bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cities, Inequalities and the Geography of Societal Discontent in European Regions
Authors: Lenzi Camilla , Perucca Giovanni
Published: October 2024

The “urban wellbeing paradox” is a recurring theme in research examining the differences in life satisfaction across settlements of varying sizes, suggesting that large cities are consistently associated with higher levels of dissatisfaction due to disproportionately high interpersonal income inequalities. This paper re-evaluates that conclusion by analysing the relationship between individual dissatisfaction, conditions of personal disadvantage, and income inequality in large cities. Our extensive study, based on self-reported dissatisfaction from over 760,000 citizens living in EU and UK NUTS2 regions between 2013 and 2018, reveals that individuals facing occupational and economic disadvantages are the most negatively affected by living in urban areas. However, urbanization economies partially offset these negative effects, particularly for those individuals in disadvantaged conditions.
Molecular Testing in Gliomas: What is Necessary in Routine Clinical Practice?
Authors: Alnahhas Iyad
Published: October 2024

Purpose of review

A number of molecular characteristics are essential for accurate diagnosis and prognostication in glioma.

Recent findings

The 2021 WHO classification of brain tumors and recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pathology agnostic drug approvals highlight the importance of molecular testing in the management of glioma.

For diffuse gliomas, it is important to identify IDH mutations, given the favorable clinical behavior and potential for using FDA approved IDH inhibitors in the near future. MGMT promoter methylation testing is the most established molecular marker for response to temozolomide in IDH wild-type glioblastoma and in turn impacts overall survival. Moreover, identification of certain mutations and molecular markers, such as BRAF V600E, hypermutation or elevated tumor-mutational burden and NTRK fusions allow for the use of FDA approved agents that are tumor-agnostic. Finally, molecular testing opens options for clinical trials that are essential for diseases with limited treatment options like gliomas.
Effect of Different Coating Materials on Black Périgord Truffle (Tuber melanosporum) Aroma Profile and Its Shelf Life
Authors: Choo Kenny S. O. , Bollen Maike , Dykes Gary A. , Coorey Ranil
Published: October 2024

Black Périgord truffles (Tuber melanosporum) are the highest-priced edible fungus in the world due to their unique flavour, rarity, short growing season, difficulty in mass cultivating, and short shelf-life. The current industrial practices have not been effective in extending truffle shelf-life while preserving its aroma profiles. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of several preservation methods on Australian-grown black Périgord truffles, which include assessing the changes in the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of truffles treated with edible coatings, antimicrobial agents, or antioxidants such as chitosan, gum Arabic, kafirin, natamycin, tocopherol, vitamin C, and citric acid at the interval of 0, 7, and 14 days of storage. The study also aimed to assess the capability of gamma-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) in encapsulating truffle VOCs at the intervals of 0, 14, and 28 days of storage. Among all the edible coatings, chitosan-treated truffles had the least change in VOCs, especially the black truffle aroma volatile markers, 2-methyl-1-butanal, 2,4-dithiapentane, and dimethyl sulphide. Chitosan also resulted in no significant changes (P < 0.05) in the carbon dioxide emissions of truffle. The PCA plots showed that chitosan-coated samples displayed the least changes. The sole application of antimicrobial agents or antioxidants was ineffective in delaying the deterioration process. On the other hand, the results show that γ-CD was able to encapsulate 30 truffle’s VOCs, which included 3-methyl-1-butanal, 2-methyl-1-butanol, dimethyl sulphide, and 2,4-dithiapentane with no significant changes over the storage period.
Long-term safety and efficacy of ropeginterferon alfa-2b in Japanese patients with polycythemia vera
Authors: Kirito Keita , Sugimoto Yuka , Gotoh Akihiko , Takenaka Katsuto , Ichii Michiko , Inano Tadaaki , Shirane Shuichi , Ito Masafumi , Zagrijtschuk Oleh , Qin Albert , Kawase Hiroaki , Sato Toshiaki , Komatsu Norio , Shimoda Kazuya
Published: October 2024

Ropeginterferon alfa-2b (ropegIFN), a new-generation interferon-based agent, has been approved in Japan for patients with polycythemia vera (PV) who are ineligible for or respond inadequately to conventional treatment. However, long-term outcomes with ropegIFN in Japanese patients have not been reported. This extension of a phase 2 study of ropegIFN in Japanese patients with PV aimed to determine its long-term safety/efficacy, and changes over time in JAK2 V617F allele burden. Here, we report data from the phase 2 study and subsequent extension over a period of 36 months. The primary endpoint was the complete hematologic response (CHR) maintenance rate without phlebotomy (hematocrit value < 45% without phlebotomy during the previous 12 weeks, platelet count ≤ 400 × 109/L, and white blood cell count ≤ 10 × 109/L). The CHR maintenance rates were 8/27 (29.6%), 18/27 (66.7%), and 22/27 (81.5%) at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively. No thrombotic or hemorrhagic events occurred. The median allele burden change from baseline was − 74.8% at 36 months. All patients experienced adverse events; 25/27 (92.6%) experienced adverse drug reactions (ADRs), but no serious ADRs or deaths occurred. This interim analysis demonstrated the safety and efficacy of ropegIFN over 36 months in Japanese patients with PV.
Ruxolitinib for steroid-refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease: Japanese subgroup analysis of REACH3 study
Authors: Shiratori Souichi , Fukushima Kentaro , Onishi Yasushi , Doki Noriko , Goto Tatsunori , Okada Masaya , Nakamae Hirohisa , Maeda Yoshinobu , Kato Koji , Ishikawa Takayuki , Kondo Tadakazu , Toyosaki Masako , Ikeda Takashi , Uchida Naoyuki , Maki Akio , Shimada Fumika , Tajima Takeshi , Stefanelli Tommaso , Teshima Takanori
Published: October 2024

Ruxolitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK1–JAK2) inhibitor, has demonstrated safety and efficacy in patients with graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). This phase 3 randomized trial (REACH3) evaluated the efficacy and the safety of ruxolitinib 10 mg twice daily compared with investigator-selected best available therapy (BAT) in a subgroup of Japanese patients (n = 37) with steroid-refractory or dependent (SR/D) chronic GvHD. At data cut-off, treatment was ongoing in 17 patients and discontinued in 20. The overall response rate (complete or partial) at week 24 was greater with ruxolitinib than BAT (50% vs. 20%; odds ratio, 4.13 [95% CI, 0.90–18.9]). The best overall response rate (complete or partial response at any time point up to week 24) was higher with ruxolitinib than BAT (68.2% vs. 46.7%; odds ratio, 2.69 [95% CI, 0.66–10.9]). Ruxolitinib led to longer median failure-free survival than BAT (18.6 months vs. 3.7 months; hazard ratio, 0.34; [95% CI, 0.14–0.85]). The most common grade ≥ 3 adverse events up to week 24 were anemia (ruxolitinib: 22.7%; BAT: 6.7%) and pneumonia (22.7% and 20.0%, respectively). Ruxolitinib showed a higher response rate and improvement in failure-free survival in Japanese patients with SR/D chronic GvHD, with a safety profile consistent with the overall study population.
The General Attitudes Towards Robots Scale (GAToRS): A Preliminary Validation of the Italian Version
Authors: Carradore Marco , Artioli Giovanna , Sarli Annavittoria
Published: October 2024

Social robots and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are two technologies currently benefitting from significant scientific advancements. By consequence, the development of social robots equipped with AI is also progressing fast, and their presence and relevance in our lives are set to increase considerably. Thus, in view of a context characterized by the spread of the humanoid robots, the development of scales which measure peoples’ attitudes towards social robots is of great importance and value. The aim of this paper was to translate and validate in the Italian language the English version of the General Attitudes Towards Robots Scale (GAToRS). GAToRS measures individual and social dimensions, considering both positive and negative attitudes towards robots. We compiled a questionnaire incorporating the GAToRS and sociodemographic items and administered it to a non-probabilistic sample composed of 302 Italian citizens working in the health care sector. To identify the latent underlying dimensions, we applied exploratory factor analysis to the set of the twenty GAToRS items. We used confirmatory factor analysis to investigate the factorial structure validity of the scale and Cronbach’s alpha to measure the internal consistency. The results obtained for the Italian context suggest a version of the GAToRS which excludes the item related to the need to monitor robot technology.
Agricultural commercialisation and food consumption: pathways and trade-offs across four African contexts
Authors: Saha Amrita , Harris Jody , Nisbett Nicholas , Thompson John
Published: October 2024

The relationship between agricultural commercialisation and nutrition is empirically contested, with findings suggesting different trends for different indicators, and across different contexts. Using novel cross-sectional survey data from a study of commercialisation in four African countries, this paper aims to understand associations and trade-offs between agricultural commercialisation and food consumption using three different indicators: household perceptions of their own food security; the dietary diversity of adult women and men; and the consumption of unhealthy ultra-processed foods and drinks. We find that a higher level of commercialisation is associated with respondents perceiving the household as more food secure in three countries and hypothesise that this relationship only holds where food price inflation remains low. Perception of better food security is subsequently associated with better reported dietary diversity, but diversity remains low in all countries even in the most commercialised households, and men’s dietary diversity overtakes women’s, on average, at higher levels of commercialisation. Ultra-processed foods were not highly consumed in our samples but were also linked with increasing commercialisation. Through this analysis, we show that commercialization and food consumption outcomes are linked in both positive and negative ways – and that both, retaining own food production, and the food market context, plays a moderating role, as does household experience of uncertainty in transition to commercial agriculture. Findings for policy in the context of inevitable but highly varied forms of agricultural commercialisation in Africa therefore include ensuring that diverse nutritious foods are available and affordable in local markets, but also that household food security and diets are socially supported through the process of transition where commercialisation is pursued.
Mapping the patient journey: utilizing clinical informatics for a conceptual approach to identify aspects of emergency department access block
Authors: Rahman Md Anisur , Lim Derek Z. , Davoren Michael , Lok Ian , Rahman Saifur , Hough Peter , Mosa Thanaa , Begum Syeda
Published: October 2024

Background

The study aims to map the patient journey in a regional Emergency Department (ED), identify factors causing extended Length of Stay (LOS) in ED during pre-COVID (2016–2019), COVID (2020–2022) and post-COVID (2023), and analyse the patient journey using clinical informatics. Through systematic analysis and root cause identification, the study seeks to establish a learning health system. This system will enhance patient experiences and improve timely and effective care delivery.

Methods

Summarized data on ED presentations data were sourced from January 2016 to August 2023 for a 294-bed regional hospital in New South Wales (NSW). The patient’s journey from ED to admission inpatient wards was analysed using clinical informatics. The time spent in each segment of the ED journey was analysed separately and subdivided by specialty for further analysis.

Results

Patient characteristics remained similar year on year. The average ED LOS increased from 5.59 h during the pre-COVID period (2016–2019) to 8.48 h during the COVID period (2020–2022) and 8.52 h during the post-COVID period (2023). The hospital’s bed occupancy rate remained consistent before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a slight improvement afterwards, except for a decrease in 2020. The occupancy rate for ED-accessible beds during the pre-COVID period is higher than during the COVID and post-COVID periods. The admission from ED to Inpatient wards decreased from 35% pre-COVID to 28% during COVID. Of the total LOS, the ‘Bed Request’ to ‘Bed Ready’ time segment increased from 11.41% in 2016 to 41.19% in 2022. The admission of medical specialty consistently made up most admissions (32%) which increased during the COVID. The medical specialty also spent the most time in the ED, peaking at 880 min in 2022.

Conclusion

Clinical Informatics is an effective tool to visualise the bottlenecks in clinical workflows. The ‘Bed Request’ to ‘Bed Ready’ time segment was the largest contributor to ED LOS and may have been attributed to a lack of bed availability. Patients took an average of 50 min to be transferred to Inpatient wards upon admission. Future studies could utilize insights gained to develop specific key performance indicators aimed at improving ED LOS. Moreover, we are currently working on improving real-time access to inpatient beds but are currently hampered by the ‘manual update’ of bed status that is controlled by the individual wards. We aim to build an automated system that can monitor and update bed availability (e.g., patient discharge) with minimal human intervention.
Smoking & autonomy: the generational tobacco endgame
Authors: Mohamed Ali Shazeea
Published: October 2024

New Zealand and Malaysia have abandoned plans to introduce a generational smoking ban because of concerns that such a policy is incompatible with liberal democracy as it undermines autonomy. This paper challenges this claim by showing that smoking is not an autonomous act. Autonomy requires a deliberation of preferences, wills and inclinations. This does not occur in smokers because of three related factors: nicotine addiction, cognitive biases and psychosocial development in addiction. Nicotine addiction results in strong physical and psychological desires to seek pleasure and to avoid withdrawal. This is further potentiated by conditioned behaviour. Cognitive biases explain why smokers act in ways that are detrimental to their health. Psychosocial development explains how the brains of smokers are unable to make rational decisions. This combination renders smokers unable to reflect on their actions and thus act autonomously. This stance is compatible with Mill’s view that actions that devalue autonomy cannot be considered autonomous. Defenders of liberalism should not be quick to dismiss a smoking ban and can instead foster autonomy by supporting it.
Physical Health Among Black Immigrants by Region of Birth: A Test of the Racial Context Hypothesis
Authors: Emoruwa Oluwaseun T. , Miller Gabe H. , Elufisan Gbenga I. , Marquez-Velarde Guadalupe , Ademule David , Lindl Hannah M. , Omisakin Olusola A. , Ma Guizhen , Hernandez Stephanie M. , Keith Verna M.
Published: October 2024

Objective

We test the Racial Context Hypothesis by examining the association between racial context of origin and five physical health outcomes (self-rated health, activity limitation, functional activity limitation, lifetime hypertension, and lifetime cancer) among U.S.-born Black Americans and Black immigrants in the United States.

Design

This cross-sectional study used 2000 through 2018 waves of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Our subsample was limited to adults 18 years of age or older who self-identified as Black and selected a distinct global region of birth if not U.S. born (N = 212,269). We employed zero-order logistic regression models to estimate the relationships between each measure of health and racial context by region of birth.

Results

Supporting the Racial Context Hypothesis, we found Black immigrants from racially mixed (Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, South America) and majority-Black contexts (Africa) had lower odds of being in fair or poor self-rated health [aOR 0.786; 0.616; 0.611], reporting any activity limitation [aOR = 0.537; 0.369; 0.678], reporting functional activity limitation [aOR 0.619; 0.425; 0.678], reporting lifetime hypertension diagnosis [aOR 0.596; 0.543; 0.618], and reporting lifetime cancer diagnosis [aOR 0.771; 0.326; 0.641] compared to U.S.-born Black Americans. After controlling for sociodemographic and socioeconomic covariates, Black immigrants from majority-White contexts (Europe) did not significantly differ from U.S.-born Black Americans on these five physical health measures.

Conclusion

This study expands our understanding of the “Black immigrant advantage” by showing that Black immigrants from predominantly Black and racially mixed regions rated their health status as poor or fair less often, experienced less activity or functional activity limitations, and had a lower risk of lifetime hypertension and cancer compared to U.S.-born Black Americans. The significant associations persisted even after controlling for sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Black immigrant health is not homogenous, and the racial context of origin Black immigrants come from has an association with their health outcomes.
Decreased trabecular bone score in patients affected by Fabry disease
Authors: Varaldo Emanuele , Giannone Beatrice , Viglino Francesca , Settanni Fabio , Bioletto Fabio , Barale Marco , Procopio Massimo , Deaglio Silvia , Ghigo Ezio , Benso Andrea
Published: October 2024

Background

Fabry disease (FD) is an inherited X-linked lysosomal storage disease characterized by increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures. The impact of FD on clinical measures of bone quality is unknown. This considered, aim of our study was to evaluate whether trabecular bone microarchitecture, measured by trabecular bone score (TBS), is altered in patients with FD compared to control subjects.

Methods

This retrospective monocentric study enrolled 14 patients (M/F 1/1, median age 46 [37–63] years, range 31–72 years) newly diagnosed with FD between January 2016 and July 2023 who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) image at the time of diagnosis and 42 matched controls. In all subjects, data about bone mineral density (BMD) and lumbar spine TBS were collected and total calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25(OH) vitamin D, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were evaluated. In subjects with FD, globotriaosylsphingosine (lyso-Gb3), 24-hour proteinuria and albumin-creatinine ratio were also assessed.

Results

Patients with FD presented significantly lower lumbar spine TBS (1.29 [1.22–1.38] vs. 1.42 [1.39–1.47], p < 0.001) and lower lumbar spine BMD (0.916 ± 0.166 vs. 1.031 ± 0.125 g/cm2, p = 0.008) compared to controls; moreover, FD was shown to be an independent risk factor for both low lumbar spine TBS (β = -0.118, p < 0.001) and BMD (β = -0.115, p = 0.009). No differences were found in serum calcium, ALP, 25(OH) vitamin D and eGFR in both groups, but FD patients had significantly higher PTH levels compared to controls (p = 0.016). Finally, 8 patients with FD presented either moderately or severely increased albuminuria and only 2 patients presented normal lyso-Gb3 levels.

Conclusion

Patients affected by FD present significantly lower lumbar spine TBS and BMD compared to controls. Our findings strongly support the importance of carrying out a thorough evaluation of bone status in all patients affected by FD at baseline.
The Application of Flipped Classroom Strategies in Medical Education: A Review and Recommendations
Authors: Mishall Priti L. , Meguid Eiman M. Abdel , Elkhider Ihsan A. , Khalil Mohammed K.
Published: October 2024

The role of a flipped classroom (FC) instructional method has been expanding in medical education. Despite recent interest in FC pedagogy, little is known about optimal FC implementation strategies in medical education and their impact on learning outcomes. This article aimed to outline the educational theories that guide the design of the flipped instruction method and review the relevant literature to provide evidence-based recommendations for planning, designing, developing, implementing, and evaluating FC instruction in medical education. The review incorporates evidence-based literature that highlights students’ performance outcomes and perceptions of the FC instruction method in medical education.
An overview on the characterization of microplastics (MPs) in waste water treatment plants (WWTPs)
Authors: Maleka Tebogo , Greenfield Richard , Muniyasamy Sudhakar , Modley Lee-Ann
Published: October 2024

The occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in the environment has become an emerging global concern and has been reported to pose consequential risks to organisms, human health and the environment. Due to their small size (ranging from 1 μm to 5 mm in size), eliminating MPs from wastewater poses a significant challenge, which leads to their accumulation in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This review article explores the method of characterizing MPs in WWTPs to understand their environmental impact better. It also discusses various techniques for characterising MPs in WWTPs, drawing on existing scientific literature. The article provides a comprehensive review of the current methodologies used for the characterisation (chemical, morphology, thermal) of MPs in WWTPs. Furthermore, analytical techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy are discussed along with their limitations and potential for recognition and differentiation of various kinds of MPs. The article also highlights the need for standardisation of sampling, extraction, and analytical methods to ensure comparability of results from different studies. The review identifies several obstacles in characterising MPs within WWTPs, such as the absence of standardised methods, restricted detection thresholds, and challenges in quantifying MPs within intricate environmental contexts. To overcome these obstacles, the review recommends prioritising research efforts aimed at enhancing current methodologies, emphasising the need to refine techniques for better comprehension and analysis of MPs within WWTPs.
Enhancing membrane fouling control in wastewater treatment processes through artificial intelligence modeling: research progress and future perspectives
Authors: Cairone Stefano , Hasan Shadi W. , Choo Kwang-Ho , Li Chi-Wang , Zorpas Antonis A. , Ksibi Mohamed , Zarra Tiziano , Belgiorno Vincenzo , Naddeo Vincenzo
Published: October 2024

Membrane filtration processes have demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in wastewater treatment, achieving high contaminant removal and producing high-quality effluent suitable for safe reuse. Membrane technologies play a primary role in combating water scarcity and pollution challenges. However, the need for more effective strategies to mitigate membrane fouling remains a critical concern. Artificial intelligence (AI) modeling offers a promising solution by enabling accurate predictions of membrane fouling, thus supporting advanced fouling mitigation strategies.

This review examines recent progress in the application of AI models, with a particular focus on artificial neural networks (ANNs), for simulating membrane fouling in wastewater treatment processes. It highlights the substantial potential of ANNs, particularly the widely studied multi-layer perceptron (MLP) and other emerging configurations, to accurately predict membrane fouling, thereby enhancing process optimization and fouling mitigation efforts. The review discusses both the potential benefits and current limitations of AI-based strategies, analyzing recent studies to offer valuable insights for designing ANNs capable of providing accurate fouling predictions. Specifically, it provides guidance on selecting appropriate model architectures, input/output variables, activation functions, and training algorithms. Finally, this review highlights the critical need to connect research findings with practical applications in full-scale wastewater treatment plants. Key steps crucial to address this challenge have been identified, emphasizing the potential of AI modeling to revolutionize process control and drive a paradigm shift toward more efficient and sustainable membrane-based wastewater treatment.
Cellular automata modelling to simulate patterns of urban growth for Nusantara: Indonesia’s new capital
Authors: Arfiansyah Dody , Hawken Scott , Zlatanova Sisi , Han Hoon
Published: October 2024

This paper uses cellular automata (CA) modelling to simulate possible patterns of urban growth for Nusantara–Indonesia’s new capital. The modelling uses criteria such as projected population growth and planned development stages and a range of relevant factors that influence urban development. Further the study simulates the possible impact of future urban growth on key biodiversity areas (KBAs). Two scenarios were modelled to simulate urban growth patterns–(1) the nature sensitive city and (2) the Indonesian government’s current plan. Results of the scenario-based CA modelling demonstrate that scenario 1 offers a more sustainable and liveable approach to urban growth, despite its larger land footprint. This is achieved by preserving protected and key biodiversity areas, which are essential for the long-term well-being and resilience of the environment. While scenario 2 is more land-efficient, it presents a possible risk to the overall ecological integrity and liveability of the metropolis by impinging into key biodiversity areas. The study’s cellular automata approach and methodology can be employed for urban planning and biodiversity impact assessment in similar contexts of new city development.
A Comprehensive Review of the Occurrence, Distribution, Characteristics and Fate of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the African Continent
Authors: Umejuru Emmanuel Christopher , Street Renee , Edokpayi Joshua N.
Published: October 2024

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent synthetic organic compounds extensively utilized in a variety of domestic and industrial products due to their distinctive characteristics. Designated as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) by the Stockholm Convention, PFAS are recognized for their long-lasting presence, widespread prevalence, and adverse impacts on both the environment and human health. Recently, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) revised the guideline limits for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in drinking water, setting them at 0.02 and 0.004 ng/L, respectively. Despite the global emphasis on the necessity for monitoring and treating PFAS in environmental media, there is a scarcity of information on PFAS studies in Africa. This gap may be attributed to a lack of modern laboratory facilities, weak governance, and the enforcement of environmental regulations. This study comprehensively reviews PFAS, focusing on key areas such as global guidelines and regulations, sources and distribution in the environmental matrix in Africa, characteristics, environmental fate, reported methods for sampling and analysis in Africa, and the role of government in the National Implementation Plan (NIP) on the continent. Additionally, the study offers recommendations and identifies knowledge gaps. In Africa, PFAS have been detected in various environmental compartments, including drinking water ranging from 0.03 to 200 ng/L, surface water ranging from 0.0254 to 788 ng/L, sediment ranging from 0.50 to 248.14 ng/g, wastewater ranging from 0.9 to 507 ± 257.6 ng/L, seafood ranging from 0.12 to 179.2 ng/g, sludge ranging from 0.01 to 0.098 ng/g, plants ranging from 0.160 to 29.33 ng/g, and indoor dust ranging from 1.3 to 69 ng/g. Notably, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are prevalent in samples from various environmental matrices across Africa. Reported sources of PFAS in African countries include municipal waste, hospital waste from medical equipment, discharge from industries, and wastewater treatment plants. Urgent attention is required from decision-makers and researchers in Africa to address PFAS monitoring, regulation, and treatment within the continent.

Graphical abstract
The Bergman spaces of generalized analytic functions on the upper half-plane
Authors: Qian Kanghui , Wang Hong , Li Zhongkai
Published: October 2024

For $$\lambda \ge 0$$

λ
≥
0

, a function f of $$z=x+iy$$

z
=
x
+
i
y

defined on a domain of the complex plane $${{\mathbb {C}}}$$
C
, symmetric about y-axis, is said to be $$\lambda $$
λ
-analytic if $$(D_x+i\partial _y)f=0$$

(

D
x

+
i

∂
y

)
f
=
0

, where $$D_x$$

D
x

is the Dunkl operator on the real line given by $$D_x\varphi (x)=\partial _x\varphi (x)+(\lambda /x)\left( \varphi (x)-\varphi (-x)\right) $$

D
x

φ

(
x
)

=

∂
x

φ

(
x
)

+

(
λ
/
x
)

φ
(
x
)
-
φ
(
-
x
)

. In the paper we study the Bergman space $$B_{\lambda }^p({{\mathbb {C}}}_+)$$

B

λ

p

(

C
+

)

associated with $$\lambda $$
λ
-analytic functions on the upper half-plane $${{\mathbb {C}}}_+$$

C
+

, and also its harmonic analog $$b_{\lambda }^p({{\mathbb {C}}}_+)$$

b

λ

p

(

C
+

)

. The reproducing kernels of $$B_{\lambda }^p({{\mathbb {C}}}_+)$$

B

λ

p

(

C
+

)

and $$b_{\lambda }^p({{\mathbb {C}}}_+)$$

b

λ

p

(

C
+

)

are determined and the reproducing formulas of functions in $$B_{\lambda }^p({{\mathbb {C}}}_+)$$

B

λ

p

(

C
+

)

and $$b_{\lambda }^p({{\mathbb {C}}}_+)$$

b

λ

p

(

C
+

)

are proved. The associated Bergman projections are proved to be bounded for $$1<p<\infty $$

1
<
p
<
∞

, and the completeness for $$1\le p<\infty $$

1
≤
p
<
∞

and the duality for $$1<p<\infty $$

1
<
p
<
∞

of $$B_{\lambda }^p({{\mathbb {C}}}_+)$$

B

λ

p

(

C
+

)

and $$b_{\lambda }^p({{\mathbb {C}}}_+)$$

b

λ

p

(

C
+

)

are also considered.
Targeting glucocorticoid receptor signaling pathway for treatment of stress-related brain disorders
Authors: Göver Tansu , Slezak Michal
Published: October 2024

The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis plays a central role in governing stress-related disorders such as major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Chronic stress or early life trauma, known risk factors of disease, alter HPA axis activity and pattern of glucocorticoid (GC) secretion. These changes have consequences for physiological processes controlled by glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling, such as immune response and metabolism. In the brain, the aberrant GR signaling translates to altered behavior, making the GR pathway a viable target for therapies of stress-related disorders. One of the crucial elements of the pathway is FKBP5, a regulator of GR sensitivity and feedback control within the HPA axis, in which genetic variants were shown to moderate the risk of developing psychiatric conditions. The difficulty in targeting the GR-FKBP5 pathway stems from tailoring the intervention to specific brain regions and cell types, in the context of personalized genetic variations in GR and GR-associated genes, like FKBP5. The development of selective inhibitors, antagonists, and approaches based on targeted protein degradation offer insights into mechanistic aspects of disease and pave the way for improved therapy. These strategies can be employed either independently or in conjunction with conventional medications. Concomitant advancements in personalized drug screening (e.g. in vitro models exploiting induced pluripotent stem cells, iPSCs) bring the potential for optimization of therapy aiming to rescue central deficits originating from the HPA imbalance. In this mini-review, we discuss potential therapeutic strategies targeting GR signaling in stress-related disorders, with a focus on personalized approaches and advancements in drug development.
Protecting the Public's Health during Novel Infectious Disease Outbreaks
Authors: Cummings Louise
Published: October 2024

This Element examines two prominent public health crises – the emergence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in British cattle and the COVID-19 pandemic. It contends that a group of arguments called the informal fallacies functioned as cognitive heuristics and facilitated public health reasoning during both crises. These arguments, which include the argument from ignorance, the argument from authority, and circular argument, are particularly well adapted to the type of uncertainty that surrounds the emergence of novel infectious diseases. By bridging gaps in knowledge, these arguments can facilitate reasoning when evidence about these diseases is limited and the need to take action is urgent. The Element charts a public health journey beginning in the 1950s with a disease called kuru, then examines the response to the emergence of BSE in 1986 and extends to the present day with the COVID-19 pandemic. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
A national unmet needs assessment for CTSA-affiliated electronic health record data networks: A customer discovery approach
Authors: Mora Nallely , Mehall Madeline , Lennox Lindsay A. , Pincus Harold A. , Charron David , Morrato Elaine H.
Published: October 2024

Introduction:

The expansion of electronic health record (EHR) data networks over the last two decades has significantly improved the accessibility and processes around data sharing. However, there lies a gap in meeting the needs of Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) hubs, particularly related to real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE).

Methods:

We adopted a mixed-methods approach to construct a comprehensive needs assessment that included: (1) A Landscape Context analysis to understand the competitive environment; and (2) Customer Discovery to identify stakeholders and the value proposition related to EHR data networks. Methods included surveys, interviews, and a focus group.

Results:

Thirty-two CTSA institutions contributed data for analysis. Fifty-four interviews and one focus group were conducted. The synthesis of our findings pivots around five emergent themes: (1) CTSA segmentation needs vary according to resources; (2) Team science is key for success; (3) Quality of data generates trust in the network; (4) Capacity building is defined differently by researcher career stage and CTSA existing resources; and (5) Researchers’ unmet needs.

Conclusions:

Based on the results, EHR data networks like ENACT that would like to meet the expectations of academic research centers within the CTSA consortium need to consider filling the gaps identified by our study: foster team science, improve workforce capacity, achieve data governance trust and efficiency of operation, and aid Learning Health Systems with validating, applying, and scaling the evidence to support quality improvement and high-value care. These findings align with the NIH NCATS Strategic Plan for Data Science.
Ethnic Boundaries and Identity Fluidity of Bannermen and Civilians in the Qing Dynasty
Authors: Qiu Yuanyuan
Published: October 2024

The Qing dynasty enforced a policy of separate governance for the people of the Eight Banners, ruling that bannermen were neither to be administered under the regular civilian administrative system, nor listed on the civilian register. Institutionally and legally, the labels “Banner” (qi 旗) and “civilian” (min 民) marked a fundamental divide between different social groups in the Qing. However, in actual practice, the boundary between the two was less rigid. An ambiguous area existed within the seemingly strict legal and administrative regime, providing opportunists with an abundance of loopholes to exploit. Some changed their status from “civilian commoner” to “bannermen” to acquire land, while others moved from “bannermen” status to “civilian commoner” status to pursue promotion in the civil service. Shedding light on the everyday lives of these people, this article delves into the intricate Banner–civilian classification of the Qing dynasty, with a focus on the overlapping area between the parallel systems. It aims to rectify the conventional binary perspective that strictly dichotomizes Banner and civilian status. By doing so, it highlights the multifaceted nature and diversity inherent in Qing ethnic relations and local society.
A queue with independent and identically distributed arrivals
Authors: Mandjes Michel , Rutgers Daniël T.
Published: October 2024

In this paper we consider the workload of a storage system with the unconventional feature that the arrival times, rather than the interarrival times, are independent and identically distributed samples from a given distribution. We start by analyzing the ‘base model’ in which the arrival times are exponentially distributed, leading to a closed-form characterization of the queue’s workload at a given moment in time (i.e. in terms of Laplace–Stieltjes transforms), assuming the initial workload was 0. Then we consider four more general models, each of them having a specific additional feature: (a) the initial workload being allowed to have any arbitrary non-negative value, (b) an additional stream of Poisson arrivals, (c) phase-type arrival times, (d) balking customers. For all four variants the transform of the transient workload is identified in closed form.
Polarization versus professionalism: military and civilian views on the domestic use of the military
Authors: Hanson Kolby , Knuppe Austin J.
Published: October 2024

Scholars and policymakers warn that with rising affective polarization, politicians will find support from the public and permission from military professionals to use military force to selectively crack down on political opponents. We test these claims by conducting parallel survey experiments among the US public and mid-career military officers. We ask about two hypothetical scenarios of domestic partisan unrest, randomly assigning the partisan identity of protesters. Surprisingly, we find widespread public support for deploying the military and no significant partisanship effects. Meanwhile, military officers were very resistant to deploying the military, with nearly 75 percent opposed in any scenario. In short, there is little evidence that public polarization threatens to escalate domestic disputes, and strong evidence for military opposition.
TRANS PARENTHOOD IN THE UK: THE “UNANSWERED QUESTIONS” OF THE MCCONNELL LITIGATION
Authors: Dunne Peter , Brown Alan
Published: October 2024

This article considers three “unanswered questions” raised by R. (McConnell) v Registrar General for England and Wales (AIRE Centre Intervening) [2020] EWCA Civ. 559, which held that a trans man (with a Gender Recognition Certificate) who gave birth must be registered as “mother” on his child’s birth certificate. This article considers these questions to clearly situate McConnell within the context of the UK’s legal regimes concerning access to fertility treatment, gender recognition and legal parenthood in cases involving assisted reproduction. The article argues that clearly establishing the current legal position will provide the proper context to facilitate any subsequent legal reforms.
Yangzhou, 1342: Caterina Vilioni's Passport to the Afterlife
Authors: Ilko Krisztina
Published: October 2024

The tombstone of an Italian woman, Caterina Vilioni, in Yangzhou (1342) is a rare and important testimony to Christianity in Yuan China. By exploring the visual language and the multicultural geopolitical context of Caterina's funerary monument, this article sheds light on the dynamic processes behind how cultural and religious barriers were negotiated in the premodern Eurasian world. Despite the increasing scholarly interest in the European import of Asian luxury merchandise along the Silk Roads, movement of objects, persons, and ideas the other way around from Europe to Asia is much less explored. Moreover, the expansion of European networks towards the east was written from the perspective of men: friars, diplomats and merchants. Yet, the Yangzhou tombstone directs attention to the overlooked presence of non-elite Christian women in the cosmopolitan port cities of south-east China well before the era of modern global maritime exchange. While previous scholars traced the tombstone to Buddhist and Christian art, I argue that the visual language intentionally projected cultural ambiguity. By comparing it to the Mongol paiza (safe conduct pass), this article proposes that Caterina's burial marker functioned as an ‘otherworldly passport’, which invoked spiritual protection and facilitated the passage between two realms.
Preferential use of full glottal stops in vowel-initial glottalization in child speech: Evidence from novel words
Authors: Repiso-Puigdelliura Gemma
Published: October 2024

Vowel-initial glottalization constitutes a cue to prosodic prominence, realized on a strength continuum from creaky phonation to complete glottal stops. While there is considerable research on children’s early utilization of acoustic cues for stress marking, less is understood about the specific implementation of vowel-initial glottalization in American English. Eight sequences of function + novel words were elicited from groups of 5-to-8-year-olds, 8-to-11-year-olds, and adults. Children exhibit a similar rate of prevocalic glottalization to adults but differ in its phonetic implementation, producing a higher rate of glottal stops compared to creaky phonation with respect to adults.
Two hundred and twenty-nine cases of bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis with and without antegrade pulmonary blood flow, a single-center experience
Authors: Delikatnyi Maksym , Sekelyk Roman , Maksymenko Andrii , Kurkevych Andrii
Published: October 2024

Bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis is palliative surgical procedure for stepwise adaptation of the ventricle by time-phased relief of blood volume from the single functional ventricle. There still exists a controversial question regarding maintaining additional antegrade pulmonary blood flow. We retrospectively reviewed the surgical cases of 261 patients who underwent bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis in our institution from 2012 to 2022 with special regard to antegrade pulmonary blood flow as our preferred strategy. The mean age at the time of surgery was 33.1 months (range 2.9–192 months), and the mean weight was – 7.6 kg (range 3.9–38 kg). Furthermore, we divided all the patients into two groups: in group 1 (n = 182) – patients who underwent bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis with antegrade pulmonary blood flow, and in group 2 (n = 47) – patients without antegrade pulmonary blood flow. The mean follow-up time was 56 months (range 24–120 months). Mortality rate was 4.8 % (n = 11) in the past 10 years. Statistical difference between groups was in the following positions: group 2 had less ICU stay (p < 0.000125) and hospital stay (p < 0.017110); group 1 had a longer duration of pleural effusion (p < 0.000003) and amount of drainage output (p < 0.007), also demonstrated higher oxygen saturation (p < 0.000264) and Glenn shunt pressure (p < 0.002) after the surgery; but there was no difference in oxygen saturation after 6, 12, and 24 months; mortality in both groups has no statistic difference. Considering our experience, we take a stand on the controlled to antegrade pulmonary blood flow strategy during bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis.
Incidence, pathophysiology, and treatment of failing Fontan after the total cavopulmonary connection
Authors: Gaebert Paula , Schaeffer Thibault , Palm Jonas , Di Padua Chiara , Niedermaier Carolin , Piber Nicole , Hager Alfred , Ewert Peter , Hörer Jürgen , Ono Masamichi
Published: October 2024

Background:

Failing Fontan poses a significant clinical challenge. This study aims to improve patients’ outcomes by comprehensively understanding the incidence, pathophysiology, risk factors, and treatment of failing Fontan after total cavopulmonary connection.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent total cavopulmonary connection at the German Heart Center Munich between 1994 and 2022. The onset of failing Fontan was defined as: protein-losing enteropathy, plastic bronchitis, NYHA class IV, NYHA class III for > one year, unscheduled hospital admissions for heart failure symptoms, and evaluation for heart transplantation.

Results:

Among 634 patients, 76 patients presented with failing Fontan, and the incidence was 1.48 per 100 patient-years. Manifestations included protein-losing enteropathy (n = 34), hospital readmission (n = 28), NYHA III (n = 18), plastic bronchitis (n = 16), evaluation for heart transplantation (n = 14), and NYHA IV (n = 4). Risk factors for the onset of failing Fontan were dominant right ventricle (p = 0.010) and higher pulmonary artery pressure before total cavopulmonary connection (p = 0.004). A total of 72 interventions were performed in 59 patients, including balloon dilatation/stent implantation in the total cavopulmonary connection pathway (n = 49) and embolization of collaterals (n = 24). Heart transplantation was performed in four patients. The survival after the onset of Fontan failure was 77% at 10 years. Patients with failing Fontan revealed significantly higher zlog-NT-proBNP levels after onset compared to those without (p = 0.021)

Conclusions:

The incidence of Fontan failure was 1.5 per 100 patient years. Dominant right ventricle and higher pulmonary artery pressure before total cavopulmonary connection were significant risks for the onset of failing Fontan. Zlog-NT-proBNP is only a late marker of Fontan failure.
What is pentalogy of Cantrell?
Authors: Mejías Exa M. , Carrión Enrique , Sparman Arnelle , Juliana Amadu
Published: October 2024

We present the unusual case of an 8-month-old female with tetralogy of Fallot, coarctation of aorta, and complete presentation of pentalogy of Cantrell. A meta-analysis of 236 cases of Cantrell’s syndrome reported in the literature was performed to compare intracardiac findings.
Complete atrioventricular block after atrial flow regulator implantation in a 5 kg infant
Authors: Grunenwald Gronier Céline , Benbrik Nadir , Baruteau Alban-Elouen
Published: October 2024

The atrial flow regulator is a new self-expandable double-disc fenestrated device providing a calibrated inter-atrial communication. Paediatric reports are scarce. We herein describe a case of complete atrioventricular block complicating the exemption use of an atrial flow regulator in a 5-kg infant with transposition of the great arteries, ventricular septal defect, and right ventricular outflow tract obstruction.