bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of wide local excision and secondary intention healing in hidradenitis suppurativa: a single-centre study on quality of life and mental health outcomes
Authors: Michelucci Alessandra , Manzo Margiotta Flavia , Salvia Giorgia , Vietina Antonella , Janowska Agata , Morganti Riccardo , Romanelli Marco , Dini Valentina
Published: November 2024

Background

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that significantly impacts patients’ quality of life and mental health. Effective management often involves both medical and surgical interventions.

Objectives

To assess the effectiveness of wide local excision and secondary intention healing in improving quality of life and mental health in patients with moderate-to-severe HS.

Methods

A single-centre prospective study was conducted with 40 patients with moderate-to-severe HS that had been refractory to previous treatment. Presurgical mapping of lesions was performed using ultra-high-frequency ultrasound. Patients underwent wide surgical excision followed by secondary intention healing based on HS-TIME (tissue, infection/inflammation, moisture, edges) principles. Quality of life was measured using Skindex-16, and mental health was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), with subscales for anxiety (HADS-A) and depression (HADS-D). Assessments were conducted at baseline, 4 weeks after surgery and after complete wound healing. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests and multiple linear regression to determine factors influencing outcomes.

Results

Fourteen men and 26 women with a mean (SD) age of 39 (15) years participated in the study. Significant improvements were observed in Skindex-16 scores (presurgery 57.92, postsurgery 16.03) and HADS scores (HADS-A presurgery 6.13, postsurgery 2.63; HADS-D presurgery 5.50, postsurgery 3.21), indicating reduced pain, discomfort and psychological distress. Multivariate analysis revealed that improvements were associated with male sex, HS stage II disease, longer disease duration and lower body mass index.

Conclusions

Wide local excision combined with secondary intention healing significantly improves quality of life and mental health in patients with HS. The findings suggest that a comprehensive approach addressing both surgical and psychological aspects can enhance patient outcomes. Future research should focus on long-term benefits and the development of standardized postoperative care protocols.
Snow White’s tale in nephrology: the emerging threat of skin-whitening creams on kidney health
Authors: Meena Priti , Das Paromita , Rathore Vinay , Panda Sandip , Popa Cristina
Published: November 2024

The timeless tale of Snow White, with its emphasis on fair skin as a beauty ideal, mirrors a contemporary issue in nephrology: the harmful impact of skin-whitening creams on kidney health. Fairness creams have deeply embedded themselves in global society, driven by a pervasive obsession with lighter skin tones as a symbol of beauty. This widespread use reflects deeply rooted cultural beliefs and social norms, despite the significant health risks associated with these products. Despite regulatory bans, these creams often contain hazardous substances such as hydroquinone, mercury, and arsenic, posing serious health risks. Mercury, a frequent component of these cosmetics, disrupts melanin synthesis by inhibiting tyrosinase, leading to serious health risks, including nephrotoxicity. Chronic exposure to mercury from cosmetics can harm the liver, kidneys, nervous system, and eyes, with the kidneys being particularly vulnerable. This review discusses the link between fairness creams and the occurrence of glomerular diseases. It delves into the mechanisms by which skin-whitening agents cause kidney damage. Mercury can induce kidney damage through direct cellular toxicity and immune-mediated mechanisms. We present evidence from case studies and published studies connecting mercury-containing creams to nephrotic syndrome. Minimal change disease and membranous nephropathy are the most frequently reported glomerular diseases due to these products. Treatment typically involves stopping the use of the creams and chelation therapy, with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants for non-responsive cases. The prognosis is generally favourable, with high remission rates, and relapses are seldom reported. By highlighting the nephrotoxic effects of skin-whitening creams, this manuscript emphasizes the urgent need for stringent regulatory oversight and increased public awareness to prevent further health complications.
Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors and new-onset diabetes in cardiovascular or kidney disease
Authors: Ostrominski John W , Højbjerg Lassen Mats C , Claggett Brian L , Miao Zi Michael , Inzucchi Silvio E , Docherty Kieran F , Desai Akshay S , Jhund Pardeep S , Køber Lars , Ponikowski Piotr , Sabatine Marc S , Lam Carolyn S P , Martinez Felipe A , de Boer Rudolf A , Hernandez Adrian F , Shah Sanjiv J , Petersson Magnus , Langkilde Anna Maria , McMurray John J V , Solomon Scott D , Vaduganathan Muthiah
Published: November 2024

Background and Aims

Individuals with heart failure (HF), other forms of cardiovascular disease, or kidney disease are at increased risk for the development and adverse health effects of diabetes. As such, prevention or delay of diabetes is an important treatment priority in these groups. The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the effect of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) on incident diabetes in HF across the spectrum of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and across the broader spectrum of cardiovascular or kidney disease.

Methods

First, the effects of dapagliflozin vs. placebo on new-onset diabetes were assessed in a pooled, participant-level analysis of the DAPA-HF and DELIVER trials. New-onset diabetes was defined as the new initiation of glucose-lowering therapy during follow-up, and time from randomization to new-onset diabetes was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models. Second, PubMed and Embase were searched to identify large-scale randomized clinical outcomes trials (RCTs) comparing SGLT2i with placebo among adults with cardiovascular or kidney disease. A trial-level meta-analysis was then conducted to summarize the treatment effects of SGLT2i on the incidence of new-onset diabetes.

Results

In the pooled analysis of DAPA-HF and DELIVER including 5623 participants with HF but without diabetes at baseline, dapagliflozin reduced the incidence of new-onset diabetes by 33% [hazard ratio (HR), 0.67; 95% confidence interval (CI), .49–.91; P = .012] when compared with placebo. There was no evidence of heterogeneity across the spectrum of continuous LVEF or key subgroups. Among seven complementary RCTs including 17 855 participants with cardiovascular or kidney disease, SGLT2i reduced the of new-onset diabetes by 26% (HR, 0.74; 95% CI .65–.85; P < .001), with consistent effects across trials.

Conclusions

SGLT2i reduced the incidence of new-onset diabetes among individuals with cardiovascular or kidney disease. These findings suggest that SGLT2i implementation may have an important ancillary benefit on prevention or delay of diabetes in these high-risk populations.
Disruption of the pkac2 gene in Pleurotus ostreatus alters cell wall structures and enables mycelial dispersion in liquid culture
Authors: Otsuka Yuitsu , Kawauchi Moriyuki , Yoshizawa Kai , Endo Saori , Schiphof Kim , Tsuji Kenya , Yoshimi Akira , Tanaka Chihiro , Yano Shigekazu , Elisashvili Vladimir , Nakazawa Takehito , Irie Toshikazu , Honda Yoichi
Published: November 2024

In this study, we developed a mycelial dispersion strain by disrupting the pkac2 gene in the white-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus. pkac2 is a catalytic subunit gene of protein kinase A, which regulates several transcription factors related to cell wall synthesis. Liquid cultures of the Δpkac2 strains showed very high mycelial dispersibility and were visibly different from the wild-type (WT) strain. Although growth on agar medium was slower than that of WT, Δpkac2 strains grew faster in liquid culture and had approximately twice the mycelial dry weight of WT after 5 days of culture. Microscopic observations showed that the cell walls of the Δpkac2 strains were thinner compared to WT. The β-glucan content in the cell walls decreased in the pkac2 disruptants, although the transcription levels of β-glucan synthase genes increased. Furthermore, the Δpkac2 strains showed decreased hydrophobicity and stress tolerance compared to WT. These results indicate that disruption of the pkac2 gene in P. ostreatus alters the structure of the cell wall surface layer, resulting in high-density cultures due to mycelial dispersion.
Accountable care organization changes in equity of ambulatory care quality by patient race and ethnicity, 2019-2022
Authors: Rodriguez Hector P , Xu Shihan , Brewster Amanda L , Brown Timothy T , Chen Stacy , Epstein Sarah D
Published: November 2024

There is limited information about accountable care organization (ACO) variation in equity of ambulatory care quality. We examine whether equity of care changed for racial and ethnic minority patients from 2019 to 2022 and the extent to which equity of care performance varied for 11 ACOs in Massachusetts over time. We analyzed ACO-level changes in equity of care for 8 ambulatory care quality measures for Asian, Black, and Hispanic patients, measured as the percentage point difference between each group and the majority non-Hispanic White patient group. Cervical cancer screening (3.54 percentage point change, P < 0.001), colorectal cancer screening (3.54 percentage point change, P < 0.001), and eye exams for adults with diabetes (3.56 percentage point change, P = 0.008) had the largest performance declines. Equity of ambulatory care quality did not significantly change over time. The one exception was for breast cancer screening, where equity declined for Asian patients (3.52 percentage point change, P = 0.04). Although equity of care generally did not significantly change over time across ACOs, high variation in equity of care performance between ACOs highlights opportunities to identify and share the strategies that enable physician practices and healthcare systems to advance equity of care for racial and ethnic minority patients.
Prevalence and predictors of misperceptions of ‘better-for-you’ alcohol products among Australian adult drinkers
Authors: Haynes Ashleigh , Ilchenko Elizaveta , Dixon Helen , Morley Belinda
Published: November 2024

This study investigated the prevalence and predictors of misperceptions about the healthiness of alcohol products carrying common health-oriented marketing cues and the relative importance of the type (versus amount) of alcohol consumed in contributing to health risks. Data were from a 2022 cross-sectional national population survey. Australian adults (18–65 years) who consumed alcohol in the past year (n = 1960) reported their agreement with statements that a selection of health-oriented marketing cues meant an alcohol product was ‘better for you’ and rated the importance of the type and amount of alcohol consumed in causing health risks. The majority of participants misperceived the type of alcohol to be at least as important as the amount in causing health risks (61%) and misperceived at least one health-oriented marketing cue as meaning a product was ‘better for you’ (75%). Misperceptions about low sugar, calorie and carbohydrate; and preservative-free claims (46–56%) were most common. Misperceptions about natural, organic, vegan, low sugar, low calorie, gluten-free and seltzer cues were less prevalent among older (45–65 years) than young adults (18–24 years, PR = 0.27–0.86). A lower proportion of women (compared to men) held misperceptions about vegan (PR = 0.66) and gluten-free claims (PR = 0.78), but a higher proportion held misperceptions about low sugar claims (PR = 1.13). There were also variations by socioeconomic status, alcohol consumption, education and regional/metropolitan location. Misperceptions about health-oriented marketing of alcohol are widespread. Further regulation of permissible alcohol marketing content is needed, but until then, differences in misperceptions between population segments may inform targeted health promotion efforts.
Watered down: a cross-case political economy analysis of sugar-sweetened beverage taxes in Vanuatu and Fiji
Authors: Elliott Lana M , Waqa Gade D , Ravuvu Amerita L A , Dalglish Sarah L , Topp Stephanie M
Published: November 2024

Taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in Vanuatu and Fiji are praised for their alignment with the World Health Organization’s noncommunicable diseases Best Buy policy recommendations. SSB taxes also intersect with economic, trade and commercial interests as well as complex domestic and international power dynamics. Yet, to date, the role of these broader interests and power dynamics in shaping SSB tax adoption in Vanuatu and Fiji has remained underexamined. Drawing on Bourdieu’s forms of capital and triangulating interview (n = 50), document (n = 461) and observational data, this cross-case political economy analysis sought to understand where forms of power reside, how they manifest, and what impact they have on the alignment between SSB tax in Vanuatu and Fiji and national and global goals and priorities. Three interconnected themes emerged from the analysis: the influence of domestic industry actors in a context of shifting fiscal and trade incentives; the pivotal agenda-setting role of pro-tax multisectoral coalitions and the way political instability lent importance to informal policy processes. Findings evidence the varying influence of economic, social, and cultural capitals across the policy cycle and showcase the way in which actors strategically deployed, lost or re-imagined their capitals to secure policy influence. Importantly, cultural capital was essential to leveraging influence across the policy cycle and more inward-facing systems favoured the protection of domestic actors and industries, including their economic capital. From a health perspective, these political forces ultimately culminated in weaker or ‘watered down’ SSB taxes in both Vanuatu and Fiji.
Community sports leaders’ perceptions of the risks and benefits of gambling sponsorship in community sport
Authors: McCarthy Simone , Pitt Hannah , Randle Melanie , Arnot Grace , Marko Sarah , Daube Mike , Thomas Samantha L
Published: November 2024

Gambling sponsorship of professional sport, particularly relating to online wagering, has been a key focus of global regulatory reform efforts to address the normalization of gambling. In Australia, gambling companies and venues (including community clubs and hotels) also sponsor and develop relationships with community (non-professional) sports teams and clubs. In-depth interviews (n = 24) were conducted with senior leaders in community sporting organizations in Australia with an aim of understanding the factors that shape decisions about accepting or refusing gambling sponsorships and partnerships. A reflexive approach to thematic analysis was used to construct three themes from the data. First, participants considered the alignment of values between the sponsor and the community sporting organization. While most stated that gambling and sport should not be aligned through sponsorship, some forms of sponsorship (for example from community clubs) were perceived as less harmful than others (such as online wagering). Second, some thought that while there were ethical ways to engage with gambling sponsors such as not promoting sponsors’ products, they were concerned about how gambling sponsorship might have an overall impact on the community. Third, was the impact of gambling sponsorships on the organization’s reputation, and balancing this with a need for financial stability. Decisions to accept (or reject) gambling sponsorship were influenced by a range of perceived risks and benefits. Addressing the acceptance of gambling sponsorships among community sporting organizations could involve several approaches to interventions, including regulation, formal policies to guide sponsorship decisions and education about the risks of accepting these sponsorships.
CPR training as a gender and rights-based healthcare issue
Authors: Szabo Rebecca Amalia , Forrest Kirsty , Morley Peter , Barwick Stephanie , Bajaj Komal , Britt Kellie , Yong Sarah A , Park-Ross Jocelyn , Story David , Stokes-Parish Jessica
Published: November 2024

It is not understood how cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training, specifically the representation of sex in CPR manikins, contributes to inequitable outcomes in cardiac arrest survival. The aim of this study was to identify the sex and chest wall secondary sexual characteristics of CPR manikins on the global market. The secondary aim was to identify if manikin manufacturing companies had a publicly available sustainability policy or equivalent, and if these covered products were manufactured. We conducted an observational descriptive study of the secondary sex characteristics and named sex of CPR training manikins available on the global market, and equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), human rights and sustainability policies of the companies that manufacture them. Nine CPR manikin manufacturers were identified. Twenty CPR manikins were included for analysis. Of the 20 manikins, 75% were identified as male (n = 8, 40%) or no gender specified (n = 7, 35%) and all these had flat torsos—one had a breast overlay available. One company had a 2020 sustainability report that addressed EDI for the workforce only, and a 2023 report addresses this for products manufactured. Adult CPR manikins available globally are largely homogenous, flat-chested and do not have secondary sex characteristics or a named sex. One company had a sustainability report that referenced workforce only and has since committed to EDI for products manufactured. We urge CPR training providers and manufacturers to collectively promote a rights-based approach to healthcare aligned with the commercial determinants of health by committing to improving the diversity of CPR training manikins.
Conducting industry informant interviews to advance healthy food retail initiatives: challenges, opportunities, and lessons
Authors: Zhang Angela Y , Antonacci Cerra C , Laska Melissa N , Winkler Megan R
Published: November 2024

Retail food environments influence dietary health, yet efforts to improve them have had limited success. Recruiting informants from the food and beverage retail industry for insider information has been challenging due to the sensitivity of inquiries and proprietary protections. Moreover, which recruitment approaches are successful are seldom disseminated. This paper aimed to bridge this gap by detailing the complexities of recruiting and interviewing four food industry insider groups—independent store owners, corporate chain managers, food and beverage distributors, and sales representatives of major companies—to provide insights and specific guidance for future research. From October 2021 to November 2022, we interviewed 49 industry informants to explore business and commercial practices used in the US food retail sector. Recruitment methods were tailored to each group, and qualitative data were collected through in-person or virtual ‘walk-along’ interviews with customized interview guides. Across the study, we experienced distinct challenges around participant inaccessibility, hierarchy within corporate chains, skepticism, mistrust and variation in knowledge across industry groups. We detail our response to these challenges through four lessons learned, including persistence and flexibility, the importance of vetting, the value of trust-building measures and adapting the study protocol to new information. Given our success in reaching industry groups and accessing insider information, we provide key recommendations that future researchers can use to engage diverse industry groups and advance efforts to promote healthy food retail.
A case of superior trunk brachial plexus injury after right mini-thoracotomy mitral valve repair
Authors: Ozaki Tatsuya , Kawamura Masashi , Iwahashi Toru , Miyagawa Shigeru
Published: November 2024

We report a case of superior trunk brachial plexus injury following a right mini-thoracotomy mitral valve repair. A 45-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus, who was on steroids and immunosuppressive drugs, underwent mitral valve repair via right mini-thoracotomy. The patient was positioned in the left semisagittal position with the right upper arm elevated. Postoperatively, she exhibited focal motor and sensory deficits in the right upper extremity, and a superior trunk brachial plexus injury on the right side was diagnosed through brachial plexus MRI and electrophysiological examination. The nerve injury was likely due to excessive left lateral flexion of the head during the procedure. Sensation returned to normal 4 weeks postoperatively, and muscle strength fully recovered 3 months postoperatively. Careful attention to positioning during minimally invasive cardiac surgery is crucial to prevent nerve compression in superficial areas and excessive lateral flexion of the head.
Variation in Molar Size and Proportions in the Hominid Lineage: An Inter- and Intraspecific Approach
Authors: D'Addona L A , Bernal V , Gonzalez P N
Published: November 2024

Synopsis

The implications of the inhibitory cascade (IC) model in dental diversification have been primarily studied at an interspecific or higher level. In contrast, the study of organisms with recent evolutionary divergence or at an interpopulational scale is still very limited. Here, we assess the effect of changes in molar size and the ratio of local activators to inhibitors on molar proportions based on a compilation of data of crown diameters of the first, second, and third lower and upper molars of extinct and extant hominids and modern human populations. The analysis of allometric changes between the size of each tooth and the size of the molar row shows a negative allometry in first molars (M1), isometric changes in second molars (M2), and a positive allometry in third molars (M3) in both hominin phylogeny and modern human populations. On the other hand, the proportions of lower and upper molars of several hominid species fall outside the morphospace defined by the IC model, while most of the modern human populations fall within the morphospace defined by the model as M1 > M2 > M3. We conclude that there is a phylogenetic structuring for molar size, particularly in the maxilla, with a trend toward mesial-to-distal reduction in the molar row area accompanied by allometric changes. Our findings also show the limitations of the IC model for explaining molar proportions in primates, particularly the variation in the relative size at the interspecific scale in the hominid lineage.
Efficacy and tolerability of high-dose cefalexin 45 mg/kg/dose (maximum 1.5 g) three times daily in children with bone and joint infections
Authors: Hikmat Samar , Boast Alison , Curtis Nigel , Gwee Amanda
Published: November 2024

Background

Cefalexin, a first-generation cephalosporin, is commonly used as oral continuation therapy for paediatric bone and joint infections (BJIs). The standard four times daily cefalexin dose makes treatment adherence challenging. A pharmacokinetic modelling study found that a cefalexin dose of 45 mg/kg (maximum 1.5 g) three times daily achieves the same pharmacodynamic target.

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of three times daily cefalexin dosing in children with BJIs.

Patients and methods

Retrospective audit of children aged 1–18 years who received cefalexin at a dose of 40–50 mg/kg (maximum 1.5 g) three times daily as oral continuation therapy for a haematogenous BJI at a quaternary paediatric hospital in Australia over a 4 year period (January 2019 to December 2022).

Results

Of 149 children with BJIs treated with three times daily cefalexin dosing, the majority (147/149; 99%) achieved cure, with two experiencing recurrence of their infection. Most children tolerated the higher cefalexin dose; 4 children experienced gastrointestinal symptoms and 13 developed neutropenia, which was mild in most cases with no associated complications.

Conclusions

A reduced frequency dosing regimen using a high cefalexin dose of 45 mg/kg (maximum 1.5 g) three times daily is effective and well tolerated in most children with BJIs.
Identifying stigmatizing and positive/preferred language in obstetric clinical notes using natural language processing
Authors: Scroggins Jihye Kim , Hulchafo Ismael I , Harkins Sarah , Scharp Danielle , Moen Hans , Davoudi Anahita , Cato Kenrick , Tadiello Michele , Topaz Maxim , Barcelona Veronica
Published: November 2024

Objective

To identify stigmatizing language in obstetric clinical notes using natural language processing (NLP).

Materials and Methods

We analyzed electronic health records from birth admissions in the Northeast United States in 2017. We annotated 1771 clinical notes to generate the initial gold standard dataset. Annotators labeled for exemplars of 5 stigmatizing and 1 positive/preferred language categories. We used a semantic similarity-based search approach to expand the initial dataset by adding additional exemplars, composing an enhanced dataset. We employed traditional classifiers (Support Vector Machine, Decision Trees, and Random Forest) and a transformer-based model, ClinicalBERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers) and BERT base. Models were trained and validated on initial and enhanced datasets and were tested on enhanced testing dataset.

Results

In the initial dataset, we annotated 963 exemplars as stigmatizing or positive/preferred. The most frequently identified category was marginalized language/identities (n = 397, 41%), and the least frequent was questioning patient credibility (n = 51, 5%). After employing a semantic similarity-based search approach, 502 additional exemplars were added, increasing the number of low-frequency categories. All NLP models also showed improved performance, with Decision Trees demonstrating the greatest improvement (21%). ClinicalBERT outperformed other models, with the highest average F1-score of 0.78.

Discussion

Clinical BERT seems to most effectively capture the nuanced and context-dependent stigmatizing language found in obstetric clinical notes, demonstrating its potential clinical applications for real-time monitoring and alerts to prevent usages of stigmatizing language use and reduce healthcare bias. Future research should explore stigmatizing language in diverse geographic locations and clinical settings to further contribute to high-quality and equitable perinatal care.

Conclusion

ClinicalBERT effectively captures the nuanced stigmatizing language in obstetric clinical notes. Our semantic similarity-based search approach to rapidly extract additional exemplars enhanced the performances while reducing the need for labor-intensive annotation.
Using human factors methods to mitigate bias in artificial intelligence-based clinical decision support
Authors: Militello Laura G , Diiulio Julie , Wilson Debbie L , Nguyen Khoa A , Harle Christopher A , Gellad Walid , Lo-Ciganic Wei-Hsuan
Published: November 2024

Objectives

To highlight the often overlooked role of user interface (UI) design in mitigating bias in artificial intelligence (AI)-based clinical decision support (CDS).

Materials and Methods

This perspective paper discusses the interdependency between AI-based algorithm development and UI design and proposes strategies for increasing the safety and efficacy of CDS.

Results

The role of design in biasing user behavior is well documented in behavioral economics and other disciplines. We offer an example of how UI designs play a role in how bias manifests in our machine learning-based CDS development.

Discussion

Much discussion on bias in AI revolves around data quality and algorithm design; less attention is given to how UI design can exacerbate or mitigate limitations of AI-based applications.

Conclusion

This work highlights important considerations including the role of UI design in reinforcing/mitigating bias, human factors methods for identifying issues before an application is released, and risk communication strategies.
Development of Paget’s disease of bone in adults inheriting SQSTM1 mutations: a long-term follow-up
Authors: O’Sullivan Susannah , Bolland Mark , Cundy Tim
Published: November 2024

In a 2015 study of SQSTM1 mutation carriers who had initial negative bone scintigraphy, we found that the rate of development of Paget’s disease of bone (PDB) over 5 yr was low. We report here an additional 8-yr follow-up of this cohort, exploring the hypothesis that the rate of development of PDB would increase as the cohort aged. In the current study, 21 of 24 subjects from 2015 who had a negative bone scintiscan at baseline and at first follow-up, had a repeat scintiscan and measurement of total serum alkaline phosphatase activity. Two subjects with P392L mutations were identified as having PDB (monostotic in one case, 2 bones involved in the other), giving an incidence during this follow-up period of 1 per 87 patient years or 11.9 per 1000 patient years. This was contrary to our hypothesis, as the rate of development had decreased as the cohort aged. When we compared by survival analysis the age at presentation with symptomatic PDB in the older generation, we found that the age of onset was later and disease severity in the affected relatives was markedly less than in their clinically affected parents (p < .001). Our results are in keeping with other recently published studies and the general secular trend in PDB and support the idea that an important environmental-genetic interaction is involved with the development of PDB and that exposure to the putative environmental factor has substantially reduced.
An experimental investigation of the thermophysical properties of shale reservoirs: a case study of the Wufeng-Longmaxi formation in the Jiaoshiba Area
Authors: Wang Xiaoqiong , Liu Xiaoyu , Zhang Wei , Wu Hua , Liu Zongxun
Published: November 2024

The production of shale oil and gas is increasingly recognized as being influenced by temperature fields. Hydraulic fracturing involves the injection of substantial amounts of fracturing fluid into the reservoir, which alters the temperature field distribution and, in turn, affects shale gas production. In this work, we study the shale formations of Longmaxi, analyzing the factors that affect the thermophysical properties of shale under normal pressures. Using Hot Disk equipment, thermophysical properties were measured and a thermal conductivity model for shale was formulated from such data. The results reveal that mineral composition, temperature, and bedding characteristics are the primary determinants of shale thermophysical properties, while no significant correlation was found for porosity, permeability, or water saturation. We also identified variations for two distinct temperature ranges, below and above 60°C, as each exhibited different rates of change in thermophysical properties. Notably, pronounced bedding leads to less uniform heat transfer within the reservoir. This study offers theoretical insights into predicting temperature changes during hydraulic fracturing, which may aid oil and gas production.
X-vine models for multivariate extremes
Authors: Kiriliouk Anna , Lee Jeongjin , Segers Johan
Published: November 2024

Regular vine sequences permit the organization of variables in a random vector along a sequence of trees. Vine-based dependence models have become greatly popular as a way to combine arbitrary bivariate copulas into higher-dimensional ones, offering flexibility, parsimony, and tractability. In this project, we use regular vine sequences to decompose and construct the exponent measure density of a multivariate extreme value distribution, or, equivalently, the tail copula density. Although these densities pose theoretical challenges due to their infinite mass, their homogeneity property offers simplifications. The theory sheds new light on existing parametric families and facilitates the construction of new ones, called X-vines. Computations proceed via recursive formulas in terms of bivariate model components. We develop simulation algorithms for X-vine multivariate Pareto distributions as well as methods for parameter estimation and model selection on the basis of threshold exceedances. The methods are illustrated by Monte Carlo experiments and a case study on US flight delay data.
Multiphasic stochastic epidemic models
Authors: Barmpounakis Petros , Demiris Nikolaos
Published: November 2024

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, various non-pharmaceutical interventions aimed to reduce infection levels, leading to multiple phases of transmission. The disease reproduction number, Rt, quantifies transmissibility and is central to evaluating these interventions. This article discusses hierarchical stochastic epidemic models with piece-wise constant Rt, suitable for capturing distinct epidemic phases and estimating disease magnitude. The timing and scale of Rt changes are inferred from data, while the number of phases is allowed to vary. The model uses Poisson point processes and Dirichlet process components to learn the number of phases, providing insight into epidemic dynamics. We test the models on synthetic data and apply them to freely available data from the UK, Greece, California, and New York. We estimate the true number of infections and Rt and independently validate this approach via a large seroprevalence study. The results show that key disease characteristics can be derived from publicly available data without imposing strong assumptions.
Musculoskeletal Head and Neck Injuries in U.S. Active Duty Service Members: Prevalence/Incidence, Health Care Utilization, and Cost Analysis Spanning Fiscal Years 2016–2021
Authors: Yuan Xiaoning , Stewart Emma , Colahan Courtney , Pasquina Paul , Isaacson Brad , Pav Veronika , Hando Ben
Published: November 2024

Background

Active duty service members (ADSMs) of the U.S. Armed Forces are uniquely at risk for musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) of the Head/Neck region, including the eye and face, from training with head gear, donning Kevlar, operating aircraft, and maintaining sitting or standing postures for prolonged durations. The purposes of this descriptive study were to report the prevalence/incidence, health care utilization, and health care costs attributable to Head/Neck MSKIs across the Services from fiscal years (FYs) 2016 to 2021.

Methods

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

Results

In FY21, 109,683 ADSMs sought care for Head/Neck MSKIs, representing 7.3% of the U.S. Armed Forces. The prevalence of Head/Neck MSKIs ranged from 6.9 to 7.8% during FY16–21, with the highest annual prevalence among the Air Force (8.0–9.4%) and Army (7.9–8.8%). Within direct care across the services, Soldiers presented for the highest proportion (45.9–47.9%) of outpatient encounters for Head/Neck MSKI annually. The Air Force relied most heavily on PC for outpatient Head/Neck MSKI care, which accounted for $9,134,741 in PC costs and comprised 37.2% of all PC encounters in FY21.

Conclusions

This retrospective, descriptive study established prevalence/incidence, health care utilization, and PC costs for Head/Neck MSKIs across the services from FY16–21, emphasizing the burden of Head/Neck MSKIs among the U.S. Armed Forces, with PC costs amounting to $42,912,940 in FY21 alone.
Dimerization of the deaminase domain and locking interactions with Cas9 boost base editing efficiency in ABE8e
Authors: Arantes Pablo R , Chen Xiaoyu , Sinha Souvik , Saha Aakash , Patel Amun C , Sample Matthew , Nierzwicki Łukasz , Lapinaite Audrone , Palermo Giulia
Published: November 2024

CRISPR-based DNA adenine base editors (ABEs) hold remarkable promises to address human genetic diseases caused by point mutations. ABEs were developed by combining CRISPR-Cas9 with a transfer RNA (tRNA) adenosine deaminase enzyme and through directed evolution, conferring the ability to deaminate DNA. However, the molecular mechanisms driving the efficient DNA deamination in the evolved ABEs remain unresolved. Here, extensive molecular simulations and biochemical experiments reveal the biophysical basis behind the astonishing base editing efficiency of ABE8e, the most efficient ABE to date. We demonstrate that the ABE8e’s DNA deaminase domain, TadA8e, forms remarkably stable dimers compared to its tRNA-deaminating progenitor and that the strength of TadA dimerization is crucial for DNA deamination. The TadA8e dimer forms robust interactions involving its R98 and R129 residues, the RuvC domain of Cas9 and the DNA. These locking interactions are exclusive to ABE8e, distinguishing it from its predecessor, ABE7.10, and are indispensable to boost DNA deamination. Additionally, we identify three critical residues that drive the evolution of ABE8e toward improved base editing by balancing the enzyme’s activity and stability, reinforcing the TadA8e dimer and improving the ABE8e’s functionality. These insights offer new directions to engineer superior ABEs, advancing the design of safer precision genome editing tools.
Dorothy Dandridge
Authors: Streeter Caroline
Published: November 2024

Dorothy Dandridge (b. 1922–d. 1965) is a crucial representative figure, a historical touchstone that ensures the continual presence of Black women in the lexicon of Hollywood. In 1955, she became the first African American nominated for an Academy Award in a leading role (Best Actress, Carmen Jones, 1954). The all-Black musical, Oscar Hammerstein II’s riff on Georges Bizet’s 19th-century opera Carmen, was a breakthrough hit, and it made Dandridge an international movie star. A decade passed before Sidney Poitier crossed the color line to claim Hollywood’s most prestigious recognition (Best Actor, Lilies of the Field, 1963; awarded 1964). And it took nearly a half century for Halle Berry to achieve the milestone for African American women (Best Actress, Monster’s Ball, 2001; awarded 2002). In fact, Berry remained the only woman of color in Academy history to win an award in a leading role until 2023, when Michelle Yeoh became the first Asian American woman to be so honored (Everything Everywhere All at Once, 2022; awarded 2023). Carmen Jones catapulted Dorothy Dandridge to an unprecedented position—a Black woman poised to enter Hollywood’s pantheon of leading ladies. Dandridge possessed the requisite qualities of beauty, charisma, and competent acting ability. More importantly, she triggered the worshipful desire inspired by the screen goddess. It was no accident Dandridge rose to that rarefied position; she was ambitious and driven. An entertainer from childhood on, Dandridge sang and danced her way through virtually every performance mode available to African Americans in the first half of the twentieth century. As an adult, Dandridge poured her energy into acting; in the 1950s she was one among few African Americans among a cohort attending classes at the Actor’s Laboratory—an institution considered radical because it admitted Black students. Dandridge’s Actor’s Lab peers included Ava Gardner and Marilyn Monroe (with whom Dandridge was particularly close), themselves destined to become two of cinema’s legendary screen goddesses. Dorothy Dandridge possessed this same currency, but ultimately, she was unable to capitalize on her qualities and achievements. African American women did not have access to major parts in dramatic films—the roles commensurate with the position of screen goddess and leading lady. Carmen Jones was the peak of her career. Although Dandridge appeared in high-profile projects such as Island in the Sun (1957) and Porgy and Bess (1959) (for which she received a Golden Globe nomination as Best Actress), she struggled personally and professionally. Following her untimely death at age forty-two, Dandridge seemed to disappear from cinematic history, virtually unknown outside the realm of film scholars. She was rediscovered in the late twentieth century, reclaimed by Black women performers and studied by feminist scholars, and she has become a prominent figure in popular culture. Contemporary Hollywood celebrates Dorothy Dandridge as a potent screen goddess, a status unavailable to her during her lifetime.
Eunuchs in the Byzantine Empire
Authors: Messis Charis
Published: November 2024

By the term eunuchos, as well as by the terms thladias (a man whose testicles were intentionally crushed), spadon (a eunuch due to natural reasons), and ektomias (a castrated man), which designated different types of eunuchs, the Byzantines identified any male person deprived, fully or in part, of his genitals. This may have occurred in early childhood or at a later age, of his own will, through natural processes, or by the acts of others, and it may have happened for moral, medical, or economic purposes. A eunuch could also be any person who, for natural reasons, a lack of hygiene, or other reasons, had become permanently or temporarily unfit to procreate, or even, in some cases, to sexually perform. These terms also appear in theological contexts to reflect the situation of pre- or post-lapsarian man, as well as to sometimes denote the angels. Therefore, as a concept expressed through many terms, eunuch referred to a variety of cases and people, situations, and behaviors; at the same time, it alluded to the biblical imaginary and the theological symbolism established upon it. However, the secondary literature dedicated to eunuchs has until now mainly focused on the ektomiai, or castrati, and the roles they assumed in Byzantine society. The history of the study of eunuchs in Byzantium closely follows and, in a way, exemplifies the ways in which modern historians have viewed Byzantium itself more generally (i.e., in close relation to the values of their own societies). In general, moving past the strongly orientalist perspective which prevailed in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, scholars proceeded to study the role of eunuchs in the administration of state and Church. Eunuchs are treated in these approaches as a separate category of people or as influential individuals who were sometimes even worthy of a biography. In recent years, eunuchs have begun to be treated as sexual beings and a discussion has arisen concerning the question of whether they constituted a third sex or gender or whether they remained within the margins of the sexual dimorphism that was seen as a divinely established ‘reality.’ These approaches, which appeared successively, are now studied in a comprehensive fashion and have given rise to a fairly diversified bibliographical landscape, where the study of the political role of eunuchs coexists with that which focuses on their sexual identity. An openly orientalist (and regressive) approach nevertheless remains present in publications for the general public and in historical novels.
Herbalism/Botany
Authors: Rosenberg Jessica
Published: November 2024

There was no discipline that went by the name of “botany” in early modern Europe. Instead, early modern Europeans pursued and practiced plant knowledge across a range of contexts: herbal medicine, natural history, horticulture and agriculture, and the collection and commercial circulation of specimens. Images of plants, with their range of attendant symbolic and cultural meanings, also played an important role in the period’s cultural production. Both humble and far-flung and valuable plants appear in literature and in visual art, and important genres in both mediums (like the pastoral and still life) were centrally shaped by plant life and understandings of the natural world. The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries proved a transformative era for European plant knowledge, driven by social and economic change, including changing patterns in commercial practice and land ownership, and by changing cultural values and meanings assigned to vegetable life. The period would see the maturing of emergent epistemic practices of observation and description—a process in which plants again played a crucial role—that went on to feed into the emergence of the modern sciences. Perhaps most decisively for English readers, writers, and users of plants, both practical encounters with vegetable life and plants’ cultural meanings were transformed by colonialism and expanding spheres of commerce and trade: through encounters with unfamiliar plants from new imperial territories, and through reckonings with the Indigenous knowledge systems in which they were embedded.
LGBTQ+ People and Media Industries
Authors: Wing-Fai Leung
Published: November 2024

The media is a contested field for people of nonnormative gender and sexual identities regarding production, representation, and audience engagement. Awareness of representational politics and academic studies about the representation of LGBTQ+ people in the Global North grew alongside social movements, most notably the Stonewall Riots in New York (1969), the feminist movement, scholarship, and the emergence of gender studies and queer studies. Textual analysis, studies of media representations, and academic research of audiences of media texts fall outside of the scope of this bibliography. Instead, this list of citations focuses on the involvement of LGBTQ+ people in media production, highlighting how they contribute to the greater presence of the community, better articulation of diverse voices from these groups, and the production of media that caters to audiences of nonnormative gender identities and sexual orientations. The majority white, “Western” male, cisgender, and straight media producers may account for the historical lack of acknowledgement of the contributions of LGBTQ+ media producers. Similarly, the relative invisibility of these groups in the media may be based on an assumption of the “needs and gratifications” of most media consumers. LGBTQ+ media producers have been present ever since the advent of popular cinema and later television, even though many might have kept their nonnormative gender identities and sexual orientations secret at the time due to social pressures. This often resulted in the lack of representation or discriminatory and harmful stereotypes and tropes about LGBTQ+ people in the media. This bibliography seeks to foreground emerging research in queer media production studies that acknowledges the roles and contributions of LGBTQ+ people in media production. These people include above-the-line talents (showrunners/producers, directors, writers, and actors) and other media workers. The references also acknowledge queer people who are involved in the production and distribution of media, which can be independent from the mainstream, recognizing that the media is often used by activists and those in resistance to heteronormative and homonormative discourses. It aims to include a range of media, from traditional formats, such as feature films, television, and radio, to aligned fields, including pop music and new media that utilizes mobile and Internet technology (digital platforms and social media). In addition, this article foregrounds the work of LGBTQ+ people in media production outside of the Euro-American centers and references research publications on their contributions, simultaneously noting how the subject area continues to be dominated by literature on media production practices in the Anglophone Global North.