bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reproductive and Metabolic Health Following Exposure to Environmental Chemicals: Mechanistic Insights from Mammalian Models
Authors: Bellingham Michelle , Evans Neil P. , Lea Richard G. , Padmanabhan Vasantha , Sinclair Kevin D.
Published: November 2024

The decline in human reproductive and metabolic health over the past 50 years is associated with exposure to complex mixtures of anthropogenic environmental chemicals (ECs). Real-life EC exposure has varied over time and differs across geographical locations. Health-related issues include declining sperm quality, advanced puberty onset, premature ovarian insufficiency, cancer, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Prospective animal studies with individual and limited EC mixtures support these observations and provide a means to investigate underlying physiological and molecular mechanisms. The greatest impacts of EC exposure are through programming of the developing embryo and/or fetus, with additional placental effects reported in eutherian mammals. Single-chemical effects and mechanistic studies, including transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, have been undertaken in rodents. Important translational models of human exposure are provided by companion animals, due to a shared environment, and sheep exposed to anthropogenic chemical mixtures present in pastures treated with sewage sludge (biosolids). Future animal research should prioritize EC mixtures that extend beyond a single developmental stage and/or generation. This would provide a more representative platform to investigate genetic and underlying mechanisms that explain sexually dimorphic and individual effects that could facilitate mitigation strategies.
Healthy and Unhealthy Aging and the Human Microbiome
Authors: Simbirtseva Kseniya Y. , O'Toole Paul W.
Published: November 2024

An altered gut microbiome is a feature of many multifactorial diseases, and microbiome effects on host metabolism, immune function, and possibly neurological function are implicated. Increased biological age is accompanied by a change in the gut microbiome. However, age-related health loss does not occur uniformly across all subjects but rather depends on differential loss of gut commensals and gain of pathobionts. In this article, we summarize the known and possible effects of the gut microbiome on the hallmarks of aging and describe the most plausible mechanisms. Understanding and targeting these factors could lead to prolonging health span by rationally maintaining the gut microbiome.
Neural Methods for Amortized Inference
Authors: Zammit-Mangion Andrew , Sainsbury-Dale Matthew , Huser Raphaël
Published: November 2024

Simulation-based methods for statistical inference have evolved dramatically over the past 50 years, keeping pace with technological advancements. The field is undergoing a new revolution as it embraces the representational capacity of neural networks, optimization libraries, and graphics processing units for learning complex mappings between data and inferential targets. The resulting tools are amortized, in the sense that, after an initial setup cost, they allow rapid inference through fast feed-forward operations. In this article we review recent progress in the context of point estimation, approximate Bayesian inference, summary-statistic construction, and likelihood approximation. We also cover software and include a simple illustration to showcase the wide array of tools available for amortized inference and the benefits they offer over Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. The article concludes with an overview of relevant topics and an outlook on future research directions.
CT/MRI LI-RADS 2024 Update: Treatment Response Assessment
Authors: Aslam Anum , Chernyak Victoria , Miller Frank H. , Bashir Mustafa , Do Richard , Sirlin Claude , Lewandowski Robert J. , Kim Charles Y. , Kielar Ania Zofia , Kambadakone Avinash R. , Yarmohammadi Hooman , Kim Edward , Owen Dawn , Charalel Resmi A. , Shenoy-Bhangle Anuradha , Burke Lauren M. , Mendiratta-Lala Mishal
Published: November 2024

The CT/MRI Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2024 Treatment Response Assessment (TRA) algorithm now has two independent cores with tailored TRA criteria after nonradiation or radiation-based liver-directed therapy and incorporates MRI ancillary features (diffusion restriction and mild to moderate T2 hyperintensity).
Effectiveness of Pharmacotherapy in Reducing the Inflammation Process of Spinal Cord Injuries: A Systematic Review of Animal Studies
Authors: Subagio Eko Agus , Wicaksono Pandu , Asadullah Asadullah , Faris Muhammad , Bajamal Abdul Hafid , Susilo Imam , Abdillah Diaz Syafrie
Published: November 2024

Background: Currently, there is no gold standard technique in SCI therapy. Although there have been many systematic reviews on the pharmacological treatment of inflammation in SCI, there has been no published discussion regarding the effectiveness of anti‐inflammatory pharmacotherapy when viewed from a neuroinflammatory pathway. This research aimed to examine an effective and reliable medication for decreasing inflammation in SCI and, where possible, identify effective pharmacotherapeutic treatment protocols.

Methods: We searched SCOPUS, PubMed, PlosOne, and Science Direct, for experimental trials published in English. The keywords included (Pharmacotherapy OR pharmacology OR treatment) AND (traumatic spinal cord injury OR spinal cord OR traumatic OR hemisection of spinal cord OR compression OR traumatic spinal cord injury OR aneurysm clip OR hemisection of spinal cord OR sharp pin injury) AND (Side Effect therapy). In addition, the Basso–Beattie–Bresnahan (BBB) score was used to assess post‐SCI clinical progress.

Results: Twelve pilot studies met the inclusion criteria. The highest BBB score was 15, and the best animal performance was tested after the average therapy was on the second week or 14th day. Three pharmacotherapies have fast effectiveness regarding BBB scores: calcitriol, lithium, and valproic acid. As well as a combination of pharmacotherapy therapy with surgical therapy also get significant results.

Conclusions: The preliminary findings showed that many inflammatory pathways cause inflammatory agents to have their pathways for inhibition pathways, so they have different ways.
The Impact of Dockless Bike‐Sharing and Built Environment on Ride‐Sourcing Trips
Authors: Wang Boqing , Xue Xiaoyu , Yang Min , Cheng Long , Li Jiajun
Published: November 2024

Understanding the factors influencing ride‐sourcing trips is crucial for enhancing the quality of personalized mobility and optimizing the allocation of transportation system resources. However, the nonlinear effects of dockless bike‐sharing (DBS) and the built environment (BE) across different spatiotemporal contexts have not been adequately addressed in previous research. This study aims to bridge this gap by analyzing order data and BE characteristics in Tianjin, China. Utilizing the Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT) model and Accumulated Local Effects (ALE) plots, this study explores the relative importance and nonlinear thresholds of these factors on ride‐sourcing trips. The findings reveal that DBS trips during weekday AM peak hours exert significantly negative effects on ride‐sourcing, whereas the impact during weekend AM peaks and daily PM peaks is positive. Furthermore, variables such as active population density, metro accessibility, and residential, entertainment, and cultural BEs have positive nonlinear impacts on ride‐sourcing trips. These insights offer policy implications and resource allocation recommendations for both government bodies and operators.
Study of Phase Imaging Contrast Optimization in Tapping Mode Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Zeng Yu , Liu Guolin , Liu Jinhao , Wei Zheng
Published: November 2024

In tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM‐AFM), the phase image can reveal more about the physicochemical properties of the sample surface than the topography image, making it widely utilized in fields such as materials science and life sciences. However, obtaining high phase contrast in phase images during experiments is challenging, thus studying the phase imaging theory of TM‐AFM and optimizing phase contrast methods hold significant importance. This paper derives a theoretical expression for phase contrast based on phase theory, discovering that phase contrast is directly related to the frequency ratio and background dissipation quality factor. Through theoretical, experimental, and simulation approaches, optimization methods for phase contrast were proposed from the perspectives of frequency ratio and background dissipation quality factor as follows: (1) By fitting experimental results with the theoretical expression for phase contrast, the optimal frequency ratio for scanning can be determined, and imaging with this optimal ratio can enhance phase contrast and (2) reducing the width ratio between the free and fixed ends of the probe can decrease background dissipation, increase the proportion of core dissipation in the total energy dissipation of the probe, and thereby improve phase imaging contrast. These findings are significant in guiding TM‐AFM phase scanning experiments and optimizing phase imaging contrast.
Distribution Law of Abutment Pressure and Support Technology in the Roadway of Repeated Mining in the Fully Mechanized Top Coal Caving Mining Face
Authors: Lv Fengyuan , Li Junmeng , Wang Guiyuan , Wei Qiming , Ren Yuxin , Pei Yuancheng , Ma Kun , Gong Yu
Published: November 2024

Due to repeated mining in the 130203 fully mechanized top coal caving mining face of the coal mine, the severe mining pressure phenomenon occurs in the return airway. In order to determine the stress distribution state of the repeated mining roadway and address the issue of significant deformation in the surrounding rock, we utilized fast lagrangian analysis of continua in 3D (FLAC3D) software along with a two‐dimensional simplified model of advance abutment pressure. The study proposes the combined support forms of unit support, sectionable remote pumping prop, and hydraulic single prop. Meanwhile, the supportive effect of the advance return airway is being monitored. The results show that in the initial stage of mining face, the peak value of advancing abutment pressure on the fully mechanized caving face increases continuously, and the distance between the location of the peak stress and the coal wall becomes larger and larger. When the mining face reaches 60 m, the peak value of advancing abutment pressure gradually stabilizes, and the simulated peak value of advancing abutment pressure is 47.8 MPa. It is concluded that the area of sharp increase and decrease of the advancing abutment pressure is within 0–20 m from the coal wall, the distance between the peak abutment pressure and the coal wall is 10.8 m, and the strengthening supporting distance of the roadway affected by the front abutment pressure is 120 m. During the monitoring period, it was determined that the rate of movement of the roof and floor of the roadway under the combined support was 16.65 mm per day. This combined support method has a stable controlling effect on the surrounding rock of the roadway.
Experimental Study on the Shear Characteristics of Deep‐Sea Sediments Based on a Mining Machine Walking Test Platform
Authors: Li Xiaoyan , Lei Lang , Zhao Shengwei , Singh Jenisha , Li Zhou
Published: November 2024

The exploitation and utilization of deep‐sea mineral resources is an important measure to ensure the safety of resources. The shear characteristics of deep‐sea sediments are fundamental parameters for the design of a machine for mining polymetallic nodules. To investigate the shear characteristics of deep‐sea sediments, a comprehensive experimental platform is designed independently to drive mining machines. This platform can perform a series of simulated shear tests between the track board and deep‐sea sediments. The shear tests investigate the effects of earth pressure, shear rate, and overlying water on shear characteristics between tracks and sediments. The results show that the shear deformation process of deep‐sea sediments has four obvious stages, namely linear elastic stage, strain hardening stage, strain softening stage, and residual stress stage. The shear strength of deep‐sea sediments increases with the earth pressure. The shear strength of deep‐sea sediments decreases significantly under the influence of the overlying water. When the overlying water is applied for 1 h, the peak strength decreases by about 26% and the residual strength by about 70% compared to the strengths without water. When the overlying water is applied for 1 day, the peak strength decreases by about 36% and the residual strength by about 90%. This study provides a theoretical basis for analyzing the running behavior and structural design of crawler mining machines.
Ferroptotic Neutrophils Induce Immunosuppression and Chemoresistance in Breast Cancer
Authors: Zeng Wenfeng , Zhang Ruihua , Huang Penghan , Chen Minxia , Chen Houying , Zeng Xin , Liu Jiang , Zhang Jiahui , Huang Di , Lao Liyan
Published: November 2024

Inducing ferroptosis in tumor cells is emerging as a strategy for treating malignancies that are refractory to traditional treatment modalities. However, the consequences of ferroptosis of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment need to be better understood in order to realize the potential of this approach. In this study, we discovered that neutrophils in chemoresistant breast cancer are highly sensitive to ferroptosis. Reduction of the acyltransferase MOAT1 in chemoresistance-associated neutrophils induced phospholipid reprogramming, switching the preference from monounsaturated fatty acids to polyunsaturated fatty acids, which increased their susceptibility to ferroptosis. Ferroptotic neutrophils secreted PGE2, IDO, and oxidized lipids that suppressed the proliferation and cytotoxicity of antitumor CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, neutrophil ferroptosis was closely related to a distinct subset of IL1β+CXCL3+CD4+ (Fer-CD4) T lymphocytes, which were enriched in chemoresistant tumors. Fer-CD4 T cells orchestrated neutrophil ferroptosis by modulating MOAT1 expression via IL1β/IL1R1/NF-κB signaling. Moreover, Fer-CD4 T cells secreted CXCL3, IL8, and S100A9 to replenish the neutrophil pool in the tumor microenvironment. Ferroptotic neutrophils in turn fostered Fer-CD4 T-cell differentiation. In spontaneous tumorigenesis mouse models, targeting IL1β+ CD4+ T cells or IL1R1+ neutrophils broke the cross-talk, restraining neutrophil ferroptosis, enhancing antitumor immunity, and overcoming chemoresistance. Overall, these findings uncover the role of neutrophil ferroptosis in shaping the immune landscape and propose appealing targets for restoring immunosurveillance and chemosensitivity in breast cancer.

Significance: In chemoresistant breast cancer, IL1β+CXCL3+CD4+ T cells mediate neutrophil ferroptosis that suppresses antitumor immunity, indicating that interfering with this intercellular cross-talk could be an attractive strategy to reverse chemoresistance.
Homoharringtonine Added to Venetoclax and Azacitidine Improves Outcome and Mitigates Genetic Impact in Relapsed/Refractory AML: A Multicenter Cohort Study
Authors: Yu Guopan , Zhang Yu , Yu Sijian , Yin Zhao , Weng Guangyang , Xu Na , Du Xin , Lin Dongjun , Xiao Jie , Sun Zhiqiang , Zhang Hongyu , Liang Xinquan , Guo Ziwen , Zhao Weihua , Dai Min , Fan Zhiping , Xuan Li , Liu Hui , Xu Dan , Ye Jieyu , Jiang Xuejie , Shi Pengcheng , Jin Hua , Liu Qifa
Published: November 2024

Purpose:

We investigated whether homoharringtonine (HHT) added to venetoclax plus azacitidine (VA) could improve outcomes and counteract the negative effects of genetic patterns in patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (RR-AML).

Experimental Design:

A multicenter retrospective cohort study of the response and genetic patterns of response to the VA plus HHT (VAH) versus the VA regimens as salvage treatment in patients with RR-AML was performed. The endpoints were the rates of composite complete remission, measurable residual disease, event-free survival, overall survival, and relapse between VAH and VA groups.

Results:

A total of 321 patients (VAH, n = 172; VA, n = 149) were analyzed. Compared with VA, VAH significantly improved the rates of composite complete remission (44.3% vs. 66.3%; P < 0.001), measurable residual disease negativity (34.8% vs. 59.3%; P = 0.002), prolonged overall survival (median: 15.1 months vs. not reached; P < 0.001), and event-free survival (median: 3.8 vs. 13.0 months; P < 0.001). VAH significantly mitigated the negative impact on VA efficacy of mutated FLT3-ITD/TKD, N/KRAS, and t(8;21)/AML1-ETO, as well as the relatively unfavorable effects of the TET2 and DNMT3A mutations. VAH significantly enhanced the response of patients with nonadverse European LeukemiaNet risk, with a trend toward improved response in those with adverse European LeukemiaNet risk, complex karyotype, and DNMT3A+FLT3+NPM1+. The incidence of grade 3 or higher adverse events was comparable between the two groups.

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest the addition of HHT to VA might enhance response and mitigate the negative impact of certain genetic patterns in RR-AML while being well tolerated.
Supplementary Table S3 from Region-Based Analyses of Existing Genome-Wide Association Studies Identifies Novel Potential Genetic Susceptibility Regions for Glioma
Authors: Alpen Karen , Maclnnis Robert J. , Vajdic Claire M. , Lai John , Dowty James G. , Koh Eng-Siew , Hovey Elizabeth , Harrup Rosemary , Nguyen Tuong L. , Li Shuai , Joseph David , Benke Geza , Dugué Pierre-Antoine , Southey Melissa C. , Giles Graham G. , Nowak Anna K. , Drummond Katharine J. , Schmidt Daniel F. , Hopper John L. , Kapuscinski Miroslaw K. , Makalic Enes
Published: November 2024

Supplementary Table S3 shows the number of samples excluded from the AGOG autosomal data (S3a) and X-chromosome data (S3b) and reasons for exclusion.
The Capicua C1 Domain Is Required for Full Activity of the CIC::DUX4 Fusion Oncoprotein
Authors: Luck Cuyler , Jacobs Kyle A. , Okimoto Ross A.
Published: November 2024

Rearrangements between genes can yield neomorphic fusions that drive oncogenesis. Fusion oncogenes are made up of fractional segments of the partner genes that comprise them, with each partner potentially contributing some of its own function to the nascent fusion oncoprotein. Clinically, fusion oncoproteins driving one diagnostic entity are typically clustered into a single molecular subset and are often treated a similar fashion. However, knowledge of where specific fusion breakpoints occur in partner genes, and the resulting retention of functional domains in the fusion, is an important determinant of fusion oncoprotein activity and may differ between patients. This study investigates these phenomena through the example of capicua (CIC)::double homeobox 4 (DUX4), a fusion between transcriptional repressor CIC and DUX4 genes, which drives an aggressive subset of undifferentiated round cell sarcoma. Using a harmonized dataset of more than 100 patient fusion breakpoints from the literature, we show that most bona fide CIC::DUX4 fusions retain the C1 domain, which is known to contribute to DNA binding by wild-type CIC. Mechanistically, deletion or mutation of the C1 domain reduces, but does not eliminate, the activation of CIC target genes by CIC::DUX4. We also find that expression of C1-deleted CIC::DUX4 is capable of exerting intermediate transformation-related phenotypes compared with those imparted by full-length CIC::DUX4 but was not sufficient for tumorigenesis in a subcutaneous mouse model. In summary, our results suggest a supercharging role for the C1 domain in the activity of CIC::DUX4.

Significance:

We show in mammalian settings that the capicua C1 functional domain is a supercharger for CIC::DUX4, a poorly studied fusion oncoprotein which drives a rare sarcoma with dismal outcomes.
COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF METHYLPREDNISOLONE AND TOCILIZUMAB IN PATIENTS WITH A SEVERE FORM OF COVID-19
Authors: Oliynyk O. V.
Published: November 2024

Background. Recently, we have again noted an increase in the incidence of COVID-19. The treatment of patients with severe coronavirus infection poses a significant medical challenge.
Objectives. The purpose of this research was to compare the efficacy of standard therapy and pulses of methylprednisolone in combination with or without tocilizumab in patients with a severe form of COVID-19.
Patients and methods. In a retrospective study, the medical charts of 220 patients with a severe course of COVID-19 were reviewed. Patients were divided into four groups: those on daily methylprednisolone at a dose of 32 mg enterally; patients who received methylprednisolone pulses (500 mg daily intravenously for three consecutive days, with a subsequent change to the 32 mg of methylprednisolone daily); patients who received a single dose of 400 mg tocilizumab in combination with a 32 mg of methylprednisolone daily; patients who received a single dose of 400 mg tocilizumab in combination with methyl­prednisolone pulse therapy. At the end of therapy, 28-day mortality and the number of intubations in each group one week after the end of therapy were analyzed.
Results. Patients treated with a combination of tocilizumab and pulse methylprednisolone therapy had the lowest risk of death (p<0.001), OR=0.03 (95 % CI 0.01-0.16), compared to patients treated only with 32 mg of methylprednisolone.
Conclusions. Methylprednisolone pulses therapy is more effective than therapy with methylprednisolone at a daily dose of 32 mg. The combination of methylprednisolone and tocilizumab is more effective than the isolated administration of methylprednisolone. The combination of tocilizumab with methylprednisolone pulse therapy had the highest therapeutic effect.
Activated charcoal application in gastric ulceration areas in horses: preliminary experimental study
Authors: Zibordi Miriam , Sá Lilian Rose Marques de , Belli Carla Bargi
Published: November 2024

Gastric ulceration is frequent in adult horses, bringing significant economic and welfare implications to these animals. Treatment may employ several drugs, but adsorbents, such as activated charcoal, are not mentioned. Activated charcoal may be a valuable therapeutic option mainly because of its few adverse effects, fecal elimination, and low cost. This study aimed to evaluate the use of activated charcoal in experimentally induced gastric ulceration in horses and perform the microscopic characterization of charcoal particles in the injured epithelium. Five adult, undefined breed horses underwent a gastric ulcer induction protocol based on alternating fasting and free food access periods. Next, we performed a gastroscopic examination and applied activated charcoal diluted in water at the ulcers through a probe passed through the working channel of the gastroscope. The gastric mucosa was washed with water after a contact period of 5 min until the complete lack of macroscopic product visualization. Then, we performed a biopsy of the aglandular mucosa in erosive to ulcerative injury sites and a microscopic assessment of the fragments. Macroscopically, all animals presented ulcerative lesions in the greater or lesser gastric curvature along the margo plicatus and hyperkeratosis in the aglandular portion. Microscopically, all animals had hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis, epithelial erosion, desquamated epithelial cells, inflammatory cells, and variable amounts of charcoal particles, either free or adhered to the epithelium. We concluded that activated charcoal remains adhered to aglandular gastric lesions in horses even after lavage with water and histological processing, allowing its microscopic visualization. Therefore, activated charcoal’s effectiveness as a therapy for equine gastric lesions warrants evaluation.
2024 American Heart Association and American Academy of Pediatrics Focused Update on Special Circumstances: Resuscitation Following Drowning: An Update to the American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care
Authors: Dezfulian Cameron , McCallin Tracy E. , Bierens Joost , Dunne Cody L. , Idris Ahamed H. , Kiragu Andrew , Mahgoub Melissa , Shenoi Rohit P. , Szpilman David , Terry Mark , Tijssen Janice A. , Tobin Joshua M. , Topjian Alexis A.
Published: November 2024

Drowning is the third leading cause of death from unintentional injury worldwide, accounting for 7% of all injury-related deaths. The World Health Organization estimates that there are ≈236 000 deaths due to drowning worldwide each year. Significant efforts have focused on creating systems to prevent drowning, but an average of 4000 fatal and 8000 nonfatal drownings still occur annually in the United States—likely an underestimate. Drowning generally progresses from initial respiratory arrest due to submersion-related hypoxia to cardiac arrest; thus, it can be challenging to distinguish respiratory arrest from cardiac arrest because pulses are difficult to accurately palpate within the recommended 10-second window. Therefore, resuscitation from cardiac arrest attributable to this specific circumstance must focus on restoring breathing as much as it does circulation. Resuscitation from drowning may begin with in-water rescue breathing when safely provided by rescuers trained in the technique and should continue with chest compressions, in keeping with basic life support guidelines, once the drowned individual and the rescuer are in a safe environment (eg, dry land, a boat). This focused update incorporates systematic reviews from 2021 to 2023 performed by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation related to the resuscitation of drowning. These clinical guidelines are the product of a committee of experts representing the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The writing group reviewed the recent International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation systematic reviews, including updated literature searches, prior guidelines related to resuscitation from cardiac arrest following drowning, and other drowning-related publications from the American Heart Association and American Academy of Pediatrics. The writing group used these reviews to update its recommendations aimed at resuscitation of cardiac arrest following drowning in adults and children.
Treatment of Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A 20‐Year National Inpatient Sample Review
Authors: Feler Joshua , Wolman Dylan , Torabi Radmehr , Chen Jia‐Shu , Teshome Abigail , Sastry Rahul , Doberstein Curtis , Jayaraman Mahesh , Moldovan Krisztina , Mahta Ali
Published: November 2024

Background

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a major source of morbidity and mortality, and its management has undergone foundational changes over thepast 2 decades. We reviewed the National Inpatient Sample to outline the changes in severity of illness, surgical management, and patient outcomes over time.

Methods

A retrospective cohort of admissions for spontaneous SAH in the National Inpatient Sample from 2001 to 2020 was reviewed, including those who underwent microsurgical or endovascular surgery to secure a ruptured aneurysm. National incidence was calculated, and multivariable regression was used to identify changes in incidence and outcome through time, segmented by epoch.

Results

Review of the National Inpatient Sample identified 448 655 patients with SAH, of whom 181 590 underwent surgical aneurysm treatment. The incidence of spontaneous SAH fell −0.097 per 100 000 person‐years each year (95%CI, −0.144 to −0.049). Among patients surgically treated for aneurysmal SAH, the proportion of patients <50 years old fell from 40% to 30% between first and final epochs, and the proportion of those in the lowest stroke scale category, roughly equivalent to Hunt and Hess grade 1 or 2, fell from 66% to 45%. The proportion treated by microsurgery fell from 70% to 23% in favor of endovascular surgery. Hospital mortality among these treated cases was stable at 13% throughout the study period despite increasing illness severity indices. After adjustment, there was a 42% reduction of odds of hospital mortality in the final epoch compared with the first.

Conclusion

The incidence of hospitalization for spontaneous SAH fell between 2001 and 2020. Patients undergoing surgery to secure an aneurysm were more severely ill through time yet experienced a stable hospital mortality rate.
A Critique of Deep Engagement, the Social Narrative of US Foreign Policy
Authors: Williams Gregory P.
Published: November 2024

This article offers a critical perspective of the discourse of deep engagement that portrays the United States as the world’s necessary or indispensable power. It describes deep engagement as a social narrative that, like literary narratives, has a story, a plot and an argument. This narrative has persisted in a time of waning hegemony because it makes an apparently appealing moral case for American global leadership. Yet deep engagement remains flawed from a strategic perspective and disregards the history of great-power rise and decline. From a strategic perspective, while hegemons describe their leadership in moral terms, their rhetoric is often betrayed by their actions. From a historical perspective, while hegemons regard their own efforts and values as instrumental to their status, their rise can be credited to a wave of economic and political forces the state cannot control.
An Approach to the Basis of the Right to Freedom of Association According to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Authors: Jerez Moreno Rafael
Published: November 2024

As it occurs in any democracy, each State has a particular regulation of the scope of the rights recognized in its constitution and secondary legislation. However, the existence of regional and universal jurisdictions that address human rights to which States have a membership presents a broader view of interpreting these rights and enables a complementary vision with each constitutional system. The right to freedom of association is one example, and this analysis will address it, focusing on the Inter-American System of Human Rights, particularly the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) decisions. This analysis will serve as an initial approach to the evolution of the IACtHR’s interpretation concerning the right to freedom of association, starting with laying down its normative basis in the Inter-American System of Human Rights and later focusing on the decisions of the cases published by the IACtHR addressing this right between 2001–2022.
Freedom of Association: The Case of Poland
Authors: Cyuńczyk Filip
Published: November 2024

The role of this chapter is to show the specifics of freedom of association in Poland. Therefore, in addition to analysing the normative layer, it includes references to the historical state of the law and the practice of interpreting and operationalising this freedom. Through the presentation of legal provisions, I wish to show the local (“domestic”) specificity and situate it in the broader context of the system of constitutional liberal democracy embodied by the 1997 Constitution currently in force in Poland. The operationalisation of freedom of association will be presented on the basis of selected institutions of three particularly relevant statutes: the Law on Associations, the Act on Political Parties and the Act on Trade Unions.
Freedom of Association Doctrine in Finland
Authors: Neuvonen Riku
Published: November 2024

Freedom of association in Finland is an old, fundamental right protected by the Constitution. However, the legislation protecting the right is from the period before the fundamental rights reform of 1995 following Finland’s accession to the Council of Europe in 1990. Key issues are freedom of religion in the registration conditions of religious communities and mandatory membership in student unions. In addition, the Supreme Court and the Supreme Administrative Court have issued rulings that have significantly shaped Finland’s doctrine of freedom of association.
Womanhood as Imagined in Shivani’s Novels and Short Stories
Authors: Bhardwaj Ekta
Published: November 2024

Gaura Pant, popularly known as ‘Shivani’ or ‘Diddi’, was a prominent Hindi writer who contributed immensely to India’s rich literary landscape. Her works reflect nuanced exploration of gender and women’s identity within pre- and postcolonial India. Despite being brought up in a traditional Hindu household, her literary works still managed to traverse established boundaries, challenging patriarchal hierarchies and advocating for women’s empowerment. She published forty prominent literary works along with hundreds of newspaper columns and articles. Most of them are original works in Hindi. This paper unearths prominent themes and constructs within her various short stories, originally written in Hindi, and her well-known novel Bhairavi: The Runaway. While contextualizing her writings with reference to her own life, the paper concludes that Shivani’s works, in exploring the ordinary lives of women within a patriarchal society, are feminist in nature.
A new species of the genus Nops MacLeay (Araneae: Caponiidae), from the Colombian Andes
Authors: CHIRIVI-JOYA DANIEL , RODRÍGUEZ-SANDOVAL JUAN MANUEL , PARDO-STAPER ANA
Published: November 2024

The genus Nops is a group of Neotropical species of the family Caponiidae, which is included in the subfamily Nopinae. This group is distributed from the Caribbean Islands to the north of Argentina and presents short distribution ranges. Currently, Colombia only has one recorded species; however, it could be due to poor sampling of spiders living in the soil. We describe a new species endemic to the department of Cundinamarca, the characteristics of the pedipalp, as well as the distinctive coloration patterns of its opisthosoma, allow differentiate it from the other species in the genus. This is the second species of the genus recorded for Colombia, and the third species in an Andean distribution rank.
Two new Gastroptychia Kobelt & Möllendorff, 1900 from Darjeeling and West Khasi Hills, northeastern India (Gastropoda: Cyclophoroidea: Diplommatinidae)
Authors: CHEN ZHE-YU , ABLETT JONATHAN D.
Published: November 2024

Two new species, namely Gastroptychia geoffreyi sp. nov. and Gastroptychia collicola sp. nov., are described respectively from Darjeeling and West Khasi Hills, northeastern India based on historical collections at the Natural History Museum, London. Gastroptychia collicola sp. nov. is distinguished from sympatric species by the presence of a unique palatal swelling and a palatal lamella, while Gastroptychia geoffreyi sp. nov. is distinguished from sympatric species by its dense ribs. The type specimens of all sympatric sinistral species, namely Gastroptychia insignis (Godwin-Austen, 1870), Gastroptychia gibbosa (W. T. Blanford, 1868), Gastroptychia gibberosa (Godwin-Austen, 1892), and Gastroptychia jaintiaca (Godwin-Austen, 1870), are illustrated for comparison.
The Impact of Frenotomy on Gastroesophageal Reflux in Pediatric Ankyloglossia: A Systematic Review
Authors: Patel Ashaka , Cirone Katrina , Khoury Sami , Madou Edward , Dzioba Agnieszka , Ashok Dhandapani , Strychowsky Julie E. , Graham M. Elise
Published: November 2024

Objective:

This systematic review was conducted to assess if there are changes in gastroesophageal reflux (GER) outcomes after frenotomy in infants with ankyloglossia.

Methods:

Systematic Review. CINAHL, Cochrane, EMBASE, Pubmed, and Scopus were searched from inception to May 20, 2023. Inclusion criteria consisted of all study designs, infants ≤12 months of age with ankyloglossia, and use of quantitative GER measures (esophageal pH manometry (pH) or multi-channel intraluminal impedance (MII), and/or patient-reported symptom scores) pre- and post-frenotomy. Quality assessment and data extraction were performed in duplicate.

Results:

Of 37 articles screened, 7 met inclusion criteria (6 prospective cohort studies and 1 RCT). No studies utilized objective measures to quantify reflux, that is MII or pH. The number of infants with ankyloglossia ranged from 47 to 237 (mean age of 4.4-8.3 weeks). Qualitative analysis included all 7 studies which used the GIGER, I-GERQ-R, and GSQ-I scales to assess GER. Parent-reported GER scores decreased post-frenotomy. However, the lack of control groups in the prospective cohort studies precludes conclusive findings that changes are related to frenotomy. Meta-analysis was not possible due to the high risk of bias from limited sample sizes, poor methodology, and lack of adequate control groups.

Conclusion:

Limited work has been conducted on the relationship between frenotomy and GER in infants with ankyloglossia. The lack of high-quality studies precludes definitive conclusions, as GER symptoms are known to improve spontaneously with time. Future RCT studies are warranted to further elucidate the effect of frenotomy on symptoms of GER in infants with ankyloglossia.

Level of Evidence:

III.
Comparison of a Quantum Cascade Laser and an Interband Cascade Laser for the Detection of Stable Carbon Dioxide Isotopes Using Tunable Laser Absorption Spectroscopy
Authors: Nitzsche Ponkanok , Dinc Cem , Goldschmidt Jens , Nitzsche Leonard , Wöllenstein Jürgen , Schmitt Katrin
Published: November 2024

Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) and interband cascade lasers (ICLs) are widely used as light sources in tunable laser absorption spectroscopy because they emit in the mid-infrared region where many strong and characteristic absorption bands are present. In this paper, we compare the performance of these lasers emitting at about 2310.1 cm–1 to determine an optimal light source for detecting isotopic ratios of carbon dioxide (CO2). Our results show that the QCL has a higher relative intensity noise of up to 15 dBc/Hz compared to the ICL over the entire measured frequency range. In addition, it has a higher frequency fluctuation. However, the maximum tuning range of the QCL is up to 5.2 cm–1 compared to up to 3.8 cm–1 for the ICL. Both lasers lose more than half of their tuning range when the tuning rate is increased to 10 kHz. When measuring the isotope ratio of CO2, an uncertainty in the [Formula: see text] value of [Formula: see text]‰ was achieved with the ICL and of [Formula: see text]‰ with the QCL, both at an integration time of 0.2 s. In summary, the QCL is more appropriate for applications that require a larger spectral tuning range, such as the measurement of a complex gas mixture, while the ICL has an excellent signal-to-noise ratio and is therefore better suited for applications that require higher precision.
Integration of 6-Thioguanine Functionalized Molybdenum–Copper Bimetallic Nanoclusters With Fluorescence Spectroscopy for the Sensitive Detection of Uric Acid in Biofluids
Authors: Harshita  , Park Tae Jung , Kailasa Suresh Kumar
Published: November 2024

In this paper, a single-step synthetic approach is presented for the development of bimetallic molybdenum–copper nanoclusters (Mo–CuNCs), shielded by a small molecule 6-thioguanine (6-TG). The Mo–CuNCs possessed a small size, high fluorescence, stable behavior, and good solubility in water. The 6-TG-Mo–CuNCs exhibit strong blue fluorescence emission at 410 nm after exciting at 330 nm as compared to its monometallic nanoclusters. Utilizing 6-TG-Mo–CuNCs superior biochemical stability, uric acid (UA) can be specifically detected as an oxidative stress biomarker using an inner filter effect mechanism. The probe demonstrated good sensing capability for detecting UA within the range of 0.09–5.00 μM and a detection limit of 0.237 μM. The method feasibility is further validated by quantifying UA in urine and plasma samples.
Gender and Authoritarian Politics: Citizens and Elites’ Responses to Gender Reforms
Authors: Shalaby Marwa , Wängnerud Lena
Published: November 2024

Scholarship investigating autocrats’ motivations to adopt gender equality reforms has proliferated. Yet, many questions remain unanswered: Who supports these gender reforms? Do citizens support gender quota policies? What is the role of political elites? Under what conditions do women’s increased presence in politics lead to positive outcomes for women? Answering these questions is crucial for both practical and empirical reasons. On the one hand, the number of ‘partly free’ and ‘not free’ countries is increasing, making up the majority of world countries (79%). On the other hand, women’s access to political power has exponentially grown over the past two decades. Women in autocracies are participating in politics more than ever before. This special issue presents cutting-edge research on gender and authoritarian politics relying on diverse methodological approaches and geographical foci. The introduction of this SI identifies the remaining knowledge gaps and provides future directions for more scholarship on the intersection of gender and authoritarian politics.
Effects of Implementing a Heart Failure Order Set to Optimize Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy and Diuresis in Patients with Acute Heart Failure
Authors: Johnston Eric D. , Smith Carmen B. , Van Tuyl Joseph S.
Published: November 2024

Background: Utilization of guideline-directed medical therapy in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure is suboptimal during the hospitalization and after discharge. An inpatient heart failure order set may be a convenient and useful intervention to improve heart failure therapy in the inpatient setting. Methods: This is a retrospective study that assessed the use of an inpatient heart failure order set on pharmacologic therapy in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure from May to August 2022. Patients with heart failure with an ejection fraction less than 50% were included in the analysis. The co-primary endpoints were maintenance or optimization of guideline-directed medical therapy during the hospitalization. Results: Maintenance of guideline-directed medical therapy was significantly greater when providers used the heart failure order set (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.03-5.33, P = .041). Optimization of guideline-directed medical therapy was also statistically greater with use of the order set (OR 11.31, 95% CI 4.37-29.31, P < .001). Conclusions: An inpatient heart failure order set may be an effective strategy to improve heart failure pharmacotherapy in patients hospitalized with acute heart failure.
Does Contractionary Monetary Policy Decrease Firm’s R&D Investments? Evidence from India’s Demonetisation
Authors: Srivastava Aaraadhya , Danish Mohd Shadab
Published: November 2024

On 8 November 2016, the Indian Government demonetised ₹500 and ₹1,000 notes, which made nearly 86 per cent of the cash-in-circulation illegal tender overnight, with new ₹500 and ₹2,000 notes introduced gradually over the next several months. We exploit this intervention in a propensity score-matched difference-in-differences (PSM-DiD) framework to isolate the implications of a contractionary monetary policy on firm’s research and development (R&D) investments. Our findings suggest that India’s demonetisation policy had a detrimental effect on firm innovations in the period following its implementation. Additionally, we observe a concentration of this effect among slower-growth, less-profitable and more-leveraged firms.

JEL Codes: E51, E52, O30
Nationalisation, Corporatisation, Disinvestment and Privatisation: The Four Stages of Engagement with the Markets in the Context of Financial Inclusion
Authors: Sriram M. S.
Published: November 2024

The article looks at four phases of state engagement in financial inclusion. The first phase of involvement is classified as nationalisation, where the state takes control of both the strategic and operational control of a significant part of the market. The second phase is where the state can test the viability by retaining control but distinguishing between the departmental approach and a special purpose vehicle, which works on market principles. The third phase comes when the state is convinced that the market principles operate and therefore a part of the pie could be occupied by the market players, and the final phase is where the state can theoretically operate through policy and regulation without active participation in the market. The article looks at the evolution of the Indian banking sector through these four phases and concludes that we have passed the nationalisation phase. The state-owned Regional Rural Banks and the entire cooperative and community-owned structures are in the corporatisation phase that needs recapitalisation backstopping from time to time. The state-owned commercial banks have reached the disinvestment phase, and commercial banking in India, including the universal banks and the small finance banks, is in the privatisation phase.

JEL Codes: D63, G18, G20, G21, G28, L32, L38
Infant Mortality among the Tea Garden Workers in Upper Assam: Insights from a Field Survey
Authors: Devi Kanchan , Upadhyay Vandana , Paul Arnob
Published: November 2024

Infant mortality rate is an important indicator that reflects not only the health status of the infant but also the well-being of society as a whole. The north-eastern state of Assam is one of the states having the highest number of maternal and infant deaths within the country. For the first time, infant mortality in Assam registered a decline to 31.9 compared to the national average of 35.2 per 1,000 live births (NFHS-5). Though the overall rank of the state in terms of infant mortality has improved (from the 34th position to the 25th position), it is not enough and is not evenly distributed across the communities within the state. Human rights violations are particularly prominent among the tea garden workers of Assam and are mostly seen against the Adivasi children and woman, which is reflected by high maternal and infant deaths. The study aims to determine the factors responsible for infant mortality among tea garden workers by using primary data collected from 300 women workers across tea gardens in the Sonitpur and Tinsukia districts of Upper Assam. The binary logistic regression method is used for the analysis. It was observed that among the six probable factors, namely educational qualifications of the mother, marriage age of the mother, daily working hours, daily wage as tea garden labour, total number of births and the source of drinking water, the following three factors—namely the total number of births, age at marriage and the source of drinking water—are found to be the significant determinants of infant mortality among the tea garden labourers of Assam.

JEL Codes: I12, I15
CUSUM charts utilizing reparametrized Birnbaum-saunders model for fault detection and process control
Authors: Iqbal Anam , Mahmood Tahir
Published: November 2024

Statistical process control is always intrigued by the design of effective control charts for monitoring production processes and determining assignable causes of variations. It can be challenging to keep track of a positive asymmetric response variable while considering the impact of the input variables. The current work incorporates the Reparametrized Birnbaum Saunders (RBS) model to develop more effective cumulative sum (CUSUM) control charts for analyzing the mean of such a process. We perform a simulation study to evaluate the effectiveness of existing and derived approaches in terms of run length characteristics. The findings showed that when the underlying process distribution is positively asymmetric, the proposed charts provide stronger protection against process alterations as compared to existing methods. Moreover, the suggested control charts are implemented using actual data from a combined cycle power plant.