bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cardiovascular and renal multimorbidity increase risk of atrial fibrillation in the PREVEND cohort
Authors: Van Deutekom Colinda , Geelhoed Bastiaan , Van Munster Barbara C , Bakker Stephan J L , Gansevoort Ron T , Van Gelder Isabelle C , Rienstra Michiel
Published: July 2023

Objective

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a condition that occurs in the presence of comorbidities. With the accumulation of comorbidities (multimorbidity), some combinations may more often occur together than others. Information on the impact of clustering of these on incident AF is sparse. We aimed to investigate clustering of cardiovascular and renal comorbidities and study the association between comorbidity clusters and incident AF.

Methods

We used the community-based Prevention of Renal and Vascular ENd-stage Disease (PREVEND) cohort in which 8592 individuals participated. Latent class analysis was performed to assess clustering of 10 cardiovascular and renal comorbidities.

Results

We excluded individuals with prior AF or missing ECG data, leaving 8265 individuals for analysis (mean age 48.9±12.6 years, 50.2% women). During 9.2±2.1 years of follow-up, 251 individuals (3.0%) developed AF. A model with three clusters was the optimal model, with one cluster being young (44.5±10.8 years) and healthy, carrying a low (1.0%) risk of incident AF; one cluster being older (63.0±8.4 years) and multimorbid, carrying a high (16.2%) risk of incident AF and a third middle-aged (57.0±11.3 years), obese and hypertensive cluster carrying an intermediate risk (5.9%) of incident AF. While the prevalence of the comorbidities differed between classes, no clear combination(s) of comorbidities was observed within the classes.

Conclusions

We identified three clusters of comorbidities in individuals in the community-based PREVEND cohort. The three clusters contained different amount of comorbidities carrying different risks of incident AF. However, there were no differences between the clusters regarding specific combination(s) of comorbidities.
Systematic review of the incidence and clinical risk predictors of atrial fibrillation and permanent pacemaker implantation for bradycardia in Fabry disease
Authors: Vijapurapu Ravi , Roy Ashwin , Demetriades Polyvios , Warfield Adrian , Hughes Derralynn A , Moon James , Woolfson Peter , de Bono Joseph , Geberhiwot Tarekegn , Kotecha Dipak , Steeds Richard Paul
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by enzyme deficiency, leading to glycosphingolipid accumulation. Cardiac accumulation triggers local tissue injury, electrical instability and arrhythmia. Bradyarrhythmia and atrial fibrillation (AF) incidence are reported in up to 16% and 13%, respectively.

Objective

We conducted a systematic review evaluating AF burden and bradycardia requiring permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation and report any predictive risk factors identified.

Methods

We conducted a literature search on studies in adults with FD published from inception to July 2019. Study outcomes included AF or bradycardia requiring therapy. Databases included Embase, Medline, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL and Cochrane. The Risk of Bias Agreement tool for Non-Randomised Studies (RoBANS) was utilised to assess bias across key areas.

Results

11 studies were included, eight providing data on AF incidence or PPM implantation. Weighted estimate of event rates for AF were 12.2% and 10% for PPM. Age was associated with AF (OR 1.05–1.20 per 1-year increase in age) and a risk factor for PPM implantation (composite OR 1.03). Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was associated with AF and PPM implantation.

Conclusion

Evidence supporting AF and bradycardia requiring pacemaker implantation is limited to single-centre studies. Incidence is variable and choice of diagnostic modality plays a role in detection rate. Predictors for AF (age, LVH and atrial dilatation) and PPM (age, LVH and PR/QRS interval) were identified but strength of association was low. Incidence of AF and PPM implantation in FD are variably reported with arrhythmia burden likely much higher than previously thought.

PROSPERO database

CRD42019132045.
A regular  interior solution of Einstein field equations
Authors: Estevez-Delgado Gabino , Estevez-Delgado Joaquin , Duran Modesto Pineda , Cleary-Balderas Arthur
Published: July 2023

Starting from the solution of the Einstein field equations in a static and spherically symmetric space–time that contains an isotropic fluid, we construct a model to represent the interior of compact objects with compactness rate [Formula: see text]. The solution is obtained by imposing the isotropy condition for the radial and tangential pressures; this generates an ordinary differential equation of second order for the temporal gtt and radial grr metric potentials, which can be solved for a specific function of gtt. The graphic analysis of the solution shows that it is physically acceptable, which is to say that the density, pressure, and speed of sound are positive, regular and monotonically decreasing functions; also, the solution is stable due to meeting the criteria of the adiabatic index. When taking the data of mass [Formula: see text] and radius [Formula: see text] that corresponds to the estimations of the star PSR J0030+045, we obtain values of central density ρc = 7.5125 × 1017 kg/m3 for the maximum compactness u = 0.19628 and of ρc = 2.8411 × 1017 kg/m3 for the minimum compactness u = 0.13460, which are consistent with those expected for this type of star.
Few-shot Named Entity Recognition: Definition, Taxonomy and Research Directions
Authors: Moscato Vincenzo , Postiglione Marco , Sperlí Giancarlo
Published: July 2023

Recent years have seen an exponential growth (+98% in 2022 w.r.t. the previous year) of the number of research articles in the
few-shot learning
field, which aims at training machine learning models with extremely limited available data. The research interest toward few-shot learning systems for Named Entity Recognition (NER) is thus at the same time increasing. NER consists in identifying mentions of pre-defined entities from unstructured text, and serves as a fundamental step in many downstream tasks, such as the construction of Knowledge Graphs, or Question Answering. The need for a NER system able to be trained with few-annotated examples comes in all its urgency in domains where the annotation process requires time, knowledge and expertise (e.g., healthcare, finance, legal), and in low-resource languages. In this survey, starting from a clear definition and description of the few-shot NER (FS-NER) problem, we take stock of the current state-of-the-art and propose a taxonomy which divides algorithms in two macro-categories according to the underlying mechanisms: model-centric and data-centric. For each category, we line-up works as a story to show how the field is moving toward new research directions. Eventually, techniques, limitations, and key aspects are deeply analyzed to facilitate future studies.
First-Principles Analysis of the Effects of Covalency and Ionicity on the 4f–5d Transition Energy of Ce3+ in Garnet-Type Oxides
Authors: Mohd Razip Nora Izzati binti , Haji Eman , Takemura Shota , Novita Mega , Ogasawara Kazuyoshi
Published: July 2023

A blue light-emitting diode (LED) and a yellow phosphor are frequently combined to create white LEDs, with cerium ion (Ce3+)-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) as a common phosphor utilized in this process. A yellow light is produced when Ce3+ ions are excited by blue LEDs. This yellow light is combined with the direct blue light from blue LEDs to form white light. In this study, the effects of electronic characteristics, such as covalency and ionicity, on the 5d level energies and the 4f level energies of Ce3+ in various garnet-type crystals were investigated using first-principles relativistic discrete variational-Xα (DV-Xα) molecular orbital (MO) calculations. The purpose of this study is to elucidate a detailed mechanism for the centroid shift of the 5d level energies of Ce3+ in crystals based on the MO theory. The theoretical 4f–5d transition energies agreed well with the experimental ones and according to the electronic structure analysis, it was found that there is a high correlation between the centroid shift and the net charge of Ce3+. The detailed analyses of covalency and ionicity indicated that the primary cause of the centroid shift of the 5d level energies relative to the lowest 4f level of Ce3+ in crystals is an increase of the 4f level energies caused by a reduction of the net charge of Ce3+. These results would provide a theoretical foundation for the creation of novel Ce3+-doped garnet phosphors for usage in displays and solid-state lighting.
Laser-Induced Tunable White Light Emission in Yb3+/Er3+/Tm3+ Ion-Doped La2Ti2O7
Authors: Cantürk Selim Burak , Tabanli Sevcan , Örücü Hümeyra , Genç Seval , Erdem Murat , Eryürek Gönül
Published: July 2023

A series of compounds with the general formula (La1−xREx)2Ti2O7 (x = 0.005, 0.015, and 0.025) doped with Yb3+, Er3+, and Tm3+ rare Earth ions were prepared by the traditional solid-state reaction at 1350 °C for 24 h. The X-ray powder diffraction technique, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy technique were used to characterize the structure and optical properties of the compounds. All compounds showed a single-phase orthorhombic structure with a space group Pna2
1,
as confirmed by JCPDS (Cart No: 01-070-1690). The La1.9Yb0.04Er0.01Tm0.05 Ti2O7 nanocrystals exhibited intense tunable white light luminescence signals in the full spectrum, and green and blue emissions were predominant in the Yb3+/Er3+− and Yb3+/Tm3+-doped titanates, respectively. In this study, the influence of concentration and excitation power on the upconversion luminescence, color, and calculated laser-power-induced heating performance of La2Ti2O7 nanophosphors were investigated at room temperature.
Does the Experience of Being Phubbed by Friends Affect Psychological Well-Being? The Mediating Roles of Loneliness, Relationship Satisfaction, and Self-Esteem
Authors: Al-Saggaf Yeslam
Published: July 2023

Phubbing is so common that many probably think it is harmless. Past research found that phubbing partners indirectly affected their well-being. The current study was aimed at investigating whether phubbing friends is also indirectly related to their well-being. A total of 457 smartphone users attempted an online survey from which 202 complete responses were included in the final analysis. The questionnaire contained measures of the experience of being phubbed by friends, psychological well-being, loneliness, friendship satisfaction, and self-esteem. A mediation analysis revealed a significant indirect effect of being phubbed by friends on psychological well-being, through the mediating roles of loneliness and relationship satisfaction and the sequential mediating roles of loneliness and self-esteem, and relationship satisfaction and self-esteem. Being phubbed by friends was associated with an increase in the phubbed friends’ levels of loneliness and a decrease in their levels of friendship satisfaction and, as a result, in a worsening of their psychological well-being. An increase in levels of loneliness or a decrease in levels of friendship satisfaction was also negatively associated with self-esteem and, in turn, with psychological well-being. These findings extend past research on partner phubbing by establishing new pathways between the experience of being phubbed by friends and psychological well-being. Overall, this study contributes important insights into friends’ use of smartphones in face-to-face settings by highlighting the psychological mechanism that explains the relationship between being phubbed by friends and the phubbed individuals’ psychological well-being.
Requests for Verification across Varieties of Spanish
Authors: Satti Ignacio
Published: July 2023

This article examines requests for verification across varieties of Spanish. It focuses on the role of gaze behaviour in the design of the request and shows how gaze is interrelated with other resources, such as facial expressions, epistemic markers, prosody and tag questions. By comparing speakers from Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador, the article finds similarities but also differences between the groups of speakers. The speakers from Bolivia and Ecuador rarely establish mutual gaze or use facial expressions during the verification sequence. Instead, more frequently, they deploy other resources for obtaining verifications, such as tag questions, hand gestures and rising intonation. The article considers differences in gaze behaviour within the larger machinery of response mobilisation and shows how gaze is intertwined with other aspects of conversational organisation. Results are based on qualitative and quantitative analysis. The data stems from face-to-face conversations recorded in similar side-by-side settings.
A new species of Calliotropis (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Vetigastropoda: Trochidae: Eucyclinae) from the Eocene of Antarctica
Authors:   School of Geosciences, Monash University, Clayton VIC 3800, Australia and Centre for Evolutionary Research, Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, STILWELL JEFFREY D.
Published: July 2023

Trochid gastropods represent an important, diverse family in the Eocene fossil record of Antarctica with no fewer than eight recorded species, one newly described herein. The discovery of Calliotropis antarchais n. sp. (Eucyclinae) in Telm5 (Unit V) of the La Meseta Formation (mid-Eocene Epoch, ca. 45-50 Ma) on Seymour Island, Antarctica Peninsula, marks not only the sole occurrence of this group in the Antarctic fossil record, but further displays the pronounced plasticity of form typical in extant taxa. The new species, an inferred deposit feeder, inhabited very shallow, subtidal waters in sandy facies and is closely allied to congeneric taxa, extant in deep waters surrounding the Antarctic continent. Another trochid genus that makes its first appearance in the Antarctic Eocene fossil record (and extending to the Recent), Calliotropis is otherwise known from the Paleocene (Danian to Thanetian) of Denmark and Australia only, latest Eocene of New Zealand and Early Oligocene of Germany, disjunct distributions in New Zealand and Europe during the Neogene (earliest Miocene to Pliocene), and Quaternary (Pleistocene to Recent) globally. Calliotropis represents another group that displays marked high-latitude heterochroneity in the shallow marine Antarctic Eocene record, disappearing in preserved Tertiary deposits and reappearing with a relatively high diversity in Recent deep-water environments.
Book Review / Catalog of Recent and fossil turrids by John Tucker
Authors:   Malacology Section Australian Museum., BEECHEY DES
Published: July 2023

When asked to write a review of this volume, my response was that I would look at recent reviews of the Sydney Telephone Directory and write something similar, as the two publications have much in common. They are about the same size, are arranged alphabetically and are unsuitable for bedtime reading.
Male-Selective Outmigration and Decision-Making Among Females: A Case Study of Select Villages in Kumaon Himalayas of India
Authors: Jatav Manoj , Sen Sucharita , Jajoria Deepika
Published: July 2023

This paper is based on a household-level survey conducted in seven villages of the Kumaon region of India and seeks to examine if male-selective outmigration has strengthened the decision-making among left-behind females. There has been an improved role of left-behind females in holding the responsibility of taking decisions in both household and economic spaces. However, these effects are observed relatively smaller in the domains or activities that have a financial involvement. The selective outmigration has opened up opportunities for left-behind females to develop skills related to financial management at the household and farm levels and also in farm-business management and entrepreneurship.
Personalized Tourism Recommendations and the E-Tourism User Experience
Authors: Yang Xinran , Zhang Liaoniao , Feng Zixin
Published: July 2023

Previous research indicates that personalized tourism recommendation (PTR) is becoming increasingly important in tourism marketing. However, many areas of PTR remain unexplored. This study is based on Stimulus-Organism-Response theory; integrated constructs from PTR, big data, and artificial intelligence; and the technology acceptance model. The quantitative approach was conducted through an online survey from 496 users of Ctrip. PLS-SEM was used to test the collected data. Three factors were found to stimulate consumers’ perceptions of PTR: perceived personalization, visual appearance, and information quality. Consumers’ reactions to PTR can be divided into an internal processing organism, which includes the perception of the technology as “technology trust” and the perception of the recommended content as “PTR attitude.” This study contributes to the literature on smart tourism and marketing by developing and empirically testing an integrated model and providing a guide to determine users’ trust and attitudes toward PTR or other personalized e-services.
Modeling of an Urban Ropeway Integrated into a Crowded Transit System
Authors: Hofer Karl , Haberl Michael , Fellendorf Martin
Published: July 2023

In many moderately sized European cities, the public transport systems based on trams and buses are operating at their capacity limits. Ropeways have proved to be a suitable transit extension in several Latin American cities. Few travel demand models attempt to forecast the impact of urban ropeways. So far, all of these models do not consider the specific properties of a ropeway. This paper seeks to estimate a mode choice model that includes a ropeway as a separate transport system. Relative to bus operation in European cities, ropeways promise improved timetable keeping, with fewer delays at the start because of high service rates, and they also offer improved passenger comfort with higher capacities. These benefits must be reflected in the travel demand model by mode-specific parameter settings that are estimated based on a survey. A stated choice experiment was conducted, in which respondents compared realistic trip situations using a ropeway with traditional urban transport modes, with aspects including access and egress time, waiting time, travel time, travel costs, reliability, and crowding. The situations of choice were selected from observed trip data to be as realistic as possible. Using a mixed logit (ML) model, the parameter estimation indicates that crowding and reliability as well as the personal attitude of potential users have a statistically significant influence on the choice behavior of people in Graz, a moderately sized city in Austria.
The pandemic experience and the post-pandemic world prospects
Authors: Therborn Göran
Published: July 2023

This is a global comparative analysis of the social, political and economic experiences, effects and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Part of it was written during an early stage of the pandemic and captures some of the initial reactions of competitive international panic. It demonstrates the new class structuration resulting from the management of the viral onslaught. It distinguishes coping and failing states of the pandemic world, and discusses the reasons for them. It highlights the widespread and rapid abandonment of neoliberal economic policies, a change spearheaded by the former vanguard of neoliberalism, the USA and the UK. The end of neoliberalism is also related to the change of the political economy of the world, from capitalist globalization to imperial and national geopolitics. The decisive reason for the turn was the realization by the US elite in the 2010s that China was winning the game of competitive market globalization. In the new game of geopolitics state interests, state security and state power are paramount. This process had started earlier but was accentuated during the pandemic, and accelerated with the Ukraine war, which also has clarified that the new geopolitical era may be the beginning of the endgame of the semi-millennial western domination of the world. The western powers draw closer together, after the early pandemic free-for-all, while the rest of world increasingly asserts its independence. The article ends with a discussion of the post-pandemic near future in terms of historical post-crisis parallels from European history. Finding ‘1945’ and ‘1932’ inappropriate, in contrast to early hopes and assessments, the conclusion is that the current world of the North most resembles a before- rather than an after-moment, the summer of 1914, when the world ‘sleepwalked’ into the mass slaughter of the First World War.
Praying in the pandemic, and after
Authors: Veric Charlie Samuya
Published: July 2023

What is everyday life like under a militarized pandemic where the brute force of the state is deployed to contain an outbreak? What lifeworld is generated against the backdrop of authoritarian control? What holds us together when our lives are quarantined? I will answer these questions by looking at the practice of mass listening. In particular, I look at a recorded prayer to provide a picture of an island life. In this essay, I call attention to what may be termed the vernacular will to life in a carceral regime in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the oratio imperata as a case study, I think more broadly about the meaning of freedom, restraint, and contingency. Namely, I describe the lifeforce buried in everyday acts of praying wherein repressive social forces, be they the police or religious authorities, come to enable world-making possibilities for ordinary lives in paradoxical ways. I argue that the recorded prayer helps us to grasp the dynamics of repression and agency. Using memoir and ethnography, I propose the theory of vernacular biopoetics to explore the possibility of freedom in a carceral condition wherein the constriction of spaces becomes an opening for alternative forms of imagination.
Looking Cool, Doing Tricks, Managing Stress, and Nicotine Addiction: Youth Perspectives on Nicotine Vaping and Implications for Prevention
Authors: Crane Lori A. , Asdigian Nancy L. , Fitzgerald Monica D.
Published: July 2023

Purpose

To understand the contextual and psychosocial factors associated with youth vaping in Colorado, the state with the highest youth vaping rates in 2019, and to propose strategies for prevention interventions.

Design

Focus groups.

Setting

In-person.

Participants

24 youth aged 11-17, including youth who had vaped (n = 11) and who had never vaped (n = 13).

Method

Qualitative responses using a semi-structured focus group guide were analyzed using a matrix approach with a mixed deductive/inductive content analysis.

Results

Analysis revealed the highly social nature of vaping initiation and use; the use of vaping to control negative emotions; and the acquisition of vaping products through retail outlets, friends, family, and other youth who sell a variety of substances and devices to youth. Youth provided insight into how vaping is concealed from parents and teachers, and their attitudes about the health risks and benefits of vaping.

Conclusion

When considered with other studies, our findings suggest a universality in the youth vaping experience that is highly social. Interventions should include peer-to-peer messaging with an emphasis on changing social norms and highlighting undesirable outcomes of vaping such as negative reactions by friends and close adults, adverse effects on athletic success and future aspirations, expense, addiction, and punishment. Parent education is also recommended. Rigorous research is needed to test interventions to reverse the growing trend of youth vaping.
Jesus, Agency, and the Life Led Well
Authors: McKirland Christa L.
Published: July 2023

The flourishing life, summarised by Miroslav Volf and Matthew Croasmun, identifies three interconnected components to human flourishing: the life going well, the life led well, and the life feeling as it should. Further, they, alongside many theologians with a Christocentric focus, propose that Jesus is the epitome of the flourishing life. However, according to the Gospels, life did not always go well for Jesus, nor did it always feel as it should. Despite this, Jesus still embodies the life led well. Yet this raises questions about the extent to which common human beings (those not hypostasised to the second Person of the Trinity) can emulate the kind of life that Jesus leads. To explore the possible similarity and dissimilarity between the life of Jesus and mere humans who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, this article will utilise a framework from within Self-Determination Theory as it relates specifically to human agency and motivation. The more internalised the motivation, the more agentic the person is, and the better the life is led. Yet this is not a flourishing for its own sake or for its own ends but is agency utilised for the sake of the other.
Seroconversion rate of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies and dating behaviour in HIV-PrEP users in a German metropolis during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Weidlich Simon , Schneider Jochen , Lee Marcel , Mijočević Hrvoje , Graf Natalia , Protzer Ulrike , Spinner Christoph , Noe Sebastian
Published: July 2023

Background

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when mortality was high, social distance was the only option to prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and prohibit uncontrolled spreading. As the impact of social distancing on sexual behavior was unclear, we aimed to assess the influence of sexual risk behavior on SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion in HIV pre-exposition prophylaxis (PrEP) users after declaration of the pandemic.

Methods

Prospective study on SARS-CoV-2 IgG-antibody seroconversion rate over time in men having sex with men (MSM) using PrEP at a single tertiary university hospital in Munich, Germany, during quarterly (Q) routine HIV-PrEP visits over 1 year per participant (May 2020 - September 2021). Seroconversion was defined as at least one positive anti-nucleocapsid (anti-N) SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody test as surrogate for past infection. In addition, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), personal estimated risk behavior and sexual contacts were assessed.

Results

Seroconversion rate during the full observation period was 7.3% (9/124 subjects) by September 2021. Percentage of subjects with symptomatic STIs ( T. pallidum, N. gonorrhoeae, C. trachomatis and M. genitalium) was 18.7% in Q3-20, 8.1% in Q4-20, 11.1% in Q1-21, 11.6% in Q2-21 and 9.5% in Q3-21. Perception of subjective threat of SARS-CoV-2 infection and adequacy of preventive measures decreased during the observation period. However, self-reported sex behavior remained stable during the observation period.

Conclusions

Our cohort showed low proportion of PrEP-users with anti-N IgG by September 2021, comparable to the local incidence. Sexual behavior in this cohort did not change, despite local recommendations for social distancing.
Probiotication in multigrain dough and biscuits with the incorporation of erythritol: Evaluation of techno-functional properties using chemometric approach
Authors: Misra Sourav , Pandey Pooja , Mishra Hari Niwas
Published: July 2023

This study aims to develop a multigrain probiotic biscuit and evaluate the effect of erythritol as a sugar replacer on the rheological properties of dough, along with the physicochemical and organoleptic properties of biscuits. The higher viscoelasticity of dough was observed at a 25% sugar replacement level with erythritol, and the calorific value of biscuits was significantly ( p < 0.05) reduced from 415.12 to 404.69 Cal/100 g with increasing in the sugar replacement from 0% to 75%. The biscuits with higher concentrations of erythritol showed reduced water activity ( aw) and higher hardness values. From Pearson's correlation analysis, it was observed that the probiotic viability had a positive relation with moisture, fat, energy, aw, and diameter and a negative association with the protein and fiber content of biscuits. The 25% replacement of sugar with erythritol showed a higher probiotic count (> 7 log CFU/g) and improved physicochemical and sensory properties during the storage period, which was further confirmed by the principal component analysis. So, it was recommended that the partial replacement of sugar with erythritol up to 25% is desirable for developing low-calorie bakery products without any alteration in the functional groups and improving the internal structure of the biscuits.
The effects of incidental focus on form on learning vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation
Authors: Pouresmaeil Amin , Vali Mehran
Published: July 2023

Previous studies on incidental focus on form (FonF) have mostly focused on its overall effectiveness. This study is an attempt to further examine the effectiveness of incidental FonF with regard to different linguistic categories (vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation). To this end, eight hours of a free discussion English as a foreign language (EFL) class with 12 upper-intermediate learners were observed, and instances of focus on form episodes (FFEs) were identified. Uptake sheets were also used to identify the learners’ noticing of FFEs and their novelty to them. To measure the effects of incidental FonF on learning different linguistic categories, individualized immediate and delayed post-tests were designed based on learners’ on-the-spot written reports of noticing of novel linguistic forms addressed by FFEs. The results indicated that incidental FonF was almost equally effective in developing learners’ knowledge of different linguistic forms. The findings also revealed that incidental FonF was effective in fostering learners’ knowledge of different linguistic forms at both explicit/implicit and receptive/productive levels.
Can we predict failure of non-operative management of blunt splenic injuries on arrival? A comparison of predictors of immediate splenectomy versus splenectomy secondary to non-operative management failure
Authors: Naveed Asad , Adams-McGavin Robert Christopher , Beckett Andrew , Colak Errol , Rezende-Neto Joao , Ahmed Najma , Gomez David
Published: July 2023

Aims and Background

The spleen is the most frequently injured solid organ after blunt trauma and a trial non-operative management (NOM) has become the standard of care in hemodynamically stable patients. It remains uncertain which patients are at increased risk of non-operative management failure (NOMF) at initial presentation. We explored whether clinical variables including the contemporary rotational thromboelastography (ROTEM) parameters are predictive of NOMF.

Materials and Methods

Data for all adult patients with a blunt splenic injury was collected retrospectively at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Canada between 2005 and 2021. Those who underwent a splenectomy within 4 hours of presentation were classified as direct operative management (OM), while those who had a splenectomy after 4 hours of observation were classified as NOM failure. Vital signs on arrival and injury characteristics were collected. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of OM and predictors of NOM failure.

Results

Seven hundred and seventeen patients were identified with splenic injury during our study period. The median Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 27 (IQR 17–36), and 19% ( n = 134) had a shock index of 1 or more. One hundred and eleven (15.5%) underwent direct operative management. A shock index above 1 and increasing spleen injury severity were strong predictors of patients undergoing direct OM. The remaining 606 patients underwent NOM of which 59% ( n = 357) of these were admitted to the ICU. NOM failure occurred in 7.4% ( n = 45) with a median time to NOM failure of 23 (IQR 8–72) hours. The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) spleen injury severity was the major factor significantly associated with NOM failure.

Conclusions

The only major predictor of NOMF available on arrival is increased spleen injury grade. Other clinical variables such as age, vital signs on arrival, and bloodwork were not significantly able to predict NOM failure. Additional investigation is required to identify novel predictors of NOM failure.
Mechanical performance of aramid/glass fiber hybrid weft-knitting-reinforced composites under low-velocity impact
Authors: Dong Tingting , Wu Guangjun , Peng Huitao , Ma Pibo
Published: July 2023

In response to the defects of easy delamination, poor impact resistance, and low toughness in laminates, intra-layer aramid/glass hybrid weft-knitted reinforced composites without lamination were designed and prepared. This paper investigated the tensile, bending, and impact response of aramid/glass hybrid weft-knitted reinforced composites. Homogeneous and hybrid composites with glass: aramid hybrid ratios of 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, and hybrid modes of transverse hybrid, oblique hybrid, and vertical interlocking hybrid were prepared by vacuum resin transfer molding (VARTM) technique. The tensile and bending properties were evaluated from stress, modulus, and strain/deflection, and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) was employed. The impact response was analyzed from peak force, maximum displacement, and energy absorption. The results confirm that interlacing brittle glass yarns with aramid yarns exhibits a positive hybrid effect. The ratios of 50%, 33%, and 25% aramid fiber in the transverse hybrid enhanced the longitudinal strength by 72.86%, 52.13%, and 22.01%. The mechanical properties of the oblique hybrid are similar in warp and weft direction; by contrast, the other two hybrid methods demonstrate mechanical anisotropy. This article implements the preparation and mechanical properties research of non-laminated hybrid composites based on weft-knitted structures, which broadens the design and selection of prefabricated components for hybrid composites.
Carbonaceous Nanomaterials for Phototherapy of Cancer
Authors: Gupta Tanisha , Pawar Bhakti , Vasdev Nupur , Pawar Vinayak , Tekade Rakesh Kumar
Published: July 2023

Carbonaceous nanomaterials (CNMs) have drawn tremendous biomedical research interest because of their unique structural features. Recently, CNMs, namely carbon dots, fullerenes, graphene, etc, have been successful in establishing them as considerable nanotherapeutics for phototherapy applications due to their electrical, thermal, and surface properties. This review aims to crosstalk the current understanding of CNMs as multimodal compounds in photothermal and photodynamic therapies as an integrated approach to treating cancer. It also expounds on phototherapy’s biomechanics and illustrates its relation to cancer biomodulation. Critical considerations related to the structural properties, fabrication approaches, surface functionalization strategies, and biosafety profiles of CNMs have been explained. This article provides an overview of the most recent developments in the study of CNMs used in phototherapy, emphasizing their usage as nanocarriers. To conquer the current challenges of CNMs, we can raise the standard of cancer therapy for patients. The review will be of interest to the researchers working in the area of photothermal and photodynamic therapies and aiming to explore CNMs and their conjugates in cancer therapy.
Creating learning schools through learning-centered leadership: Understanding the moderating role of teacher performance
Authors: Alanoglu Muslim
Published: July 2023

How learning-centered leadership influences learning schools, and the effect of teacher performance on building learning schools is an area that remains unclear. The study aims to investigate the effect of learning-centered leadership on learning schools from teachers’ perspectives. In the cross-sectional study, survey data were collected from 284 teachers in 50K-12 schools in Elazig, Türkiye. Structural equation modeling and bootstrapping method were used to analyze the data. Data analysis revealed that learning-centered leadership elicited direct and indirect effects on building learning schools and that teacher performance was a mediator in this relationship. Results contribute to the body of research that confirms the role of learning-centered leadership in the emergence of learning schools that also enables school improvement and effectiveness and highlights the importance of reflecting on this relationship.
Effects of walking with a portable oxygen concentrator on muscle oxygenation while performing normal or pursed-lip breathing in patients with interstitial lung disease: a randomized crossover trial
Authors: Hun Kim Sang , Beom Shin Yong , Shin Myung-Jun , Hui Hong Cho , Huh Sungchul , Yoo Wanho , Lee Kwangha
Published: July 2023

Background:

In patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD), decreased oxygen saturation (SpO2) reduces physical performance and causes exertional dyspnea. Portable oxygen concentrator (POC) and pursed-lip breathing (PLB) have the potential to improve these parameters in ILD patients.

Objective:

To evaluate the effects of PLB while using a POC during walking in ILD patients

Design:

Prospective, randomized crossover trial.

Methods:

We compared two breathing techniques. Participants not trained in PLB received a familiarization session before the first 6-min walking test (6MWT). During the first visit, patients performed the 6MWT under natural breathing (NB1) without oxygen (O2); during the second visit, they performed the 6MWT twice, once each with PLB (PLB1) and natural breathing (NB2) under O2 supplementation, to compare the effectiveness of NB and PLB.

Results:

Twenty participants were recruited; half had exercise-induced desaturation (EID) and half normal SpO2. In the normoxemia group (NG), the difference in the 6-min walking distance (6MWD) between NB1 and PLB1 was 28.8 ± 24.0 m, indicating reduced exercise capacity in PLB1. There were no significant differences in the quadriceps tissue saturation index (TSI), SpO2, and 6MWD between the PLB1 and NB2 in any patient or subgroup. All participants showed a significant increase in the SpO2 at rest, nadir SpO2, and mean SpO2 during the 6MWT with PLB and NB2 using a POC than with NB1. TSI showed a significant improvement at the beginning of 6MWT in ILD patients with EID in the PLB and NB2 condition.

Conclusion:

Acute exposure to PLB did not improve symptoms, muscle oxygenation, or SpO2; however, it decreased the walking distance in the normoxemia group. POC improved leg muscle oxygenation in ILD patients with EID. The use of PLB and POC should be prescribed according to disease characteristics and severity.
Multilevel Factors Impacting PrEP Engagement Among Young Gay Men and Young Transgender Women in Thailand: A Qualitative Analysis
Authors: Newman Peter A. , Tepjan Suchon , Fongkaew Kangwan , Akkakanjanasupar Pakorn , de Lind van Wijngaarden Jan Willem , Chonwanarat Nuttapon
Published: July 2023

Half of new HIV infections in Thailand are among young people, the majority of whom are young gay and other men who have sex with men (YMSM) and young transgender women (YTGW). Amid low pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) coverage, we explored practice-based factors that impact PrEP engagement among YMSM and YTGW. In 2018, we conducted 4 focus group discussions with 20 YMSM and 5 YTGW, and 22 in-depth interviews (5 in 2022) with healthcare providers (HCPs), community-based organization (CBO)/nongovernmental organization (NGO) staff, and peer educators. The inclusion of PrEP in universal healthcare coverage, including YMSM and YTGW, is a substantial facilitator of PrEP use; however, systemic barriers at microsocial (lack of communication about PrEP from HCPs, teachers, parents), mesosocial (healthcare-service fragmentation, lack of PrEP-competent HCPs), and macrosocial levels (annual quotas on free HIV-testing, HIV- and sexual-stigma) constrain and disincentivize adolescents’ engagement with PrEP. National scale-up of youth-friendly and LGBT-affirmative CBO/NGO clinics, HCP training, and tailored programs to support adolescents’ adherence may promote PrEP engagement among YMSM and YTGW in Thailand.
Association between a single nucleotide polymorphism of the IL23R gene and tuberculosis in a Chinese Han population: a case‒control study
Authors: Zhang Juan , Wang Ming-Gui , Xiang Xi , He Jian-Qing
Published: July 2023

Background

Severe tuberculosis constitutes a significant menace to human safety and well-being, with a considerable mortality rate. The severity of tuberculosis can be impacted by genetic variations in host genes, particularly single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

Methods

A case‒control study was undertaken, encompassing a cohort of 1137 tuberculosis patients (558 with severe tuberculosis and 579 with mild tuberculosis), alongside 581 healthy controls within the age range of fifteen to forty-five years. Whole blood DNA was extracted from all participants, and three tag polymorphisms (rs1884444, rs7518660, rs7539625) of the IL23R gene were selectively identified and genotyped.

Results

No significant correlation was observed between the IL23R gene polymorphisms (rs1884444, rs7518660, and rs7539625) and tuberculosis. Upon comparing the tuberculosis group with the healthy control group, the mild tuberculosis group with the healthy control group, and the severe tuberculosis group with the healthy control group, the obtained P-values were> 0.05. However, in the comparison between severe tuberculosis and mild tuberculosis, the presence of rs1884444 G alleles exhibited a significantly increased risk of severe tuberculosis after adjusting for age and sex (ORa: 1.199, 95% CI: 1.009–1.424; Pa=0.039, respectively). In subgroup analysis, after accounting for confounding factors, including age and sex, rs1884444 G alleles continued to demonstrate a significantly heightened risk of severe tuberculosis. Nonetheless, the comparison between the multisystemic tuberculosis group and the mild tuberculosis group was no significant difference. Notably, rs1884444 of the IL23R gene exhibited a noteworthy association with the risk of severe tuberculosis in the comparison between severe tuberculosis and mild tuberculosis before and after adjusting for age and sex (ORa: 1.301, 95% CI: 1.030–1.643; Pa=0.027, respectively). Furthermore, the presence of the rs1884444 G allele exhibited a significantly increased risk of severe tuberculosis after adjusting for age and sex in the comparison between tuberculous meningitis and mild tuberculosis (ORa: 1.646, 95% CI: 1.100-2.461; Pa=0.015, respectively).

Conclusions

The present study suggests that there is no significant association between IL23R gene polymorphism and tuberculosis susceptibility in the Chinese Han population. However, it does indicate a potential link between IL23R polymorphism and an increased risk of developing severe tuberculosis.
Spinal epidural abscess as predicting factor for the necessity of early surgical intervention in patients with pyogenic spondylitis
Authors: Park Jiwon , Han Sangsoo , Jeon Yeong , Hong Jae-Young
Published: July 2023

Background

Pyogenic spondylitis is a condition with low incidence that can lead to neurological sequelae and even life-threatening conditions. While conservative methods, including antibiotics and bracing, are considered the first-line treatment option for pyogenic spondylitis, it is important to identify patients who require early surgical intervention to prevent progressive neurologic deficits or deterioration of the systemic condition. Surgical treatment should be considered in patients with progressive neurologic deficits or deteriorating systemic condition. However, currently, there is a lack of treatment guidelines, particularly with respect to whether surgical treatment is necessary for pyogenic spondylitis. This study aims to analyze the radiological epidural abscess on MRI and clinical factors to predict the need for early surgical intervention in patients with pyogenic spondylitis and provide comprehensive insight into the necessity of early surgical intervention in these patients.

Methods

This study retrospectively reviewed 47 patients with pyogenic spondylitis including spondylodiscitis, vertebral osteomyelitis, epidural abscess, and/or psoas abscess. All patients received plain radiographs, and a gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. All patients have either tissue biopsies and/or blood cultures for the diagnosis of a pathogen. Demographic data, laboratory tests, and clinical predisposing factors including comorbidities and concurrent other infections were analyzed.

Results

We analyzed 47 patients, 25 of whom were female, with a mean age of 70,7 years. MRI revealed that 26 of 47 patients had epidural abscesses. The surgical group had a significantly higher incidence of epidural abscess than the non-surgical group (p = 0.001). In addition, both CRP and initial body temperature (BT) were substantially higher in the surgical group compared to the non-surgical group. There was no significant difference between the surgical group and the non-surgical group in terms of age, gender, comorbidities, and concurrent infectious disorders, as well as the number of affected segments and affected spine levels. However, the surgical group had lengthier hospital stays and received more antibiotics.

Conclusion

The presence of an epidural abscess on MRI should be regarded crucial in the decision-making process for early surgical treatment in patients with pyogenic spondylitis in order to improve clinical outcomes.
Impact of a circular powered stapler on preventing anastomotic leakage in patients with left-sided colorectal cancer: a retrospective study
Authors: Shibutani Masatsune , Fukuoka Tatsunari , Iseki Yasuhito , Kasashima Hiroaki , Kitayama Kishu , Maeda Kiyoshi
Published: July 2023

Background

The powered circular stapler, which was developed with the aim of providing reliable and reproducible anastomosis, provides complete anastomosis, resulting in a reduced risk of anastomotic leakage. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of anastomotic leakage between a conventional manual circular stapler (MCS) and the ECHELON CIRCULAR™ Powered Stapler (ECPS) in patients with left-sided colorectal cancer who underwent anastomosis with the double stapling technique.

Methods

A total of 187 patients with left-sided colorectal cancer who underwent anastomosis with the double stapling technique with a conventional MCS or the ECPS during surgery at Osaka City University Hospital between January 2016 and July 2022 were enrolled in this study.

Results

The incidence of anastomotic leakage in the ECPS group was significantly lower than that in the MCS group (4.4% versus 14.3%, p = 0.048). Furthermore, even after propensity score matching, an association was found between the use of the ECPS and a reduced incidence of anastomotic leakage.

Conclusion

The ECPS has the potential to help reduce the rate of anastomotic leakage in left-sided colorectal surgery.