bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improvement of the nylon (N)-glass fiber (G) reinforced polyester composite properties by varying oxide ceramic particles and stacking sequences of N and G
Authors: Sosiati Harini , Fahrezy Rifqy Ahmad , Fahrudin  , Pamasti Ankas , Hata Satoshi , Gao Hongye
Published: November 2024

This study investigated the mechanical and physical properties of hybrid composites made with nylon fiber mesh (N), woven glass fiber (G), and unsaturated polyester (UPE) resin filled with different oxide ceramic particles (CPs) (ZnO, Al2O3, ZrO2, and TiO2). The influence of the stacking order of N and G (GGNNGG, GNGGNG, NGGGGN, and NNGGGG) on the mechanical properties of the composites was also studied. The goals of this study are to determine the best CP and stacking sequence for enhancing composite properties (flexural and impact properties) and reducing water absorption. The composites were manufactured in two steps using hand lay-up and press molding techniques. The first step involved fabricating N/G/UPE-2%CPs composites with a ratio of 8:14:78 (vol%) and a GNGGNG stacking sequence, referred to as type 1. In the second step, a composite with optimum properties obtained from type 1 was used as a reference and compared to composites with three different stacking sequences of GGNNGG, NGGGGN, and NNGGGG, known as type 2. The three-point bending, Charpy impact, and water absorption tests were conducted. The results revealed that the mechanical properties of N/G/UPE-2Al2O3 and N/G/UPE-2ZnO composites are nearly identical and higher than the others. However, N/G/UPE-2Al2O3′s water absorption is lower than that of N/G/UPE-2ZnO. These results suggest that the N/G/UPE-2Al2O3 composite, with a GGNNGG stacking pattern and a flexural strength of 125.12 MPa, an impact strength of 84.2 kJ m−2, and a low water absorption of 0.56%, could potentially serve as biomaterials.
Blending enzyme immobilization enabled high performance glucose sensor based on an n-channel organic electrochemical transistor
Authors: Shi Cheng , Jiang Xingyu , Wang Qi , Xiang Chuan , Dong Xinyu , Chi Lifeng , Huang Lizhen
Published: November 2024

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) have emerged as an advantageous choice for constructing biosensors due to their remarkable water compatibility, low operating voltage, and inherent amplification capability. However, the current research on bio-sensing based on OECTs predominantly employs p–type material PEDOT:PSS as the channel material. Nevertheless, the utilization of a single material and its depleting characteristics impose significant limitations on device miniaturization and integration applications. We present a high-sensitivity glucose sensor based on n-channel accumulation-type OECT through immobilization the glucose oxidase on Pt gate electrode with an blending approach. The glucose oxidase directly mixed with bovine serum albumin, chitosan and immolizied on the gate electode, demonstrating a stable and sensitive response to the glucose. The modified n-channel organic electrochemical transistor demonstrates a highly sensitive response to glucose across a concentration range from μM to mM, with a quantified stable sensitivity over 2.69 mmol–1 by normalizing the current change with respect to concentration. The device also exhibits selectivity towards glucose (compared with high concentrations of lactic acid, different concentration gradients of ascorbic acid, and uric acid), rendering it suitable for noninvasive glucose detection in body fluid like sweat, saliva etc This flexible and ensitive electrochemical transistor sensor holds immense potential for the development of potable healthcare biosensing.
A combined RSM – FEM analysis of weld quality in laser transmission welding of plastics
Authors: Kumar Nitesh , Chakravarty Soumyabrata , Kumar Nikhil , Sen Rajat Subhra
Published: November 2024

This study explores through transmission laser welding of dissimilar, optically transparent polymers, acrylic and polycarbonates using a novel hybrid approach that integrates Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Finite Element Method (FEM). Quantitative analysis involved a 3 factor, 3 level central composite design with process inputs of laser power, frequency and scanning speed. The resulting weld qualities, such as weld width, Heat Affected Zone (HAZ), ware measured, showing weld width ranges from 112.65 μm to 302.64 μm and HAZ between 20.85 μm to 105 μm. The thermal modelling provided predictions for depth of penetration, with values spanning from 106.25 μm to 228.65 μm. validated against experimental data, demonstrating an average error of 8.09%. Qualitatively, the investigation indicatees that laser power and scanning speed substantially effect the weld quality, with higher power leading to broader weld widths and greater HAZ. The FEM simulations confirmed these trends and provided insights into temperature distributions. The investigation contributes to the existing knowledge pool that would be beneficial to the academia and industries.
Mechanical, thermal, and morphological characterization of polylactic acid composites reinforced with coconut shell activated carbon
Authors: B Rajadurai , J Chandradass
Published: November 2024

Plastic containers are typically produced from non-biodegradable, petroleum-based plastics such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which pose considerable environmental issues due to their durability. A process for fabricating composite materials was studied that used the compression molding method to incorporate chemically untreated coconut shell activated carbon (1.5%, 3%, 6%, and 10%) as the reinforcing ingredient within a PLA matrix to evaluate its effect on the mechanical, morphological, thermal, and wettability characteristics. The introduction of AC decreased both tensile and impact strengths, while marginally raising the tensile modulus slightly from 1135.4 MPa to 1138.15 MPa. The addition of an AC filler with PLA matrix did not affect the hardness test. SEM images showed that the higher AC content led to the formation of agglomeration and voids, which reduced the mechanical strength of the material. The DSC analysis revealed an increase in the melting point; however, the TGA data demonstrated a decrease in degradation and an increase in residue at 600 °C, particularly with a higher AC concentration. The FTIR study verified that there were no chemical interactions observed between PLA and AC. The wettability tests showed that AC functions as a barrier, especially at concentrations of 3% and 6%, resulting in decreased water absorption in comparison to pure PLA. The findings indicated that PLA-AC composites improved some PLA characteristics for packaging as they can improve barrier qualities and degrade the PLA material earlier.
Feasibility study on the suitability of dielectric barrier discharge plasma treatment of desert sand for concrete production purposes
Authors: FENNER Yorick , BELLMANN Martin , TÜMMEL Andreas , GERHARD Christoph
Published: November 2024

Due to the continuously increasing building and construction industry, sand has become one of the most questioned raw materials worldwide. However, the available amount of sand suitable for concrete production is orders of magnitude lower that the demand and consumption. Even though desert sand is sufficiently available, it is not usable for realizing stable concrete due to its surface shape. Against this background, the suitability of energy-efficient ‘cold’ dielectric barrier discharge plasma operated at atmospheric pressure for improving the properties of concrete produced from desert sand was investigated in this contribution. It is shown that such plasma treatment allows for a certain roughening and re-shaping of sand grains. As a result, the mass flow of treated sand is decreased due to an improved wedging of sand grains. This leads to a certain increase in compressive strength of concrete samples. Even though this increase is marginal, the suitability of the applied type of plasma for modification of the geometry and surface chemistry of sand grains was proven, showing its basic potential for the treatment and preconditioning of sand used for concrete, mortar or plastering.
Inverse prediction of Al alloy post-processing conditions using classification with guided oversampling
Authors: Barnard A S
Published: November 2024

Machine learning is proving to be an ideal tool for materials design, capable of predicting forward structure-property relationships, and inverse property-structure relationships. However, it has yet to be used extensively for materials engineering challenges, predicting post-processing/structure relationships, and has yet to be used for to predict structure/post-processing relationships for inverse engineering. This is often due to the lack of sufficient metadata, and the overall scarcity and imbalance of processing data in many domains. This topic is explored in the current study using binary and multi-class classification to predict the appropriate post-synthesis processing conditions for aluminium alloys, based entirely on the alloying composition. The data imbalance was addressed using a new guided oversampling strategy that improves model performance by simultaneously balancing the classes and avoiding noise that contributes to over-fitting. This is achieved by through the deliberate but strategic introduction of not-a-numbers (NaNs) and the use of algorithms that naturally avoid them during learning. The outcome is the successful training of highly accurate binary classifiers, with significant reductions in false negatives and/or false positives with respect to the classifiers trained on the original data alone. Superior results were obtained for models predicting whether alloys should be solutionised or aged, post-synthesis, by guiding the re-balancing of the classes based on features (metals) that are highly ranked by the classifier, and then doubling the size of the data set via interpolation. Overall, this strategy has the greatest impact on tasks with a Shannon Diversity Index greater than 1 or less than 0.5, but can be applied to any prediction of post-processing conditions as part of an inverse engineering workflow.
Household needs among wildfire survivors in the 2017 Northern California wildfires
Authors: Snyder Mitchell , Miles Mira , Hertz-Picciotto Irva , Conlon Kathryn C
Published: November 2024

Wildfires are impacting communities globally, with California wildfires often breaking records of size and destructiveness. Knowing how communities are affected by these wildfires is vital to understanding recovery. We sought to identify impacted communities’ post-wildfire needs and characterize how those needs change over time. The WHAT-Now study deployed a survey that was made publicly available for communities affected by the October 2017 Northern California wildfires or the accompanying smoke at beginning approximately four months post-fire with the vast majority completed by nine months post-fire. Among other questions, the survey asked an adult household member to report on their households’ greatest need both one-week post-fire and at the time of survey. A total of 1461 households responded to these questions. Households reported many types of needs, with 154 responses that did not directly name needs but rather described how their households had been affected, which we classified as impacts. Four major themes were identified: physical, health, air, and information, each representing an array of varied specific needs or impacts. Physical needs (e.g. housing, food) were the most common (cited by more than 50% during the fires and about a third at the time of survey). The need for clean air was strong during the fires, but not months later, at the time of survey. In contrast, health needs were reported by a quarter of households during the fires. Needs that were reported at both times were categorized as ‘persistent’, and there were more persistent mental health needs over time compared to other health themes. Understanding the needs and impacts that arise during wildfires, their diversity and duration, and how they change over time is crucial to identifying types of assistance that are most needed during recovery efforts and when they are needed. Results presented here along with other wildfire needs assessments can be utilized to improve disaster preparedness, including for wildfire recovery.
Household energy choices under fuel stacking scenarios: evidence for bundling welfare schemes for facilitating clean fuel use
Authors: Manjula M
Published: November 2024

Energy poverty related to a reliance on traditional biomass for cooking has a strong association with environmental degradation, gender inequity and human health. Reduction of energy poverty is a growing concern in public policy agenda globally. In India, the last decade has seen concerted efforts to provide clean cooking fuel to the population. Despite this, wide regional disparities in energy poverty exist in India, indicating differential regional impacts of policies. A shift to universal access to clean modern cooking fuel requires the redesign of policies, with insights from a decentralized understanding of actual drivers of household cooking energy choices across diverse regions. The paper attempts to explain household cooking fuel choices under multiple fuel use (fuel stacking) scenarios in two states of India, differentiated by their socio-economic status and development trajectories. The paper employs multinomial logistic (MNL) regression on household level data from the Indian Human Development Survey 2015 to identify factors determining fuel choices. Urbanization, per capita income, the educational attainment of the household head and women in the household, having a separate kitchen for cooking and not living in one’s own house were observed to be positively influencing a switch to clean cooking energy in both the states. The results of the study indicate that shifting out of energy poverty and achieving the goal of universal clean cooking energy would require combining ongoing welfare policies with policies on provisioning clean cooking energy in India.
Evaluation of energy, carbon dioxide, and air emission implications of medium- and heavy-duty truck electrification in the United States using EPA’s regional TIMES energy systems model
Authors: Zalesak Andrew , Kittner Noah , Loughlin Daniel H , Kaplan Pervin Ozge
Published: November 2024

Electrifying on-road trucking is a strategy for decarbonizing the transportation sector. While battery-electric trucks have zero tailpipe emissions, the associated increase in electric sector grid emissions would offset a portion of on-road emission reductions. We utilize a techno-economic energy systems optimization model to assess the system-wide carbon dioxide (CO2) and air pollutant emission implications of medium- and heavy-duty truck electrification in the United States of America. Results suggest that by transitioning to 100% battery-electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MDVs and HDVs, together MHDVs), sales by 2050 would result in net CO2 emission benefits should the electric sector decarbonize simultaneously. Combining a tax of $100 per ton of CO2, increasing at 5% per year, with electrification targets would yield a net 52% reduction in energy system CO2 emissions in 2050. Across regions, the transportation sector nitrogen oxide (NO
X) emissions—an ozone precursor—further decrease by 9%–26% compared to the ‘business-as-usual’ (BAU) level in 2050. The level of emission reductions and the extent of transportation decarbonization are driven by vehicle cost and performance projections along with underlying assumptions on the time of charging.
Locations
Authors: Davies Wendy
Published: November 2024

Manuscript illustrations of plants and gardens are highly stylized and do not offer a view of contemporary landscapes. Written sources offer plenty of detail on landscape and on the location and contexts of gardens. There are clear regional differences: for example, there are few references to gardens in Galicia but many in Castile. Some gardens lay beside houses, and some were isolated, surrounded by arable fields or meadows or woodland, but many lay in distinguishable garden zones; others were town gardens, usually within an enclosed complex of buildings. Gardens were often associated with water courses, natural or man-made, especially those of the meseta. In parts of Catalonia, a house/yard/garden unit was common.
Teleworking by hospital pharmacists: Another step to achieve decarbonization of the healthcare system
Authors: Adam Jean-Philippe , Richard-Laferrière Mélodie , Trudel-Bourgault Félix , Arbour Philippe , Langevin Marie-Claude
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The healthcare sector contributes approximately 4% to 5% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, thereby impacting climate change. Various initiatives, including teleworking, have been considered to mitigate GHG emissions, but their environmental impact remains poorly defined in the healthcare sector. This study aims to evaluate the impact of teleworking by hospital pharmacists on GHG emissions reduction by comparing the actual situation at one Canadian hospital, which includes teleworking shifts from home, to a scenario where all working shifts necessitate travel to the hospital.

Methods

The study was conducted at the pharmacy department of an academic hospital with 86 pharmacists (75 pharmacist full-time equivalents), between June 1, 2020, and May 31, 2023. Two different online carbon footprint calculators, one developed by the Centres de Gestion des Déplacements (CGD) and one available at the website of Carbon Footprint Ltd., were employed to measure mean GHG emissions in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2eq) for individuals based on their modes of transport and distances traveled between home and work.

Results

During the study period, teleworking resulted in a significant reduction of mean GHG emissions per pharmacist relative to the scenario of all on-site shifts, with a reduction of 134 kg CO2eq (1,160 CO2eq vs 1,026 CO2eq; t = 3.32; P = 0.0007) estimated with the CGD calculator and a reduction of 135 kg CO2eq (1,117 CO2eq vs 982 CO2eq; t = 4.31; P < 0.0001) estimated with the Carbon Footprint calculator. Those figures correspond to a reduction of 11.5% (11,249 kg CO2eq) to 12.1% (11,315 kg CO2eq) of the total quantity of emissions associated with commuting for the 84 pharmacists over 3 years. The median distance from home to the hospital was 10.0 km (interquartile range, 8.1 km), with nearly three-quarters of pharmacists commuting by public or active transport.

Conclusion

Teleworking has a positive environmental impact and could be implemented in other pharmacy departments. The implemented teleworking approach represents an encouraging initial step toward reducing the GHG emissions associated with the travel of employees.
Pharmacist homicides in the United States: A retrospective review of NVDRS data from 2003 to 2020
Authors: Funk Kylee A , Gonzales Ciara , Logeais Mary E , Philbrick Ann M , Woodruff Jake A , Robiner William N
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Workplace and work-related violence are growing concerns in the healthcare community and among healthcare professionals. A gap exists in our understanding of the most extreme form of violence, homicide, against pharmacists and the contributing factors leading to their tragic deaths. The objective of this study was to identify homicides of pharmacists and characterize potential patterns, including, but not limited to, the connection to pharmacists’ work.

Methods

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) were analyzed to explore the number and characteristics of homicides of pharmacists that occurred between 2003 and 2020.

Results

Between 2003 and 2020, 33 homicides of pharmacists were reported to the NVDRS. A slight majority (n = 17, 52%) of victims were female. Six (18%) were determined to be workplace or work-related homicides; only 2 homicides were related to the work of a pharmacist. Nearly two-thirds (n = 21, 64%) were perpetrated with a firearm. The suspects for most of these homicides were male (n = 28, 85%), and many were either a current or former partner of the decedent (n = 14, 42%).

Conclusion

In the US, homicides of pharmacists occur infrequently relative to the general population. Homicides in pharmacists’ workplaces are uncommon, and homicides of pharmacists appear to be tied most often to domestic violence and firearms.
OneSC: a computational platform for recapitulating cell state transitions
Authors: Peng Da , Cahan Patrick
Published: November 2024

Motivation

Computational modeling of cell state transitions has been a great interest of many in the field of developmental biology, cancer biology, and cell fate engineering because it enables performing perturbation experiments in silico more rapidly and cheaply than could be achieved in a lab. Recent advancements in single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) allow the capture of high-resolution snapshots of cell states as they transition along temporal trajectories. Using these high-throughput datasets, we can train computational models to generate in silico “synthetic” cells that faithfully mimic the temporal trajectories.

Results

Here we present OneSC, a platform that can simulate cell state transitions using systems of stochastic differential equations govern by a regulatory network of core transcription factors (TFs). Different from many current network inference methods, OneSC prioritizes on generating Boolean network that produces faithful cell state transitions and terminal cell states that mimic real biological systems. Applying OneSC to real data, we inferred a core TF network using a mouse myeloid progenitor scRNA-seq dataset and showed that the dynamical simulations of that network generate synthetic single-cell expression profiles that faithfully recapitulate the four myeloid differentiation trajectories going into differentiated cell states (erythrocytes, megakaryocytes, granulocytes, and monocytes). Finally, through the in silico perturbations of the mouse myeloid progenitor core network, we showed that OneSC can accurately predict cell fate decision biases of TF perturbations that closely match with previous experimental observations.

Availability and implementation

OneSC is implemented as a Python package on GitHub (https://github.com/CahanLab/oneSC) and on Zenodo (https://zenodo.org/records/14052421).
Multitranscriptome analysis reveals stromal cells in the papillary dermis to promote angiogenesis in psoriasis vulgaris
Authors: Zhang Bo , Mei Junpu , Liao Qijun , Zhou Shan , Huang He , Liu Hui , Xu Xiaoli , Yu Yafen , Wu Chao , Wang Wenjun , Hu Weining , Zhu Tingting , Zhang Yin , Chen Mengyun , Zhu Caihong , Yu Mengjun , Gao Jinping , Tang Xianfa , Liu Xiawei , Guo Ze , Zheng Xiaodong , Zhuang Wen , Chen Gang , Tang Lili , Ding Xiaoyan , Cheng Hui , Li Yang , Wang Hongyan , Li Hui , Zhang Yangrui , Fan Xing , Chen Rouxi , Rong Zherou , Liu Ping , Liu Shengxiu , Yue Zhen , Wang Peiguang , Cai Zhiming , Gao Min , Wang Zaixing , Fang Xiaodong , Zhou Fusheng , Tang Huayang
Published: November 2024

Background

The pathogenesis of psoriasis is incompletely understood. Growing evidence suggests the involvement of stromal cells in the inflammatory process.

Objectives

To investigate the roles of stromal cells, including fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells (VECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), in the psoriatic inflammatory microenvironment, and the possible underlying mechanisms involved.

Methods

We used a combination of single-cell, spatial transcriptome and bulk RNA sequencing of lesional and nonlesional skin samples from patients with psoriasis vulgaris (PV) and healthy skin samples from unaffected individuals.

Results

By analysing transcriptomes from 364 098 single cells, we uncovered WNT5A+ (Wnt-5a) fibroblasts, ITIH5+ (inter-α-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 5) VECs and VCAN+ (versican) VSMCs, with significantly increased proportions of these cells in the papillary dermis of lesional psoriatic skin. We defined eight unique subclusters of fibroblasts in the skin and observed a shift of WIF1+ (Wnt inhibitory factor 1) fibroblasts toward WNT5A+ fibroblasts, with abnormal activation of the noncanonical Wnt signalling pathway and increased angiogenic and proinflammatory capabilities. VSMCs were able to undergo phenotypic transformation from a contractile to a synthetic phenotype during the development of psoriatic inflammation. ITIH5+ VECs and VCAN+ VSMCs were found to have an essential role in regulating angiogenesis and vascular remodelling in the pathological changes seen in PV. Ligand receptor analyses found that WNT5A+ fibroblasts are extensively implicated in interactions with various skin cell types, especially TIH5+ VECs and VCAN+ VSMCs in the papillary dermis.

Conclusions

Interactions of stromal cells in the papillary dermis were identified as possible pathogenic elements in PV. Improving the inflammatory microenvironment by targeting stromal cells might be a potential treatment strategy in PV.
Introspective psychophysics for the study of subjective experience
Authors: Peters Megan A K
Published: November 2024

Studying subjective experience is hard. We believe that pain is not identical to nociception, nor pleasure a computational reward signal, nor fear the activation of “threat circuitry”. Unfortunately, introspective self-reports offer our best bet for accessing subjective experience, but many still believe that introspection is “unreliable” and “unverifiable”. But which of introspection’s faults do we find most damning? Is it that introspection provides imperfect access to brain processes (e.g. perception, memory)? That subjective experience is not objectively verifiable? That it is hard to isolate from non-subjective processing capacity? Here, I argue none of these prevents us from building a meaningful, impactful psychophysical research program that treats subjective experience as a valid empirical target through precisely characterizing relationships among environmental variables, brain processes and behavior, and self-reported phenomenology. Following recent similar calls by Peters (Towards characterizing the canonical computations generating phenomenal experience. 2022. Neurosci Biobehav Rev: 142, 104903), Kammerer and Frankish (What forms could introspective systems take? A research programme. 2023. J Conscious Stud 30:13–48), and Fleming (Metacognitive psychophysics in humans, animals, and AI. 2023. J Conscious Stud 30:113–128), “introspective psychophysics” thus treats introspection’s apparent faults as features, not bugs—just as the noise and distortions linking environment to behavior inspired Fechner’s psychophysics over 150 years ago. This next generation of psychophysics will establish a powerful tool for building and testing precise explanatory models of phenomenology across many dimensions—urgency, emotion, clarity, vividness, confidence, and more.
Anaplerotic filling in heart failure: a review of mechanism and potential therapeutics
Authors: Alhasan Karm A , King Melissa A , Pattar Badal S B , Lewis Ian A , Lopaschuk Gary D , Greenway Steven C
Published: November 2024

Heart failure (HF) is a complex syndrome and a leading cause of mortality worldwide. While current medical treatment is based on known pathophysiology and is effective for many patients, the underlying cellular mechanisms are poorly understood. Energy deficiency is a characteristic of HF, marked by complex alterations in metabolism. Within the tricarboxylic acid cycle, anaplerosis emerges as an essential metabolic process responsible for replenishing lost intermediates, thereby playing a crucial role in sustaining energy metabolism and consequently cardiac function. Alterations in cardiac anaplerosis are commonly observed in HF, demonstrating potential for therapeutic intervention. This review discusses recent advances in understanding the anaplerotic adaptations that occur in HF. We also explore therapeutics that can directly modulate anaplerosis or are likely to confer cardioprotective effects through anaplerosis, which could potentially be implemented to rescue the failing heart.
Wristwatch pulse wave monitoring: assessing daily activity post-catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation
Authors: Nonoguchi Noriko Matsushita , Soejima Kyoko , Katsume Yumi , Hoshida Kyoko , Togashi Ikuko , Goda Ayumi , Ueda Akiko , Matsuo Seiichiro , Sato Toshiaki , Takano Yuichi , Koyama Fumio , Fujita Shin , Nishimura Kunihiro , Kohno Takashi
Published: November 2024

Aims

Atrial fibrillation (AF) leads to impaired exercise capacity, and catheter ablation (CA) for AF improves exercise capacity. However, the precise changes in daily activities after CA for AF remain unclear. The authors aimed to evaluate the changes in daily activities following CA for AF using a wristwatch-type pulse wave monitor (PWM), which tracks steps and exercise time, estimates burnt daily calories, and records sleep duration, in addition to establishing the rhythm diagnosis of AF or non-AF.

Methods and results

One hundred and twenty-three patients with AF (97 paroxysmal, 26 persistent) wore a wristwatch-type PWM for 1 week duration at three time points: before, 1 month after, and 3 months after ablation. Daily activity data were compared. Steps did not change in both groups, and the number of burnt daily calories and total exercise time increased after CA in patients with paroxysmal AF (burnt daily calories: before, 1591 kcal/day; 1 month, 1688 kcal/day; and 3 months, 1624 kcal/day; P < 0.001 and exercise time: before, 45.8 min; 1 month, 51.2 min; and 3 months, 56.3 min; P = 0.023). Sleep hours significantly increased (paroxysmal AF: before, 6.8 h; 1 month, 7.1 h; and 3 months, 7.1 h; P = 0.039 and persistent AF: before, 6.0 h; 1 month, 7.0 h; and 3 months, 7.0 h; P = 0.007).

Conclusion

Using a wristwatch-type PWM, we demonstrated changes in daily activities after CA in patients with AF.

Trial registration number

jRCT1030210022.
Hypertension self-management trajectory patterns and associated factors among Chinese patients with aortic dissection after surgical repair: A longitudinal study
Authors: Zeng Min , Wang Ruiying , Cao Xi
Published: November 2024

Aims

In patients with aortic dissection (AD) after surgical repair, especially those with hypertension, better management of blood pressure is associated with better health outcomes. The aim of this study is to identify hypertension self-management trajectory patterns and associated factors among Chinese aortic dissection patients after surgical repair to assist in developing tailored behavioural interventions for this population.

Methods and results

178 patients with aortic dissection who underwent surgical repair were followed for 3 months. Data on hypertension self-management, hypertension knowledge, self-efficacy, and social support were collected before discharge and at 1 and 3 months after discharge. Sociodemographic and clinical data were also collected. A latent class growth model and generalized estimating equations were used to explore hypertension self-management trajectory patterns and factors associated with each pattern. The participants’ average age was 57.95 (± 11.27) years. Two hypertension self-management trajectory patterns were identified: ‘rapid ascent then suppressed growth’ (93.4%) and ‘continuously slow ascent’ (6.6%). For the ‘rapid ascent then suppressed growth’ pattern, age, educational background, type of health insurance, family monthly income, self-efficacy, and social support were associated with this pattern (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Healthcare providers may prioritize hypertension self-management for patients who are younger, have lower educational levels, have resident or employee medical insurance and have a family monthly income between 5001 and 10 000 yuan. Self-efficacy and social support might serve as targets for future intervention to improve hypertension self-management.

Registration

ChiCTR2100050542.
Intimidation against advocates and researchers in the tobacco, alcohol and ultra-processed food spaces: a review
Authors: Evans-Reeves Karen A , Matthes Britta K , Chamberlain Phil , Paichadze Nino , Gilmore Anna B , Mialon Melissa
Published: November 2024

Unhealthy commodity industries (UCIs) engage in corporate political activity, using diverse practices, including intimidatory tactics, to thwart, delay and dilute regulations that threaten their businesses. While examples of such intimidation exist across multiple sectors, no attempt has been made to synthesize these. Furthermore, much of the literature focuses on intimidation of policy-makers. Less is known about the types of intimidation experienced by advocates and researchers and their responses to this intimidation. This scoping review explores the literature across the tobacco, alcohol and ultra-processed food spaces for instances of intimidation and categorizes them inductively and deductively based on a framework of intimidation types. Similarly, responses to intimidation were mapped onto a pre-existing framework. We found intimidatory tactics towards advocates and researchers in every sector. Public discreditation, followed by legal threats and action, complaints and freedom of information requests were most frequently mentioned and often attributed to UCIs or their third parties. Surveillance, threats of violence, violence, burglary and bribery were less prevalent in the literature and their perpetrators were unknown. Those intimidated reported carrying on as normal, defensive action (changing/adapting work, taking security precautions) or, as was most reported, offensive action (exposing intimidation, correcting misinformation, taking legal action). The similarity of intimidation across sectors suggests that UCIs engage in similar intimidatory tactics regardless of sector. Understanding more about the scale of intimidation and how it impacts the work and wellbeing of those affected is essential, as is learning more about the ways researchers and advocates can effectively pre-empt and respond.
Youth perspectives on the promotional and public relations strategies of health harming industries
Authors: McCarthy Simone , Pitt Hannah , Arnot Grace , Pristov Emma Jane , Thomas Samantha L
Published: November 2024

Public health researchers have investigated how youth are exposed to and influenced by traditional forms of commercial marketing from health-harming industries. Limited research has investigated youth opinions about the broader marketing and public relations strategies of these industries. This study aimed to understand youth perceptions of the impact and influence of a range of marketing and public relations strategies used by health harming industries. An online qualitative survey was conducted with n = 518, 16- to 24-year-olds living in Victoria, Australia. Participants were asked to consider the broad influence of marketing from health harming industries on youth, including the impacts of social media promotions, corporate social responsibility strategies including sponsorship and political donations, as well as their views on marketing restrictions. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to construct themes from the data. Participants stated that excessive marketing strategies had a significant influence on youth consumption of health harming products. Most felt that social media marketing had the most appeal and influence on youth. Most were critical of these strategies and were supportive of strong restrictions on marketing for health-harming products. However, many participants held more positive views about corporate social responsibility strategies, which they perceived could offset the negative impacts of these industries on health. Increased focus is needed from the public health and health promotion communities to ensure that youth are protected from the influence of the range of marketing strategies that are used by health-harming industries to promote their products and resist regulatory reform.
Association between preoperative D-dimer with morphologic features and surgical outcomes of acute type A aortic dissection
Authors: Zhao Shuanglei , Liu Zhou , Wen Mingxiu , Zhang Hongkai , Wang Longfei , Zhang Nan , Li Lei , Luo Wei , Jiang WenJian , Zhang Hongjia , Gong Ming
Published: November 2024

OBJECTIVES

The association between preoperative D-dimer with morphologic features and surgical outcomes of acute type A aortic dissection is still unclear.

METHODS

430 acute type A aortic dissection patients who underwent total arch replacement and frozen elephant trunk in Beijing Anzhen Hospital of Capital Medical University between January 2016 and December 2020 were enrolled in the present study. Patients were divided into higher D-dimer (>2307 ng/ml) group and lower D-dimer (≤2307 ng/ml) group. We compared the extent of dissection and branch artery perfusion patterns between the 2 groups. The restricted cubic spline was performed to assess the association between D-dimer with the extent of dissection and major adverse events after surgery.

RESULTS

Among 430 patients, there were 45 (10.47%) in-hospital mortality and 156 (36.28%) major adverse events. Patients with higher D-dimer had bigger dissection extension length and false lumen perimeter in ascending aorta, thoracic descending aorta, diaphragmatic, coeliac trunk and renal artery level. For the branch artery perfusion patterns, patients with higher D-dimer had a higher proportion of malperfusion among the innominate artery, right renal artery and both side iliac arteries, a higher proportion of dissected intercostal artery/all intercostal arteries >0.5 (43.46% vs 29.63%, P = 0.003). The restricted cubic spline linear regression model revealed a nonlinear association between lnD-dimer with extension length and false lumen perimeter (all P for overall and P for nonlinearity <0.001 except false lumen perimeter in ascending aorta level). The restricted cubic spline logistic regression model revealed a linear association between lnD-dimer with major adverse events (P for overall <0.001, P for nonlinearity = 0.637). The association between lnD-dimer and major adverse events was still significant in the fully adjusted logistic regression model with computed tomography angiography characteristics [odds ratio (95% confidence interval) =1.388 (1.137, 1.695), P = 0.001].

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative D-dimer strongly and positively correlates with the extent of dissection and major adverse events of acute type A aortic dissection after total arch replacement and frozen elephant trunk. D-dimer seems to be a supplement that indicates the severity of aortic dissection to aortic computed tomography angiography.
Regulating Gender Violence in Postcolonial Societies: Is Legal Pluralism a Problem for Human Rights?
Authors: Ada Tchoukou Julie
Published: November 2024

This article is an examination of the pluralistic context in which human rights laws operate. The existence of unequal but mutually constitutive legal and normative orders in diverse societies raises complex issues for human rights practitioners. As the language of rights acquires worldwide currency, questions increasingly arise as to their relationship with other normative orders and systems of justice. While the impetus for legal pluralism may be multifaceted and complicated, this article focuses exclusively on the human rights dimension in Africa. Its main objective is to explore the nature of the relationship between gender equality and legal pluralism. In plural settings, the conflict between the need to preserve minority culture and the protection of rights forms the basis for how legal reforms have failed to address issues affecting women and girls. To ensure a consistent application of human rights norms, States must acknowledge that there are severe limits and resistance to formal laws within society, that there are spaces where its authority is not absolute and that ‘legal pluralism is a fact’. Failing to do this results in the development of new forms of ‘identity politics’ that continue to silence and subordinate women and girls.
A focusing framework for testing bi-directional causal effects in Mendelian randomization
Authors: Li Sai , Ye Ting
Published: November 2024

Mendelian randomization (MR) is a powerful method that uses genetic variants as instrumental variables to infer the causal effect of a modifiable exposure on an outcome. We study inference for bi-directional causal relationships and causal directions with possibly pleiotropic genetic variants. We show that assumptions for common MR methods are often impossible or too stringent given the potential bi-directional relationships. We propose a new focusing framework for testing bi-directional causal effects and it can be coupled with many state-of-the-art MR methods. We provide theoretical guarantees for our proposal and demonstrate its performance using several simulated and real datasets.
Gibberellins: extending the Green Revolution
Authors: Robil Janlo M , Awale Prameela , McSteen Paula , Best Norman B
Published: November 2024

The Green Revolution more than doubled crop yields and food production in crop species such as wheat and rice. This was primarily accomplished by altering the gibberellin (GA) signaling pathway to reduce plant height and prevent plants from falling over when growth was promoted with fertilizer application. Similar approaches have not been successfully accomplished in other grass crop species, such as maize, due to pleiotropic deleterious traits that arise from altering the GA pathway. This review highlights new findings in GA research across grass crop species. We have primarily focused on the developmental role of GAs in plant architecture and growth. We discuss how alteration of GA effects could be used to alter plant morphology and development of ideal plant ideotypes for grass crop species. To further extend the Green Revolution and improve food production from cereal crop species, targeted and tissue-specific regulation of the GA pathway will have to be undertaken.
From parliamentary history to digital and computational history: a NLP-friendly TEI model for historical parliamentary proceedings
Authors: Puren Marie , Lebreton Fanny , Pellet Aurélien , Vernus Pierre
Published: November 2024

This article introduces a new method for the digital and computational analysis of historical parliamentary proceedings. The article presents an XML-TEI model specifically designed for encoding historical parliamentary documents; this model is exemplified through the analysis of parliamentary debates from the French Chamber of Deputies (1889–1893). The first part of the article discusses the motivations behind the model’s development. The second part outlines the methodological choices in constructing the model and the need for schema adaptation. We subsequently detail our method for automatic encoding of such large corpora. Finally, we propose an approach to annotate parliamentary debates using natural language processing analyses, focusing on topic modelling.
Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Injuries in United States Active Duty Service Members: Prevalence/Incidence, Health Care Utilization, and Cost Analysis Spanning Fiscal Years 2016–2021
Authors: Isaacson Brad , Hando Ben , Pav Veronika , Wagner Linzie , Colahan Courtney , Pasquina Paul , Yuan Xiaoning
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Upper Extremity musculoskeletal injuries (UE MSKIs) represent a major threat to the overall health and readiness of U.S. active duty service members (U.S. ADSMs). However, a lack of prior research and inconsistent study and surveillance methodology has limited Department of Defense (DoD) leaders from assessing and addressing the burden of these conditions. The purpose of this study was to report the incidence, prevalence, and types of UE MSKIs sustained by ADSMs across four branches of service and describe associated health care utilization and private sector costs.

Materials and Methods

This was a retrospective, longitudinal population study, including ADSMs from the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy. Prevalence and incidence rates for UE MSKIs, associated health care utilization, and private sector costs were obtained by querying electronic health records from military treatment facilities (MTF), private sector care (PC) claims, and theater medical data from the Military Health System Data Repository from October 1, 2015 to September 30, 2021 (Fiscal Years [FYs] 16–21). Utilization associated with UE MSKIs in both the direct care (DC) and PC settings was classified into mutually exclusive outpatient encounter categories and acute inpatient stays. PC costs related to UE MSKIs were captured for each year.

Results

In FY21, UE MSKIs occurred in 15.0% of ADSMs (n = 224,842). From FY16–21, the Army had the highest annual prevalence of UE MSKIs (16.7–18.8%), followed by the Air Force (15.2–17.6%), Marine Corps (13.2–14.7%), and Navy (11.1–12.6%). Incidence rate patterns were similar, with the Army sustaining UE MSKIs at 172 to 199 injuries per 1,000 person-years, followed by the Air Force (150–181), Marines (140–157), and Navy (113–130). Overuse/non-specific MSKIs of the shoulder were the most common UE injury type and body region affected, respectively. There were 5,641,191 DC and 1,290,153 PC outpatient encounters from FY16–21 with a primary or secondary diagnosis of UE MSKI. The Air Force was most reliant on PC, with 31.5% of their UE MSKI-related encounters occurring outside MTFs during FY16–21.

Conclusions

Among U.S. ADSMs, UE MSKIs are both highly prevalent and financially burdensome. We observed variation across the Services in the prevalence and incidence of UE MSKIs, and their respective reliance on the private sector for management of these conditions. Findings from this work may support military leaders and MSKI researchers who seek to reduce the impact of UE MSKIs on the readiness and overall health of the U.S. Military.
Musculoskeletal Spine Injuries in U.S. Active Duty Service Members: Prevalence/Incidence, Healthcare Utilization, and Cost Analysis Spanning Fiscal Years 2016–2021
Authors: Yuan Xiaoning , Stewart Emma , Colahan Courtney , Pasquina Paul , Isaacson Brad , Pav Veronika , Hando Ben
Published: November 2024

Background

Low back pain and musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) of the Spine are the most common reason for U.S. active duty service members (ADSMs) to seek medical care. The purposes of this descriptive study were to report the prevalence/incidence, health care utilization, and health care costs attributable to Spine (thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and pelvic) MSKIs across the four major branches of service from Fiscal Years (FY) 2016 to 2021.

Materials and Methods

This was a retrospective, longitudinal population study, including ADSMs from the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy. Prevalence and incidence rates for Spine MSKIs, associated health care utilization, and costs were obtained by querying electronic health records (EHRs) from military treatment facilities, private sector care (PC) claims, and theater medical data from the Military Health System Data Repository from October 1, 2015 to September 30, 2021 (FY16–21). Utilization associated with Spine MSKIs in both the direct care (DC) and PC settings was classified into mutually exclusive outpatient encounter categories and acute inpatient stays. PC costs related to Spine MSKIs were captured per year.

Results

In FY21, 269,301 ADSMs sought care for Spine MSKI, representing 18.0% of the U.S. Armed Forces. The prevalence of Spine MSKIs ranged from 17.4 to 19.5% during FY16–21, with the highest annual prevalence among the Army (20.7–22.9%) and Air Force (19.0–22.6%). Across the study period, Soldiers had the highest share (47.8–50.4%) of DC outpatient encounters for Spine MSKI (primary or secondary diagnosis). The Air Force relied most heavily on PC for outpatient Spine MSKI care across the study period, where in FY21 Airmen accounted for 36.5% of the outpatient PC Spine MSKI encounters totaling $21,140,935 in PC costs. In FY21, total PC costs for Spine MSKI totaled $99,317,832.

Conclusions

This retrospective, descriptive study establishes prevalence/incidence, health care utilization, and PC costs for Spine MSKIs across the Services from FY16–21 and highlights the burden of Spine MSKIs among the U.S. Armed Forces, with costs amounting to over $99 million in PC reliance in FY21 alone.