.7; p < 0.005), and chorioamnionitis (OR: 2.8; 95% CI: 1.1–7.2; p < 0.05). Conclusion: Together with the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome and gestational age, chorioamnionitis and high birth-weight z-scores were associated with an increased incidence of respiratory morbidities in moderate-to-late preterm neonates. The deleterious impact of intrauterine inflammation on the lungs may be common in neonates of virtually all gestational ages. Traditional admission policy of neonatal intensive care units based on a threshold birth-weight, may leave a group of neonates without close observation despite their increased risks for respiratory morbidities.
Association between Circulating Levels of CXCL9 and CXCL10 and Physical Frailty in Older Adults
Authors: Li Jiaqi , Hosoyama Tohru , Shigemizu Daichi , Yasuoka Mikako , Kinoshita Kaori , Maeda Keisuke , Takemura Marie , Matsui Yasumoto , Arai Hidenori , Satake Shosuke
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Dysregulation of pro-inflammatory chemokines is considered a potential mechanism for the development of age-related medical conditions such as frailty. However, evidence linking circulating chemokines with frailty remains lacking. Materials and Methods: We performed a case-control study including 48 cases and 48 controls aged 65–90 years, using the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology outpatient registry data. Cases were outpatients with physical frailty and low habitual daily activity. Controls were robust outpatients who performed habitual daily activities. The Japanese version of the Cardiovascular Health Study criteria was used to diagnose physical frailty, and the modified Baecke questionnaire was used to evaluate habitual daily activities. Serum CXCL9 and CXCL10 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The median age (interquartile range) in cases and controls was 78 (73–83) and 76 (72–80) years, with the proportions of men were 47.9% and 43.8%, respectively. In the logistic regression model with adjustment for age, sex, and other confounding factors, the multivariable odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the highest versus lowest tertile of CXCL9 and CXCL10 levels were 7.90 (1.61–49.80) and 1.61 (0.42–6.30), respectively. However, we did not observe a linear association between CXCL9 levels and physical frailty components. Discussion/Conclusion: Our preliminary data exhibit that circulating CXCL9 levels were positively associated with the odds of physical frailty. However, these findings lack evidence of a dose-response relationship between CXCL9 levels and physical frailty components. Further research with a larger sample size is required to confirm these findings.
Association between Serum Klotho and All-Cause Mortality in Chronic Kidney Disease: Evidence from a Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Han Shisheng , Zhang Xiaolu , Wang Xiaojun , Wang Yi , Xu Yanqiu , Shang Li
Published: December 2023

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between circulating soluble Klotho concentration and all-cause mortality in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study involving 2,456 participants with CKD from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles spanning from 2007 to 2016. Complex sampling-weighted multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the association between serum Klotho level and all-cause mortality, presenting hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Additionally, a restricted cubic spline analysis was performed to explore potential nonlinear associations. Results: During a median of 82 months of follow-up, 550 (22.40%) all-cause deaths were recorded. The median serum Klotho concentration was 760 pg/mL (interquartile ranges, 624, 958). After adjusting for potential covariates, the risk of all-cause mortality decreased by 4% for every 100 pg/mL increase in Klotho (HR = 0.96, 95% CI, 0.92, 0.99). The HR for the fourth quartile of Klotho compared to the first quartile was 0.73 (95% CI, 0.56, 0.96). The restricted cubic spline model revealed a distinctive “L”-shaped association between serum Klotho and all-cause mortality among patients with CKD, with a Klotho concentration of 760 pg/mL at the inflection point. When Klotho concentration was less than 760 pg/mL, a significant negative correlation between Klotho and all-cause mortality was observed (HR per 100 pg/mL increase in Klotho = 0.86, 95% CI, 0.78, 0.95). Conclusion: This study documented a distinctive “L”-shaped association between serum Klotho levels and all-cause mortality among individuals with CKD. Further research is needed to validate these findings.
Type II Muscle Fiber Capillarization Is an Important Determinant of Post-Exercise Microvascular Perfusion in Older Adults
Authors: Betz Milan W. , Hendriks Floris K. , Houben Alfons J.H.M. , van den Eynde Mathias D.G. , Verdijk Lex B. , van Loon Luc J.C. , Snijders Tim
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Microvascular perfusion is essential for post-exercise skeletal muscle recovery to ensure adequate delivery of nutrients and growth factors. This study assessed the relationship between various indices of muscle fiber capillarization and microvascular perfusion assessed by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) at rest and during recovery from a bout of resistance exercise in older adults. Methods: Sixteen older adults (72 ± 6 y, 5/11 male/female) participated in an experimental test day during which a muscle biopsy was collected from the vastus lateralis and microvascular perfusion was determined by CEUS at rest and at 10 and 40 min following a bout of resistance exercise. Immunohistochemistry was performed on muscle tissue samples to determine various indices of both mixed and fiber-type-specific muscle fiber capillarization. Results: Microvascular blood volume at t = 10 min was higher compared with rest and t = 40 min (27.2 ± 4.7 vs. 3.9 ± 4.0 and 7.0 ± 4.9 AU, respectively, both p < 0.001). Microvascular blood volume at t = 40 min was higher compared with rest (p < 0.001). No associations were observed between different indices of mixed muscle fiber capillarization and microvascular blood volume at rest and following exercise. A moderate (r = 0.59, p < 0.05) and strong (r = 0.81, p < 0.001) correlation was observed between type II muscle fiber capillary-to-fiber ratio and the microvascular blood volume increase from rest to t = 10 and t = 40 min, respectively. In addition, type II muscle fiber capillary contacts and capillary-to-fiber perimeter exchange index were strongly correlated with the microvascular blood volume increase from rest to t = 40 min (r = 0.66, p < 0.01 and r = 0.64, p < 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: Resistance exercise strongly increases microvascular blood volume for at least 40 min after exercise cessation in older adults. This resistance exercise-induced increase in microvascular blood volume is strongly associated with type II muscle fiber capillarization in older adults.
Simplified Approach to Predicting Obstructive Coronary Disease With Integration of Coronary Calcium: Development and External Validation
Authors: Miller Robert J. H. , Gransar Heidi , Rozanski Alan , Dey Damini , Al‐Mallah Mouaz , Chow Benjamin J. W. , Kaufmann Philipp A. , Cademartiri Filippo , Maffei Erica , Han Donghee , Slomka Piotr J. , Berman Daniel S.
Published: December 2023

Background

The Diamond‐Forrester model was used extensively to predict obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) but overestimates probability in current populations. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a useful marker of CAD, which is not routinely integrated with other features. We derived simple likelihood tables, integrating CAC with age, sex, and cardiac chest pain to predict obstructive CAD.

Methods and Results

The training population included patients from 3 multinational sites (n=2055), with 2 sites for external testing (n=3321). We determined associations between age, sex, cardiac chest pain, and CAC with the presence of obstructive CAD, defined as any stenosis ≥50% on coronary computed tomography angiography. Prediction performance was assessed using area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curves (AUCs) and compared with the CAD Consortium models with and without CAC, which require detailed calculations, and the updated Diamond‐Forrester model. In external testing, the proposed likelihood tables had higher AUC (0.875 [95% CI, 0.862–0.889]) than the CAD Consortium clinical+CAC score (AUC, 0.868 [95% CI, 0.855–0.881];
P
=0.030) and the updated Diamond‐Forrester model (AUC, 0.679 [95% CI, 0.658–0.699];
P
<0.001). The calibration for the likelihood tables was better than the CAD Consortium model (Brier score, 0.116 versus 0.121;
P
=0.005).

Conclusions

We have developed and externally validated simple likelihood tables to integrate CAC with age, sex, and cardiac chest pain, demonstrating improved prediction performance compared with other risk models. Our tool affords physicians with the opportunity to rapidly and easily integrate a small number of important features to estimate a patient's likelihood of obstructive CAD as an aid to clinical management.
Between Mind and Body? Psychoneuroimmunology, Psychology, and Cognitive Science
Authors: Gough Joseph
Published: December 2023

Over the past half century, our best scientific understanding of the immune system has been transformed. The immune system has turned out to be extremely sophisticated, densely connected to the central nervous system and cognitive capacities, deeply involved in the production of behavior, and responsive to different kinds of psychosocial event. Such results have rendered the immune system part of the subject-matter of psychology and cognitive science. I argue that such results, alongside the history of psychoneuroimmunology, give us good reason to be skeptical about the characterization of cognitive science and psychology as studying the mind and the mental.
The Stirring Tropics: Theory of Moisture Mode–Hadley Cell Interactions
Authors: Adames Corraliza Ángel F. , Mayta Víctor C.
Published: December 2023

Interactions between large-scale waves and the Hadley cell are examined using a linear two-layer model on an f plane. A linear meridional moisture gradient determines the strength of the idealized Hadley cell. The trade winds are in thermal wind balance with a weak temperature gradient (WTG). The mean meridional moisture gradient is unstable to synoptic-scale (horizontal scale of ∼1000 km) moisture modes that are advected westward by the trade winds, reminiscent of oceanic tropical depression–like waves. Meridional moisture advection causes the moisture modes to grow from “moisture-vortex instability” (MVI), resulting in a poleward eddy moisture flux that flattens the zonal-mean meridional moisture gradient, thereby weakening the Hadley cell. The amplification of waves at the expense of the zonal-mean meridional moisture gradient implies a downscale latent energy cascade. The eddy moisture flux is opposed by a regeneration of the meridional moisture gradient by the Hadley cell. These Hadley cell–moisture mode interactions are reminiscent of quasigeostrophic interactions, except that wave activity is due to column moisture variance rather than potential vorticity variance. The interactions can result in predator–prey cycles in moisture mode activity and Hadley cell strength that are akin to ITCZ breakdown. It is proposed that moisture modes are the tropical analog to midlatitude baroclinic waves. MVI is analogous to baroclinic instability, stirring latent energy in the same way that dry baroclinic eddies stir sensible heat. These results indicate that moisture modes stabilize the Hadley cell and may be as important as the latter in global energy transport.

Significance Statement

The tropics are characterized by steady circulations such as the Hadley cell as well as a menagerie of tropical weather systems. Despite progress in our understanding of both, little is known about how the mean circulations and the weather systems interact with one another. Here we show that tropical waves can grow by extracting moisture from the Hadley cell, thereby weakening it. They also transport moisture to higher latitudes. Our results challenge the notion that the Hadley cell is the sole transporter of energy out of the tropics and instead favor a view where tropical waves are also essential for the global energy balance. They dry the humid regions and moisten the drier regions via stirring.
Different Configurations of Cross-Equatorial Flows over the Indian Ocean–Western Maritime Continent and Their Implications for Improving Regional Climate Predictability
Authors: Wang Xudong , Jin Dachao , Guan Zhaoyong , Zhang Yu , Han Qiuchang
Published: December 2023

Low-level cross-equatorial flows (CEFs) over the Indian Ocean–western Maritime Continent (IO-wMC) play a crucial role in transporting energy, mass, and water vapor into the Northern Hemisphere during the Asian summer monsoon season (May–September). Utilizing ECMWF reanalysis data (ERA5), we investigate three CEFs over the IO-wMC: the Somali-CEF, Bay of Bengal CEF (BoB-CEF), and South China Sea CEF (SCS-CEF). The statistical independence of the Somali-CEF and BoB-CEF implies distinct formation processes on the interannual time scale. To examine the interannual variability of CEFs, we perform an empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of vertically integrated meridional winds from surface pressure to 850 hPa over the equatorial IO-wMC. The first EOF mode reveals a weakening of the Somali-CEF and strengthening of the BoB-CEF and SCS-CEF, which is associated with the concurrent summer Indian Ocean dipole and quasi-biennial phase transition of El Niño events. The second EOF is related to the Indo-western Pacific Ocean capacitor (IPOC) mode that often emerges in post–El Niño summers. Despite the IPOC’s influence on meridional winds over the tropical southwestern Indian Ocean, three CEFs are uncorrelated with the EOF2. On the other hand, the Somali-CEF and BoB-CEF are significantly weakened in the EOF3. The EOF3 is an ENSO-unrelated internal IPOC mode. We further use a multilinear regression model based on preceding sea surface temperature (SST) over the Indo-Pacific and EOF3 to predict regional climate anomalies and compare the prediction skill with the SST-based models. Our results suggest that adding EOF2- and EOF3-related variability to the prediction model can improve Asian summer monsoon predictability.

Significance Statement

This study examines the interannual variability of low-level cross-equatorial flows (CEFs) over the Indian Ocean and western Maritime Continent, crucial components of the Asian summer monsoon. We identify three CEFs and investigate their relationships with interannual sea surface temperature modes in the Indo-Pacific region. The leading empirical orthogonal function (EOF) modes of equatorial meridional wind reveal diverse CEF configurations and post–El Niño summer wind variability. Also, the EOFs distinguishes between El Niño and El Niño–unrelated equatorial meridional wind variability. Utilizing a multilinear regression model based on both preceding Indo-Pacific SST modes and configurations of CEFs, we demonstrate the potential to enhance regional climate predictions, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding and forecasting of the Asian summer monsoon and its associated climate impacts.
The Pacific Northwest Heat Wave of 25–30 June 2021: Synoptic/Mesoscale Conditions and Climate Perspective
Authors: Mass Clifford , Ovens David , Christy John , Conrick Robert
Published: December 2023

An unprecedented heat wave occurred over the Pacific Northwest and southwest Canada on 25–30 June 2021, resulting in all-time temperature records that greatly exceeded previous record maximum temperatures. The impacts were substantial, including several hundred deaths, thousands of hospitalizations, a major wildfire in Lytton, British Columbia, Canada, and severe damage to regional vegetation. Several factors came together to produce this extreme event: a record-breaking midtropospheric ridge over British Columbia in the optimal location, record-breaking midtropospheric temperatures, strong subsidence in the lower atmosphere, low-level easterly flow that produced downslope warming on regional terrain and the removal of cooler marine air, an approaching low-level trough that enhanced downslope flow, the occurrence at a time of maximum insolation, and drier-than-normal soil moisture. It is shown that all-time-record temperatures have not become more frequent and that annual high temperatures only increased at the rate of baseline global warming. Although anthropogenic warming may have contributed as much as 1°C to the event, there is little evidence of further amplification from increasing greenhouse gases. Weather forecasts were excellent for this event, with highly accurate predictions of the extreme temperatures.

Significance Statement

This paper describes the atmospheric evolution that produced an extreme heat wave over the Pacific Northwest during June 2021 and puts this event into historical perspective.
Psychometric Properties of the Wake Forest Physician Trust Scale with Older Adults
Authors: Katz Emma , Edelstein Barry
Published: December 2023

Background: Trust is an integral part of the patient–physician relationship. None of the current measures of patient–physician trust has been validated with a sample of older adults. Age-appropriate samples are needed to support the use of assessment instruments and accurate interpretation of assessment results. The purpose of the study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Wake Forest Physician Trust Scale (WFPTS) with a sample of older adults. Methods: Internal consistency and convergent and discriminant validity evidence were examined. One hundred and sixty-one English-speaking, community-dwelling older adults participated. Results: Reliability evidence is strong based on coefficient alpha and average inter-item correlations. Convergent validity evidence is strong, with significant, moderate to strong correlations with measures of related constructs. Discriminant validity evidence is strong. Discussion: The results of this study provide support for the psychometric properties of the WFPTS with older adults. Future directions for research with this instrument are discussed.
Barriers to safe and secure housing in the US section 8 voucher programme post-Dobbs
Authors: Sims Kaitlyn M. , Meyer Nicole , Walsh Kate
Published: December 2023

The US affordable housing crisis has exploded since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, spurring increased interest in low-income housing subsidies (Section 8). However, potential Section 8 beneficiaries can lose eligibility, or their spot in line, when family size changes, especially if they do not provide the appropriate paperwork to the public housing authority. We identify two external concerns for Section 8: the disparity between programme demand, available vouchers, and housing stock, and the challenges domestic violence victims face in securing housing assistance. These challenges compound for poor families fleeing violence, and more so since the Dobbs decision. In many states, abortion trigger bans severely limit household family planning, creating a triple-bind for poor families seeking housing and women fleeing violence. We identify several policy recommendations to address these concerns in both the short- and long-run.
More Than a Match: “Fit” as a Tool in Hiring Decisions
Authors: Nichols Bethany J. , Pedulla David S. , Sheng Jeff T.
Published: December 2023

The concept of “fit” has become important for understanding hiring decisions and labor market outcomes. While social scientists have explored how fit functions as a legitimized evaluative criterion to match candidates to jobs in the hiring process, less is known about how fit functions as a hiring tool to aid in decision-making when hiring decisions cannot—or should not—be justified. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 53 hiring professionals, we develop a theoretical argument that hiring professionals can use fit as a tool to circumvent legitimized hiring criteria and justify their hiring goals. Specifically, we show how hiring professionals use fit as a tool to explain their hiring decisions when these decisions cannot or should not be justified and we outline two mechanisms through which this process occurs: (1) fit as a tool for circumventing human capital concerns, and (2) fit as a tool to circumvent hiring policies based upon social characteristics. We argue that fit is more than an evaluative criterion for matching individuals to jobs. Hiring professionals deploy fit as a tool to justify their decisions amid uncertainty and constraint. Fit, then, becomes a placeholder when these hiring decisions are not able to be justified through legitimized means. Our findings reveal some of the potential negative consequences of using fit during the hiring process and contribute important theoretical insights about the role of fit in scholarship on inequality and labor markets.
Enhancement of biodiesel production using magnetic nanocatalyst CrFe2O4 from mixed waste cooking oil by an empirical model
Authors: Arul Jerman C , Julyes Jaisingh S , Kings Ajith J , Rimal Isaac RS
Published: December 2023

Biodiesel has achieved widespread recognition as an unconventional energy source, despite its extra manufacturing cost and sustainable resources. Mixed waste cooking oil is one of the best feedstock for sustainable biodiesel production. This study looked at the prospect of using the easily separable magnetic nanocatalyst CrFe2O4 to reduce the manufacturing cost and being used in both esterification and transesterification simultaneously with less percentage of 0.5, produced the highest oil conversion. Before being used in conversion process, the magnetic nanocatalyst underwent Fourier transform infrared, XRD, scanning electron microscope, TGA, AFM, and BET analysis to evaluate its characteristics. Response surface methodology was employed in the conversion process and achieved 97% yield with the utilization of 0.4 (v/v) methanol/oil ratio, 0.5 wt. % catalyst concentration, 600 rpm stirring speed, and the duration of 80 min. The effect of methanol consumption and time was considerably more significant than the effect of stirring speed and catalyst usage, according to the analysis of variance. The generated biodiesel met all physicochemical characteristics with high potential, according to ASTM and EN standards. Right combinations of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids confirm the promising feasibility of the application of waste biomass feedstocks as an alternate option for the sustainable, cost effective and energy efficient synthesis of biodiesel production.
Radiographic Assessment of Cleft Alveolar Bone Defects: A Preliminary Comparison of Periapical and Cone Beam Computed Tomography Images
Authors: Guo Yiou , Woodyard De Brito Kiersten C. , Gosnell Elizabeth S. , Sun Qin , Wang Jue
Published: December 2023

Background & Purpose

Accurate radiographic assessment of secondary alveolar bone grafting (SABG) is critical in evaluating SABG outcomes in patients with cleft lip and palate. This study compared Periapical (PA) and Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) grading of SABG outcomes and conducted an analysis of agreement rate between the two imaging modalities.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed of patients who underwent secondary alveolar bone grafting at a single institution. Bone quality of the alveolar cleft site was assessed at three root levels of the adjacent teeth on PA and CBCT images.

Results

48 patients had pre- or post-operative images with both CBCT and PA that were appropriate for comparison. A total of 174 alveolar bone sections (three root levels of adjacent teeth in 58 pairs) were graded on CBCT and PA images. Agreement of CBCT grading with PA grading was 41.3% (72/174) overall. CBCT assessments rated bone quality lower than PA grading in 51.2% (89/174) of sections. CBCT had higher grading than PA image grading in 7.5% (13/174) of sections. The weighted Cohen Kappa value for comparison of CBCT and PA readings was 0.17, indicating a low rate of agreement. Wilcoxon signed rank test demonstrated that the difference between grading on CBCT and PA assessments was statistically significant ( P < .001).

Conclusions

CBCT and PA readings demonstrated an overall low rate of agreement in the assessment of cleft alveolar bone. This investigation suggests that PA radiographs have lower sensitivity in detecting poor bone grafting outcomes.
Anophthalmic socket in retinoblastoma: Exploring complications and risk factors in a tertiary centre in Malaysia
Authors: Ng Lay Hui , Chan Li Yen , Mohamad Nor Fadhilah , Rahmat Jamalia Bt
Published: December 2023

Purpose

To evaluate the complications of anophthalmic socket in retinoblastoma patients at a tertiary centre in Malaysia.

Design

Retrospective study

Methods

Patients who underwent enucleation for retinoblastoma were reviewed from 2004–2020. Details were recorded, including demographics, diagnosis, surgical techniques, implant types, additional therapies, and complications.

Results

Of 250 patients with retinoblastoma managed over the period, the anophthalmic sockets of 160 eyes who underwent enucleation were analysed. The mean age at enucleation was 2.03 years (26 days to 9.18 years). The follow-up periods after enucleation range from 5 days to 16.83 years. Porous polyethylene (Medpor) implants were used in 135 patients (84.4%), as were Bioceramic in 9, glass balls in 7, acrylic in 7, dermis fat grafts in 1, and silicone implants (Aurosphere) in 1. The overall complications in our study were 28.8%. Complications seen in the study included implant exposure (12.5%), shallow inferior fornix (10.6%), granuloma formation (3.1%), discharge (2.5%), implant migration (1.9%), ptosis (0.6%), and orbital dystopia (0.6%). Implant exposure is solely found in Medpor, more common in those with donor sclera caps, and exposure times range from 28 days to 11.42 years. The suturing of the Tenon and conjunctiva in separate layers significantly reduced the rate of implant exposure. Six out of seven radiation patients had shallow inferior fornixes.

Conclusions

Long-term post-enucleation complications were not uncommon. Luckily, most had good outcomes, with a few needing surgical intervention. Meticulous suturing technique on the Tenon and conjunctival layer is essential to prevent implant exposure.
Feasibility and Efficacy of the Cogmed Working Memory Training in Forensic Mental Health Inpatients With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: A Pilot Study
Authors: Keller Suzie , Hii Quang , Branjerdporn Grace , Gillespie Kerri M.
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders are characterised by notable deficits in executive function, working memory, attention and social cognition. Previous studies in cognitive remediation therapies, of various dose and duration, have shown behavioural and neurobiological improvements. The current pilot study will be the first to test the Cogmed Working Memory Training (CWMT) program in schizophrenia spectrum disorder.

Methods

This pilot study was conducted using purposive sampling of consumers with schizophrenia spectrum disorders from a forensic mental health inpatient unit in Australia was used. Eleven participants completed 30 sessions of CWMT over a 2-month period. One participant completed 28 sessions. The primary outcome measure was the CogState Schizophrenia Battery (CSB). Secondary measures included the Brock Adaptive Functioning Questionnaire (BAFQ) and the Allen Cognitive Level Screen (ACLS). Measures were taken before and after the intervention, and at 6-months follow-up to detect maintenance of improvements.

Results

Significant improvements were seen in social cognition and emotionality. Trends toward improvement in executive function and working memory were observed in younger participants, but were not significant.

Conclusion

Findings indicate that the CWMT may be a beneficial tool for improving social cognition in patients with schizophrenia. CWMT interventions of longer than 2 months may be required to see measurable improvements in other cognitive functions. Age-related cognitive impairment should be controlled for in future studies. Larger studies should be conducted to confirm these findings.
State government control and partisan happiness
Authors: Flavin Patrick
Published: December 2023

Does politics impact happiness? This paper evaluates how being a political “winner” or “loser” – whether one’s preferred party controls government or not – is linked to multiple measures of life satisfaction. Using Gallup survey data on self-reported well-being for Democrats and for Republicans within the U.S. states for 2008–2016 (a time period when party control of government changed in several states) and a difference-in-difference model with two-way fixed effects, I find consistent evidence that citizens report lower levels of well-being when the opposing party controls state government. The substantive effect is particularly large for Democrats living in Republican controlled states. Conversely, there is little evidence that citizens’ well-being is boosted when their own party controls state government. These findings have important implications for our understanding about how partisan competition and election outcomes can impact subjective well-being and further highlight the significance of negative partisanship for American public opinion.
NFTs applied to the art sector: Legal issues and recent jurisprudence
Authors: Jia Wei , Yao Bin
Published: December 2023

Responding to the necessity of scarcity and uniqueness in the digital format, NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) have recently gained much attention in cultural industries, especially video games and the art market. Faced with the digital paradigm shift and the challenge of dematerialization, creators started to use NTFs in order to emulate the concept of rarity for displaying, promoting, and monetizing their works in digital environments. An NFT is a certificate of ownership implemented through encrypted metadata pointing to a unique copy of a digital file. Likewise, NFTs enable the tokenization of a large array of digital, or even physical, assets. For this reason, they are used to facilitate the digitalization of contents heavily dependent on copyright and scarcity. Non-Fungible Tokens represent an emerging reality of significant economic, social, and cultural importance, which also raises important legal issues especially concerning the very nature of the NFT, as property or license, and the usage of copyrighted contents or trademarks. Indeed, the most frequent legal issues with NFTs are related to the attribution and exploitation of the Intellectual Property (IP) rights of the underlying content or litigations about non-contractual matters (i.e., theft). Litigious cases affecting NFTs most often take on an international dimension due to the decentralized nature of the technology on which they are developed, distributed on servers hosted in a multitude of countries, as well as the business practices of trading platforms that connect users from all over the world. Consequently, the principles of Private International Law (PIL) are applied to solve legal conflicts. This study focuses on the resolution of litigations related to NFTs in the three countries leading the global art markets: the US, the UK, and China. The analysis focuses on the application of international private law in relation to recent jurisprudence concerning conflicts involving NFTs and artworks.
An Exploratory Study of Young Stroke Survivors’ Lived Experiences: A Multi-Methods Study Using Developmental Theory
Authors: Bright Lindsay , Wei Tiffany Zixuan , Lau Stephen C. L. , Baum Carolyn M.
Published: December 2023

Young adults make up 10% of strokes that occur in the United States each year. Little research has shown the developmental and occupational disruption as a result of stroke for this population. The objective of this study was to describe young stroke survivors’ perceived disruptions using developmental theory. A multiple methods study was conducted with community-dwelling stroke survivors between the ages of 18 and 40 using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures and qualitative interviews. Five themes were reported from the qualitative data: stroke and health, work and school, romantic relationships, parenting, and other social relationships. PROMIS measure results were not significantly different from the normed population despite challenges revealed during qualitative interviews. Qualitative data showed variations in post-stroke deficits and occupational performance that could not be meaningfully captured by the PROMIS measures alone. Occupational therapy practitioners should use developmental theory to guide their understanding of occupational disruptions in young stroke survivors.
Training Teachers by the Distance Mode: Implications for Quality Teacher Performance in Pre-Tertiary Schools
Authors: Salifu Inusah , Chirani Flora , Amoah Solomon Kofi , Odame Ebenezer Darkwah
Published: December 2023

This research examined the influence of the distance mode of teacher training on quality teacher performance at the pre-tertiary level of education in Ghana. The study used the quantitative approach involving 304 participants who completed teacher training through the distance education mode and taught at the Kindergarten, Primary School, Junior High School, and Senior High School. Data were sourced via a survey questionnaire and follow-up in-class observations. Analyses were made analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA. The survey results revealed that, generally, the teachers engaged in quality classroom performance. Data from the in-class follow-up observations largely confirmed the teachers’ performance self-assessment as measured by the survey. It is hoped that the discussion stimulated by the findings will affect the general discourse on the impact of performance assessments on teacher learning and teaching practices at the pre-tertiary level in Ghana and beyond. Although this research is limited in generalizability because of its focus on only a Ghanaian context, it has some significant implications for teaching practices and the quality of teacher performance assessments across the globe.
Classification of Acoustic Hearing Preservation After Cochlear Implantation Using Electrocochleography
Authors: Sijgers Leanne , Sorensen Torquil , Soulby Andrew , Boyle Patrick , Dalbert Adrian , Röösli Christof , Jablonski Greg Eigner , Hamacher Volkmar , Greisiger Ralf , Jiang Dan , Huber Alexander , Pfiffner Flurin
Published: December 2023

The objective to preserve residual hearing during cochlear implantation has recently led to the use of intracochlear electrocochleography (ECochG) as an intraoperative monitoring tool. Currently, a decrease in the amplitude of the difference between responses to alternating-polarity stimuli (DIF response), predominantly reflecting the hair cell response, is used for providing feedback. Including other ECochG response components, such as phase changes and harmonic distortions, could improve the accuracy of surgical feedback. The objectives of the present study were (1) to compare simultaneously recorded stepwise intracochlear and extracochlear ECochG responses to 500 Hz tone bursts, (2) to explore patterns in features extracted from the intracochlear ECochG recordings relating to hearing preservation or hearing loss, and (3) to design support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF) classifiers of acoustic hearing preservation that treat each subject as a sample and use all intracochlear ECochG recordings made during electrode array insertion for classification. Forty subjects undergoing cochlear implant (CI) surgery at the Oslo University Hospital, St. Thomas’ Hearing Implant Centre, or the University Hospital of Zurich were prospectively enrolled. In this cohort, DIF response amplitude decreases did not relate to postoperative acoustic hearing preservation. Exploratory analysis of the feature set extracted from the ECochG responses and preoperative audiogram showed that the features were not discriminative between outcome classes. The SVM and RF classifiers that were trained on these features could not distinguish cases with hearing loss and hearing preservation. These findings suggest that hearing loss following CI surgery is not always reflected in intraoperative ECochG recordings.
The gut-lung axis in critical illness: microbiome composition as a predictor of mortality at day 28 in mechanically ventilated patients
Authors: Zhou Piaopiao , Zou Zhiqiang , Wu Wenwei , Zhang Hui , Wang Shuling , Tu Xiaoyan , Huang Weibin , Chen Cunrong , Zhu Shuaijun , Weng Qinyong , Zheng Shixiang
Published: December 2023

Background

Microbial communities are of critical importance in the human host. The lung and gut microbial communities represent the most essential microbiota within the human body, collectively referred to as the gut-lung axis. However, the differentiation between these communities and their influence on clinical outcomes in critically ill patients remains uncertain.

Methods

An observational cohort study was obtained in the intensive care unit (ICU) of an affiliated university hospital. Sequential samples were procured from two distinct anatomical sites, namely the respiratory and intestinal tracts, at two precisely defined time intervals: within 48 h and on day 7 following intubation. Subsequently, these samples underwent a comprehensive analysis to characterize microbial communities using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing and to quantify concentrations of fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The primary predictors in this investigation included lung and gut microbial diversity, along with indicator species. The primary outcome of interest was the survival status at 28 days following mechanical ventilation.

Results

Sixty-two mechanically ventilated critically ill patients were included in this study. Compared to the survivors, the diversity of microorganisms was significantly lower in the deceased, with a significant contribution from the gut-originated fraction of lung microorganisms. Lower concentrations of fecal SCFAs were detected in the deceased. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that not only lung microbial diversity but also the abundance of Enterococcaceae from the gut were correlated with day 28 mortality.

Conclusion

Critically ill patients exhibited lung and gut microbial dysbiosis after mechanical ventilation, as evidenced by a significant decrease in lung microbial diversity and the proliferation of Enterococcaceae in the gut. Levels of fecal SCFAs in the deceased served as a marker of imbalance between commensal and pathogenic flora in the gut. These findings emphasize the clinical significance of microbial profiling in predicting the prognosis of ICU patients.
Exercise combined with postbiotics treatment results in synergistic improvement of mitochondrial function in the brain of male transgenic mice for Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Kolonics Attila , Bori Zoltán , Torma Ferenc , Abraham Dora , Fehér János , Radak Zsolt
Published: December 2023

Background

It has been suggested that exercise training and postbiotic supplement could decelerate the progress of functional and biochemical deterioration in double transgenic mice overexpresses mutated forms of the genes for human amyloid precursor protein (APPsw) and presenilin 1 (m146L) (APP/PS1TG). Our earlier published data indicated that the mice performed better than controls on the Morris Maze Test parallel with decreased occurrence of amyloid-β plaques in the hippocampus. We investigated the neuroprotective and therapeutic effects of high-intensity training and postbiotic supplementation.

Methods

Thirty-two adult APP/PS1TG mice were randomly divided into four groups: (1) control, (2) high-intensity training (3) postbiotic, (4) combined (training and postbiotic) treatment for 20 weeks. In this study, the whole hemibrain without hippocampus was used to find molecular traits explaining improved brain function. We applied qualitative RT-PCR for gene expression, Western blot for protein level, and Zymography for LONP1 activity. Disaggregation analysis of Aβ-40 was performed in the presence of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum lysate.

Results

We found that exercise training decreased Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)-related gene expression (NF-kB) that was not affected by postbiotic treatment. The preparation used for postbiotic treatment is composed of tyndallized Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Both of the postbiotics effectively disaggregated amyloid-β/Aβ-40 aggregates by chelating Zn2+ and Cu2+ ions. The postbiotic treatment decreased endogenous human APPTG protein expression and mouse APP gene expression in the hemibrains. In addition, the postbiotic treatment elevated mitochondrial LONP1 activity as well.

Conclusion

Our findings revealed distinct mechanisms behind improved memory performance in the whole brain: while exercise training modulates NF-kB signaling pathway regulating immune response until postbiotic diminishes APP gene expression, disaggregates pre-existing amyloid-β plaques and activates mitochondrial protein quality control in the region of brain out of hippocampus. Using the above treatments complements and efficiently slows down the development of AD.
The first Chinese with Hb Chile leading to chronic anemia and methemoglobinemia: a case report
Authors: Gong Yao , Zheng Qinxin , Long Sili , Chen Hongying , Liu Wenjun , Li Cheng
Published: December 2023

Background

Hemoglobin (Hb) Chile [β28(B10) Leu > Met; HBB: c.85 C > A] is a rare hemoglobin variant caused by a missense mutation in the HBB gene. Only one case of Hb Chile has been reported worldwide so far. It is an unstable hemoglobin, characterized by cyanosis associated with chronic methemoglobinemia and hemolytic anemia induced by sulfonamides or methylene blue.

Case presentation

A 9-year-3-month-old girl had mild anemia of unknown etiology for more than 6 years. She had a slight pallor without other symptoms or signs. The complete blood count revealed normocytic normochromic anemia with a sometimes-elevated reticulocyte count, and the bone marrow cytology showed marked erythroid hyperplasia, but the tests related to hemolysis were normal. Therefore, the whole exome sequencing was performed and showed a heterozygous mutation for HBB: c.85 C > A. With asymptomatic methemoglobinemia confirmed later, she was eventually diagnosed with Hb Chile.

Conclusions

This is the first report of Hb Chile in China and the second worldwide. This case shows that Hb Chile is clinically heterogeneous and difficult to diagnose and expands our understanding on the clinical and hematological traits of the disease.