bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wall‐associated kinase BrWAK1 confers resistance to downy mildew in Brassica rapa
Authors: Zhang Bin , Su Tongbing , Xin Xiaoyun , Li Peirong , Wang Jiao , Wang Weihong , Yu Yangjun , Zhao Xiuyun , Zhang Deshuang , Li Dayong , Zhang Fenglan , Yu Shuancang
Published: July 2023

The plant cell wall is the first line of defence against physical damage and pathogen attack. Wall‐associated kinase (WAK) has the ability to perceive the changes in the cell wall matrix and transform signals into the cytoplasm, being involved in plant development and the defence response. Downy mildew, caused by Hyaloperonospora brassicae, can result in a massive loss in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis) production. Herein, we identified a candidate resistant WAK gene, BrWAK1, in a major resistant quantitative trait locus, using a double haploid population derived from resistant inbred line T12–19 and the susceptible line 91–112. The expression of BrWAK1 could be induced by salicylic acid and pathogen inoculation. Expression of BrWAK1 in 91–112 could significantly enhance resistance to the pathogen, while truncating BrWAK1 in T12–19 increased disease susceptibility. Variation in the extracellular galacturonan binding (GUB) domain of BrWAK1 was found to mainly confer resistance to downy mildew in T12–19. Moreover, BrWAK1 was proved to interact with BrBAK1 (brassinosteroid insensitive 1 associated kinase), resulting in the activation of the downstream mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade to trigger the defence response. BrWAK1 is the first identified and thoroughly characterized WAK gene conferring disease resistance in Chinese cabbage, and the plant biomass is not significantly influenced by BrWAK1, which will greatly accelerate Chinese cabbage breeding for downy mildew resistance.
Recent advances in artificial intelligence, mechanistic models, and speed breeding offer exciting opportunities for precise and accelerated genomics‐assisted breeding
Authors: Bhat Javaid Akhter , Feng Xianzhong , Mir Zahoor A. , Raina Aamir , Siddique Kadambot H. M.
Published: July 2023

Given the challenges of population growth and climate change, there is an urgent need to expedite the development of high‐yielding stress‐tolerant crop cultivars. While traditional breeding methods have been instrumental in ensuring global food security, their efficiency, precision, and labour intensiveness have become increasingly inadequate to address present and future challenges. Fortunately, recent advances in high‐throughput phenomics and genomics‐assisted breeding (GAB) provide a promising platform for enhancing crop cultivars with greater efficiency. However, several obstacles must be overcome to optimize the use of these techniques in crop improvement, such as the complexity of phenotypic analysis of big image data. In addition, the prevalent use of linear models in genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) and genomic selection (GS) fails to capture the nonlinear interactions of complex traits, limiting their applicability for GAB and impeding crop improvement. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) techniques have opened doors to nonlinear modelling approaches in crop breeding, enabling the capture of nonlinear and epistatic interactions in GWAS and GS and thus making this variation available for GAB. While statistical and software challenges persist in AI‐based models, they are expected to be resolved soon. Furthermore, recent advances in speed breeding have significantly reduced the time (3–5‐fold) required for conventional breeding. Thus, integrating speed breeding with AI and GAB could improve crop cultivar development within a considerably shorter timeframe while ensuring greater accuracy and efficiency. In conclusion, this integrated approach could revolutionize crop breeding paradigms and safeguard food production in the face of population growth and climate change.
Social power and perceived risk of contagious disease: High power leads to lower risk estimation of catching COVID‐19
Authors: Li Heng
Published: July 2023

An accurate estimation of COVID‐19 contagion risk is important in terms of understanding the dynamic of disease transmission and health behavior. Previous research has documented that many health‐related variables influence the risk estimation of communicable diseases. We expanded the current understanding by investigating whether health‐irrelevant factors—such as one's sense of power—can have a systematic and consequential impact on perceived risks of catching the coronavirus. Based on the social distance theory of power, we propose that people in a higher power position develop a greater sense of social distance than those in a lower power position, which may in turn predispose the former to think that they are less likely to catch contagious diseases from other people. In Study 1, we provided correlational evidence that the personal sense of power was associated with the underestimation of contagion probability in Chinese university students. In Study 2, we established the causal relationship between power and concerns for contagious diseases in nonstudent adults and revealed the mediating role of social distance in the observed effect. Overall, these results, for the first time, indicate that power can elevate perceived social distance, exerting downstreaming effects on health cognition during the COVID‐19 pandemic.
Self‐beliefs, Transactive Memory Systems, and Collective Identification in Teams: Articulating the Socio‐Cognitive Underpinnings of COHUMAIN
Authors: Aggarwal Ishani , Cuconato Gabriela , Ateş Nüfer Yasin , Meslec Nicoleta
Published: July 2023

Socio‐cognitive theory conceptualizes individual contributors as both enactors of cognitive processes and targets of a social context's determinative influences. The present research investigates how contributors’ metacognition or self‐beliefs, combine with others’ views of themselves to inform collective team states related to learning about other agents (i.e., transactive memory systems) and forming social attachments with other agents (i.e., collective team identification), both important teamwork states that have implications for team collective intelligence. We test the predictions in a longitudinal study with 78 teams. Additionally, we provide interview data from industry experts in human–artificial intelligence teams. Our findings contribute to an emerging socio‐cognitive architecture for COllective HUman‐MAchine INtelligence (i.e., COHUMAIN) by articulating its underpinnings in individual and collective cognition and metacognition. Our resulting model has implications for the critical inputs necessary to design and enable a higher level of integration of human and machine teammates.
Constrained Model Predictive Control With Integral Action for Twin Rotor MIMO Systems
Authors: Ebirim Kelechi U. , Lecchini-Visintini Andrea , Rubagotti Matteo , Prempain Emmanuel
Published: July 2023

This paper describes the design and successful implementation of a constrained model predictive controller with integral action for the control of a Twin Rotor MIMO System (TRMS). The integral action guarantees zero steady-state error in set-point tracking with robustness toward perturbations of the nominal system parameters. In addition to saturation constraints on the input variables, hard constraints are imposed on the controlled output variables, i.e., on pitch and yaw angular positions, to avoid collisions with obstacles. The model predictive controller was designed using a high-fidelity nonlinear model of the TRMS developed in previous work. As an intermediate step, exact linearized models of the TRMS are obtained and their closed-form expressions are reported. The controller was tested experimentally, also showing its effectiveness in ensuring actual collision avoidance by the TRMS when physical obstacles were present.
Isolated pancreatic tuberculosis masquerading pancreatic malignancy
Authors: Shaikh Oseen Hajilal , Sunil Julia , Prakash Sagar , Vijaykumar Chellappa , Kumbhar Uday Shamrao
Published: July 2023

Pancreatic tuberculosis is the rarest form of abdominal and extrapulmonary tuberculosis. We present a patient in his 40s who presented with pain abdomen and a fever. On examination, the patient had mild jaundice and right hypochondriac tenderness. Blood investigation was suggestive of obstructive jaundice. Imaging studies were representative of pancreatic head lesion, causing mild intrahepatic biliary radical dilatation. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration done from the pancreatic head lesion was diagnostic of tuberculosis. The patient was started on antitubercular medications and responded well.
Correlations between intravascular pressure gradients and cerebral blood flow in patients with symptomatic, medically refractory, anterior circulation artery stenosis: an exploratory study
Authors: Li Long , Yang Bin , Dmytriw Adam A , Li Yanling , Gong Haozhi , Bai Xuesong , Zhang Chao , Chen Jian , Dong Jia , Wang Yabing , Gao Peng , Wang Tao , Luo Jichang , Xu Xin , Feng Yao , Zhang Xiao , Yang Renjie , Ma Yan , Jiao Liqun
Published: July 2023

Background

Fractional flow reserve is widely used in coronary disease management, with a threshold of 0.80. However, similar thresholds are unclear in functional assessment of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS).

Objective

To investigate the potential threshold values in functional assessment of ICAS by studying the relation between pressure-derived indexes and perfusion parameters derived from arterial spin labeling (ASL).

Methods

Patients were consecutively screened between June 2019 and December 2020. The translesional gradient indices were measured by pressure guidewire under resting-state conditions and recorded as mean distal/proximal pressure ratios (Pd/Pa) and translesional pressure difference (Pa−Pd). Preoperative and postoperative cerebral blood flow (CBF) bilaterally and the relative cerebral blood flow ratio (rCBF) were measured and recorded by ASL imaging. Patients were defined as having reversible hemodynamic insufficiency only if the preoperative rCBF was <0.9 and the postoperative rCBF≥0.9. Preoperative and postoperative Pd/Pa or Pa−Pd values of those patients were used to calculate the threshold.

Results

Twenty-five patients (19 men, 6 women) with a mean age of 56.7±9.4 years were analyzed. Seventeen patients (68%) had lesions at the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery, eight patients (32%) had lesions in the intracranial internal carotid artery. In 14 of the 25 patients, the preoperative rCBF was <0.9 and the postoperative rCBF≥0.9. Cut-off values of Pd/Pa=0.81 and Pa−Pd=8 mm Hg were suggested to be associated with hemodynamic insufficiency.

Conclusions

In a highly selected subgroup with ICAS, cut-off values of translesional pressure gradients (Pd/Pa=0.81 or Pa−Pd=8 mm Hg) were preliminarily established, which may facilitate clinical decision-making in the management of ICAS.
Association of the combined stereotactic radiosurgery and embolization strategy and long-term outcomes in brain arteriovenous malformations with a volume ≤10 mL: a nationwide multicenter observational prospective cohort study
Authors: Jin Hengwei , Li Zhipeng , Gao Dezhi , Chen Yu , Han Heze , Ma Li , Yan Debin , Li Ruinan , Li Anqi , Zhang Haibin , Yuan Kexin , Zhang Yukun , Zhao Yang , Meng Xiangyu , Li Youxiang , Chen Xiaolin , Wang Hao , Sun Shibin , Zhao Yuanli
Published: July 2023

Background

To compare the long-term outcomes of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) with or without prior embolization in brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) (volume ≤10 mL) for which SRS is indicated.

Methods

Patients were recruited from a nationwide multicenter prospective collaboration registry (the MATCH study) between August 2011 and August 2021, and categorized into combined embolization and SRS (E+SRS) and SRS alone cohorts. We performed propensity score-matched survival analysis to compare the long-term risk of non-fatal hemorrhagic stroke and death (primary outcomes). The long-term obliteration rate, favorable neurological outcomes, seizure, worsened mRS score, radiation-induced changes, and embolization complications were also evaluated (secondary outcomes). Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

After study exclusions and propensity score matching, 486 patients (243 pairs) were included. The median (IQR) follow-up duration for the primary outcomes was 5.7 (3.1–8.2) years. Overall, E+SRS and SRS alone were similar in preventing long-term non-fatal hemorrhagic stroke and death (0.68 vs 0.45 per 100 patient-years; HR=1.46 (95% CI 0.56 to 3.84)), as well as in facilitating AVM obliteration (10.02 vs 9.48 per 100 patient-years; HR=1.10 (95% CI 0.87 to 1.38)). However, the E+SRS strategy was significantly inferior to the SRS alone strategy in terms of neurological deterioration (worsened mRS score: 16.0% vs 9.1%; HR=2.00 (95% CI 1.18 to 3.38)).

Conclusions

In this observational prospective cohort study, the combined strategy of E+SRS does not show substantial advantages over SRS alone. The findings do not support pre-SRS embolization for AVMs with a volume ≤10 mL.
Association between where men who have sex with men (MSM) meet sexual partners and chlamydia/gonorrhoea infection before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in San Diego, California
Authors: King Colin M B , Garfein Richard S , Bazzi Angela R , Little Susan J , Skaathun Britt
Published: July 2023

Background

Meeting sex partners online is associated with increased risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections. We examined whether different venues where men who have sex with men (MSM) meet sex partners was associated with prevalentChlamydia trachomatis(CT) andNeisseria gonorrhoeae(NG) infection, and whether prevalence increased during (vs before) the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from San Diego’s ‘Good To Go’ sexual health clinic from two enrolment periods: (1) March–September 2019 (pre-COVID-19) and (2) March–September 2021 (during COVID-19). Participants completed self-administered intake assessments. This analysis included males aged ≥18 years self-reporting sex with males within 3 months before enrolment. Participants were categorised as (1) meeting new sex partners in-person only (eg, bars, clubs), (2) meeting new sex partners online (eg, applications, websites) or (3) having sex only with existing partners. We used multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for year, age, race, ethnicity, number of sex partners, pre-exposure prophylaxis use and drug use to examine whether venue or enrolment period were associated with CT/NG infection (either vs none).

Results

Among 2546 participants, mean age was 35.5 (range: 18–79) years, 27.9% were non-white and 37.0% were Hispanic. Overall, CT/NG prevalence was 14.8% and was higher during COVID-19 vs pre-COVID-19 (17.0% vs 13.3%). Participants met sex partners online (56.9%), in-person (16.9%) or only had existing partners (26.2%) in the past 3 months. Compared with having only existing sex partners, meeting partners online was associated with higher CT/NG prevalence (adjusted OR (aOR) 2.32; 95% CI 1.51 to 3.65), while meeting partners in-person was not associated with CT/NG prevalence (aOR 1.59; 95% CI 0.87 to 2.89). Enrolment during COVID-19 was associated with higher CT/NG prevalence compared with pre-COVID-19 (aOR 1.42; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.79).

Conclusions

CT/NG prevalence appeared to increase among MSM during COVID-19, and meeting sex partners online was associated with higher prevalence.
Differential uptake and effects of digital sexually transmitted and bloodborne infection testing interventions among equity-seeking groups: a scoping review
Authors: Iyamu Ihoghosa , Sierra-Rosales Rodrigo , Estcourt Claudia S , Salmon Amy , Koehoorn Mieke , Gilbert Mark
Published: July 2023

Background

Digital sexually transmitted and bloodborne infection (STBBI) testing interventions have gained popularity. However, evidence of their health equity effects remains sparse. We conducted a review of the health equity effects of these interventions on uptake of STBBI testing and explored design and implementation factors contributing to reported effects.

Methods

We followed Arksey and O’Malley’s framework for scoping reviews (2005) integrating adaptations by Levacet al(2010). We searched OVID Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar and health agency websites for peer-reviewed articles and grey literature comparing uptake of digital STBBI testing with in-person models and/or comparing uptake of digital STBBI testing among sociodemographic strata, published in English between 2010 and 2022. We extracted data using the Place of residence, Race, Occupation, Gender/Sex, Religion, Education, Socioeconomic status (SES), Social capital and other disadvantaged characteristics (PROGRESS-Plus) framework, reporting differences in uptake of digital STBBI testing by these characteristics.

Results

We included 27 articles from 7914 titles and abstracts. Among these, 20 of 27 (74.1%) were observational studies, 23 of 27 (85.2%) described web-based interventions and 18 of 27 (66.7%) involved postal-based self-sample collection. Only three articles compared uptake of digital STBBI testing with in-person models stratified by PROGRESS-Plus factors. While most studies demonstrated increased uptake of digital STBBI testing across sociodemographic strata, uptake was higher among women, white people with higher SES, urban residents and heterosexual people. Co-design, representative user recruitment, and emphasis on privacy and security were highlighted as factors contributing to health equity in these interventions.

Conclusion

Evidence of health equity effects of digital STBBI testing remains limited. While digital STBBI testing interventions increase testing across sociodemographic strata, increases are lower among historically disadvantaged populations with higher prevalence of STBBIs. Findings challenge assumptions about the inherent equity of digital STBBI testing interventions, emphasising the need to prioritise health equity in their design and evaluation.
Foregrounding women and household dynamics to inform Article 17: a qualitative description analysis of tobacco farming households in Mozambique
Authors: Clark Madelyn , Cunguara Benedito , Bialous Stella , Rice Kathleen , Drope Jeffrey , Labonte Ronald , Lencucha Raphael
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This paper examines the intrahousehold dynamics between women and men present in tobacco farming households in Mozambique. Attention to the experiences and realities of the smallholder farmers is crucial for understanding approaches to alternative livelihoods. Intrahousehold dynamics can provide important insights into how these households and their members view tobacco production and engage with the political economy of tobacco farming, how they make decisions, and the rationale and values behind these decisions.

Methods

Data were collected through single-gender focus group discussions (n=8) with 108 participants (men=57, women=51). Analysis was informed by a qualitative description methodology. This research presents a gender-based analysis examining the perspectives, roles, decision-making processes and desires of female and male tobacco farmers in four key tobacco-growing districts in Mozambique.

Findings

Throughout this paper, women are found to hold leverage and influence in tobacco farming households, and this leverage is in part gained via the necessity of women’s unpaid labour in achieving profitability in tobacco farming. Both women and men are also found to strongly desire and pursue the well-being of the household.

Conclusion

Women hold agency within tobacco-growing households and participate in decision-making processes regarding tobacco agriculture. Women should be included in future tobacco control policies and programmes pertaining to Article 17.
Biliary complications post liver resection for pediatric liver tumors
Authors: Othman Mohd Yusran , Teh Kok Hoi , Zahari Zakaria
Published: July 2023

Objective

To review biliary complications following liver resection for liver tumors in children and their associated risk factors.

Methods

Retrospectively, we reviewed children who underwent liver resection for liver tumors from 2010 to 2019. Demographic data, operative details, types of complications, interventions and outcomes were studied.

Results

Eighty-six out of 108 liver resections were included in this study. The median age of patients was 1.8 years old, and 55% were male. The majority (95%) were malignant tumors, of which 87% were hepatoblastoma (n=71). The most common procedure performed was extended right hepatectomy (37%, n=32). Twelve (14%) patients had primary biliary complications: nine bile leakages and three biliary obstructions. Six cases of bile leakage were treated non-operatively with drainage only; however, one developed bilothorax. Three bile leakages underwent early operative intervention. Four patients underwent biliary reconstruction. Biliary complications were not significantly associated with age, sex, ethnicity or pathology of the tumor. Ten of them (83%) developed following extended hepatectomies (five right, five left), in which the left side had a higher rate of complications (63% vs 16%). None of the central hepatectomies had biliary complications. Biliary complication rates were significantly higher among those who had segmentectomy 1 (p=0.023).

Conclusions

Biliary complication is a significant morbidity following liver resection in children. Surgery is eventually required for complicated bile leakage and primary biliary strictures. Follow-up is mandatory since secondary biliary complications may occur after the initial resolution of bile leakage. The groups at high risk of developing biliary complications are extended left hepatectomies and segmentectomy 1.
A Framework for Personalized Human Activity Recognition
Authors: Eri̇ş Hasan Ali , Ertürk Mehmet Ali , Aydın Muhammed Ali
Published: July 2023

In today’s world, Human Activity Recognition (HAR) through video streams is actively used in every aspect of our life, such as automated surveillance systems and sports statistics are computed according to the videos with the help of HAR. Activity detection is not a new subject, and several methods are available. However, the most recent and most promising techniques rely on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). CNNs primary usage is based on a single image frame to perform logical or categorical identification of an object, scene, or activity. We exploit this feature to adapt CNN on video streams to achieve HAR. In this study, we present a Personalized HAR (PHAR) framework that increases activity recognition accuracy with Object Detection (OD). First, we demonstrate the state-of-the-art HAR and OD methods in the literature. Then we illustrate our framework with two new Single Person Human Activity Recognition models. Finally, the performance of the new framework is evaluated with the well-known activity detection methods. Results show that our new PHAR model with 95% accuracy ratio outperforms the CNN-LSTM-based reference model (90%). Moreover, a new metric Average Accuracy Score (AAS) is described in this study, PHAR models approximately have 94% AAS, which is better than the reference model with 89% AAS.
Damage Assessment of Multi-Box Structures Subjected to Internal Blast Loadings
Authors: Li Lumeng , Zhang Duo , Yao Shujian , Cai Zhenqing , Gan Xiaowei , Huang Shiqi
Published: July 2023

In this study, a rapid algorithm is proposed to efficiently predict the damage of target structures subjected to internal explosions. Firstly, a data-driven approach was used to obtain the quasi-static peak pressure of the blast-loaded chamber based on a large amount of experimental data. The variation of the gas mass in each chamber was obtained using a pressure relief algorithm. The SDOF method was used to calculate the deformation of the wall plates to further calculate the change in volume and open area of the chamber. The change in pressure was calculated using the ideal gas equation of state. The proposed algorithm was then used to calculate the pressure change and wall deformation in each box. The results were compared with existing experimental data and found to be in good agreement. Finally, the results of the proposed algorithm are visualized, and the effects of different influencing factors such as explosion equivalent, cavity size, and wall thickness on the failure characteristics of multi-box structures were studied.
A Bibliometric Overview and Visualization of the International Journal of Information Technology and Decision Making Between 2012 and 2022
Authors: Liao Huchang , Jin Xiaowan , Shi Yong , Kou Gang
Published: July 2023

The International Journal of Information Technology and Decision Making (IJITDM) was launched in 2002 to study how the information technology and decision-making technique affect each other. To summarize the progress of the journal in the latest 11 years, a bibliometric overview of the IJITDM publications from 2012 to 2022 is provided to identify the conceptual evolution and development situation of the journal during this time slot. To do this, first, the publication and citation structures of the publications in this journal is presented. Then, the scientific network map analysis, including keywords analysis, co-authorship analysis and co-citation analysis, is performed in details. Furthermore, the development trends of information technologies and decision-making methods are discussed to dig out factors that influence the evolution of topics in IJITDM publications. Finally, conclusions of this study are offered. It is found that the IJITDM grew significantly from 2012 to 2022. The work presented in this paper will help scholars to obtain systematic knowledge and structured understanding of the research hotspots and development trends of the journal.
A Game Theory Approach for Supply Chain Coordination Model with Incentive Mechanisms of Discount and Delay in Payments
Authors: Ferdousmakan Mohammad , Ahari Roya M. , Vasili Mohammadreza , Vaziri Sarashk Majid
Published: July 2023

The uncertain nature of supply chains is one of the key challenges managers, and researchers encounter in decision-making. Accordingly, this paper proposes a three-echelon supply chain in which demands are uncertain. The proposed supply chain has three participants, including supplier, manufacturer, and retailer, while three decentralized, centralized, and coordination models have been formulated to maximize participants’ profits. In the decentralized model, both the manufacturer and retailer independently determine the level of investment and order quantity regarding scenario-based demands. The centralized model determines the optimal order quantity and investment amounts for the whole network. However, these amounts may be different from optimal values for all participants. As such, using game theory, a bilevel adjustable contract based on wholesale price has been proposed as an incentive for players to participate in the coordination plan. Results show that the coordination model outperforms others by reducing the network’s costs and increasing profits simultaneously.
Renal Agenesis, Extramural Ectopic Ureter, and Nonfunctioning Urinary Bladder: A Difficult Clinical Case with an Innovative Approach
Authors: Vekšins Armands , Voiko Laura , Sandersen Charlotte , Dūzena Ilze , Rabočaja Olga
Published: July 2023

Summary. A 7-month-old female Jack Russell Terrier weighing 4.6 kg was referred to a veterinary hospital for persistent urinary incontinence. Blood test results and vital signs were within the normal range. Computed tomography allowed the diagnosis of extramural ectopic ureter and unilateral renal agenesis. After the first neoureterocystostomy surgery, the dog had severe complications, such as hydroureter and hydronephrosis, so a second surgery was performed. A commercial ureteral stent was not an option, and it was decided to fabricate a homemade stent to avoid euthanasia. The stent used was a soft, DEHP-free PVC tube with a lumen of

3
×
4.1

 mm and a length of approximately 40 mm that connected the ureter to the urinary bladder. Two years after surgery, the dog is in good general condition, and the results of regularly performed blood and urine tests are within the normal range for dogs.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis Associated with Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors: Clinical and Biochemical Characteristics of 29 Cases
Authors: Stamatiades G. A. , D’Silva P. , Elahee M. , Viana G. M. , Sideri-Gugger A. , Majumdar S. K.
Published: July 2023

Context. Numerous reports suggest an association between SGLT2 inhibitors and DKA. Since the use of these drugs for diabetes has increased dramatically, identification of patients at greatest risk of this life-threatening complication is essential. Objective. To describe the clinical and biochemical characteristics of all reported cases of DKA associated with SGLT2 inhibitor use in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to identify potential risk factors. Design. A retrospective case series was conducted between March 2013 and August 2019 using an electronic medical record search algorithm. Results. 25 patients met the criteria for DKA associated with SGLT2i use (total of 29 cases), 15 were female, average age was 54.24 years, and mean diabetes duration was 8.76 years. The majority of the patients (23 patients) had no history of prior DKA. Average blood glucose concentrations at presentation were 298.9 ± 152.7 mg/dl. Interestingly, nearly half of the episodes (14) met the criteria of euglycemic DKA (glucose <250 mg/dl). Average anion gap values were 26.59 ± 6.15 mg/dl, bicarbonate values were 11.14 ± 5.57 mg/dl, and pH values were 7.16 ± 0.12. All had positive serum and urine ketones. The most common presenting symptoms were nausea, vomiting (18 cases), and abdominal pain (10 cases). Common precipitants were poor oral intake (18 cases) and infection (10 cases). A variety of drugs were prescribed along with an SGLT2i, and 11 of the patients were using insulin. None of the cases were fatal. Comparison between euglycemic DKA and hyperglycemic DKA did not identify any significant difference. A major limitation factor of the study was the lack of control group or comparison to other antiglycemic agents to assess the relative risk. Conclusions. The majority of SGLT2i-associated DKA cases occurred in patients with T2DM without prior episodes of DKA. The most common presenting symptoms were nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, while poor food intake and infection were the main precipitants. Clinicians should consider the possibility of DKA in SGLT2i-treated patients presenting with these symptoms, even in absence of marked hyperglycemia.
Penile Livedoid Vasculopathy: First Reported Case
Authors: Hallak Ahmad , Bennett William , Tanbir Mohammed Adib , Donthamsetty Supriya R. , Vincent Bethaney
Published: July 2023

Livedoid vasculopathy is a thromboocclusive cutaneous vasculopathy manifested by livedoid changes, atrophie blanche, and ulceration. The pathogenesis is speculated to involve increasing coagulation or impaired thrombolysis leading to the occlusion of dermal blood vessels with fibrin thrombi. Livedoid vasculopathy is known to primarily affect the lower extremities. We report the first case of livedoid vasculopathy affecting the penis. A 60-year-old male was evaluated for a split urine stream with associated irritation and peeling of the skin of the glans penis. His penile ulcer continued to enlarge despite steroids and antibiotics. Due to diagnostic uncertainty, a biopsy was performed which revealed hyaline thrombi within the lumens of small vessels within the upper to mid dermis, fibrinoid material in the walls of these blood vessels and within the perivascular stroma with overlying and adjacent epidermal spongiosis, and mild perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate with a few scattered neutrophils most consistent with livedoid vasculitis. He was started on aspirin and pentoxifylline with limited improvement and was later started on apixaban with near-complete resolution in 6 months. Penile livedoid vasculopathy has not been previously reported in the English literature. Early diagnosis and treatment are imperative to limit morbidity.
Inhaled Epoprostenol Compared With Nitric Oxide for Right Ventricular Support After Major Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Ghadimi Kamrouz , Cappiello Jhaymie L. , Wright Mary Cooter , Levy Jerrold H. , Bryner Benjamin S. , DeVore Adam D. , Schroder Jacob N. , Patel Chetan B. , Rajagopal Sudarshan , Shah Svati H. , Milano Carmelo A. ,   for the INSPIRE-FLO Investigators
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND:

Right ventricular failure (RVF) is a leading driver of morbidity and death after major cardiac surgery for advanced heart failure, including orthotopic heart transplantation and left ventricular assist device implantation. Inhaled pulmonary-selective vasodilators, such as inhaled epoprostenol (iEPO) and nitric oxide (iNO), are essential therapeutics for the prevention and medical management of postoperative RVF. However, there is limited evidence from clinical trials to guide agent selection despite the significant cost considerations of iNO therapy.

METHODS:

In this double-blind trial, participants were stratified by assigned surgery and key preoperative prognostic features, then randomized to continuously receive either iEPO or iNO beginning at the time of separation from cardiopulmonary bypass with the continuation of treatment into the intensive care unit stay. The primary outcome was the composite RVF rate after both operations, defined after transplantation by the initiation of mechanical circulatory support for isolated RVF, and defined after left ventricular assist device implantation by moderate or severe right heart failure according to criteria from the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support. An equivalence margin of 15 percentage points was prespecified for between-group RVF risk difference. Secondary postoperative outcomes were assessed for treatment differences and included: mechanical ventilation duration; hospital and intensive care unit length of stay during the index hospitalization; acute kidney injury development including renal replacement therapy initiation; and death at 30 days, 90 days, and 1 year after surgery.

RESULTS:

Of 231 randomized participants who met eligibility at the time of surgery, 120 received iEPO, and 111 received iNO. Primary outcome occurred in 30 participants (25.0%) in the iEPO group and 25 participants (22.5%) in the iNO group, for a risk difference of 2.5 percentage points (two one-sided test 90% CI, –6.6% to 11.6%) in support of equivalence. There were no significant between-group differences for any of the measured postoperative secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS:

Among patients undergoing major cardiac surgery for advanced heart failure, inhaled pulmonary-selective vasodilator treatment using iEPO was associated with similar risks for RVF development and development of other postoperative secondary outcomes compared with treatment using iNO.

REGISTRATION:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT03081052.
Beyond the Universalist and Cultural Relativist Debate
Authors: Johnson Adetokunbo
Published: July 2023

This article explores how the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (The Protocol or African Women’s Protocol), concerned with realising gender equality in Africa, can guarantee gender equality yet retain African women’s valued cultural identity within customary African marriages. These marriages have certain cultural practices that are fundamental to their existence. This exploration is significant, bearing in mind the tensions raised by the contentious universalist versus cultural relativist debates on how human rights are understood. These tensions are evident where on the one hand, universalists argue that certain cultural practices that usually occur within customary African marriages undermine gender equality. On the other hand, cultural relativists maintain that these customary marriage practices are culturally acceptable and integral to the cultural identity of African women. Based on these contentions, this article identifies the Protocol’s strategies employed to douse these tensions within the customary African marriage context. These strategies are determined by examining the treaty’s marriage-related obligations outlined in Article 6 (a–c).
Stochastic Generation of Plausible Hydroclimate Futures Using Climate Teleconnections for Southeastern Australia
Authors: Potter Nicholas J. , Chiew Francis H. S. , Robertson David E.
Published: July 2023

Generating plausible future climate time series is needed for bottom-up climate impact modeling, as well as downscaling climate model output for hydrological applications. A novel method for generating multisite daily stochastic climate series is developed based on 1) linear regression between climate teleconnection time series (e.g., IPO/SOI) and annual rainfall, 2) clustered method of fragments for subannual disaggregation, and 3) a regression-based approach to daily potential evapotranspiration (PET) for hydrological modeling. We demonstrate that bias (i.e., oversampling) occurs with the standard method of fragments disaggregation in the multisite context and show that selection of an analog year from clustered rainfall amounts provides better sampling properties than the standard method of fragments. Using hydrological data for southeastern Australia, we model runoff from observed and simulated rainfall and PET using the GR4J (Génie Rural à 4 paramètres Journalier) model. Simulated annual and daily rainfall and runoff characteristics from the new method are similar to existing methods, with improvements demonstrated in wet–wet transition probabilities and spatial (between-site) correlations.

Significance Statement

In this paper we develop a novel method for generating multisite daily stochastic climate series regressing climate teleconnections (e.g., ENSO, IPO) to annual site rainfall, and disaggregation using a clustered version of the method of fragments. The modular nature of the method also allows for the possibility of the generation of replicates from GCM output of climate teleconnections, as well as perturbed climate futures for scenario-neutral modeling. Results demonstrate that rainfall and runoff metrics of interest for water resource modeling are reproduced well using the model.
Tropical Transition of Tropical Storm Kirogi (2012) over the Western North Pacific: Synoptic Analysis and Mesoscale Simulation
Authors: Yanase Wataru , Shimada Udai , Kitabatake Naoko , Tochimoto Eigo
Published: July 2023

Tropical transition (TT) is a cyclogenesis process in which a baroclinic disturbance is transformed into a tropical cyclone. Many studies have analyzed TT events over the North Atlantic. This study assesses TT processes from a possible subtropical cyclone to Tropical Storm Kirogi at a relatively high latitude over the western North Pacific in an environment of enhanced baroclinicity in August 2012. Analyses based on satellite observations, the JRA-55 reanalysis, and a simulation with 2.5-km horizontal grid spacing demonstrate three stages during the TT: the baroclinic, intermediate, and convective stages. Over the baroclinic stage, Kirogi had an asymmetric comma-shaped cloud pattern with convection in the northern and eastern parts of the cyclone. This convection is attributed to quasigeostrophic forcing and frontogenesis associated with advection of warm and moist air. Vorticity locally generated by this convection was advected to the cyclone center by cyclone-relative northerly flow. Kirogi also had a shallow warm-core structure due to the interaction with an upper-level cold trough extending from the midlatitudes. In the intermediate stage, the warm and moist air in the lower troposphere and the cold trough in the upper troposphere wrapped around Kirogi. In the convective stage, Kirogi attained characteristics of a typical tropical cyclone with convection concentrated near the cyclone center and a deep warm-core structure. These results demonstrate that baroclinic processes can directly trigger formation of a tropical storm at relatively high latitudes over the western North Pacific in a similar manner to that over the North Atlantic.

Significance Statement

Tropical cyclogenesis is an important process for early identification of tropical cyclone hazards. Tropical transition is a tropical cyclogenesis process that is triggered by a subtropical or extratropical disturbance. It is unique to relatively high latitudes and has social importance particularly for midlatitude countries. There have been fewer studies on tropical transition over the western North Pacific than over the North Atlantic. This study demonstrates the dynamics of a distinct tropical transition event that led to the formation of Tropical Storm Kirogi (2012) at a relatively high latitude over the western North Pacific.
HOW COVID‐19 AND GOVERNMENT ACTIONS AFFECTED STOCK INDEXES
Authors: Tavor Tchai , Teitler‐Regev Sharon
Published: July 2023

The COVID‐19 virus created a health crisis that led to one of the biggest economic crises in the world. This study analyzes the effects of different variables on the stock indexes of 15 different countries grouped into five areas/regions: Europe, the United States, South America, New Zealand, and Asia. The variables include data regarding COVID‐19 on infections and death as well as news regarding government actions. The descriptive statistics and the regression analysis expose differences between the areas across all the variables. The variables with the strongest effects are the number of infected people and the number of recoveries, except for South America where only the number of infected people had the strongest effect. In addition, in the United States and New Zealand, infection of famous people and/or people in key positions is the most significant variable, while in Asia and South America it was the behavior of the public and in Europe it was the restrictions on the education system.
Who Wants to Leave? Global Survey Evidence on How Individual Emigration Aspirations Differ Between Peaceful and Conflict-Affected Contexts
Authors: Ruhe Constantin , Kuhnt Jana
Published: July 2023

Does conflict change who desires to emigrate? Surprisingly, we still lack globally comparable empirical evidence on whether the types of individuals who want to leave their country differ between peaceful and conflict-affected locations. In this paper, we address this gap. We analyze unique survey data with global coverage to assess whether individual-level determinants of international permanent emigration aspirations differ during intrastate armed conflict compared to peaceful times and regions. We argue that armed conflict acts as an equalizer that attenuates the effect which individual economic and demographic variables have on international permanent emigration aspirations in peaceful contexts. As a result, aspirations to relocate permanently to another country increase among those demographic groups which are less inclined to move in peaceful situations. Our results indicate that variables related to a longer-term economic cost-benefit analysis, such as income or age, significantly lose importance for international permanent emigration aspirations in conflict situations. This demographic-specific effect explains an overall increase in emigration aspirations during conflicts. On average, we find no evidence that conflict increases the aspirations of all respondents to permanently move to another country. In contrast to income and age, the effects of demographic variables such as gender, household composition, or marital status are not significantly different across contexts.
Effect of deformation on crack extension measurement for compact tension specimen with the DCPD technique
Authors: Ni Chenqiang , Xue He , Wang Shuai , Yang Fuqiang , Zhao Kuan
Published: July 2023

Direct current potential drop (DCPD) technique is a crack growth monitoring technique widely used in the crack growth test of specimens in laboratory environment. Deformation of the specimen during test is one of the important factors that affect the accuracy and resolution. Because the effect of deformation on measurement is usually mixed with other factors, quantitative evaluation is difficult through experiments method only. In this work a novel quantitative estimation method combining experiment and finite element analysis has been proposed, and the effect of deformation on measurement for 316 L stainless steel compact tension specimen has been quantitatively evaluated. Through the tensile test and DCPD monitoring test of the non-cracked 316 L stainless steel plate-shaped specimen, the material mechanical property parameters and the change of potential drop caused by deformation were obtained. Then the slow tensile tests have been performed on compact tension specimens. Combined with the FE simulation of the experimental process, the effect of deformation on the potential drop under different crack length has been evaluated. The results show that the influence of deformation on the potential drop is a factor that must be considered for the crack growth monitoring experiment with high crack growth resolution. The proposed method can be used to quantitatively evaluate the influence of deformation, a factor that was usually ignored in the past, on the measurement of crack growth, which provides a method and basis for correction of crack measurement errors caused by deformation. In addition, the proposed method can be used to obtain a more accurate calibration function, which is of great significance to the improvement of the accuracy and resolution of crack growth monitoring.
A condition monitoring approach for the detection of defects in the primary suspension of railway vehicles
Authors: Erdozain Ibon , Alonso Asier , Nieto Javier , Lagos Rodrigo , Gómez Eduardo
Published: July 2023

This work presents the main problems in the primary suspension of metro vehicles and a methodology to detect those using wayside systems. The primary suspension is usually based on rubber elements, which are space saving and have damping properties. However, rubber characteristics change with time, often in a different way in each element. Differences between elements can cause irregular transmission of loads to the wheels, and thus, a reduction or loss of guidance forces. The ageing of rubber can also lead to a general stiffening of the primary suspension, which increases the risk of derailment. This paper presents a wayside system that uses a few strain gauge bridges to detect those problems independently of the vehicle load and speed. Firstly, the system is developed by means of a multibody model. Secondly, a demonstrator is installed in an operating metro exploitation. Finally, the accuracy of the predictions is proven by testing some of the elements in the laboratory.