bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling, design and validation of DC-DC landsman converter for low-power electric vehicle battery charging applications
Authors: Bag Kuldip , Mundra Mohit Pankaj , Sadashiv Patil Swarup , S Sudarshan B , G Arunkumar
Published: July 2024

As the world moves towards sustainable development, the reduction of air pollution is considered an important factor. Consequently, the transportation sector is moving from conventional internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs). To encourage EV usage, governments are working towards installing more public charging systems. These systems invariably use a DC-DC converter to ensure the supply of an appropriate voltage to charge the battery. In developing countries, the majority of users prefer electric bikes and electric rickshaws, which require low power. Therefore, it becomes necessary to use low-power converters suitable to charge these batteries. In such systems, non-isolated DC-DC converters play an important role. This work is intended to explore the use of the Landsman converter for EV battery charging. The motivation behind the work is explained, and the state of the art of EV battery charging research is reviewed to show the research gap. The operation of the proposed converter is explained in detail with its dynamic loop and nodal equations. The gain equation and the memory elements design are detailed with the corresponding equations. The model of the proposed converter is provided with the loss calculation. The system is simulated on MATLAB R2022b software, and the simulation results are provided to show the behavior of voltage and current in each component. To validate the design, a 100 W hardware prototype is implemented using discrete components to supply a resistive load, and to charge a 48 V Li-ion battery. The corresponding results are provided to validate the design and operation. A comparison of the proposed converters’ performance parameters with other non-isolated converters is provided. The topology is seen to provide an instantaneous efficiency of 88% during the prototype testing for resistive load, and an efficiency of 89.6% while charging a 48 V Li-ion battery, wherein, the efficiency magnitudes are the experimental values obtained through real-time measurements on Keysight IntegraVision Power Analyzer PA2203A, during the testing of the hardware prototype, as presented in section 8. Consequently, Landsman converter is seen to be an attractive converter for EV battery charging applications.
Unique wavelet sign retrieval from samples without bandlimiting
Authors: Alaifari Rima , Bartolucci Francesca , Wellershoff Matthias
Published: July 2024

We study the problem of recovering a signal from magnitudes of its wavelet frame coefficients when the analyzing wavelet is real-valued. We show that every real-valued signal can be uniquely recovered, up to global sign, from its multiwavelet frame coefficients
\[
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="left-brace StartAbsoluteValue script upper W Subscript phi Sub Subscript i Subscript Baseline f left-parenthesis alpha Superscript m Baseline beta n comma alpha Superscript m Baseline right-parenthesis EndAbsoluteValue colon i element-of StartSet 1 comma 2 comma 3 EndSet comma m comma n element-of double-struck upper Z right-brace">

{
|

W

ϕ
i

f
(

α

m

β
n
,

α

m

)
|
:
i
∈
{
1
,
2
,
3
}
,
m
,
n
∈

Z

}

\{\lvert \mathcal {W}_{\phi _i} f(\alpha ^{m}\beta n,\alpha ^{m}) \rvert : i\in \{1,2,3\}, m,n\in \mathbb {Z}\}

\]
for every

α
>
1
,
β
>
0

\alpha >1,\beta >0

with

β
ln
⁡
(
α
)
≤
4
π

/

(
1
+
4
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)

\beta \ln (\alpha )\leq 4\pi /(1+4p)

,

p
>
0

p>0

, when the three wavelets

ϕ
i

\phi _i

are suitable linear combinations of the Poisson wavelet

P
p

P_p

of order

p
p

and its Hilbert transform

H

P
p

\mathscr {H}P_p

. For complex-valued signals we find that this is not possible for any choice of the parameters

α
>
1
,
β
>
0

\alpha >1,\beta >0

, and for any window. In contrast to the existing literature on wavelet sign retrieval, our uniqueness results do not require any bandlimiting constraints or other a priori knowledge on the real-valued signals to guarantee their unique recovery from the absolute values of their wavelet coefficients.
Trade and Environment Negotiations at the WTO
Authors: Remy Jan Yves , Tuljapurkar Sanvid
Published: July 2024

Small island developing states (SIDS) create unique challenges, not just in climate change negotiations, but in trade fora as well. This chapter argues that the ‘trade and environment’ or sustainability agenda provides new opportunities for smaller states to move from the periphery to centre stage in World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations. Being among the most vulnerable to climate change, but the least blameworthy for it, SIDS are among those countries with the strongest (moral) claims to agitate for global action. Whether these moral claims can translate into tangible negotiating leverage at the WTO remains to be seen. Using a case study of SIDS within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in particular, this chapter considers the situation of, and possible strategies to be pursued by SIDS at the multilateral level.
Sustainability Meets Trade
Authors: Lee Jaemin
Published: July 2024

This chapter analyses contributions to the sustainability initiative in recent trade agreements—including fostering the rule of law in the global community and ensuring a level playing field in market competition, among others. The initiative is also subject to inherent limitations such as exposing trade agreements to controversial non-trade subjects; engaging other international organizations as a critical component in settling disputes under trade agreements; and increasing the logistical burden on the already thinly stretched government agencies of contracting parties, thus inviting further disputes under trade agreements. Henceforth, a comprehensive and balanced assessment of these contributions and limitations is required for an accurate evaluation of the sustainability initiative in recent trade agreements. On balance the recent development of incorporating sustainability issues into trade agreements is indeed a welcome move in the right direction. To expand the contributions and address the limitations, specific suggestions for a future course of action are given.
Sources and Principles of Natural Resources Law and Policy in a Net Zero Era
Authors: Aryanpour Mehrnoosh
Published: July 2024

This chapter examines the key sources of natural resources law, namely, international law (ie World Trade Organization (WTO) and international trade law, multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), international investment laws); regional and domestic laws; judicial decisions; and scholarly publications. Secondly, established general principles governing natural resources development, such as permanent sovereignty and jurisdiction over natural resources; the do-no-harm principle; sustainable resource development and intergenerational equity; just transition (PANEL Principles); and the principle of cooperation (solidarity), are examined to map their evolving conceptualization in light of the ongoing global energy transition. With emerging sovereignty, security, and solidarity challenges associated with the ongoing energy transition, this chapter discusses the need for the fundamental reimagination and (re)design of the instrument mix of natural resources law to address regulatory fragmentation and enhance coherence in the design and implementation of net zero efforts.
Net Zero Transition and Resource Sovereignty
Authors: George-Ikoli Tengi , Sayne Aaron , Olawuyi Damilola S
Published: July 2024

This chapter assesses the potential impacts of the net zero transition goal for developing, managing, and controlling natural resources. This includes a discussion of the legal dimensions of sovereignty risks and trends, such as stranded assets, divestments, bankruptcies, resource nationalism, procurement, and supply chain challenges that are emerging as a result of net zero and the clean energy transition. Managing such resource sovereignty risks requires systemic and holistic resource management approaches that reduce hydrocarbon dependencies. Other important legal innovations explored include addressing legal barriers to economic and energy diversification; improving the governance of critical minerals; addressing legal barriers to wide-scale clean technology entrepreneurship; and integrating net zero considerations into regional and domestic investments, trade instruments, and policies.
Securing the Supply of Critical Minerals for Net Zero
Authors: Zhang Hao
Published: July 2024

The increasing global effort to drive the energy transition has led to rising demand for lithium. This metal is crucial in manufacturing lithium-ion batteries, which are used for energy storage and electric vehicles (EVs). As governments worldwide push for renewable energy to achieve their clean energy targets, the role of lithium has become even more critical in making the energy transition process sustainable and affordable. Given its ambition to build the world’s largest EV market, China has prioritized lithium in its industrial policy agenda. Drawing lessons from China, this chapter examines the required regulatory and policy frameworks to bolster the lithium supply chain. Implementing these strategies has influenced the country’s domestic policy and regulation, focusing on driving the uptake of EVs, establishing dominance over the lithium supply chain, and securing supplies of raw materials. However, the sustainable development and greening of the supply chain face significant challenges.
The Role of Regional Emissions Trading Systems in the Achievement of a Net Zero Energy Economy
Authors: Guayo Íñigo del , Redondo Torres José Antonio
Published: July 2024

Emissions trading is widely regarded an instrument to achieve a net zero economy. The advantage of this instrument is that it is market oriented. However, emissions trading cannot operate optimally in isolation. This chapter underlines that complementary measures and cross-sectoral solidarity are essential for the coherent implementation of an emissions trading system as an instrument of choice for advancing net zero. This chapter reviews various existing emissions trading systems in different parts of the world, the gaps to the coherent implementation to advance net zero objectives, and the reforms that are being carried out in the European Union (EU), from which several lessons are drawn in order to advance the coherent and efficient implementation of emissions trading systems (ETS). Public regulation must help ensure that the price of carbon does not grow excessively, because that may harm consumers in times of crisis. At the same time, it must ensure that the price of carbon does not fall excessively, since that causes the collapse of the system.
Promoting Solidarity for Net Zero
Authors: de Fontenelle Louis , Annamayer Elodie
Published: July 2024

The current global market economic model depletes natural resources, damages the environment, and fosters conditions of unequal international competition. Moving towards net zero therefore requires the use of low-carbon energy and the rational use of natural resources. Border Carbon Adjustment (BCA) provides a framework for countries or regional systems with carbon pricing schemes to create a level playing field for companies producing goods or services in third countries. This chapter discusses the potential of BCA as an instrument choice for promoting international solidarity for net zero. It evaluates the key opportunities and challenges associated with BCA, and the legal innovations required to enhance the effective design and implementation of BCAs. EU law, which has introduced a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), is an interesting example to analyse because it reveals challenges and inspiring lessons for other third countries or economic regions.
Mitigating Damages in Net Zero Energy Transitions through Investment Treaty and Market Reforms
Authors: Boute Anatole , Soini Sara
Published: July 2024

This chapter examines how international solidarity and cooperation in the reform of investment protection relating to the utilization of non-renewable natural resources could help mitigate the wide range of sovereignty, security, and justice risks of net zero and the clean energy transition. Reforms of investment treaties based on international cooperation can help contribute to the phasing out of fossil assets. These reforms can first consist in excluding fossil investments from the international investment protection regime. Environmental carve-outs in modernized investment treaties could recognize states’ right to adopt phase-out decisions without payment of compensation, and environmental considerations could be explicitly included in the valuation methods. In parallel, the adoption of market-based reforms in the energy sector can contribute to reducing the possible damages due when fossil assets are required to close down. Investment treaty and market reforms are necessary to mitigate the risk of damages due to closing down fossil assets and keeping fossil fuels in the ground, without withdrawing from or terminating investment treaties that have a role to play in de-risking the clean energy investments needed to transition to net zero emissions.
Examining Hypothetical Intentionalism
Authors: Song Moonyoung
Published: July 2024

This essay examines Jerrold Levinson’s hypothetical intentionalism with respect to the following two objections raised by actual intentionalists: (1) it is arbitrary to exclude certain kinds of evidence, such as the author’s pronouncements of intention, when hypothesizing about authorial intention; and (2) there exist counter-examples. I argue that these objections fail to establish that actual intentionalism is superior to hypothetical intentionalism and that hypothetical intentionalism is more plausible than actual intentionalism. I also suggest, however, that hypothetical intentionalism has difficulties when applied to truth in fiction and thus may not be a complete theory of literary work meaning broadly construed.
Comprehensive Assessment of Labiaplasty Techniques and Tools, Satisfaction Rates, and Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Géczi András Mihály , Varga Tamás , Vajna Rita , Pataki Gergely , Meznerics Fanni Adél , Ács Nándor , Hegyi Péter , Nyirády Loretta , Pál Péter , Farkas Nelli , Fazekas Alíz , Várbíró Szabolcs , Sára Levente
Published: July 2024

Background

Various surgical techniques have been devised for the surgical cosmetic enhancement of female outer genitalia. The selection of an optimal method should be based on satisfaction rates and safety; however, comprehensive, contemporary systematic assessment of these factors has been limited in the literature.

Objectives

Our aim was to conduct a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the overall satisfaction rates and risk factors associated with various labiaplasty techniques and tools.

Methods

The authors performed a systematic literature search in 3 medical databases: PubMed, Elsevier, and Cochrane (Central) with the closing date of October 2023. Original articles with quantitative satisfaction rates and frequencies of the most common complications (hematoma, dehiscence, swelling, bleeding, and infection) were included.

Results

Systematic search provided a total of 3954 records. After selection and review of the articles, 86 eligible, peer-reviewed studies were identified, of which 53 provided quantitative data. High overall satisfaction rate was found for all methods (proportion [prop] 94%; confidence interval [CI] 93%-95%), with highest satisfaction for deepithelialization (prop 97%; CI, 85%-99%). Complications were generally rare, with elevated incidences for some techniques (wedge resection: dehiscence, prop, 8%, CI 5%-13%; and composite reduction: swelling, prop 13%, CI 2%-54%). Scalpel technique had significantly higher incidence of complications than laser, namely for bleeding, swelling, and hematoma.

Conclusions

Labiaplasty can be considered a generally effective approach to outer female genitalia beautification, with low associated risks. Surgeons must tailor their approach to the patients’ needs and anatomy to achieve maximal satisfaction, given the differences in the frequency of complications for each method.

Level of Evidence: 3
Calib-RT: an open source python package for peptide retention time calibration in DIA mass spectrometry data
Authors: Zhang Yichi , Hu Chenghui , Wu Xiaohui , Song Jian
Published: July 2024

Motivation

The data independent acquisition (DIA) mass spectrometry (MS) method is increasingly popular in the field of proteomics. But the loss of the correspondence between peptide ions and their spectra in DIA makes the identification challenging. One effective approach to reduce false positive identification is to calculate the deviation between the peptide’s estimated retention time (RT) and measured RT. During this process, scaling the spectral library RT into the estimated RT, known as the RT calibration, is a prerequisite for calculating the deviation. Currently, within the DIA algorithm ecosystem, there is a lack of engine-independent and readily usable RT calibration toolkits.

Results

In this work, we introduce Calib-RT, a RT calibration method tailored to the characteristics of RT data. This method can achieve the nonlinear calibration across various data scales and tolerate a certain level of noise interference. Calib-RT is expected to enrich the open source DIA algorithm toolchain and assist in the development of DIA identification algorithms.

Availability and implementation

Calib-RT is released as an open source software under the MIT license and can be installed from PyPi as a python module. The source code is available on GitHub at https://github.com/chenghui03/Calib_RT.
Seen to be grieved: Queen Elizabeth II’s death and the unsettlement of the modern media event
Authors: Hallgren Liz
Published: July 2024

With millions of viewers across the globe over more than 10 days’ time, media coverage of Queen Elizabeth II’s death appears to constitute a “media event” in the sense of its popularization by Dayan and Katz in 1992. But it also ignited an immediate synchronized effort at counter narration that criticized the Queen’s tenure and the institution of the British monarchy. Employing critical discourse and conjunctural analysis, I argue that the Queen’s death was a moment in which the state-driven “media event” was challenged by a grassroots “viral event.” Media events, I argue, deploy nostalgia, which masks history, as their prevailing tool, while the viral event of the counter commentary deploys critical memory, which highlights and parses history, to make its case—the latter upsetting the perceived dominance of the former.
Exploring the influence of optical and thermal parameters on the effectiveness of parabolic trough collector receiver units
Authors: Mohamad Khaled
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the optimization of physical parameters in a parabolic trough collector receiver unit to improve its thermal and optical performance. The parameters include the transmissivity, reflectivity, absorptivity, emissivity and thermal conductivity of the outer cover and absorber pipe. This study utilizes a novel experimental design and a simulation model that accounts for the infrared reflectivity inside the receiver. The simulation results were validated by the experimental data, with a maximum deviation of 8%. The study analyses the effects of varying the physical parameters on the heat transfer fluid temperature, total plant efficiency, temperature profiles, temperature gradients and thermal stress. The study finds that increasing the reflectivity and decreasing the emissivity of the outer cover and the absorber pipe significantly enhance the performance, with maximum increases of 25.8% and 26.5% in total efficiency, respectively. The study also finds that increasing the thermal conductivity of the absorber pipe reduces the temperature gradients and thermal stress, with maximum decreases of 42.2% and 29%, respectively. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing the receiver design and operation in solar–thermal systems.
Forum: Debating the Chinese School(s) of IR Theory
Authors: Lu Peng , Ren Xiao , Erskine Toni , Guzzini Stefano , Buzan Barry , Jahn Beate , Rosenberg Justin
Published: July 2024

The papers in this Forum, along with eight papers consecutively published in previous and current issues of this journal, constitute a special symposium, which engages in a dialogue between the “Chinese School” of International Relations (IR) theory and “Western” IR theories. The contributors are renowned Western theorists representing various Western paradigms and leading Chinese theorists from the three branches of the Chinese School, namely “moral realism,” “relational theory,” and “symbiosis theory.” The dialogue between the Chinese School and Western theories has become feasible due to recent theoretical breakthroughs achieved by the former and the observed efforts to enhance theoretical diversity in the latter. Contributors from both sides are committed to fostering an equal, comprehensive, and constructive dialogue. Western theorists provide an evaluation of the Chinese School as a whole and delve into the specifics of its branches. They compare the Chinese School with Western theories, highlighting similarities and differences, reflecting on shared issues, identifying both contributions and shortcomings of the Chinese School, and proposing solutions for its further development. In response, Chinese School scholars reiterate their theoretical concerns and refine their theoretical stances accordingly. This dialogue demonstrates the potential for Chinese and Western theorists to overcome language and cultural barriers to achieve mutual understanding and valuable collaboration.
The Use and Misuse of East Asian History in IR Theorizing
Authors: Chen Zheng
Published: July 2024

The past two decades have witnessed a wave of research into the history of East Asian international relations (IR). Scholars seek to broaden the historical frames of reference in IR for both theory testing and theory generation. The article reviews this recent trend, examining its limitations and exploring future agenda. In studying historical East Asian IR, scholars have different expectations regarding whether their research would support, complement, or undermine mainstream Western IR. The spatial and temporal scope of their historical inquiries, as well as theoretical ambitions, therefore, differ significantly. Scholars no longer treat all East Asian history as simply one case, but as multiple cases with divergent patterns, and they recognize that the system consisted not solely of China but of multiple actors. In addition to contrasting East Asia with Western Europe, they explore also the similarities between East Asia and other non-Western regions. To advance the agenda, however, scholars must scrupulously navigate three tensions. They are: the tension between the “East” and “West”; the tension between the two disciplines of history and IR; and the tension between past and present. Future studies, therefore, must broaden their horizons in order to better transcend ethnocentrism and exceptionalism, refine their methodology both to avoid selection bias and conduct more sophisticated comparisons, and to maintain a proper distance from contemporary politics. Most importantly, they should combine high-quality historical research with cutting-edge IR theoretical trends to construct dynamic theories that could be applied to other regions.
Forest fragmentation and edge effects impact body condition, fur condition and ectoparasite prevalence in a nocturnal lemur community
Authors: Hending Daniel , Randrianarison Heriniaina , Andriamavosoloarisoa Niaina Nirina Mahefa , Ranohatra-Hending Christina , McCabe Grainne , Cotton Sam , Holderied Marc
Published: July 2024

Forest fragmentation and edge effects are two major threats to primate populations. Primates inhabiting fragmented landscapes must survive in a more degraded environment, often with lower food availability compared to continuous forests. Such conditions can have deleterious effects on animal physiological health, yet some primates thrive in these habitats. Here, we assessed how forest fragmentation and associated edge effects impact three different components of physiological health in a nocturnal primate community in the Sahamalaza-Iles Radama National Park, northwest Madagascar. Over two periods, 6 March 2019–30 October 2019 and 10 January 2022–17 May 2022, we collected data on body condition, fur condition scores and ectoparasite prevalence for 125 Mirza zaza, 51 Lepilemur sahamalaza, 27 Cheirogaleus medius and 22 Microcebus sambiranensis individuals, and we compared these metrics between core and edge areas of continuous forest and fragmented forest. Body condition scores for all species varied between areas, with a positive response to fragmentation and edge effects observed for M. zaza and L. sahamalaza and a negative response for C. medius and M. sambiranensis. Fur condition scores and ectoparasite prevalence were less variable, although M. zaza and L. sahamalaza had a significantly negative response to fragmentation and edge effects for these two variables. Interestingly, the impacts of fragmentation and edge effects on physiological health were variable-specific. Our results suggest that lemur physiological responses to fragmentation and edge effects are species-specific, and body condition, fur condition and ectoparasite prevalence are impacted in different ways between species. As other ecological factors, including food availability and inter/intraspecific competition, likely also influence physiological health, additional work is required to determine why certain aspects of lemur physiology are affected by environmental stressors while others remain unaffected. Although many nocturnal lemurs demonstrate resilience to fragmented and degraded habitats, urgent conservation action is needed to safeguard the survival of their forest habitats.
A case report of a malignant melanoma in the cardiologic diagnostic workup
Authors: Jahnke Constantin , Gramlich Robert , Sander Christian , Willems Stephan , Chung Da-Un
Published: July 2024

Background

Cardiovascular imaging plays an important role in identifying pre-existing cardiac comorbidity prior to the decision on cancer therapy and serves as a reference for detecting changes during treatment and long-term follow-up and also in the further identification of a possible cardiac manifestation of the underlying oncological disease.

Case summary

We report the case of an 81-year-old patient with a malignant melanoma. The patient initially was presented before the start of adjuvant therapy with serine/threonine-protein kinase B-Raf/mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase inhibitors. Cardiologic staged diagnostics using transthoracic echocardiography, transoesophageal echocardiography, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) revealed with a high probability a cardiac manifestation of the underlying disease. The echocardiographic and CMR results as well as the diagnostic workup are presented.

Discussion

Cardiac masses in general have a variety of differential diagnoses. Cardiac metastases are much more common than primary neoplasms in a ratio of about 10:1. Cardiovascular risk stratification is recommended in all patients with cancer before starting potentially cardiotoxic anticancer therapy. Cardiovascular imaging plays an important role for baseline risk stratification but is also the leading diagnostic tool in the differential diagnosis of cardiac tumours and the planning of a potential therapy.
Learning From People With Dementia What Works Well for Well-Being: Interviews and Focus Groups
Authors: Kloos Noortje , Bielderman Annemiek , Gerritsen Debby L
Published: July 2024

Background and Objectives

Previous research has tended to prioritize the condition of dementia when investigating positive lived experiences, while there is no evidence that well-being becomes fundamentally different when living with dementia. The current exploratory qualitative study examined how people living with dementia describe how they realize their well-being, without treating dementia as a central concern, and specifically addressed people who are successful in maintaining their well-being.

Research Design and Methods

Semistructured face-to-face interviews (n = 16) and 2 focus groups (n = 13) were conducted with community-dwelling older people living with dementia, aged 65–93 years (68% male). Conversations covered contributors to experienced life satisfaction, and life enjoyment, and were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Two main themes described how people realize well-being. (1) To live a fulfilling life, participants engaged in activities in order to feel useful and relaxed, and they engaged with others, by interacting and sharing with others, and relying on others. (2) To have a positive attitude toward life, participants appreciated the good things in their current life, their lived life, and about their own person, and positively coped with difficulties by accepting them as part of life, not dwelling on the negative, and actively addressing difficulties.

Discussion and Implications

The results appear to reflect universal ways of realizing well-being, justifying the use of universal models of well-being for people living with dementia. We can learn from people living with dementia that living a fulfilling life and having a positive attitude toward life are key to realizing their well-being.
Health-related quality of life following aortopexy for tracheomalacia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Brockbank Bethany L , Dewar Greg S J , Hewitt Richard J , Butler Colin R , Wray Jo
Published: July 2024

OBJECTIVES

The objective was to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of children following treatment of all-cause tracheomalacia with aortopexy.

METHODS

Children ≥5 years and parents of children <18 years who had undergone aortopexy completed the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL4.0). Scores were compared to published norms.

RESULTS

Completed questionnaires were received from 35 parents (65%) and 10 children (38%). Median age at aortopexy was 9.8 months (1 month-12.7 years) and median years of follow-up was 2.6 (4 months-6.9 years). Children who completed questionnaires had a median age of 8.4 (5.7–13.4) years. Parent and child-reported total PedsQL scores were 69.61 (SD : 19.74), and 63.15 (SD : 20.40) respectively. Half of parents and 80% of children reported scores suggesting poor HRQoL outcomes. Parent-reported total, physical and psycho-social scores were lower than those of healthy children and those with acute illness but comparable to children with chronic health conditions and cardiovascular disease. Similarly, children themselves reported comparable total scores to children with chronic illness but child-reported psycho-social scores were lower in the aortopexy group than any other group. There was no association between PedsQL scores and cause of malacia, age or time since aortopexy. The presence of complex congenital comorbidities had a significant (p < 0.05) impact on HRQoL scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Following aortopexy children remain at risk of poor HRQoL, especially those with complex comorbidities. HRQoL reported by both parent and child provides important insight into the lives of children following this procedure. Further longitudinal and qualitative study are required to better understand this complex group.
Rhizobacterial syntrophy between a helper and a beneficiary promotes tomato plant health
Authors: Lee Sang-Moo , Thapa Magar Roniya , Jung Min Kyeong , Kong Hyun Gi , Song Ju Yeon , Kwon Joo Hwan , Choi Minseo , Lee Hyoung Ju , Lee Seung Yeup , Khan Raees , Kim Jihyun F , Lee Seon-Woo
Published: July 2024

Microbial interactions impact the functioning of microbial communities. However, microbial interactions within host-associated communities remain poorly understood. Here, we report that the beneficiary rhizobacterium Niallia sp. RD1 requires the helper Pseudomonas putida H3 for bacterial growth and beneficial interactions with the plant host. In the absence of the helper H3 strain, the Niallia sp. RD1 strain exhibited weak respiration and elongated cell morphology without forming bacterial colonies. A transposon mutant of H3 in a gene encoding succinate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase displayed much attenuated support of RD1 colony formation. Through the subsequent addition of succinate to the media, we found that succinate serves as a public good that supports RD1 growth. Comparative genome analysis highlighted that RD1 lacked the gene for sufficient succinate, suggesting its evolution as a beneficiary of succinate biosynthesis. The syntrophic interaction between RD1 and H3 efficiently protected tomato plants from bacterial wilt and promoted tomato growth. The addition of succinate to the medium restored complex II-dependent respiration in RD1 and facilitated the cultivation of various bacterial isolates from the rhizosphere. Taken together, we delineate energy auxotrophic beneficiaries ubiquitous in the microbial community, and these beneficiaries could benefit host plants with the aid of helpers in the rhizosphere.
Association of patient photographs and reduced retract-and-reorder events
Authors: Rzewnicki Daniel , Kanvinde Atul , Gillespie Scott , Orenstein Evan
Published: July 2024

Background

Wrong-patient order entry (WPOE) is a potentially dangerous medical error. It remains unknown if patient photographs reduce WPOE in the pediatric inpatient population.

Materials and Methods

Order sessions from a single pediatric hospital system were examined for retract-and-reorder (RAR) events, a surrogate WPOE measure. We determined the association of patient photographs with the proportion of order sessions resulting in a RAR event, adjusted for patient, provider, and ordering context.

Results

In multivariable analysis, the presence of a patient photo in the electronic health record was associated with 40% lower odds of a RAR event (aOR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.48-0.75), while cardiac and ICU contexts had higher RAR frequency (aOR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.69-2.67 and 2.05, 95% CI: 1.71-2.45, respectively).

Discussion and Conclusion

Patient photos were associated with lower odds of RAR events in the pediatric inpatient setting, while high acuity locations may be at higher risk. Patient photographs may reduce WPOE without interruptions.
Exploring plant adaptation strategies to phosphorus limitation induced by nitrogen addition: foliar phosphorus allocation and root functional traits analysis in two dominant subalpine tree species
Authors: Su Yan , Tang Yongfeng , Hu Yi , Liu Meiyu , Lu Xuyang , Duan Baoli
Published: July 2024

Plants adapt to the limitation of soil phosphorus (P) induced by nitrogen (N) deposition through a complex interaction of various root and leaf functional traits. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted to explore the effects of different levels of N addition (control, low N [LN]: 25 kg N ha−1 yr−1, high N [HN]: 50 kg N ha−1 yr−1) on tree growth, leaf nutrient content, foliar P fractions and root characteristics of two dominant tree species, the pioneer species Salix rehderiana Schneid and the climax species Abies fabri (Mast.) Craib, in a subalpine forest in southwestern China. The results demonstrated that LN addition had a minimal impact on leaf N and P contents. Conversely, HN addition significantly decreased the leaf P content in both species. Salix rehderiana exhibited more pronounced increases in specific root length and specific root area under P deficiency triggered by HN addition when compared with A. fabri. In contrast, A. fabri showed weaker morphological responses to N addition but had a higher proportion of foliar P to metabolic P, as well as higher root exudates rate and root phosphatase activity in response to HN addition. Abies fabri employs a synergistic approach by allocating a greater amount of leaf P to metabolite P and extracting P from the soil through P-mobilizing exudates and root phosphatase activity, while S. rehderiana exhibits higher flexibility in modifying its root morphology in response to P limitation induced by HN addition. This study provides insights into subalpine tree species adaptation to N-induced P limitation, emphasizing its significance for guiding forest management and conservation in the context of global climate change.
Epidemiology of travel-associated dengue from 2007 to 2022: A GeoSentinel analysis
Authors: Duvignaud Alexandre , Stoney Rhett J , Angelo Kristina M , Chen Lin H , Cattaneo Paolo , Motta Leonardo , Gobbi Federico G , Bottieau Emmanuel , Bourque Daniel L , Popescu Corneliu P , Glans Hedvig , Asgeirsson Hilmir , Oliveira-Souto Ines , Vaughan Stephen D , Amatya Bhawana , Norman Francesca F , Waggoner Jesse , Díaz-Menéndez Marta , Beadsworth Michael , Odolini Silvia , Camprubí-Ferrer Daniel , Epelboin Loic , Connor Bradley A , Eperon Gilles , Schwartz Eli , Libman Michael , Malvy Denis , Hamer Davidson H , Huits Ralph ,   for the GeoSentinel Network
Published: July 2024

Background

Dengue is a leading cause of febrile illness among international travellers. We aimed to describe the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of imported dengue in returning travellers evaluated at GeoSentinel sites from 2007 to 2022.

Methods

We retrieved GeoSentinel records of dengue among travellers residing in non-endemic countries. We considered dengue confirmed when diagnosed by a positive dengue virus (DENV)–specific reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, positive NS-1 antigen and/or anti-DENV IgG seroconversion, and probable when diagnosed by single anti-DENV IgM or high-titre anti-DENV IgG detection. Severe dengue was defined as evidence of clinically significant plasma leakage or bleeding, organ failure, or shock, according to the 2009 World Health Organization guidance. Complicated dengue was defined as either severe dengue or dengue with presence of any warning sign. Analyses were descriptive.

Results

This analysis included 5958 travellers with confirmed (n = 4859; 81.6%) or probable (n = 1099; 18.4%) dengue. The median age was 33 years (range: <1–91); 3007 (50.5%) travellers were female. The median travel duration was 21 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 15–32). The median time between illness onset and GeoSentinel site visit was 7 days (IQR: 4–15). The most frequent reasons for travel were tourism (67.3%), visiting friends or relatives (12.2%) and business (11.0%). The most frequent regions of acquisition were South East Asia (50.4%), South Central Asia (14.9%), the Caribbean (10.9%) and South America (9.2%). Ninety-five (1.6%) travellers had complicated dengue, of whom 27 (0.5%) had severe dengue and one died. Of 2710 travellers with data available, 724 (26.7%) were hospitalized. The largest number of cases (n = 835) was reported in 2019.

Conclusions

A broad range of international travellers should be aware of the risk of acquiring dengue and receive appropriate pre-travel counselling regarding preventive measures. Prospective cohort studies are needed to further elucidate dengue risk by destination and over time, as well as severe outcomes and prolonged morbidity (long dengue) due to travel-related dengue.
Contrapuntal Parody and Transsymphonic Narrative in Mahler’s Rondo-Burleske
Authors: Reenan Sam
Published: July 2024

This article deconstructs the intersections of form, counterpoint, and narrative that contribute to parody in the third movement Rondo-Burleske of Gustav Mahler’s Ninth Symphony. Motivic counterpoint problematizes the movement’s main rondo theme, placing initial cracks in the movement’s rondo façade. Through thematic and formal counterpoint, the rondo genre itself destabilizes as signifiers of sonata-form rhetoric intrude. To interpret how counterpoint and generic mixture contribute to the burlesque character of the movement, I consider theoretical accounts of parody and the burlesque, and I adapt, as a generative metaphor, Mikhail Bakhtin’s notion of the carnivalesque. In the context of the Ninth Symphony’s transsymphonic narrative, the Rondo-Burleske performs a carnival parody of the symphonic finale genre, functioning as a brazen, iconoclastic, but in the end, failed counterpart to the first movement.
Computational identification of ultra-conserved elements in the human genome: a hypothesis on homologous DNA pairing
Authors: Crossley Emily R , Fedorova Larisa , Mulyar Oleh A , Freeman Ryan , Khuder Sadik , Fedorov Alexei
Published: July 2024

Thousands of prolonged sequences of human ultra-conserved non-coding elements (UCNEs) share only one common feature: peculiarities in the unique composition of their dinucleotides. Here we investigate whether the numerous weak signals emanating from these dinucleotide arrangements can be used for computational identification of UCNEs within the human genome. For this purpose, we analyzed 4272 UCNE sequences, encompassing 1 393 448 nucleotides, alongside equally sized control samples of randomly selected human genomic sequences. Our research identified nine different features of dinucleotide arrangements that enable differentiation of UCNEs from the rest of the genome. We employed these nine features, implementing three Machine Learning techniques – Support Vector Machine, Random Forest, and Artificial Neural Networks – to classify UCNEs, achieving an accuracy rate of 82–84%, with specific conditions allowing for over 90% accuracy. Notably, the strongest feature for UCNE identification was the frequency ratio between GpC dinucleotides and the sum of GpG and CpC dinucleotides. Additionally, we investigated the entire pool of 31 046 SNPs located within UCNEs for their representation in the ClinVar database, which catalogs human SNPs with known phenotypic effects. The presence of UCNE-associated SNPs in ClinVar aligns with the expectation of a random distribution, emphasizing the enigmatic nature of UCNE phenotypic manifestation.
ENT3C: an entropy-based similarity measure for Hi-C and micro-C derived contact matrices
Authors: Lainscsek Xenia , Taher Leila
Published: July 2024

Hi-C and micro-C sequencing have shed light on the profound importance of 3D genome organization in cellular function by probing 3D contact frequencies across the linear genome. The resulting contact matrices are extremely sparse and susceptible to technical- and sequence-based biases, making their comparison challenging. The development of reliable, robust and efficient methods for quantifying similarity between contact matrices is crucial for investigating variations in the 3D genome organization in different cell types or under different conditions, as well as evaluating experimental reproducibility. We present a novel method, ENT3C, which measures the change in pattern complexity in the vicinity of contact matrix diagonals to quantify their similarity. ENT3C provides a robust, user-friendly Hi-C or micro-C contact matrix similarity metric and a characteristic entropy signal that can be used to gain detailed biological insights into 3D genome organization.
Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Health Outcomes in Adolescents: An Umbrella Review
Authors: Di Nucci Annalisa , Silano Marco , Cardamone Erica
Published: July 2024

Context

Proper nutrition represents 1 of the domains of adolescents' well-being. In this context, the Mediterranean diet (MD), as a healthy, traditional, and sustainable dietary pattern, plays a crucial role in promoting adequate growth and preventing chronic noncommunicable diseases.

Objective

The currently available evidence on the effects of adherence to the MD (AMD) in association with several physical health outcomes in adolescence is summarized in this review.

Data Sources

Five electronic databases were searched.

Study Selection

Systematic reviews with or without meta-analysis of observational studies and randomized clinical trials, published in English during 2013–2022, and that assessed the health impact of AMD among adolescents were eligible.

Data Extraction

Details on study design, methods, population, assessment of dietary patterns, health outcomes, and main results were extracted.

Results

The search yielded 59 references after removal of duplicates. Applying PICOS criteria, 4 systematic reviews and 3 meta-analyses ultimately were included in this review. The AMD was evaluated in association with overweight/obesity and adiposity in 2 studies, musculoskeletal health in another 2, inflammation in 1 study, and cardiometabolic health in 1 study. The seventh review examined all mentioned health outcomes (overweight and obesity, musculoskeletal health, inflammation, and cardiometabolic health) in relation to AMD.

Conclusions

Overall, this umbrella review showed limited evidence and a lack of consistency about the relation between AMD and health outcomes of interest in adolescence, indicating the need for more studies to better understand it.

Systemic Review Registration

PROSPERO registration no. CRD42023428712.
Neuroretinal Alterations in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder: An Updated Meta-analysis
Authors: Sheehan Nora , Bannai Deepthi , Silverstein Steven M , Lizano Paulo
Published: July 2024

Schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) are characterized by major symptomatic, cognitive, and neuroanatomical changes. Recent studies have used optical coherence tomography (OCT) to investigate retinal changes in SZ and BD, but their unique and shared changes require further evaluation. Articles were identified using PubMed and Google Scholar. 39 studies met the inclusion criteria. Diagnostic groups were proband (SZ/BD combined), SZ, BD, and healthy control (HC) eyes. Meta-analyses utilized fixed and random effects models when appropriate, and publication bias was corrected using trim-and-fill analysis (“meta” package in R). Results are reported as standardized mean differences with 95% CIs. Data from 3145 patient eyes (1956 SZ, 1189 BD) and 3135 HC eyes were included. Studies identified thinning of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL, overall and in 2 subregions), m-Retina (overall and all subregions), mGCL-IPL, mIPL, and mRPE in SZ patients. BD showed thinning of the pRNFL (overall and in each subregion), pGCC, and macular Retina (in 5 subregions), but no changes in thickness or volume for the total retina. Neither SZ nor BD patients demonstrated significant changes in the fovea, mRNFL, mGCL, mGCC, mINL, mOPL, mONL, or choroid thicknesses. Moderating effects of age, illness duration, and smoking on retinal structures were identified. This meta-analysis builds upon previous literature in this field by incorporating recent OCT studies and examining both peripapillary and macular retinal regions with respect to psychotic disorders. Overall, this meta-analysis demonstrated both peripapillary and macular structural retinal abnormalities in people with SZ or BD compared with HCs.