bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ORCHESTRATION IN INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS PRE-INITIATION STAGE
Authors: SOUZA ARUANA ROSA , WEGNER DOUGLAS , FACCIN KADÍGIA
Published: May 2024

The orchestrator plays a vital role during the design, mapping, and analysis of the ecosystems’ pre-initiation stages, which will be important in shaping the ecosystem guidelines later. However, there is a lack of knowledge on how these firms plan entry strategies before innovation ecosystem (IE) building. So, this study aims to investigate which orchestration practices support orchestrators in the design of ecosystems. This work transposes innovation network practices to a more complex ecosystem context. We summarised these practices into four orchestration mechanisms. We draw on orchestrating innovation networks’ theoretical perspective and depict the orchestration mechanism into practices associated with understanding how orchestrators design IE in its very early stages of formation. This study contributes to the literature on uncertainty management at the IE level by showing practices for uncertainty management as one important driver for unlocking ecosystem emergence. Second, this study advances the configurational view of IE by depicting an underlying set of practices performed by IE orchestrators and members to foresee and design the IE before its emergence, addressing the dynamics of nascent ecosystem operations. Third, this study contributes to the shaping literature by showing ways to imagine future possibilities and acting proactively to realise those possibilities inside this actionable new structure of economic relationships that requires specific management to increase the probability of success for value proposition’s (VP’s) creation and delivery to the market.
Thermal and flow transfer characteristic of two-phase dusty viscoelastic Maxwell hybrid nanofluid over a porous radiative cylinder
Authors: Sarma Neelav , Paul Ashish
Published: May 2024

This study undertakes a numerical investigation into the two-phase magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow of a novel Al2O3-Ag/ethylene glycol (30%)–water dusty Maxwell hybrid nanofluid within a porous stretched cylinder incorporates the influential factor of thermal radiation. Notably, it pioneers exploration into the flow characteristics of Maxwell nanofluids and hybrid nanofluids containing dust particles over a porous cylinder, an uncharted domain in the existing literature. By adeptly simplifying the governing partial differential equations into nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) using judiciously chosen similarity variables, our research employs MATLAB’s bvp4c scheme to obtain numerical solutions, presented both graphically and in tabular form. Our results unveil significant insights: the Maxwell fluid parameter and magnetic parameter exhibit a dual effect of enhancing heat transfer while mitigating velocity gradients. Moreover, increasing the curvature parameter exerts a favorable influence on the velocity and temperature profiles of both phases. Furthermore, the fluid-particle interaction parameter emerges as a pivotal factor shaping velocity and temperature profiles in the dust phase, while the radiation parameter notably amplifies heat transfer rates. Remarkably, our investigation reveals a notable 26% increase in total skin friction and a nearly 13.5% enhancement in heat transfer within the dusty Maxwell hybrid nanofluid configuration compared to the dusty Maxwell nanofluid arrangement. These findings hold profound practical implications for addressing real-life engineering challenges, offering invaluable insights into optimizing heat transfer and velocity profiles across diverse technical applications. They pave the way for the development of enhanced cooling mechanisms and highly efficient heat exchangers, crucial for tackling multifaceted engineering challenges.
Method summaries for JPF
Authors: Berglund Lasse , Artho Cyrille
Published: May 2024

Java Path nder (JPF) is a virtual machine executing Java byte- code that is able to perform model checking using backtracking execution. Due to backtracking, parts of a program may be ex- ecuted multiple times during model checking. Hence, we explore whether method summaries can be used to make JPF's model checking more efficient. We present the design and implementa- tion of dynamically generated summaries as an extension of JPF.

While our summaries incur an overhead that outweighs the bene- ts in most cases, the approach shows promise in certain cases, in particular when stateless model checking is used. We also provide some results related to cases when our summaries are applicable that could provide guidance for future work within this eld.
A Federated Social Recommendation Approach with Enhanced Hypergraph Neural Network
Authors: Sun Hongliang , Tu Zhiying , Sui Dianbo , Zhang Bolin , Xu Xiaofei
Published: May 2024

In recent years, the development of online social network platforms has led to increased research efforts in social recommendation systems. Unlike traditional recommendation systems, social recommendation systems utilize both user-item interactions and user-user social relations to recommend relevant items, taking into account social homophily and social influence. Graph neural network (GNN)-based social recommendation methods have been proposed to model these item interactions and social relations effectively. However, existing GNN-based methods rely on centralized training, which raises privacy concerns and faces challenges in data collection due to regulations and privacy restrictions. Federated learning has emerged as a privacy-preserving alternative. Combining federated learning with GNN-based methods for social recommendation can leverage their respective advantages, but it also introduces new challenges: (1) existing federated recommendation systems often lack the capability to process heterogeneous data, such as user-item interactions and social relations; (2) due to the sparsity of data distributed across different clients, capturing the higher-order relationship information among users becomes challenging and is often overlooked by most federated recommendation systems. To overcome these challenges, we propose a federated social recommendation approach with enhanced hypergraph neural network (HGNN). We introduce HGNN to learn user and item embeddings in federated recommendation systems, leveraging the hypergraph structure to address the heterogeneity of data. Based on carefully crafted triangular motifs, we merge user and item nodes to construct hypergraphs on local clients, capturing specific triangular relations. Multiple HGNN channels are used to encode different categories of high-order relations, and an attention mechanism is applied to aggregate the embedded information from these channels. Our experiments on real-world social recommendation datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Extensive experiment results on three publicly available datasets validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Molecular Determination ofToxocaraspp. Eggs Isolated from Public Parks and Playgrounds in Zahedan, Southeast Iran
Authors: Liravizadeh Siavash , Abdolahi Khabisi Samaneh , Salimi Khorashad Alireza , Mirahmadi Hadi
Published: May 2024

Background. Human toxocariasis (HT) is a zoonotic disease with a global expansion. Contaminated soil withToxocaraspp. eggs is the main source of human infection, which may lead to severe complications depending on the organs invaded by migrating larvae.Aim. This study is aimed at eliciting the prevalence ofToxocaraspp. eggs in public parks in Zahedan, southeast Iran, and providing new insight into the soil contamination rate in this area using microscopic and molecular methods.Methods. Based on five municipal districts, 240 soil samples were collected from public parks and playgrounds in Zahedan. The modified Sheather’s flotation technique was employed to isolateToxocaraspp. eggs from the soil, followed by microscopic assessment and molecular evaluation of internal transcribed spacer 1 and 2 ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (ITS1 and 2 rDNA) using nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR) to identify the presence ofToxocaraspp. eggs. The Sanger sequence was used to differentiate theToxocaraspecies. Subsequently, all the sequenced data were blasted and compared with other sequences available in the GenBank.Results. Out of 240 soil samples collected, 7 (2.9%) samples were identified to containToxocaraspp. eggs using Sheather’s flotation and microscopic techniques. Meanwhile, 19 (7.9%) samples were positive using nested PCR. According to the Sanger sequencing analysis findings, all positive samples were contaminated withToxocara cati.Conclusion. As evidenced by the obtained results, onlyT. catispecies were detected in public parks and playgrounds in Zahedan; therefore, control and prevention programs against this species should be considered in human and animal communities.
Control Effect Analysis and Engineering Application of Anchor Cable Beam‐Truss Structure on Large‐Deformation Roadway in Deep Coal Mine
Authors: Wang En , Yin Shuaifeng , Zhao Qifeng , Kang Qingtao , Zheng Xinjian
Published: May 2024

In response to the shortcomings of the small support scope of single anchor cable and failure to fully utilize the joint anchoring for surrounding rock, this study summarizes the classification of basic support forms for coal mine roadway surrounding rock and clarifies the main composition and mechanism of anchor cable beam‐truss structure. A mechanical model of roadway roof beam under the conditions of no support, single anchor cable support, and anchor cable beam‐truss structure support at both ends of the roadway is constructed, and the force and maximum bending moment of roadway roof beam under different support types are compared and analyzed. The study clarifies the bending moment reduction rate of anchor cable beam‐truss structure relative to unsupported and single anchor cable support and combines numerical simulation to analyze the response laws of anchor cable beam‐truss to prestress distribution and stress shell in roadway surrounding rock. Based on the on‐site engineering application of a typical large‐deformation mining roadway in a deep coal mine, the important role of anchor cable beam‐truss structure in ensuring the safety and stability of surrounding rock in deep high‐stress and intense‐mining large‐deformation roadway is revealed, providing technical references for surrounding rock control of similar conditions in deep roadways.
Global Existence and Blow-up of Solutions for a Class of Singular Parabolic Equations with Viscoelastic Term
Authors: Gao Yanchao , Jia Wenxu , Feng Zhixin
Published: May 2024

In this paper, we consider the initial boundary value problem for a class of singular parabolic equations with viscoelastic term and logarithmic term. By using the technique of cut-off and the method of Faedo-Galerkin approximation, the local existence of the weak solution is established. Based on the potential well method, the global existence of the weak solution is derived. Furthermore, we prove that the weak solution blows up in finite time by taking the concavity analysis method.
Indications and Outcomes of Intraocular Lens Explantation in a Tertiary Eyecare Center in Hungary between 2006 and 2020
Authors: Magyar Márton , Szentmáry Nóra , Ujváry László , Sándor Gábor László , Schirra Frank , Nagy Zoltán Zsolt , Tóth Gábor
Published: May 2024

Purpose. Our study aimed to evaluate the indications and outcomes of intraocular lens (IOL) explantation surgeries in a tertiary eyecare center in Hungary. Materials and Methods. This retrospective study included all IOL explantation surgeries performed between 2006 and 2020 at the Department of Ophthalmology of Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. There were no exclusion criteria for this study. For each patient, the demographics, clinical history, preoperative status, indications for IOL explantation, and operative and postoperative details were reviewed. Primary outcomes included explantation indications and the type of secondary implanted IOL. Results. A total of 161 eyes from 153 patients were included (96 males; 62.7%); age at the time of the IOL explantation was 65.0 ± 17.4 years. The mean time between primary cataract surgery and IOL explantation was 8.5 ± 7.7 years. In total, 139 (86.3%) PCIOLs and 22 (13.7%) ACIOLs were explanted. The main indications for IOL explantation were dislocation (n = 133; 95.7%) and refractive cause (n = 2; 1.4%) in the PCIOL group. Among ACIOL explantations, the main reasons were pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (n = 14; 63.6%), dislocation (n = 4; 18.2%), and refractive cause (n = 2; 9.1%). In the PCIOL group, 115 (82.7%) primary IOLs were implanted in the capsular bag, 16 (11.5%) were sulcus fixated, and 8 (5.8%) were scleral fixated. The most frequent ocular comorbidities were previous vitrectomy (n = 50, 31.1%), previous ocular trauma (n = 45, 28.0%), glaucoma (n = 16, 9.9%), pseudoexfoliation syndrome (n = 15, 9.3%), and high axial myopia (n = 14, 8.7%). The most commonly used secondary IOL implant was the prepupillary iris-claw IOL (n = 115, 73.7%), followed by the retropupillary iris-claw IOL (n = 32, 20.5%). Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was significantly better following IOL exchange in the entire sample (1.57 ± 0.61 (range: 2.40–0.05) vs. 0.77 ± 0.56 (range: 2.40–0.00); p<0.001). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was maintained or improved in 80.7% of cases after IOL explantation. Conclusions. The most common indication for IOL explantation at a tertiary eyecare center in Hungary is IOL dislocation, followed by pseudophakic bullous keratopathy. Prepupillary and retropupillary iris-claw IOL are the most frequently used secondary implants and their use resulted in a significant UCVA improvement following IOL exchange.
Effectiveness of a Patient-Family Carer Partnership Intervention on Blood Pressure Control for People with Hypertension in Rural Communities: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Zeng Dejian , Chien Wai Tong , Yang Mingyan
Published: May 2024

Objectives. To examine the effectiveness of a patient-family (carer) partnership intervention on the BP control, self-care and self-efficacy for hypertensive people, and dyadic-relationship quality, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and health-related quality of life for the family dyads (hypertensive people and family carers) in rural communities of mainland China. Design. A randomised controlled trial. Methods. A total of 110 family dyads were randomly recruited from village clinics and randomly allocated to the intervention group (n = 55) or control group (n = 55). Family dyads in the control group received usual care. In addition to the usual care, family dyads in the intervention group received the individual-based, five-session patient-family (carer) partnership intervention. The primary outcomes included SBP, DBP, and the proportion of people with normal controlled BP. EuroQol five-dimensional-five-level (EQ-5D-5L) was adopted to evaluate participants’ health-related quality of life. Data were collected at the baseline (T0), one-month (T1), and three-month postintervention (T2). Generalised estimating equation model was adopted to test the study hypotheses on all study outcomes. Results. Compared with the control group, hypertensive people in the intervention group had a greater reduction in SBP by 10.10 mmHg and DBP by 4.66 mmHg and a larger proportion of people with normal BP at T2, as well as statistically significant improvements at T1 and T2 in dyadic relationship, self-care, antihypertensive drug-titration rate, anxiety symptoms, and health-related quality of life. The intervention also had statistically significant positive effects on family carer’s dyadic relationship and health-related quality of life at T1 and T2. Conclusion. The patient-family (carer) partnership intervention has the potential to improve hypertensive people’s BP control and family dyad’s dyadic-relationship quality and mental health at short-to-medium term follow-ups. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care. This study provided evidence and direction to support healthcare providers in developing and implementing patient-family (carer) partnership intervention for hypertension care in rural areas. This trial is registered with ChiCTR1900027087.
Carbon Neutral Design of Waste Energy Recovery System for LNG Power Plant Using Organic Rankine Cycle
Authors: Choi Minsik , Lim Jonghun , Lee Inkyu , Kim Junghwan
Published: May 2024

In liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plants, a significant amount of heat and cold energy is consumed to capture and store carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted during the combustion of fossil fuels. The proposed system addresses this problem by utilizing the temperature difference between waste heat and cold energy as a power source to generate electricity. In this study, a novel waste heat and cold energy recovery system for a postcombustion LNG power plant was developed using an organic Rankine cycle (ORC). To design the proposed system, a process model was developed with the following five parts: (i) LNG vaporization, (ii) natural gas combined cycle (NGCC), (iii) amine scrubbing, (iv) CO2 liquefaction, and (v) CO2 injection. In the proposed system, waste LNG cold energy is used for lean amine cooling and CO2 liquefaction. The liquefied CO2 was pressurized to meet the injection pressure requirements. The ORC uses high‐temperature exhaust gas from the NGCC as the heat source and high‐pressure liquefied CO2 as the heat sink. The economic feasibility of the proposed system was demonstrated by an economic assessment, with the net profit evaluated by a sensitivity analysis considering variations in water, electricity, and equipment costs. Consequently, the proposed system exhibited an 18.6% increase in net power production compared to the conventional system. In addition, the net profit of the proposed system exhibited a 76.7% increase compared to the conventional system, confirming its economic feasibility.
A Mixed Methods Approach to Explore the Experience of Pain and Its Management in People with Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Nguy Vanessa , Brady Bernadette , Hassett Leanne M. , Canning Colleen G. , Elliott James M. , Allen Natalie E.
Published: May 2024

Introduction. Pain in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is common but poorly understood, with most research to date taking a mechanistic approach. This mixed methods study takes a broader biopsychosocial approach to assess and describe contributors of pain and explore pain management and the relationship between pain and physical activity in people with PD (PwPD) and chronic pain. Methods. A structured survey evaluated respondents’ contributors of pain using standardized, self-report assessments of the following: pain, peripheral neuropathy, central nociplastic change, emotional dysregulation or pathology, and maladaptive cognitions. Semistructured individual interviews were conducted with purposively sampled survey participants and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results. Eighty-nine PwPD (mean age 67 years, 55% female) completed the survey. The most common pain contributors were maladaptive cognitions (62%), central nociplastic change (49%), and emotional dysregulation (44%). Approaches to pain management and the response to physical activity were variable within and across individuals with different pain contributors. Four themes emerged from interviews with 24 participants: (1) causative perceptions of pain are diverse; (2) sense of control influences disease acceptance and exercise self-efficacy; (3) belief in the value of therapy; and (4) pain as the unspoken PD symptom. Physical activity was used by PwPD for pain management; however, the relationship between pain and physical activity varied based on sense of control. Conclusions. Clinicians should screen for pain and assess its contributors to provide individualized, multidimensional pain management that considers the biological, psychological, and social factors of pain in PwPD. It is plausible that such an approach would promote a better sense of control for PwPD.
Insights into the Transmission, Host Range, Genomics, Vaccination, and Current Epidemiology of the Monkeypox Virus
Authors: Araf Yusha , Nipa Jannatul Ferdous , Naher Sabekun , Maliha Sumaiya Tasnim , Rahman Hasanur , Arafat Kazi Ifthi , Munif Mohammad Raguib , Uddin Md Jamal , Jeba Nurejunnati , Saha Sukumar , Zhai Jingbo , Hasan S. M. Nazmul , Xue Mengzhou , Hossain Md. Golzar , Zheng Chunfu
Published: May 2024

This review delves into the historical context, current epidemiological landscape, genomics, and pathobiology of monkeypox virus (MPXV). Furthermore, it elucidates the present vaccination status and strategies to curb the spread of monkeypox. Monkeypox, caused by the Orthopoxvirus known as MPXV, is a zoonotic ailment. MPXV can be transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets during prolonged face‐to‐face interactions. While many cases of monkeypox are self‐limiting, vulnerable groups such as young children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals may experience severe manifestations. Diagnosis predominantly relies on clinical presentations, complemented by laboratory techniques like RT‐PCR. Although treatment is often not required, severe cases necessitate antiviral medications like tecovirimat, cidofovir, and brincidofovir. Vaccination, particularly using the smallpox vaccine, has proven instrumental in outbreak control, exhibiting an efficacy of at least 85% against mpox as evidenced by data from Africa. Mitigating transmission requires measures like wearing surgical masks, adequately covering skin lesions, and avoiding handling wild animals.
Evaluating Sisal Fiber-Reinforced Gypsum Composites for Water Absorption and Mechanical Performance
Authors: Asefa Kidane Hadgu , Tkue Temesgen Abrha , Yallew Temesgen Berhanu
Published: May 2024

There has been a great research interest for investigation of new construction materials which can reduce environmental impact and cost, with improved structural performance. Recently, sisal fiber is being used as a reinforcement material in the development of reinforced composites. Here, sisal fiber-gypsum reinforced composites were prepared using the hand lay-up method followed by the compression technique. The effects of weight percentage (Wt. %) of the sisal fiber reinforcement on the mechanical properties of the developed sisal fiber-gypsum composites were investigated experimentally by varying the Wt. % as 5, 10, and 15%. The mechanical properties were tested as per the ASTM standards. The results revealed that the long unidirectional sisal fiber-gypsum composites exhibited higher impact and hardness strengths with lower water absorption behaviour than the short-chopped sisal fiber-gypsum composites. In addition, the impact strength increased with increase in Wt. % for both short-chopped and long unidirectional sisal fiber reinforcement. While the hardness strength decreased with increase in Wt. % for both short-chopped and long unidirectional sisal fiber. The experimental investigation has established sisal fiber as an important reinforcement material for improving the performance of the neat gypsum in a wide range of architectural applications such as ceilings, decorative partitions, and light covers.
Adjuvant Therapy Using Dabrafenib plus Trametinib in Chinese Patients with Resected Stage III Melanoma: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Jia Dong-Dong , Xu Yu , Li Ting , Yang Ji-Long , Chen Yong , Li Tao
Published: May 2024

Background. In patients with stage III melanoma carrying BRAF mutations, the risk of melanoma recurrence is relatively high even after complete resection of the primary melanoma and regional lymph nodes. Methods. We collected data from patients with stage III cutaneous and acral melanoma who received adjuvant trametinib combined with dabrafenib from three cancer centres in China between August 2019 and December 2022. Results. A total of 55 patients were included in this study. The one‐year recurrence‐free survival (RFS) rate was 79.8% (95% CI 73.6–86.0%). The one‐year RFS rate was 79.8% (95% CI 72.8–86.8%) in the cutaneous melanoma subgroup, while the one‐year RFS rate was 74.1% (95% CI 58.0–90.2%) in the acral melanoma subgroup. Six (46.2%) patients experienced recurrence during adjuvant therapy; 7 (53.9%) patients recurred after completion of the regimen. At the time of the first recurrence, distant metastasis occurred in 10 patients, local recurrence occurred in 2 patients, and one patient experienced both distant metastasis and local recurrence. Conclusions. This study confirmed the good tolerability and short‐term benefits of adjuvant therapy with dabrafenib and trametinib in Chinese patients with stage III melanoma with BRAF V600 mutation.
Table S2 from Comparative Epigenetic Profiling Reveals Distinct Features of Mucosal Melanomas Associated with Immune Cell Infiltration and Their Clinical Implications
Authors: Dai Jie , Jia Jia , Zhang Fanshuang , Liu Kaihua , Xi Yanfeng , Yuan Pei , Mao Lili , Bai Xue , Wei Xiaoting , Wang Bingning , Li Jiangtao , Xu Yang , Liu Ting , Chang Shuang , Shao Yang , Guo Jun , Ying Jianming , Si Lu
Published: May 2024

Supplementary Table 2. The immune-related pathways that were enriched in PMME when compared with NEMM using GSEA analysis.
Figure S3 from Comparative Epigenetic Profiling Reveals Distinct Features of Mucosal Melanomas Associated with Immune Cell Infiltration and Their Clinical Implications
Authors: Dai Jie , Jia Jia , Zhang Fanshuang , Liu Kaihua , Xi Yanfeng , Yuan Pei , Mao Lili , Bai Xue , Wei Xiaoting , Wang Bingning , Li Jiangtao , Xu Yang , Liu Ting , Chang Shuang , Shao Yang , Guo Jun , Ying Jianming , Si Lu
Published: May 2024

Supplementary Figure S3. Heatmap depicting the association between methylation status of TERT and genes within 7-DMR panel and the immune cell infiltration in NEMM.
FIGURE 6 from Comparative Epigenetic Profiling Reveals Distinct Features of Mucosal Melanomas Associated with Immune Cell Infiltration and Their Clinical Implications
Authors: Dai Jie , Jia Jia , Zhang Fanshuang , Liu Kaihua , Xi Yanfeng , Yuan Pei , Mao Lili , Bai Xue , Wei Xiaoting , Wang Bingning , Li Jiangtao , Xu Yang , Liu Ting , Chang Shuang , Shao Yang , Guo Jun , Ying Jianming , Si Lu
Published: May 2024

Association between TERT hypermethylation and immunotherapy responses. A, Significant immune-related pathways that were derived from GSEA of TERT methylation-related genes when comparing PMME and NEMM. B, Significant immune-related pathways derived from GSEA of TERT methylation-related genes when comparing PMME and normal controls. The infiltration level differences of CD8+ T cells (C) and activated CD4+ memory T cells (D) in patients with TERThi and TERTlow PMME (*, P < 0.05). E, PFS differences between patients with TERThi and TERTlow NEMM receiving immunotherapy. F, Case demonstrations of 3 patients with PMME (P1, P7, and P13) who received anti-PD-1 immunotherapy during their treatment course. DDP, cisplatin.
FIGURE 3 from Comparative Epigenetic Profiling Reveals Distinct Features of Mucosal Melanomas Associated with Immune Cell Infiltration and Their Clinical Implications
Authors: Dai Jie , Jia Jia , Zhang Fanshuang , Liu Kaihua , Xi Yanfeng , Yuan Pei , Mao Lili , Bai Xue , Wei Xiaoting , Wang Bingning , Li Jiangtao , Xu Yang , Liu Ting , Chang Shuang , Shao Yang , Guo Jun , Ying Jianming , Si Lu
Published: May 2024

Increased immune cell infiltration and enriched immune-related pathways in PMME compared with NEMM. A, Comparison of infiltrated immune cells between PMME and NEMM. B, Significantly enriched immune-related pathways identified through GSEA when comparing PMME and NEMM.
Cardiovascular Complications With Delivery Hospitalizations in Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension: A Nationwide Study From 2011 to 2020
Authors: Agrawal Ankit , Bajaj Suryansh , Bhagat Umesh , Yesilyaprak Abdullah , Chandna Sanya , Arockiam Aro Daniela , Jamil Yasser , El Iskandarani Mahmoud , Gupta Rahul , Majid Muhammad , Nayar Divya , Michos Erin D.
Published: May 2024

Background

Pregnancy in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with a heightened risk of medical complications including right heart failure, pulmonary edema, and arrhythmias. Our study investigated the association between PH and these complications during delivery.

Methods and Results

The National Inpatient Sample was used to identify delivery hospitalizations from 2011 to 2020. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to study the association of PH with the primary outcomes of in‐hospital medical and obstetric complications. A total of 37 482 207 delivery hospitalizations in women ≥18 years of age were identified, of which 9593 patients had PH. Pregnant patients with PH had higher incidence of complications during delivery including preeclampsia/eclampsia, arrhythmias, and pulmonary edema among others, compared with those without PH. Pregnant patients with PH also had a higher incidence of in‐hospital mortality compared with those without PH (0.51% versus 0.007%). In propensity‐matched analyses, PH was still significantly associated with a higher risk of in‐hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR], 5.02 [95% CI, 1.82–13.90];
P
=0.001), pulmonary edema (OR, 9.11 [95% CI, 6.34–13.10];
P
<0.001), peripartum cardiomyopathy (OR, 1.85 [95% CI, 1.37–2.50];
P
<0.001), venous thromboembolism (OR, 12.60 [95% CI, 6.04–26.10];
P
<0.001), cardiac arrhythmias (OR, 6.11 [95% CI, 4.97–7.53];
P
<0.001), acute kidney injury (OR, 3.72 [95% CI, 2.86–4.84];
P
<0.001), preeclampsia/eclampsia (OR, 2.24 [95% CI, 1.95–2.58];
P
<0.001), and acute coronary syndrome (OR, 2.01 [95% CI, 1.06–3.80];
P
=0.03), compared with pregnant patients without PH.

Conclusions

Delivery hospitalizations in patients with PH are associated with a high risk of mortality, pulmonary edema, peripartum cardiomyopathy, venous thromboembolism, arrhythmias, acute kidney injury, preeclampsia/eclampsia, and acute coronary syndrome.
On the Meditation Sutra of Dharmatrāta, Buddhabhadra’s Profile, and the Primordial State
Authors: Mohr Michel
Published: May 2024

This article focuses on the Damoduoluo chanjing 達摩多羅禪經 [Meditation Sutra of Dharmatrāta], a text completed around 411 CE. This article focuses first on the central figure associated with it, Buddhabhadra [Fotuobatuoluo 佛馱跋陀羅] (359–429), geographical issues linked with him, and the historical context, before discussing and unpacking a few portions of the text about mindfulness with breathing.

The MSD not only discusses some of the obstacles encountered on the path toward mastery, according to the preliminary way and the advanced way, but it also emphasizes how this practice leads to a stage called “primordial state”. Such a state cannot be accurately described by speaking of confirmatory vision or confirmatory experience because it coincides with rediscovering the intrinsic luminosity of consciousness, which precisely coincides with the cessation of all discursive experience. This article challenges the idea that a single overarching theory can account for the increasing popularity of meditation techniques in the Sinosphere during the early fifth century. Scrutinizing the accounts about cultivation that mushroomed in the early fifth century and highlighting one of their facets as expressed in the MSD serves to emphasize their diversity.
Predicting Unplanned Readmissions to the Intensive Care Unit in the Trauma Population
Authors: O’Quinn Payton C. , Gee Kaylan N. , King Sarah A. , Yune Ji-Ming J. , Jenkins Jacob D. , Whitaker Fiona J. , Suresh Sapna , Bollig Reagan W. , Many Heath R. , Smith Lou M.
Published: May 2024

Background: Unplanned readmission to intensive care units (UR-ICU) in trauma is associated with increased hospital length of stay and significant morbidity and mortality. We identify independent predictors of UR-ICU and construct a nomogram to estimate readmission probability. Materials and Methods: We performed an IRB-approved retrospective case-control study at a Level I trauma center between January 2019 and December 2021. Patients with UR-ICU (n = 175) were matched with patients who were not readmitted (NR-ICU) (n = 175). Univariate and multivariable binary linear regressionanalyses were performed (SPSS Version 28, IBM Corp), and a nomogram was created (Stata 18.0, StataCorp LLC). Results: Demographics, comorbidities, and injury- and hospital course-related factors were examined as potential prognostic indicators of UR-ICU. The mortality rate of UR-ICU was 22.29% vs 6.29% for NR-ICU ( P < .001). Binary linear regression identified seven independent predictors that contributed to UR-ICU: shock ( P < .001) or intracranial surgery ( P = .015) during ICU admission, low hematocrit ( P = .001) or sedation administration in the 24 hours before ICU discharge ( P < .001), active infection treatment ( P = .192) or leukocytosis on ICU discharge ( P = .01), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ( P = .002). A nomogram was generated to estimate the probability of UR-ICU and guide decisions on ICU discharge appropriateness. Discussion: In trauma, UR-ICU is often accompanied by poor outcomes and death. Shock, intracranial surgery, anemia, sedative administration, ongoing infection treatment, leukocytosis, and COPD are significant risk factors for UR-ICU. A predictive nomogram may help better assess readiness for ICU discharge.
Teacher Mobility from “Starter School” to “Forever School”: The Impact on Urban Schools and Students
Authors: Holshouser Kaitlyn O. , Holcomb T. Scott , Medina Adriana L.
Published: May 2024

Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Framework was utilized to examine the complexity of the teacher turnover problem in regard to structural inequalities within education that need to be dismantled to create equitable outcomes for all students. Hierarchical cluster analysis was implemented to investigate school report card data of elementary schools in a rural school district ( n = 18) and an urban school district ( n = 41) in geographical proximity in the southeastern United States. Clusters were formed using school level variables including the breakdown of student race/ethnicity, percentage of economically disadvantaged students, teacher turnover rates, years of teaching experience, and a school performance measure. Four clusters emerged from the analysis. Across all variables there were significant differences found between clusters ( p < .001) in the school performance measure, teacher turnover rates, student race/ethnicity, and percentage of students receiving free/reduced price lunch. The percentage of teachers with between 4 and 10 years of experience was statistically equivalent across all cluster groups, differences were found in the number of initially licensed teachers (a low of 9.9% in Cluster 2 to a high of 27.0% in Cluster 4) and teachers with 10 or more years experience (ranging from 46.5% in Cluster 4 to 62.2% in Cluster 2).
“It comes in waves”: A relational dialectics approach to exploring living grief in U.S. emerging adults with invisible illness
Authors: Taladay-Carter Cassidy , Gunning Jacqueline N.
Published: May 2024

Experiencing the onset of (invisible) chronic illness in emerging adulthood prompts a unique grieving process that is disenfranchised due to social discourses that sanction grief to death-related loss. Guided by relational dialectics theory, the present study analyzes the retrospective narratives of 57 emerging adults with acquired invisible illness (e.g., chronic overlapping pain conditions, autoimmune disease) about their meanings of grief. We interrogate competing discourses of grief to illustrate how participants make meaning of invisible, chronic illness and its resulting losses. Contrapuntal analysis led to the identification of a dominant Discourse of Grief as a Tsunami (DGAT) and marginalized Discourse of Grief as Waves (DGAW). The interplay of these discourses constructed meaning through dialogically contractive practices, synchronic interplay, and dialogic transformation. We offer implications for critical interpersonal and health communication theorizing and practical applications for individuals wading through the unique grief of chronic illness. Limitations and future directions are discussed.
Tribological behaviour of polytetrafluoroethylene containing plasma electrolytic oxidation coatings on TC4 alloy
Authors: Zhu Ziwei , Lu Xiaopeng , Ma Jirui , Wang Fuhui
Published: May 2024

Improving the tribological performance of titanium alloys is crucial to expanding their industrial applications. In this study, self-lubricating and wear-resistant coatings for TC4 alloy were achieved by combining plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) prepared using compounded electrolytes with incorporation of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as a solid lubricant. The investigation focused on the comprehensive effects of compounded electrolytes and PTFE on the microstructure and tribological behaviour of PEO coatings. After doping with PTFE, the coating prepared in electrolyte containing silicate, phosphate, and aluminate exhibited lowest wear rate (decreasing by 95.1%) and maximum hardness of 638.6 HV compared to other coatings. Additionally, the coefficient of friction (COF) significantly decreased from 0.8 to 0.16. This can be attributed to the strategy of depositing low-frictional discontinuous layers on hard PEO coatings.
Set-valued rigid-body dynamics for simultaneous, inelastic, frictional impacts
Authors: Halm Mathew , Posa Michael
Published: May 2024

Robotic manipulation and locomotion often entail nearly-simultaneous collisions—such as heel and toe strikes during a foot step—with outcomes that are extremely sensitive to the order in which impacts occur. Robotic simulators and state estimation commonly lack the fidelity and accuracy to predict this ordering, and instead pick one with a heuristic. This discrepancy degrades performance when model-based controllers and policies learned in simulation are placed on a real robot. We reconcile this issue with a set-valued rigid-body model which generates a broad set of outcomes to simultaneous frictional impacts with any impact ordering. We first extend Routh’s impact model to multiple impacts by reformulating it as a differential inclusion (DI), and show that any solution will resolve all impacts in finite time. By considering time as a state, we embed this model into another DI which captures the continuous-time evolution of rigid-body dynamics, and guarantee existence of solutions. We finally cast simulation of simultaneous impacts as a linear complementarity problem (LCP), and develop an algorithm for tight approximation of the post-impact velocity set with probabilistic guarantees. We demonstrate our approach on several examples drawn from manipulation and legged locomotion, and compare the predictions to other models of rigid and compliant collisions.
An Application of a Small Area Procedure with Correlation Between Measurement Error and Sampling Error to the Conservation Effects Assessment Project
Authors: Berg Emily , Mosaferi Sepideh
Published: May 2024

County level estimates of mean sheet and rill erosion from the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) are useful for program development and evaluation. Since county sample sizes in the CEAP survey are insufficient to support reliable direct estimators, small area estimation procedures are needed. The quantity of water runoff is a useful covariate but is unavailable for the full population. We use an estimate of mean runoff from the CEAP survey as a covariate in a small area model with sheet and rill erosion as the response. As the runoff and sheet and rill erosion are estimators from the same survey, the measurement error in the covariate is important as is the correlation between the measurement error and the sampling error. We conduct a detailed investigation of small area estimation in the presence of a correlation between the measurement error in the covariate and the sampling error in the response. In simulations, the proposed predictor is superior to small area predictors that assume the response and covariate are uncorrelated or that ignore the measurement error entirely.
Indigenous Ethiopian traditional medicinal plant leaf extract, Croton macrostachyus, loaded PCL electrospun nanofibrous mat as potential wound dressing: In vitro analysis
Authors: Biruk Fentahun Adamu , Jing Gao , Xiangnan Yuan , Shaojie Tan
Published: May 2024

The main aim of this study was to investigate the potential application of an indiginous Ethiopian medicinal plant, Croton macrostachyus, into PCL nanofibers through electrospinning for the first time. Croton macrostachyus (CM) leaf has antibacterial and wound healing properties. Croton macrostachyus of 1%, 3%, 5%, and 7% (w/v) incorporated PCL nanofibrous mats were produced through electrospinning. The produced nanofibrous mats morphology observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was found to be continuous, bead-free, and interconnected. The average diameters of PCL, PCL-1%CM, PCL-3%CM, PCL-5%CM, and PCL-7%CM nanofibrous mat is 309 ± 114, 271 ± 66, 235 ± 56, 226 ± 65, and 216 ± 42 nm, respectively. According to the FTIR results, the CM leaf extract was successfully incorporated into the PCL nanofibers. The bacterial reduction percentage value of PCL-1%CM, PCL-3%CM, PCL-5%CM, and PCL-7%CM nanofiber mats against S. aureus is 77.00%, 99.88%, 99.91%, and 99.99%, and 35.00%, 78.00%, 90.00%, and 99.30% against E. coli. The in vitro release study showed that there was an immediate release of CM within 24 h and then a steady sustained release of 51.36, 53.92, 54.99, and 57.12% up to 72 h at 1%, 3%, 5%, and 7% concentration, respectively. The presence of CM leaf extract in the PCL nanofiber increased the hydrophilicity of the pure PCL nanofiber (100% hydrophilic at 7% leaf extract concentration). In general, the results of the in vitro study confirmed that the PCL nanofibrous mats loaded with CM leaf extract are suitable for use as an effective wound dressing with a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity and hydrophilic properties.
Ultrasound-guided Axillary Artery Catheter Placement and Associated Complications in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Cardona Stephanie , Gross Aliza S. , Yu Allen T. , Bassily-Marcus Adel , Oropello John , Manasia Anthony
Published: May 2024

Background

Arterial catheter placement for hemodynamic monitoring is commonly performed in critically ill patients. The radial and femoral arteries are the two sites most frequently used; there is limited data on the use of the axillary artery for this purpose. The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of complications from ultrasound-guided axillary artery catheter placement in critically ill patients.

Methods

A retrospective study at a tertiary care center of patients admitted to an intensive care unit who had ultrasound-guided axillary artery catheter placement during admission. Primary outcome of interest was catheter related complications, including bleeding, vascular complications, compartment syndrome, stroke or air embolism, catheter malfunction, and need for surgical intervention.

Results

This study identified 88 patients who had an ultrasound-guided axillary artery catheter placed during their admission. Of these 88, nine patients required multiple catheters placed, for a total of 99 axillary artery catheter placement events. The median age was 64 [IQR 48, 71], 41 (47%) were female, and median body mass index (BMI) was 26 [IQR 22, 30]. The most common complication was minor bleeding (11%), followed by catheter malfunction (2%), and vascular complications (2%). Univariate analyses did not show any association between demographics and clinical variables, and complications related to axillary arterial catheter.

Conclusion

The most common complication found with ultrasound-guided axillary artery catheter placement was minor bleeding, followed by catheter malfunction, and vascular complications. Ultrasound-guided axillary arterial catheters are an alternative in patients in whom radial or femoral arterial access is difficult or not possible to achieve.
Evaluation of Sodium-Glucose Transport Protein 2 (SGLT2) Inhibitor Prescribing Patterns in Heart Failure Patients at Hospital Discharge
Authors: Wo Emily , Trulli Cara , Wilczynski Jessica , Gonzalez Jimmy
Published: May 2024

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) dapagliflozin and empagliflozin are indicated for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) for cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization risk reduction. Due to the recent nature of these data, prescribing of SGLT2is may be suboptimal. Objective: This study sought to assess the prevalence of SGLT2i prescriptions at hospital discharge for HFrEF. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on HFrEF patients discharged from April 1st to December 31st, 2021 from one academic medical center in the United States. The primary objective was to determine the percentage of eligible patients prescribed SGLT2i at discharge and the secondary objective was to characterize covariates impacting prescription. Results: Overall, 115 patients were included. The mean age was 72 ± 14.25 years. The majority were male (73.9%) and Caucasian (74.8%). At discharge, 15.7% of patients were prescribed an SGLT2i, although 94.8% were eligible. Baseline characteristics and concomitant medications did not differ significantly, although the mean number of discharge medications differed significantly between those prescribed an SGLT2i (15.78 ± 6.77) and those not (12.05 ± 5.28) ( P = 0.023). Conclusions: SGLT2is are under-prescribed at discharge for HFrEF patients, despite many being eligible. Further studies should be done to elucidate factors that influence the under-prescription of SGLT2is.
Just War and Judgment in Fratelli Tutti
Authors: Capizzi Joseph E.
Published: May 2024

For decades the papal tradition has renounced the term ‘war’ as something around which to build an ethical approach. One can sympathize with this: resort to war seems the consequence of ethical failure and brings in its train a host of brutalities including rape, torture, and murder that harm both victims and perpetrators. But that view of ‘war’ is an incomplete representation of the possibilities of the uses of force to secure legitimate political goods. Thus the popes have struggled to maintain a clear voice in the face of abject tragedies like the Russian invasion of Ukraine: on the one hand, Pope Francis condemns war in an almost absolute manner; on the other, he recognizes the legitimacy of Ukrainian defensive uses of force. In so doing, of course, he merely abides the so-called ‘just war theory’ he seems to have discarded. My contribution will focus on the current state of the just war in Catholic teaching. I will maintain the state remains where it has been since at least the middle of the twentieth century: skeptical about the capacity of states to judge in terms of international law, but cognizant of their right to defend themselves against ongoing aggression.
Studying professional women footballers: A reflexive commentary on being benched from recruitment
Authors: Harris Laura , Trussell Dawn E
Published: May 2024

In this reflexive commentary we provide critical reflections on the challenges of recruiting professional women football players as experienced by the researchers. We posit that the same social, systemic inequities that make continued study of women's professionalized sport so important, also generate challenges to recruiting women athletes. As we share our reflections on the difficulties we experienced throughout our recruitment process, we hope to illuminate challenges and strategies to advance sport research with professional women athletes and answer calls to amplify marginalized voices across sport studies. Namely, we identify three (inaccurate) outsider researcher assumptions that contributed to our recruitment challenges related to social, systemic inequities: (a) many professional women football players will (at some point) secure a financial sponsorship deal, (b) the football club staff would be our gatekeepers, and (c) women's football has professionalized working conditions, resources, and support. We argue that it is important to understand the challenges and gatekeepers that researchers encounter while studying professional women's sport, to address gender inequities while working towards a more socially just landscape.