bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cardiovascular-Specific Mortality among Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Patients: A Population-Based Analysis
Authors: Yao Hailing , Shi Huiying , Fan Mengke , Yuan Lanlai , Lin Rong
Published: February 2023

Background. The overall risk of cardiovascular mortality (CVM) in cancer survivors has increased with time. The trend of CVM in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) remains unclear. This study is aimed at assessing the risks and independent predictors of CVM in GIST patients. Methods. Data of the GIST patients were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2000-2019). The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was used to evaluate the risk of CVM, and a multivariate competing risk model was utilized to identify the predictors for CVM. Results. A total of 12,058 patients with GIST were included in this study, of whom 477 (4.0%) patients died of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The SMR for CVM among GIST patients was significantly higher than in the general population (SMR, 3.23, 95% CI: 2.97-3.52), and all categories of CVD were associated with a significantly elevated SMR. The cumulative mortality of CVD was the lowest among all causes of death, while the CVM was the second most common cause of death in

patients
≥
80

years when stratified by age at diagnosis. Furthermore, male sex, older age at diagnosis, White race, unmarried, earlier year of diagnosis, and not receiving chemotherapy were the poor prognostic factors for CVM. Conclusions. The CVM risk in GIST patients was significantly higher relative to the general US population. Timely screening and cardioprotective interventions should be implemented to prevent the occurrence of CVM in patients with GIST.
Dupilumab: Direct Cost and Clinical Evaluation in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Ferrari Marco , Donadu Matthew G. , Biondi Gabriele , Saderi Laura , Sucato Federica , Montesu Maria A. , Ruggiu Paola , Merella Paola , Chessa Carla , Sias Angela , Carmelita Gabriella , Mazzarello Vittorio , Sotgiu Giovanni , Rosanna Satta
Published: February 2023

Health care spending in Italy is high and continues to increase; assessing the long-term health and economic outcomes of new therapies is essential. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, pruritic, immune-mediated inflammatory dermatosis, a clinical condition that significantly affects patients’ quality of life at a high cost and requires continuous care. This retrospective study aimed to assess the direct cost and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of Dupilumab and patients’ clinical outcomes. All AD patients treated with Dupilumab at the Sassari University Hospital, Italy, between January 2019 and December 2021 were included. Eczema Area Severity Index, Dermatology Life Quality Index, and Itch Numeric Rating Scale scores were measured. ADRs and drug expenses were analyzed. A statistically significant posttreatment improvement was observed for all the indices measured: EASI (

P
<
0.0001

), DLQI (

P
<
0.0001

), NRS (

P
<
0.0001

). The total expenditure for Dupilumab, in the observed period, amounted to € 589.748,66 for 1358 doses, and a positive correlation was shown between annual expenditure and delta percentage of variation pre- and posttreatment for the clinical parameters evaluated.
On Fixed Point Convergence Results for a General Class of Nonlinear Mappings with a Supportive Application
Authors: Ahmad Fayyaz , Ullah Kifayat , Ahmad Junaid , Mohamed Om Kalthum S. K. , Bakery Awad A.
Published: February 2023

In this article, we considered the class of generalized

α
,
β

-nonexpansive (GABN) mappings that properly includes all nonexpansive, Suzuki nonexpansive (SN), generalized

α

-nonexpansive (GAN), and Reich–Suzuki nonexpansive (RSN) mappings. We used the iterative scheme JA for finding fixed points of these mappings in a Banach space setting. We provided both weak and strong convergence results under some mild conditions on the mapping, domain, and on the parameters involved in our iterative scheme. To support these results numerically, we constructed a new example of GABN mappings and proved that the JA iterative scheme converges to its fixed point. Moreover, we proved that JA iterative scheme converges faster to the fixed point corresponding to the some other iterative schemes of the literature. Eventually, we carried out an application of our main outcome to solve a split feasibility of problems (SFPs) in the setting of GABN mappings. Thus, our results were new in the literature and improved well-known results of the literature.
A Deep Learning Approach to Detect Microsleep Using Various Forms of EEG Signal
Authors: Sangeetha S. K. B. , Mathivanan Sandeep Kumar , Muthukumaran V. , Pughazendi N. , Jayagopal Prabhu , Uddin Md Salah
Published: February 2023

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a reliable method for identifying the onset of sleepiness behind the wheel. Using EEG technology for driving fatigue detection still presents challenges in extracting informative elements from noisy EEG signals. Due to their extensive computational parallelism, which is similar to how the brain processes information, neural networks have been explored as potential solutions for extracting relevant information from EEG data. The existing machine learning frameworks suffer from high computing costs and slow convergence, both of which contribute to low classification accuracy and efficiency due to the large number of hyper parameters that need to be improved. It is necessary to automate this micronap detection process before it can be used in real‐time scenarios. To distinguish between micronap and non‐micronap states, a deep neural network (DNN) framework is developed in this research using different EEG representations as input. Additional EEG representations utilized in this investigation include cleaned EEG as a time series, log‐power spectrum, 2D‐spatial map of log‐power spectrum, and raw EEG. Finally, traditional machine learning algorithms are evaluated for their effectiveness in detecting micronaps from these EEG inputs. The findings suggest that micronap detection can be greatly improved by combining cleaned EEG with DNN.
Characteristics, Mortality, and Clinical Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 and Diabetes: A Reference Single-Center Cohort Study from Poland
Authors: Kania Michał , Mazur Konrad , Terlecki Michał , Matejko Bartłomiej , Hohendorff Jerzy , Chaykivska Zlata , Fiema Mateusz , Kopka Marianna , Kostrzycka Małgorzata , Wilk Magdalena , Klupa Tomasz , Witek Przemysław , Katra Barbara , Klocek Marek , Rajzer Marek , Malecki Maciej T.
Published: February 2023

Background. Diabetes is a risk factor for a severe course of COVID-19. We evaluated the characteristics and risk factors associated with undesirable outcomes in diabetic patients (DPs) hospitalized due to COVID-19. Materials and Methods. The data analysis of patients admitted between March 6, 2020, and May 31, 2021, to the University Hospital in Krakow (Poland), a reference center for COVID-19, was performed. The data were gathered from their medical records. Results. A total number of 5191 patients were included, of which 2348 (45.2%) were women. The patients were at the median age of 64 (IQR: 51–74) years, and 1364 (26.3%) were DPs. DPs, compared to nondiabetics, were older (median age: 70 years, IQR: 62–77 vs. 62, IQR: 47–72, and

p

 < 0.001) and had a similar gender distribution. The DP group had a higher mortality rate (26.2% vs. 15.7%,

p

 < 0.001) and longer hospital stays (median: 15 days, IQR: 10–24 vs. 13, IQR: 9–20, and

p

 < 0.001). DPs were admitted to the ICU more frequently (15.7% vs. 11.0%,

p

 < 0.001) and required mechanical ventilation more often (15.5% vs. 11.3%,

p

 < 0.001). In a multivariate logistic regression, factors associated with a higher risk of death were age >65 years, glycaemia >10 mmol/L, CRP and D-dimer level, prehospital insulin and loop diuretic use, presence of heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. Factors contributing to lower mortality were in-hospital use of statin, thiazide diuretic, and calcium channel blocker. Conclusion. In this large COVID-19 cohort, DPs constituted more than a quarter of hospitalized patients. The risk of death and other outcomes compared to nondiabetics was higher in this group. We identified a number of clinical, laboratory, and therapeutic variables associated with the risk of hospital death in DPs.
Using Artificial Intelligence to Develop a Multivariate Model with a Machine Learning Model to Predict Complications in Mexican Diabetic Patients without Arterial Hypertension (National Nested Case-Control Study): Metformin and Elevated Normal Blood Pressure Are Risk Factors, and Obesity Is Protective
Authors: Zaizar-Fregoso Sergio A. , Lara-Esqueda Agustin , Hernández-Suarez Carlos M. , Delgado-Enciso Josuel , Garcia-Nevares Arturo , Canseco-Avila Luis M. , Guzman-Esquivel Jose , Rodriguez-Sanchez Iram P. , Martinez-Fierro Margarita L. , Ceja-Espiritu Gabriel , Ochoa-Díaz-Lopez Hector , Espinoza-Gomez Francisco , Sanchez-Diaz Iyari , Delgado-Enciso Ivan
Published: February 2023

Diabetes mellitus is a disease with no cure that can cause complications and even death. Moreover, over time, it will lead to chronic complications. Predictive models have been used to identify people with a tendency to develop diabetes mellitus. At the same time, there is limited information regarding the chronic complications of patients with diabetes. Our study is aimed at creating a machine-learning model that will be able to identify the risk factors of a diabetic patient developing chronic complications such as amputations, myocardial infarction, stroke, nephropathy, and retinopathy. The design is a national nested case-control study with 63,776 patients and 215 predictors with four years of data. Using an XGBoost model, the prediction of chronic complications has an AUC of 84%, and the model has identified the risk factors for chronic complications in patients with diabetes. According to the analysis, the most crucial risk factors based on SHAP values (Shapley additive explanations) are continued management, metformin treatment, age between 68 and 104 years, nutrition consultation, and treatment adherence. But we highlight two exciting findings. The first is a reaffirmation that high blood pressure figures across patients with diabetes without hypertension become a significant risk factor at

diastolic
>
70
 
mmHg

(OR: 1.095, 95% CI: 1.078-1.113) or

systolic
>
120
 
mmHg

(OR: 1.147, 95% CI: 1.124-1.171). Furthermore, people with diabetes with a

BMI
>
32

(overall obesity) (OR: 0.816, 95% CI: 0.8-0.833) have a statistically significant protective factor, which the paradox of obesity may explain. In conclusion, the results we have obtained show that artificial intelligence is a powerful and feasible tool to use for this type of study. However, we suggest that more studies be conducted to verify and elaborate upon our findings.
Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulator Explantation Technique and Outcomes: A Retrospective Case Series
Authors: Taylor II Jeffrey , Yu Jason Lee
Published: February 2023

Introduction: Upper airway stimulation via the hypoglossal nerve stimulator (HGNS) implant is a surgical method for treating obstructive sleep apnea. However, patients may need the implant removed for a variety of reasons. The purpose of this case series is to assess surgical experiences with HGNS explantation at our institution. We report on surgical approach, overall operative times, operative and postoperative complications, and discuss relevant patient-specific surgical findings when removing the HGNS. Methods: We performed a retrospective case series of all patients that underwent HGNS implantation at a single tertiary medical center between January 9, 2021, and January 9, 2022. Subjects included adult patients who presented to the sleep surgery clinic of the senior author for surgical management of previously implanted HGNS. Patient clinical history was reviewed to determine the timing of the patient’s implant, reasons for explant, and postoperative recovery course. Operative reports were reviewed to determine overall duration of surgery and any associated difficulties or deviations from the general approach. Results: Between January 9, 2021, and January 9, 2022, 5 patients had an explantation of their HGNS implant. Explantation occurred between 8 and 63 months of their original implant surgery. The average operative time from incisional start time to close was 162 min for all cases with a range of 96–345 min. No significant complications were reported including pneumothorax and nerve palsy. Conclusion: This reported case series outlines the general steps for Inspire HGNS explantation as well as details the experiences in a case series of 5 subjects explanted over the year at a single institution. The results from the cases suggest that the explantation of the device can be performed efficiently and safely.
Sex and Season Affect Cortical Volumes in Free-Living Western Fence Lizards, Sceloporus occidentalis
Authors: Jude Morgan B , Strand Christine R.
Published: February 2023

The hippocampus plays an important role in spatial navigation and spatial learning across a variety of vertebrate species. Sex and seasonal differences in space use and behavior are known to affect hippocampal volume. Similarly, territoriality and differences in home range size are known to affect the volume of the reptile hippocampal homologues, the medial and dorsal cortices (MC, DC). However, studies have almost exclusively investigated males and little is known about sex or seasonal differences in MC and/or DC volumes in lizards. Here, we are the first to simultaneously examine sex and seasonal differences in MC and DC volumes in a wild lizard population. In Sceloporus occidentalis, males display territorial behaviors that are more pronounced during the breeding season. Given this sex difference in behavioral ecology, we expected males to have larger MC and/or DC volumes than females and for this difference to be most pronounced during the breeding season when territorial behavior is increased. Male and female S. occidentalis were captured from the wild during the breeding season and the post-breeding season and were sacrificed within 2 days of capture. Brains were collected and processed for histology. Cresyl-violet-stained sections were used to quantify brain region volumes. In these lizards, breeding females had larger DC volumes than breeding males and nonbreeding females. There was no sex or seasonal difference in MC volumes. Differences in spatial navigation in these lizards may involve aspects of spatial memory related to breeding other than territoriality that affect plasticity of the DC. This study highlights the importance of investigating sex differences and including females in studies of spatial ecology and neuroplasticity.
Clinical Impact of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology on Sentinel Node Biopsy after Preoperative Chemotherapy for Core Needle Biopsy-Proven Metastatic Lymph Nodes
Authors: Nakamura Rikiya , Hayama Shouko , Yoshimura Satoshi , Itami Makiko , Araki Akinobu , Odaka Akiko , Yamamoto Naohito
Published: February 2023

Introduction: Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) has been increasingly performed for patients with lymph node (LN)-positive (cN1) breast cancer that converted to LN-negative (ycN0) status after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). This study aimed to clarify the SNB avoidance rates using fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) for metastatic LNs after NAC. Methods: This study included 68 patients with cN1 breast cancer undergoing NAC from April 2019 to August 2021. Patients with biopsy-proven metastatic clip-marked LNs (clipped LNs) underwent eight cycles of NAC. Ultrasonography (US) was performed to evaluate the effect of the treatment on the clipped LNs, and FNAC was performed after NAC. Patients with ycN0 status determined using FNAC underwent SNB. Those with positive results for FNAC or SNB underwent axillary LN dissection. Histopathology results and FNA were compared for clipped LNs after NAC. Results: Of the 68 cases, 53 were ycN0 and 15 were clinically positive LNs after NAC (ycN1) on US. Further, 13% (7/53) of all ycN0 and 60% (9/15) of all ycN1 cases showed residual metastasis in the LNs on FNAC. Conclusion: FNAC was diagnostically useful for patients with ycN0 status on US imaging. Using FNAC for LNs after NAC helped avoid unnecessary SNB in 13% of the cases.
Avian Sex Determination: A Chicken and Egg Conundrum
Authors: Clinton Michael , Zhao Debiao
Published: February 2023

Background: Primary sex determination is the developmental process that results in the sexual differentiation of the gonads. Vertebrate sex determination is generally considered to follow the model based on the mammalian system, where a sex-specific master regulatory gene activates one of the two different gene networks that underlie testis and ovary differentiation. Summary: It is now known that, while many of the molecular components of these pathways are conserved across different vertebrates, a wide variety of different trigger factors are utilized to initiate primary sex determination. In birds, the male is the homogametic sex (ZZ), and significant differences exist between the avian system of sex determination and that of mammals. For example, DMRT1, FOXL2, and estrogen are key factors in gonadogenesis in birds, but none are essential for primary sex determination in mammals. Key Message: Gonadal sex determination in birds is thought to depend on a dosage-based mechanism involving expression of the Z-linked DMRT1 gene, and it may be that this “mechanism” is simply an extension of the cell autonomous sex identity associated with avian tissues, with no sex-specific trigger required.
Endogenous Sex Hormones Modulate the Analgesic Effect of Tramadol in Lean and High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Wistar Rats: A Preclinical Molecular Approach
Authors: Satyam Shakta Mani , Bairy Laxminarayana Kurady , Shetty Prakashchandra
Published: February 2023

Introduction: Differences in pain thresholds may have implications in pain management, as they may account in part for the variability in analgesic requirements between individuals. We planned to investigate the influence of endogenous sex hormones on the analgesic modulation of tramadol in lean and high-fat diet-induced obese Wistar rats. Methods: The whole study was carried out on 48 adult Wistar rats (24 male: 12 obese and 12 lean and 24 female: 12 obese and 12 lean). Each male and female rat group was further subdivided into two groups (n = 6/group) and treated with normal saline/tramadol for 5 days. On the fifth day, 15 min after tramadol/normal saline treatment, animals were tested for pain perception toward noxious stimuli. Later, endogenous 17 beta-estradiol and free testosterone levels in serum were estimated through ELISA methods. Results: The present study revealed that female rats experienced more pain sensitivity to noxious stimuli compared to male rats. High-fat diet-induced obese rats experienced more pain sensations to noxious stimuli than lean rats. Obese male rats were found to have significantly low free testosterone and high 17 beta-estradiol levels compared to lean male rats. An increase in serum 17 beta-estradiol level led to increased pain sensation to noxious stimuli. While an increase in free testosterone level resulted in the lowering of pain sensation to noxious stimuli. Conclusion: The analgesic effect of tramadol was more pronounced in male rats compared to female rats. The analgesic effect of tramadol was more marked in lean rats compared to obese rats. Additional research to elucidate obesity-induced endocrine changes and the mechanisms driving sex hormones in pain perception is needed to foster future interventions to reduce disparities in pain.
Acknowledging connections between Reading and Translation Studies: a bibliographical review
Authors: Winfield Claudia Marchese , Tomitch Lêda Maria Braga
Published: February 2023

This article presents a bibliographical review of cognitive process-oriented research in translation, focusing on the intersection of the areas of Translation Studies (TS) and Reading. The objective of the study is to identify points of contact between the fields in terms of theoretical and methodological aspects. A broader account of process-oriented research in TS is carried out (Ferreira; Schwieter, 2014; Hurtado Albir et al.; 2015 among others), followed by a review of reading and translation (Shreve  et al.,1993, and others). Overall, findings indicate that task purpose and translators’ experience influence reading in translation, yet reading, translation, and reading during translation entail parallel processes of a different nature that are associated in reading during translation.
Multiomics Network Medicine Approaches to Precision Medicine and Therapeutics in Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Wang Rui-Sheng , Maron Bradley A. , Loscalzo Joseph
Published: February 2023

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death worldwide and display complex phenotypic heterogeneity caused by many convergent processes, including interactions between genetic variation and environmental factors. Despite the identification of a large number of associated genes and genetic loci, the precise mechanisms by which these genes systematically influence the phenotypic heterogeneity of CVD are not well understood. In addition to DNA sequence, understanding the molecular mechanisms of CVD requires data from other omics levels, including the epigenome, the transcriptome, the proteome, as well as the metabolome. Recent advances in multiomics technologies have opened new precision medicine opportunities beyond genomics that can guide precise diagnosis and personalized treatment. At the same time, network medicine has emerged as an interdisciplinary field that integrates systems biology and network science to focus on the interactions among biological components in health and disease, providing an unbiased framework through which to integrate systematically these multiomics data. In this review, we briefly present such multiomics technologies, including bulk omics and single-cell omics technologies, and discuss how they can contribute to precision medicine. We then highlight network medicine-based integration of multiomics data for precision medicine and therapeutics in CVD. We also include a discussion of current challenges, potential limitations, and future directions in the study of CVD using multiomics network medicine approaches.
Research on Cross-Border Power Regulation Constraint Optimization Model Based on Improved Differential Evolution Algorithm
Authors: Tang Lijun , Luo Enbo , Lu Hai , Yang Tianguo , Gou Xiaolong
Published: February 2023

The cross-border power regulation constraint optimization model based on the improved differential evolution algorithm is studied to effectively regulate and constrain the cross-border power system, ensure the safe and stable operation of the cross-border power system and reduce emissions
and fuel consumption. Build a cross-border power and energy Internet model with the tie line as the main medium to realize domestic and overseas information exchange. On this basis, take the minimum total emissions and the minimum total fuel consumption of the generator as the objective function,
and take the unit output, system load, active power output and climbing constraints as the constraints, build a cross-border power regulation constraint optimization model, and apply the multi group improved differential evolution algorithm to solve the model, Obtain a cross-border power regulation
and restriction scheme that minimizes the total emissions and the total fuel consumption of generators. The experimental results show that this method can realize the cross-border power regulation constraint optimization. After the power regulation constraint optimization, the total emissions
and generator fuel consumption are small, and the power generation capacity can meet the load demand and achieve the balance of supply and demand.
Terminal Voltage Prediction of Distribution and Substation Based on Spatial-Temporal Distribution Characteristics of the Station Load
Authors: Wang Zhengping , Lu Yuyang , Wang Bin , Yuan Shenghui , Gao Bing , Sun Yongqiang
Published: February 2023

A terminal voltage prediction method based on the spatial-temporal distribution characteristics of the load in the substation area is proposed. Considering that the power flow and load belong to the influence factors of the terminal voltage, the power flow analysis method based on the
parameters and power distribution of the low-voltage line is used. After the general model of the low-voltage line is built according to the spatial distribution characteristics of the load in the substation area. Combined with the injected power of the parent node of the terminal node in
the constructed line model, the terminal node voltage is obtained; After the load information of different time periods in the station area is predicted by the distribution and substation load prediction method based on wavelet-clustering, the voltage analysis results under the change of power
flow and load moment are taken as the prediction samples of the terminal voltage prediction method in the station area based on the fusion of power flow calculation and load forecasting. Based on the low-voltage limit, the deep residual network is used to realize the state prediction of whether
the terminal voltage is normal or not. The test shows that the prediction result of this method for the terminal voltage of distribution and substation in a certain area is in line with the actual situation and has the ability to predict the terminal voltage of distribution and substation.
Analysis of Load-Bearing Electrical Properties of Composite Materials Based on Homogenization Theory
Authors: Wang Ailing , Wang Ping
Published: February 2023

In this study, the broadband dielectric spectrum of polyimide composites was examined using the homogenization theory. The findings demonstrate that the addition of boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) causes an increase in conductivity, dielectric constant,
and dielectric loss of the composites but does not result in a surge in the three parameters; the results also demonstrate that an increase in temperature causes an increase in dielectric constant and dielectric loss of the composites. In addition, temperature has a bigger impact on the dielectric
loss than it does on the dielectric constant. An increase in the amount of polarized charges and a shallower bulk trap depth can result from the addition of nanomaterials, according to research on thermally stimulated current in composite materials. The presence of the interfacial region,
which made it simple to cause charge accumulation and simple to form conduction current, is primarily responsible for the significant increase in bulk conductivity of the composites at 50 Hz that occurred with the addition of more nanomaterials. The large rise in bulk conductivity of the composites
at 50 Hz that happened with the addition of more nanomaterials is mostly due to the existence of the interfacial region, which made it simple to produce charge buildup and simple to form conduction current. The variation in volume conductivity when the doping ratio is less than 10 vol% is
not significant due to AgNPs’ low concentration and ambiguous contribution to the conduction current. As the polarization temperature rises, the amount of polarization charges increases, but it has minimal effect on the bulk trap depth of the composites.
Implied Heat Transport from CERES Data: Direct Radiative Effect of Clouds on Regional Patterns and Hemispheric Symmetry
Authors: Pearce F. A. , Bodas-Salcedo A.
Published: February 2023

We calculate the implied horizontal heat transport due to the spatial anomalies of radiative fluxes at the top of the atmosphere (TOA). The regional patterns of implied heat transport for different components of the TOA fluxes are calculated by solving the Poisson equation with the flux components as source terms. The shortwave (SW) part of the spectrum governs the spatial patterns of the total implied heat transport. Using the cloud radiative effect (CRE) as source term, we show that the direct effect of clouds is to reduce the poleward heat transport in the majority of the Northern Hemisphere and at high southern latitudes. Clouds flatten the gradients of the clear-sky energy flux potential and hence reduce the implied heat transport with respect to clear skies. Clouds reduce the implied cross-equatorial heat transport with respect to clear sky through changes in the SW part of the spectrum. It changes from 0.83 PW in clear sky to −0.01 PW in all sky, equivalent to the hemispheric albedo symmetry reported in previous studies. We investigate hemispheric symmetry by introducing a metric that measures the symmetry of implied meridional heat transports at all latitudes. The direct effect of clouds is to increase the symmetry in the implied heat transport, and this is achieved through an increase in symmetry in the SW part of the spectrum in the tropics. Whether this is trivial or the result of a fundamental control in the climate system is still an open question.
Cloud-Resolving Modeling and Evaluation of Microphysical Schemes for Flash Flood–Producing Convection over the Black Sea
Authors: Anisimov Anatolii , Efimov Vladimir , Lvova Margarita , Mostamandi Suleiman , Stenchikov Georgiy
Published: February 2023

In the present study, the convective event over the Black Sea area in September 2018 is analyzed using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model configured with a fully convective-resolving setup. We test the WRF sensitivity to the choice of sea surface temperature (SST) dataset and microphysics scheme. The simulation is verified using weather radar measurements and ground observations. Both the choice of the microphysical scheme and SST dataset have a significant impact on the dynamic properties of the maritime convective system and associated rainfall. The best results are achieved with the WDM6 microphysical scheme and a more detailed and slightly warmer (compared to the default OSTIA SST) G1SST dataset. The optimally configured WRF simulations add value to coarser driving operational analysis, with more accurate amount and pattern of rainfall and the earlier arrival of the convective system, which is in better agreement with radar and weather station measurements. The vertical structure of the reflectivity profiles in the WDM6 scheme that simulates 15%–20% larger rainwater loading compared to other schemes agrees best with the observed data. Other schemes reproduce excessive reflectivity above the freezing level. Enhanced rainfall estimates and faster convective system propagation in the G1SST WDM6 simulations are linked to stronger cold pools caused by enhanced evaporation due to the higher rainwater content and droplet number concentrations. Stronger cold pools result in the 15%–20% enhancement of latent and sensible heat fluxes, reflecting the strong sensitivity of ocean–atmosphere heat and moisture exchange to the choice of microphysics scheme and SST dataset.
What Controlled the Low-Level Moisture Transport during the Extreme Precipitation in Henan Province of China in July 2021?
Authors: Liu Hao-Yan , Gu Jian-Feng , Wang Yuqing , Xu Jing
Published: February 2023

A record-breaking precipitation event occurred in the Henan province of China in July 2021 (217HP). To identify the moisture source of the event, ensemble experiments with 120 members were conducted in this study. Results show that the precipitable water during this extreme event was primarily contributed by the low-level southeasterly (LLSE) water vapor transport. The LLSE was largely enhanced by the pressure gradient force maintained by the western Pacific subtropical high and further amplified by the latent heat release in the rainfall system over Henan. The positive moisture advection by the LLSE and evaporative water occurred below 950 hPa and was redistributed into higher levels by the LLSE jet-enhanced subgrid vertical turbulent transport. As a result, the combination of the enhanced LLSE centered around 950 hPa and the increase of moisture below 850 hPa were the main drivers for the continuous strengthening of LLSE moisture transport, with the former playing the dominant role. It is also found that not only the presence but also the intensity of the LLSE jet were important for reproducing the extreme rainfall. The impact of binary tropical cyclones In-Fa and Cempaka on the low-level moisture transport was also examined. We found that In-Fa (2021) presented an uncertain impact on 217HP, while Cempaka (2021) was found to be unfavorable for 217HP. Different from the LLSE water vapor transport, Cempaka mainly acted to weaken the southwesterly wind to the southwest of Henan by reducing the pressure gradient and impeding the water vapor transport toward Henan.
The effectiveness of an automated algorithm as a tool for investigating the cause of anaemia in undiagnosed patients from general practitioners
Authors: de Jong Anne Margreet , Veldhuis Sam , Candido Firmin , den Elzen Wendy PJ , de Boer Bauke A
Published: February 2023

Background

The Dutch guideline algorithm for the analysis of anaemia in patients of general practitioners (GPs) was programmed in a Clinical Decision Support system (CDS-anaemia) to support the process of diagnosing the cause of anaemia in the laboratory. This study investigates the diagnostic yield of the automated anaemia algorithm compared to that of the manual work up by the GP.

Methods

This retrospective population-based study consisted of 2697 people ≥18 years. Anaemia was defined according to the Dutch College of General Practitioners (DCGP) guideline. Causes of anaemia were based on the DCGP guidelines with the corresponding blood tests. The number of blood tests and causes of anaemia were measured in two separate periods in both the (CDS-anaemia) pilot group and a control group in which routine care was provided.

Results

Patients from GPs supported by CDS-anaemia had higher chances of having more anaemia-related blood tests being performed. This resulted in finding significantly more causes of anaemia in the pilot group compared to the control group with respect to iron deficiency (resp. 31.3% vs 14.5%), possible iron deficiency (resp. 11.4% vs 2.8%), iron deficiency in acute phase (2.6% vs 0.5%), chronic disease/infection/inflammation (23.5% vs 1.9%), vitamin B12 deficiency (4.5% vs 1.9%), possible vitamin B12 deficiency (16.8% vs 8.7%), folate deficiency (3.3% vs 0.9%) and possible bone marrow disorder (3.8% vs 0.0%); p < 0.05.

Conclusions

This study suggests that an automated-algorithm support can effectively aid in the diagnostic work-up of anaemia in primary care to find more causes of anaemia.
Fibrin monomer complex as a potential thrombosis marker related to venous thromboembolism risk in pregnant women
Authors: Iwamoto Takuya , Hatayama Yuki , Namba Hiroya , Kojima Nao , Horie Takuya , Yamashita Noriko , Ichikawa Hitomi , Fukuda Tetsuya , Motokura Toru
Published: February 2023

Background

Pregnancy is a risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE) due to increased coagulation factor activity and decreased protein S activity. However, thrombosis markers for predicting VTE in pregnancy remain controversial. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between VTE risk and thrombosis markers in pregnant women and to identify markers related to VTE risk.

Methods

Archived plasma samples from 107 pregnant women were used in this study, and the concentrations of D-dimer, fibrin monomer complex (FMC), plasmin-plasmin inhibitor complex, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and fibrinogen were measured. VTE risk was scored according to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists green-top guidelines and the patients were divided into low- or high-risk groups.

Results

The median (range) of risk score for deep vein thrombosis was 2 (0–8), and we defined the high-risk group included those with a score of ≧3. D-dimer and FMC concentrations were significantly higher in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group (D-dimer 4.5 vs 2.6 μg/mL, p = 0.008; FMC 14.6 vs 3.4 μg/mL, p < 0.001). Although D-dimer concentration significantly increased with gestational age (Spearman’s correlation coefficient [ rs] = 0.317, p < 0.001), FMC concentration did not ( rs = −0.081, p = 0.409). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values of D-dimer, FMC, and both D-dimer and FMC for the high-risk group were 0.656, 0.713, and 0.738, respectively.

Conclusions

FMC may be a thrombosis marker related to VTE risk in pregnancy and is potentially preferable over D-dimer concentrations.
Professor and Peer Perceptions of Requests for Academic Accommodations in College: An Examination of ADHD and Specific Learning Disorder
Authors: Lefler Elizabeth K. , Alacha Helena F. , Weed Brendan M. , Reeble Chloe J. , Garner Anna M.
Published: February 2023

University students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and specific learning disorder (SLD) have higher rates of academic difficulty than their unaffected peers. Thus, some academic accommodations may be useful to them. However, research suggests that college students are hesitant to use their approved academic accommodations for fear of negative perceptions. The aim of the current study was to examine the perceptions of professors and fellow college students (i.e., peers) who were presented with a vignette depicting a fictitious student requesting an academic accommodation. It was hypothesized that professors and peers would have more negative impressions of students needing accommodations because of ADHD and SLD diagnoses, as compared to three other reasons (i.e., depression, a visual impairment, or collegiate athletics [specifically basketball]). In a sequence of two similar experiments, professors and then peers were presented with one of the five vignettes, and were asked to rate the student on various measures of academic ability and work ethic, among other things. Overall, our data suggested relatively positive perceptions of college students who request academic accommodations. However, contrary to the hypothesis, the fictitious basketball player received the most negative ratings. Implications and future directions are discussed.
Blowtorching Freirean Thought Out of Bolsonaro’s Brazil: Alagoas’s Escola Livre Law
Authors: Pezzuto Thiago
Published: February 2023

The state of Alagoas’s Escola Livre law prohibited teachers from sharing with their students opinions that are political, partisan, religious, or philosophical in nature. Application to the analysis of its passage of the punctuated-equilibrium concepts of policy image and policy venue suggests that mutual reinforcement of (1) the return of the right in Latin America, (2) the rise of evangelicals, and (3) the advent of the School Without Party movement in the larger context of Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment process created a unique window of opportunity that the law’s author perceived and seized upon.

A Lei Escola Livre do estado de Alagoas proibiu que professores compartilhassem com seus alunos opiniões de natureza política, partidária, religiosa ou filosófica. A aplicação dos conceitos de equilíbrio pontuado de policy image e policy venue à análise de sua promulgação sugere que o fortalecimento mútuo entre (1) o retorno da direita na América Latina, (2) a ascensão de evangélicos, e (3) o advento do movimento Escola Sem Partido no contexto mais amplo do processo de impeachment de Dilma Rousseff criou uma janela de oportunidade única que o autor da lei autor identificou e explorou.
Managerial Overconfidence and Dividend Stickiness
Authors: Lin Jui-Chia , Yu Min-Teh
Published: February 2023

In this study, we examine whether overconfident CEOs strive to smooth dividends. Our findings show overconfident CEOs increase dividends more as earnings increase and decrease dividends less as earnings decline, resulting in downward dividend stickiness. This asymmetric dividend payout is consistent with the selective self-attribution bias. Furthermore, the effect of managerial overconfidence on dividend stickiness is more pronounced for firms without catering incentives. In addition, overconfident CEOs do not manage share repurchases as they do for dividends. Therefore, we do not find a positive effect of managerial overconfidence on total payout stickiness.
In Vitro Dengue Virus Inhibition by Aqueous Extracts of Aegle marmelos, Munronia pinnata and Psidium guajava
Authors: Jayasekara Kalani Gayathri , Soysa Preethi , Suresh Thusharie Sugandhika , Goonasekara Charitha Lakshini , Gunasekera Kamani Mangalika
Published: February 2023

Dengue is an arboviral (insect-transmitted) infection of global concern. Currently, there are still no specific dengue antiviral agents to treat the disease. Plant extracts have been used in traditional medicine for treating various viral infections — thus, in the present study, aqueous extracts of dried flowers of Aegle marmelos (AM), whole plant of Munronia pinnata (MP) and leaves of Psidium guajava (PG) were investigated for their potential capacity to inhibit dengue virus infection of Vero cells. The maximum non-toxic dose (MNTD) and the 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) were determined by using the MTT assay. A plaque reduction antiviral assay was carried out with dengue virus types 1 (DV1), 2 (DV2), 3 (DV3) and 4 (DV4), in order to calculate the half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50). AM extract inhibited all four virus serotypes tested; MP extract inhibited DV1, DV2 and DV4, but not DV3; PG extract inhibited DV1, DV2 and DV4, but not DV3. Thus, the results suggest that AM is a promising candidate for the pan-serotype inhibition of dengue viral activity.
Successful thrombolysis of early bioprosthetic mitral valve thrombosis following extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: Case report
Authors: Groenewoud Rosalind , Gunning Derek , Fava Craig , Sharpe Rob , Valchanov Kamen , Shayan Hossein
Published: February 2023

Introduction: Bioprosthetic mitral valve thrombosis (BPMVT) following post-operative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a rare complication with high mortality.

Case Report: A 75-year-old man with a flail posterior mitral leaflet underwent a bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement and was subsequently placed on central veno-arterial high flow ECMO following intractable shock after protamine administration. He developed BPMVT over the following 48 hr, which did not resolve with 3 weeks of systemic heparin. He was then treated successfully with 3 days of continuous low dose (1 mg/hr) Tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA). He suffered no bleeding consequences and had a complete cardiac and end-organ recovery.

Discussion: Slow TPA infusion may be an acceptable treatment strategy for alleviating thrombotic burden from a bioprosthetic valve, even in the post-operative setting.
What is the incidence of subsequent adjacent joint injury after patellofemoral pain?
Authors: Young Jodi L , Sell Timothy C , Boeth Riley , Foster Kaitlyn , Greenlee Tina A , Rhon Daniel I
Published: February 2023

Objective

To investigate the incidence of subsequent lumbar spine, hip, and ankle-foot injuries after a diagnosis of patellofemoral pain.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Military Health System.

Participants

Individuals ( n = 92,319) ages 17–60 diagnosed with patellofemoral pain between 2010–2011.

Interventions

Therapeutic exercise.

Main Outcome Measures

Frequency of adjacent joint injuries in the 2-year period after initial patellofemoral pain injury, and hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and Kaplan–Meier survival curves for risk of adjacent joint injury based on receiving therapeutic exercise for the initial injury.

Results

After initial patellofemoral pain diagnosis, 42,983 (46.6%) individuals sought care for an adjacent joint injury. Of these, 19,587 (21.2%) were subsequently diagnosed with a lumbar injury, 2837 (3.1%) a hip injury, and 10,166 (11.0%) an ankle-foot injury. One in five (19.5%; n = 17,966) received therapeutic exercise which reduced the risk of having a subsequent lumbar (HR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.76–0.81), hip (HR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.87–0.98) or ankle-foot (HR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.83–0.90) injury.

Conclusion

The results suggest that a high number of individuals with patellofemoral pain will sustain an adjacent joint injury within 2 years although causal relationships cannot be determined. Receiving therapeutic exercise for the initial knee injury reduced the risk of sustaining an adjacent joint injury. This study helps provide normative data for subsequent injury rates in this population and guide development of future studies designed to understand causal factors.
Clozapine rechallenge or continuation despite neutropenia or agranulocytosis using colony-stimulating factor: A systematic review
Authors: Corbeil Olivier , Béchard Laurent , Fournier Émilien , Plante Maude , Thivierge Marc-André , Lafrenière Charles-Émile , Huot-Lavoie Maxime , Brodeur Sébastien , Essiambre Anne-Marie , Roy Marc-André , Demers Marie-France
Published: February 2023

Objectives:

Rechallenge/continuation of clozapine in association with colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) following neutropenia/agranulocytosis has been reported, but many questions remain unanswered about efficacy and safety. This systematic review aims to assess the efficacy and safety of rechallenging/continuing clozapine in patients following neutropenia/agranulocytosis using CSFs.

Methods:

MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception date to July 31, 2022. Articles screening and data extraction were realized independently by two reviewers, according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 systematic review guidance. Included articles had to report on at least one case where clozapine was rechallenged/continued using CSFs despite previous neutropenia/agranulocytosis.

Results:

Eight hundred forty articles were retrieved; 34 articles met the inclusion criteria, totaling 59 individual cases. Clozapine was successfully rechallenged/continued in 76% of patients for an average follow-up period of 1.9 years. There was a trend toward better efficacy reported in case reports/series, compared with consecutive case series (overall success rates of 84% and 60%, respectively, p-value = 0.065). Two administration strategies were identified, “as-needed” and prophylactic, both yielding similar success rates (81% and 80%, respectively). Only mild and transient adverse events were documented.

Conclusions:

Although limited by the relatively small number of published cases, factors such as time of onset to first neutropenia and severity of the episode did not seem to impact the outcome of a subsequent clozapine rechallenge using CSFs. While the efficacy of this strategy remains to be further adequately evaluated in more rigorous study designs, its long-term innocuity warrants considering its use more proactively in the management of clozapine hematological adverse events as to maintain this treatment for as many individuals as possible.
Veteran Status and Job Candidate Assessments in U.S. Local Governments
Authors: Stritch Justin M. , Jensen Ulrich Thy , Swindell David , Allgood Michelle , Fullerton Allegra H.
Published: February 2023

Advocates often present veterans as an untapped resource for local governments to boost the public service workforce. However, there is a lack of understanding of how human resource (HR) professionals value military experience when assessing candidate preparedness for a managerial career in public service. We examine how veteran status affects U.S. city and county HR directors’ evaluations of candidates for entry-level managerial positions in local government. Using an experimental design, we randomly assign candidate characteristics of veteran status and gender, and we observe HR directors’ assessments of candidate preparedness. Our findings reveal a premium on veteran status for candidate assessments relative to similar private sector experience in assessments of candidate experience. At the same time, the results are less conclusive when compared to similar public sector experiences. In addition, we find no clear evidence of disparate assessments of candidate preparedness as a function of candidate gender.