bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Caliphate Diplomacy and Late Ottoman Inclusion into the Imperial World Order
Authors: Aydin Cemil
Published: December 2024

This chapter deals with the international and legal politics of the process of exclusion and inclusion of the Ottoman Empire within the European imperial order during the nineteenth century. While the Ottoman elite claimed to fulfill the required standards of civilization to become an equal member of the Concert of Europe, it was subjected to unequal legal treatment by European great powers. The chapter focuses on different Ottoman strategies to ensure sovereignty and legal equality in the face of stigmatization as a Muslim monarchy by the European great powers. It argues that the Ottoman imperial strategy of emphasizing the spiritual sovereignty of the caliphate over Muslims ruled by European Empires was one of the policies to negotiate inclusion into the European international order as an equal member, not a rejection of European standards of civilization. The chapter will also try to make sense of the late Ottoman background of the Lausanne Treaty of 1923 that recognized the equal sovereignty of modern Turkey.
Global Diplomacy and Ethiopia’s Struggle for Sovereignty
Authors: d’Alòs-Moner Andreu Martínez
Published: December 2024

While nationalist historiography has tended to emphasize the narrative of a thousand-year old monarchy that against all odds preserved its independence, this chapter tries to present a more complex picture. The kingdom of Shewa emerged as a huge nation-empire (Ethiopia) at the end of the nineteenth century out of a ferocious power struggle with rival Abyssinian kingdoms (chiefly Gojjam, Tigray, Gondar, and Wallo) that also claimed, although less successfully, imperial pre-eminence. Helping the kingdom of Shewa achieve its ambitious goals were the European colonial powers that provided it with diplomatic leverage and, crucially, with modern technology and weaponry. Eventually, Menelik’s Shewa became the most powerful state in Sub-Saharan Africa. Moreover, Shewan Ethiopia expanded at the expense of a multitude of chieftancies, tribes, and minor kingdoms (the Gibbe states, the Wolayta Kingdom, the Harar sultanate, the Afar chieftancy), which in the central and southern regions of modern Ethiopia failed to preserve their independence. The paper emphasizes the role played in this process by the politics of the “Restauratio Imperii”: Menelik skillfully manipulated indigenous and foreign tropes of imperial “grandeur,” managing herewith to seduce European diplomacy and to legitimize his ambitious territorial claims and colonizing appetite.
Trusting Is Believing
Authors: McCormick Miriam Schleifer
Published: December 2024

This chapter explores the relationship between trust and belief, proposing that trust be understood as a form of belief. It discusses the standard objections to viewing trust as a kind of belief, primarily those that highlight the affective and normative elements of trust which seem distinct from more traditional views of belief. This chapter argues that trust aligns well with the view of beliefs as emotions which offers a broader, more inclusive understanding of belief. The chapter further examines how trust integrates evidence and norms in a way that is analogous to other emotions.
Implicit Attitudes and Self-Deception
Authors: McCormick Miriam Schleifer
Published: December 2024

This chapter argues that both implicit attitudes and self-deception should be viewed as beliefs, presenting both as examples of emotional conflicts that maintain both avowed and disavowed beliefs. After considering earlier defenses of doxasticism about these attitudes and problems with them, this chapter argues that thinking of beliefs as emotions can address those problems; thinking about ambivalent or conflicting emotions increases understanding of self-deception, and thinking about recalcitrant emotions increases understanding of implicit attitudes. The chapter concludes, as have previous chapters, by urging theorists to accept that our doxastic lives are more complex and less tidy than standard views of belief allow.
Deep Disagreement and Belief Alteration
Authors: McCormick Miriam Schleifer
Published: December 2024

This chapter argues that the view of belief as emotion can help illuminate the phenomenon of deep disagreement. In particular, it provides a model for engaging with deeply entrenched but counter-evidential beliefs such as those held by conspiracy theorists. The chapter begins by examining deep disagreements that stubbornly persist even when parties share the same evidence and engage in rational dialogue. It then considers how viewing beliefs as emotions clarifies the processes by which beliefs change in response to new experiences or information. The chapter proposes that understanding beliefs as emotions illuminates why some beliefs are resilient despite contrary evidence and helps explain the mechanisms of belief change. The chapter argues that thinking of how we engage with other problematic emotions can be helpful in thinking about how do engage with problematic “fringe” beliefs. Further, thinking of beliefs as emotions can explain why, if one’s belief is seen as centrally connected to one’s identity, even if there is overwhelming evidence against the belief, it often remains resilient.
Debt Capital Markets
Authors: Bavoso Vincenzo
Published: December 2024

This monograph deals with the law and regulation of debt capital markets. It explores in particular the role that these markets and products have in fuelling episodes of crisis and financial instability. The central argument proposed in this book is that instability in financial markets—culminating with the global financial crisis of 2008 and resurfacing with urgency in 2020—is the offspring of a process of transformation that started in the 1980s. The analysis in this book proceeds by charting the evolution of debt capital markets and their growth propelled by undisputed belief in neoclassical economics, and attendant assumptions of efficient markets. This orthodoxy in turn informed the changes that shaped, between the 1980s and 1990s, the regulatory edifice of capital markets. This book explains how this process of transformation and liberalization led to debt capital markets—from bonds to more sophisticated forms of securitized credit—becoming uncontrolled engines of private debt creation, excessive levels of leverage, and inevitably, financial instability. Ultimately, this book contends that the regulatory reactions engineered after the global financial crisis of 2008 have not gone far enough in re-evaluating those underlying beliefs and assumptions, which in fact are at the heart of current policies. As a result, debt capital markets remain the main locus of financial instability, and the financial system as a whole is as fragile and exposed to shocks as it was before 2008.
Transactional dimensions of debt capital markets
Authors: Bavoso Vincenzo
Published: December 2024

This chapter focuses on the transactional dimension of debt capital markets. The analysis details the relevant markets and products, starting with the bond market as the engine for the earlier expansions of capital markets, and then moving on to the examination of commercial paper, covered bonds, securitization and its pre-2008 innovations, (such as collateralized debt obligations and synthetics), as well as the post-2008 evolutions (such as collateralized loan obligations). In unveiling the risks that emanate from these markets and their expansion, this chapter also explores the synergies and interconnections with adjacent markets, primarily credit derivatives (products such as credit default swaps and interest rate swaps), the repo market, channels of FinTech lending. This chapter provides the necessary understanding of the mechanics of debt capital markets, and particularly the transactional dynamics that elicit excessive risk-taking, leverage, and instability. It also shows how different transactions and products evolved as a result of a relentless, unfettered process of financial innovation.
Laser Experiments for Chemistry and Physics, Second Edition
Authors: Compton Robert N. , Duncan Michael A.
Published: December 2024

Lasers are employed throughout science and technology, in fundamental research, the remote sensing of atmospheric gases or pollutants, communications, medical diagnostics and therapies, and the manufacturing of microelectronic devices. Understanding the principles of their operation, which underlie all of these areas, is essential for a modern scientific education. This text introduces the characteristics and operation of lasers through laboratory experiments designed for the undergraduate curricula in Chemistry and Physics. Introductory chapters describe the properties of light, the history of laser invention, the atomic, molecular, and optical principles behind how lasers work, and the kinds of lasers available today. Other chapters include the basic theory of spectroscopy and computational chemistry used to interpret laser experiments. Experiments range from simple in-class demonstrations to more elaborate configurations for advanced students. Each chapter has historical and theoretical background, as well as options suggested for variations on the prescribed experiments. This text will be useful for undergraduate students in advanced lab classes, for instructors designing these classes, or for graduate students beginning a career in laser science.
The Speed of Light
Authors: Compton Robert N. , Duncan Michael A.
Published: December 2024

This chapter describes different ways to measure the speed of light. It begins with a novel experiment using the measurement of the capacitance of a home-built two-plate capacitor in air. This experiment demonstrates that the velocity of light, c, permittivity of free space, ε0, and the permeability of free space, μ0, are all fundamental constants and related through c = 1/√μ0 ε0. A second experiment is presented that determines the speed of light by measuring the time a laser pulse travels a known distance in air or in a gaseous material such as iodine vapor. In addition, the speed of light in a fiber-optic cable is determined for various wavelengths, showing the small dispersion in these devices.
Thermal Lens Calorimetry
Authors: Compton Robert N. , Duncan Michael A.
Published: December 2024

When light is absorbed in materials, heat is generated, causing the refractive index of the material to change. The absorbance of the specific wavelength of light, the heat capacity of the material, and the spatial profile of the illumination all influence the amount of heating and consequent transmission of light through the material. This chapter describes a demonstration of these ideas involving absorption of red light from a helium–neon laser by a blue solution. The heat generated in solution, and consequent change in its refractive index, have the radial profile that produces a negative lens. The magnitude of the effect is measured via transmitted light intensity, and its exponential time behavior is investigated with laser chopping and detection of the light with a fast photodiode. These measurements illustrate a simple example of time-resolved data collection with a digital oscilloscope, and allow determination of thermal and optical properties of the solution.
Optical Spectroscopy
Authors: Compton Robert N. , Duncan Michael A.
Published: December 2024

This chapter provides an introduction to atomic and molecular electronic and rovibrational spectroscopy. It contains many of the elements one might find in an introductory course in atomic and molecular spectroscopy and is specifically designed to assist in the interpretation of the various experiments contained in the book. It is included in an effort to make the book useful as an advanced undergraduate or first-year graduate textbook in spectroscopy. The study of spectroscopy is motivated with discussions of sunlight passing through atmospheric gases and the nightime aurora emissions. High-resolution FTIR spectra are analyzed using modern molecular rovibrational analysis. The discussions of spectra include energy levels which allow the student to make their own analysis as well. The importance of IR spectroscopy is motivated by a discussion of the greenhouse effect and global warming. The chapter also includes a discussion of the effects of nuclear spin statistics on molecular vibrational spectra. Selection rules are discussed in terms of angular momentum conservation. Vibrational progressions are explained together with their relationship to anharmonicity and bond dissociation energies.
Optical Rotary Dispersion of a Chiral Liquid (α-Pinene)
Authors: Compton Robert N. , Duncan Michael A.
Published: December 2024

Measurements of the optical rotary dispersion (ORD) for both enantiomers of the α-pinene molecule in solution are presented along with a description of the theoretical calculation of the ORD for this molecule. Excellent agreement between experiment and theory is seen suggesting that combined experiment and theory is a good method for determining the absolute conformation for this molecule. A simple method for determining the enantiomeric excess of pinene molecules over the canopy of pine forests is suggested.
Raman Shifting and Stimulated Electronic Raman Scattering (SERS)
Authors: Compton Robert N. , Duncan Michael A.
Published: December 2024

This chapter shows how Raman scattering in atomic and molecular gases can be employed to both up- and down-shift the frequencies of fixed and tunable laser light to be used in a number of spectroscopic applications. The discussion is divided into two parts: Raman shifting in hydrogen, deuterium, and methane gas, and Stimulated Electronic Raman Scattering (SERS) in alkali vapors. In the second part experiments on infrared absorption spectroscopy of methane and ammonia using SERS are described. The experiments demonstrate the inversion doubling of the vibrational frequencies of the ammonia molecule.
Fluorescence Lifetime of Iodine Vapor
Authors: Compton Robert N. , Duncan Michael A.
Published: December 2024

Fluorescence is one of the most fundamental relaxation processes exhibited by atoms and molecules following optical excitation. Its rate is characterized in the form of the fluorescence lifetime, which is an exponential decay following pulsed excitation. This chapter describes the measurement of the fluorescence lifetime of iodine vapor following pulsed laser excitation with a Nd:YAG laser at 532 nm. The apparatus described is generally applicable for studies of fluorescence lifetimes for a variety of atomic or molecular species. Different methods of fitting the exponential decay are presented. Non-radiative relaxation processes such as collisional quenching which shorten fluorescence lifetimes are also discussed.
The Economics of Child Labour
Authors: Cigno Alessandro , Rosati Furio C.
Published: December 2024

Children throughout the world are engaged in activities that can be classified as work. Some of these are harmless like helping parents in the home, or have a valuable learning-by-doing component like helping in the family farm or family business. Others are dangerous or morally degrading. All, however, compete with formal education. The book provides a blend of theory, empirical analysis and policy discussion of child labour and related variables such as education, fertility and infant mortality. It is primarily intended for advanced and research students. This second edition presents further evidence of the factors that determine the demand and supply of child labour, the demand for education, and of the nexus between child labour, education, fertility, and health. A new chapter assesses the effectiveness of the policies that are actually carried out in developing countries for the specific purpose of curbing child labour.
Child Labour, Fertility, and Gender
Authors: Cigno Alessandro , Rosati Furio C.
Published: December 2024

The theoretical analysis in earlier chapters shows how child labour and fertility are jointly determined as part of the parents’ optimizing strategy. Therefore, changes in fertility behaviour determined by some exogenous change are likely to affect child labour as well. Similarly, changes in child labour determined by some exogenous change are likely to affect fertility behaviour as well. This chapter is dedicated to the review of the evidence on the relationship between fertility and child labour. Such evidence is not very large, but clearly points towards the existence of a strong link between fertility and child labour. Exogenous changes in either of them are likely to significantly affect the other. Moreover, once the endogeneity of fertility is taken into account, its impact on child labour and school attendance increases.
Impact Evaluation of Child Labour Reduction Policies
Authors: Cigno Alessandro , Rosati Furio C.
Published: December 2024

This chapter is devoted to a review of the impact of different policies and programmes actually implemented to address child labour with a bearing on child labour. It looks at legislation, transfers (both conditional and unconditional), public works, microcredit and livelihood programmes, and other forms of intervention. While the jury is still out, as sound impact evaluations are not so abundant, the results are far from showing an outright success. In the majority of cases the effects on child labour are small and often short-lived. In several cases the policies generate unwanted consequences that actually lead to an increase in child labour. Apparently the policies implemented often did not give enough consideration to the complex set of incentives that determine the decisions of the household relative to the allocation of children’s time.
Hidden Members: Variation in Ethnic Visibility
Authors: Robinson Amanda Lea
Published: December 2024

This chapter develops the concept of ethnic visibility, both theoretically and empirically. The chapter first presents a theoretical discussion of ethnic visibility within the context of existing scholarship and proposes a conceptualization of ethnic visibility at the individual-level that includes both ethnic signs and ethnic signals. The chapter next introduces a multifaceted measure of ethnic visibility at the individual level. Drawing on original survey and qualitative data, the chapter then demonstrates that there is significant variation in ethnic visibility among Lhomwes in Malawi, and explores why some individuals are more visible than others. Finally, the chapter proposes a group-level proxy for ethnic visibility that demonstrates significant variation in visibility across African ethnic groups. Taken together, the evidence in this chapter underscores that we cannot assume that ethnic identities are universally visible.
US ESG Regulation in Transnational Context
Authors: Harper Ho Virginia
Published: December 2024

The advance of ESG regulation in various forms internationally and domestically has sparked intense public debate in the United States and triggered an anti-ESG backlash. In some cases, the concerns driving this debate resonate outside the United States, but in general, they are closely linked to unique aspects of the US domestic legal and political landscape. This chapter surveys the major ESG (and anti-ESG) federal and state-level regulatory initiatives in the United States. It explores the main divides with reference to important features of the US institutional context in order to explain why US ESG reform efforts lag behind those on the other side of the Atlantic. Understanding this context may also help clarify where ESG integration can advance in the United States, as well as where it might require more fundamental normative shifts or legislative reform.
Stakeholder Governance Models and Corporate Interests
Authors: Veil Rüdiger
Published: December 2024

Corporate interest has been the subject of debate in Germany for 100 years now. The chapter reflects on this discussion and explains why the stakeholder value model has prevailed. In particular, it looks at company co-determination, which plays a prominent role in the governance of corporations in Germany. The chapter also deals with EU legislation on sustainability reporting. The obligation to report on the transformation plan and the company’s goals on climate neutrality will have an impact on managers’ duties. The corporate reporting requirements on the business model and its alignment with sustainability goals are more effective than a statutory regulation of corporate interests, which includes ESG concerns.
Cognitive processing of pitch structures and systems
Authors: McAdams Stephen
Published: December 2024

Pitch systems are built on a discretization of the pitch continuum into musical scales or modes, which display various psychological properties that allow for hierarchical ordering and implicit learning of scale degrees. Implicit learning of relations among tones, chords, and keys is based on the encoding of regularities encountered within each culture and can be modelled computationally with neural net and probabilistic learning models. Musical pitch systems that are hierarchically organized present advantages for learning and perception of relations over nonhierarchical systems. In music listening, event structures are processed to construct mental representations of structural relations among events, including segmental grouping, development of hierarchical relations among events, and their relations of relative tension and relaxation. These representations allow for the perception of invariant structural relations between original and transformed musical patterns and give rise to expectations for what should follow within each cultural system according to its musical syntax.
Short-term γ-aminobutyric acid antagonist treatment improves long-term sleep quality, memory, and decision-making in a Down syndrome mouse model
Authors: Pittaras Elsa C , Artal Jonathan M , Ajibola Grace , Allocca Giancarlo , Bennett Mia , Camargo Alexandra , Carpio Angelica , Gessner Nicholas , Hinton Myles , Pizzitola Rebecca , Tan Natalie , Zhang Evelyn , Zhong Alan , Heller Horace C
Published: December 2024

Down syndrome (DS) is a common genetic condition affecting people worldwide. It involves cognitive disabilities for which there are no drug therapies. The Ts65Dn mouse model of DS shows cognitive impairment due to a reduction in neuron number and connectivity as well as excessive neuronal activity, as γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) antagonist treatment restores memory in these mice. Our study showed the effects of GABA antagonist treatment on sleep and decision-making in Ts65Dn mice. We administered a daily, low oral dose of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) in milk to Ts65Dn mice for 17 days. Decision-making was tested with and without PTZ treatment. Short and long-term memories were tested before, immediately after, and 1 month following PTZ treatment. Electro-encephalography was also recorded at these three time points to study the effect of the treatment on sleep. We showed that PTZ treatment improved long-term recognition, but not short term memory and led to more Ts65Dn mice showing safer decision-making behavior. PTZ treatment showed a moderate and only global beneficial effect on sleep by decreasing the global amount of wake and increasing non-rapid eye movement sleep in the Ts65Dn mice, which may explain the observed cognitive improvements. These results bring new knowledge on the role of GABA in sleep, memory consolidation, and decision-making abilities in DS.
In silico, in vitro, and ex vivo analysis reveals miR‐27a‐3p and miR‐155‐5p as key microRNAs for glioblastoma progression: Insights into Th1 differentiation and apoptosis induction
Authors: Weber Augusto Ferreira , Scholl Juliete Nathali , Dias Camila Kehl , Lima Vinícius Pierdoná , Assmann Taís Silveira , Anzolin Eduardo , Kus Willian Pegoraro , Worm Paulo Valdeci , Battastini Ana Maria Oliveira , Figueiró Fabrício
Published: December 2024

We explored key microRNAs (miRNAs) related to tumorigenesis and immune modulation in glioblastoma (GBM), employing in silico, in vitro, and ex vivo analysis along with an assessment of the cellular impacts resulting from miRNA inhibition. GBM and T cells miRNA expression profiles from public datasets were used to evaluate differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs). Some DEmiRNAs were chosen for validation in GBM cell lines, primary cell cultures, and brain tumor patient samples, using RT‐qPCR. Target genes and pathways were identified with bioinformatic analyses. In silico functional enrichment analysis revealed that miR‐27a‐3p and miR‐155‐5p modulate immune, metabolic, and GBM‐related pathways. A172 cells were transfected with miRNA inhibitors and the effects on cellular processes and immunomodulation were analyzed by co‐culture assays and flow cytometry. Upon validation, miR‐27a‐3p and miR‐155‐5p miRNAs expressions were consistently increased. Inhibiting these two miRNAs reduced cell viability, but only the inhibition of miR‐27a‐3p led to apoptosis. Co‐culture assays showed an increase in Th1 cells along with elevated Th1/Treg and Th17/Treg ratios, and an increase in Th17 cells exclusively with miR‐155‐5p inhibition. Immune cells' gene expression modulation induced an antitumor profile, concomitant with an increase in the expression of apoptotic genes in cancer cells after co‐culture. This study unveils potential targets for immune and tumor regulation, highlighting overexpressed miRNAs modulation as a novel therapeutic approach for GBM.
MFAP2 upregulation promotes ESCC metastasis via FAK–AKT signaling pathway
Authors: Deng Yiran , Huang Xu , Yang Yiran , Zhang Yingcong , Zeng Bingjie , Bao Yunxia , Cao Leiqun , Wang Xianzhao , Ma Lifang , Wang Jiayi
Published: December 2024

Metastasis is the leading cause of mortality from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). By the time of diagnosis, most ESCC tumors have already invaded the lymph nodes or distant organs; however, it has been challenging to identify and confirm genes with a crucial role in ESCC metastasis. The microfibrillar‐associated protein 2 (MFAP2) is upregulated in human ESCC, and its expression level was positively associated with poor overall and disease‐free survival. Consistently, upregulation of MFAP2 promoted the metastasis and invasion of ESCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, these processes were reduced by MFAP2 knockdown. Mechanistically, MFAP2 was shown to bind to the FERM domain of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and to alleviate FAK intramolecular inhibition, resulting in the enhanced binding affinity between FAK and integrin beta 4 (ITGB4) and activation of the FAK–AKT signaling pathway. Treatment of ESCC cells with the FAK inhibitor PND‐1186 reduced MFAP2, induced the activation of the FAK–AKT pathway in vitro, and suppressed lung metastasis in a mouse model of ESCC. These findings support a major role for MFAP2 in promoting ESCC metastasis, in part via the activation of FAK–AKT signaling, and highlight the potential of MFAP2 as a promising therapeutic target for ESCC.
Overview of chronic hepatitis B management
Authors: Jun Angela , Bau Sherona , Kim John S. , Phillips Susanne J.
Published: December 2024

Chronic hepatitis B remains a substantial global health challenge, impacting approximately 254 million people worldwide. A cure for this condition is yet to be discovered. Early identification and effective treatments coupled with vigilant monitoring can help alleviate associated morbidity and mortality due to potential complications such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Should Femoral Nerve Blocks and Adductor Canal Blocks Be Used in Pediatric or Adolescent Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction?: A Systematic Review
Authors: Vivekanantha Prushoth , Sun Bryan , Tapasvi Sachin , Jaramillo Isabella , Hoshino Yuichi , de SA Darren
Published: December 2024

Background:

Achieving adequate pain control is vital for proper rehabilitation, satisfaction, and earlier discharge after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Opioids have traditionally been used for this purpose, however, can be associated with various negative outcomes. As such, multimodal analgesia was introduced to reduce postoperative opioid use. Regional nerve blocks constitute one modality of multimodal analgesia, with femoral nerve blocks (FNBs) and adductor canal blocks (ACBs) being standard. This review sought to evaluate the utility and adverse effects of FNBs and ACBs relative to controls, alternative regional anesthesia options, and each other in pediatric or adolescent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR).

Methods:

Three databases were searched on January 31, 2024. The authors adhered to the PRISMA and R-AMSTAR guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. The definition of pediatric was considered to be a mean age of 18 years or younger. Data on demographics, operative and anesthetic details, strength and functional outcomes, postoperative opioid consumption, revision rates and return to sport (RTS) rates, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores were extracted.

Results:

Eleven studies (1 level I, 10 level III) comprising 5453 patients were included in this review (54.1% female), with a mean age of 16.3 (range of means: 15.0 to 16.9) years. Two studies compared FNB with and without a sciatic-nerve block (SNB), finding lower opioid consumption (P=0.007) and VAS scores (P<0.0001) in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) in the FNB + SNB group. Three studies compared FNB or ACB with controls, with no studies reporting a benefit in rates of RTS, isokinetic quadriceps or hamstrings strength, or functional test performance. There were minimal differences when comparing continuous and single nerve blocks and FNB with ACB.

Conclusion:

There is inconclusive evidence investigating the role of FNB and ACB in pediatric or adolescent ACLR. The addition of a SNB to FNB may result in improvements in opioid consumption and VAS scores in the early postoperative period. There was minimal evidence in support of continuous blocks over single-shot blocks. Future studies should compare the use of ACB, FNB, and no blocks for pediatric or adolescent ACLR, with primary endpoints of acute pain control, postoperative opioid use, and the presence of longer-term motor deficits.

Level of Evidence:

Level III.
Maintaining a Sterile Surgical Bump
Authors: Elder Waters Michael , Caruso Michael , Lee Wonyong
Published: December 2024

Sterile towel bumps are commonly used to elevate the leg during foot and ankle surgery and can allow for improved surgical site exposure and x-ray views. In part due to extremity motion in foot and ankle surgery, items on the field undergo frequent shifts, consequently elevating the risk of contamination of items that fall below the sterile field. Intraoperatively, every minute counts as operating room time is a valuable resource and extended surgical duration increases the risk of postoperative infections. This highlights the opportunity to improve patient safety and operating room efficiency. We present a simple solution using materials readily available in the operating room that aims to maintain a sterile bump in foot and ankle surgery. The authors are optimistic that this technique will help maintain a sterile surgical bump to enhance the efficiency of the operating room for all foot and ankle surgeries.
Cardiac Functional Assessment by Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Jiang Mengdi , Lu Minjie , Zhao Shihua
Published: December 2024

The assessment of cardiac function using echocardiography has gained a strong foothold in clinical practice. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging harbors distinct advantages over echocardiography, as it is not affected by limitations of acoustic windows and operator dependence. CMR is also designed to non-invasively assess cardiac morphology, ventricular geometry, myocardial wall motion, and intra-cardiac flow quantification without the use of ionizing radiation. These inherent features make CMR appropriate for diagnosing cardiovascular diseases, monitoring patients after treatment, and providing longitudinal follow-up. In this paper, the state-of-the-art work that has demonstrated the aspects of cardiac function by CMR is reviewed, and acquisition techniques and clinical applications are covered.
Effectiveness of Interventions to Disease Management Programs of Patients with Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yap Hui-Yi , Ku Po-Ming , Huang Wen-Tsung , Huang Soon-Cen , Wu Li-Min , Guo How-Ran , Lin Wen-Li , Nguyen Thi-Hoang-Yen
Published: December 2024

Heart failure (HF) prevalence is rising due to population aging and increasing risk factor incidence, thereby posing a significant global public health challenge. Disease management programs (DMPs) play a crucial role in managing HF and optimizing postevent health outcomes. Through a systematic review and meta-analysis, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of DMPs following an HF event. Five electronic databases—Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and CINAHL—were searched for relevant studies published before December 2023. Studies with randomized controlled trials evaluating DMPs versus placebo for patients after an HF event were selected. Twelve articles were included in the meta-analysis, with a total of 3844 patients. The intervention group showed clinically significant improvement in exercise capacity [mean difference (95% confidence interval), 53.33 (43.40–67.26); P < 0.00001]; physical activity [−5.76 (−8.86 to −2.66); P = 0.0003]; emotional well-being [−2.32 (−4.39 to −0.25); P = 0.03]; and quality of life [−9.13 (−16.79 to −1.48); P = 0.02) compared with the control group. Furthermore, the control group showed significantly higher hospital admissions (P = 0.0002); readmissions (P = 0.00001); and mortality due to HF causes (P = 0.003) than the intervention group. DMPs have a positive effect on patients who have experienced an HF event by improving exercise capacity, physical activity, emotional well-being, and quality of life and reducing hospital admissions, readmissions, and mortality due to HF causes.
A review of catechins and their use in atopic dermatitis
Authors: Beagles Emma , Lerner Ethan A.
Published: December 2024

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by persistent itching of the skin with its prevalence increasing in the United States. AD has a complex pathogenesis that remains to be fully resolved, though it is shown to involve immune dysregulation and skin barrier dysfunction, with multiple environmental and genetic factors implicated. The interplay between the immune system and environmental exposures can incite immune responses with the release of cytokines, IgE, eosinophils, and mast cells, which trigger symptoms of AD in susceptible patients. There are many therapies used in AD; however, the first-line treatment for flares continues to be corticosteroids. The broad range of therapies available for AD is associated with adverse effects, poor adherence, and financial burden, accentuating the need to assess alternative therapies. A promising alternative therapy is the catechin family, a group of flavonoids with a unique structure that has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and skin barrier modulating properties. In this review, we describe the structure and related properties of catechins, their function, and how they can be utilized in the treatment of AD. Furthermore, we describe limitations associated with the use of catechins and the necessity of further research in this area. The function of catechins has been widely shown to modulate the inflammatory pathway and skin barrier dysfunction that have been implicated in AD and reduce symptoms. While catechins can mitigate symptoms and reduce associated inflammatory markers, further research is required to develop a therapy that retains the beneficial functions of catechins without increasing cytotoxicity.
The Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on Work Absence: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Workers
Authors: Etli Dominic , Wiewior Antonina , Malone Alex , Locke Ken , Bullock Nicholas , Howard Raina
Published: December 2024

Objectives

Compare SARS-CoV-2 infection and work absence rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated employees during a two-year pandemic period.

Methods

Cross-sectional study with 2,107 participants. Primary outcome: total days missed; main exposure: vaccination status. Analyses included t-tests to compare absence days and ANOVA to evaluate confounders. Mixed-effects logistic regression assessed infection risk, incorporating community prevalence as a fixed effect and work location as a random effect.

Results

Vaccinated employees missed slightly fewer days (0.16 days), though not statistically significant (p = 0.574). Symptom severity and job status were linked to higher absenteeism. Vaccination had a small but significant protective effect (p = 0.045). Remote work correlated moderately with reduced absenteeism.

Conclusion

Vaccination lowered infection risk but not absenteeism due to uniform quarantine policies. Remote work reduced absenteeism and should be integrated into future interventions to support vulnerable workers.
Assessment of UK Heavy Goods Vehicle drivers' lifestyle behaviours: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ruettger Katharina B , Willis Scott A , King James A , Clemes Stacy A
Published: December 2024

Objective

Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers face difficult working conditions, promoting unhealthy lifestyle behaviours which are associated with an elevated prevalence of long-term health conditions.

Methods

109 drivers across the UK completed an online survey investigating differences in lifestyle behaviours between drivers with (N = 54) and without obesity (N = 55), including differences on work and non-workdays using an exploratory data analysis approach.

Results

Drivers with obesity (49.6%) perceived more barriers to healthy eating and being active than drivers without obesity. Drivers with obesity reported choosing more unhealthy options as snacks, ate more often at fast-food chains, and fewer fulfilled the physical activity guidelines. Additionally, the two groups differed regarding food and beverage choices on work and non-workdays.

Conclusions

HGV drivers with obesity exhibit various dietary and physical activity behaviours associated with overnutrition and poor cardiometabolic health.
Impact of Persistent Combat-Related PTSD on Heart Disease and Chronic Disease Comorbidity in Aging Vietnam Veterans
Authors: Stellman Steven D. , Kaiser Anica Pless , Smith Brian N. , Spiro Avron , Stellman Jeanne Mager
Published: December 2024

Objectives

To assess combat and combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as risk factors for heart disease and non-cardiac chronic disease comorbidity in deployed Vietnam veterans 50 years post-War.

Methods

A random sample of 735 Vietnam-deployed American Legionnaires was surveyed in 1984, 1998, and 2000 for combat exposure, probable PTSD, and history of diagnosed chronic illnesses.

Results

Twenty-eight percent reported a diagnosed heart condition; combat exposure in Vietnam was a significant predictor (OR = 1.92, 95% confidence interval 1.13-3.31). Veterans with heart disease reported significantly more comorbid chronic illnesses, including arthritis and respiratory conditions: sleep apnea, emphysema, and asthma. Chronic illnesses were reported more often by men with PTSD.

Conclusion

Emerging evidence suggests that 50 years after Vietnam combat and associated PTSD may contribute to heart disease and comorbid conditions.
IgG4-related retroperitoneal fibrosis presenting as a peripancreatic mass: a case series
Authors: Badshah Maaz Bin , Khan Qaisar Ali , Kazi Naima , Ansari Rabia Aslam , Verma Ravina
Published: December 2024

Introduction:

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a chronic, immune-mediated disorder characterized by widespread inflammation and fibrosis, leading to potential organ dysfunction if untreated. Often underdiagnosed due to subtle and varied symptoms, the disease can affect multiple organ systems. This case series highlights two patients who were diagnosed as cases of IgG4-related retroperitoneal fibrosis.

Methods:

A total of two patients were included in this prospective case series who presented to the gastroenterology department of a tertiary care hospital with the same signs and symptoms and were diagnosed with IgG4-related retroperitoneal fibrosis (IgG4-RPF).

Case summary:

Two patients were included in our case series, aged 25 and 26 years. The chief complaints included dull, radiating epigastric pain, other symptoms include diffuse abdominal pain, intensified, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and episodic diarrhea, and a history of B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-)-guided biopsies were performed, showing findings consistent with (IgG4-RPF). Both patients were started on a regimen of prednisolone, pantoprazole, and vitamin D, which they tolerated well without adverse effects. They were advised to follow up with a CT scan after one month

Conclusion:

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a rare, chronic condition often presenting as retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) and affecting multiple organs. Serum IgG4 levels can be normal in certain cases, histopathological and radiological investigations are necessary for the correct diagnosis. Early initiation of immunosuppressive drugs are necessary for the disease control.
Impact of being lateral and sitting position for spinal anesthesia administration on maternal hemodynamic variability and the timing of hypotension among cesarean section patients in a resource-constrained area: a prospective observational cohort study
Authors: Samuel Sintayehu , Kasahun Blen , Demeke Tsegaye , Reshad Seleman , Shemsu Nesredin , Kedir Abdulkadir , Achule Astemamagn , Mamo Temesgen , Dendir Getahun , Genetu Sinishaw , Wolde Yisehak
Published: December 2024

Background:

Type of anesthesia used for cesarean section can be general, spinal, or epidural. However, peripheral nerve blocks, such as the lower and upper extremity nerve blocks, can be referred to as other types of anesthesia. Spinal anesthesia is the most frequently used method because of its ease, dependability, and rapidity in attaining proper anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of spinal anesthesia induction position on maternal hemodynamics and the timing of hypotension.

Method:

A prospective observational cohort study design was employed. A simple random sampling technique was used. A total of 190 patients received spinal anesthesia, with 95 in the lateral and 95 in the sitting position in each group. The data were entered into Epi Data version 4.6 and then exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. Independent sample t-tests and chi-square (χ
2) tests were performed. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and log-rank test were used and P value ≤0.05 considered significant.

Results:

The overall incidence rates of hypotension in the lateral and sitting groups were 54.6% [95% CI, 52.3–72.1] and 73.8% [95% CI, 69.8–87.2], respectively (P = 0.025). The timing of first hypotension was 8.86 minute [95% CI, 8.690–13.272] and 15.75 minute [95% CI, 14.569–19.372] (P = 0.001) for sitting and lateral, respectively.

Conclusion and recommendation:

In this study, we found a significant difference between the lateral and sitting groups with different measurement parameters, such as blood pressure, intraoperative adverse events, and onset of hypotension. The incidence of hypotension, intraoperative adverse effects of spinal anesthesia, and fluid consumption were lower in the lateral groups. Nonetheless, instead of being technically challenging during spinal anesthesia induction, the lateral position results in better hemodynamics and onset of hypotension than in the sitting posture.
Klippel–Trenaunay syndrome in a child presented with bladder hemangioma: a rare manifestation of a rare syndrome
Authors: Bannoud Nour , Haddad Sultaneh , Kababeh Karam , Hijazi Yara , Aladwan Khaledah , Al Nserat Buthena , Khouri Lina , Alsiddig Hind , Ahmed Shahd Ibrahim Ali , Dalati Husam
Published: December 2024

Introduction:

Klippel–Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is a rare congenital anomaly. Involvement of visceral organs is rarely described, especially in the gastrointestinal system, liver, spleen, mediastinum, and genitourinary system, which typically leads to internal hemorrhage and may present as hematuria or hematochezia. Rectal and bladder bleeding in patients with KTS I are rare conditions.

Case presentation:

We present a rare instance of a 13-year-old female who experienced an unprompted visible hematuria for several days without any additional urinary symptoms. An investigative cystotomy was performed, which unveiled a hemangioma surrounding the opening of the left ureter and a large intramuscular hemangioma on the posterior wall.

Discussion:

A review of the cases showed that most patients with bladder hemangioma associated with KTS were men with an average age of 16 years (range: 3–37 years). The symptom that we have detected in nearly all cases, including ours, was gross hematuria, except in one case with microscopic hematuria.

Conclusion:

Pediatricians should suspect this syndrome in any child with one of its symptoms, especially since the skin manifestation is distinctive and indicative of this syndrome.
Status asthmaticus and the use of ketamine nebulization and magnesium sulfate: current strategies and outcomes
Authors: Ekong Mfonido , Morris Alexander T. , Eladasari Sripriya , Talluri Keerthi , Zayadna Ali Adel , Vidishta Ramkhalawon Sudha , Kohir Tejaswini , Sidhu Amikul , Moussa Naji , Hag Saeed Mohamed Abdelsalam Ibrahim , Abbas Kiran
Published: December 2024

This narrative review aims to systematically explore and synthesize the current literature on the efficacy and safety of ketamine nebulization and magnesium sulfate as therapeutic interventions in the management of status asthmaticus. The review evaluates clinical outcomes, administration protocols, and potential adverse effects associated with these treatments. Ketamine has proven effective in managing asthma due to its bronchodilator properties, primarily by stimulating nitric oxide and catecholamine release. Magnesium sulfate has shown benefits by interfering with calcium influx, which alleviates bronchospasm and enhances bronchodilation. Both treatments have been associated with improvements in FEV1 and peak expiratory flow rates, which improve blood oxygenation and reduce bronchospasm. Despite the promising results, more research is needed to determine the optimal dosages and administration routes for these interventions. Furthermore, current studies often do not use these treatments as first-line options, which may introduce confounding variables. Future research should focus on establishing clear protocols for the use of ketamine and magnesium sulfate in refractory acute-severe asthma and status asthmaticus. This review highlights the potential for these treatments to improve clinical outcomes when standard corticosteroid therapies are insufficient, suggesting that with appropriate dosing and consideration, they could be valuable additions to the management strategies for severe asthma exacerbations.