bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Paediatric sickle cell disease presenting with hepatobiliary symptoms—a case presentation and brief literature review
Authors: Kumar Aditi , Behera Rashmi Ranjan , Mahapatro Samarendra , Patel Ranjan , Nayak Hemanta , Satapathy Amit Kumar
Published: June 2024

Background

Sickle hepatopathy is the hepatobiliary dysfunction associated with sickle cell disease. It has a varied spectrum ranging from asymptomatic transaminasemia to gallstones or fulminant liver failure. Hepatobiliary manifestations may be the initial presentation in children with undiagnosed sickle cell disease as seen in our three index cases. This may mimic a primary liver disease, delaying definite diagnosis and management.

Case presentation

We describe three cases. The first case was a 9-year-old girl child with cholecystitis with choledocholithiasis, the second case was a 15-year-old boy with acute hepatitis of unidentified aetiology, and the third case was a 3-month-old infant with neonatal cholestasis in absence of common structural or metabolic cause. All three cases had underlying haemolytic anaemia with splenomegaly and belonged to the sickle belt of the region. The final diagnosis in all three index cases was sickle cell disease with hepatopathy.

Conclusion

The clinical syndrome of hepatitis or cholestasis with or without cholangitis in the background of splenomegaly and haemolytic anaemia should prompt screening for sickle cell disease.
Minimal Common Oncology Data Elements Genomics Pilot Project: Enhancing Oncology Research Through Electronic Health Record Interoperability at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Authors: Li Yanwei , Ye Jiarong , Huang Yuxin , Wu Jiayi , Liu Xiaohan , Ahmed Shun , Osterman Travis
Published: June 2024

PURPOSE

The expanding presence of the electronic health record (EHR) underscores the necessity for improved interoperability. To test the interoperability within the field of oncology research, our team at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) enabled our Epic-based EHR to be compatible with the Minimal Common Oncology Data Elements (mCODE), which is a Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR)–based consensus data standard created to facilitate the transmission of EHRs for patients with cancer.

METHODS

Our approach used an extract, transform, load tool for converting EHR data from the VUMC Epic Clarity database into mCODE-compatible profiles. We established a sandbox environment on Microsoft Azure for data migration, deployed a FHIR server to handle application programming interface (API) requests, and mapped VUMC data to align with mCODE structures. In addition, we constructed a web application to demonstrate the practical use of mCODE profiles in health care.

RESULTS

We developed an end-to-end pipeline that converted EHR data into mCODE-compliant profiles, as well as a web application that visualizes genomic data and provides cancer risk assessments. Despite the complexities of aligning traditional EHR databases with mCODE standards and the limitations of FHIR APIs in supporting advanced statistical methodologies, this project successfully demonstrates the practical integration of mCODE standards into existing health care infrastructures.

CONCLUSION

This study provides a proof of concept for the interoperability of mCODE within a major health care institution's EHR system, highlighting both the potential and the current limitations of FHIR APIs in supporting complex data analysis for oncology research.
Croscarmellose Sodium as Pelletization Aid in Extrusion-Spheronization
Authors: Siebel Finn , Kleinebudde Peter
Published: June 2024

Only few excipients are known to be suitable as pelletization aids. In this study, the potential use of croscarmellose sodium (CCS) as pelletization aid was investigated. Furthermore, the impact of cations on extrusion-spheronization (ES) of CCS was studied and different grades of CCS were tested. The influence of different cations on the swelling of CCS was investigated by laser diffraction. Mixtures of CCS with lactose monohydrate as filler with or without the inclusion of different cations were produced. The mixtures were investigated by mixer torque rheometry and consequently extruded and spheronized. Resulting pellets were analyzed by dynamic image analysis. In addition, mixtures of different CCS grades with dibasic calcium phosphate anhydrous (DP) and a mixture with praziquantel (PZQ) as filler were investigated. Calcium and magnesium cations caused a decrease of the swelling of CCS and influenced the use of CCS as pelletization aid since they needed to be included for successful ES. Aluminum, however, led to an aggregation of the CCS particles and to failure of extrusion. The inclusion of cations decreased the uptake of water by the mixtures which also reduced the liquid-to-solid-ratio (L/S) for successful ES. This was shown to be dependent on the amount of divalent cations in the mixture. With DP or PZQ as filler, no addition of cations was necessary for a successful production of pellets, however the optimal L/S for ES was dependent on the CCS grade used. In conclusion, CCS can be used as a pelletization aid.

Graphical Abstract
Sex-Specific Effects of THRβ Signaling on Metabolic Responses to High Fat Diet in Mice
Authors: Muralidharan Aruljothi , Gomez Gustavo A , Kesavan Chandrasekhar , Pourteymoor Sheila , Larkin Destiney , Tambunan William , Sechriest V Franklin , Mohan Subburaman
Published: June 2024

Thyroid hormone (TH) plays a crucial role in regulating the functions of both bone and adipose tissue. Given that TH exerts its cholesterol-lowering effects in hepatic tissue through the TH receptor-β (TRβ), we hypothesized that TRβ agonist therapy using MGL3196 (MGL) would be effective in treating increased adiposity and bone loss in response to a 12-week high-fat diet (HFD) in adult C57BL/6J mice. Transcriptional and serum profiling revealed that HFD-induced leptin promoted weight gain in both males and females, but MGL only suppressed leptin induction and weight gain in males. In vitro studies suggest that estrogen suppresses MGL activity in adipocytes, indicating that estrogen might interfere with MGL-TRβ function. Compared to systemic adiposity, HFD reduced bone mass in male but not female mice. Paradoxically, MGL treatment reversed macroscopic bone mineral density loss in appendicular bones, but micro-CT revealed that MGL exacerbated HFD-induced trabecular bone loss, and reduced bone strength. In studies on the mechanisms for HFD effects on bone, we found that HFD induced Rankl expression in male femurs that was blocked by MGL. By ex vivo assays, we found that RANKL indirectly represses osteoblast lineage allocation of osteoprogenitors by induction of inflammatory cytokines TNFα, IL-1β, and CCL2. Finally, we found that MGL functions in both systemic adiposity and bone by nongenomic TRβ signaling, as HFD-mediated phenotypes were not rescued in TRβ147F knockout mice with normal genomic but defective nongenomic TRβ signaling. Our findings demonstrate that the negative effects of HFD on body fat and bone phenotypes are impacted by MGL in a gender-specific manner.
Long-Term Differential Effects of Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy on Bone Mineral Density
Authors: Cailleaux Pierre-Emmanuel , Ostertag Agnès , Haguenauer Didier Albert , Ledoux Séverine , Cohen-Solal Martine
Published: June 2024

Context

The association of obesity with bone fragility fractures is complex and non-linear. Despite good efficacy on weight loss, bariatric surgery (BS) is also associated with bone loss. However, we lack information on risk factors of the long-term deleterious effects of BS on the skeleton.

Objective

We aimed to assess the factors associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) performed a long time after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) or sleeve gastrectomy (SG).

Methods

This cross-sectional study involved patients at a long distance from their BS that underwent dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) with biological factors (vitamins, micronutrients, bone and inflammation biomarkers). Simple and multiple linear models (stepwise and parsimony approach) were developed.

Results

A total of 131 patients (91 RYGB, 40 SG) underwent DXA (51.8 ± 11.08 years, 87.8% women). At a mean of 6.8 ± 3.7 years after surgery, the mean weight loss was –28.6 ± 9.6%, and only 6 patients (5.7%) had a T-score less than or equal to ­2.5. On univariate analysis, BMD was lower in the RYGB than in the SG group (P < .001) at all sites, despite similar fat and fat-free mass and weight loss. Serum parathyroid hormone and phosphate levels were higher in RYGB than SG patients. A total of 10.1% of patients showed vascular calcifications. On multivariable analysis, BMD remained different between surgery groups after adjustment for age, body mass index, ethnicity, and sex. The model-adjusted R2 values were 0.451 for the total hip; 0.462 the femoral neck, and 0.191 the lumbar spine for the inflammation model; 0.458, 0.462, and 0.254, respectively, for the bone marker model; and 0.372, 0.396, and 0.142 for the vitamin model. Serum zinc, ferritin, and uric acid levels were the markers associated with BMD to a low extent.

Conclusion

BMD differed depending on the BS procedure. A few biological markers may be associated weakly with BMD well after the surgery.
Continuous Glucose Monitor: Reclaiming Type 2 Diabetes Self-efficacy and Mitigating Disparities
Authors: Ni Kevin , Tampe Carolyn A , Sol Kayce , Cervantes Lilia , Pereira Rocio I
Published: June 2024

Context

The rise in continuous glucose monitor (CGM) use has been characterized by widening disparities between the least and most socially marginalized. Given access barriers, there is limited CGM patient experience information that is inclusive of those with type 2 diabetes mellitus from socially marginalized backgrounds.

Objective

To understand the CGM usage experience in the primary care setting across a US Medicaid population with type 2 diabetes at federally qualified health centers.

Methods

This qualitative study used semi-structured phone interviews with 28 English- or Spanish-speaking participants prescribed the CGM who were enrolled in a US Medicaid program that subsidized CGMs. Audio recordings of interviews were transcribed and analyzed by reflective thematic analysis.

Results

Twenty-eight participants (75% female, median age 56 years with interquartile-range 48-60 years) were interviewed. Participants were from different racial/ethnic backgrounds: 21% non-Hispanic White, 57% Hispanic, and 18% non-Hispanic Black. Participants primarily spoke English (68%) or Spanish (32%), and 53% reported 9 or fewer years of formal education. We identified 6 major themes: initial expectations and overcoming initiation barriers, convenience and ease promote daily use, increased knowledge leads to improved self-management, collaboration with provider and clinical team, improved self-reported outcomes, and barriers and burdens are generally tolerated.

Conclusion

CGM use was experienced as easy to understand and viewed as a tool for diabetes self-efficacy. Expanded CGM access for socially marginalized patients with type 2 diabetes can enhance diabetes self-management to help mitigate diabetes outcome disparities.
Central Arterial Line Placement for Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: A Single-Center Experience
Authors: Zaleski Katherine L. , Kuntz Michael T. , Staffa Steven J. , Van Pelt Hannah , Hamilton A. Rebecca L. , Atkinson Douglas B.
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND:

Peripheral arterial line placement is a common, low-risk procedure in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Central arterial cannulation may be used when peripheral cannulation is not feasible. At present, there are limited data to guide central arterial-line site selection in pediatric patients. We aimed to (1) quantify the rate of complications associated with central arterial-line placement in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery, (2) determine risk factors associated with central arterial-line complications, and (3) describe placement trends during the last decade.

METHODS:

This was a retrospective, single-center cohort study of pediatric patients who underwent intraoperative placement of an axillary or femoral arterial line for cardiac surgery between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2022. The primary outcome studied was the incidence of complications, defined as vascular compromise, pulse loss, ultrasound-confirmed thrombus or flow abnormality, and/or positive blood cultures not attributable to another source. Patients’ characteristics and perioperative factors were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis to examine the relationship between these factors and line-associated complications.

RESULTS:

A total of 1263 central arterial lines were analyzed—195 axillary arterial lines and 1068 femoral arterial lines. The overall incidences of vascular compromise and pulse loss from central arterial-line placement were 17.8% and 8.3%, respectively. Axillary lines had lower rates of vascular compromise (6.2% vs 19.9%, P < .001), pulse loss (2.1% vs 9.5%, P < .001), and ultrasound-confirmed thrombus of flow abnormalities (14.3% vs 81.1%, P = .001) than femoral lines. Complications were more common in neonates and infants. By multivariate logistic regression, femoral location (odds ratio [OR], 4.16, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.97–8.78), presence of a genetic syndrome (OR, 1.68, 95% CI, 1.21–2.34), prematurity (OR, 1.48, 95% CI, 1.02–2.15), and anesthesia time (OR, 1.17 per hour, 95% CI, 1.07–1.27 per hour) were identified as independent risk factors for vascular compromise. Femoral location (OR, 7.43, 95% CI, 2.08–26.6), presence of a genetic syndrome (OR, 1.86, 95% CI, 1.18–2.93), prematurity (OR, 1.65, 95% CI, 1.02–2.67), and 22-G catheter size (OR, 3.26, 95% CI, 1.16–9.15) were identified as independent risk factors for pulse loss.

CONCLUSIONS:

Axillary arterial access is associated with a lower rate of complications in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery as compared to femoral arterial access. Serious complications are rare and were limited to femoral arterial lines in this study.
Schlock Value and the Politics of Fiasco
Authors: Chu Julie Y.
Published: June 2024

This article tracks the ways citizens in the People's Republic of China have come to manage the banality of state violence and impunity by turning common political failures into a distinctive politics of fiasco. As a mode of civilian engagement with officialdom in contemporary China, this kind of politics is a departure from the usual straightforward forms of popular resistance, as typified by the 1989 Tiananmen Square protest. Fiasco is not just any kind of failure. It is a kind of flop with performative flair, where repeated malfunctions and blunders escalate in often ludicrous and humiliating fashion to turn once earnest and serious projects in feel-bad dramas of inescapable failure. As such, this form of politics casts a renewed light on the aesthetic and affective dimensions of citizen–state struggles, especially among those that persist in confronting failures of justice under authoritarian conditions of political non-crisis.
Associations of Reallocating Sedentary Time to Physical Activity and Sleep with Physical and Mental Health of Older Adults
Authors: LIANG WEI , WANG YANPING , SU NING , SONG HUIQI , RHODES RYAN E. , WANG XIANG , SHANG BORUI , ZHOU LIN , HUANG QIAN , BU DANRAN , BAKER JULIEN S. , DUAN YANPING
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Twenty-four-hour movement behaviors: moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light physical activity (LPA), sedentary behavior (SB), and sleep are crucial factors affecting older adults’ health. Using a compositional data analysis approach, this study examined the associations of time spent in these four movement behaviors with cardiometabolic health, physical fitness, and mental health among older adults. Furthermore, this study identified the estimated changes in aforementioned health outcomes by reallocating SB time to other movement behaviors.

Methods

A population-based cross-sectional study of 4562 participants (67.68 ± 5.03 yr; 55.8% female) were implemented in Hubei China between July 25 and November 19, 2020. Measures included demographics, movement behaviors, cardiometabolic indicators (body mass index, waist circumference, waist–hip ratio, percentage body fat, systolic and diastolic blood pressure), physical fitness, and mental health outcomes (depressive symptoms and loneliness). Compositional data analyses were implemented in R.

Results

MVPA and sleep time were associated with greater health outcomes (all P < 0.001), except blood pressure (P = 0.13–0.83). LPA time was associated with waist circumference (B = 0.313, P = 0.009), waist–hip ratio (B = 0.003, P = 0.003), physical fitness (B = 0.36, P < 0.001), and mental health indicators (both P < 0.001). Reallocating 30-min SB to MVPA and sleep was associated with predicated improvements in all health outcomes, except blood pressure, whereas reallocating 30-min SB to LPA resulted in predicted improvements in physical fitness (0.187 units), depressive symptoms (−0.264 units), and loneliness (−0.395 units). For dose–effect relationships, reallocating 5–60 min of SB to MVPA showed greatest benefits for all health outcomes.

Conclusions

This study provides timely empirical evidence for future interventions and policymaking on promoting healthy aging during the post–COVID-19 era. The findings underline the importance of including 24-h movement behaviors in future health promotion among older adults.
Organized Crime and Economic Growth: Evidence from Municipalities Infiltrated by the Mafia
Authors: Fenizia Alessandra , Saggio Raffaele
Published: June 2024

This paper studies the long-run economic impact of dismissing city councils infiltrated by organized crime. Applying a matched difference-in-differences design to the universe of Italian social security records, we find that city council dismissals (CCDs) increase employment, the number of firms, and industrial real estate prices. The effects are concentrated in Mafia-dominated sectors and in municipalities where fewer incumbents are reelected. The dismissals generate large economic returns by weakening the Mafia and fostering trust in local institutions. The analysis suggests that CCDs represent an effective intervention for establishing legitimacy and spurring economic activity in areas dominated by organized crime. (JEL D73, H77, K42, R11, R23)
Educating on emotions for effective learning
Authors: Indellicato Rosa
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Recent psycho-pedagogical literature has given importance to the thought-emotions relationship, which can no longer be seen in a disjunctive (aut-aut) but rather interconnected (et-et) perspective because the intellectual life of each of us is traversed by affects, feelings and relationships.

Material and methods

This contribution seeks to highlight how the didactic-educational process and the discourse on emotions for effective learning, today, cannot disregard the pedagogical relevance of a socio-emotional education universally referred to as Social Emotional Learning (SEL). Hence the need for a profound rethinking of the pedagogical vision and awareness that the affective-emotional-relational constitutes the conditio sine qua non of cognitive development.

Results

in recent decades extraordinary results have been achieved thanks to the unthinkable progress of neuroscience, which has shown how cognitive and emotional processes can be traced back to and identified with structures and functions of the human brain; one thinks of the cognitive functions, linked to the activities of the associative cerebral cortex, and of the emotional functions linked to certain centres of the limbic system, and in any case both regulated and determined by various chemical substances and by the neurotransmitter system.

Conclusions

I believe that pedagogy can and should benefit from the discoveries in this field by taking on the task of understanding and enhancing the developmental capacity of the brain-mind: in this way, it is possible to plan a training strategy that uses the environment to allow the highest and best development of mental potential.
Cultural factors, Alzheimer’s, and family caregiving in the Black community in the US: an integrative review
Authors: Duncan Lessep T. , Smith Mark
Published: June 2024

This (integrative) review focuses on the relationship between cultural factors and the identity of carers of family members with Alzheimer’s in the Black community living in the US. The aims were to assess, first, the impact of cultural background on reasons for becoming a carer and, second, how the experience of caregiving impacts the carers’ sense of identity. This review comprises 38 articles meeting inclusion criteria and relevance to the two aims. Synthesizing research on cultural factors and caregiving identity indicated the retention of a familial identity derived from cultural background as crucial to understanding and addressing the needs of Black (and minority) caregivers.
Tunable optical force on a perovskite-coated gold nanosphere by a polarized Bessel beam
Authors: Li Ping , Ma Zhaoxia , Han Yiping , Wang Haojie , Zhou Xikang
Published: June 2024

The optical force on a perovskite-coated gold nanosphere by a polarized Bessel beam is investigated in the generalized Lorenz-Mie theory (GLMT) framework. The dielectric function of the gold core is described using the Drude-Sommerfeld model, and the cesium silver bismuth bromide (CABB) is considered for the coating. The axial optical forces F
z
are numerically calculated. The effects of both beam parameters (half-cone angle α0, order l, polarization) and the thickness of the coating are discussed. Numerical results show that the optical force peaks can be adjusted by changing the thickness of the coating. However, the half-cone angle α0 and order l can only change the magnitude of the optical force. The optical force can be tuned by changing beam parameters (α0, l), and the coating thickness of particles. The obtained results demonstrate potential applications for the trapped perovskite gold nanosphere.
Photonic-crystal-based hybrid wavelength-mode division multiplexer for SOI platforms
Authors: Chanu Soibam Aruna , Sonkar Ramesh Kumar
Published: June 2024

This paper presents a 12-channel hybrid wavelength-mode division multiplexer (WDM-MDM) based on 2D photonic crystals. The proposed device consists of microring resonators (MRRs) and asymmetric directional couplers (ADCs) to perform three-channel wavelength division multiplexing and four-channel mode division multiplexing operations, respectively. Each MRR can work bi-directionally, providing the same wavelength channels separately in two drop ports. The bus waveguides in the cascaded ADCs are optimized to convert the fundamental modes to the corresponding higher-order modes and are connected through taper regions for the smooth transition of modes. The designed device is simulated using the finite-difference time-domain solver, achieving a maximum channel spacing and insertion loss of 5.05 nm and 0.97 dB, respectively. The device size of the proposed WDM-MDM is 74.98µm×32.82µm. The fabrication tolerance study is performed for uniform over-etch and under-etch conditions. The temperature tolerance study on the resonant wavelength is performed, and the temperature coefficient shift of <0.0254nm/K is achieved. The proposed device can potentially increase the channel capacity for on-chip high-density optical interconnects.
Monitoring of neoadjuvant chemotherapy through time domain diffuse optics: breast tissue composition changes and collagen discriminative potential
Authors: Mule Nikhitha , Maffeis Giulia , Cubeddu Rinaldo , Santangelo Carolina , Bianchini Giampaolo , Panizza Pietro , Taroni Paola
Published: June 2024

The purpose of this clinical study is to test a broad spectral range (635-1060 nm) time-domain diffuse optical spectroscopy in monitoring the response of breast cancer patients to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). The broadband operation allows us to fully analyze tissue composition in terms of hemoglobin, water, lipids and collagen concentration, which has never been systematically studied until now during the course of therapy. Patients are subjected to multiple breast optical imaging sessions, each one performed at different stages of NAC, both on tumor-bearing and contralateral healthy breasts. We correlate the optical results with conventional imaging techniques and pathological response. Preliminary outcomes on 10 patients’ data show an average significant reduction in the concentrations of oxy-hemoglobin (-53%, p = 0.0020), collagen (-36%, p = 0.0039) and water (-15%, p = 0.0195), and increase in lipids (+39%, p = 0.0137) from baseline to the end of therapy in the tumor-bearing breast of patients who responded to therapy at least partially. With respect to scattering, the scattering amplitude, a, increases slightly (+15%, p = 0.0039) by the end of the therapy compared to the baseline, while the scattering slope, b, shows no significant change (+4%, p = 0.9219). Some change in the constituents’ concentrations was also noticed in the contralateral healthy breast, even though it was significant only for oxy-hemoglobin concentration. We observed that collagen seems to be the only component distinguishing between complete and partial responders by the end of 2-3 weeks from the baseline. In the complete responder group, collagen significantly decreased after 2-3 weeks with respect to baseline (p = 0.0423). While the partial responder group also showed a decrease, it did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.1012). This suggests that collagen could serve as a potential biomarker to measure NAC effectiveness early during treatment. Even though obtained on a small group of patients, these initial results are consistent with those of standard medical modalities and highlight the sensitivity of the technique to changes that occur in breast composition during NAC.
Demonstration of a spatial-division multiplexing self-healing ring network
Authors: Luis Ruben S. , Puttnam Benjamin J. , Rademacher Georg , Shinada Satoshi , Furukawa Hideaki
Published: June 2024

This work demonstrates a spatial-division multiplexing self-healing ring protection scheme. A 3-node, 2-fiber ring with a recirculating length of 139.3 km is implemented using 4-core weakly-coupled multicore working and protection fibers and supported by core-pumped multicore amplifiers. Each node implements a spatial channel switching scheme with 8×8 traffic switches and arrays of 2×2 MEMS switches for ring protection switching with fiber bending taps to simultaneously monitor the power on all cores of the working and protection fibers. We achieve an average loss around 2 dB per network element along the protection path, which enables the use of ring protection with minimal performance impact. With this scheme, we demonstrate the protection of a line-side traffic throughput above 120 Tb/s using polarization-multiplexed 16-ary quadrature-amplitude modulation signals across the C-band.
Research on the OFDR strain measurement method based on similarity features of dual-segment RSS
Authors: Yu Gan , HuanRan Cheng , HaoTian Jiang , GuoDong Liu , BingGuo Liu , FengDong Chen , BingHui Lu
Published: June 2024

Optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) is a research hotspot in fiber optic sensing technology. This technology can be used for strain, vibration and temperature sensing and has great application prospects in fields such as deformation analysis of aerospace components and bridge monitoring. This article analyzes the reasons for strain demodulation errors under large strains. In response to the problem of reduced similarity between the reference state signal and the measured state signal, a strain measurement method based on the similarity feature of a double-segment Rayleigh scattering spectrum is proposed. Local segments at both ends of the reference state signal are used as new fingerprint spectra, and the offset of the measured state signal similarity spectrum is synchronously searched after extension. At the same time, by revealing the mechanism of strain edge demodulation errors, a strain edge optimization method based on automatic adjustment of the sliding window center position is proposed. A comparison experiment was conducted with traditional methods to verify the effectiveness of the above method. Finally, a sensing unit length of 32.6 mm was achieved with a frequency modulation bandwidth of 5 nm, and the measurement range was from ± 2000 µɛ to ± 2500 µɛ. The measurable spectral offset was increased from 48% to 60%, with a maximum standard deviation of 1.9 µɛ.
Breast cancer trends in Chile: Incidence and mortality rates (2007–2018)
Authors: Madariaga Benjamín , Mondschein Susana , Torres Soledad
Published: June 2024

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common cancers in women worldwide and in Chile. Due to the lack of a Chilean national cancer registry, there is partial information on the status of BC in the country. We aim to estimate BC incidence and mortality rates by health care providers and regions for Chilean women. We used two public anonymized databases provided by the Ministry of Health: the national death and hospital discharges datasets. We considered a cohort of 58,254 and 16,615 BC hospital discharges and deaths for the period 2007–2018. New BC cases increased by 43.6%, from 3,785 in 2007 to 5,435 in 2018. Total BC deaths increased by 33.6% from 1,158 to 1,547 during the same period. Age-adjusted incidence rates were stable over time, with an average rate of 44.0 cases/100,000 women (SD 2.2). There were considerable differences in age-adjusted incidence rates among regions, with no clear geographical trend. Women affiliated to a private provider (ISAPRE) have an average age-adjusted incidence rate of 60.6 compared to 38.8 (both cases/100,000 women) for women affiliated with the public provider (FONASA). Age-adjusted mortality rates have an average of 10.5 cases/100,000 women (SD 0.4). This study shows important differences in incidence rates between private and publicly insured women, with no significant differences in mortality rates. Such differences may be associated with women’s lifestyles, dietary compositions, comorbidities, and differences in healthcare systems. These hypotheses should be studied in greater depth. Additionally, differences in BC incidence found in this study compared to incidences reported from other estimations reinforce the need of a national cancer registry that should lead to more accurate indicators regarding BC in Chile.
Climate change and women’s mental health in two vulnerable communities of Bangladesh: An ethnographic study
Authors: Goudet Jean-Marc , Binte Arif Faria , Owais Hasan , Uddin Ahmed Helal , Ridde Valéry
Published: June 2024

Climate change is one of the most significant challenges humanity faces in the 21st century, with its health impacts being profoundly felt in the most vulnerable countries. However, the mental health impacts of climate change, particularly concerning social inequality and gender dynamics, are less documented in the Global South. This paper focuses on the impact of climate change on women’s mental health in two vulnerable communities in Bangladesh. This study employed qualitative methods, including, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions (FGDs). The communities were selected based on their vulnerability to climate change. A total of 80 participants were selected using snowball sampling, and 55 interviews and 6 FGDs were conducted. Women are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts on mental health due to their gender roles and responsibilities. Responsible for taking care of their families, they have to face additional challenges due to climate change impacts, such as increased workload, food insecurity, and social insecurity when their husband migrates to the cities for jobs. Women also face social and cultural barriers, which exacerbate their vulnerability to climate change impacts on mental health. Socioeconomic and environmental determinants appear to be embedded and lead to psychological suffering in relation to social roles and gender norms. Interventions should be designed to address the specific needs and challenges faced by women in these communities. Policymakers should take a gender-sensitive approach to address the mental health impacts of climate change in these communities. This study contributes to the growing body of research on the gendered impacts of climate change with a trajectory approach and provides insights for future research in this area.
Hydroxyurea maintains working memory function in pediatric sickle cell disease
Authors: Lai Jesyin , Zou Ping , Dalboni da Rocha Josue L. , Heitzer Andrew M. , Patni Tushar , Li Yimei , Scoggins Matthew A. , Sharma Akshay , Wang Winfred C. , Helton Kathleen J. , Sitaram Ranganatha
Published: June 2024

Sickle cell disease (SCD) decreases the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells. Children with SCD have reduced/restricted cerebral blood flow, resulting in neurocognitive deficits. Hydroxyurea is the standard treatment for SCD; however, whether hydroxyurea influences such effects is unclear. A key area of SCD-associated neurocognitive impairment is working memory, which is implicated in other cognitive and academic skills. The neural correlates of working memory can be tested using n-back tasks. We analyzed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data of patients with SCD (20 hydroxyurea-treated patients and 11 controls, aged 7–18 years) while they performed n-back tasks. Blood-oxygenation level–dependent (BOLD) signals were assessed during working memory processing at 2 time points: before hydroxyurea treatment and ~1 year after treatment was initiated. Neurocognitive measures were also assessed at both time points. Our results suggested that working memory was stable in the treated group. We observed a treatment-by-time interaction in the right cuneus and angular gyrus for the 2- >0-back contrast. Searchlight-pattern classification of the 2 time points of the 2-back tasks identified greater changes in the pattern and magnitude of BOLD signals, especially in the posterior regions of the brain, in the control group than in the treated group. In the control group at 1-year follow-up, 2-back BOLD signals increased across time points in several clusters (e.g., right inferior temporal lobe, right angular gyrus). We hypothesize that these changes resulted from increased cognitive effort during working memory processing in the absence of hydroxyurea. In the treated group, 0- to 2-back BOLD signals in the right angular gyrus and left cuneus increased continuously with increasing working memory load, potentially related to a broader dynamic range in response to task difficulty and cognitive effort. These findings suggest that hydroxyurea treatment helps maintain working memory function in SCD.
Simulation of transient rolling resistance of bicycle tyres at various ambient temperatures
Authors: Hyttinen Jukka , Rothhämel Malte , Jerrelind Jenny , Drugge Lars
Published: June 2024

The range of an electrically assisted bicycle, which is constrained by the rider’s cycling ability and the battery capacity, is heavily influenced by rolling resistance. Furthermore, the magnitude of rolling resistance affects commuters’ motivation to decide whether to cycle or to choose another way to commute. This paper presents a way to simulate the transient rolling resistance of bicycle tyres as a function of ambient temperature. The significance of the change in driving resistance at different ambient temperatures is demonstrated through the range simulation of an electrically assisted bicycle at varying ambient temperatures. A representative driving cycle for bicycle commuters was created, enabling comparison of dynamic behaviour in a standardised set, to evaluate the effect of ambient temperature on the battery capacity and the increase in driving resistances. To the authors’ knowledge, this kind of model has not previously been created for bicycles. The model calculates tyre temperature based on the heat transfer, considering the heating—i. e., rolling resistance—and cooling effects—i. e., convective and radiative cooling. The decrease in tyre temperature results in an increase in rolling resistance and a decrease in the battery capacity, which was considered in the simulations. The results show significantly increased energy demand at a very low ambient temperature (down to −30°C) compared to + 20°C. The novelty of this article is simulating energy expenditure of bicycle dynamically as a function of ambient temperature. This model includes a temperature-dependent transient bicycle rolling resistance model as well as a battery capacity model. The findings provide researchers with a better comprehension of parameters affecting energy expenditure of bicycles at different ambient or tyre temperatures. The models can be used as a tool during the design process of bicycles to quantify the required battery capacities at different climates. In addition, traffic planners can use the model to assess the effect of changes in infrastructure on motivation to utilise bicycles.
Endometrial congestion is the only hysteroscopic finding indicative of chronic endometritis
Authors: Furui Mayuko , Ito Ayumu , Fukuda Yusuke , Sekiguchi Mami , Nakaoka Kentaro , Hayashi Yuko , Tamaki Yuko , Katagiri Yukiko , Nagao Koichi , Nakata Masahiko
Published: June 2024

Chronic endometritis (CE), an inflammatory condition characterized by plasma cell infiltration within the endometrial stroma, is prevalent among women experiencing unexplained infertility or recurrent miscarriages. CE is traditionally diagnosed by endometrial biopsy using CD138 immunohistochemistry staining. Despite some studies suggesting hysteroscopy as an alternative diagnostic tool, its reliability compared with biopsy remains controversial. This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of hysteroscopy for CE by examining endometrial features, such as congestion, micropolyps, edema, and polyps, and comparing these with biopsy-confirmed cases of CE. This retrospective observational study was conducted at Toho University Omori Medical Center between June 2017 and November 2019 and included patients undergoing both hysteroscopy and histopathological examination. Endometrial congestion was identified as the only hysteroscopic finding significantly associated with CE, showing a moderate diagnostic agreement with biopsy results. These findings highlight the importance of further investigating hysteroscopic features of CE and their diagnostic implications and identify endometrial congestion as a potential predictive marker for CE.
Mental health in children conceived by Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs): Insights from a longitudinal study of Australian children
Authors: Islam Md. Irteja , Chaffey Oscar A. , Chadwick Verity , Martiniuk Alexandra
Published: June 2024

Background

The mental health of children conceived using Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) such as In-Vitro-Fertilization (IVF) is a subject of significant controversy. Existing studies suggest children conceived through ART meet physical and cognitive developmental milestones at similar rates to their spontaneously conceived peers, however, a significant number of studies have connected ART conception with mental health conditions, particularly depression and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adolescence. This study, therefore, aimed to determine whether maternal use of ARTs to achieve pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of mental disorders in these children, and whether these effects are sex-dependent or confounded by known covariates in the ART population.

Methods

Secondary data analysis was performed using Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) data; a nationally representative population-based cross-sequential cohort study. Multivariate logistic regression models examined the impact of ART (including IVF and other fertility drugs, from LSAC wave-1 and wave-2 conducted in 2004 and 2006, respectively) on mental health outcomes (i.e., autism, ADHD, anxiety and/or depression, from LSAC waves 8 conducted in 2018) in Australian adolescents aged 18–19 years in 2018 (n = 1735). Known sociological and obstetric covariates including maternal age, birth weight, smoking and drinking alcohol during pregnancy, maternal gestational diabetes, postnatal depression, hypertension, and socioeconomic status were considered to generate an adjusted logistic model. Variables with a p-value of <0.05 in the regression models were considered statistically significant.

Results

Of the 1735 mother-child dyads analysed, the maternal mean age was 35.6 years (Standard deviation = ±4.75), approximately 5% of mothers (n = 89) used ART to become pregnant, and 22% of adolescents (n = 384) had a mental disorder. Longitudinal analysis revealed no relationship between ART and children developing a mental disorder in the LSAC population.

Conclusion

These results should reassure parents considering ART that there is no increased risk of psychological or neurodevelopmental problems in their ART conceived offspring.
Study on the permeability characteristics of different geotextiles under weft and warp stretching
Authors: Man Xiaolei , Liu Jing , Liu Xueli , Lu Chengbin , Chen Yun
Published: June 2024

Geotextiles are excellent anti-filtration materials commonly used in the field of water conservancy engineering; however, the factors affecting the water permeability performance of geotextiles under stressed states during operation have not been fully identified. To investigate the effect of unidirectional stretching on the water permeability of geotextiles, a unidirectional rheological head infiltration test was conducted on the geotextiles using a self-developed test apparatus. In addition, the water permeability of geotextiles with different thicknesses and tensile states was calculated using a set of water permeability calculation methods based on the nonlaminar flow state of geotextiles. The results showed that the water permeability of the W120 geotextile samples initially decreased and then increased under warp stretching and gradually increased under weft stretching. However, the water permeability of the W200 geotextile samples initially decreased and then increased under both warp and weft stretching. Therefore, the thickness of the geotextile affected its permeability properties.
A Delphi study and development of a social and emotional wellbeing screening tool for Australian First Nations Peoples living in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area of Australia
Authors: Meldrum Kathryn , Wallace Valda , Webb Torres , Ridgway Lynne , Quigley Rachel , Strivens Edward , Russell Sarah G.
Published: June 2024

Tools screening depression and anxiety developed using the Western biomedical paradigm are still used with First Nations Peoples globally, despite calls for cross-cultural adaption. Recent work by this research team found that tools used to screen for depression and anxiety were inappropriate for use with Australian First Nations Peoples living in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area of Australia. The objective of this Delphi study, the second phase of a broader four-phase project, was to gain consensus from an expert mental health and/or social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) panel to inform the development of an appropriate screening tool. This Delphi study took place between March and May 2023. Three sequential rounds of anonymous online surveys delivered using QualtricsTM were planned, although only two were needed to reach 75% consensus. The first round sought consensus on whether a new screening tool needed to be developed or whether existing tools could be used. The second round achieved consensus. Twenty-eight experts (47% response rate) participated across the two Delphi rounds. In the second round, 83% of these experts agreed or strongly agreed that a new screening tool, using the holistic First Nations concept of social and emotional wellbeing, be developed. Ninety-four percent of them agreed that it should take a Yarning approach. These findings enabled the development of a new SEWB screening tool that adopted a Yarning (narrative) approach designed for use in primary care and geriatric settings in the region. The new tool has four different Yarning areas: Community engagement and behaviour; Stress worries; Risk; and Feeling strong. Guidelines for tool use are integrated as well as Summary and Recommendation sections. At a macro-level this project responds to the need for new screening tools that are underpinned by First Nations worldviews.
Creative China in the context of UK–China creative industries collaboration
Authors: Dong Hua
Published: June 2024

The Special Issue includes four articles addressing ‘Creative China’ from top-down to bottom-up approaches, with two conversational pieces offering insights from the UK–China Creative Industries Research and Innovation Hub fellowship study. It provides different perspectives of interpreting ‘Creative China’ and shares multiple views on collaborations in the ‘creative industries’ between the United Kingdom and China.
Policy-making for creative industries in China: A case study of design policy
Authors: Ning Weining , Liu Sylvia Xihui
Published: June 2024

Design is recognized as a critical driving force of economic growth in China, shaped by its distinct political, economic and cultural history. However, documentation on Chinese design policies remains scarce. In this conversation, Dr Sylvia Xihui Liu, a distinguished researcher in design policy and design management from China, shares her invaluable experiences in influencing the development of China’s national design innovation policies. She also discusses the tangible impact these policies have on design practitioners within the country and offers her perspectives on the differences between the United Kingdom and China in crafting creative policies.
Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes of Transverse Process Hook Placement at the Proximal Thoracic Upper Instrumented Vertebra in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery
Authors: Lee Sang Hun , Raad Micheal , Kim Andrew H. , Cohen David B. , Kebaish Khaled M.
Published: June 2024

Objective: Few studies have reported radiographic and clinical outcomes of transverse process hook (TPH) placement at the proximal thoracic upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) in adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery. This study aims to investigate radiographic and clinical outcomes of TPH placement at the UIV for ASD surgery.Methods: This is a retrospective cohort of 56 patients with ASD (age, 59 ± 13 years; followup, 44 ± 19 months) from Johns Hopkins Hospital, who underwent long posterior spinal fusion to the proximal thoracic spine (T2–5). Visual analogue scale (VAS) for back pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), 36-item Short Form health survey scores, thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis, sacral slope, pelvic tilt, pelvic incidence, proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) angle, PJK incidence, pattern of PJK, grades of TPH dislodgement, revision surgery, and factors associated with high-grade TPH dislodgement were analyzed.Results: VAS for back pain and ODI values improved significantly from preoperatively to final follow-up. Mean change in PJK angle was 12° (range, 0.5°–43°). Twenty patients (36%) developed PJK, of whom 13 had compression fractures at 1 vertebra distal to the UIV (UIV–1). Final TPH position was stable in 42 patients (75%). In most patients (86%), TPH dislodgement did not progress after 6-month postoperative follow-up. Three patients (5.3%) underwent revision surgery to extend the fusion because of symptomatic PJK. Unstable TPH position was associated only with revision surgery and TK.Conclusion: TPH placement at the proximal thoracic UIV for long fusion showed favorable clinical and radiographic outcomes in terms of the incidence of PJK and mean PJK angle at mean 44-month follow-up. TPHs placed in the proximal thoracic UIV were in stable position in 75% of patients. Compression fracture at UIV–1 was the most common pattern of PJK. PJK angle progression was greater in revision cases and in patients with greater preoperative thoracic kyphosis.