bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feeding dynamics of sympatric large carnivores in an anthropogenic landscape of the Indian Terai
Authors: Ranjan Vivek , Hussain Syed Ainul , Badola Ruchi , Vashistha Gaurav , Dhakate Parag Madhukar
Published: September 2024

An important challenge for large carnivore conservation is negative human-wildlife interaction. Livestock depredation by carnivores is one important aspect of this negative interaction. Hence, it is critical to understand the extent of livestock depredation by large carnivores through their diet profiles and feeding habits for managing and strategizing conservation measures. We investigated the food habits and dietary patterns of two large sympatric carnivores, the Tiger Panthera tigris and the Leopard Panthera pardus based on scat samples collected in wildlife corridors outside protected areas (PAs) in the Indo-Nepal transboundary and Corbett landscape in Uttarakhand, India. The frequency of occurrence of prey items in the scat samples was used to estimate the relative prey biomass and number of preys consumed by the Tigers and Leopards using a generalised biomass model. Scat analysis revealed the presence of mainly wild prey species, encompassing 12 species in tiger scat and 14 species in Leopard scat. The results show that Tigers and Leopards primarily depend on medium-sized prey, with relative prey biomass consumption of 53% and 60%, respectively. Tigers preyed most frequently on Wild Boar Sus scrofa, followed by Spotted Deer Axis axis, and Leopards preyed mostly on Spotted Deer, followed by Wild Boar. The relative biomass of livestock species in Tiger and Leopard diets is 14.2% and 15.7%, respectively. Dietary overlap between Tiger and Leopard was high, with the Leopard exhibiting a broader dietary niche breadth than the Tiger. Augmenting wild prey population through habitat improvement and protection outside PAs can significantly limit human-large carnivore conflict by decreasing livestock contribution in their diet. Studies on dietary habits need to expand to wildlife corridors and outside PAs in human-dominated landscapes to understand the ecological dynamics of human-wildlife negative interaction for future conservation strategies.
First record of leucistic Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus Shaw, 1791 (Mammalia: Carnivora: Ursidae) in Panna Tiger Reserve, India
Authors: Chaudhuri Sankarshan , Dutta Supratim , K. Ramesh
Published: September 2024

The first photographic evidence of a leucistic Sloth Bear from Panna Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, was obtained during a camera trapping survey conducted during 2019–2021. Despite the wide distribution of Sloth Bears in the Indian sub-continent, leucism is extremely rare to find. This record evokes the need for scientific reporting of such encounters and further research on the causal factors of leucism with respect to the species’ ecological and conservation implications.
The Impact of Children's Health Shocks on Parents' Labor Earnings and Mental Health
Authors: Breivik Anne-Lise , Costa-Ramón Ana
Published: September 2024

We provide novel evidence on the causal impact of a child's health shock on parents' labor market outcomes. Using high-quality Finnish and Norwegian administrative data, we construct counterfactuals for treated households with families who experience the same shock in later years. We find a sharp break in mothers' earnings trajectories after the event, while we do not find significant effects for fathers. Our findings do not align with the hypothesis of household specialization explaining these adjustments. Instead, the evidence suggests that these changes are driven by increased caregiving demands, with mothers bearing the primary burden. We also document a substantial impact on parents' mental well-being.
The Development of Four Adverbs of Degree from Old to Early New High German
Authors: Visser Lourens
Published: September 2024

The present study analyses four prominent adverbs of degree in Old, Middle, and Early New High German from a comparative West Germanic perspective: filu/vile/ viel ‘much, very’, harto/harte/hart ‘very, firmly’, sêro/sêre/sehr ‘very, sorely’, and gar(aw)o/gar(w)e/gar ‘wholly, very’. Based on corpus data, all four display considerable changes in their usage patterns over time. The findings support the observation that the Middle Germanic period was a time of convergence with regard to the usage of adverbs of degree (Visser 2023), since the developments in Low German largely follow those in High German. However, the geographic and textual distribution of sêro/sêre/sehr with the meaning ‘very’ in High and Low German suggests an expansion from Middle Dutch beginning around 1400. A broader implication is that usage patterns of adverbs of degree are quite borrowable in language contact situations.
Dreaming of the World to Come
Authors: Chandler Kegan A.
Published: September 2024

In comparative studies, Tenrikyō’s this-worldly, millenarian vision has found little resonance with Christian expectations of going to heaven after death. However, an “earthly turn” in Christian eschatology is redirecting Christian expectations away from heaven and toward bodily resurrection into an earthly Kingdom of God, providing new opportunity to revisit the potential historical and conceptual overlap between Tenrikyō’s view of earthly renewal and that of Christianity—in both its first-century and contemporary “restorationist” forms. This article considers the historical origin of Tenrikyō’s millenarianism against a backdrop of late-Tokugawa yonaoshi (world renewal) and Miroku-based movements. Here, the timeline for the appearance of millenarian views of yonaoshi proposed by Miura (2019) is revised to give Tenrikyō’s foundress primacy as a millenarian innovator. I furthermore suggest that monotheism may have been a catalyst for millenarian yonaoshi development. Finally, I propose “yonaoshi millenarianism” as a cross-cultural, comparative category applicable to both Tenrikyō and early/restorationist Christianity.
Consumer acceptance of different insect-based foods: a cross-cultural study in China and France
Authors: Yan X. , Federighi M. , Cappelier J.M. , Jury V. , Boué G.
Published: September 2024

Consumption of edible insects as an alternative protein source has recently gained attention for its potential beneficial impacts on the environment, nutrition, and food security compared to traditional sources. However, despite being a traditional food in some parts of the world, its acceptance is still limited, especially in Europe. The present study aims to examine consumers’ willingness to eat (WTE) different insect-based foods (IBF) and investigate determining factors for acceptance in countries with or without entomophagy traditions. An online cross-cultural survey was conducted in France (n = 515) and China (n = 594) in April 2023. Several explanatory variables were established, and their effects on the acceptance of insect foods was analysed by applying multiple linear regression. The results showed that Chinese respondents had higher willingness to eat insects than French respondents, with a different preference ranking of thirteen IBFs. In both countries, significant predictors of consumers’ willingness to eat insects were the low insect visibility, low food neophobia and disgust level, previous experience of consuming insects and knowledge of insects’ nutritional and environmental benefits. Consequently, the inclusion of insects in the daily diet of French and Chinese consumers requires a transitional phase to familiarize consumers with processed foods containing invisible insects and establish positive perceptions of insect foods.
Deep Reasonable Pluralism, Political Confucianism, and the Right to Toleration
Authors: Li Zhuoyao
Published: September 2024

This paper connects what I call deep reasonable pluralism, political Confucianism, and the right to toleration and argues that if deep reasonable pluralism is to be taken seriously, the domain of the political must assume some form of political neutrality that necessitates the right to toleration. Specifically, I will first argue that the significance of understanding pluralism in the context of East Asia lies not so much in finding out exactly how pluralistic East Asian societies are but rather how the co-existence of liberalism and Confucianism requires a deep view of reasonable pluralism. Second, I will argue that the right to toleration can be justified by appealing to the reasonableness of citizens without subscribing to any specific comprehensive doctrine. Third, distinguishing between a strong and a weak view of political neutrality, I will argue that taking deep reasonable pluralism seriously inevitably leads to a form of political neutrality, which effectively sets the limit for how Confucian a Confucian state can be without sacrificing non-Confucian citizens’ right to toleration.
Investigation of Cretodorus (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Mimarachnidae) based on new adult and nymph fossils from mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber
Authors: LIU XIAO-JING , JIANG HUI , CHEN JUN , FU YAN-ZHE , BODERAU MATHIEU , BOJARSKI BŁAŻEJ , BRUTHANSOVÁ JANA , NYUNT THET TIN , SZWEDO JACEK
Published: September 2024

Here we report a new species, Cretodorus lijuanae sp. nov., of extinct Mimarachnidae from mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar. C. lijuanae sp. nov. was described based on one adult and three nymphal fossils. The new adult specimen exhibits the diagnostic features of Cretodorus and possesses a unique number and arrangement of sensory pits in the pronotum: nine sensory pits on one side, with five sensory pits between median and pronotal carinae and four sensory pits between lateral carina and margin, which is consistent in the nymphs. We also conduct morphometric analyses of forewings of all known species of Cretodorus, demonstrating that morphometrics are effectively discriminative for identifying Cretodorus fossils featuring few longitudinal veins and minimal differences in venation. Additionally, we report the nymphal fossils of Mimarachnidae for the first time. Three nymphal fossils, preserved in the same piece of amber alongside the adult specimen, exhibit the same nodule pattern on the thoracic notum in dorsal view, suggesting a feature linking adult and nymph of Mimarachnidae. These new specimens show morphological characteristics of the different developmental stages of C. lijuanae sp. nov., increasing the diversity of the Mimarachnidae in mid-Cretaceous amber from Myanmar. The preservation of three nymphs of the same age with an adult in the same piece of amber likely indicates aggregation behaviour in Mimarachnidae.
A new species of Hadraulacus Li, Shih & Ren, 2023 (Hymenoptera: Praeaulacidae) from mid-cretaceous Kachin amber
Authors: JOUAULT CORENTIN , HUANG DI-YING
Published: September 2024

A new praeaulacid species, Hadraulacus liae sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on a female specimen from mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber. This new species reinforces the validity of key diagnostic characters used to define the genus Hadraulacus Li, Shih & Ren, 2023, such as the absence of the 2rs-m crossvein in the forewing. However, it also demonstrates that some traits previously considered diagnostic for the genus, like the tibial spur formula (1-1-2), represent mere interspecific variation and have limited taxonomic value. While the discovery of this species adds to the known diversity of Praeaulacidae in the mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, it also highlights that the diversity of the subfamily Praeaulacinae within this biota remains significantly underestimated.
First fruit record of Pterocarya (Juglandaceae) from the upper Eocene of the central Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China
Authors: SONG XIANG-BO , WANG ZI-XI , SU TAO , DONG CHONG , HUANG DI-YING
Published: September 2024

The Juglandaceae family experienced significant diversification during the early Tertiary, as evidenced by fossil records showing a broad expansion of both extant and extinct taxa. The genus Pterocarya is characterized by its distinctive fruit with butterfly-shaped wings and a small nutlet. Macrofossil records suggest that this genus was distributed widely in the Northern Hemisphere. However, the fossil record of Pterocarya in China is limited. In this study, we describe a well-preserved Pterocarya fossil winged fruit from the middle-upper member of the Niubao Formation (the upper Eocene) of the central Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China. The winged fruit is identified as Pterocarya liae sp. nov. based on detailed morphological comparison, representing the earliest known record of Pterocarya winged fruit in Asia. The new finding extends the paleobiogeographic distribution of Pterocarya during the Eocene and provides new insights into the early stage of the diversification of this genus.
First record of Halictoxenos Pierce (Strepsiptera: Stylopidae) from Mexico with the description of a new species parasite of Lasioglossum exiguum (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)
Authors: QUINTOS-ANDRADE GERARDO , VALENZUELA-GONZÁLEZ JORGE E.
Published: September 2024

Halictoxenos is a genus of parasites with a mainly holarctic distribution and exclusive parasite of bees of the Halictinae subfamily. In this work, we describe a new species from Mexico, parasite of the halictid Lasioglossum exiguum and with a known distribution in locations of central and southern Veracruz. The delimitation of this species is supported by morphological and molecular evidence. A diagnosis for Halictoxenos and certain characters for species delimitation is also proposed. It is expected that this research may be a steppingstone to the continuity of the study of Halictoxenos and the Stylopidae family in Mexico and the American continent.
Study of Heat/Mass Transfer of Trihybrid Nanofluid ((Cu + Ag + Al2O3) + H2O (Base Fluid)) in Hele-Shaw Cell with Through-Flow
Authors: ShilpeeDepartment of Mathematics, School of P  , Bhadauria B. S. , Srivastava Anurag
Published: September 2024

This work explores the stability analysis of a trihybrid nanofluid consisting of (Cu, Ag, and Al2O3) as nanoparticles suspended in (H2O) base fluid in the Hele-Shaw cell. The nanoparticles are considered to be in spherical, brick, and cylindrical shapes.
Through theoretical and analytical investigation with through-flow, the results reveal insightful findings. The study employs normal mode techniques for linear stability analysis and truncated Fourier series for nonlinear analysis. The results demonstrate throughflow delays the convection
in the system while opposite throughflow shows a faster rate of convection. We observe only alumina nanoparticles (cylindrical shape) shows earlier convection in the system. The Hele-Shaw number (HS number) demonstrates destabilizing behavior due to a decrease in the width of the cell. Also,
we found that an increase in the concentration of nanoparticles leads to a noteworthy increase in heat and mass transfer. We also obtained streamline and isotherm for heat transfer. We observe that as time process all the three states i.e., conduction state, transition state and fully convection
state is obtained in the graph.
Stability performance of an Algerian Ni/purified diatomite catalyst in the dry reforming methane reaction: characterization and properties
Authors: Adjissa Massinissa , Bouzidi Nedjima , Ikkour Kahina , Ouhenia Salim , Benlounes Ouarda , Lamrani Nouara
Published: September 2024

This work aims to characterize and study the properties of an Algerian diatomaceous earth (Sig-Mascara) as a catalyst carrier. A commercial product of diatomite was characterized by granulometric analysis, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy methods. To purify the diatomite and remove the impurities (iron oxides, clay minerals, quartz and organic matters), the <63 μm fraction of the diatomite was separated out. The 15Ni/Ds-700 catalyst has lower SiO2, Al2O3and CaO contents compared with the original diatomite. The NiO content of the catalyst is 15 wt.%, indicating successful impregnation. According to the nitrogen sorption–desorption results, the specific surface area of the purified diatomite particles (<63 μm) increased from 26.47 to 46.33 m2g–1compared to crude diatomite. The 15Ni/Ds-700 catalyst was applied in the dry reforming of methane to obtain synthesis gas (CO and H2). The results showed that the catalyst was relatively stable during catalytic measurements for 6 h, although the conversion rate value was low (12%).
A guidance for the enrichment of micropollutants from wastewater by solid-phase extraction before bioanalytical assessment
Authors: Schulze Tobias , Neale Peta A. , Ahlheim Jörg , Beckers Liza-Marie , König Maria , Krüger Janet , Petre Margit , Piotrowska Aleksandra , Schlichting Rita , Schmidt Susanne , Krauss Martin , Escher Beate I.
Published: September 2024

Background

Wastewater can contain a complex mixture of organic micropollutants, with both chemical analysis and effect-based methods needed to identify relevant micropollutants and detect mixture effects. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) is commonly used to enrich micropollutants prior to analysis. While the recovery and stability of individual micropollutants by SPE has been well studied, few studies have optimized SPE for effect-based methods. The aim of the current study was to develop and evaluate two standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the enrichment of micropollutants in preparation for chemical analysis and bioanalysis, one covering a broad range of chemicals and the other selective for estrogenic chemicals.

Results

Pristine surface water spiked with > 600 micropollutants was used to develop a generic extraction method for micropollutants with a wide range of physiochemical properties, while water spiked with estrogenic chemicals was used to identify a selective extraction method. Three different SPE sorbents were tested, with recoveries of individual chemicals and effect in assays indicative of mutagenicity, estrogenic activity, and fish embryo toxicity assessed. The sorbent HRX at pH 7 was selected for the generic extraction method as it showed the best recovery of both individual chemicals and effect in the bioassays. The sorbent HLB at pH 3 showed optimal recovery of estrogenic chemicals and estrogenic activity. The two optimal SPE methods were applied to spiked and unspiked wastewater effluents, with the concentrations of detected chemicals and observed effects similar to those of previous studies. The long-term storage of both extracts and SPE cartridges for estrogens and estrogenic activity after extraction with the HRX and HLB methods were evaluated, with estrogenic effectiveness close to 100% after 112 days when HLB was used.

Conclusions

HRX is recommended for generic extraction, while HLB is optimal for the selective extraction of estrogenic micropollutants. However, if a laboratory only wants to use a single SPE sorbent, HLB can be used for both generic and selective extraction as it yielded similar chemical and effect recovery as HRX for a wide range of micropollutants. This paper is supplemented by the final SOP that includes a variant for generic extraction and one for the extraction of estrogenic chemicals.
3D genome contributes to MHC-II neoantigen prediction
Authors: Feng Mofan , Liu Liangjie , Su Kai , Su Xianbin , Meng Luming , Guo Zehua , Cao Dan , Wang Jiayi , He Guang , Shi Yi
Published: September 2024

Reliable and ultra-fast DNA and RNA sequencing have been achieved with the emergence of high-throughput sequencing technology. When combining the results of DNA and RNA sequencing for tumor cells of cancer patients, neoantigens that potentially stimulate the immune response of either CD4+ or CD8+ T cells can be identified. However, due to the abundance of somatic mutations and the high polymorphic nature of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) it is challenging to accurately predict the neoantigens. Moreover, comparing to HLA-I presented peptides, the HLA-II presented peptides are more variable in length, making the prediction of HLA-II loaded neoantigens even harder. A number of computational approaches have been proposed to address this issue but none of them considers the DNA origin of the neoantigens from the perspective of 3D genome. Here we investigate the DNA origins of the immune-positive and non-negative HLA-II neoantigens in the context of 3D genome and discovered that the chromatin 3D architecture plays an important role in more effective HLA-II neoantigen prediction. We believe that the 3D genome information will help to increase the precision of HLA-II neoantigen discovery and eventually benefit precision and personalized medicine in cancer immunotherapy.
Evaluating the accuracy and reliability of AI chatbots in disseminating the content of current resuscitation guidelines: a comparative analysis between the ERC 2021 guidelines and both ChatGPTs 3.5 and 4
Authors: Beck Stefanie , Kuhner Manuel , Haar Markus , Daubmann Anne , Semmann Martin , Kluge Stefan
Published: September 2024

Aim of the study

Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots are established as tools for answering medical questions worldwide. Healthcare trainees are increasingly using this cutting-edge technology, although its reliability and accuracy in the context of healthcare remain uncertain. This study evaluated the suitability of Chat-GPT versions 3.5 and 4 for healthcare professionals seeking up-to-date evidence and recommendations for resuscitation by comparing the key messages of the resuscitation guidelines, which methodically set the gold standard of current evidence and recommendations, with the statements of the AI chatbots on this topic.

Methods

 This prospective comparative content analysis was conducted between the 2021 European Resuscitation Council (ERC) guidelines and the responses of two freely available ChatGPT versions (ChatGPT-3.5 and the Bing version of the ChatGPT-4) to questions about the key messages of clinically relevant ERC guideline chapters for adults. (1) The content analysis was performed bidirectionally by independent raters. The completeness and actuality of the AI output were assessed by comparing the key message with the AI-generated statements. (2) The conformity of the AI output was evaluated by comparing the statements of the two ChatGPT versions with the content of the ERC guidelines.

Results

In response to inquiries about the five chapters, ChatGPT-3.5 generated a total of 60 statements, whereas ChatGPT-4 produced 32 statements. ChatGPT-3.5 did not address 123 key messages, and ChatGPT-4 did not address 132 of the 172 key messages of the ERC guideline chapters. A total of 77% of the ChatGPT-3.5 statements and 84% of the ChatGPT-4 statements were fully in line with the ERC guidelines. The main reason for nonconformity was superficial and incorrect AI statements. The interrater reliability between the two raters, measured by Cohen’s kappa, was greater for ChatGPT-4 (0.56 for completeness and 0.76 for conformity analysis) than for ChatGPT-3.5 (0.48 for completeness and 0.36 for conformity).

Conclusion

We advise healthcare professionals not to rely solely on the tested AI-based chatbots to keep up to date with the latest evidence, as the relevant texts for the task were not part of the training texts of the underlying LLMs, and the lack of conceptual understanding of AI carries a high risk of spreading misconceptions. Original publications should always be considered for comprehensive understanding.
Sex-dependent effects of acute stress and alcohol exposure during adolescence on mRNA expression of brain signaling systems involved in reward and stress responses in young adult rats
Authors: Gobbi Carlotta , Sánchez-Marín Laura , Flores-López María , Medina-Vera Dina , Pavón-Morón Francisco Javier , Rodríguez de Fonseca Fernando , Serrano Antonia
Published: September 2024

Background

Adolescent stress and alcohol exposure increase the risk of maladaptive behaviors and mental disorders in adulthood, with distinct sex-specific differences. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these early events is crucial for developing targeted prevention and treatment strategies.

Methods

Male and female Wistar rats were exposed to acute restraint stress and intermittent alcohol during adolescence. We assessed lasting effects on plasma corticosterone (CORT) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels, and mRNA expression of genes related to corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), neuropeptide Y (NPY), corticoid, opioid, and arginine vasopressin systems in the amygdala and hypothalamus.

Results

The main findings are as follows: (1) blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) increased after the final alcohol administration, but stressed males had lower BAC than non-stressed males; (2) Males gained significantly more weight than females; (3) Stressed females showed higher ACTH levels than non-stressed females, with no changes in males; (4) Stress increased CORT levels in males, while stressed, alcohol-treated females had lower CORT levels than non-stressed females; (5) CRH: Females had lower Crhr1 levels in the amygdala, while alcohol reduced Crhr2 levels in males but not females. Significant interactions among sex, stress, and alcohol were found in the hypothalamus, with distinct patterns between sexes; (6) NPY: In the amygdala, stress reduced Npy and Npy1r levels in males but increased them in females. Alcohol decreased Npy2r levels in males, with varied effects in females. Similar sex-specific patterns were observed in the hypothalamus; (7) Corticoid system: Stress and alcohol had complex, sex-dependent effects on Pomc, Nr3c1, and Nr3c2 in both brain regions; (8) Opioid receptors: Stress and alcohol blunted the elevated expression of Oprm1, Oprd1, and Oprk1 in the amygdala of males and the hypothalamus of females; (8) Vasopressin: Stress and alcohol interacted significantly to affect Avp and Avpr1a expression in the amygdala, with stronger effects in females. In the hypothalamus, alcohol increased Avp levels in females.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that adolescent acute stress and alcohol exposure induce lasting, sex-specific alterations in systems involved in reward and stress responses. These findings emphasize the importance of considering sex differences in the prevention and management of HPA dysfunction and psychiatric disorders.
Volume, increment, and aboveground biomass data series and biomass conversion and expansion factors for the main forest types of EU Member States
Authors: Pilli Roberto , Blujdea Viorel N.B. , Rougieux Paul , Grassi Giacomo , Mubareka Sarah Betoul
Published: September 2024

Key message

This collection reports the standing stock volume, increment, aboveground biomass, and biomass conversion and expansion factors attributed to 222 forest types and 48 different management types, representative of 25 EU Member States. DOI: https://zenodo.org/records/11387301.
Examining the associations between high achievement in reading and school climate: evidence from five South American countries
Authors: Rodríguez De Luque Jesús José
Published: September 2024

An emergent literature has shown that some students overcome adversities related to their low Socio-Economic Status (SES) by attaining high academic achievement. One of the aims of this literature is to identify the factors that explain the capacity of students from low SES backgrounds to attain high academic achievement. However, upon reviewing this literature, I observed that few studies have comparatively investigated the associations between the capacity of students from low SES backgrounds to attain high achievement in reading and school climate characteristics. Additionally, I found that not many studies have researched whether student SES moderates these associations. This paper contributes to fill these two gaps by estimating associations between high achievement in reading and school climate characteristics. Moreover, it examines whether student SES moderates these associations. To do this, this research estimated logit and heterogeneous choice models using representative samples of students from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Uruguay who participated in the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). The results show that high achievement in reading is positively correlated to certain teaching practices, such as perceived teacher enthusiasm during the instruction and adapting instruction to students’ needs. Conversely, it is negatively correlated to teacher feedback and teacher-directed instruction. Furthermore, the findings indicate that high achievement in reading is negatively correlated to the scarcity and low quality of educational material. Interestingly, the results show that student SES does not moderate these associations. In conclusion, these findings indicate that interventions targeting these areas of school climate may help to increase students’ probability of attaining high achievement in reading, regardless of their SES. Likewise, these results suggest that if these interventions are focused in low SES schools, they may contribute to bridge the gap in reading skills between students from low and middle or high socioeconomic backgrounds.
Using syndromic surveillance for unintentional and undetermined intent drowning surveillance in a large metropolitan area
Authors: Shenoi Rohit P. , Moreland Briana , Jones Jennifer L. , Peoples Nicholas , Camp Elizabeth A. , Levine Ned
Published: September 2024

Introduction

A drowning definition is available for use with National Syndromic Surveillance Program (NSSP) data. However, its accuracy in capturing drowning emergency department and urgent care visits at the regional level is unknown. We tested the ability of the syndromic surveillance (SS) definition in capturing unintentional and undetermined intent drowning (UUID) and describe UUID SS visit trends in a large metropolitan area.

Methods

We applied the drowning definition to NSSP data from 2016 to 2022 for the 8-county metropolitan Houston region. We queried the dataset for UUID ICD-10-CM codes and manually reviewed the chief complaint (CC) and discharge diagnosis (DD) for SS visits. True-positives were calculated by dividing the number of UUID cases identified by UUID ICD-10-CM codes and CC/DD review by the total visits captured by the SS definition. Demographics and trends of UUID visits were calculated from 2018 to 2022 due to limited data from 2016 to 2017 in NSSP.

Results

2,759 visits were captured by the SS definition. After case review, 2,019 (73.2%) had ICD-10-CM drowning codes of any intent; and 2,015 of those (99.8%) were classified as UUID. Of the remaining 740 cases with no ICD-10-CM codes that were pulled by the SS definition, 690 (93.2%) had a CC/DD diagnosis of drowning/submersion/underwater related to aquatic exposure. Taken together, 2,705 (98.0%) were true-positive UUID visits based on the SS drowning definition.. Children (aged < 18 years) constituted 79% of UUID visits. Black, White and Asian/Pacific Islander persons comprised 17%, 60% and 4% of UUID visits respectively. Rates of UUID visits were lowest in 2020.

Conclusion

Syndromic surveillance is a novel and accurate method to conduct real-time drowning surveillance in a large metropolitan region.
Tackling exosome and nuclear receptor interaction: an emerging paradigm in the treatment of chronic diseases
Authors: Aswani Babu Santha , Hegde Mangala , Vishwa Ravichandran , Alqahtani Mohammed S. , Abbas Mohamed , Almubarak Hassan Ali , Sethi Gautam , Kunnumakkara Ajaikumar B.
Published: September 2024

Nuclear receptors (NRs) function as crucial transcription factors in orchestrating essential functions within the realms of development, host defense, and homeostasis of body. NRs have garnered increased attention due to their potential as therapeutic targets, with drugs directed at NRs demonstrating significant efficacy in impeding chronic disease progression. Consequently, these pharmacological agents hold promise for the treatment and management of various diseases. Accumulating evidence emphasizes the regulatory role of exosome-derived microRNAs (miRNAs) in chronic inflammation, disease progression, and therapy resistance, primarily by modulating transcription factors, particularly NRs. By exploiting inflammatory pathways such as protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and Wnt/β-catenin signaling, exosomes and NRs play a pivotal role in the panorama of development, physiology, and pathology. The internalization of exosomes modulates NRs and initiates diverse autocrine or paracrine signaling cascades, influencing various processes in recipient cells such as survival, proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, and cellular defense mechanisms. This comprehensive review meticulously examines the involvement of exosome-mediated NR regulation in the pathogenesis of chronic ailments, including atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes, liver diseases, and respiratory conditions. Additionally, it elucidates the molecular intricacies of exosome-mediated communication between host and recipient cells via NRs, leading to immunomodulation. Furthermore, it outlines the implications of exosome-modulated NR pathways in the prophylaxis of chronic inflammation, delineates current limitations, and provides insights into future perspectives. This review also presents existing evidence on the role of exosomes and their components in the emergence of therapeutic resistance.
Rectum necrosis in a patient with severe COVID19 infection after CAR-T therapy: a case report
Authors: Saeki Kiyoshi , Nakagama Hidenobu , Tanaka Yuichi , Goto Yoshitaka , Kaneshiro Kazuhisa , Kono Hiroshi , Yanai Kosuke , Yamamoto Hirofumi , Yoneda Reiko , Shimakawa Takashi , Ueki Takashi
Published: September 2024

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19) can cause gastrointestinal complications as well as respiratory tract disease. Coagulation abnormalities and thrombosis frequently occur in COVID19, especially in cases with severe clinical outcome. The relationship between gastrointestinal perforation and coagulopathy due to COVID19 remains unclear.

Case presentation

A 49-year-old female received Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) therapy for an early recurrence of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) that was refractory to chemotherapy. She was diagnosed with cytokine release syndrome (CRS) because of a fever and oxygen desaturation, and administered tocilizumab. Forty days after completing CAR-T therapy, she was infected with COVID19 and transferred to our hospital. Her general condition worsened and she developed COVID19 pneumonia, and then steroid pulse therapy was started. While her respiratory condition improved, she experienced pain in the anal region and computed tomography (CT) revealed a rectal perforation. An emergency surgery was undertaken, and the lower rectum wall was found to be completely necrotic. Removal of the necrotic part of the rectum tissue, and drainage and lavage of necrotic tissue in the pelvic cavity were performed. The remaining rectum was resected with partial sigmoidectomy, but we could not make the anal stump closed. In addition, an end colostomy in the sigmoid colon was performed. Histopathological findings showed thromboses in the rectal mesentery veins. After the first surgery, the pelvic abscess cavity persisted and her high-grade fever continued. Reoperation was laparoscopically performed, and she underwent a resection of anal canal with residual necrotic rectal and mesorectal tissue, and a drainage of the pelvic abscess. After the reoperation, her general condition improved and CT showed that the abscess cavity had significantly improved.

Conclusions

Gastrointestinal perforation, especially rectal necrosis due to coagulopathy caused by severe COVID19 infection, is a rare but life-threatening complication. Physicians should have a high degree of clinical suspicion for timely diagnosis and management, and surgical intervention is necessary in cases of rectal necrosis.
Upper Extremity Stress Fractures
Authors: Koslosky Ezekial J. , Heath David M. , Atkison Cameron L. , Dutta Anil , Brady Christina I.
Published: September 2024

Background

Stress injuries are often missed secondary to their insidious onset, milder symptoms, and subtle or initially absent findings when imaged.

Main Body

This review aims to provide strategies for evaluating and treating upper extremity stress fractures. This article outlines the classic presentation of each fracture, the ages during which these injuries often occur, the relevant anatomy and biomechanics, and the mechanism of each injury. Diagnostic imaging and management principles are also discussed, including the use of conservative versus surgical management techniques.

Short Conclusion

Upper extremity stress fractures are often mild injuries that resolve with conservative management but can lead to more serious consequences if ignored. Given their increasing incidence, familiarity with diagnosis and management of these injuries is becoming increasingly pertinent.
Characteristics of longitudinal changes in quality of life and associated factors in patients post cardiac and thoracic aortic surgery: insights from a prospective cohort study
Authors: Sato Masaaki , Mutai Hitoshi , Yamamoto Shuhei , Tsukakoshi Daichi , Furuhashi Keisuke , Ichimura Hajime , Wada Yuko , Seto Tatsuichiro , Horiuchi Hiroshi
Published: September 2024

Background

Although quality of life (QOL) is an outcome of postoperative cardiac rehabilitation (CR), its course and related factors from postoperative hospitalization to the post-discharge period have not been adequately investigated. Additionally, the EuroQol-5Dimension-5Level (EQ-5D-5L) index score has not been characterized over the same period. We aimed to characterize QOL changes assessed by the EQ-5D-5L, over the period from hospitalization to 1 year post-discharge, in patients post-cardiac and thoracic aortic surgery, and investigate the factors associated with these temporal changes.

Methodology

This prospective, single-center study included 117 patients who underwent open cardiovascular surgery (median age, 72 years; men, 69%). Patients were assessed for QOL status when transferred to the general ward; at discharge; and at 6 and 12 months after discharge, using the EQ-5D-5L index score and a generalized linear mixed model with random intercepts. Patients were classified into two groups based on score changes post-discharge. Logistic regression analysis evaluated factors associated with QOL decrease post-discharge.

Results

The EQ-5D-5L index score significantly increased over time, except between 6 and 12 months post-discharge; “Common activities” was the most common dimension showing score improvement. In 25 patients (21%), the EQ-5D-5L index scores were lower after discharge compared to their scores at discharge. In the logistic regression analysis, Barthel Index pre-admission, preoperative hemoglobin level, and Mini-Mental State Examination-Japanese scores pre-discharge were significantly associated with QOL decline after adjusting for the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II score.

Conclusions

Most patients post-cardiac or thoracic aortic surgery experienced improved QOL from postoperative hospital stay to 1 year post-discharge. However, in patients with pre-operative basic activities of daily living, hemoglobin and post-operative cognitive decline may require ongoing comprehensive CR because of reduced QOL. Given the potential selection bias introduced by the relatively small sample size in this study, future research involving larger populations is necessary.
Medical student attitudes toward mental illness: a cross-sectional study from the Gaza Strip, Palestine
Authors: Aldabbour Belal , Abu-El-Noor Nasser , Elhissi Ahmed , Wafi Jamil , Dabour Asad Mohammad , Aldabbour Osama , Abuabada Amal , Diab Abedelrahman Rizq , Abu-El-Noor Mysoon Khalil
Published: September 2024

Background

Mental illness is highly stigmatized compared to physical illness, often due to false beliefs and a lack of knowledge. Negative attitudes harbored by healthcare providers reflect on the care they provide and impact their patients’ outcomes and may tailor their future preferences away from the psychiatric practice. This cross-sectional study used a stratified, randomized sampling method to survey the beliefs and attitudes of students at a Palestinian medical school toward mental illness using the Beliefs Toward Mental Illness (BMI) scale.

Results

Overall, 79.1% of 282 participants demonstrated positive attitudes toward mentally ill patients (BMI score < 43). The highest mean score (more negative attitude) was received by the ‘dangerousness’ domain (2.75 ± 0.75), while the ‘poor social and interpersonal skills’ domain received the lowest mean score (2.47 ± 0.82). Male sex (p = 0.031) and having a friend (p = 0.035) or a family member (p = 0.035 and p = 0.033, respectively) suffering from a mental illness predicted a more positive attitude toward mental illness. At the same time, age, study level, and having undergone the clinical psychiatry rotation did not impact attitude significantly.

Conclusions

The study shows that medical students in the Gaza Strip are not absolved from the negative stereotypes of their community toward mentally ill patients, which should be addressed systematically by health educators and medical schools in the country.
Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities of ethanolic extract of Myxopyrum serratulum A.W. Hill
Authors: T Sheela Rani , Jeyabalan Srikanth , Dhanasekaran Sivaraman , Sekar Mahendran , Subramaniyan Vetriselvan , Wong Ling Shing
Published: September 2024

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating inflammatory disorder characterized by an overactive immune system targeting joints, leading to inflammation and intense pain. While current RA therapies effectively alleviate symptoms, they are often associated with significant side effects. This study aimed to assess the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties of an Ethanolic Extract of Myxopyrum serratulum A.W. Hill (EEMS) using animal models.

Results

The acute toxicity study with EEMS (2000 mg/kg, p.o.) on rats showed no toxicity or mortality up to the highest dose. Inflammation was induced using carrageenan, and rats were treated with varying doses of EEMS (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) and diclofenac to assess anti-inflammatory effects. Anti-arthritic efficacy was evaluated using Complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflammation, comparing EEMS to methotrexate. The results revealed dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effects of EEMS and a reversal of arthritic-induced weight loss in treated groups. Paw volume reduction was significant in both EEMS and methotrexate groups. Biochemical analyses showed elevated markers in the arthritic control group, which were normalized by EEMS and methotrexate. Notably, EEMS (400 mg/kg) significantly reduced cathepsin-D levels compared to the positive control. EEMS administration also lowered hepatic lipid peroxidation and increased endogenous antioxidants (SOD, GSH, and GPX). The 200 and 400 mg/kg doses reduced the iNOS/GADPH ratio, while the 400 mg/kg dose restored cellular and joint structure and significantly decreased IL1 levels.

Conclusions

In conclusion, EEMS demonstrated substantial protective effects, mitigating health risks associated with chronic inflammation such as arthritis. These findings underscore the ethnomedical potential of Myxopyrum serratulum as a promising anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritis agent. The study suggests that EEMS could be a viable alternative or complementary therapy for RA, offering therapeutic benefits with potentially fewer side effects than current treatments.
Bee The CURE: Increasing Student Science Self-Efficacy, Science Identity, and Predictors of Scientific Civic Engagement in a Community College CURE
Authors: Dunbar-Wallis Amy K. , Katcher Jennifer , Moore Wendy , Corwin Lisa A.
Published: September 2024

Novel CURE at an HSI CC shows increases in student's science self-efficacy, science identity, and mixed results for predictors of future scientific civic engagement.
Fermion behavior around Sung-Won Kim wormholes in a generalized Kaluza-Klein gravity
Authors: Cavalcante Everton
Published: September 2024

This paper investigates the behavior of fermions in the vicinity of Sung-Won Kim wormholes (Kim
S.-W., Phys. Rev. D, 53 (1996) 6889) within the framework of a generalized Kaluza-Klein gravity. The study explores the geometric and quantum implications of introducing an extra dimension into the Sung-Won Kim wormhole model. The impact of this additional dimension on the stability and traversability of the wormholes, as well as on the fermionic equations of motion, is analyzed. By examining the modified Dirac equation in this extended framework, the emergence of geometric phases and quantum holonomies is discussed, providing insights into the topological aspects of fermion dynamics in curved spacetimes.
“This Is Not a Performance”: Coming-Out Videos, LGBTQ+ Microcelebrity, and the Tenuous Rise of New Queer YouTube
Authors: O'Gara Clare
Published: September 2024

This article uses three coming-out YouTube videos to narratively map the emergence of “New Queer YouTube,” a phrase used in this article to describe the evolving tactics and styles deployed by LGBTQ+ microcelebrity YouTubers over the previous decade. Encapsulated by Ingrid Nilsen's 2015 YouTube video “Something I Want You to Know (Coming Out),” 2010s-era coming-out videos represent early attempts to reconcile authentic queer disclosure with the performative conditions of microcelebrity. In the 2020s era, coming-out videos and queer YouTubers frequently acknowledge and elevate this legacy with an aesthetic that evokes the postmodern sensibilities of New Queer Cinema and “post-Stonewall” queer documentaries. Two videos are of particular interest here: Natalie Wynn's “Shame | ContraPoints,” and Abigail Thorn's “Identity: A Trans Coming Out Story | Philosophy Tube ★.” While the creators of these texts declare authentic queer identities to their audiences, they pursue different approaches that nonetheless tangle personal confession with performance. These videos and their respective microcelebrity personas wield coming-out and LGBTQ+ embodiment as devices to simultaneously claim agency over a queer identity and, ultimately, enhance perceived authenticity through the revelation of performance and the reflexive rebirth of digital persona. These strategies exemplify an aesthetic of queer, postmodern YouTube microcelebrity necessitated, in part, by the site's increasing stratification and precarity as a meaningfully user-generated platform.
Experience-Based Discrimination
Authors: Lepage Louis-Pierre
Published: September 2024

I study discrimination arising from individual experiences of employers with worker groups. I present a model in which employers are uncertain about the productivity of one of two groups and learn through hiring. Positive experiences lead to positive biases, which correct themselves by leading to more hiring and learning. Negative experiences decrease hiring and learning, preserving negative biases, which can cause persistent discrimination. The model explains prejudice as incorrect statistical discrimination and generates novel predictions and policy implications. I then illustrate experience-based discrimination in an experimental labor market, finding support for key model predictions. (JEL D83, J23, J24, J31, J71, M51)
Case Report: A case of a multivisceral echinococcosis with atypical localization
Authors: Kaddoussi Rania , Jellazi Mohamed , Mizouni Abdelkader , Chamtouri Ikram , Abdelaaly Mabrouk , Migaou Asma , Ben Brahim Hager , Fahem Nessrine , Ben Saad Ahmed , Joober Sameh , Cheikhmhamed Saoussen , Rouetbi Naceur
Published: September 2024

Hydatidosis is a pathology that is still common. Hydatid cysts commonly involves the liver and lung. Cases of multi visceral echinococcosis with atypical localization are rare. We, herein, report the case of a 53-year-old Maghrebi farmer with multiple organ hydatidosis including 13 hydatid cysts involving the lungs, the liver, the left heart ventricle, the left kidney, the abdomen cavity, the muscles (psoas, adductors), and the subcutaneous gluteal area. The majority of these cysts were already treated surgically, and some of them were due to be removed.