bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining select sociodemographic characteristics of sub-county geographies for public health surveillance
Authors: Vinson D. Aaron , Werner Angela K.
Published: November 2024

Background

Mapping health outcomes related to environmental health hazards at the county level can lead to a simplification of risks experienced by populations in that county. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Environmental Public Health Tracking Program has developed sub-county geographies that aggregate census tracts to allow for stable, minimally suppressed data to be displayed. This helps to highlight more local variation in environmental health outcomes and risk data. However, we wanted to understand whether the aggregation method used was aggregating sociodemographically similar or dissimilar areas with one another. This analysis attempts to explore whether the distributions of select people who may be at increased risk for exposure to environmental health hazards as identified by the Tracking Program are preserved in these sub-county geographies with the census tracts used as the foundation to create them.

Methods

Mean values of three sociodemographic characteristics (persons aged 65 years and older, people from racial and ethnic minority groups, and population below the poverty level) for each sub-county geography in five states were calculated and placed into five break groups. Differences in break groups were determined and compared for each sub-county geography and census tract.

Results

The sociodemographic characteristics among the census tracts and two aggregated sub-county geographies were similar. In some instances, census tracts with a low population or a highly skewed population (e.g., very high percentage of population aged 65 years and older) were aggregated with dissimilar census tracts out of necessity to meet the requirements set by the Tracking Program’s aggregation methodology. This pattern was detected in 2.41-6.59% of census tracts within the study area, depending on the sociodemographic variable and aggregation level.

Conclusions

The Tracking Program’s sub-county aggregation methodology aggregates census tracts with similar characteristics. The two new sub-county geographies can serve as a potential option for health officials and policymakers to develop targeted interventions using finer resolution health outcome and environmental hazard data compared to coarser resolution county-level data.
Kimchi and its antiobesity and anticancer functions
Authors: Park Kun-Young , Hong Geun-Hye , Lee So-Young , Lee Yeon-Jun
Published: November 2024

Kimchi is a Korean traditional vegetable fermented food with lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Fermented kimchi contains live LAB (probiotics), dietary fibers (prebiotics) and dead LAB and fermented metabolites (postbiotics), and it may have various health benefits. The taste and functionalities of kimchi are dependent on its main ingredients and subingredients, fermentation conditions, LAB in the fermentation, etc. There are many types of kimchi, but Baechu kimchi is the most popular and commonly used kimchi in Korea. Baechu kimchi is prepared by LAB fermentation of Baechu cabbage mixed with other subingredients such as radish, green onion, red pepper powder, garlic, ginger and fermented small sea fishes. Kimchi contains high levels of vitamins, minerals, dietary fibers and other functional components and fermented metabolites. Various studies have reported on kimchi and its antimutagenic and anticancer, antioxidative and antiaging, antiatherosclerotic, antidiabetic, antiobesity, and anti-inflammatory effects. Fermented kimchi contains high levels of LAB (108–9 CFU/g) and LAB also contribute functionalities to kimchi. We will discuss the process of manufacturing kimchi, fermentation of kimchi and related microorganisms. Though it briefly discuss on the general functionalities of kimchi, we will focus on the history and functions of the antiobesity, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory effects of kimchi in detail with better taste and preservation period. To increase the antiobesity and anticancer functions of kimchi we will introduce kimchi recipes, salt kinds, other added ingredients, etc. It was finally discussed on postbiotics in kimchi and their health benefits.
Vibration vulnerability assessment of heritage structures in Lahore: a step towards sustainable conservation
Authors: Azam Rizwan , Riaz Muhammad Rizwan , Javaid Muhammad Faraz
Published: November 2024

Lahore is among the most important historical cities in Pakistan, and many cultural heritage structures, such as Shalamar Gardens and Lahore Fort, which are recognised as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, are located there. The rapid increase in transit operations and infrastructure development in Lahore can increase the vulnerability of nearby heritage structures to ground-borne vibrations. In this study, a vibration vulnerability assessment of the heritage structures present in Lahore was performed with the help of the framework provided by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), USA. A remote survey was carried out to gather valuable information regarding the distance between the heritage structures and potential vibrational sources, as well as the latitude and longitude of the heritage structures, via the web-based mapping tool Google Earth. A vibration vulnerability map of heritage structures was developed on the basis of a vibration vulnerability assessment to make it convenient for policymakers to visualise the present state of heritage structures with respect to vibration vulnerability. The performed vibration vulnerability assessment was validated by experimentally measuring vibrations at the Buddha’s Tomb (Buddha Ka Awa) heritage structure. The study revealed that 17% of the heritage structures present in Lahore are vulnerable to vibrations at present, with potential vibrational sources such as road traffic, metro trains, and rail traffic. The vibration vulnerability assessment revealed that 72% of the vibrationally vulnerable heritage structures in Lahore are most influenced by vibrations from road traffic. The results of this study can aid policymakers in creating intervention packages for vibrationally vulnerable heritage structures in Lahore in relation to their respective needs, which will make it possible to achieve the sustainable conservation of heritage structures.
President's Page: SEAM: Advancing innovative solutions for global geophysical challenges
Authors: Eastwood John , Vera Paola
Published: November 2024

The SEG Advanced Modeling Corporation (SEAM) stands at the intersection of innovation and collaboration, harnessing the collective expertise of our geophysics community to advance new frontiers for seismic imaging and acquisition. Organized in 2004 and incorporated in 2007 with a vision to revolutionize how we understand and utilize seismic data, SEAM has grown from a promising concept into a vibrant cooperative of leading minds from academia, industry, and research institutions worldwide.
Urban site characterization using DAS dark fibers on the MIT campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Authors: Chang Hilary , Nakata Nori
Published: November 2024

Telecommunication dark fibers with distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) are a useful survey tool for site characterization in urban environments. In this paper, we introduce our five-day student-led DAS experiment using dark fibers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus in the city of Cambridge. The campus has been identified as an area that is highly susceptible to seismic hazards due to subsurface structure and soil properties. The experiment included survey planning, data acquisition, data analysis, subsurface characterization, and site-response estimations. Rayleigh waves collected by dark fibers in the urban environment are mostly from human activities and contain abundant higher-mode energies. We invert the phase velocity dispersions to resolve the shear-wave velocity (VS) in the top 120 m of the subsurface. The VS profiles show low VS (0.1–0.3 km/s) corresponding to unconsolidated materials such as artificial fills and clays overlying a hard bedrock (1.5–1.8 km/s). The depth to bedrock is 75–95 m on the west campus. The site near the waterfront has a lower VS and deeper bedrock. The 1D site-response modeling for shear waves suggests that the fundamental resonance frequency is at 0.6 and 1 Hz, with a sediment-to-bedrock amplitude ratio of 6–7. This should be considered in building design to mitigate seismic hazards. Our results agree with previous studies and can bridge the gap between measurements at nearby sites.
Effect of Ketamine on the Bispectral Index, Spectral Edge Frequency, and Surgical Pleth Index During Propofol-Remifentanil Anesthesia: An Observational Prospective Trial
Authors: Linassi Federico , Troyas Carla , Kreuzer Matthias , Spanò Leonardo , Burelli Paolo , Schneider Gerhard , Zanatta Paolo , Carron Michele
Published: November 2024

BACKGROUND:

Ketamine administration during stable propofol anesthesia is known to be associated with an increase in bispectral index (BIS) but a “deepening” in the level of hypnosis. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the effect-site concentration of ketamine (CeK) and 2 electroencephalogram (EEG)-derived parameters, the BIS and spectral edge frequency (SEF95), after the administration of a ketamine bolus. Secondary aims included investigating the BIS and SEF95 variations with time and changes in the surgical pleth index (SPI).

METHODS:

We conducted an observational, prospective, single-center study analyzing intraoperative data from 14 adult female patients undergoing breast oncologic surgery. During stable propofol-remifentanil target-controlled infusion (TCI) anesthesia, a ketamine analgesic bolus was delivered with the target CeK set to 1 μg.mL−
1 (Domino model) corresponding to a dose of 0.57 mg.kg−
1 (interquartile range [IQR] 0.56–0.57 mg.kg−1). Once the CeK reached a value of 1 μg.mL−1, the target CeK was set to 0 μg.mL−1. We determined the median BIS, SEF95, and SPI trends with time and as a function of the modeled CeK.

RESULTS:

BIS and SEF95 showed no significant change from when ketamine was administered to when CeK=1 μg.mL−1, but a significant increase was observed at lower CeKs. The maximum BIS was reached at 16.0 minutes [10.2–22.7 minutes] after CeK=1 μg.mL−1, at CeK=0.22 μg.mL−1 [0.12–0.41 μg.mL−1]. The peak SEF95 value was observed at 10.0 minutes [8.62–14.1 minutes] after CeK=1 μg.mL−1, at CeK=0.43 μg.mL−1 [0.25–0.50 μg.mL−1]. No significant association was found between CeK and the registered SPI values.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results show that BIS and SEF95, but not SPI, follow a CeK-dependent trend after administering a ketamine bolus. Interestingly, their peak values were not reached at CeK=1 μg.mL−1, but after several minutes after the drug infusion at CeKs in the 0.2 to 0.5 μg.mL−1 range. This may be explained by the specific pharmacodynamics of ketamine and its varying effects at different concentrations, as well as by the time delay associated with the calculation of the BIS.
Coming Out for Community, Coming Out for the Cause
Authors: Cable Umayyah
Published: November 2024

This article focuses on the life experience and political activism of Palestinian American lesbian activist Huda Jadallah as a representative example of how lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT/queer) Arab Americans came out to both queer communities and Arab American communities in the 1980s and 1990s. The author argues that this dual outness was utilized as a strategy through which to accomplish three interrelated aims: to build a queer Arab American community, utilize that community as a starting point from which to challenge anti-Arab racism within queer communities, and challenge homophobia in Arab American communities. Based on an oral history interview with Jadallah, in conjunction with analysis of Jadallah’s personal ephemera collection, this article takes a queer archiving methodological approach to consider how outness as strategy may also be utilized with regard to queer Arab American archiving and history.
Beyond Black Girlhood
Authors: Moore Chamara
Published: November 2024

How can Colson Whitehead’s combining of the generic and the strange in his Pulitzer Prize–winning speculative text The Underground Railroad be read as Afro-Pessimist? This essay seeks to illuminate the ways in which Whitehead’s novel provides narratives of self-making adjacent to coming of age while reinventing the historically white genre of the Bildungsroman for an intersectional identity in early America. Using Geta LeSeur’s The Black Bildungsroman as a point of reference, the author argues that because the protagonist Cora is a Black girl born and raised under chattel slavery and thus forced to come of age before the bulk of the novel, her experience cannot be constrained to a genre defined primarily by Eurocentric traditions and frames of reference. In this way, “girlhood” has never been a possibility for her, making the novel’s ambiguous ending a clearer Afro-Pessimist argument rather than any particular milestone of maturation we see in Bildungsroman. The Underground Railroad is a case study demonstrating how Black speculative fiction authors move through and beyond the Bildungsroman genre by imbuing their Black female subjects like Cora with the agency of self-making, while using speculative elements such as transforming into a railroad to demonstrate the intractable social death of enslavement.
Impact of Contemporary Redlining on Healthcare Disparities Among Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer: A Mediation Analysis
Authors: Chatzipanagiotou Odysseas P. , Woldesenbet Selamawit , Munir Muhammad Musaab , Catalano Giovanni , Khalil Mujtaba , Rashid Zayed , Altaf Abdullah , Pawlik Timothy M.
Published: November 2024

Background

Historically, housing policies have perpetuated the marginalization and economic disinvestment of redlined neighborhoods. Residential segregation persists nowadays in the form of contemporary redlining, promoting healthcare disparities. The current study sought to assess the effect of redlining on oncological outcomes of patients with gastrointestinal cancer and identify mediators of the association.

Methods

Patients with colorectal or hepatobiliary cancer were identified from the linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database (2007–2019). The contemporary redlining index, a measure of mortgage lending bias, was assessed relative to disease stage at diagnosis, receipt of appropriate treatment, textbook outcome, and mortality. Mediation analysis was used to identify socioeconomic, structural, and clinical mediating factors.

Results

Among 94,988 patients, 32.2% resided in high (n = 23,872) and highest (n = 6,791) redlining census tracts compared with 46.2% in neutral and 21.6% in low redlining tracts. The proportion of Black, Hispanic, and White patients experiencing high and highest redlining was 65.9%, 41.6%, and 27.9%, respectively. Highest redlining was associated with 18.2% higher odds of advanced disease at diagnosis, greater odds of not undergoing surgery for localized disease (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.363, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.219–1.524) or not receiving chemotherapy for advanced disease (aOR 1.385, 95% CI 1.216–1.577), and 26.7% lower odds of textbook outcome achievement. Mediation analysis for appropriate treatment quantified the proportion of the association driven by socioeconomic status, racial/ethnic minority status, racial/economic segregation, primary care shortage, and housing/transportation.

Conclusions

Contemporary redlining contributed both directly, and via downstream factors, to disparities in oncological care and outcomes of patients with gastrointestinal cancer.
Synthesis of NS2B-NS3 protease inhibitors of dengue and Zika viruses
Authors: Ζώγαλη Βασιλική
Published: November 2024

Οι ιοί Δάγκειος και Ζίκα αποτελούν μια τεράστια απειλή για την παγκόσμια υγεία καθώς εκτιμάται ότι 2,5 δισεκατομμύρια άνθρωποι σε περισσότερες από 100 χώρες τροπικών και υποτροπικών περιοχών βρίσκονται υπό τον κίνδυνο μόλυνσης. Είναι μέλη της οικογένειας Flaviviridae και του γένους Flavivirus και μεταδίδονται κυρίως μέσω νύγματος από τα θηλυκά κουνούπια Aedes aegypti. Ωστόσο, μέχρι σήμερα δεν υπάρχουν ούτε εγκεκριμένα φάρμακα ούτε ασφαλή εμβόλια κατά των συγκεκριμένων ιών. Οι πρωτεΐνες NS3 και NS5 αποτελούν τους κύριους βιολογικούς στόχους καθώς η ενζυμική δράση τους είναι καίρια για την αναπαραγωγή του ιού. Λόγω της διατηρημένης αλληλουχίας στις φλαβιιϊκές πρωτεάσες θα μπορούσαν να αναπτυχθούν αναστολείς οι οποίοι να είναι συγχρόνως αποτελεσματικοί και για άλλους φλαβιιούς. Ωστόσο οι αναστολείς του συμπλόκου της πρωτεάσης NS2B-NS3, που έχουν αναφερθεί μέχρι σήμερα εμφανίζουν κυτταροτοξικότητα και χαμηλή διαπερατότητα. Η ερευνητική μας ομάδα, μετά από μελέτες σχέσης δομής-δραστικότητας (SAR), ανακάλυψε δραστικά παράγωγα αμιδοξιμών εδραζόμενα σε σκελετό καρβαζόλης τα οποία εμφάνισαν σημαντική αντι-ιική δράση κατά του Δάγκειου ιού σε κυτταρικές δοκιμές. Συγκεκριμένα, το παράγωγο δι-αμιδοξίμης SP-471P (EC50 1.10 μM, CC50 > 100 μM) που δρα ως προ-φάρμακο της δι-αμιδίνης SP-471, αποτελεί έναν από τους δραστικότερους και ασφαλέστερους αλλοστερικούς αναστολείς της βιβλιογραφίας κατά του Δάγκειου ιού. Εν συνεχεία, διερευνήθηκε η απλοποίηση των καρβαζολών σε ινδόλια που απέφερε μία νέα γενιά δραστικών μορίων βελτιωμένης διαπερατότητας, διαλυτότητας. Σε αυτό το πλαίσιο, προέκυψαν οι διαμορφωτικά πιο άκαμπτες ινδολαζεπινόνες και το παράγωγο SP-1769B. Το συγκεκριμένο μόριο είναι ασφαλές (CC50 >100 μM) και αδιαμφισβήτητα έχει μία από τα τις καλύτερες αντι-ιϊκές δράσεις, έναντι όλων των DENV σεροτύπων (DENV2/3 EC50 100 nM, DENV1/4 EC50 0.95-1.25 μM) αλλά και ενάντια στον ιό Ζίκα δείχνοντας ότι αυτές οι ενώσεις μπορεί να εξελιχθούν σε ευρέως φάσματος αντιικών φαρμάκων κατά των φλαβοϊών.
Εικόνα σώματος, έλεγχος, υπαρξιακό άγχος, νόημα και ικανοποίηση από τη ζωή σε εφήβους, ενήλικες, ηλικιωμένους και άτομα με σκλήρυνση κατά πλάκας
Authors: Γεωργίου Χρυσούλα
Published: November 2024

Σημαντικό ερευνητικό ενδιαφέρον φαίνεται να συγκεντρώνει η επίδραση του ελέγχου, του υπαρξιακού άγχους, του νοήματος και της ικανοποίησης από τη ζωή στην εικόνα σώματος, όπως αποτυπώνεται από τη σύγχρονη βιβλιογραφία. Η εξέταση των παραγόντων αυτών σε τρεις ομάδες του πληθυσμού -έφηβοι, ενήλικες, άτομα με Σκλήρυνση Κατά Πλάκας (ΣΚΠ)- προκύπτει από ενδείξεις για διαφοροποιημένα ευρήματα σε διαφορετικές ηλικιακές ομάδες και άτομα με αναπηρία. Ως εκ τούτου, σκοπός της παρούσας έρευνας, ήταν να διερευνηθεί εάν και με ποιο τρόπο σχετίζεται η Εικόνα Σώματος με τον Έλεγχο (Επιθυμία Ελέγχου και Κέντρο Ελέγχου), το Υπαρξιακό Άγχος, το Νόημα Ζωής (Παρουσία Νοήματος και Αναζήτηση Νοήματος) και την Ικανοποίηση από τη Ζωή, σε τρεις διαφορετικές ομάδες του πληθυσμού. Τα δεδομένα της παρούσας έρευνας αντλήθηκαν από ένα δείγμα 900 συμμετεχόντων (239 έφηβοι, 566 ενήλικες και 95 άτομα με ΣΚΠ), οι οποίοι/ες συμπλήρωσαν επτά σχετικά ερωτηματολόγια. Από τις αναλύσεις, αναδύθηκαν στατιστικά σημαντικές συσχετίσεις μεταξύ των διαστάσεων της Εικόνας Σώματος και των υπόλοιπων μεταβλητών, και παρατηρήθηκαν σημαντικές διαφορές φύλου και ηλικιακών ομάδων. Επιπλέον, προσδιορίστηκαν στατιστικά μοντέλα πρόβλεψης των διαφορετικών διαστάσεων της Εικόνας Σώματος, από τα οποία προέκυψε ότι μεταβλητές, όπως το Υπαρξιακό Άγχος, η Ικανοποίηση από τη Ζωή, ο Εξωτερικός Έλεγχος και ο Δείκτης Μάζας Σώματος, αποτελούν στατιστικά σημαντικούς προβλεπτικούς παράγοντες. Επίσης με τη χρήση Μοντέλων Δομικών Εξισώσεων αναδείχθηκε ο διαμεσολαβητικός ρόλος του Υπαρξιακού Άγχους μεταξύ της Δυσαρέσκειας με το Σχήμα Σώματος και του Εξωτερικού Ελέγχου με την Ικανοποίηση από τη Ζωή. Συνολικά, αναδύθηκαν σημαντικές επιδράσεις των μεταβλητών της έρευνας στις διαστάσεις της Εικόνας Σώματος σε όλες τις εξεταζόμενες ομάδες, παρέχοντας μια νέα οπτική ως προς την κατανόηση σχετικών ζητημάτων. Τέλος, συζητιούνται οι κλινικές προεκτάσεις αυτών των ευρημάτων και η αξιοποίησή τους στη συμβουλευτική αντιμετώπιση, καθώς και στην πρόληψη προβλημάτων που σχετίζονται με την Εικόνα Σώματος. Επιπρόσθετα, αποτυπώνονται οι περιορισμοί της έρευνας και οι προτάσεις για μελλοντικές έρευνες.
MATERIAL AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT OF AGRICULTURE: STATE, PROBLEMS, IMPROVEMENT DIRECTIONS
Authors: Zakharova Galina , Safiullin Il'nur , Rakhmatullina Laysana , Ogorodnikova Elena
Published: November 2024

One of the determining conditions for competitive domestic agricultural production in foreign markets is the technical and technological modernization of the industry. However, despite the significance of the problem, over the past two decades, a stable trend of reduction in the number of employees in agricultural organizations in Russia has developed for all types of agricultural machinery. The highest rates of reduction in agricultural machinery were observed until 2010, and in subsequent periods the downward trend has significantly decreased. At the same time, it is not entirely correct to assess the current situation unambiguously, since the reduction in the fleet of machinery and equipment in agricultural organizations is due to certain objective circumstances and conditions: the area of cultivated land and cultivation of specific crops has decreased; the number of animals has decreased; the technical means used have become more energy-intensive and productive, which is especially important in the context of a shortage of personnel in rural areas. In 2018-2022 the production of domestic agricultural machinery in value terms increased by almost 2.5 times, while in physical terms the changes are insignificant. At the same time, domestic mechanical engineering practically does not produce machinery and equipment for pig farming, poultry farming, milk processing, potato harvesters, beet harvesting equipment, equipment for gardening, vegetable growing. As a result of the outstripping rate of disposal of agricultural machinery and equipment over the rate of their production and replenishment, the energy capacity of the industry is declining. The sanctions imposed on the Russian economy have led to increased risks of non-receipt of critical components and spare parts; disruption of stable logistics and distribution chains that have functioned for a long time, their rise in price; revision of contract terms, failure to meet delivery deadlines. Sanctions against the use of foreign high technologies used in precision farming, genetics, selection, enterprise management, etc. have a negative impact on the development of the agro-industrial complex.
Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis in a Patient with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease: a case report
Authors: Lipska Julia , Bocianiak Bogumił , Hamerska Laura , Hamerska Julia , Antczak Joanna , Fenrych Urszula , Wojtczak Karolina , Skupińska Olga , Kajka Anna
Published: November 2024

Cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST) is a rare but life-threatening condition most commonly arising from trauma and paranasal sinus infections. The diagnosis of CST remains a formidable challenge despite advancements in medicine. Early identification and therapeutic intervention require an increased level of clinical awareness and a profound understanding of the pathophysiology of the disorder. This report presents a case of CST in a 58-year-old female with a long history of nasal and paranasal sinus polyposis and aspirin-induced asthma.
Blue Light and Visual Health: Mechanisms, Risks, and Protective Strategies
Authors: Więsyk Piotr Jan , Urbańska Karolina , Wójcik Piotr , Jasiński Kacper , Wojdat Aldona
Published: November 2024

Introduction: Exposure to blue light throughout the day plays a key role in maintaining the balance of our biological functions. It has a profound impact on our physical and mental state, including the visual system, and contributes to the regulation of behavior and circadian rhythms. The relationship between light emitted by digital devices, the biological rhythm of the retina and the development of refractive errors has been the subject of research in recent years.
Aim of Study: This manuscript aims to investigate the implications of light exposure from digital devices on the visual system and circadian rhytms, with a focus on understanding the associated risks, such as digital eye strain and myopia progression. Additionally, the study evaluates the efficacy of blue light-filtering lenses in mitigating these effects.
Material and Methods: The present study is based on literature available in scientific databases such as PubMed, Corchane Library and Google Scholar, using the following keywords ,,Digital devices”; ,, Blue light” ; Digital eye strain” ; Visual system”; ,,Circadian rhythms”Results and conclusions: Despite the prevalent use of blue light-filtering lenses, existing evidence indicates that their effectiveness in improving visual performance or preventing retinal damage is limited. Consequently, the implementation of protective strategies, such as the 20-20-20 rule, combined with appropriate ergonomic practices, is critical in alleviating the ocular strain induced by extended screen exposure.
CROSSREF2024 Annual Meeting and Board Election
Authors:   Crossref, Hendricks Ginny , Obanda Johanssen , Feeney Patricia , Ofiesh Lucy , Korzec Kora , Amdekar Madhura , French Amanda , Collins Susan , Montilla Luis , Stoll Lena , Vale Patrick , Luscheck Kathleen , Tkaczyk Dominika , Atoni Evans
Published: November 2024

The Crossref annual meeting and board election took place online on 29 October 2024. The slide deck includes strategic updates from our team and guest speakers, as well as the results of the board election.
Defining multilevel developmental cervical spinal stenosis using MRI
Authors: Cheung Prudence W. H. , Leung Justin H. M. , Lee Vivien W. Y. , Cheung Jason P. Y.
Published: November 2024

Aims

Developmental cervical spinal stenosis (DcSS) is a well-known predisposing factor for degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) but there is a lack of consensus on its definition. This study aims to define DcSS based on MRI, and its multilevel characteristics, to assess the prevalence of DcSS in the general population, and to evaluate the presence of DcSS in the prediction of developing DCM.

Methods

This cross-sectional study analyzed MRI spine morphological parameters at C3 to C7 (including anteroposterior (AP) diameter of spinal canal, spinal cord, and vertebral body) from DCM patients (n = 95) and individuals recruited from the general population (n = 2,019). Level-specific median AP spinal canal diameter from DCM patients was used to screen for stenotic levels in the population-based cohort. An individual with multilevel (≥ 3 vertebral levels) AP canal diameter smaller than the DCM median values was considered as having DcSS. The most optimal cut-off canal diameter per level for DcSS was determined by receiver operating characteristic analyses, and multivariable logistic regression was performed for the prediction of developing DCM that required surgery.

Results

A total of 2,114 individuals aged 64.6 years (SD 11.9) who underwent surgery from March 2009 to December 2016 were studied. The most optimal cut-off canal diameters for DcSS are: C3 < 12.9 mm, C4 < 11.8 mm, C5 < 11.9 mm, C6 < 12.3 mm, and C7 < 13.3 mm. Overall, 13.0% (262 of 2,019) of the population-based cohort had multilevel DcSS. Multilevel DcSS (odds ratio (OR) 6.12 (95% CI 3.97 to 9.42); p < 0.001) and male sex (OR 4.06 (95% CI 2.55 to 6.45); p < 0.001) were predictors of developing DCM.

Conclusion

This is the first MRI-based study for defining DcSS with multilevel canal narrowing. Level-specific cut-off canal diameters for DcSS can be used for early identification of individuals at risk of developing DCM. Individuals with DcSS at ≥ three levels and male sex are recommended for close monitoring or early intervention to avoid traumatic spinal cord injuries from stenosis.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(11):1333–1341.
The effect of smoking on functional outcomes and implant survival of anatomical total shoulder arthroplasty
Authors: Amador Isabella E. , Hao Kevin A. , Buchanan Timothy R. , Damrow Derek S. , Hones Keegan M. , Simcox Trevor , Schoch Bradley S. , Farmer Kevin W. , Wright Thomas W. , LaMonica Tyler J. , King Joseph J. , Wright Jonathan O.
Published: November 2024

Aims

We sought to compare functional outcomes and survival between non-smokers, former smokers, and current smokers who underwent anatomical total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA) in a large cohort of patients.

Methods

A retrospective review of a prospectively collected shoulder arthroplasty database was performed between August 1991 and September 2020 to identify patients who underwent primary aTSA. Patients were excluded for preoperative diagnoses of fracture, infection, or oncological disease. Three cohorts were created based on smoking status: non-smokers, former smokers, and current smokers. Outcome scores (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), Constant-Murley score, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), Simple Shoulder Test (SST), University of California, Los Angeles activity scale (UCLA)), range of motion (external rotation (ER), forward elevation (FE), internal rotation, abduction), and shoulder strength (ER, FE) evaluated at two- to four-year follow-up were compared between cohorts. Evaluation of revision-free survival was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method to final follow-up.

Results

We included 428 primary aTSAs with a mean follow-up of 2.4 years (SD 0.6). Our cohort consisted of 251 non-smokers, 138 former smokers who quit a mean 21 years (SD 14) prior to surgery (25 pack-years (SD 22)), and 39 current smokers (23 pack-years (SD 20)). At two- to four-year follow-up, former smokers had less favourable SPADI, SST, and FE strength compared to non-smokers, and current smokers had less favourable SPADI, SST, ASES score, UCLA score, Constant-Murley score, FE, abduction, and ER strength compared to non-smokers. Non-smokers exhibited higher revision-free survival rates at two, five, eight, and ten years postoperatively compared to former smokers and current smokers, who had similar rates.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that smoking has a negative effect on aTSA functional outcomes that may persist even after quitting.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(11):1263–1272.
Total elbow arthroplasty in England
Authors: Hamoodi Zaid , Sayers Adrian , Whitehouse Michael R. , Rangan Amar , Kearsley-Fleet Lianne , Sergeant Jamie , Watts Adam C.
Published: November 2024

Aims

The aim of this study was to review the provision of total elbow arthroplasties (TEAs) in England, including the incidence, the characteristics of the patients and the service providers, the types of implant, and the outcomes.

Methods

We analyzed the primary TEAs recorded in the National Joint Registry (NJR) between April 2012 and December 2022, with mortality data from the Civil Registration of Deaths dataset. Linkage with Hospital Episode Statistics-Admitted Patient Care (HES-APC) data provided further information not collected by the NJR. The incidences were calculated using estimations of the populations from the Office for National Statistics. The annual number of TEAs performed by surgeons and hospitals was analyzed on a national and regional basis.

Results

A total of 3,891 primary TEAs were included. The annual incidence of TEA was between 0.72 and 0.82 per 100,000 persons before 2020 and declined to 0.4 due to a decrease in elective TEAs during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a slight recovery in 2022. Older patients, those of white ethnicity and females, were more likely to undergo TEA. Those who underwent elective TEA had a median wait of between 89 (IQR 41 to 221) and 122 days (IQR 74 to 189) in the years before 2021, and this increased to 183 days (IQR 66 to 350) in 2021. The number of TEAs performed by surgeons per annum remained unchanged, with a median of two (IQR 1 to 3). The median annual number of TEAs per region was three to six times higher than the median annual case load of the highest volume hospital in a region. Patients in the lowest socioeconomic group had a higher rate of serious adverse events and mortality (11%) when undergoing TEA for acute trauma.

Conclusion

In England, TEA is more common in older age groups, those of white ethnicity, and females. The COVID-19 pandemic affected the incidence of elective TEA and waiting times, and the provision of TEA has not yet recovered. The Getting it Right First Time recommendation of centralizing services to one centre per region could result in up to a six-fold increase in the number of TEAs being performed in some centres.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(11):1312–1320.
Artificial intelligence in urology
Authors: Noël J , Dasgupta P
Published: November 2024

AI has the power to transform treatment in urology and improve efficiency and performance in the NHS.
3D surgical microscopes for oral surgical procedures
Authors: Dhingra K
Published: November 2024

We look at how 3D microscopes can aid oral surgeons in real time and allow for more accurate treatment.
How to get excellent perioperative care
Authors: McNally SA
Published: November 2024

Surgeons could improve patient optimisation, shared decision making and team-working to improve overall care and outcomes for patients.
The emergence of AI tools in clinical settings
Authors: Goyal Sanay
Published: November 2024

We look at the practical uses of AI tools in clinical settings.
Jehovah’s Witnesses: a change of direction for ‘surgical’ children?
Authors: Wheeler Robert
Published: November 2024

Our Legal Editor looks at a significant change in how consent for 'surgical' children who refuse treatment is handled.
November 2024 Imaging Case of the Month: A Recurring Issue
Authors:   Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ USA, Gotway Michael
Published: November 2024

No abstract available. Manuscript truncated after 150 words. Clinical History: A 65-year-old woman with a history of orthotopic liver transplantation 2 years earlier for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis presented to the Emergency Room for chronic fatigue, malaise, nausea and vomiting, and generalized weakness. She denies shortness of breath, hemoptysis, or productive cough. Her post liver transplant course was complicated by wound infection, biliary stricture requiring ERCP with stent placement, and Clostridium difficile colitis. Prior to her liver transplant the patient had chronic renal insufficiency which has been slowly progressing (creatinine of 2.8 mg/dL, estimated GFR of 17.6 mL) and she was currently undergoing renal transplant evaluation. The patient also has a past medical history of coronary artery disease requiring bypass grafting surgery, hypothyroidism requiring hormone replacement, and type II diabetes not requiring specific therapy. Her past surgical history included cholecystectomy and hysterectomy. The patient is a lifelong non-smoker, she reports an allergy to penicillin and amoxicillin (hives), and she does …
The Chingonas of Comedy: Latina Stand-Up and Testimonio in Chicago
Authors: Loera-Wiggins Julianna
Published: November 2024

Abstract: This article examines how the Chicago-based Latina stand-up comedy group Las Locas Comedy disrupts the representation of the well-behaved Latina. By performing once a month for the Chingona Comedy Hour showcase at the Laugh Factory, Latinas work to change and challenge Chicago stand-up comedy by increasing the visibility of Latina comedic talent. I extend the Latinx written tradition of testimonio to determine that comedy can reclaim, highlight, and celebrate dimensions of Latina identity and promote feminist insights. As they navigate Chicago’s robust comedy scene, Latina comedians map themselves as vital cultural figures within the scene and transcend gender stereotypes.
Translating Boyle Heights: Radical Bilingualism and Spanish Dubbing of Chicanx Voices in Gentefied and Vida
Authors: Derrick Roshawnda A. , Attig Remy
Published: November 2024

Abstract: Recent portrayals of US Latinx stories on TV have included code-switching in shows geared at a US mainstream audience; many have also been translated into Spanish. This study focuses on Vida and Gentefied , both set in the Chicanx community of Boyle Heights, CA. We analyze the language use in the shows and assess how code-switching was addressed in the versions dubbed for a global monolingual Spanish-speaking market. Furthermore, we consider how the borders of Boyle Heights, delineated in part by language use, can provide viewers of the translations with a similar experience as was evident in the source texts.
Following the Ruins: History and Memory in a Prairie Ghost Town
Authors: Flath James , Wardhaugh Robert
Published: November 2024

Abstract: In this article we encounter the ghost town of Fielding, Saskatchewan, as a historical trace and a site of memory. Our discussion consists of three sections. The first offers a history of Fielding's construction in the early twentieth century and its progressive ruination between the 1920s and the early years of the twenty-first century. The second is a study of the effects of movement on village architecture and the influence of movement on the way the village is remembered and experienced. The third is a personal remembrance of encountering village remnants in the past and a reflection on revisiting them in the present.
Summit Springs: A Historiography in Stone
Authors: Dunn Terrence I.
Published: November 2024

Abstract: Situated in a remote location on the plains of northeastern Colorado, the Summit Springs Battlefield features five stone monuments. In the twenty-first century, public history has been the source of contention in the United States, with supporters of varying interpretations of history demanding that it is their version that should be memorialized on historical markers. The July 11, 1869, conflict between Cheyenne Dog Soldiers and soldiers from the United States Cavalry at Summit Springs was a relatively small conflict but was decisive, ending the sovereignty of the Cheyenne in the region. Two of the markers located at the site indicate notable spots on the battlefield. The other three memorialize the skirmish more generally. Collectively, these historical markers, placed on the site by different groups at different times, provide different viewpoints of the event. In addition, the markers demonstrate different interpretations of the history of the American West. The result is that the monuments placed at the Summit Springs Battlefield provide visitors with a look at the historiography of the American West carved in stone.
Abortion Exceptionalism in International Human Rights Law
Authors: Smyth Rebecca
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT: Restricting abortion access results in health and human rights issues. There is an emerging consensus in international human rights law (IHRL) that abortion should be decriminalized in at least certain circumstances, and growing recognition of the need for full decriminalization. However, no human rights court has yet issued a judgment requiring full decriminalization. To make sense of this reticence, this article develops the concept of abortion exceptionalism: abortion receives alternative or more intense legal scrutiny than other issues. Undertaking a close reading of abortion jurisprudence in the human rights systems, it identifies abortion exceptionalism in IHRL and ways to overcome it.
Objects, Things, and Writing the Im/material in Byron
Authors: Saglia Diego
Published: November 2024

Abstract: An exploration of Lord Byron’s engagements with writing as a dimension placed between materiality and the immaterial, this article highlights and evaluates the relevance of this nexus in his output and poetics. After examining Countess Teresa Guiccioli’s traveling chest and her Byron-related souvenirs as a paradigmatic intersection of words and things, it turns to analyze Byron’s idea of writing as an im/material interface and his poetry, in The Bride of Abydos (1813), The Giaour (1813), The Corsair (1814), and canto 3 of Don Juan (1821), as a container of things and objects. As the article demonstrates, Byron’s experiments with materiality, its relations with human subjects, and the transcendental side of language, result in a decentered notion of subjectivity that is inextricable from his metaliterary reflections on the im/material implications of writing.
The Fallen Woman Reimagined in George W. M. Reynolds’s Rosa Lambert
Authors: Conary Jennifer
Published: November 2024

Abstract: This article reads George W. M. Reynolds’s novel Rosa Lambert; Or, the Memoirs of an Unfortunate Woman (1853) as evidence of more complicated attitudes toward unchaste women in Victorian England than can be seen in much canonical middle-class literature. In Rosa Lambert , Reynolds challenges middle-class views on women’s roles in society—both economic and sexual—through rewriting popular narrative tropes of fallen women. Through the fictional memoir of a sexual assault survivor who becomes a serial mistress, Reynolds exposes the everyday realities of sexual violence, the dangerous power of the sexual double standard, and the economic injustices women faced, while also showing the potential for women to embrace their sexuality and seek their own pleasure.
A qualitative exploration of participants’ perspectives and experiences of novel digital health infrastructure to enhance patient care in remote communities within the Home Health Project
Authors: Kearney Madeleine , Ryan Leona , Coyne Rory , Worlikar Hemendra , McCabe Ian , Doran Jennifer , Carr Peter J. , Pinder Jack , Coleman Seán , Connolly Cornelia , Walsh Jane C. , O’Keeffe Derek
Published: November 2024

The Home Health Project, set on Clare Island, five kilometres off the Irish Atlantic coast, is a pilot exploration of ways in which various forms of technology can be utilised to improve healthcare for individuals living in isolated communities. The integration of digital health technologies presents enormous potential to revolutionise the accessibility of healthcare systems for those living in remote communities, allowing patient care to function outside of traditional healthcare settings. This study aims to explore the personal experiences and perspectives of participants who are using digital technologies in the delivery of their healthcare as part of the Home Health Project. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine members of the Clare Island community participating in the Home Health Project. Interviews took place in-person, in June 2023. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were analysed inductively using reflexive thematic analysis. To identify determinants of engagement with the Home Health Project, the data was then deductively coded to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and organised into themes. Seven of the possible 14 TDF domains were supported by the interview data as influences on engagement with the Project: Knowledge, Beliefs about capabilities, Optimism, Intentions, Environmental context and resources, Social influences and Emotion. Overall, participants evaluated the Home Health Project as being of high quality which contributed to self-reported increases in health literacy, autonomy, and feeling well supported in having their health concerns addressed. There was some apprehension related to data protection, coupled with a desire for extended training to address aspects of digital illiteracy. Future iterations can capitalise on the findings of this study by refining the technologies to reflect tailored health information, personalised to the individual user.
Use of organic material provided by an automatic enrichment device by weaner pigs and its influence on tail lesions
Authors: Heseker Philipp , Probst Jeanette , Ammer Stefanie , Hartmann Ulrich , Hasler Mario , Kemper Nicole , Traulsen Imke
Published: November 2024

Providing pigs with organic enrichment material is important for satisfying pigs’ natural explorative behavior to prevent injurious tail biting and thus increase animal welfare in general. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of automatically supplied enrichment material of three different types (alfalfa pellets, oat bran pellets, or a mixture of both) and different enrichment frequencies (2, 4, or 6 supplies/day) on the behavior, the occurrence of tail biting, and daily weight gains of weaner pigs. The results showed significant effects and interactions of enrichment material, frequency and the time of day on the exploratory behavior, the occurrence of tail biting, and daily weight gains. Higher probabilities for pigs using the enrichment material were observed for groups provided with only two supplies/day or receiving oat bran pellets. Additionally, more pigs explored the material when supplied in the afternoon compared to the morning. Tail lesions began to increase in week 4 of the rearing period. Higher probabilities of having a tail lesion were recorded in groups provided with two supplies/day compared to four or six supplies per day. Furthermore, the highest probabilities for pigs having a tail length loss at the end of the rearing period were shown by groups receiving two supplies/day, with 0.170 for alfalfa pellets, 0.342 for mixture, and 0.486 for oat bran pellets. For daily weight gains, only alfalfa groups differed significantly from mixture groups in the case of two supplies/day. No differences were observed for the other factor combinations. These results showed the potential of an automatic enrichment device supporting pigs in performing their natural exploratory behavior in a conventional housing system. Higher numbers of daily enrichment supplies show beneficial effects to reduce the occurrence of tail biting and tail length losses.
Changes in urgent and emergency care activity associated with COVID-19 lockdowns in a sub-region in the East of England: Interrupted times series analyses
Authors: Shabuz Zillur Rahman , Bachmann Max , Cullum Rachel , Burke Amanda , Jones Charlotte Emily Louise , Enwo Oby Otu , Dalton Alice M. , Brainard Julii , Saunders Michael , Steel Nicholas
Published: November 2024

Background

Access to and use of urgent and emergency care in the United Kingdom’s National Health Service reduced during COVID-19 related lockdowns but demand reportedly increased since then. We investigated the impact of COVID-19 on urgent and emergency health care services activity in an eastern England population of 1.1 million.

Methods

We used health care activity data from a municipal health department, recorded at the level of discrete events (such as visits to hospital or ambulance calls) to compare system activity between 2018–2020 (pre-COVID), 2020–2021 (lockdown) and 2021–2023 (post-lockdown), carrying out interrupted time series analyses to describe changes in activity.

Results

Daily emergency department (ED) attendances were 10% (95% confidence interval 9–12%) lower during the lockdown period, and 7% (6–8%) higher in the post-lockdown period than pre-COVID. Attendances arriving by ambulance were 13% (12–14%) lower post-lockdown than pre-COVID, while attendances of arrivals by other means were 17% (16–19%) higher. Post-lockdown, overall attendances were continually reducing. ED waiting times were 45% (44–47%) longer in the post-lockdown period compared to the pre-COVID period and continued to increase post-lockdown. There was a 15% (14–16%) reduction in daily ambulance dispatches post-lockdown versus pre-COVID. Ambulance arrivals with delayed handover to hospital care exceeding 60 minutes increased by 17% (16–18%) post-lockdown versus pre-COVID, and probability of delay showed a continuously upward trend post-lockdown of 20% (19–21%) per year.

Conclusion

Patients are facing long waits in EDs to be admitted to hospital, discharged or transferred. This results in delays in ambulances handing over patients and attending to other calls, which may explain decreasing rates of ambulance dispatches. Potential solutions are likely to involve enhancing the flow through and discharge of patients from hospital, and a whole systems approach which considers the capacity of the local health and care infrastructure, including intermediate care and social care.