bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
LFV Higgs and Z-boson decays: leptonic CPV phases and CP asymmetries
Authors: Abada A. , Kriewald J. , Pinsard E. , Rosauro-Alcaraz S. , Teixeira A. M.
Published: June 2023

Heavy neutral leptons are motivated by several extensions of the Standard Model and their presence induces modifications in the lepton mixing matrix, including new Dirac and Majorana CP violating phases. It has been recently shown that these phases play an important role in lepton number and lepton flavour violating decays and transitions, with a striking impact for the predicted rates of certain observables. In this work, we now consider the potential role of the heavy neutral fermions and of the new CP violating phases in Higgs and Z-boson lepton flavour violating decays $$H,Z\rightarrow \ell _\alpha ^\pm \ell _\beta ^\mp $$

H
,
Z
→

ℓ
α
±

ℓ
β
∓

, as well as in the corresponding CP asymmetries. In order to allow for a thorough analysis, we derive the full analytical expressions of the latter observables, taking into account the effect of the (final state) charged lepton masses. A comprehensive exploration of lepton flavour violating Z and Higgs decays confirms that these are very sensitive to the presence of the additional heavy neutral leptons. Moreover, the new CPV phases have a clear impact on the decay rates, leading to both destructive and constructive interferences. Interestingly, in the $$\mu \tau $$

μ
τ

sector, the $$Z\rightarrow \ell _\alpha ^\pm \ell _\beta ^\mp $$

Z
→

ℓ
α
±

ℓ
β
∓

rates are within reach of FCC-ee, with associated CP asymmetries that can potentially reach up to 20–30%.
Hypokinetic Activity of Menthofuran on the Gastrointestinal Tract in Rodents
Authors: Santos Railson de Sousa , Nunes Paulo Humberto Moreira , Lima Geovanni de Morais , Brito Ana Karolinne da Silva , Pacheco James Frederico Rocha , Medina Heldemys da Costa , Benigno Maria Ivone Mendes , Sousa Damião Pergentino de , Moura-Filho Oseas Florêncio de , Cunha Francisco Valmor Macedo , Reis Renandro de Carvalho , Oliveira Rita de Cássia Meneses , Arcanjo Daniel Dias Rufino , Martins Maria do Carmo de Carvalho e
Published: June 2023

The acute toxicity and hypokinetic activity induced by menthofuran on the gastrointestinal tract of rodents were investigated in the present study. An absence of acute toxicity was observed. Menthofuran delayed gastric emptying at oral doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg in the experimental model of phenol red, as well as it reduced the intestinal transit at oral doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg. Interestingly, a scopolamine‐similar hypokinetic effect was observed for menthofuran. In the experimental model of castor oil‐induced intestinal hypermotility, menthofuran (50 and 100 mg/kg) reduced the number of loose stools as observed for the normal group. Additionally, menthofuran induced a marked concentration‐dependent relaxation in rat ileum segments precontracted with KCl (EC50 = 0.059 ± 0.008 μg/mL) or carbachol (EC50 = 0.068 ± 0.007 μg/mL). These results suggest the possible decrease of calcium influx underlying the effects of menthofuran on the gastrointestinal tract, which opens the door for further study regarding this potential application for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, noting possible limitations of its use due to adverse effects in children.
Long‐Term Results of Congenital Aortic Stenosis Treatment in the Era of Percutaneous Balloon Valvuloplasty: Up to 33 Years Follow‐Up
Authors: Materna Ondřej , Tax Petr , Tomek Viktor , Koubský Karel , Chaloupecký Václav , Janoušek Jan , Reich Oleg
Published: June 2023

Background

The goal of this study was to evaluate long‐term results of percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty (BVPL) used exclusively for initial management of congenital aortic stenosis in children.

Methods and Results

A total of 409 consecutive pediatric patients (134 newborns, 275 older patients) who underwent BVPL as initial treatment of aortic stenosis in a single nationwide pediatric center were subjected to a retrospective follow‐up study. The resulting follow‐up time reached a median of 18.5 (interquartile range, 12.2–25.1) years. Successful BVPL was defined by residual Doppler gradient <70/40 (systolic/mean) mm Hg. The primary end point was death; secondary end points included any valve reintervention, balloon revalvuloplasty, any aortic valve surgery, and aortic valve replacement, respectively. BVPL effectively reduced the peak and mean gradient both immediately and at the latest follow‐up (
P
<0.001). There was significant procedure‐related progression of aortic insufficiency (
P
<0.001). Higher aortic annulus
z
score was predictive for severe aortic regurgitation (
P
<0.05) and lower
z
score for insufficient gradient reduction (
P
<0.05). The actuarial probability of survival/survival free from any valve reintervention was 89.9%/59.9%, 85.9%/35.2%, and 82.0%/26.7% at 10, 20, and 30 years after first BVPL, respectively. Left ventricular dysfunction or arterial duct dependency as the indication for BVPL was predictive of both worse survival and survival free from any reintervention (
P
<0.001). Lower aortic annulus
z
score and lower balloon‐to‐annulus ratio were predictive of a need for revalvuloplasty (
P
<0.001).

Conclusions

Percutaneous BVPL provides good initial palliation. In patients with hypoplastic annuli and left ventricular or mitral valve comorbidity, the results are less favorable.
Machine Learning for Mortality Prediction in Patients With Heart Failure With Mildly Reduced Ejection Fraction
Authors: Tian Pengchao , Liang Lin , Zhao Xuemei , Huang Boping , Feng Jiayu , Huang Liyan , Huang Yan , Zhai Mei , Zhou Qiong , Zhang Jian , Zhang Yuhui
Published: June 2023

Background

Machine‐learning‐based prediction models (MLBPMs) have shown satisfactory performance in predicting clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure with reduced and preserved ejection fraction. However, their usefulness has yet to be fully elucidated in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction. This pilot study aims to evaluate the prediction performance of MLBPMs in a heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction cohort with long‐term follow‐up data.

Methods and Results

A total of 424 patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction were enrolled in our study. The primary outcome was all‐cause mortality. Two feature selection strategies were introduced for MLBPM development. The “All‐in” (67 features) strategy was based on feature correlation, multicollinearity, and clinical significance. The other strategy was the CoxBoost algorithm with 10‐fold cross‐validation (17 features), which was based on the selection result of the “All‐in” strategy. Six MLBPMs with 5‐fold cross‐validation based on the “All‐in” and the CoxBoost algorithm with 10‐fold cross‐validation strategy were developed by the eXtreme Gradient Boosting, random forest, and support vector machine algorithms. The logistic regression model with 14 benchmark predictors was used as a reference model. During a median follow‐up of 1008 (750, 1937) days, 121 patients met the primary outcome. Overall, MLBPMs outperformed the logistic model. The “All‐in” eXtreme Gradient Boosting model had the best performance, with an accuracy of 85.4% and a precision of 70.3%. The area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve was 0.916 (95% CI, 0.887–0.945). The Brier score was 0.12.

Conclusions

The MLBPMs could significantly improve outcome prediction in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction, which would further optimize the management of these patients.
Impact of NKG2D Signaling on Natural Killer and T‐Cell Function in Cerebral Ischemia
Authors: David Christina , Ruck Tobias , Rolfes Leoni , Mencl Stine , Kraft Peter , Schuhmann Michael K. , Schroeter Christina B. , Jansen Robin , Langhauser Friederike , Mausberg Anne K. , Fender Anke C. , Meuth Sven G. , Kleinschnitz Christoph
Published: June 2023

Background

Typically defined as a thromboinflammatory disease, ischemic stroke features early and delayed inflammatory responses, which determine the extent of ischemia‐related brain damage. T and natural killer cells have been implicated in neuronal cytotoxicity and inflammation, but the precise mechanisms of immune cell‐mediated stroke progression remain poorly understood. The activating immunoreceptor NKG2D is expressed on both natural killer and T cells and may be critically involved.

Methods and Results

An anti‐NKG2D blocking antibody alleviated stroke outcome in terms of infarct volume and functional deficits, coinciding with reduced immune cell infiltration into the brain and improved survival in the animal model of cerebral ischemia. Using transgenic knockout models devoid of certain immune cell types and immunodeficient mice supplemented with different immune cell subsets, we dissected the functional contribution of NKG2D signaling by different NKG2D‐expressing cells in stroke pathophysiology. The observed effect of NKG2D signaling in stroke progression was shown to be predominantly mediated by natural killer and CD8
+
T cells. Transfer of T cells with monovariant T‐cell receptors into immunodeficient mice with and without pharmacological blockade of NKG2D revealed activation of CD8
+
T cells irrespective of antigen specificity. Detection of the NKG2D receptor and its ligands in brain samples of patients with stroke strengthens the relevance of preclinical observations in human disease.

Conclusions

Our findings provide a mechanistic insight into NKG2D‐dependent natural killer– and T‐cell–mediated effects in stroke pathophysiology.
Adverse Cardiovascular Events Associated With Cyclin‐Dependent Kinase 4/6 Inhibitors in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Fradley Michael G. , Nguyen Nam H. K. , Madnick David , Chen Yiqing , DeMichele Angela , Makhlin Igor , Dent Susan , Lefebvre Benedicte , Carver Joseph , Upshaw Jenica N. , DeRemer David , Ky Bonnie , Guha Avirup , Gong Yan
Published: June 2023

Background

Cyclin‐dependent kinase (CDK) 4 and 6 inhibitors have significantly improved survival in patients with hormone receptor–positive metastatic breast cancer. There are few data regarding the epidemiology of cardiovascular adverse events (CVAEs) with these therapies.

Methods and Results

Using the OneFlorida Data Trust, adult patients without prior cardiovascular disease who received at least 1 CDK4/6 inhibitor were included in the analysis. CVAEs identified from
International Classification of Diseases
,
Ninth
and
Tenth Revisions
(
ICD‐9/10
) codes included hypertension, atrial fibrillation(AF)/atrial flutter (AFL), heart failure/cardiomyopathy, ischemic heart disease, and pericardial disease. Competing risk analysis (Fine–Gray model) was used to determine the association between CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy and incident CVAEs. The effect of CVAEs on all‐cause death was studied using Cox proportional hazard models. Propensity‐weight analyses were performed to compare these patients to a cohort of patients treated with anthracyclines. A total of 1376 patients treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors were included in the analysis. CVAEs occurred in 24% (35.9 per 100 person‐years). CVAEs were slightly higher in patients who received CKD4/6 inhibitors compared with anthracyclines (
P
=0.063), with higher death rate associated with the development of AF/AFL or cardiomyopathy/heart failure in the CDK4/6 group. The development of cardiomyopathy/heart failure and AF/AFL was associated with increased all‐cause death (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 4.89 [95% CI, 2.98–8.05]; and 5.88 [95% CI, 3.56–9.73], respectively).

Conclusions

CVAEs may be more common with CDK4/6 inhibitors than previously recognized, with increased death rates in these patients who develop AF/AFL or heart failure. Further research is needed to definitively determine cardiovascular risk associated with these novel anticancer treatments.
Digital Footprints of Buddhism in Chinese-Speaking Cyberspace: Ethnography, Developments, and Challenges
Authors: Shmushko Kai
Published: June 2023

This article explores the state of the field of research on digital Buddhism, contextualizing the field within a broader scope. It discusses the present and future digital ethnographic study of Buddhism in the Chinese-speaking community by presenting the methodological approaches taken so far to study this phenomenon, the kinds of case studies explored, and the epistemological problems that are facing the scholars in this new field. Because of the particular historical, social, and political factors that comprise the Buddhist community in Chinese society (both in the PRC and ROC), Buddhist cyberspace should not be reviewed as an isolated phenomenon. Instead, Buddhist cyberspace should be considered part of three intersecting domains: religion, technology, and the market economy. These three domains have become increasingly central in Chinese society, as they rapidly change, evolve, and influence both the Chinese-speaking community and the ways in which scholars study it.
The Geopolitics of Public Health and China’s Digital Silk Road in Asia
Authors: Chen Zhixin
Published: June 2023

During this era of COVID-19, cooperation along the digital Belt and Road has been explored less than Beijing’s mask and vaccine diplomacy. China’s international engagement has certainly been reoriented to pandemic control and global health governance, particularly through digital technologies. To account for these developments, this article argues that digital health is emerging as a new venue for the rise of digital power. I focus specifically on the example of China’s Digital Silk Road (DSR), in particular medical artificial intelligence, in the wake of the pandemic. Drawing upon the DSR literature and the concept of health surveillance, this article investigates the role of digital health in expediting Silk Road cooperation, and it further speculates that digital health has become part of China’s political effort to reconcile the much-scrutinized security issues and the global demand for digital connectivity. Hence, it is indicative of China’s expanding digital power in the post-pandemic world.
Globalisation, COVID-19 and Income Distribution: A Theoretical Evaluation
Authors: Das Asmita , Sau Damayanti , Nag Ranjanendra Narayan
Published: June 2023

The article makes a theoretical attempt to explain how different interconnected measures of globalisation—service led growth, tariff reform, agricultural trade liberalisation and capital account liberalisation—affect the skilled–unskilled wage disparity, sector-wise performance, income distribution and aggregate welfare of the economy. We pay attention to land augmenting technological progress as an essential ingredient of inclusive growth and discuss effects of COVID-19 as a supply shock. In so-doing, we construct a three-sector general equilibrium framework with an export-oriented service sector, a tariff-protected import competing manufacturing sector and an export-oriented traded agricultural sector. We find that service-led growth and tariff liberalisation shifts the income distribution in favour of the landed gentry and skilled labour. Agricultural trade liberalisation and capital account liberalisation also debilitate the income distribution. Land augmenting technological progress adversely impacts the manufacturing sector but benefits the other sectors. Following the outbreak of the pandemic, a fall in labour endowment and rise in transaction costs were observed. A decrease in the endowment of skilled labour reduces the production in service sector and increases the production of the manufactured commodity. The results are reversed when the endowment of unskilled labour decreases. An increase in transaction produces unfair outcome from the perspective of income distribution. In this context it becomes imperative to mention that, the construction of the three-sector general equilibrium framework is not new, and that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be reduced to just a supply shock. COVID-19 has elements of both supply shock and demand shock, but in this article, we address supply side dimensions of COVID shock in conjunction with the effects of lockdown. In addition, we also demonstrate the robustness of our results to an alternate assumption on the structure of the model.

JEL Codes: D50, F66, J31
A Multisite Longitudinal Investigation of Psychological Outcomes Following Cataract Surgery in India
Authors: Kumar S. G. Prem , Vishwakarma Pankaj , Ranpise Dhanaji , Chavan Shobhana , Krishnan Radhika , Kurian Elizabeth , Team MFV Mental Health Study
Published: June 2023

Background:

Systematic data on mental health issues among adults with cataracts are not available from India. This study explored the impact of cataract surgery on depressive and generalized anxiety (GA) symptoms in an adult Indian sample.

Methods:

A multicenter, prospective, longitudinal cohort study was conducted. Subjects were recruited from four tertiary eye hospitals to assess depression, GA, and associated risk factors. A follow-up survey was carried out at 6 ( n = 273, group 1), 12 ( n = 198, group 2), or 18 months ( n = 105, group 3) post-cataract surgery. Variations in the intensity of depression and GA were assessed using multiple classification analysis (MCA).

Results:

A total of 576 patients completed both baseline and follow-up assessments. The mean (SD) depression score was 25.6 (8.5) before surgery and 8.6 (7.7), 9.9 (7), and 9.8 (6.8), respectively, post-surgery for the three groups on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D). The mean GA score was 6.7 (4.2) at baseline and 1.1 (2.3), 1 (1.8), and 0.6 (1.3) after surgery on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7). MCA showed that factors with the highest impact on the mean change scores for both depressive and GA symptoms were restoration of vision post-surgery ( β = 0.381 and 0.185) in group 1, regaining functional independence and female sex in group 2 ( β = 0.192 and 0.23), and the presence of ocular comorbidities in the fellow eye ( β = 0.36 and 0.315) in group 3.

Conclusion:

Mental health symptoms improved significantly post-cataract surgery across the three groups. The urgent need to invest in strategies that enable early cataract case detection and treat ocular anomalies in the fellow eye is highlighted.
Bigil Adicha Massu Da: Self-reflexivity and Masculinity in Bigil (2019)
Authors: Saverimuttu Meenaatchi
Published: June 2023

Contemporary Tamil films are largely dependent on viewers having prior knowledge of film canon, celebrities, industry happenings and social issues in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Taking the form of complicated chains of intertextuality, self-reflexive moments are fundamental to the ways in which Tamil film narratives, particularly the narratives of mass hero films, are constructed. The 2019 blockbuster film Bigil ( Whistle), a sports film about a male coach leading an all-women soccer team, highlights the extent to which Tamil mass hero films rely on self-reflexive techniques to uphold the portrayal of specific gendered identities. This article examines the ways in which Bigil constructs contemporary Tamil masculinity through both the narrative representation of the central character Michael and the use of cinematic techniques, which privilege and celebrate the star’s (Vijay) relationship with his fans. This article conducts a close textual analysis of key sequences in the film, including song sequences, and interactions between Michael and the women soccer players. In doing so, it unpacks the ways in which the hypermasculinity of the male protagonist fundamentally diminishes the film’s supposedly empowering storyline and the ways in which contemporary Tamil films seek to capitalise on the marketability of such narratives.
Evaluation of the Effect of Oral Vitamin D3 Supplement on Orthodontic Tooth Movement: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study
Authors: Farzanegan Fahimeh , Nour Ghazal Ghasemi , Mobarhan Majid Ghayour , Rangrazi Abdolrasoul
Published: June 2023

Aim:

One of the problems that orthodontists commonly face is the prolonged duration of the treatment. Therefore, it is important to find an effective method to increase the rate of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of oral administration of vitamin D3 on OTM rates in humans.

Materials and Methods:

In this randomized clinical trial study, we selected 29 healthy women aged 18–25 years who sought orthodontic treatment and required bilateral maxillary first premolar extraction. Participants were tested to measure the blood levels of vitamin D3 and, based on the outcomes, were divided into three groups: control (without vitamin D3 deficiency; N = 10), placebo ( N = 9), and experiment ( N = 10), both with vitamin D3 deficiency. Subjects of the last two groups, who were randomly assigned, received 50,000 IU (International Unit) vitamin D3 pearls (Dana Pharmaceutical Company, Tabriz, Iran) or a placebo every 2 weeks for 2 months. Inclusion criteria were patients requiring bilateral extraction of the first premolar in the maxilla. The canines were retracted by nickel-titanium (NiTi) coil springs into the extraction sites. At the beginning, after 1 and 2 months, the distance between canine and lateral teeth on both sides was measured to calculate OTM.

Results:

In the first month ( t (1–2)), the mean values of OTM in the placebo group were higher than the other groups. However, during the second month ( t (2–3)) and overall ( t (1–3)), the experiment group showed a higher OTM. The experiment and control groups were statistically different in all three time periods ( P-value < .05). The difference between the experiment and placebo groups was only significant in t (2–3) ( P-value < .05). Whereas the placebo and control groups showed a significant difference in t (1–2) ( P-value < .05).

Conclusion:

Vitamin D3 deficiency seems to increase OTM. Receiving oral supplements of vitamin D3 may not have much effect on increasing the level of vitamin D3. The lowest OTM rate was observed in the control group.
Secured Lending on Intellectual Property Rights in India: Issues on Valuation
Authors: Sarkar Sudipta De , Mitra N. L.
Published: June 2023

Valuation is a critical exercise for commercial enterprises, as it is used to assess the best possible value for various transactions. It has been observed that many of these transactions involve intangible assets, including intellectual property (IP) assets. However, present Indian valuation standards treat IP rights as a class within intangible assets, which affects the realization of the true value of IP. As enterprises push towards maximizing value from IP assets, the ability to avail credit backed by such assets from traditional financial organizations in India, through a transparent mainstream process, will be one of the focal points of consideration. However, this will require a standardized valuation approach that can be clearly understood and applied by all the stakeholders. This paper presents a method to identify and value IP in its own right, in light of applicable Indian accounting standards and that of some leading economies of the world.
Book review: Juthika Barma, Jati Rajniti Theke Jatiyo Rajniti: Upendranath Barman (1898–1988) O Tar Somokalin Uttarbanga
Authors: Saha Dhananjay
Published: June 2023

Juthika Barma, Jati Rajniti Theke Jatiyo Rajniti: Upendranath Barman (1898–1988) O Tar Somokalin Uttarbanga. Sopan, 2021, 151 pp., ₹250 (Hardback). ISBN: 9789390717323.
Characteristics of molecular markers associated with chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium vivax strains from vivax malaria cases in Yunnan Province, China
Authors: Ding Hongyun , Dong Ying , Deng Yan , Xu Yanchun , Liu Yan , Wu Jing , Chen Mengni , Zhang Canglin , Zheng Weibin
Published: June 2023

Background

Chloroquine (CQ) has been the preferred clinical treatment for vivax malaria in Yunnan Province since 1958, with over 300,000 patients. This study aimed to help make trend predictions regarding variations the in anti-malarial drug susceptibility of Plasmodium vivax distributed in Yunnan Province and effectively implement monitoring measures on the efficacy of anti-malarial drugs for vivax malaria.

Methods

Blood samples collected from patients with mono-P. vivax infections were employed in this study based on the principle of cluster sampling. The whole gene of P. vivax multidrug resistance 1 protein gene (pvmdr1) was amplified by nested-PCR techniques and the PCR amplification produce were sequenced by Sanger bidirectional sequencing. The mutant loci and haplotypes of coding DNA sequence (CDS) were identified by comparison with the reference sequence (NC_009915.1) of the P. vivax Sal I isolate. Parameters such as Ka/Ks ratio were calculated using MEGA 5.04 software.

Results

A total of 753 blood samples from patients infected with mono-P. vivax were collected, of which 624 blood samples yielded the full gene sequence (4392 bp) of the pvmdr1 gene, with 283, 140, 119, and 82 sequences from 2014, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. A total of 52 single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) loci were detected for the 624 CDSs, of which 92.3% (48/52), 34.6% (18/52), 42.3% (22/52), and 36.5% (19/52) SNPs were detected in 2014, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. All of 624 CDSs were defined for a total of 105 mutant haplotypes, with CDSs of 2014, 2020, 2021, and 2022 containing 88, 15, 21, and 13 haplotypes, respectively. Of the 105 haplotypes, the threefold mutant haplotype (Hap_87) was the starting point for stepwise evolution, and the most drastic tenfold mutations were Hap_14 and Hap_78, and the fivefold, sixfold, sevenfold, and eightfold mutations.

Conclusions

In the majority of vivax malaria cases in Yunnan Province, most of them were infected with strains carrying demonstrating highly mutated in pvmdr1 genes. However, the dominant mutation strains types varied from year to year, which warrants further exploration in order to confirm the correlation between with phenotypic changes in P. vivax strains and their susceptibility to anti-malarial drugs such as chloroquine.
Exploration of an alternative reconstructed individual patient data-based approach for budget impact analysis of anticancer drugs
Authors: Ma Yue , Zhou Jiting , Ye Yuxin , Ma Aixia , Li Hongchao
Published: June 2023

Background

The duration of treatment (DOT) of the initial intervention and subsequent treatment is the key to determining the accuracy of anticancer-drug budget impact analysis (BIA) calculations. However, existing studies only use simple assumptions as a proxy for DOT, resulting in a high degree of bias.

Objectives

To enhance the accuracy and reliability of anticancer-drug BIA and solve the problem regarding DOT, we propose an alternative individual patient data (IPD)-based approach that reconstructs IPD from the published Kaplan Meier survival curves to estimate DOT.

Methods

We developed a four-step methodological framework for this new approach, taking the use of pembrolizumab in treating microsatellite-instability–high (MSI-H) advanced colorectal cancer as an example: (1) reconstructing the IPD; (2) calculating the total DOT of the initial intervention and subsequent treatment for each patient; (3) assigning a randomized time and DOT; and (4) multiple replacement sampling and calculation of the mean value.

Results

Using this approach, the average DOT for the initial intervention and subsequent treatment in each year of the BIA time horizon can be calculated and used to calculate the resources consumed and costs in each year. In our example, the average DOT for the initial intervention with pembrolizumab from the first to the fourth year was 4.90, 6.60, 5.24, and 5.06 months, respectively, while the average DOT for subsequent treatment was 0.75, 2.84, 2.99, and 2.50 months, respectively.

Conclusions

The reconstructed IPD-based approach can improve the accuracy and reliability of anticancer-drug BIA compared with conventional methods, and can be widely used, especially for anticancer drugs with excellent efficacy.
Perception of health risks in contexts of extreme climate change in semiarid Northeastern Brazil: an analysis of the role of socioeconomic variables
Authors: de Moura Brito Júnior Valdir , de Magalhães Henrique Fernandes , Albuquerque Ulysses Paulino
Published: June 2023

Background

Global climate change poses a significant challenge in contemporary society, particularly affecting vulnerable populations like small farmers residing in arid and semiarid regions. This study aims to investigate the perception of health risks and adaptive responses in the semiarid region of Northeast Brazil (NEB). Four questions were formulated: (1) How do socioeconomic factors influence the perception of health risks during extreme climate events? (2) How do socioeconomic factors impact the adoption of adaptive responses to mitigate health risks during extreme weather events? (3) How does the perceived risk level affect the utilization of adaptive responses? (4) What is the influence of extreme climate events on the perceived risks and the adoption of adaptive responses?

Method

The research was conducted in the rural community of Carão, situated in the Agreste region of the State of Pernambuco, NEB. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 49 volunteers aged 18 and above. The interviews aimed to gather socioeconomic information, including sex, age, income, access to healthcare services, family size, and education level. Additionally, the interviews explored the perceived risks and responses employed during different extreme climate events such as droughts or heavy rainfall. The perceived risks and adaptive responses data were quantified to address the research questions. Generalized linear models were employed to analyze the data for the first three questions, while the nonparametric Mann–Whitney test was used for the fourth question.

Results

The study found no significant differences in the level of perceived risk and adaptive responses between the two climate extremes. However, the quantity of adaptive responses was found to be directly influenced by the perceived risks, regardless of the type of extreme climate event.

Conclusion

The study concludes that risk perception is influenced by various complex factors, including socioeconomic variables, and plays a critical role in the adoption of adaptive responses during extreme climate events. The findings suggest that specific socioeconomic variables have a more pronounced influence on how individuals perceive and adapt to risks. Furthermore, the results indicate a cause-and-effect relationship between perceived risks and the generation of adaptive responses. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the factors shaping risk perception and provide valuable insights for future studies in regions prone to extreme climate events.
Influence of gender on age-associated in-hospital mortality in patients with sepsis and septic shock: a prospective nationwide multicenter cohort study
Authors: Ko Ryoung-Eun , Kang Danbee , Cho Juhee , Na Soo Jin , Chung Chi Ryang , Lim Sung Yoon , Lee Yeon Joo , Park Sunghoon , Oh Dong Kyu , Lee Su Yeon , Park Mi Hyeon , Lee Haein , Lim Chae-Man , Suh Gee Young ,   the Korean Sepsis Alliance (KSA) investigators, Jeon Kyeongman , Lee Yeon Joo , Hong Sang-Bum , Cho Young-Jae , Heo Jeongwon , Lee Jae-myeong , Kim Kyung Chan , Chang Youjin , Lee Sang-Min , Hong Suk-Kyung , Cho Woo Hyun , Kwak Sang Hyun , Lee Heung Bum , Ahn Jong-Joon , Seong Gil Myeong , Lee Song-I. , Park Tai Sun , Lee Su Hwan , Choi Eun Young , Moon Jae Young
Published: June 2023

Background

Numerous epidemiological studies investigating gender-dependent clinical outcomes in sepsis have shown conflicting evidence. This study aimed to investigate the effect of gender on in-hospital mortality due to sepsis according to age group.

Methods

This study used data from the Korean Sepsis Alliance, an ongoing nationwide prospective multicenter cohort from 19 participating hospitals in South Korea. All adult patients diagnosed with sepsis in the emergency departments of the participating hospitals between September 2019 and December 2021 were included in the analysis. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared between male and female. Eligible patients were stratified by age into 19–50 years, 50–80 years, and ≥ 80 years old individuals.

Results

During the study period, 6442 patients were included in the analysis, and 3650 (56.7%) were male. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] for in-hospital mortality for male compared with female was 1.15 (95% CI = 1.02–1.29). Interestingly, in the age 19–50 group, the risk of in-hospital mortality for males was significantly lower than that of females [0.57 (95% CI = 0.35–0.93)]. For female, the risk of death remained relatively stable until around age 80 (Pfor linearity = 0.77), while in males, there was a linear increase in the risk of in-hospital death until around age 80 (Pfor linearity < 0.01). Respiratory infection (53.8% vs. 37.4%,p < 0.01) was more common in male, whereas urinary tract infection (14.7% vs. 29.8%,p < 0.01) was more common in female. For respiratory infection, male had significantly lower in-hospital mortality than female in the age 19–50 groups (adjusted OR = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.12–0.69).

Conclusions

Gender may influence age-associated sepsis outcomes. Further studies are needed to replicate our findings and fully understand the interaction of gender and age on the outcomes of patients with sepsis.
Discovery of crime event sequences with constricted spatio-temporal sequential patterns
Authors: Maciąg Piotr S. , Bembenik Robert , Dubrawski Artur
Published: June 2023

In this article, we introduce a novel type of spatio-temporal sequential patterns called Constricted Spatio-Temporal Sequential (CSTS) patterns and thoroughly analyze their properties. We demonstrate that the set of CSTS patterns is a concise representation of all spatio-temporal sequential patterns that can be discovered in a given dataset. To measure significance of the discovered CSTS patterns we adapt the participation index measure. We also provideCSTS-Miner: an algorithm that discovers all participation index strong CSTS patterns in event data. We experimentally evaluate the proposed algorithms using two crime-related datasets: Pittsburgh Police Incident Blotter Dataset and Boston Crime Incident Reports Dataset. In the experiments, the CSTS-Miner algorithm is compared with the other four state-of-the-art algorithms: STS-Miner, CSTPM, STBFM and CST-SPMiner. As the results of the experiments suggest, the proposed algorithm discovers much fewer patterns than the other selected algorithms. Finally, we provide the examples of interesting crime-related patterns discovered by the proposed CSTS-Miner algorithm.
Difficult removal of implantable venous access system: stepladder approach with wire stenting of a catheter—single-center experience
Authors: Awan Muhammed Younas , Almatar Zahra , AlShawa Mohammad Anas , Alshanafey Saud
Published: June 2023

Background

Port-a-catheter insertion and removal are common procedures performed for children with chronic disease or cancer. Although its removal is usually straightforward, some difficulties during the procedure can be encountered. Several methods have been described in the literature to handle those cases where lines have become stuck.

Aim

To describe our simple technique in dealing with stuck port-a-catheters during removal. We will additionally report the incidence and factors associated with this complication.

Methods

A retrospective chart review study was performed between January 2009 and December 2019. Of a collective 2040 ports that were removed during the research interval, cases of difficult port removal were collected and reviewed. In 42 cases, catheter removal difficulty is encountered, and a second incision at the venous access site is performed. Failure of this procedure in removing the stuck catheter is then followed by catheter stenting and removal over a guide wire.

Results

Difficult removal of port-a-catheters was experienced in 42 cases (2%). The mean age at removal for those cases was 6.6 years. Most of the port-a-cath removals were done after treatment completion (74%). Ports had been left in situ for a mean duration of 44 months. The stepladder technique with wire stenting of the catheter was successful in 37 cases (88%), while the rest were only partially removed (distal part). The retained part was extracted using an angiographic technique. No short- or long-term complications were encountered in any of those 42 patients.

Conclusions

Stepladder with wire stenting of catheters approach deals with difficult line removals. Our technique is, therefore, simple, feasible, and effective.

Level of evidence

IV.
Total arch replacement for the enhanced-fibrinolytic-type disseminated intravascular coagulation patient with endoleak after thoracic endovascular aortic repair for aortic dissection
Authors: Kanamoto Ryo , Oda Takeshi , Akaiwa Keiichi , Nakamura Katsuhiko , Tayama Eiki
Published: June 2023

Background

Endoleaks after stent graft treatment can cause disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), leading to a bleeding tendency.

Case presentation

A 69-year-old man received thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for acute type B aortic dissection. After that, he developed bleeding tendency, and the diameter of his distal aortic arch increased. We diagnosed him with enhanced fibrinolytic-type DIC associated with a type Ia endoleak. We decided to perform a total arch replacement for the endoleak closure. To reduce the risk of massive bleeding, transfusion of fresh frozen plasma and platelets, oral tranexamic acid, and intravenous recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin were administered in the perioperative period. According to the multidisciplinary approach, the DIC improved, and the patient recovered.

Conclusion

We successfully treated an endoleak-related DIC patient with bleeding tendency and combined correction for coagulopathy with supportive treatments.
An overset mesh-free finite-difference method for seismic modeling including surface topography
Authors: Duan Peiran , Gu Bingluo , Li Zhenchun , Li Qingyang
Published: June 2023

An overset mesh-free finite-difference method (FDM) is developed for 2D time-domain seismic wave modeling using second-order elastic displacement wave equations in a generally isotropic medium that exhibits complex surface topography and subsurface structures. The complex surface topography is discretized using an overset mesh-free node generation method, thus naturally arranging surface nodes on the surface topography and outperforming the Cartesian grid in terms of geometric flexibility. A Cartesian grid is used to discretize the entire computational region in terms of computational efficiency. The QR-decomposition radial-basis-function FDM (QR-RBF-FDM) and FDM are adopted to solve the equation independently in the mesh-free node and Cartesian grid. The data transfers between them are conducted through QR-RBF interpolation to facilitate mesh-free calculation, thus eliminating the requirement for node-to-grid matching. The improved free-surface boundary condition is implemented in the QR-RBF-FDM. Furthermore, a more appropriate formula for the outward normal direction is developed. The numerical solutions of our method are compared with those of the curvilinear grid FDM and standard FDM to verify the effectiveness of our method. The results indicate that our method avoids numerical scattering induced by staircase approximations of Cartesian grids while saving considerable computational costs. Therefore, this method is a better candidate than the mesh-free FDM for seismic numerical simulation with free surface topography.
A Novel Approach to Diagnostic Left and Right Heart Catheterization in a Patient With a Mechanical Prosthetic Tricuspid Valve
Authors: Kim Seulgi E. , Parekh Dhaval , Lam Wilson
Published: June 2023

A 47-year-old patient was experiencing dyspnea and fatigue concerning for right ventricular hypertension and new heart failure. Because of the risks associated with catheter entrapment, prosthetic valve leaflet damage, and valve thrombosis associated with crossing a mechanical valve, a novel technique was used for diagnostic left and right heart catheterization in a patient with mechanical tricuspid valve replacement and tortuous pulmonary arteries. Using a percutaneous subxiphoid approach to avoid traversing the mechanical valve without discontinuing anticoagulation, a Volcano fractional flow reserve pressure wire (Philips Volcano) was advanced for distal measurements of pressures and saturations.
A review on metabolomics for quality improvement of fruit crops
Authors: Rajan Rajni , Rahmani Noorullah , Pandey Kuldeep , Prusty Reena , Singh Siddhrath
Published: June 2023

The field of metabolomics is gaining ground in plant biology, and its potential uses in agricultural biotechnology are expanding. Metabolomics is the study of metabolites, which are extremely small molecules. The phenotype correlates more strongly with the metabolomic profile than with the genomic, transcriptomic, or proteomic profiles. Plant metabolic profiling is another application of metabolomics that has been used to identify previously uncharacterized genes and their roles. The use of metabolomics to evaluate mutants and transgenic plants, track fruit development, determine quality, detect disease resistance, determine abiotic stress tolerance, etc., has become increasingly important. Metabolomics has also been applied to plant studies, which have become increasingly important in efforts to improve fruit quality. We first assess the profound influence metabolomics has had over the past decade, then provide an introduction to the field, its current contribution, and the hope it holds for enhancing fruit production.
Evaluation of grass pollen quality control for allergy test kit production using pollen morphological characters
Authors: Jarupund Pakawat , Sinthuvanich Chomdao , Jantrakulroj Prayoon , Suwanphakdee Chalermpol
Published: June 2023

Grass pollen is one of the leading causes of allergies in throughout the world. The symptom level depends on the personal immunity. Pollen allergy test kits are suitable for detecting allergic symptoms, which they are produced from pure pollen of specific species. The production of pollen allergy testing kits requires accurate botanical standards and identification for the process of quality control of raw materials basing on Thai Food and drug ministration (Thai FDA). To produce allergy test kit, we focused on the pollen of these 6 common grass species and also use pollen morphological characters for detection and identification. Therefore, this study focused on the method for qualification control and standardization for prototype product of grass pollen allergy testing kit. Six common grass species as Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.) B.K.Simon & S.W.L. Jacobs, Oryza sativa L., Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, Urochloa eminii (Mez) Davidse, Urochloa mutica (Forssk.) T.Q.Nguyen and Zea mays L.). The criteria were: 1) common in Thailand and Southeast Asia; 2) high density in the atmosphere; and 3) severity of the allergic reaction. The modified acetolysis were applied for samples preparation. The pollen morphological (polar and equatorial axes, exine, porus, annulus and ornamentation) were observed and measurement under light and scanning electron microscope. The character matrix was analyzed based on a regression tree and Tukey’s HSD test to assess support for the different pollen morphological characters. The distinguished character is ornamentation. The results were successfully described the pollen species and showed that the pollen morphologies were useful for contaminated detection. In addition, this method was suitable applied for qualification control of the raw materials for grass pollen allergy testing kits production.
Retrospective on Waco
Authors: Reavis Dick J.
Published: June 2023

The year 2023 marks the thirtieth anniversary of the deaths of eighty-two Branch Davidians, including their twenty-two children, and four agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) in a conflict at the Branch Davidians’ Mount Carmel Center property outside Waco, Texas. After the shootout between ATF agents and Branch Davidians on February 28, 1993, FBI agents took over and presided over a siege that lasted fifty-one days. The siege ended on April 19, 1993 with the FBI’s tank and CS gas assault on the Branch Davidians’ residence for six hours that concluded in a massive fire. In this “Retrospective on Waco,” Texas journalist Dick J. Reavis, author of The Ashes of Waco (1995), shares his observations on the conflict at Mount Carmel Center, and on the recent book, Waco: David Koresh, the Branch Davidians, and a Legacy of Rage (2023), by Jeff Guinn. Despite all the books written since 1993, no definitive account of the complex events at Mount Carmel Center has been published.
Mississippi River Valley Voodoo
Authors: Anderson Jeffrey E.
Published: June 2023

When visiting New Orleans, it is easy to assume that Voodoo, as practiced by the likes of the nineteenth-century “Voodoo Queen of New Orleans” Marie Laveau, is alive and well, as evidenced by the Voodoo-inspired tourist shops, merchandise, and art that are ubiquitous in the French Quarter. Such is not quite the case. Following more than a century of suppression, the religion that throve into the late nineteenth century was struggling to survive by the 1940s and may have ceased to exist as a living faith shortly thereafter. While some scholars have suggested that the African American Spiritual churches of New Orleans are modern manifestations of Voodoo, these congregations lack key features of the historical Voodoo religion and have but a tenuous connection with it. The city’s current practitioners of Voodoo, meanwhile, tend to be initiates of Haitian Vodou or West African Vodun. Ultimately, Lower Mississippi River Valley Voodoo, both in New Orleans and elsewhere, is best understood as a historical religion rather than a living tradition. Contemporary practitioners of “New Orleans Voodoo” are constructing an emerging religion from elements of African diasporic belief in a city deeply imbued with a legacy of Voodoo.
“A Very Queer Case”
Authors: Greene-Hayes Ahmad
Published: June 2023

In this article, I present the case of Clementine Barnabet, an Afro-Creole teenager who was arrested in 1911 and convicted in 1912 for allegedly committing “Voodoo murders” in southwest Louisiana and Texas. The press, the police, and other Louisiana officials, along with an author employed by the Louisiana Writers’ Project in the 1930s, used racialized and sexualized hyperbole to deem Barnabet a participant in a “Voodoo cult,” purportedly called the Church of the Sacrifice. Moreover, in their quest for information about Barnabet and her beliefs, white Americans also imagined a monolithic Black religion—specifically, a sensationalized Voodoo religion—practiced by all people of African descent in the region regardless of their self-identification as Christians or practitioners of conjure, or both. Thus, I propose reviewing Barnabet’s case not as an attempt to determine her guilt or innocence, but rather as a means of deconstructing white American eroticized racial fantasy in the production of a normative American Christian religion and the concurrent misrepresentation of Black religions.
Fractal analysis of fractograms of aluminum alloys irradiated with high current electron beam
Authors: Donets S.Ye. , Lytvynenko V.V. , Startsev O.A. , Lonin Yu.F. , Ponomarev A.G. , Uvarov V.T.
Published: June 2023

The aluminum alloys D16 and AMg6 were irradiated using the high-current relativistic electron beam in vacuum. Intense electron irradiation of the materials modified their physical properties. The fractal character of the fracture surfaces’ images was studied. The change of the fractality is a distinguished descriptor of the materials modification. The characteristic ductile and brittle fractures are accompanied by the change of the fractal dimension.