bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Abstract 9922: Increased Susceptibility to Arrhythmias, Hypertension, and Hypertrophy in a Rat Model of Exposure to Electronic, Heat-Not-Burn, or Conventional Cigarettes, or Marijuana
Authors: Qiu Huiliang , Zhang Hao , Derakhshandeh Ronak , Wang Xiaoyin , Wilson Emily , Rao Poonam , Han Daniel D , Mohammadi Leila , Olgin Jeffrey E , Springer Matthew L
Published: April 2024

Pathogenicity of cardiovascular disease (CVD) from smoking tobacco is well-known, but the CVD effects of vaping non-combustible tobacco products like e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn products (e.g., IQOS), and smoking marijuana (MJ), are less studied. We asked if 8 weeks of chronic use of e-cigs, IQOS, or MJ in rats would cause less adverse cardiac effects than tobacco cigarettes. We exposed SD rats to 1 session/day (10 puffs over 5 min) for 8 weeks with Marlboro Red cigarettes (Cig), JUUL, IQOS, 10% THC MJ (MJ), cannabinoid-depleted “placebo” MJ (pb-MJ), or air. We performed echocardiography and measured conscious systolic blood pressure (SBP) every 2 weeks. We then performed 24-hour conscious ECG telemetry and ex vivo optical mapping (OM) of arrhythmias and analyzed interstitial fibrosis. By 1 hour after exposure, SBP was acutely increased by all tobacco products and pb-MJ, while only marijuana reduced SBP. SBP of all non-air groups rose progressively over 8 weeks, exceeding 130 mmHg after 2 weeks, and 140 mmHg after 4 weeks. SBP increased by MJ was higher than those by JUUL, IQOS, or pb-MJ. Cardiac performance declined and ventricular mass increased. All non-air conditions led to reduced overall heart rate variability, including the total power, low and high frequency from the power spectrum, and SDNN, RMSSD, and NN9 from time-domain method. Poincaré plot suggested a similar distribution pattern of RR interval. Interestingly, when compared with air, reduced physical activity was found in all experimental groups. OM revealed that more arrhythmias were induced by electrical stimulation: Cig, JUUL, IQOS, pb-MJ, MJ had atrial fibrillation of 50%, 85.71%, 50%, 50%, 37.5% and left ventricular (LV) tachycardia of 62.5%, 71.43%, 37.5%, 37.5%, 75% respectively vs. 0% in air,
P
< .05. Sirius red fibrotic staining showed significantly more interstitial fibrosis of atria and LV in all groups compared to air. Although no significant difference in interstitial fibrosis was found among tobacco products, MJ promoted more LV fibrosis than pb-MJ. Therefore, the use of different non-cigarette tobacco products and marijuana can increase CVD risks by causing hypertension, reduced cardiac performance, increased LV hypertrophy, and susceptibility to arrhythmias.
Abstract 9924: Polygenic Risk Score for PR Interval is Associated with Increased Risk of Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Xu Huichun , Cole John W , Gaynor Brady , Ryan Kathy , Mitchell Braxton D , Rundek Tatjana , Worrall Bradford B , Ellinor Patrick T , Fatkin Diane , Lubitz Steven A , Pare Gui , Leifer Dana
Published: April 2024

Atrial cardiomyopathy (AC) is an emerging risk factor for ischemic stroke (IS). We used polygenic risk scores (PRS) to study the association of the PR interval (PRI)-- an ECG marker for AC-- with IS and IS subtypes. We studied PRI, rather than other AC traits, because a validated multi-ethnic PRI-PRS exists.

Methods:
We calculated PRI-PRS for patients in the NINDS Stroke Genetics Network (SiGN) database, which contains well-characterized stroke patients and in which we have found an association of a PRS for atrial fibrillation with IS subtypes. We derived PRS for 10 GWAS thresholds after a clumping procedure to eliminate SNPs in
linkage
disequilibrium. SNPs were weighted by their beta coefficients from the GWAS summary statistics to generate PRS. We normalized by the number of SNPs included. We used logistic regression to compare PRI-PRS in stroke cases (n=13930) and non-stroke controls (n=49473). We controlled for sex and the first 10 principal components of genetic ancestry. We stratified by genetic ancestry and genotype platforms. Logistic regression analyses for each stratum were meta-analyzed using an inverse-variance weighting-based method, assuming fixed effects.

Results and Conclusions:
In the overall meta-analysis, PRI-PRS was weakly associated with increased risk of IS (p<0.02, only for one GWAS threshold). PRI-PRS was associated with increased risk of IS due to small artery occlusion (SAO) (p=0.032 and 0.033, using GWAS of PRI p-value thresholds 0.05 and 0.005 respectively), but not with other IS subtypes. The SAO association may reflect the association of PRI and hypertension, a risk factor for SAO. In a secondary analysis of European strata, we observed a robust association (p<0.02 across all GWAS thresholds) of the PRI-PRS with all IS in GEOS, which consists of younger onset strokes (age of stroke onset < 50 years). PRI-PRS was also associated in GEOS (p<0.01 across all GWAS thresholds) with the subtype of strokes of undetermined origin, which includes embolic strokes of unknown source (ESUS). PRI-PRS was also associated with large artery strokes at some GWAS thresholds in GEOS. Our results suggest that genetic risk for prolonged PRI is associated with SAO and may have more robust associations with other stroke subtypes in some populations.
Abstract 9925: Impaired Cardiac Output and Peripheral Reserve Predict Morbidity and Mortality in Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Omote Kazunori , Verbrugge Frederik , Reddy Yogesh , Sorimachi Hidemi , Omar Massar , Obokata Masaru , Borlaug Barry A
Published: April 2024

Introduction:
Reduced peak oxygen consumption (VO
2
) is common and associated with adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). According to the Fick principle, VO
2
is equal to the product of cardiac output (CO) and arterial-venous O
2
difference (AVO
2
diff). Patients with HFpEF display abnormalities each component, but no study has yet evaluated their prognostic impacts.

Methods:
Patients with HFpEF (n=501) and controls without HF (n=207) underwent invasive hemodynamic exercise testing with expired gas analysis and clinical follow up for the composite event of HF hospitalization or death.

Results:
Compared to controls, patients with HFpEF displayed slightly lower CO at rest with higher pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP). On exercise, subjects with HFpEF displayed blunted increases in CO and greater increase in PCWP (Figure A). As compared with controls, the slope of the increase in CO relative to VO
2
was lower in HFpEF (6.4 ± 3.3 vs 5.4 ± 3.2 L/L;
P
=0.0004), while augmentation in AVO
2
diff relative to VO
2
was greater in HFpEF (7.7 ± 5.4 vs 10.0 ± 5.6 min/dL;
P
<0.0001). Over a median 2.8 (1.1-4.6) years of follow up, 101 patients experienced the composite event. Patients with CO reserve below the median and increases in AVO
2
diff below median displayed higher risk of the composite endpoint (Figure B-C). After adjustments for age, sex, BMI, atrial fibrillation, LV mass, and EF, CO reserve remained strongly associated with the primary outcome (HR [95%CI] = 0.51 [0.38-0.68];
P
<0.0001, per 1 SD increase) and the change of AVO
2
diff remained significant, but was less predictive (HR [95%CI] = 0.74 [0.60-0.92];
P
=0.007, per 1 SD increase) in patients with HFpEF.

Conclusions:
Impaired ability to augment CO and peripheral O
2
delivery are associated with increasing risk of adverse events in HFpEF. Further study is required to identify therapeutic interventions targeting these hemodynamic perturbations to improve outcomes in HFpEF.
Abstract 9926: A Controlled Study of Frailty and Clinical Outcomes in Acute Care Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Htwe Su Su , Sae-Rian Natalie , Bhaskaran Sumitha , Thein Paw Min
Published: April 2024

Background:
Frailty has multidimensional aetiology. AF may predict frailty and is associated with hospital mortality in epidemiological studies. In geriatric patients receiving acute hospital care, interrelationship between AF, frailty, a predisposition to subacute care and overall mortality is unclear.

Aim: To investigate an association between frailty and in-hospital mortality in acute care patients with AF

Methods:
A retrospective study was conducted to investigate acute geriatric inpatients (>65 years, n=1518) with AF admitted under General Medicine units at three Monash Health affiliated hospitals between July and November 2020. Exclusion criteria were: non-English speaking background, MMSE<25, high-level care requiring residents. Frailty was measured by Rockwood clinical frailty scale. Primary endpoint was all-cause mortality.

Results:
Prevalence of AF was 19%. Of 294 with AF, 6% were new-onset. Mean age was 82±7 years and 43% were female. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 56±13 % and 30% had regional hypokinesis on transthoracic echocardiogram. Median Rockwood score was 5(IQR 3,6), acute hospital length of stay was 11±15days and 9% died during hospital stay. In comparison, Rockwood score was lower 4 (IQR 3,5) and only 2% died in a control group without AF (P=0.017). On univariate logistic regression, higher Rockwood score was associated with subacute admissions (OR=1.4,P=0.001) whereas, regional hypokinesis (OR=2.5,P=0.048), chronic kidney disease (OR=2.7,P=0.015) and higher Rockwood score (OR=2.9,P<0.0001) were associated with all-cause in-hospital mortality. After adjusting for age, premorbid status, and comorbidities, higher Rockwood score remained predictive of all-cause in-hospital mortality (OR=3.0,P<0.0001) in AF group.

Conclusion:
Frailty measured by Rockwood scale in acute care patients with AF is associated with in-hospital mortality. All-cause in-hospital mortality is significantly lower in a control group without AF. Prospective controlled studies are warranted to further strengthen the evidence.
Abstract 9933: Determinants of High-Risk Featured Coronary Plaque Burden for the Prediction of Patient Outcomes in Suspected Coronary Artery Disease: A Coronary Ct Angiography Study
Authors: Yamaura Hiroki , Otsuka Kenichiro , Ishikawa Hirotoshi , Shirasawa Kuniyuki , Kasayuki Noriaki
Published: April 2024

Background:
Computed tomography (CT) coronary angiography (CCTA) is a non-invasive imaging modality that provides quantitative assessment of disease burden of coronary atherosclerosis and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT). This study aimed to investigate the prognostic implication of low-attenuation non-calcified plaque (LAP) burden and its association with EAT in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods:
This study consists of 400 symptomatic patients (58% male, 65 years) with suspected CAD undergoing CCTA. Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) was measured with Agatston method. LAP was defined as an atherosclerotic plaque with CT attenuation value of <30 Hounsfield Units (HU). The %LAP was calculated as LAP volume divided by vessel volume(%). EAT volume was defined as adipose tissues having CT attenuation value ranging from -250 to -30 HU within pericardial sac. The primary endpoint was a composite event of death and coronary revascularization.

Results:
Among the study patients, quartiles for %LAP for 3-vessel coronary arteries were as follow; Q1 0.06-0.72%, Q2 0.72-1.11%, Q3 1.11-1.71%, and Q4>1.74%. During the follow-up period (median 552 days), the primary endpoint was observed in 52 patients (13%). In the Cox hazard model, %LAP (Q4) [HR 2.16, p<0.05], obstructive CAD >50% diameter stenosis [HR 9.44, p<0.05], and diabetes mellitus [HR 1.78, p<0.05] were independent predictors of the primary endpoint. Kaplan-Meier curves analysis demonstrated that patients with %LAP (Q4) had a worse prognosis compared to those with Q1-Q3 (p<0.001, Figure 1). In logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, gender, and clinical variables, the determinants of %LAP (Q4) were a greater CACS and EAT volume (p<0.05).

Conclusions:
This study demonstrates that CACS and EAT volume provide noninvasive stratification of patients who exhibit a greater high-risk coronary plaque burden that may contribute to acute coronary events.
Abstract 9936: Impact of Lipids on Cardiovascular Disease in Healthy Individuals Without Dyslipidemia and with a Low Burden of Risk Factors: MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis)
Authors: Zhou Zhen , Ong Kwok Leung , Whelton Seamus P , Allison Matthew A , Curtis Andrea J , Blaha Michael J , Breslin Monique , Tonkin Andrew , Magnussen Costan , Budoff Matthew , Nelson Mark R
Published: April 2024

Introduction:
The association between lipids and CVD among healthy persons without dyslipidemia is incompletely defined.

Objectives:
To determine the cross-sectional associations of lipids with subclinical atherosclerosis and 10-year incident CVD events among healthy participants with a low burden of cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods:
The analysis included 1,204 participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, who had no prior CVD events and were without current smoking, hypertension (BP ≥130/80 mmHg or antihypertensive use), diabetes (fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dl or glucose-lowering drug use), and dyslipidemia (LDL-C ≥160 mg/dl, HDL-C <40 mg/dl, TC ≥240 mg/dl, TG ≥150 mg/dl, or lipid-lowering drug use) at baseline. Multivariable relative risk regression and Cox proportional-hazard regression were used in the analyses for subclinical atherosclerosis (presence of carotid plaque and/or coronary artery calcium) and CVD, respectively.

Results:
At baseline, participants’ median (IQR) age was 54 (49-62) years, mean LDL-C, TC, and HDL-C values were 112.1, 188.0, and 57.9 mg/dl, and median TG was 83.0 mg/dl. Subclinical atherosclerosis was presented in 43% of (n=522) participants. A 1-SD higher LDL-C, TC, non-HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, and TG/HDL-C was associated with a 6-9% higher prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis (all p<0.05). Over 10 years, 42 CVD events were recorded. For every 1-SD higher LDL-C (23.4 mg/dl), HDL-C (13.5 mg/dl), and non-HDL-C (25.3 mg/dl), HRs (95%CIs) for 10-year incident CVD events were 1.40 (1.01-1.96), 0.63 (0.41-0.96), and 1.44 (1.02-2.02). Similar associations with CVD were also observed for TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, and TG/HDL-C. TG was not associated with any outcome. (
Table 1
)

Conclusions:
Except for TG, all lipids were associated with atherosclerosis and/or incident CVD, demonstrating a continuum of risk for lipids with subclinical atherosclerosis and CVD among healthy persons without dyslipidemia.
Abstract 9937: Three Times Higher Risk of Stroke in Adult Congenital Heart Disease on a Median Follow-Up of Over a Decade: A Global Meta-Analysis
Authors: Desai Rupak , Gandhi Zainab J , Bansal Prerna , Badarabandi Umarani , Sasidharan Nayana , Agha Khizran , Hiba Ambreen NFN , Sultan Waleed , Jindal Rishabh , Jain Akhil
Published: April 2024

Background:
With the advent of medicine, there is an increasing number of congenital heart disease survivors, which mandates assessment of the long-term risk of stroke and outcomes. We aimed to systematically review the pooled global prevalence of stroke in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD).

Methods:
PubMed/Medline, SCOPUS and EMBASE were reviewed until May 2021 to ascertain articles describing stroke rates in ACHD compared to non-ACHD patients over a long follow-up (at least ≥3 years). Random effects models were used to estimate the pooled prevalence of stroke in ACHD and risk of stroke in ACHD vs non ACHD. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I
2
statistics with >75% value suggesting substantial heterogeneity, for which subgroup analysis was performed.

Results:
We included 14 studies comprising 96,626 participants with ACHD and 751,460 without ACHD. The overall pooled prevalence of stroke in ACHD was 3.7% (95CI 2.5%-5.0%, I
2
= 99%) over a median follow-up period of 11.5 years (
Fig. 1a
). The ACHD patients showed nearly 3 times higher risk of stroke [OR 3.11 (95% CI 2.09-4.63), I
2
=97.99%, p<0.01] on 11.5 years median follow-up (
Fig. 1b
). On subgroup analysis, studies with older ACHD patients showed nearly two times higher rate of stroke compared to studies with younger patients (mean age>40 years: 4.8% vs. mean age ≤40 years, 2.6%). Furthermore, the prevalence of stroke was higher among the ACHD cohorts with shorter median follow-up (<10 years) vs. studies with a median follow-up of >10 years [5.0% vs 3.0%]. Studies published from Denmark (4.5%) and Canada/USA (3.2%) revealed greater rates of stroke in ACHD than the studies from Sweden (2.8%).

Conclusion:
This meta-analysis found nearly three times higher risk of stroke in ACHD patients over a decade follow-up compared to controls. The demographic, chronological and regional variation of the stroke prevalence in ACHD indicates that the risk could be multifactorial and warrants further risk stratification measures
Abstract 9972: Estimation of DAPT Study Treatment Effects in Contemporary Clinical Practice: Findings from the EXTEND-DAPT Study
Authors: Butala Neel M , Faridi Kamil , Tamez Hector , Strom Jordan B , Song Yang , Shen Changyu , Secemsky Eric A , Mauri Laura , Kereiakes Dean J , Curtis Jeptha P , Gibson C M , Yeh Robert W
Published: April 2024

Introduction:
Differences in patient characteristics, changes in treatment algorithms, and advances in medical technology could each influence the applicability of older randomized trial results to contemporary clinical practice.

Objectives:
To evaluate whether the Dual Antiplatelet Therapy (DAPT) Study population is different from a contemporary population of US patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and to estimate the treatment effect of extended duration antiplatelet therapy after PCI in this more contemporary cohort.

Methods:
We compared characteristics of drug-eluting stent (DES)-treated patients randomized in the DAPT Study to a sample of more contemporary DES-treated patients in the NCDR CathPCI Registry from July 2016-June 2017. After linking trial and registry data, we employed inverse-odds of trial participation weighting to account for patient and procedural characteristics and estimated a contemporary “real-world” treatment effect of 30 vs. 12 months of DAPT after coronary stent procedures.

Results:
The US DES-treated trial cohort included 8864 DAPT Study patients and the registry cohort included 568,540 patients. Compared to the trial population, registry patients had more comorbidities and were more likely to present with myocardial infarction and receive 2nd generation DES. After reweighting trial results to represent the registry population, there was no longer a significant effect of prolonged DAPT on reducing stent thrombosis (reweighted treatment effect: -0.40, 95% CI: -0.99%, 0.15%), MACCE ( reweighted treatment effect: -0.52, 95% CI: -2.62%, 1.03%), or MI (reweighted treatment effect: -0.97%, 95% CI: -2.75%, 0.18%), but the increase in bleeding with prolonged DAPT persisted (reweighted treatment effect: 2.42%, 95% CI: 0.79%, 3.91%).

Conclusions:
Differences between patients and devices used in contemporary clinical practice compared with the DAPT Study may be associated with attenuation of benefits and relatively greater harms attributable to prolonged DAPT duration. These findings may limit applicability of average treatment effects from the DAPT Study in modern clinical practice.
Association Between Life’s Essential 8 Cardiovascular Health Metrics With Cardiovascular Events in the Cardiovascular Disease Lifetime Risk Pooling Project
Authors: Ning Hongyan , Perak Amanda M. , Siddique Juned , Wilkins John T. , Lloyd-Jones Donald M. , Allen Norrina B.
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND:

The American Heart Association recently launched updated cardiovascular health metrics, termed Life’s Essential 8 (LE8). Compared with Life’s Simple 7 (LS7), the new approach added sleep health as an eighth metric and updated the remaining 7 health factors and behaviors. The association of the updated LE8 score with long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes and death is unknown.

METHODS:

We pooled individual-level data from 6 contemporary US-based cohorts from the Cardiovascular Lifetime Risk Pooling Project. Total LE8 score (0–100 points), LE8 score without sleep (0–100 points), and prior LS7 scores (0–14 points) were calculated separately. We used multivariable-adjusted Cox models to evaluate the association of LE8 with CVD, CVD subtypes, and all-cause mortality among younger, middle, and older adult participants. Net reclassification improvement analysis was used to measure the improvement in CVD risk classification with the addition of LS7 and LE8 recategorization based on score quartile rankings.

RESULTS:

Our sample consisted of 32 896 US adults (7836 [23.8%] Black; 14 941 [45.4%] men) followed for 642 000 person-years, of whom 9391 developed CVD events. Each 10-point higher overall LE8 score was associated with lower risk by 22% to 40% for CVD, 24% to 43% for congenital heart disease, 17% to 34% for stroke, 23% to 38% for heart failure, and 17% to 21% for all causes of mortality events across age strata. LE8 score provided more granular differentiation of the related CVD risk than LS7. Overall, 19.5% and 15.5% of the study participants were recategorized upward and downward based on LE8 versus LS7 categories, respectively, and the recategorization was significantly associated with CVD risk in addition to LS7 score. The addition of recategorization between LE8 and LS7 categories improved CVD risk reclassification across age groups (clinical net reclassification improvement, 0.06–0.12;
P
<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings support the improved utility of the LE8 algorithm for assessing overall cardiovascular health and future CVD risk.
Arterial Lesion Location and Outcomes of Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease
Authors: Tariq Muhammad Bilal , Kaneko Naoki , Prochilo Grace , Hinman Jason D. , Liebeskind David S.
Published: April 2024

Intracranial atherosclerosis is a leading cause of stroke with a high recurrence rate despite treatment. Numerous factors are proposed to influence stroke recurrence due to intracranial atherosclerosis including lesion eccentricity, plaque characteristics, and computational fluid dynamic metrics, such as wall shear stress. An overlooked variable that intrinsically relates to intracranial atherosclerosis is the location of the arterial segment where the lesion occurs. Variations in cerebral blood flow, arterial anatomy, and flow dynamics are likely drivers of initial lesion development and thus likely to influence stroke recurrence. To date, treatment trials of intracranial atherosclerosis have not considered arterial segment lesion location as an independent variable, failing to account for variations in flow dynamics between each artery. There are limited available data on differences between arterial segments, confined to only post hoc analyses. In this review, we summarize available data on such differences between arterial segments. With the limited arterial segment data available, multiple differences in recurrence of stroke in territory of lesion were identified across trials.
Ketosis regulates K+ ion channels, strengthening brain-wide signaling disrupted by age
Authors: van Nieuwenhuizen Helena , Chesebro Anthony G. , Polizu Claire , Clarke Kieran , Strey Helmut H. , Weistuch Corey , Mujica-Parodi Lilianne R.
Published: April 2024

Aging is associated with impaired signaling between brain regions when measured using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This age-related destabilization and desynchronization of brain networks reverses itself when the brain switches from metabolizing glucose to ketones. Here, we probe the mechanistic basis for these effects. First, we confirmed their robustness across measurement modalities using two datasets acquired from resting-state EEG (Lifespan: standard diet, 20–80 years, N = 201; Metabolic: individually weight-dosed and calorically-matched glucose and ketone ester challenge, μage = 26.9 ±11.2 years, N = 36). Then, using a multiscale conductance-based neural mass model, we identified the unique set of mechanistic parameters consistent with our clinical data. Together, our results implicate potassium (K+) gradient dysregulation as a mechanism for age-related neural desynchronization and its reversal with ketosis, the latter finding of which is consistent with direct measurement of ion channels. As such, the approach facilitates the connection between macroscopic brain activity and cellular-level mechanisms.
Perpetual Fires in the Jerusalem Temple through a Mediterranean Perspective
Authors: Blidstein Moshe
Published: April 2024

The fires of the Jerusalem temple altar were said to be perpetual. Various writers from the fourth century BCE to the third century CE added explanations and perspectives to this practice: the argument that the fire came from heaven, that it continued even during the destruction of the temple, or that it remained lit only when the high priest was righteous. Though these texts are well known, they were never examined in a comparative context: how special were these practices and discourses in their Mediterranean and Persian contexts? Maintaining a perpetual fire on the altar or lamps was a known practice in Mediterranean sanctuaries. The discourses surrounding these fires, developed especially by Greek and Roman writers of the first century BCE and the first century CE, are in many ways similar to those in the Jewish texts. I will consider in detail the differences and similarities and their significance.
Should Liberal Communities Respect Bad Believers? On Empirical Disagreement over Climate Change and Public Reason
Authors: Nielsen Morten Ebbe Juul
Published: April 2024

Public reason liberalism strives to accommodate as broad an array of viewpoints as possible. Some people are selective science skeptics, meaning that they disagree with parts of mainstream science. Of special interest for this paper are climate deniers, who disagree with the mainstream consensus views of climate science. This creates a problem for public reason: on the one hand, public reason wants to avoid basing rules and policies on controversial principles, values, and so on. On the other hand, there are citizens whom we cannot outright call irrational who are skeptical about central tenets of climate science. This seems to imply that public reason cannot base policies on the robust findings of climate science because these findings are controversial among the citizenry. But we have strong reasons to base our policies vis-à-vis climate change on the robust findings of climate science. How should we proceed?
Strong Scientific Meritocratism: Standpoint Epistemology as a Middle Ground in the Debate over Personal Merit in Science
Authors: Nottelmann Nikolaj
Published: April 2024

Dorian Abbot and twenty-eight coauthors from many quarters of science have recently published a spirited defense of a perceived ‘liberal’ scientific meritocratism—roughly the view that rivalrous or excludable goods in the sphere of scientific work should be distributed entirely based on potential recipients’ merits in that sphere. They propose to understand merit in terms of ‘achievements,’ not least in the form of individual academic track records. A closer examination of their argument reveals their implicit reliance on several incompatible conceptions of merit. Moreover, they conspicuously ignore the typical collective nature of academic achievements in modern science. In this paper, I argue that a different version of scientific meritocratism, based on the central theses of standpoint epistemology, represents an attractive compromise between Abbot et al. and anti-meritocratic theories informed by the sociology of science. Ultimately, however, the credentials of this ‘strong scientific meritocratism’ rest on empirical hypotheses which remain underexamined.
The Right of Access to ‘Reliable’ Information Under Article 10 echr: From Meagre Beginnings to New Frontiers
Authors: Pentney Katie
Published: April 2024

Recognition of the right of access to information under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights has been marked by fits and starts. This article charts three phases in the jurisprudence – from outright denial (Phase One), through hesitant recognition (Phase Two), to recognition of a limited right in specified circumstances (Phase Three). The Court’s recent judgment in Association Burestop 55 and Others v France may mark a new frontier (or ‘Fourth Phase’), as the Court recognised for the first time that the right necessarily comprises a qualitative aspect – that is, it requires that the information disclosed is sincere, accurate, sufficient, and reliable. This could have important ramifications for the quality of the information environment in the current ‘post-truth’ era. However, several conceptual challenges, practical limitations, and lingering uncertainties will need to be addressed for the promise of the judgment to be fully realised.
From the Qing Imperial Printing Office to the Hands of Medical Practitioners: Manuscripts Containing Parts of the Golden Mirror of the Orthodox Lineage of Medicine
Authors: Staack Thies
Published: April 2024

The Imperially Commissioned Golden Mirror of the Orthodox Lineage of Medicine (Yuzuan yizong jinjian 御纂醫宗金鑑), first printed in 1742, was one of the most important and widely circulating works on medicine in late imperial China. This paper analyzes a group of twenty-three medical manuscripts from the nineteenth and early twentieth century that include parts of the Golden Mirror. The findings suggest that most of the manuscripts should not be considered mere copies, but as deliberate selections. They served didactic as well as epistemic functions that differ from, or go beyond, those that could be fulfilled by the printed Golden Mirror (or a faithful manuscript copy alone). This is indicated not only by different content type selections (verse form for memorization or recitation; prose form for study or consultation) and the combination with medical knowledge from other sources, but also by the ways in which these contents were formatted, usually to facilitate reading and navigation. Adjustment, updating or supplementation of Golden Mirror contents likewise functioned epistemically, integrating previous medical knowledge into the medical discourse of the time. Hence, the findings of the present study help to clarify the lasting importance of manuscripts in the age of print, for which possibilities of adapting knowledge to personal interests and requirements seem to have been decisive factors.
Effect of Intercropping by Flax, Radish and Fenugreek on Faba Bean, Vicia faba L., Production and Reduction of Orobanche crenata Forsk Seed Bank
Authors: Hegazi Esmat , Zeid Abou , Attia Manal , Hasaneen Mervat , Shall Amany , Eryan Mohamed , Aly Nagat , Showiel Sania , El-Rahman Safaa , Taleb Hamdy , Mahmoud Anter , Khafagi Wedad , Farag Marwa
Published: April 2024

Faba bean Vicia faba L. is a primary source of protein in the diet of masses in Egypt. Broom-rape, Orobanche crenata Forsk (Orobanchaceae), present great threat parasitic weed to some crops in Egypt including faba bean. Egyptian farmers were forced to abandon growing faba bean crops due to O. crenata heavy soil infestation. Several methods have been used for controlling this parasite, but without obvious success. Many researches have shown that intercropping has been more effective than monocropping in suppression of parasitic weeds. The effect of intercropping (fenugreek, radish and flax) using two resistant cultivars (Giza 843& Misr 3) on the emergence of the broomrape spikes and faba bean production were carried out. Intercropping flax or fenugreek among faba bean cultivars, caused a significant reduction in the infestation levels of O. crenata and increased the faba bean yield compared with sole treatments. Flax was more effective in the reducing infestation rate by O. crenata than fenugreek. This reduction appeared to be related to reduced seed germination which may have been as a result of allelochemicals released by fenugreek roots, though this was not confirmed in this study. The reduction in weed infestation was more pronounced in Giza 843, than in Misr 3. Flax treatment showed the lowest weed infestation compared with other intercropping treatments. Fenugreek intercropping treatment resulted in the highest pod yield for both Giza 843 and Misr 3. Using resistant cultivars intercropping with fenugreek or flax is very promising trend that generally combines both good yield and low number of emerged spikes that reduce broomrape seed bank in the infected soils, with variations depending on the cultivar and growing season.
Study on the Construction of Teaching System and Transformation of Cultivation Path
Authors: Rui Dong
Published: April 2024

Higher education has entered the stage of connotative development, and the mode of integration of industry and education has gradually become an important initiative to deepen education reform, improve the quality of talent training and promote the supply of industrial talents. This paper takes the teaching innovation of Residential Landscape Design as the base point, takes "social development" as the guidance, and puts forward the progressive teaching innovation of "one construction, two concerns, three explorations and four integrations" under the perspective of paying attention to the construction of the country and the development of the discipline. Concept. Under the background of the construction of new liberal arts, we intend to explore and reconstruct the curriculum system, teaching mode, teaching methods and teaching objectives; through the creation of the "exchange experience" teaching context, the teaching will be practically focused on the cultivation of problem awareness and students' discursive ability; and to construct the "theory-practice-skill-thinking-learning" teaching concept. The visualization teaching framework of "Theory-Practice-Skill-Thinking-Feedback" was constructed. At the same time, based on the trinity evaluation mode, the curriculum evaluation standards and evaluation system were further standardized, the multi-cognitive ability of students was comprehensively cultivated, and the innovative consciousness and practical ability of students were promoted to form a closed-loop teaching.
Assessment of Some Agrochemical Types on the Biochemical Composition of Tomato’s Cultivars (Solanum lycopersicum L.)
Authors: Keegoui Gertrude , Tumanyan Antonina , Zaytseva Nadezhda , Zaytsev Sergej , Koulagna Honore
Published: April 2024

Enhancing fruit quality through the application of contemporary agrochemicals that regulate physiological and biochemical processes in plants is a pressing concern in present circumstances. The effect of foliar application of 04 agrochemicals (Agricola, Aminofol, Aminovit, Speefol) on the quality of 04 plum-shaped tomato varieties (Cobra26F1, Heinz3402F1, SisterF1, Rio Grande) cultivated on light chestnut soils under drip irrigation was carry out in the north of the Astrakhan region within a strongly continental climate zone from 2018 to 2020. The study revealed that varying agrochemicals have an impact on the quality parameters of tomato fruit. In the Cobra 26 F1 hybrid, foliar treatments led to a rise in the fruit's dry matter content, from 0.24% in the aminofol variant to 0.49% in the Agricola variant. Additionally, sugar content increased by 0.20-0.23% in the Agricola treatments and by 0.06-0.33% in the Aminovit treatments, for both the Cobra 26 F1 and Sister F1 hybrids. Application of various agrochemicals on leaves resulted in an increased mass fraction of vitamin C in Heinz 3402 F1 hybrids, specifically on variants treated with Aminovit and Agricola by 2.21 and 3.81 mg/100 g respectively. For hybrid Sister F1, only the variant treated with Agricola showed an increase of 1.79 mg/100g. In the case of variety Rio Grande, all variants showed an increase in vitamin C, ranging from 0.03 on the Aminovit-treated variant to 8.84 on the Aminofol-treated variant. The fruit of both the Heinz 3402 F1 hybrid and the Rio Grande variety exhibited an increase in carotene content, from 0.10 to 0.24 mg% and 0.02 to 0.04 mg%, respectively. Additionally, fruit acidity was reduced. As a conclusion the applied agrochemicals have different effects on the content of dry matter.
Influences of Heavy Metals in Water Treatment Chemicals on Drinking Water Quality and Risk Management
Authors: Zhi-Xuan Li , She-Xia Zhan , Tin-Ian Kou , Qian-Ning Zhao , Chi-Tou Lei
Published: April 2024

Water treatment chemicals (WTCs) are important raw materials during the drinking water production process. Occasionally unqualified WTCs with heavy metals were provided to Water Treatment Plant（WTP） by supplier during emergency situation，such as earthquake, typhoon and city block for epidemic disease, just because it cannot obtain the qualified WTCs. The harmful heavy metals in WTCs may expose a certain health risk to the quality of drinking water. In this paper, the influence of heavy metals in WTCs on the quality of drinking water was explored and the feasible management measures are proposed, taking the ILha Verda Water Plant (IVP) in Macao as an example. The study was based on the testing results of heavy metals in WTCs and treated water from 2017 to 2022 in IVP. A series of mathematical models were established to evaluate the content of heavy metals in water brought by WTCs. The removal rates of the water treatment process to the heavy metals were calculated at same time. The maximum allowable concentrations of heavy metals in WTCs were calculated and accessed. The results show that the drinking water is safety if the heavy metals in unqualified WTCs are under the maximum allowable concentrations. Then it is proposed for the classification of WTCs and risk management. The study will provide theoretical and technical support for water quality safety supervision and water supply management.
Determination of the Lymphadenopathy in Child Care
Authors: Kanna Laxmi , Kulkarni Rajashree , Bhanap Sakshi
Published: April 2024

The majority of the time, swollen lymph nodes are a sign that your body is battling a virus or bacterial infection. Immune cells, viruses or bacteria, and fluid fill the nodes, increasing their size. Rarely, other, graver diseases can also result in swollen lymph nodes. Lymphadenopathy is fairly typical. Typically, it is not clinically significant in and of itself. However, it might indicate a serious underlying illness. For clinicians, the challenge is to avoid aggressive examination and biopsy of the majority of children while providing prompt, accurate for kids with serious underlying diseases. Lymphadenopathy is the term for swollen glands or swelling of the lymph nodes. The lymph glands are part of the immune system and help fight infections and other disease. They are enlarged when the body is fighting infection or other diseases. In children its to be able to feel some lymph nodes small, movable lumps under the skin. But if the nodes get bigger than usual, your child may have an infection or other problem. In most cases, lymphadenitis clears up quickly with proper treatment but it may take more time for lymph nodes swelling to go away. Be sure to let your healthcare provider know if your lymphadenitis symptoms come back. The most common treatment for swollen lymph nodes caused by a bacterial infection is antibiotics.
Performance Evaluation and Adaptability of Improved Faba Bean (Vicia Faba L.) Varieties in the Highlands of North Shewa Zone, Oromia
Authors: Bedada Abreham , Bedada Gashaw , Firisa Name
Published: April 2024

Field experiment was conducted at Degam, H/Abote, D/Libanos, Jida and Wachale districts of North Shewa Zone, Oromia region, Central Ethiopia with the objectives of evaluating adaptable and best yield performing improved Faba bean varieties for further demonstration and scaling up during the main cropping season of 2020, 2021 and 2022. The experiment was conducted using randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. In the experiment, thirteen improved faba bean varieties and one local control were used to evaluate their performance. Parameters like seed yield (qt/ha), 1000 seed weight in gram, number of pod per plant, number of seed per pod, plant height (cm) were measured to assess the actual field performances of different faba bean varieties. The data were analyzed by R software. Grain yield and most of yield components were significantly affected by main effect of variety, environment and interaction of variety and environment. The results revealed that there were significant (P < 0.01) variations between the varieties for yield. Higher yield was recorded on Welki and Ashebeka varieties while low yield was recorded from Tosha and Shalo. In addition the stability analysis indicated that as the mean of grain yield is more stable across locations as compared to other variety. Also, in this study it was found that there is 24.5 % and 19.1% increment of yield using of Welki and Ashebeka variety respectively as compared to local variety at the study area. Therefore, farmers located at the study area are recommended to use those varieties to increase faba bean production yield.
An Application of Interacting Boson Fermion-Fermion Model (IBFFM) for 134Cs Nucleus
Authors: Mohaisen Afrah , Abood Saad
Published: April 2024

This work concerns the calculations of interacting boson fermion-fermion model (IBFFM) for the odd-odd nucleus 134Cs. The energy levels (positive and negative parity states), electric transition probability B(E2), magnetic transition probability B(M1), quadrupole and magnetic dipole moments have been studied in this work. The IBFFM results are compared with the available experimental data. In the present work, the IBFFM pattern of total and parametric dependent level densities for the odd-odd nucleus 134Cs is investigated and compared to the pattern found in previous investigations in the framework of combinatorial and spectral distribution approaches. When comparing the theoretical values with the available experimental values, it was found that there is a good match between them. This is due to the values of the Hamiltonian parameters that were found accurately, so this IBFFM model is considered one of the effective models in studying the nuclear structure of odd-odd nuclei. The level density of the odd-odd nucleus 196Au is investigated in the interacting boson-fermion-fermion model (IBFFM) which accounts for collectivity and complex interaction between quasiparticle and collective modes. The IBFFM spin-dependent level densities show high-spin reduction with respect to Bethe formula. This can be well accounted for by a modified spin-dependent level density formula.
Method of Increasing the Fracture Toughness of Unsaturated Polyester with the Addition of Vinyl Ester as a Material for Automotive Body
Authors: Nusyirwan Nusyirwan , Fikri Hayatul , Vachanidyo Xhycho
Published: April 2024

Unsaturated polyester is the polymer material most widely used for matrix composites in the field of construction engineering, including for ships, automotive components and other engineering fields. The weakness of this polymer is that it is brittle and brittle and is unable to withstand cracking loads due to having cross-linked molecules that easily link together. The study to improve it was mixing with vinyl ester which succeeded in making the polyester crack resistant which was tested using a CTM machine and the fracture was observed using an SEM microscope. The test results showed that the polyester polymer mixed with 30% vinyl ester showed the highest increase in fracture strength, which was equal to K1c = 1.67 N.mm0.5 compared to pure polyester, only K1c = 0.77 N.mm0.5 can increase (216 %). Increasing the mixture content of 30% vinyl ester in polyester will change the brittle nature of unsaturated polyester to become more resilient because the vinyl ester molecules break the bonds of the polyester molecular chains.
Diagnostic Value of Faecal Calprotectin in Children with Chronic Gastrointestinal Disorders at Yaounde General Hospital
Authors: Isabelle Mekone , Audrey Ngo , Pascal Nkeck , Jeannette Epée , Paul Ngogang , Félicité Nguefack , Jocelyne Ama
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Chronic gastrointestinal disorders are common in children. Numerous faecal biomarkers, such as faecal calprotectin, are used in the aetiological diagnosis of these digestive disorders. The study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of faecal calprotectin in paediatric chronic gastrointestinal disease compared with that obtained in healthy children. Methodology: This was a comparative, analytical cross-sectional study from October 2022 through June 2023 at Yaoundé General Hospital. Participants were children aged between four and eighteen with chronic digestive disorders. Using a pre-established questionnaire, we collected the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of each participant. The participants' faecal calprotectin was tested at the laboratory of the Yaoundé University Hospital Center by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Associations between variables were investigated by linear regression and calculation of the odds ratio (OR). The significance threshold was 5%. Results: Sixty stool samples were analysed for faecal calprotectin from 30 patients and 30 healthy participants. The mean age of the population was 9.47 (± 3.35) years for patients and 10.67 (± 3.70) years for healthy participants, with a sex ratio of 1.14 for patients and 0.87 for healthy participants. The threshold value for faecal calprotectin was 2.75 µg/g, with a sensitivity of 60%, a specificity of 63%, a positive predictive value of 61.20% and a negative predictive value of 62.06%. There were no significant differences in faecal calprotectin concentrations between children with chronic gastrointestinal disorders (peptic ulcer disease: p=0.10; functional gastrointestinal disorder associated with peptic ulcer disease: p= 0.710; functional gastrointestinal disorder: p= 0.143) and healthy children. Conclusion: The diagnostic value of faecal calprotectin as a biomarker in the diagnosis of chronic gastrointestinal disease was not observed in this study. However, the biological parameters assessed were measured only once, and given that their concentrations may vary over time, we recommend a subsequent longitudinal study.