bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pleural procedures: an audit of practice and complications in a regional Australian teaching hospital
Authors: Wen Kevin Z. , Brereton Christopher J. , Douglas Eric M. , Samuel Sameh R. N. , Jones Andrew C.
Published: May 2023

Background

Pleural procedures are essential for the investigation and management of pleural disease and can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. There is a lack of pleural procedure complication data in the Australian and New Zealand region.

Aims

To review pleural procedure practices at Wollongong Hospital with an emphasis on the assessment of complications, use of thoracic ultrasound (TUS), pathology results and comparison of findings with international data.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of medical records was performed on pleural procedures identified through respiratory specialist trainee logbooks at Wollongong Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021. Comparison of complication rates was made to the British Thoracic Society 2011 a national pleural audit.

Results

One hundred and twenty‐one pleural procedures were identified. There were 71 chest drains, 49 thoracocentesis and one indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) insertion. Ninety‐seven per cent of procedures were performed for pleural effusions and 3% for pneumothorax. This audit demonstrated a complication rate (excluding pain) of 16.9% for chest drains and 4.1% for thoracocentesis. This gave an overall complication event rate of 10.8% (excluding pain) for pleural procedures. There was no major bleeding, organ puncture, pleural space infection or death. Bedside TUS was used in 99% of procedures.

Conclusion

Complication rates for pleural procedures performed by respiratory specialist trainees at Wollongong Hospital are comparable with international outcomes. This audit provides data for comparison on pleural procedure complication rates in Australia. Future studies are required to determine complication rates with IPCs.
Histological analysis of oogenesis and ovarian development of the pharaoh cuttlefish, Sepia pharaonis
Authors: Zhang Zihan , Chen Qicheng , Jiang Xiamin , Han Qingxi , Peng Ruibing , Pan Hailong , Jiang Maowang
Published: May 2023

The pharaoh cuttlefish, Sepia pharaonis, has become a commercially cultured cephalopod in coastal southeast China. However, information on the reproductive histology of this species remains limited. To describe its reproductive development, this study investigated the ovarian structure and oogenesis of S. pharaonis from hatchlings to the postbreeding stage using anatomical methods and histological techniques. The results showed that oogenesis in the ovary was asynchronous and morphologically variable, with immature oocytes attached to the gonadal cord and encircling the ovarian stroma in sequence. After maturation, the egg was free in the ovarian cavity and was discharged through the fallopian tube to combine with the sperm. Furthermore, serial histological dissections of the ovaries demonstrated that oocyte development was asynchronous. Based on egg size and morphology, follicular cell morphology, and yolk formation, oogenesis in S. pharaonis was divided into five distinct stages: The oogonia stage, protoplasm growth stage, follicular penetration stage, vitellogenesis stage, and resorbing stage. Moreover, based on the appearance of follicular cells in the protoplasm growth stage and their disintegration and disappearance in the vitellogenesis stage, it can be inferred that follicular cells secrete yolk substances and participate in the formation of egg membranes. Through the dynamic observation and description of the ovary development and oogenesis, these results provide an important foundation for studies of the regulatory mechanisms of oogenesis in this species, enriching the theory of cephalopod reproductive biology and improving artificial reproduction technology.
Moderating effect of mindfulness on the relationship between anxiety and somatization symptoms in middle‐aged and elderly female patients with hypertension
Authors: Shen Haifei , Zhang Ri , Zhang XiuJie , Zhang Ying , Liu Yan , Song Wei , Cheng Yunpeng , Yang Minghui , Jiang Yinong , Lu Yan
Published: May 2023

To explore the moderating effect of mindfulness on the relationship between anxiety and somatization symptoms in middle‐aged and elderly female patients with hypertension and provide a foundation for the development of more effective mindfulness intervention strategies. A total of 109 middle‐aged and elderly female patients with hypertension participated in this cross‐sectional study from April to July 2022 and provided valid responses to the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Somatization Symptom Self‐rating Scale (SSS). The moderating effect of mindfulness was determined using multiple linear regression. The participants’ average scores were as follows: mindfulness: 123.86 ± 10.49; anxiety: 7.41 ± 3.62; and somatization symptoms: 41.2 ± 9.44. The anxiety (P = .000) and somatization symptoms (P = .001) of participants with high mindfulness were significantly reduced. Anxiety was positively correlated with somatization symptoms (r = 0.606, P = .000), while mindfulness was negatively correlated with both anxiety (r = ‐0.468, P = .000) and somatization symptoms (r = ‐0.439, P = .000). Moreover, mindfulness had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between anxiety and somatization symptoms (n = 109) (B = ‐0.166, t = ‐2.125, P = .036). The effect of mindfulness on anxiety and somatization symptoms was more significant in participants with low mindfulness levels (n = 56) (B = 0.144, t = 2.805, P = .008) than in participants with high mindfulness levels (n = 53) (B = ‐0.037, t = ‐0.864, P = .393). The moderating effect analysis based on regression analysis showed that mindfulness had a significant moderating effect on anxiety and somatization symptoms, especially in participants with low mindfulness levels.
Red blood cells of Labeo rohita express Toll‐like receptors, NOD‐ like receptors, interleukins, and interferon‐I in response to Gram‐negative bacterial infections and lipopolysaccharide stimulations
Authors: Mahapatra Smruti , Ganguly Bristy , Pani Saswati , Saha Ashis , Samanta Mrinal
Published: May 2023

Red blood cells (RBCs) are the most abundant cell types in the circulatory system of vertebrates. In fish, RBCs retain their nuclei throughout their lifetime and remain transcriptionally and translationally active. While their primary function is typically associated with gas exchange, recent reports indicate that nucleated red blood cells can play a significant role in regulating the body's innate immune response. The current article describes the innate immune role of red blood cells in rohu (Labeo rohita), a freshwater fish species that holds significant commercial importance in India and South‐East Asian nations. From the whole blood and mucosal surface RBCs have been isolated through density gradient centrifugation with HiSep™LSM 1077 (density 1.007 ± 0.0010) and their purity has been confirmed by the Giemsa staining followed by microscopical observations. Toll‐like receptors (TLR2, 3, 4, 5) and nucleotide oligomerization domain (NOD)‐like receptors (NOD1 and NOD2) in RBCs of rohu fingerlings were observed to be significantly activated (P < 0.05) on infection with Aeromonas hydrophila and Edwardsiella tarda. This activation resulted in increased expression of interleukins (IL‐8, IL‐1β) and interferon (IFN)‐I genes. The activation of TLR4, NOD1 and NOD2, as well as the expression of interleukins and IFN‐I genes have been observed in both in vivo and in vitro stimulation of rohu RBCs with lipopolysaccharides. These findings highlight the importance of fish RBCs in enhancing innate immunity against various pathogenic invasions in rohu.
Frontotemporal contributions to social and non‐social semantic judgements
Authors: Norberg Joakim , McMains Stephanie , Persson Jonas , Mitchell Jason P.
Published: May 2023

Semantic judgements involve the use of general knowledge about the world in specific situations. Such judgements are typically associated with activity in a number of brain regions that include the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). However, previous studies showed activity in brain regions associated with mentalizing, including the right temporoparietal junction (TPJ), in semantic judgements that involved social knowledge. The aim of the present study was to investigate if social and non‐social semantic judgements are dissociated using a combination of fMRI and repetitive TMS. To study this, we asked participants to estimate the percentage of exemplars in a given category that shared a specified attribute. Categories could be either social (i.e., stereotypes) or non‐social (i.e., object categories). As expected, fMRI results (n = 26) showed enhanced activity in the left IFG that was specific to non‐social semantic judgements. However, statistical evidence did not support that repetitive TMS stimulation (n = 19) to this brain region specifically disrupted non‐social semantic judgements. Also as expected, the right TPJ showed enhanced activity to social semantic judgements. However, statistical evidence did not support that repetitive TMS stimulation to this brain region specifically disrupted social semantic judgements. It is possible that the causal networks involved in social and non‐social semantic judgements may be more complex than expected.
Examination of individualised care behaviours and ethnocentrism of nurses caring for refugees: A descriptive and exploratory study
Authors: Tosun Betül , Dirgar Ezgi , Pehlivan Kadiriye , Atay Eda , Yava Ayla , Leyva‐Moral Juan M.
Published: May 2023

Background

Qualified individualised nursing care should be provided to all communities and ethnic groups with free of ethnocentrism.

Aims

To evaluate nurses' individualised care behaviours and ethnocentric attitudes and predict the relationship between their individualised care behaviours and ethnocentric attitudes.

Design

A descriptive and exploratory study.

Methods

This study was conducted with 250 nurses working in a public and two private hospitals in a city, an area with many refugees. Data were collected using the Ethnocentrism Scale and Individualised Care Behaviours Scale. Structural equation model analysis to test hypothetical model and descriptive statistics were used.

Results

Nurses working in the private hospitals had a higher individualised care decision control mean score. Those nurses who enjoyed spending time with people from different cultures had lower mean ethnocentrism scale scores, higher individualised care clinical status, personal life and decision control status subscales mean scores compared to other nurses. Mean scores of the individualised care personal life and decision control status subscales of the nurses who followed the literature on transcultural nursing was higher. A significant relationship between the ethnocentrism levels and individualised care behaviours was identified. Accordingly, the ethnocentric attitudes of the nurses negatively affected their individualised care behaviours, and the model established between the two concepts is statistically appropriate.

Conclusions

Nurses who work in private hospitals, receive intercultural nursing education and enjoy spending time with different cultures have higher individualised care behaviours and lower ethnocentrism levels. Ethnocentric attitudes of the nurses negatively affected their individualised care behaviours. Care strategies should be developed that consider the factors that will maximize individualised care practices that minimize ethnocentric behaviours among nurses.

Implications for the Profession

Increasing awareness on individualised care behaviours, ethnocentric attitudes and effected factors will contribute to improve of nursing care quality of nurses while giving care to individuals from different cultures.
Mountain ungulate mating systems: patterns and processes
Authors: Corlatti Luca , Lovari Sandro
Published: May 2023

Mountain ungulates of the subfamily Caprinae, including wild sheep, goats and goat‐antelopes, show remarkable interspecific diversity in habitat preferences, social organisation and morphological features. We review how this diversity relates to their mating behaviour.

After introducing the ecology of mating systems and the evolution of the Caprinae, we investigate the pairwise, sequential relationships between habitat preferences, social behaviour, level of polygyny, and morphological features, and discuss the ecological processes underlying the patterns of mate monopolisation and acquisition.

From forest‐dwelling, solitary, monogamous and monomorphic goat‐antelopes, to highly dimorphic, polygynous and social wild sheep and goats inhabiting open landscapes, mountain ungulates reveal a close relationship between habitat openness and sexual dimorphism, through the level of sociality and that of mate monopolisation.

Although over the last few decades some information has been collected on the biology of Caprinae, our understanding of determinants of their mating systems is still hampered by limited data to estimate opportunities for sexual selection, as well as uncertainties over the occurrence and maintenance of alternative reproductive tactics, and lack of information on female mate choice.

The study of mating systems and that of the factors influencing them play a key role from an evolutionary and conservation standpoint. This is relevant to the Caprinae, whose main habitat is expected to be strongly affected by the ongoing climatic change, with potential effects on the phenology of their mating systems, and whose economic value is relevant for consumptive and nonconsumptive uses. A better understanding of the diversity and ecology of mating systems will require a wealth of additional field observations on male and female behaviour, as well as genetic assessments of reproductive success.
Relationship maintenance strategies of rotational workers and their partners
Authors: Malcom Kathryn , Ronis Scott T.
Published: May 2023

Although individuals who reside permanently in one location and work temporarily in another (i.e., rotational workers) represent a sizeable segment of the population, they are understudied in the empirical literature. Because rotational workers and their at‐home partners have unique long‐distance relationships due to frequent separations and reunions, they and their relationships should be examined. The primary aim of this study was to identify key factors associated with maintenance of romantic relationships between rotational workers and their at‐home partners. Participants (N = 289) were rotational workers (n = 129) and at‐home partners of workers (n = 160) who completed online surveys on individual, dyadic, and extra‐dyadic relationship maintenance behaviors and relationship characteristics over the course of two working‐reunion (roster) phases. Results indicated individual, dyadic, and extra‐dyadic behaviors positively predicted perceived relationship quality among partners and workers. Among partners, generosity positively predicted relationship quality at the first reunion and second departure phases. All other individual, dyadic, and extra‐dyadic relationship maintenance behaviors predicted relationship quality, regardless of the roster phase. Overall, results suggest the importance of relationship maintenance education for individuals in rotational romantic relationships.
Ecological study: MSM sex worker advertising amidst Monkeypox in three U.S. cities
Authors: Jackson Kristopher J. , Buchholz Michelle
Published: May 2023

The 2022 monkeypox (MPX) outbreak was a source of consternation and stress among men who have sex with men (MSM)—the population disproportionately affected by the recent MPX outbreak. Individuals at high‐risk for MPX (e.g., MSM, sex workers) were prioritized for vaccination during early state and city health department vaccine initiatives across the U.S., but little is known about how the MSM sex work market was affected by the MPX outbreak in U.S. cities where MPX incidence was particularly high. To better characterize the potential relationship between MPX incidence and MSM sex worker advertising at the height of the U.S. MPX outbreak, we monitored advertising volume on an Internet advertising platform popular among MSM sex workers and compared these data to city and county health department MPX case reporting data during a 13‐week period (July 2nd, 2022‐ September 24th, 2022) in three U.S. cities with peak MPX incidence: Chicago, New York City, and San Francisco. In each of these cities, we observed a decline in advertising during or immediately following study week(s) with the highest number of weekly MPX cases during the study period, recognizing that observed decreases in advertising could be attributed to transient increase(s) in advertising during large‐scale LGBT festivals occurring during the study period.
Targeted mutagenesis of the vacuolar H+ translocating pyrophosphatase gene reduces grain chalkiness in rice
Authors: Gann Peter James Icalia , Dharwadker Dominic , Cherati Sajedeh Rezaei , Vinzant Kari , Khodakovskaya Mariya , Srivastava Vibha
Published: May 2023

Grain chalkiness is a major concern in rice production because it impacts milling yield and cooking quality, eventually reducing market value of the rice. A gene encoding vacuolar H+ translocating pyrophosphatase (V‐PPase) is a major quantitative trait locus in indica rice, controlling grain chalkiness. Higher transcriptional activity of this gene is associated with increased chalk content. However, whether the suppression of V‐PPase could reduce chalkiness is not clear. Furthermore, natural variation in the chalkiness of japonica rice has not been linked with V‐PPase. Here, we describe promoter targeting of the japonica V‐PPase allele that led to reduced grain chalkiness and the development of more translucent grains. Disruption of a putative GATA element by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated protein 9 suppressed V‐PPase activity, reduced grain chalkiness and impacted post‐germination growth that could be rescued by the exogenous supply of sucrose. The mature grains of the targeted lines showed a much lower percentage of large or medium chalk. Interestingly, the targeted lines developed a significantly lower chalk under heat stress, a major inducer of grain chalk. Metabolomic analysis showed that pathways related to starch and sugar metabolism were affected in the developing grains of the targeted lines that correlated with higher inorganic pyrophosphate and starch contents and upregulation of starch biosynthesis genes. In summary, we show a biotechnology approach of reducing grain chalkiness in rice by downregulating the transcriptional activity of V‐PPase that presumably leads to altered metabolic rates, including starch biosynthesis, resulting in more compact packing of starch granules and formation of translucent rice grains.
Extensive programmed centriole elimination unveiled in
C. elegans
embryos
Authors: Kalbfuss Nils , Gönczy Pierre
Published: May 2023

Centrioles are critical for fundamental cellular processes, including signaling, motility, and division. The extent to which centrioles are present after cell cycle exit in a developing organism is not known. The stereotypical lineage of
Caenorhabditis elegans
makes it uniquely well-suited to investigate this question. Using notably lattice light-sheet microscopy, correlative light electron microscopy, and lineage assignment, we found that ~88% of cells lose centrioles during embryogenesis. Our analysis reveals that centriole elimination is stereotyped, occurring invariably at a given time in a given cell type. Moreover, we established that experimentally altering cell fate results in corresponding changes in centriole fate. Overall, we uncovered the existence of an extensive centriole elimination program, which we anticipate to be paradigmatic for a broad understanding of centriole fate regulation.
Influenza Defective Interfering Virus Promotes Multiciliated Cell Differentiation and Reduces the Inflammatory Response in Mice
Authors: Wang Chang , Honce Rebekah , Salvatore Mirella , Chow Daniela , Randazzo Davide , Yang Jianjun , Twells Nicholas M. , Mahal Lara K. , Schultz-Cherry Stacey , Ghedin Elodie
Published: May 2023

During replication, the influenza virus generates genetically defective viruses. These are found in natural infections as part of the virus population within the infected host.
Supplemental Material: Structural Analysis and Chronologic Constraints on Progressive Deformation within the Rincon Mountains, Arizona: Implications for Development of Metamorphic Core Complexes
Authors: Davis George , al. et
Published: May 2023

(A) Rock samples referenced in volume, (B) Multispectral analysis workflow, (C) Zircon U-Pb geochronology, (D) 40Ar/39Ar geochronology methods, (E) 40K-40Ar dating of fault gouge, (F) Zircon and apatite U-Th-[Sm])/He thermochronology, and (G) Apatite U-Pb and fission-track thermochronology.    
Recurrent reactive infectious mucocutaneous eruption in a male adult patient associated withMycoplasma pneumoniae, SARS-CoV-2 and rhinovirus
Authors: van Dam Valerie , Bonny Michiel , Desmet Soetkin
Published: May 2023

We present a case of a man in his early 30s who developed four episodes of reactive infectious mucocutaneous eruption (RIME), in association with different infectious pathogens.

RIME is a recently implemented term to describe mucocutaneous eruptions associated with respiratory pathogens. These eruptions are characterised by predominant mucosal involvement of two or more mucous membranes and limited cutaneous involvement. The disease course and prognosis are mostly favourable, especially in recurrent episodes of RIME in the same patient. In recurrent episodes of RIME,Mycoplasma pneumoniaeis often identified as the infectious trigger in the first episode.
Novel variant CPLANE 1: c.5051C>A (p.Ser1684Ter) in an Indian neonate with Joubert syndrome
Authors: Patra Saikat , Goyal Garima , Lone Yasir Ahmad , Gupta Girish
Published: May 2023

Joubert syndrome (JS) is a rare ciliopathy that presents with the triad of hypotonia, developmental delay and molar tooth sign (MTS) in brain MRI. Next-generation sequencing has identified about 35 genes which are known to cause JS of which CPLANE 1 mutation is found in 8%–10% of cases. We report a case of JS in an Indian neonate who presented with hypotonia, dysmorphic facies, polydactyly, syndactyly and occipital encephalocele. MRI of the brain revealed MTS, and compound heterozygous mutations in CPLANE 1 gene were detected by clinical exome sequencing, one of them a novel variant CPLANE 1: c.5051C>A (p.Ser1684Ter) in exon 26, which was inherited from the parents.
Can $$1/N_c$$ corrections destroy the saturation of dipole densities?
Authors: Levin Eugene
Published: May 2023

In this paper we discuss a well known QCD result: the steep increase of Green’s function for exchange of n BFKL Pomerons $$G_{n I\!\!P}\left( Y\right) \propto \exp \left( \frac{n^2}{N^2_c} \Delta _{\hbox {\tiny BFKL}} Y\right) $$

G

n
I

P

Y

∝
exp

n
2

N
c
2

Δ

BFKL

Y

where $$N_c $$

N
c

is the number of colours ,Y is the rapidity and $$\Delta _{\hbox {\tiny BFKL}}$$

Δ

BFKL

is the intercept of the BFKL Pomeron. We consider this problem in the framework of the simple Pomeon models in zero transverse dimensions, which have two advantages :(i) they allow to take into account all shadowing corrections, including the summation of the Pomeron loops and (ii) they have the same as in QCD striking increase of $$G_{n I\!\!P}\left( Y\right) $$

G

n
I

P

Y

. We found that the strength of shadowing corrections is not enough to stop the increase of the scattering amplitude with energy in contradiction to the unitarity constraints. Hence, our answer to the question in the title is positive. We believe that we need to search an approach beyond of the BFKL Pomeron calculus to treat $$1/N_c$$

1
/

N
c

corrections in Colour Glass Condensate effective theory.
Solar thermal energy of Oldroyd-B nanofluidic flow containing gyrotactic microorganisms through interaction of magnetic field
Authors: Kumar Pallamkuppam Vinodh , Obulesu Yeddula Pedda
Published: May 2023

The bioconvective flows are truly connected to real-life and engineering development. So, the models of biomicrosystems and biocells are considered for the technical analysis in this paper. Our intention for the current analysis was to theoretically examine electrical conduction flow into mass and heat transfer by an extensive gyrotactic microorganism into an inclined magnetic field toward a vertical stretching sheet with nonlinear solar radiation with different solar thermal appliances. The effect on velocity slip and Joule heating was again studied in detail. This classical problem on Navier Stokes equations to the current imitation was decreased to ordinary differential equations by applying the comparison method. The numerical solutions were changed by boundary value problem (BVP) to clarify the subject into finite difference numerical scheme by applying MATLAB. The important results show that the density of motile microorganisms reduces to the bioconvection Lewis number and Peclet number, although reverse performance was noticed for the bioconvection Rayleigh number. Further, solar radiation fosters heat transport. In this paper, complete analysis is provided for potential functions of solar thermoelectric cells, solar ponds, solar thermal power fabrication, etc.
Advances in neural mechanisms related to acupuncture sensation
Authors: Xiao Yan , Chen Yuning , Feng Yi , Lee Kuinyu
Published: May 2023

Pinching at specific areas of the human body will produce special sensations, such as soreness, numbness, heaviness and distention, which are collectively referred to as acupuncture sensation. The generation of acupuncture sensation, linked to a variety of receptors and nerve endings in different acupoint areas, induces nerve impulses that are transmitted to the central system through the spinal cord in different patterns. Sensory areas in the cerebral cortex are processed and transformed the impulses to form special sensations. This paper will systematically review the mechanisms of these sensations in different situations, and compare acupuncture sensations to review and analyze the mechanism of acupuncture effect.
Parallelising Control Flow in Dynamic-scheduling High-level Synthesis
Authors: Cheng Jianyi , Josipović Lana , Wickerson John , Constantinides George A.
Published: May 2023

Recently, there is a trend to use high-level synthesis (HLS) tools to generate dynamically scheduled hardware. The generated hardware is made up of components connected using handshake signals. These handshake signals schedule the components at runtime when inputs become available. Such approaches promise superior performance on “irregular” source programs, such as those whose control flow depends on input data. This is at the cost of additional area. Current dynamic scheduling techniques are well able to exploit parallelism among instructions
within
each basic block (BB) of the source program, but parallelism
between
BBs is under-explored, due to the complexity in runtime control flows and memory dependencies. Existing tools allow some of the operations of different BBs to overlap, but to simplify the analysis required at compile time they require the BBs to
start
in strict program order, thus limiting the achievable parallelism and overall performance.

We formulate a general dependency model suitable for comparing the ability of different dynamic scheduling approaches to extract maximal parallelism at runtime. Using this model, we explore a variety of mechanisms for runtime scheduling, incorporating and generalising existing approaches. In particular, we precisely identify the restrictions in existing scheduling implementation and define possible optimisation solutions. We identify two particularly promising examples where the compile-time overhead is small and the area overhead is minimal and yet we are able to significantly speed up execution time: (1) parallelising consecutive independent loops; and (2) parallelising independent inner-loop instances in a nested loop as individual threads. Using benchmark sets from related works, we compare our proposed toolflow against a state-of-the-art dynamic-scheduling HLS tool called Dynamatic. Our results show that, on average, our toolflow yields a 4× speedup from (1) and a 2.9× speedup from (2), with a negligible area overhead. This increases to a 14.3× average speedup when combining (1) and (2).
Continental Crustal Growth Processes Recorded in the Gangdese Batholith, Southern Tibet
Authors: Zhu Di-Cheng , Wang Qing , Weinberg Roberto F. , Cawood Peter A. , Zhao Zhidan , Hou Zeng-Qian , Mo Xuan-Xue
Published: May 2023

The continental crust in the overriding plate of the India-Asia collision zone in southern Tibet is characterized by an overthickened layer of felsic composition with an underlying granulite-eclogite layer. A large data set indicates that this crust experienced magmatism from 245 to 10 Ma, as recorded by the Gangdese Batholith. Magmatism was punctuated by flare-ups at 185−170, 90−75, and 55−45 Ma caused by a combination of external and internal factors. The growth of this crust starts with a period dominated by fractional crystallization and the formation of voluminous (ultra)mafic arc cumulates in the lower crust during subduction, followed by their melting during late-subduction and collision, due to changes in convergence rate. This combined accumulation-melting process resulted in the vertical stratification and density sorting of the Gangdese crust. Comparisons with other similarly thickened collision zones suggests that this is a general process that leads to the stabilization of continental crust.
▪The Gangdese Batholith records the time-integrated development of the world's thickest crust, reaching greater than 50 km at 55–45 Ma and greater than 70 km after 32 Ma.▪The Gangdese Batholith records three magmatic flare-ups in response to distinct drivers; the last one at 55−45 Ma marks the arrival of India.▪Magmatism was first dominated by fractional crystallization (accumulation) followed by crustal melting: the accumulation-melting process.▪Accumulation-melting in other collision zones provides a general process for vertical stratification and stabilization of continental crust.
A Conversation with James Ntambi
Authors: Ntambi James M. , Stover Patrick J.
Published: May 2023

An interview with James M. Ntambi, professor of biochemistry and the Katherine Berns Van Donk Steenbock Professor in Nutrition, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, took place via Zoom in April 2022. He was interviewed by Patrick J. Stover, director of the Institute for Advancing Health through Agriculture and professor of nutrition and biochemistry and biophysics at Texas A&M University. Dr. James Ntambi is a true pioneer in the field of nutritional biochemistry. He was among the very first to discover and elucidate the role that diet and nutrients play in regulating metabolism through changes in the expression of metabolic genes, focusing on the de novo lipogenesis pathways. As an African immigrant from Uganda, his love of science and his life experiences in African communities suffering from severe malnutrition molded his scientific interests at the interface of biochemistry and nutrition. Throughout his career, he has been an academic role model, a groundbreaking nutrition scientist, and an educator. His commitment to experiential learning through the many study-abroad classes he has hosted in Uganda has provided invaluable context for American students in nutrition. Dr. Ntambi's passion for education and scientific discovery is his legacy, and the field of nutrition has benefited enormously from his unique perspectives and contributions to science that are defined by his scientific curiosity, his generosity to his students and colleagues, and his life experiences. The following is an edited transcript.
Phytophthora capsici: Recent Progress on Fundamental Biology and Disease Management 100 Years After Its Description
Authors: Quesada-Ocampo L.M. , Parada-Rojas C.H. , Hansen Z. , Vogel G. , Smart C. , Hausbeck M.K. , Carmo R.M. , Huitema E. , Naegele R.P. , Kousik C.S. , Tandy P. , Lamour K.
Published: May 2023

Phytophthora capsici is a destructive oomycete pathogen of vegetable, ornamental, and tropical crops. First described by L.H. Leonian in 1922 as a pathogen of pepper in New Mexico, USA, P. capsici is now widespread in temperate and tropical countries alike. Phytophthora capsici is notorious for its capability to evade disease management strategies. High genetic diversity allows P. capsici populations to overcome fungicides and host resistance, the formation of oospores results in long-term persistence in soils, zoospore differentiation in the presence of water increases epidemic potential, and a broad host range maximizes economic losses and limits the effectiveness of crop rotation. The severity of disease caused by P. capsici and management challenges have led to numerous research efforts in the past 100 years. Here, we discuss recent findings regarding the biology, genetic diversity, disease management, fungicide resistance, host resistance, genomics, and effector biology of P. capsici.
Optimal Control of Multiagent Decision-Making Based on Competence Evolution
Authors: Chen Hongjing , Hu Chunhua , Huang Zhi
Published: May 2023

We employ the theory of rarefied gas dynamics and optimal control to investigate the kinetic model of decision-making. The novelty of this paper is that we develop a kinetic model that takes into account both the influence of agents’ competence and managers’ control on decision-making. After each interaction, in addition to the changes in decision directly caused by communication with other agents, the agents’ competence evolves and indirectly influences the degree of decision adjustment through the compromise function. By adding a control term to the model, the behavior of the managers who require the group to establish consensus is also described, and the concrete expression of the control term that minimizes the cost function is obtained by model predictive control. The Boltzmann equation is constructed to characterize the evolution of the density distribution of agents, and the main properties are discussed. The corresponding Fokker–Planck equation is derived by utilizing the asymptotic technique. Lastly, the direct simulation of the Monte Carlo method is used to simulate the evolution of decisions. The results indicate that the agents’ competence and managers’ control facilitate the consistency of collective decisions.
Application of Platelet-Rich Fibrin and Bone Morphogenetic Protein for Full-Mouth Implant-Based Oral Rehabilitation in a Case of Mandibular Osteoradionecrosis
Authors: Moaddabi Amirhossein , Soltani Parisa , Yazdani Arman , Nikbakht Mohammad Hossein , Amani Beni Pardis , Modabber Elahe , Iaculli Flavia , Spagnuolo Gianrico
Published: May 2023

Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a debilitating complication following radiation therapy, which in the head and neck region, occurs most frequently in the mandible. Although ORN is rare, it is complex and multifactorial and requires appropriate management. Manipulation of bone in patients with head and neck cancers before radiotherapy can cause ORN. In this report, we aim to present successful insertion of four dental implants in the interforaminal segment combined with application of platelet-rich fibrin and bone morphogenetic protein in a 60-year-old male with stable ORN in the posterior regions of the mandible.
Safety and Efficacy of Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) Cages and Cadaveric Allografts in Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF) for Treating Lumbar Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis
Authors: Zheng Huo-Liang , Li Bo , Song Shao-Kuan , Chen Peng-Bo , Zheng Xin-Feng , Jiang Lei-Sheng , Jiang Sheng-Dan
Published: May 2023

Purpose. There have been many studies in the operative management of pyogenic spondylodiscitis with foreign materials. However, it still remains an issue of debate on whether the allografts may be used in pyogenic spondylodiscitis. This study sought to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of PEEK cages and the cadaveric allograft in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) for treating lumbar pyogenic spondylodiscitis. Methods. From January 2012 to December 2019, 56 patients underwent surgery for lumbar pyogenic spondylodiscitis. The posterior debridement of all patients and their fusion with allografts, local bone grafts, and bone chip cages were performed before posterior pedicle screw fusion. An assessment of the residual pain, the grade of neurological injury, and the resolution of infection was conducted on 39 patients. The clinical outcome was evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and neurological outcomes were appraised based on Frankel grades. The radiological outcomes were evaluated via focal lordosis, lumbar lordosis, and the state of the fusion. Results. Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were the most common causative organisms. The mean preoperative focal lordosis was −1.2° (−11.4° to 5.7°), and the mean postoperative focal lordosis increased to 10.3° (4.3°–17.2°). At the final follow-up, there were five cases with subsidence of the cage, no case of recurrence, and no case with cage and screw loosening or migration. The mean preoperative VAS and ODI scores were 8.9 and 74.6%, respectively, and improvements in VAS and ODI were

6.6
±
2.2

and

50.4
±
21.3
%

, respectively. The Frankel grade D was found in 10 patients and grade C in 7. Following the final follow-up, only one patient improved from Frankel grade C to grade D while the others recovered completely. Conclusion. The PEEK cage and cadaveric allograft combined with local bone grafts is a safe and effective choice for intervertebral fusion and restoring sagittal alignment without increased incidence of relapse for treating lumbar pyogenic spondylodiscitis.
Stressor Trajectories among Older Adults with Disabilities and Positive Caregiving Experiences among Family Caregivers in Urban China
Authors: Lu Nan , Lou Vivian W. Q. , Mao Shan
Published: May 2023

This study investigated the trajectory patterns of activities of daily living (ADLs) and cognitive function among older urban Chinese adults with disabilities and their influence on their family caregivers’ (i.e., spouse and adult children) positive caregiving experiences. Data were derived from the three-wave longitudinal panel study titled “Longitudinal Study on Family Caregivers for Frail Older Adults Aged 75 or Above in Shanghai.” A total of 251 older adults and their spouse/adult child caregivers participated in the 2010, 2013, and 2016 waves and were included in the final analytic sample. Growth curve modeling was applied to examine the proposed model. The findings suggest that ADLs and cognitive function trajectories declined over six years. Changes were predicted based on the older adults’ age and education levels. In 2016, the change rate of cognitive function trajectory was associated with self-affirmation and life enrichment. Neither the initial status (intercept) nor the change rates (slope) of the ADLs’ trajectory were associated with the two dimensions of positive caregiving experiences. This study extended the stress process model by demonstrating the trajectory patterns of stressors and their influence on positive caregiving experiences. Change rates in older adults’ cognitive function were key risk factors for positive caregiving experiences. This finding has important implications for family-based care systems in China.
Anthropometric and Body Circumference Determinants for Hand Grip Strength: A Population-Based Mon-Timeline Study
Authors: Byambaa Agiimaa , Altankhuyag Indra , Damdinbazar Otgonbayar , Jadamba Tsolmon , Byambasukh Oyuntugs
Published: May 2023

Background. Hand grip strength (HGS) is a tool for diagnosing sarcopenia. In this study, we examined some anthropometric and body circumference measurements as determinants for HGS. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted with participants (Mongolians, n = 1080, aged 18–70, mean age of 41.2 ± 13.9 years, 33.7% of men) from the “Mon-Timeline” cohort study. To measure HGS, a digital grip strength dynamometer was used. Results. Mean HGS in men was 40.1 ± 10.4 kg and in women was 24.5 ± 5.6 kg. Correlation analysis showed that the strongest correlation with HGS was height (r = 0.712,

p
<
0.001

). Moreover, HGS was inversely correlated with age (r = −0.239,

p
<
0.001

) and thigh circumference (r = −0.070,

p
<
0.01

), while it was positively correlated with body weight (r = 0.309,

p
<
0.001

), neck circumference (r = 0.427,

p
<
0.001

), upper arm circumference (r = 0.108,

p
<
0.0001

), lower arm circumference (r = 0.413,

p
<
0.0001

), and calf circumference (r = 0.117,

p
<
0.0001

). In the multivariate linear regression analysis (unstandardized B coefficient, 95% CI), age (−0.159, −0.188; −0.129), sex (−9.262, −10.459; −8.064), height (0.417, 0.357; 0.478), lower arm circumference (1.003, 0.736; 1.270), and calf circumference (−0.162, −0.309; −0.015) were significantly associated with HGS. Conclusions. When detecting sarcopenia using HGS, it is important to take into account variables such as body height and body circumference.
Fungal Skin Disease Classification Using the Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Nigat Tsedenya Debebe , Sitote Tilahun Melak , Gedefaw Berihun Molla
Published: May 2023

Skin is the outer cover of our body, which protects vital organs from harm. This important body part is often affected by a series of infections caused by fungus, bacteria, viruses, allergies, and dust. Millions of people suffer from skin diseases. It is one of the common causes of infection in sub-Saharan Africa. Skin disease can also be the cause of stigma and discrimination. Early and accurate diagnosis of skin disease can be vital for effective treatment. Laser and photonics-based technologies are used for the diagnosis of skin disease. These technologies are expensive and not affordable, especially for resource-limited countries like Ethiopia. Hence, image-based methods can be effective in reducing cost and time. There are previous studies on image-based diagnosis for skin disease. However, there are few scientific studies on tinea pedis and tinea corporis. In this study, the convolution neural network (CNN) has been used to classify fungal skin disease. The classification was carried out on the four most common fungal skin diseases: tinea pedis, tinea capitis, tinea corporis, and tinea unguium. The dataset consisted of a total of 407 fungal skin lesions collected from Dr. Gerbi Medium Clinic, Jimma, Ethiopia. Normalization of image size, conversion of RGB to grayscale, and balancing the intensity of the image have been carried out. Images were normalized to three sizes: 120 × 120, 150 × 150, and 224 × 224. Then, augmentation was applied. The developed model classified the four common fungal skin diseases with 93.3% accuracy. Comparisons were made with similar CNN architectures: MobileNetV2 and ResNet 50, and the proposed model was superior to both. This study may be an important addition to the very limited work on the detection of fungal skin disease. It can be used to build an automated image-based screening system for dermatology at an initial stage.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children and Adolescents with New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Kamrath Clemens , Eckert Alexander J. , Holl Reinhard W. , Rosenbauer Joachim
Published: May 2023

Background. The COVID-19 pandemic has an impact on the incidence of type 1 diabetes and frequency of diabetic ketoacidosis. However, the exact relationships are unclear. It is also not known whether this is a short-term phenomenon or whether the effects have long-term relevance. Furthermore, it is not known whether these changes during the pandemic are due to direct effects of SARS-CoV-2 or to changes in the patient’s environment during the pandemic. Methods. We conducted an extensive literature search on PubMed. For the estimation of relative risks of new-onset type 1 diabetes, we applied a Poisson regression model and for the comparison of incidences and we included the logarithm of person-years. Furthermore, we performed a meta-analysis using the logarithm of the relative risk for new-onset type 1 diabetes as effect size. Results. Pooling the relative risk estimates in a random-effects meta-analysis revealed that the type 1 diabetes incidence rate increased by 20% (relative risk 1.200 (95% CI 1.125, 1.281)), and that the risk of new-onset type 1 diabetes after a SARS-CoV-2 infection increased by 62% (relative risk 1.622 (95% CI 1.347, 1.953)) compared with the prepandemic period. Conclusion. There is considerable evidence that there is an increase in type 1 diabetes in children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many studies suggesting a direct effect of SARS-CoV-2 have methodological weaknesses. As no evidence of an increase in presymptomatic cases with isolated islet autoimmunity was found, this could also suggest an accelerated transition from presymptomatic patients to clinically overt type 1 diabetes. Furthermore, there was a marked exacerbation of the preexisting increase in the prevalence of diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes during the pandemic. Both the increased incidence of paediatric type 1 diabetes and the higher prevalence of diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis led to a massive rise in the number of children with diabetic ketoacidosis during the pandemic.
Achievement of Target Glycemic Goal with Simple Basal Insulin Regimen in Women with Gestational Diabetes: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Fukuoka Misao , Yasuhi Ichiro , Yamashita Hiroshi , Ashimoto Kensuke , Kurata Nao , Yamaguchi Junko , Koga Megumi , Sugimi So , Suga Sachie , Fukuda Masashi
Published: May 2023

There is little evidence concerning the need to treat gestational diabetes (GDM) in the same way as pregestational diabetes. We evaluated the efficacy of the simple insulin injection (SII) regimen for achieving the target glucose goal without increasing adverse perinatal outcomes in singleton pregnant women with GDM. All subjects underwent self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), and insulin therapy was indicated according to the SMBG profile. Insulin was initially started with the SII regimen, in which one daily injection of NPH insulin before breakfast was used, and another NPH injection was added at bedtime, if necessary. We used the target glucose as <95 mg/dL at fasting and <120 mg/dL postprandial and accepted <130 mg/dL for the latter. If the target glucose did not reach with the regimen, we switched to the multiple daily injection (MDI) with additional prandial insulin aspart. We compared the SMBG profile before delivery as well as the perinatal outcomes between the SII and MDI groups. Among 361 women (age 33.7 years, nullipara 41%, prepregnancy body mass index 23.2 kg/m2) with GDM, 59%, 18%, and 23% were in the diet-alone, SII, and MDI groups, respectively. Consequently, regarding women requiring insulin therapy, 43% were treated with the SII regimen throughout pregnancy. The severity of baseline hyperglycemia according to the SMBG data at baseline was the MDI>the SII>the diet group. The rate of achieving target glucose levels before delivery in the SII group at fasting,

postprandial
<
120

 mg/dL and <130 mg/dL were 93%, 54% and 87%, respectively, which were similar to that in the MDI group (93%, 57%, and 93%, respectively), with no significant differences in perinatal outcomes. In conclusion, more than 40% of women with GDM requiring insulin therapy achieved the target glucose goal with this simple insulin regimen without any increase in adverse effects.