bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Basilic vein variation encountered during surgery for arm vein port: A case report
Authors: Hu Cheng-Da , Lv Rui , Zhao Ya-Xin , Zhang Ming-Hao , Zeng Hong-Dou , Mao Yi-Wen
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND

Venous variations are uncommon and usually hard to identify, and basilic vein variation is particularly rare. Basilic vein variation usually presents without any clinical symptoms and is often regarded as a benign alteration. This case was a patient with congenital basilic vein variation encountered during surgery for an infusion port.

CASE SUMMARY

We documented and analyzed an uncommon anatomical variation in the basilic vein encountered during arm port insertion. This peculiarity has hitherto remained undescribed in the literature. We offer remedial strategies for addressing this anomaly in the future and precautionary measures to circumvent its occurrence. We conducted a comprehensive review of analogous cases in the literature, offering pertinent therapeutic recommendations and solutions, with the aim of enhancing the efficacy and safety of future arm port implantations.

CONCLUSION

Venous variation is rare and requires detailed intraoperative and postoperative examination to ensure accuracy, so as not to affect subsequent treatment.
Small intestine angioleiomyoma as a rare cause of perforation: A case report
Authors: Hou Teng-Yuan , Tzeng Wei-Juo , Lee Pei-Hang
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND

Angioleiomyoma is a rare and benign stromal tumor typically found in subcutaneous tissue. It rarely occurs in the gastrointestinal tract. Among the reported cases, the most common complication was gastrointestinal bleeding. Perforation has only been reported as a complication in the last few decades.

CASE SUMMARY

This case report detailed the discovery of intestinal angioleiomyoma in a 47-year-old male presenting with abdominal pain that had persisted for 3 d. After suspecting hollow organ perforation, surgical intervention involving intestinal resection and anastomosis was performed.

CONCLUSION

The report underscores the significance of early surgical intervention in effectively treating angioleiomyoma while emphasizing the pivotal role of timely and appropriate measures for favorable outcomes.
Systemic lupus erythematosus in a 15-year-old female with multiple splenic nodules: A case report
Authors: Kang Mi Il , Kwon Hyeok Chan
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease primarily affecting young females. SLE can invade any organ, and various forms of splenic invasion have been reported. Manifestations include splenomegaly and splenic infarction, rupture, and calcification. The study encountered a rare case of splenic involvement, with nodules of various sizes without calcifications or ruptures.

CASE SUMMARY

A 15-year-old girl presented with arthralgia, weight loss, fever, increased levels of inflammatory markers, and positive antinuclear antibody test results. The patient was diagnosed with SLE. She was asymptomatic while taking steroids and hydroxychloroquine. Ten months after discharge, the patient developed a fever and abdominal pain. Lupus enteritis was suspected, and abdominopelvic computed tomography (AP-CT) was performed. There were no specific findings in the gastrointestinal tract, but multiple splenic nodules were observed. Infection or hemangioma was considered; however, no specific radiological findings were observed. A biopsy of the spleen was performed to determine the possibility of malignancy. The histological findings of the spleen included extensive periarteriolar necrosis with hematoxylin bodies and numerous karyorrhectic debris. Based on the biopsy results, the patient was diagnosed with an SLE flare-up and was maintained on high-dose steroids and immunosuppressants.

CONCLUSION

As disease activity increased, multiple nodules in the spleen that were previously unseen were observed using AP-CT and histologically confirmed. Spleen invasion by SLE can appear in multiple nodular forms and patterns. Therefore, physicians should consider these findings when differentiating these nodules from infections and malignancies.
Machine learning in liver surgery: Benefits and pitfalls
Authors: Calleja Rafael , Durán Manuel , Ayllón María Dolores , Ciria Ruben , Briceño Javier
Published: April 2024

The application of machine learning (ML) algorithms in various fields of hepatology is an issue of interest. However, we must be cautious with the results. In this letter, based on a published ML prediction model for acute kidney injury after liver surgery, we discuss some limitations of ML models and how they may be addressed in the future. Although the future faces significant challenges, it also holds a great potential.
Pemodelan Regresi Semiparametrik B Spline (Studi Kasus: Pengaruh Harga Emas dan Minyak Mentah Dunia Terhadap Indeks Harga Saham Gabungan)
Authors: Aryansah M. Pratama , Suparti Suparti
Published: April 2024

The increases of the world gold and crude oil prices have a big role as a main factor that effect composite stock price index, the effect can make investors to buy stock from Bursa Efek Indonesia. Regression semiparametric used in this research for a purpose to get combined parametric and nonparametric with B Spline approach. B Spline is a development of spline to overcome weaknesses in making singular matrix at a high order spline with many knot points and close together. Variable parametric component is composite stock price index with crude oil price, and variable nonparametric component is composite stock price index with gold price that got obtained from January 2015 until December 2022. The result from this research is best regression semiparametric B-Spline modelling can be obtained using some combination of order and knot points. The optimal point is obtained on 2nd order using 4 knot point (1.135;1.319,15;1.320,75;1.323,25) with a minimum GCV value is 100.227,8. The best measure of goodness with a coefficient of determination value (R-Square) obtained a value 78,8%, because the value is more than 67% make it as a strong model. MAPE value is 3,37% that has a value less than 10 %, make this model have a perfect forecasting ability.

Keywords: Gold; Crude Oil; Composite Stock Price Index; Semiparametric B Spline; GCV
Klasifikasi Menggunakan Algoritma K-Nearest Neighbor pada Imbalance Class Data dengan SMOTE. (Studi Kasus: Nasabah Bank Perkreditan Rakyat “X”)
Authors: Ardhana Salsabilla Rizka , Widiharih Tatik , Saputra Bagus Arya
Published: April 2024

Rural Banks (Bank Perkreditan Rakyat/BPR) provide financial services to micro-businesses and low repayment communities, especially in rural areas. The main activity of the bank is lending. Customer credit classification is expected to assist BPR in anticipating potential bad loans. K-Nearest Neighbor classify current and potential bad credit status based on customer data from BPR “X” in Central Java in October 2022. K-Nearest Neighbor is effective against a large amount of training data and works based on the nearest neighbor. There is an imbalance class data which causes the classification process to focus more on the majority class. Imbalance class data is handled using Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) as an oversampling approach. Classification with the addition of SMOTE can improve the evaluation of classification accuracy, especially G-mean. G-mean is the most comprehensive measurement in term of  accuracy, sensitivity and specificity in evaluating classification performance on imbalance class data. The results of this research were able to increase g-mean to 58.55% and sensitivity to 45.46% by implementing SMOTE. Based on the classification results, it is concluded that K-Nearest Neighbor with SMOTE at k = 19 and a proportion of training data to test data of 70:30 is a more appropriate classification model to use for customer credit status.

 

Keywords: Credit Status; K-Nearest Neighbor; Imbalance Class Data; SMOTE
The Problem of Sacrifice in Mary Gordon’s Final Payments
Authors: Little Brent
Published: April 2024

Abstract: This article examines how Mary Gordon’s Final Payments (1978) represents a transition in the portrayal of sacrifice in Catholic fiction from pre-1965 works by Mauriac, Greene, and O’Connor to more contemporary ones. Further, when read in dialogue with the concerns of prominent feminist theologians, the novel’s uniqueness comes into sharper focus. Against this backdrop, Final Payments prefigures more recent contemporary Catholic novels that also explore the theme of sacrifice, but with even greater ambiguity. Final Payments thereby both responds to earlier Catholic fiction as well as foreshadows the works of subsequent decades.
The Undeviating Deviant: Ryan Landry’s Life and Work as Cultural Transgression
Authors: Lewis-Michelson Helen
Published: April 2024

Abstract: This paper investigates how Ryan Landry, artistic director of queer camp theatre company the Gold Dust Orphans, is an undeviating deviant in both Boston and Provincetown’s queer communities. Landry’s “deviance” simultaneously cultivates queer communitas while confronting audiences on their complicity with gentrification, racism, sexism, and ableism. Rather than settling into the role of “cultural institution” in Boston theatre, Landry performs both on- and offstage in the role of radical queer misanthrope who just will not go away. Following a critical discussion of queer deviance and Landry’s influences and origins, this study examines how Landry embodies and manipulates the role of queer deviant as a performer and cultural figure.
Mornings at the Ministry
Authors: Sadr Ehsaneh
Published: April 2024

Abstract: Ploughshares Spring 2024 The Spring 2024 Issue. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Since 1971, Ploughshares has discovered and cultivated the freshest voices in contemporary American literature, and now provides readers with thoughtful and entertaining literature in a variety of formats. Find out why the New York Times named Ploughshares "the Triton among minnows." The Spring 2024 Issue, guest-edited by Laila Lalami, features poetry and prose by Mosab Abu Toha, Nathalie Handal, January Gill O'Neil, Farah Abdessamad, Francisco Goldman, Tommy Orange, and more.
The Other Sebastian Aho
Authors: Shook Cal
Published: April 2024

Abstract: Ploughshares Spring 2024 The Spring 2024 Issue. Ploughshares is an award-winning journal of new writing. Since 1971, Ploughshares has discovered and cultivated the freshest voices in contemporary American literature, and now provides readers with thoughtful and entertaining literature in a variety of formats. Find out why the New York Times named Ploughshares "the Triton among minnows." The Spring 2024 Issue, guest-edited by Laila Lalami, features poetry and prose by Mosab Abu Toha, Nathalie Handal, January Gill O'Neil, Farah Abdessamad, Francisco Goldman, Tommy Orange, and more.
Generic Color Correction for Tone Mapping Operators in High Dynamic Range Imaging
Authors: Mehmood Imran , Khan Muhammad Usman , Luo Ming
Published: April 2024

One of the significant challenges in tone mapping is to preserve the perceptual quality of the tone mapped images. Traditional tone mapping operators (TMOs) compress the luminance of high dynamic range (HDR) images with little to no consideration of image color information resulting into suboptimal colors. Existing color management algorithms require either manual parameter tuning or introduce lightness and hue shifts. Current study aimed to develop a color correction model in plausible agreement with the psychophysical phenomenon of color appearance perception for optimal color reproduction of tone mapped images. The proposed model leverages CIECAM16 perceptual correlates i.e., lightness, chroma and hue. It is color adaptive and entirely automatic, while preserving the lightness of the tone mapped image and maintaining the hue from the HDR image. Moreover, it does not require any gamut mapping correction algorithm in natural color reproduction. The effectiveness of the model was validated using objective and subjective methods. The experiments revealed that the model achieved optimal color reproduction in terms of naturalness of the colors.
Quantum Dot Fourth-harmonic Colliding Pulse Mode-locked Laser for High Power Optical Comb Generation
Authors: Wang Ting , Huang Jing-Zhi , Yang Bo , chen jiajian , Qin Jiale , Cai Xinlun , yan jie , Xiao Xi , Wang Zihao , Zhang Jianjun
Published: April 2024

Quantum-dot mode-locked lasers have the advantages such as high temperature stability, large optical bandwidth, low power consumption, which makes it an ideal optical comb source, especially for wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) telecommunications and optical I/O applications. In this work, we demonstrated O-band quantum dot colliding pulse mode-locked laser (CPML) to generate optical frequency combs with 200 GHz spacing with maximum channels of 12 within 3 dB optical bandwidth. To achieve high output power of individual comb line, 4 channel conditions are implemented at central wavelength of 1310 nm for WDM transmission experiments. Each channel exhibits more than 10 dBm output power with 200 Gb/s PAM-4 and 270 Gb/s PAM-8 modulation capability via thin film LiNO3 MZI modulator without requirement of any optical amplifications. This high-order QD CPML is an ideal comb source for power-efficient optical interconnects and large bandwidth optical data transmission.
Optical Path Model of Multi-Layer Media for Incoherent Light
Authors: Qi Hanbing , Zhang Xiaoxue , Liang Zhilong , Li Haolin , Wang Qiushi , Chen Xiaoyu , Zhu Hongda
Published: April 2024

Optical path model has been widely used in fields such as solar energy materials and optical constant calculation. Nevertheless, the accuracy and usability of models in recent studies are not satisfactory enough. In order to reduce the calculated error of the model in the application, the optical path model of multiple media and phases for incoherent light was proposed, which describes the optical path of continuous rays in the multi-layer system on two dimensions. In the paper, the optical properties of the optical cell were first calculated based on the single-layer model and genetic algorithm. Then, the proposed model was validated by a triple-phase system with multiple layers of media. Meanwhile, the main calculated error was analyzed. Finally, the models in existing studies were compared with the proposed model. The results show that the model can be used to accurately calculate the total transmittance, total reflectance, and total absorption of a multi-layer system with multiple phases and media when the optical properties of each layer are known. Meanwhile, the proposed model has good stability as well as internal coupling, and its accuracy is better than other models.
Social support, distress, stress, anxiety, and depression as predictors of suicidal thoughts among selected university students in Bangladesh
Authors: Howlader Sihab , Abedin Sumaiya , Rahman Md. Mosfequr
Published: April 2024

This study examines the association of perceived social support with suicidal thoughts among a young adult sample of university students and estimates the degree to which perceived stress, distress, anxiety, and depression may explain the association. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from June to September 2022 among 642 students, selected using the probability proportional to size procedure, at a large university in Bangladesh. We used the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) to measure support. The Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the Generalized Anxiety Disorders (GAD-7) scale, and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were used to assess distress, stress, anxiety, and depression. The association between social support and suicidal thoughts was examined using multivariable logistic regression models. Mediation analyses were carried out using the Karlson, Holm, and Breen (KHB) method. We found that perceived social support was associated with lower odds of suicidal thoughts after controlling for other variables (adjusted odds ratio = 0.94; 95% confidence interval = 0.92–0.96). Mediation analysis showed that, after adjusting for potential confounders, the mediating effects among the total effect of perceived social support on suicidal thoughts were 56.1%, 20.8%, 22.5%, 38.8%, and 50.9% for all mental disorders together and four specific adverse mental health outcomes, i.e., perceived distress, stress, anxiety, and depression, respectively. This study demonstrates that perceived social support reduces the likelihood of suicidal thoughts among university students, and mental disorders have a partial mediating effect on the association. Suicide prevention and mental health promotion efforts among university students should consider encouraging students to build and strengthen a strong social support network.
Research on total factor energy efficiency in western China based on the three-stage DEA-Tobit model
Authors: Zhang Lingshu , Cui Jina
Published: April 2024

As an essential material basis and power source for economic and social development, Western China’s low energy use efficiency has hindered its sustainable economic development. This study aims to evaluate the total factor energy efficiency of the region and identify its influencing factors. A three-stage DEA model was used to measure the efficiency of 11 provinces from 2006 to 2021, and the Tobit model was employed to investigate internal factors. The findings show that (i) external environmental factors and stochastic perturbations have a significant impact on TFEE in the western region, overestimating integrated efficiency and scale efficiency and underestimating pure technical efficiency. (ii) the study of external influencing factors finds that the level of economic development increases input redundancy; the industrial structure increases capital input and labor input redundancy while decreasing energy input redundancy; and the energy consumption structure increases capital input and energy input redundancy while decreasing labor input redundancy. (iii) the study of internal influencing factors finds that the level of scientific and technological innovation, the level of openness to the outside world, and the TFEE have a positive correlation. In contrast, the intensity of environmental regulation has a negative correlation.
Mass media campaigns and the ‘file drawer problem’: A mixed methods study of how to avoid campaign failure
Authors: Kite James , Thomas Margaret , Bellew Bill , Bauman Adrian , Grunseit Anne
Published: April 2024

Mass media campaigns are frequently used to address public health issues. Considering the considerable cost, there has been little analysis of why campaigns sometimes fail. This study used a sequential mixed methods approach to explore the mechanisms that can lead to failure and to identify what can be done to avoid or overcome common mistakes in campaign planning, implementation, and evaluation. We conducted interviews and a survey with 28 public health social marketing and mass media campaign experts over three rounds of research and analysed the data thematically, generating themes inductively. We identified four systemic factors that drive success: long-term strategic thinking and commitment, understanding the campaign context, doing and learning from evaluation, and fostering strong relationships. The factors did not operate in isolation, rather good (or poor) execution in one area was likely to influence performance in another. The experts also emphasised that a change of political context could drastically affect one or more of the identified factors. Our analysis showed that campaign failures are not simply individuals making mistakes. Systemic issues throughout the planning, execution, and evaluation phases need to be addressed if campaign outcomes are to improve.
Higher correlation between neutralizing antibodies and surrogate neutralizing or binding antibodies in COVID-19 patients than vaccine recipients
Authors: Lerdsamran Hatairat , Anusorntanawat Ratikorn , Sangsiriwut Kantima , Sawadpongpan Suteema , Prasertsopon Jarunee , Thinpan Nattakarn , Intalapaporn Poj , Techasuwanna Ranida , Okada Pilailuk , Puthavathana Pilaipan
Published: April 2024

This study determined the seropositive rates and levels of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 in 50 patients and 108 vaccinees using microneutralization test (MNT), surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT), chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA), and electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA). MNT, as the reference method, employed living clade S and Delta viruses to measure neutralizing (NT) antibodies, while sVNT employed wild type strain and Delta receptor-binding domains (RBD) as the test antigens to measure sVNT antibodies. CMIA and ECLIA employed only one version of RBD to measure the binding antibodies. Our study performed S gene sequencing of the test virus to exclude undesired mutants that might lead to changes in antibody levels in MNT assay. We showed that spike protein amino acid sequences of our Delta virus contained 13 amino acid changes, with 3 related to the reduced neutralization. The MNT assay showed a significant reduction in seropositive rates and antibody levels in the patients’ sera when the Delta variant replaced clade S as the test virus. In contrast, the seropositive rates determined by sVNT assay using wild type strain RBD and Delta RBD were non-significantly different, suggesting that sVNT assay could not identify the difference between the antigenicity of wild type RBD and Delta RBD. Furthermore, the correlation between the levels of NT and sVNT antibodies was moderate with the patients’ sera but modest with the post-vaccination sera. The seropositive rates in the patients, as determined by CMIA or ECLIA, were not different from the MNT assay using clade S, but not Delta, as the test virus. In all analyses, the correlations between the antibody levels measured by MNT and the other 3 assays were modest to moderate, with the r-values of 0.3500–0.7882.
Epidemiology of congenital heart defects in France from 2013 to 2022 using the PMSI-MCO (French Medical Information System Program in Medicine, Surgery, and Obstetrics) database
Authors: Bourdon Gurvan , Lenne Xavier , Godart François , Storme Laurent , Theis Didier , Subtil Damien , Bruandet Amelie , Rakza Thameur
Published: April 2024

Background

Congenital heart defects are common and occur in approximately 0.9% of births. In France, the registries cover approximately 20% of the population but not the entirety of France; therefore, we aimed to update the incidence data for congenital heart defects in France from 2013 to 2022 using the medico-administrative database PMSI-MCO (French Medical Information System Program in Medicine, Surgery, and Obstetrics). We aimed to compare the frequency of risk factors in a population with congenital heart defects and a reference population.

Methods

From 2013 to 2022, we included children aged < 3 years diagnosed with congenital heart defects according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, in the PMSI-MCO database. We compared them with a population without congenital defects on several medical data items (e.g., parity, gemellarity, and mortality rate). Bivariate and multivariate analyses compared children with congenital heart defects and children without congenital malformation.

Results

We identified 83,879 children with congenital heart defects in France from 2013 to 2022 in the PMSI-MCO database and 7,739,840 children without such defects, including 7,218,952 without any congenital defects. We observed more deaths (7.49% vs. 0.68%, d = 0.59) and more twinning (8.67% vs. 1.23%, d = 0.35) among children with congenital heart defects. Multivariate analysis revealed an increased risk of congenital heart defects in male individuals (OR [odds ratio] 1.056, 95% CI [confidence interval] [1.039–1.076]) and cases of medically assisted reproduction (OR 1.115, 95% CI [1.045–1.189]) and a reduced risk in the case of multiparity (OR 0.921, 95% CI [0.905–0.938]).

Conclusions

According to the PMSI-MCO database, the incidence of congenital heart defects in France from 2013 to 2022 is 1% of births. Congenital heart defects are more frequent in cases of prematurity, twinning, primiparity, male sex, and maternal age > 40 years.
The mobilisation of professional identity: A scoping and lexical review
Authors: Dadich Ann , Best Stephanie
Published: April 2024

Interprofessional care obliges different healthcare professions to share decision-making and sometimes, practices. Given established hierarchies, it can be difficult to promote interprofessional care, partly because of the need to reshape professional identities. Despite interest in effective interprofessional care, there is limited research on how professional identity can be mobilised to promote it. A scoping review as well as lexical review of academic publications was conducted to address this void. After searching seven academic databases and screening the identified publications, 22 publications met the inclusion criteria. They collectively reported on 22 interventions, most of which were used in healthcare. The scoping review suggested there is some evidence that professional identities can be mobilised. Yet, of the 22 interventions, only ten explicitly targeted professional identity. The most common intervention was a training or development program, followed by workplace redesign. The need for internal motivation to mobilise professional identity was reported as was the impact of external drivers, like extending the scope of practice. Extending these findings, the lexical review demonstrated that, among the 22 publications, the relationship between professional identity and mobilisation did not feature prominently within the discourse. Furthermore, it seems that geography matters–that is, while all the publications spoke of professional identity, they differed by region on how they did this. Given these findings, concentrated scholarship is needed on the relationship between professional identity and interprofessional care, lest interprofessional care programs have limited, sustained effect. Implications for scholars and practitioners are explicated.
Effect of plant edges strips on the conservation soil properties in modern farming field
Authors: Šarūnaitė Lina , Arlauskienė Aušra , Jablonskytė-Raščė Danutė
Published: April 2024

The European Green Deal encourages the use of non-productive activities in agriculture. One of the measures is the cultivation of melliferous floral plants at the field margins. Their influence on soil compaction and other deterioration is due to heavy machinery, its inappropriate use and frequent driving on field margins, is little studied. Plants of a high environmental value though rarely grown by farmers were selected for melliferous plant strips: perennial grass swards (PGS), perennial legume swards (PLS), annual floral plats mixture (AEP) and natural grassland swards (NGS). The experiment was installed on a clay loam and loam Cambisol with the aim to determine the effect of different plant composition strips grown at the field edges on the physical and chemical soils parameters of with different granulometric structure. It was found that the highest amounts of roots and plant residues in the soil were left after cultivating sward strips of PGS and NGS compared to the field where cereals had been intensively grown. The amounts of root and plant residues produced by plants, soil rest increase the amount of organic carbon in the soil. During the five-year period, the plants edges strips improved the properties of the field margin top and subsoil.
Foreign outsourcing collaboration within a developing economy’s perspective: A case of the Pakistani textile industry
Authors: Ali Irfan , Mahmood Zafar
Published: April 2024

This paper develops an outsourcing collaboration model from a firm’s perspective operating in a developing economy. The model considers that producers of the final goods residing in a developed country, and operators of manufacturing plants in a developing country collaborate with each other. The final goods producer supplies headquarter services for the production of intermediate goods in the developing country. The operators of manufacturing plants also supply their services in the domestic economy. This arrangement leads to foreign outsourcing collaborations (FOC) between firms of developed country and developing country. The operators of manufacturing plant maximize revenue subject to the cost constraint. The first order conditions suggests that an increase in wages of skilled labor, price of domestic inputs, and cost of production deter FOC. On the other hand, an increase in demand for and price of foreign headquarter services increases the FOC. Empirical analysis based on data collected from 217 clothing (textile and apparel) firms in the city of Faisalabad (Pakistan) reveals that an increase in wage to labor-productivity ratio reduces FOC. An improvement in skilled of the labor and foreign headquarter services give rise to FOC, whereas an increase in economies-of-scope enhances FOC. Additionally, an inverted U-shaped relationship is found between the cost of production and FOC, which shows that at the initial stage, the firm’s cost of production increases with an increase in the level of FOC, but soon after the tipping point, the firm’s cost starts decreasing with a further increase in FOC.
Revisiting the contribution of different factors in determining the changes in potential evapotranspiration over China
Authors: Shen Yuchen , Wang Qirong , Feng Zhongxiao , Li Wei
Published: April 2024

In this paper, a daily gridded observation data across China from 1961 to 2022 were used to calculate daily potential evapotranspiration (PET). The observed variables included daily temperature, sunshine hours, average wind speed, and average relative humidity. PET was determined using the Penman-Monteith method recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The long-term trend of PET was investigated in six regions of China during different seasons. To further compressed the influence of various meteorological factors on the PET trend, the contribution of each meteorological element to the long-term trend of PET was analyzed. The results indicate the following: (1) PET reaches its peak during summer which values from 145 to 640 mm, while it is lowest during winter from 21 to 244 mm. (2) The spatial patterns of PET trend changes are relatively similar across the four seasons, characterized by a decrease in the eastern regions and an increase in the western regions. The reduction is most significant during the summer and the range of trend is from -2.04 to 1.48 mm/day, while the increase becomes more pronounced in the winter which trend is from -0.34 to 0.53 mm/day. (3) The contribution of factors varies significantly across different regions. In spring and autumn, RH and U have little difference in contribution from other factors. But tsun is varies different from regions, the contribution value is largest in the northwest and smallest in the northeast. However, during summer, tsun become the most significant contributor in the YZ and SE regions, while in winter, Tm emerges as the most significant contributor to the PET trend in all six subregions. In SW, the contribution from U2 is the smallest in all seasons, with RH and Tm being the two crucial factors determining the PET trend in this region.
Increased risk of chronic kidney disease and mortality in a cohort of people diagnosed with metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease with hepatic fibrosis
Authors: Gurun Marc , Brennan Paul , Handjiev Sava , Khatib Aseil , Leith Damien , Dillon John F. , Byrne Christopher J.
Published: April 2024

Background and aims

Metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) increases the risk of incident chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the relative risk of CKD associated with increasing hepatic fibrosis, and consequent mortality risk, remains underexplored in real-world cohorts. In this study, we sought to establish whether hepatic fibrosis is associated with increased CKD risk and explore differences in mortality risk in a cohort of people living with MASLD, contingent on liver fibrosis and CKD status.

Methods

This was an observational study of people who underwent routine liver function testing in Tayside, Scotland. MASLD was defined as: elevated ALT (>30 U/L) or GGT (>73 U/L); presence of diabetes, and/or hypertension, and/or obesity; weekly alcohol consumption <14 units (112g (+/-8g) alcohol); and negative screen for other aetiologies. Data was collected from digital health records. We used log-binomial models to quantify the risk of CKD among those with and without fibrosis, and Cox regression models to estimate differences in mortality risk dependent on fibrosis and CKD.

Results

In our cohort (n = 2,046), 1,448 (70.8%) people had MASLD without fibrosis and 598 (29.2%) with fibrosis; 161 (11.1%) and 117 (19.6%) respectively also had CKD. After excluding individuals with structural, autoimmune, or malignant CKD (n = 22), liver fibrosis (n = 593; 18.9% with CKD) was associated with increased CKD risk (aRR = 1.31, 1.04–1.64, p = 0.021). Increased mortality risk was observed for those with liver fibrosis (aHR = 2.30, 1.49–3.56, p = <0.001) and was higher again among people with both fibrosis and CKD (aHR = 5.07, 3.07–8.39, p = <0.014).

Conclusions

Liver fibrosis was an independent risk factor for CKD in this cohort of people living with MASLD. Furthermore, those with MASLD with liver fibrosis had higher risk for mortality and this risk was further elevated among those with co-morbid CKD. Given the increased risk of CKD, and consequent mortality risk, among people living with MASLD fibrosis, renal function screening should be considered within liver health surveillance programmes and guidelines.
Empowering adult patients with diabetes for health educators’ role within their family members: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Alanazi Mona , Bajmal Eman , Aseeri Abeer , Alsulami Ghaida
Published: April 2024

Background

Patient engagement as partners in diabetes prevention for family members/close relatives is a novel and underexplored approach. This paper aims to assess patients’ willingness and confidence in their ability to succeed as health educators for their family members and investigate the influencing factors.

Methods

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between January 2023 and April 2023. A newly developed and validated self-reported questionnaire, based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) and previous research, was administered to a convenient sample of 134 adult participants diagnosed with diabetes. These participants sought care at primary healthcare clinics at King Abdul-Aziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs in Riyadh and Jeddah (MNGHA). The data was examined using statistical methods including descriptive analysis, ANOVA, Tukey’s HSD (Honestly Significant Difference) Post Hoc tests, and Pearson’s correlation coefficients.

Results

The majority of participants expressed a willingness to assume the role of health educators for their family members (n = 117, 87.31%) and reported a high level of willingness and confidence, as indicated by self-efficacy scores ranging from 12.00 to 25.00, with a mean of 21.12 (SD = 2.76). Participants’ willingness to be health educators exhibited positive correlations with their perceptions of diabetes severity and susceptibility (r = .433, p < .01), perceived benefits and barriers (r = .451, p < .01), cues to action (r = .520, p < .01), self-efficacy (r = .789, p < .01), and the total score of the questionnaire (r = .640, p < .01).

Conclusions

The majority of participants expressed their willingness to assume the role of health educators for their family members, and a significant portion reported confidence in their capacity to accomplish this objective. Healthcare providers should emphasize the importance of equipping patients with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively convey health messages and serve as health educators within their communities. This expansion of the approach holds the potential to have a significant impact on public health strategies for diabetes prevention.
Identification of cuproptosis-realated key genes and pathways in Parkinson’s disease via bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Song Jia , Li Jia , Pei Xiaochen , Chen Jiajun , Wang Lin
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common worldwide age-related neurodegenerative disorder without effective treatments. Cuproptosis is a newly proposed conception of cell death extensively studied in oncological diseases. Currently, whether cuproptosis contributes to PD remains largely unclear.

Methods

The dataset GSE22491 was studied as the training dataset, and GSE100054 was the validation dataset. According to the expression levels of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between PD patients and normal samples, we obtained the differentially expressed CRGs. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was achieved through the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes. Meanwhile, the disease-associated module genes were screened from the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Afterward, the intersection genes of WGCNA and PPI were obtained and enriched using the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Subsequently, the key genes were identified from the datasets. The receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted and a PPI network was constructed, and the PD-related miRNAs and key genes-related miRNAs were intersected and enriched. Finally, the 2 hub genes were verified via qRT-PCR in the cell model of the PD and the control group.

Results

525 DEGs in the dataset GSE22491 were identified, including 128 upregulated genes and 397 downregulated genes. Based on the PPI network, 41 genes were obtained. Additionally, the dataset was integrated into 34 modules by WGCNA. 36 intersection genes found from WGCNA and PPI were significantly abundant in 7 pathways. The expression levels of the genes were validated, and 2 key genes were obtained, namely peptidase inhibitor 3 (PI3) and neuroserpin family I member 1 (SERPINI1). PD-related miRNAs and key genes-related miRNAs were intersected into 29 miRNAs including hsa-miR-30c-2-3p. At last, the qRT-PCR results of 2 hub genes showed that the expressions of mRNA were up-regulated in PD.

Conclusion

Taken together, this study demonstrates the coordination of cuproptosis in PD. The key genes and miRNAs offer novel perspectives in the pathogenesis and molecular targeting treatment for PD.
Are teachers meeting students’ needs in untracked science classrooms? Evidence based on a causal inferential approach
Authors: Ho Eric , Seltzer Michael , Jeon Minjeong
Published: April 2024

Tracking has been criticized for relegating disadvantaged students to lower track courses in which students encounter a greater lack of instructional support. While an end to tracks through detracking is a possible solution, there are concerns that detracking will create more heterogeneous classrooms, making it harder for teachers to provide adequate support to their students. Using the 2015 PISA dataset, this study conducts a causal inferential analysis to understand the differences in student perceptions of teaching in tracked and untracked environments. The results provide evidence that students’ needs, with respect to adaptation of instruction and provision of individualized feedback and support, are being met to the same extent on average in tracked and untracked science classes, suggesting that teachers may not necessarily have a harder time meeting the needs of students in untracked classes.
The projection of Chinese University online image and social media engagement based on Bayesian model
Authors: Xia Dongmei , Zhao Pengfei , Wang Ji , Li Yingji
Published: April 2024

Social media platforms provide the public with a forum for interaction and communication with tourism destinations, playing a significant role in the shaping and dissemination of destination images. Similarly, social media plays a vital role in the construction and propagation of online images for higher education institutions. For instance, indicators such as likes, shares, and visits on Weibo can serve as measures of public engagement with university social media. To reveal the triggering rules of social media engagement by projected images of destinations and related factors, this paper builds a Bayesian model using data from posts and interactions on the official Sina Weibo account of a Chinese university from 2018 to 2023. This model simulates to infer the optimal decisions that trigger university social media engagement.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome in children and adolescents: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Sanchis Geronimo José Bouzas , Barbosa Joubert Vitor de Souto , Cavalcanti Rafael Limeira , Bezerra Josiane Pereira , Santos Maristela Linhares dos , Guedes Thais Sousa Rodrigues , Assis Sanderson José Costa de , Santana Rebeca de Castro , Lopes Johnnatas Mikael , Oliveira Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli da Costa , Guedes Marcello Barbosa Otoni Gonçalves
Published: April 2024

Objectives

To assess the prevalence and associated factors of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) in children and adolescents.

Method

A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted with children and adolescents aged 10 to 18 years, who presented a history of peripatellar and/or retropatellar pain, attending elementary or high school in urban public schools in Natal, Brazil. The sample size was calculated based on a minimum outcome prevalence of 22%.

Results

A prevalence of 24.7% of PFPS was found. There was a positive association of PFPS with active students (p < 0.01; PR: 2.5; CI: 1.4–4.5), low functional capacity (p < 0.01; PR: 8.0; CI: 5.0–12.8), and those classified as pubertal (p < 0.03; PR: 1.8; CI: 1.0–3.2).

Conclusion

There was a considerable prevalence of PFPS in children and adolescents, as well as an association between the level of sexual maturation and adjustable determinants, such as the level of physical activity and low functional capacity in this group.
Assessing the role of surface layer and molecular probe size in diffusion within meniscus tissue
Authors: Schwartz Gabi , Best Thomas M. , Chen Cheng-Bang , Travascio Francesco , Jackson Alicia R.
Published: April 2024

Diffusion within extracellular matrix is essential to deliver nutrients and larger metabolites to the avascular region of the meniscus. It is well known that both structure and composition of the meniscus vary across its regions; therefore, it is crucial to fully understand how the heterogenous meniscal architecture affects its diffusive properties. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of meniscal region (core tissue, femoral, and tibial surface layers) and molecular weight on the diffusivity of several molecules in porcine meniscus. Tissue samples were harvested from the central area of porcine lateral menisci. Diffusivity of fluorescein (MW 332 Da) and three fluorescence-labeled dextrans (MW 3k, 40k, and 150k Da) was measured via fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. Diffusivity was affected by molecular size, decreasing as the Stokes’ radius of the solute increased. There was no significant effect of meniscal region on diffusivity for fluorescein, 3k and 40k dextrans (p>0.05). However, region did significantly affect the diffusivity of 150k Dextran, with that in the tibial surface layer being larger than in the core region (p = 0.001). Our findings contribute novel knowledge concerning the transport properties of the meniscus fibrocartilage. This data can be used to advance the understanding of tissue pathophysiology and explore effective approaches for tissue restoration.
A new approach to cultural scripts of trauma sequelae assessment: The sample case of Switzerland
Authors: Bachem Rahel , Mazza Amelie , Eberle David J. , Maercker Andreas
Published: April 2024

Background

The novel concept of cultural scripts of trauma sequelae captures culture-specific expressions of posttraumatic distress (e.g., cognitive, emotional, interpersonal, psychosomatic changes) and their temporal associations. Cultural scripts of trauma sequelae complement pan-cultural (etic) diagnoses, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD, as well as the cultural syndromes concept.

Objective

This study aimed to develop the cultural scripts of trauma inventory (CSTI) for German-speaking Switzerland and to explore temporal associations of script elements.

Method

Five semi-structured focus groups were conducted with psychotraumatologists (n = 8) and Swiss trauma survivors (n = 7). The interview schedule included open questions about different domains of potential posttraumatic changes (emotions, cognitions, worldviews, interpersonal relationships, body-related experiences, behavior, and growth). Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

The Swiss CSTI includes 57 emic elements that represent salient trauma sequelae (30 conformed with a theoretically derived item pool, 27 were newly phrased). Temporal script associations were visualized in a network, whereby self-deprecation, the urge to function and overcompensate, and the urge to hide and endure suffering had the highest number of connections.

Conclusion

While many posttraumatic changes identified in the present work seem to mirror pan-cultural phenomena represented in the Complex PTSD concept (e.g., self-deprecation), others (e.g., urge to function and perform, urge to hide and endure suffering) may be prominently related to Swiss culture with its value orientations. Knowledge about cultural scripts of trauma sequelae may provide a culture-specific framework that can help to understand individual experiences of distress and enable mental health practitioners to administer culturally sensitive interventions. Pending further validation, the Swiss CSTI bears the potential to advance culture-sensitive assessment of trauma sequelae.
Effectiveness of the online-eLearning program KeepCoool at improving the vaccine cold chain in general practices
Authors: Thielmann Anika , Schmitz Marie-Therese , Welchowski Thomas , Weltermann Birgitta
Published: April 2024

Background

Protecting vaccines from freeze damage is a poorly addressed problem. We describe the effectiveness of the eLearning KeepCoool on cold chain maintenance in general practices.

Methods

For this intervention study, temperatures of vaccine refrigerators were logged at one-minute intervals. Personnel from practices with cold chain breaches was offered the eLearning. The primary outcome was the intervention’s effectiveness to achieve temperatures in the target range (2 to 8°C) in the sixth week (follow-up) compared to the first (baseline). Using continuous temperature data, a generalized additive model for location, scale and shape was estimated.

Results

The practice response rate was 38% (64 of 168). At baseline, 73% of the practices and 68% of the refrigerators (51 of 75) showed cold chain breaches. 47% of the practices (n = 22 with 24 refrigerators) participated in the eLearning (55 physicians and practice assistants). At follow-up, 17% of those refrigerators were in the target range continuously, 38% reached targets 95% of the time while always >0°C, and temperatures ≤0°C decreased by 63%. Based on 2 million temperature data, the average Euclidian distance based on regression showed a significant improvement (p<0.05).

Conclusion

The eLearning KeepCoool improved the practices´ vaccine cold chain. It is freely available at https://keepcoool.ukbonn.de.