bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An implementation strategy postmortem method developed in the VA rural Transitions Nurse Program to inform spread and scale-up
Authors: Gilmartin Heather , Jones Christine , Nunnery Mary , Leonard Chelsea , Connelly Brigid , Wills Ashlea , Kelley Lynette , Rabin Borsika , Burke Robert E.
Published: March 2024

Background

High-quality implementation evaluations report on intervention fidelity and adaptations made, but a practical process for evaluating implementation strategies is needed. A retrospective method for evaluating implementation strategies is also required as prospective methods can be resource intensive. This study aimed to establish an implementation strategy postmortem method to identify the implementation strategies used, when, and their perceived importance. We used the rural Transitions Nurse Program (TNP) as a case study, a national care coordination intervention implemented at 11 hospitals over three years.

Methods

The postmortem used a retrospective, mixed method, phased approach. Implementation team and front-line staff characterized the implementation strategies used, their timing, frequency, ease of use, and their importance to implementation success. The Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) compilation, the Quality Enhancement Research Initiative phases, and Proctor and colleagues’ guidance were used to operationalize the strategies. Survey data were analyzed descriptively, and qualitative data were analyzed using matrix content analysis.

Results

The postmortem method identified 45 of 73 ERIC strategies introduced, including 41 during pre-implementation, 37 during implementation, and 27 during sustainment. External facilitation, centralized technical assistance, and clinical supervision were ranked as the most important and frequently used strategies. Implementation strategies were more intensively applied in the beginning of the study and tapered over time.

Conclusions

The postmortem method identified that more strategies were used in TNP than planned and identified the most important strategies from the perspective of the implementation team and front-line staff. The findings can inform other implementation studies as well as dissemination of the TNP intervention.
The research on the effect of temperature of electro-surgical unit to surgical smoke distribution in theatre-in vitro and simulation study
Authors: Yu Hui
Published: March 2024

In electro-surgery, surgical smoke was hazard to surgeons and patient in theatre. In order to institute effective countermeasures, quantifying of the effect of tip temperature of electro-surgical unit to surgical smoke distribution in theatre was studied. The relation of tip temperature to power of electro-surgical unit through in vitro cutting experiment. Based on experiment data, the mathematical model was established to simulate the electro-surgery in laminar operation room. As the power of electro-surgical knife increased, the knife tip temperature increased. Total content of (CO, CO2, CH4, NH3) in waste gas and net flow rate of waste gas at outlet increased with the rising temperature of knife tip and formation rate of condensed tar droplets and non-viable particles also increased. Based on simulation, it was found that The maximum height of surgical smoke rising right above the incision of electro-surgical unit was increased with rising temperature of electro-surgical knife tip. There was a spread route of dispersed surgical smoke near the walls of theatre through natural convection. The polynomial fitting relationship was derived. As the tip temperature of knife increased from 200 to 500°C, maximum ascending height of surgical smoke right above the incision position of electro-surgical unit increased from 1.1 m to 1.45 m. When the tip temperature of electro-knife was more 400°C, the CO content in the surgeon’s operating zone was more than 200 ppm, which would cause the surgeon’s HbCO level increased. As the patient’s tissue in the wound during operation was open, when the electro-knife of more than 400°C, the content of condensed tar droplets and in-viable particle was higher than 20 g/m3 and 12 g/m3 in the zone around patient’s wound of open tissue, which should be hazard to health of patient.
OLYMPUS-POPGEN: A synthetic population generation model to represent urban populations for assessing exposure to air quality
Authors: Elessa Etuman Arthur , Benoussaïd Taos , Charreire Hélène , Coll Isabelle
Published: March 2024

Scientific question

With the new individual- and activity-based approaches to simulating exposure to air pollutants, exposure models must now provide synthetic populations that realistically reflect the demographic profiles of individuals in an urban territory. Demographic profiles condition the behavior of individuals in urban space (activities, mobility) and determine the resulting risks of exposure and environmental inequalities. In this context, there is a strong need to determine the relevance of the population modeling methods to reproduce the combinations of socio-demographic parameters in a population from the existing databases. The difficulty of accessing complete, high-resolution databases indeed proves to be very limiting for the ambitions of the different approaches.

Objective

This work proposes to evaluate the potential of a statistical approach for the numerical modeling of synthetic populations, at the scale of dwellings and including the representation of coherent socio-demographic profiles. The approach is based on and validated against the existing open databases. The ambition is to be able to build upon such synthetic populations to produce a comprehensive assessment of the risk of environmental exposure that can be cross-referenced with lifestyles, indicators of social, professional or demographic category, and even health vulnerability data.

Method

The approach implemented here is based on the use of conditional probabilities to model the socio-demographic properties of individuals, via the deployment of a Monte Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) simulation. Households are assigned to housing according to income and house price classes. The resulting population generation model was tested in the Paris region (Ile de France) for the year 2010, and applied to a population of almost 12 million individuals. The approach is based on the use of census and survey databases.

Results

Validation, carried out by comparison with regional census data, shows that the model accurately reproduces the demographic attributes of individuals (age, gender, professional category, income) as well as their combination, at both regional and sub-municipal levels. Notably, population distribution at the scale of the model buildings remains consistent with observed data patterns.

Conclusions and relevance

The outcomes of this work demonstrate the ability of our approach to create, from public data, a coherent synthetic population with broad socio-demographic profiles. They give confidence for the use of this approach in an activity-based air quality exposure study, and thus for exploring the interrelations between social determinants and environmental risks. The non-specific nature of this work allows us to consider its extension to broader demographic profiles, including health indicators, and to different study regions.
Clinical characteristics of the “Gap” between the prevalence and incidence of hearing loss using National Health Insurance Service data
Authors: Lee Junhun , Yoon Chul Young , Lee Juhyung , Kong Tae Hoon , Seo Young Joon
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Hearing loss is the inability to hear speech or sounds well, owing to a number of causes. This study aimed to simultaneously determine the prevalence, incidence, and the Gap between them in hearing loss in South Korean patients at the same point in time as well as to identify patients who have not recovered from hearing loss.

Methods

We examined the prevalence and incidence of patients diagnosed with hearing loss in the National Health Insurance Service database over an 11-year period from 2010 to 2020. The difference between the prevalence and the incidence was defined in this study as the term "Gap". Gap is the number of patients converted into the number of patients per 100,000 people by subtracting the incidence from the prevalence. Clinical characteristics such as sex and age per 100,000 individuals were examined.

Results

As of 2020, the domestic prevalence obtained in this study was 1.84%, increasing annually, and the prevalence increased with age to 4.10% among those over 60. The domestic incidence was 1.57%, increasing annually, and the incidence increased with age to 3.36% for those over 60s. The Gap was 0.27%, showing a steady increase from 2011 to 2020 with a corresponding increase in insurance benefit expenses.

Conclusion

To fully understand the burden of hearing loss and develop effective prevention and treatment strategies, it is important to measure the Gap between its prevalence and incidence. This Gap means a lot because hearing loss is an irreversible disease. Gap represents patients who have already been diagnosed with hearing loss and are being diagnosed every year, indicating that the number of patients who do not recover is increasing. In other words, the increase in Gap meant that there were many patients who constantly visited the hospital for diagnosis of hearing loss.
Resistance management and integrated pest management insights from deployment of a Cry3Bb1+ Gpp34Ab1/Tpp35Ab1 pyramid in a resistant western corn rootworm landscape
Authors: Meinke Lance J. , Reinders Jordan D. , Dang Timothy B. , Krumm Jeffrey T. , Pilcher Clinton D. , Carroll Matthew W. , Head Graham P.
Published: March 2024

In Nebraska USA, many populations of western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, now exhibit some level of resistance to all corn rootworm-active Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) proteins expressed in commercial hybrids. Therefore, a study was conducted in northeast Nebraska from 2020–2022 to reevaluate current corn rootworm management options in continuous maize (consecutive planting for ≥2 years). Results from on-farm experiments to evaluate a standard soil-applied insecticide (Aztec® 4.67G) in combination with non-rootworm Bt or rootworm-active Bt pyramided maize (Cry3Bb1 + Gpp34Ab1/Tpp35Ab1) are reported within the context of WCR Bt resistance levels present. Corrected survival from Bt pyramid single-plant bioassays (<0.3, 0.3–0.49, >0.5) was used to place populations into 3 resistance categories. Variables evaluated included root injury, adult emergence, proportion lodged maize, and grain yield. Key results: A composite analysis of all populations across resistance levels indicated that addition of soil insecticide to Bt pyramid significantly reduced adult emergence and lodging but did not significantly increase root protection or yield. Within and among resistance category analyses of root injury revealed that the Bt pyramid remained highly efficacious at any non-rootworm Bt root injury level when resistance was absent or low. When corrected survival was >0.3, mean Bt pyramid root injury tracked more closely in a positive linear fashion with mean non-rootworm Bt root injury (rootworm density x level of resistance interaction). Similar trends were obtained for adult emergence but not yield. Mean Bt pyramid root injury rating was <0.75 in most populations with Bt resistance, which contributed to no significant yield differences among categories. Results are discussed within the context of IPM:IRM tradeoffs and the need to reduce WCR densities in this system to decrease the impact of the density x resistance interaction to bridge use of current pyramids with new technologies introduced over the next decade.
Attending physicians’ annual service volume and use of virtual end-of-life care: A population-based cohort study in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Rodin Rebecca , Stukel Thérèse A. , Chung Hannah , Bell Chaim M. , Detsky Allan S. , Isenberg Sarina , Quinn Kieran L.
Published: March 2024

Importance

Physicians and their practice behaviors influence access to healthcare and may represent potentially modifiable targets for practice-changing interventions. Use of virtual care at the end-of-life significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but its association with physician practice behaviors, (e.g., annual service volume) is unknown.

Objective

Measure the association of physicians’ annual service volume with their use of virtual end-of-life care (EOLC) and the magnitude of physician-attributable variation in its use, before and during the pandemic.

Design, setting and participants

Population-based cohort study using administrative data of all physicians in Ontario, Canada who cared for adults in the last 90 days of life between 01/25/2018-12/31/2021. Multivariable modified Poisson regression models measured the association between attending physicians’ use of virtual EOLC and their annual service volume. We calculated the variance partition coefficients for each regression and stratified by time period before and during the pandemic.

Exposure

Annual service volume of a person’s attending physician in the preceding year.

Main outcomes and measures

Delivery of ≥1 virtual EOLC visit by a person’s attending physician and the proportion of variation in its use attributable to physicians.

Results

Among the 35,825 unique attending physicians caring for 315,494 adults, use of virtual EOLC was associated with receiving care from a high compared to low service volume attending physician; the magnitude of this association diminished during the pandemic (adjusted RR 1.25 [95% CI 1.14, 1.37] pre-pandemic;1.10 (95% CI 1.08, 1.12) during the pandemic). Physicians accounted for 36% of the variation in virtual EOLC use pre-pandemic and 12% of this variation during the pandemic.

Conclusions and relevance

Physicians’ annual service volume was associated with use of virtual EOLC and physicians accounted for a substantial proportion of the variation in its use. Physicians may be appropriate and potentially modifiable targets for interventions to modulate use of EOLC delivery.
Forecasting weekly dengue incidence in Sri Lanka: Modified Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average modeling approach
Authors: Karasinghe Nilantha , Peiris Sarath , Jayathilaka Ruwan , Dharmasena Thanuja
Published: March 2024

Dengue poses a significant and multifaceted public health challenge in Sri Lanka, encompassing both preventive and curative aspects. Accurate dengue incidence forecasting is pivotal for effective surveillance and disease control. To address this, we developed an Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model tailored for predicting weekly dengue cases in the Colombo district. The modeling process drew on comprehensive weekly dengue fever data from the Weekly Epidemiological Reports (WER), spanning January 2015 to August 2020. Following rigorous model selection, the ARIMA (2,1,0) model, augmented with an autoregressive component (AR) of order 16, emerged as the best-fitted model. It underwent initial calibration and fine-tuning using data from January 2015 to August 2020, and was validated against independent 2000 data. Selection criteria included parameter significance, the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), and Schwarz Bayesian Information Criterion (SBIC). Importantly, the residuals of the ARIMA model conformed to the assumptions of randomness, constant variance, and normality affirming its suitability. The forecasts closely matched observed dengue incidence, offering a valuable tool for public health decision-makers. However, an increased percentage error was noted in late 2020, likely attributed to factors including potential underreporting due to COVID-19-related disruptions amid rising dengue cases. This research contributes to the critical task of managing dengue outbreaks and underscores the dynamic challenges posed by external influences on disease surveillance.
Sedentary behavior, physical activity, sleep duration and obesity risk: Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Chen Siqing , Yang Lili , Yang Yuting , Shi Wenmini , Stults-Kolehmainen Matthew , Yuan Qiao , Wang Chenchen , Ye Jing
Published: March 2024

Background

Observational studies have suggested associations between sedentary behaviors (SB), physical activity (PA), sleep duration (SD), and obesity, but the causal relationships remain unclear.

Methods

We used Mendelian randomization (MR) with genetic variation as instrumental variables (IVs) to assess the causality between SB/PA/SD and obesity. Genetic variants associated with SB/PA/SD were obtained from Genome-wide association study (GWAS), and obesity data came from FinnGen. The primary MR analysis used the instrumental variable weighted (IVW) method, with sensitivity tests including Cochran Q, MR-Egger intercepts, and MR-Radial. Expression Quantitative Trait Loci (eQTL) analysis was applied to identify significant genetic associations and biological pathways in obesity-related tissues.

Results

The MR analysis revealed causal relationships between four SB-related lifestyle patterns and obesity. Specifically, increased genetic liability to television watching (IVW MR Odds ratio [OR] = 1.55, [95% CI]:[1.27, 1.90], p = 1.67×10−5), computer use ([OR] = 1.52, [95% CI]:[1.08, 2.13], p = 1.61×10−2), leisure screen time (LST) ([OR] = 1.62, [95% CI] = [1.43, 1.84], p = 6.49×10−14, and driving (MR [OR] = 2.79, [95% CI]:[1.25, 6.21], p = 1.23×10−2) was found to increase the risk of obesity. Our findings indicate that no causal relationships were observed between SB at work, sedentary commuting, PA, SD, and obesity. The eQTL analysis revealed strong associations between specific genes (RPS26, TTC12, CCDC92, NICN1) and SNPs (rs10876864, rs2734849, rs4765541, rs7615206) in both subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues, which are associated with these SBs. Enrichment analysis further revealed that these genes are involved in crucial biological pathways, including cortisol synthesis, thyroid hormone synthesis, and insulin secretion.

Conclusions

Our findings support a causal relationship between four specific SBs (LST, television watching, computer use, driving) and obesity. These results provide valuable insights into potential interventions to address obesity effectively, supported by genetic associations in the eQTL and enrichment analysis. Further research and public health initiatives focusing on reducing specific SBs may be warranted.
Discrimination ability of central visual field testing using stimulus size I, II, and III and relationship between VF findings and macular ganglion cell thickness in chiasmal compression
Authors: Rocha Arthur Andrade do Nascimento , Benassi Thais de Souza Andrade , Mello Luiz Guilherme Marchesi , Preti Rony Carlos , Zacharias Leandro C. , Cunha Leonardo P. , Monteiro Mário L. R.
Published: March 2024

Purpose

To compare the relationship between macular ganglion cell layer (mGCL) thickness and 10–2 visual field (VF) sensitivity using different stimulus sizes in patients with temporal hemianopia from chiasmal compression.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 30 eyes from 25 patients with temporal VF loss on 24–2 SITA standard automated perimetry due to previous chiasmal compression and 30 healthy eyes (23 controls). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the macular area and 10–2 VF testing using Goldmann stimulus size I (GI), II (GII), and III (GIII) were performed in the Octopus 900 perimeter. For the sake of analysis, mGCL thickness and VF data were segregated into four quadrants (two temporal and two nasal) and two halves (temporal and nasal) centered on the fovea, in order to evaluate separately both the severely affected nasal hemi-retina corresponding to the temporal VF sectors and the subclinically affected temporal hemi-retina corresponding to the nasal VF sectors. Data from patients and controls were compared using generalized estimated equations. The discrimination ability of GI, GII, and GIII was evaluated, as was the correlation between mGCL and 10–2 VF sensitivity using GI, GII, and GIII.

Results

All mGCL parameters in the nasal and temporal halves of the retina were significantly reduced in patients compared to controls. 10–2 VF test sensitivity using GI, GII, and GIII was significantly lower in patients than in controls (p≤0.008) for all parameters, except the three nasal divisions when using GI (p = 0.41, 0.07 and 0.18) Significant correlations were found between temporal VF sectors (all stimulus sizes) and the corresponding nasal mGCL measurements, with similar discrimination ability. Significant correlations were also observed between all three nasal VF divisions and the corresponding temporal mGCL thickness when using stimulus sizes I and II, but not stimulus size III.

Conclusions

On 10–2 VF testing, GII outperformed GI and GIII with regard to discrimination ability and structure-function correlation with mGCL thickness in the subclinically affected nasal part of the VF in patients with chiasmal compression. Our findings suggest that the use of GII can enhance the diagnostic power of 10–2 VF testing in early cases of chiasmal compression, although further studies are necessary to support this conclusion.
Ensino e investigação da geotecnia nas universidades em portugal. Uma perspetiva sobre as últimas oito décadas
Authors: Matos Fernandes Manuel
Published: March 2024

O trabalho passa em revista, de forma resumida, o ensino e a investigação em Geotecnia nas universidades portuguesas ao longo das últimas 8 décadas. Essa retrospetiva começa na década de 1940, na qual foram identificadas as primeiras ações significativas. Para o período após 2010, no essencial a última década, apresenta-se uma análise mais desenvolvida, que identifica graves dificuldades que afetam atualmente a qualidade da formação geotécnica e o número de engenheiros civis saídos da Universidade com essa formação, bem como a renovação do corpo docente necessário para a ministrar. O trabalho termina com duas propostas. A primeira diz respeito a um novo curso de especialização-mestrado, com o objetivo de ultrapassar as carências de formação e o número de profissionais habilitados. A segunda apresenta uma metodologia para discutir e fixar, com consenso alargado e informado, a data de fundação da Sociedade Portuguesa de Geotecnia.
A Study on the Crisis Management Plan of Urban Flooding by Deep Learning: Focus on Building Learning Data and Developing AI Models that Apply It
Authors:   Crisis and Emergency Management: Theory and Praxis, p Be Deu Ro Seo , Kim Young Kyu
Published: March 2024

Recently, climate change has caused a lot of damage worldwide. Existing rainfall patterns on the Korean Peninsula could predict long-term rainfall patterns and periods, but changes in rainfall patterns due to climate change made crisis response measures useless. Due to heavy rain in August 2022, 10 local governments, including Seoul, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, and Chungnam, were declared as special disaster areas for the first time. As the impermeable area increases due to urbanization and the use of the underground space of buildings increases, the design capacity of sewage pipes is often exceeded, and the scope is local but the damage scale is increasing. Urban floods require rapid situational awareness and crisis response. To this end, it is necessary to establish a system that can monitor the flood situation at all times using CCTV distributed across the country through AI-based image analysis technology, and a new type of urban flood monitoring technology that analyzes and links it based on standardized IoT unstructured data such as real-time measurement sensor data and CCTV images is required.
Twitter As a Sphere for Anger, Criticism, and Political Confrontation: An Analysis of Tweets Regarding 10·29 Itaewon Disaster Using DMR Topic Model
Authors:   Crisis and Emergency Management: Theory and Praxis, Ham Seungkyung , Choi Ji-Myoung
Published: March 2024

This research involved the extensive collection and refinement of tweets related to the 10·29 Itaewon Tragedy, followed by analysis using DMR topic modeling. Through model validation, the optimal number of topics was determined to be 15, clustered into seven groups: informational, emotional, government criticism, political confrontation, secondary harm, empathetic responses, and miscellaneous. Examining the temporal distribution of topics revealed a decrease in the weight of topics such as 'Lack of government preparedness,' 'Accountability for the disaster,' and 'Condolences and memorials for victims' over time, while topics like 'Controversy over disrespect for victims' families' and 'Anger and Blame' increased. Further, dividing the overall period into three phases demonstrated variations in topic weights. Compared to the 'Mourning' phase, the 'Investigation' and 'Parliamentary Inquiry' phases indicated an increase in the weight of topics related to 'Investigation and detainment of those responsible' and 'Demand for the truth about the disaster.' The research concludes by discussing the implications for the politicization of disasters and community recovery.
A Study on the Relationship between Parenting Attitudes and Social Development as Perceived by Mongolian Adolescents
Authors:   Crisis and Emergency Management: Theory and Praxis, l Bayandalai Baasandulam , Cho Young Suk
Published: March 2024

The purpose of this study is to find out how the parenting attitude perceived by Mongolian adolescents affects the social development of adolescents. The subjects of this study were middle and high school students living in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. Out of a total of 250 questionnaires, 217 questionnaires were finally analyzed.The research results of this paper are as follows. First, it was found that there was no significant difference in parenting attitudes and sociality perceived by adolescents according to the gender of adolescents. Second, it was found that there was a significant difference according to the factors between parenting attitude and sociality perceived by adolescents. It was found that the most significant correlation with adolescents' social development was the parents' receptive parenting attitude. Third, among the parental parenting attitudes perceived by adolescents, the father's receptive parenting attitude was found to be the most meaningful variable affecting social participation, initiative, popularity, consideration, and autonomy, and the father's achievement-pressure parenting attitude was found to have a partial effect only on social participation.
Segurança das águas subterrâneas (groundwater security): uma revisão dos estudos nacionais e internacionais
Authors: Yoshinaga Pereira Sueli , Silva de Abreu Ana Elisa , Murillo-Bermudez Luís Fernando
Published: March 2024

A segurança das águas subterrâneas faz parte da segurança hídrica para manutenção do abastecimento e atividades humanas, vital para o desenvolvimento de uma região e da sociedade. O presente trabalho consistiu em uma revisão bibliográfica de estudos relacionados à segurança hídrica subterrânea, por meio da busca de artigos com as palavras-chave “water security” (segurança hídrica), “groundwater” (água subterrânea) e “aquifer” (aquífero)” nas bases Scopus, Compedex e Web of Science, no período entre 2019 e 2023. A busca resultou em 351 artigos que foram armazenados no gerenciador de referências Zotero e depois analisadas pelo software VOSViewer e planilhas eletrônicas. Há uma produção de cerca de 70 artigos por ano sobre o assunto, sendo os temas mais discutidos relativos a balanço hídrico, quantidade e qualidade das águas, e evolução do uso e ocupação da terra em regiões semiáridas e/ou populosas. Os países com número mais expressivo de trabalhos são a China, Índia, Estados Unidos e Brasil. A África do Sul e Irã apresentam artigos com maior número de citações, decorrente dos bem conhecidos casos de escassez aguda de recursos hídricos em clima semiárido a árido. Os métodos utilizados são os hidrológicos (séries temporais de chuva e vazão), com destaque para aqueles que analisam o escoamento básico combinado com técnicas de sensoriamento remoto. Foram analisados com maior detalhe os artigos que focam na disponibilidade hídrica subterrânea, associada ao aumento de demanda por causa do crescimento populacional, qualidade das águas subterrâneas e seus impactos. Como tendência mais recente, verifica-se o uso de modelos acoplados que visam estimar o balanço hídrico de uma área (bacia hidrográfica), simular a vazão de rios e elaborar cenários (tanto otimistas como pessimistas) para o gerenciamento dos recursos hídricos. Em relação à qualidade da água, destacam-se os índices de qualidade (diversos métodos) e sua cartografação, a partir da sobreposição das áreas de vulnerabilidade com ouso e ocupação da terra. Os estudos de governança consistem em análises socioeconômicas em áreas de conflitos de uso da água, além do desenvolvimento de indicadores de sustentabilidade para subsidiar decisões de gerenciamento. A revisão sistemática da literatura revelou que os estudos em desenvolvimento no Brasil têm acompanhado as técnicas e abordagens mais modernas que vêm sendo empregadas em estudos internacionais.
A Rare Case of Cutaneous Gastric Adenocarcinoma With Signet Ring Cell Features
Authors: Garcia Alexander , Maqsudlu Arman , Dhawan Ishita , Chaaya Adib
Published: March 2024

Cutaneous metastatic disease from primary gastric cancer is quite scarce, often going unrecognized. In this case, the patient presented with an expanding rash that was biopsied, with findings concerning for metastatic adenocarcinoma from a suspected luminal upper gastrointestinal origin. Subsequent biopsies during an esophagogastroduodenoscopy confirmed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with signet ring cell features, most likely from an upper gastrointestinal primary (gastric vs gastroesophageal junction). We review this case to help providers identify signet cell type cutaneous metastases of gastric cancer quickly to improve patient outcomes.
Potency of Biocoagulant from Cationic Modified Starch of Balbis Banana Blossom Waste for Palm Oil Wastewater Treatment: Literature Study
Authors: Fadhallah Esa Ghanim , Hidayat Alif Fikri Nur , Saffanah Arfika Julya , Iswahyudi Bella Amanda , Wasalamah Diah Shihatin , Putri Eka Cahyani , Ningtias Nadila , Ummi Yana Hijriyatin
Published: March 2024

Lampung is one of the provinces producing Indonesia's second-largest banana crop. Operational activities at the Palm Oil Mill produce a by-product of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME), which can potentially be the most enormous environmental pollution. Communities often use chemicals to treat liquid waste, which causes health problems, cannot be decomposed, and can damage the environment. Therefore, treating liquid waste using organic materials that are more environmentally friendly, safe for health and easily degraded is necessary. By modifying cationic starch, natural polymers found in banana blossom waste may be utilized for producing natural biocoagulant that are more effective. This paper aims to review the potential of cationic-modified balbis banana blossom waste starch as a natural biocoagulant for processing palm oil waste. Starch was first modified into cationic starch by etherification method with the help of HMMAHC cationic reagents. The mechanism of cationic starch as a biocoagulant is the exchange of starch cation ions and waste anions to form bridges between colloidal particles and then form flocs that can precipitate. The implementation technique of this idea is by collaborating with several parties to ensure the successful use of banana hump starch as a biocoagulant material, providing support and facilities for the industry and promoting the use of biocoagulant, conducting literature studies related to the use of banana hump starch as a natural biocoagulant, testing the effectiveness of biocoagulant, implemented in the palm oil processing industry.
Prevalence and Biofilm-forming Potentials of Bacterial Uropathogens Among Primary School Pupils in Yola North, Adamawa State
Authors: Abaka Abdulazeez Mumsiri , Dahiru Mubarak Muhammad , Ya'u Ibrahim , Abdulllahi Tukur Baba
Published: March 2024

This investigation aimed to determine the prevalence and biofilm-forming potentials of bacterial uropathogenic among primary school pupils in Yola North, Adamawa State. A total of 120 clean mid-stream urine samples were collected from apparently healthy children to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolated pathogen by the Kirby and Bauer disc diffusion method while the biofilm-forming potential by the standard methods. The result showed 26 % of the samples had significant bacteria growth with the Gram-negative as the highest. The infectivity pattern among the age group showed 8-10 had the highest infectivity percentage (35%) followed by 5-7 and 11-13 with 22.5% and 20% respectively. Six bacteria pathogens were isolated which are E. coli (41.9%) which is the most prevalent isolate followed by Staphylococcus aureus (29.0%), Pseudomonas sp. (9.7%), Klebsiella sp. (9.7%), Enterobacter sp. (6.5%), Proteus sp. (3.3%). The antibiotic sensitivity test showed an alarming resistance level to nearly all the tested antibiotics showing multi-drug resistant strains. The Biofilm-forming potentials depict E. coli with the strongest potential followed by S. aureus. A high occurrence of asymptomatic UTIs and antimicrobial resistance observed poses a public health concern. Thus, routine diagnostic exercise is recommended for early detection and prompt treatment of the pathogens.
Effects of hindlimb unloading on the mevalonate and mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling pathways in a fast‐twitch muscle in rats
Authors: Uda Munehiro , Yoshihara Toshinori , Ichinoseki‐Sekine Noriko , Baba Takeshi
Published: March 2024

Fast‐twitch muscles are less susceptible to disuse atrophy, activate the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling pathway, and increase protein synthesis under prolonged muscle disuse conditions. However, the mechanism underlying prolonged muscle disuse‐induced mTORC1 signaling activation remains unclear. The mevalonate pathway activates the mTORC1 signaling pathway via the prenylation and activation of Ras homolog enriched in brain (Rheb). Therefore, we investigated the effects of hindlimb unloading (HU) for 14 days on the mevalonate and mTORC1 signaling pathways in the plantaris muscle, a fast‐twitch muscle, in adult male rats. Rats were divided into HU and control groups. The plantaris muscles of both groups were harvested after the treatment period, and the expression and phosphorylation levels of metabolic and intracellular signaling proteins were analyzed using Western blotting. We found that HU increased the expression of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐coenzyme A reductase, the rate‐limiting enzyme of the mevalonate pathway, and activated the mTORC1 signaling pathway without activating AKT, an upstream activator of mTORC1. Furthermore, HU increased prenylated Rheb. Collectively, these findings suggest that the activated mevalonate pathway may be involved in the activation of the Rheb/mTORC1 signaling pathway without AKT activation in fast‐twitch muscles under prolonged disuse conditions.
Annuloids and Δ-wings
Authors: Hoffman David , Martín Francisco , White Brian
Published: March 2024

We describe new annular examples of complete translating solitons for the mean curvature flow and how they are related to a family of translating graphs, the Δ-wings. In addition, we will prove several related results that answer questions that arise naturally in this investigation. These results apply to translators in general, not just to graphs or annuli.
The Trouble with Take-Up
Authors: Doorley Karina , Kakoulidou Theano
Published: March 2024

Take-up of social welfare is key to its success in alleviating poverty. For a variety of reasons, including stigma, transaction costs and information asymmetry, take-up of welfare benefits is imperfect. This research note discusses the issue of take-up of social welfare and its measurement. We explore the difficulties of estimating welfare take-up, using the example of the Irish Working Family Payment (WFP) and two microsimulation models. We show how estimates of take-up can vary depending on the dataset used for simulation. We then estimate take-up of the WFP, updating the most recent estimate from 2005. Lastly, we discuss policy lessons.
Improving protocols for α-synuclein seed amplification assays: analysis of preanalytical and analytical variables and identification of candidate parameters for seed quantification
Authors: Mammana Angela , Baiardi Simone , Rossi Marcello , Quadalti Corinne , Ticca Alice , Magliocchetti Franco , Bernhardt Alexander , Capellari Sabina , Parchi Piero
Published: March 2024

Objectives

The effect of preanalytical and analytical factors on the α-synuclein (α-syn) seed amplification assay’s (SAA) performance has not been fully explored. Similarly, there is limited knowledge about the most suitable assay protocol and kinetic parameters for misfolded α-syn seed quantification.

Methods

We studied the effect of centrifugation, repeated freeze-thaw cycles (up to seven), delayed freezing, detergent addition, and blood contamination on the performance of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) α-syn SAA real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC). Moreover, we analysed the inter- and intra-plate variability, the recombinant protein batch effect, and the RT-QuIC parameters’ variability when multiple samples were run in controlled conditions. Finally, we evaluated the assay potential of quantifying α-syn seed by assessing kinetic curves in serial CSF dilutions.

Results

Among tested preanalytical variables, a ≥0.01 % blood contamination and adding detergents significantly affected the RT-QuIC kinetic parameters and the number of positive replicates. Increasing the number of replicates improved result reproducibility. The number of positive replicates in serially diluted CSF samples improved discrimination between samples with high and low seeding activity, and the time to threshold (LAG) was the most reliable kinetic parameter in multiple experiment settings.

Conclusions

Preanalytical variables affecting α-syn RT-QuIC performance are limited to blood contamination and detergent addition. The number of positive replicates and the LAG are the most reliable variables for quantifying α-syn seeding activity. Their consistent measurement in serial dilution experiments, especially when associated with an increased number of sample replicates, will help to develop the α-syn RT-QuIC assay further into a quantitative test.
Studying the lateral displacement of retaining wall supporting sandy soil under dynamic loads
Authors: Fattah Mohammed Y. , Hussein Hussein H. , Aswad Mohammed F. , Hamdi Reham E.
Published: March 2024

When Rankine or Coulomb theories are used to design a retaining wall, it is accepted that the retaining wall will experience a lateral displacement. By allowing the wall to move laterally, the earth pressure decreases on the active side of the wall and wall and earth pressure increases on the passive side, and therefore, more economical walls can be obtained when the lateral displacement is allowed. This lateral displacement is usually not calculated when designing a retaining wall. An experimental investigation is carried out to study the lateral displacement of a retaining wall subjected to dynamic loads with different load amplitude vibration, absolute frequencies, backfill sand relative densities, and different distances between the retaining wall and the loading source. The objectives of this study are to trace the lateral displacement of retaining wall under dynamic loads other than earthquakes such as the traffic load caused by trucks or railroads by direct measurement of displacements. The model footing used in this study is square. On a cohesionless soil, the tests were carried out using a dynamic load. The studied variables were as follows: three load amplitudes (0.25, 0.5, and 1 ton), three vibration frequencies (0.5, 1, and 2 Hz), two relative densities of sandy soil (30% loose sand and 70% dense sand), and three different distances between the foundation and the retaining wall. Observations show that the lateral displacement increased by increasing the load amplitude and decreased by increasing the distance between the foundation and the retaining wall. There is insignificant consequence of frequency on the cumulative lateral displacement. The lateral displacement decreased by increasing the density of sandy soil.
Integrated geophysical approach for detection and size-geometry characterization of a multiscale karst system in carbonate units, semiarid Brazil
Authors: de Castro David L. , Bezerra Francisco H. R. , Oliveira Jr Josibel G.
Published: March 2024

The karstification of carbonate rocks creates 3D maze voids that are normally controlled by fracture networks and sedimentary bedding. The spatial distribution and density of karst systems are usually complex and difficult to predict, demanding multidisciplinary studies at different scales of investigation to determine the spatial distribution and density of karst features and their possible links with cave systems controlled by the regional structural setting. The present study integrates geophysical datasets (gravity, electrical resistivity tomography - ERT, and ground penetrating radar - GPR) with a digital elevation model to investigate a karst system in the Irecê basin, a semiarid region of Brazil. Morphostructural lineaments reveal a NNW-SSE- and E-W-oriented structural setting of the crystalline basement, which is imprinted on the internal basin architecture, and surface drainage network. Negative gravity anomalies and high-gradient gravity zones indicate the main karstic zone, where karst landforms are concentrated. In addition, 2.5D gravity modeling provides the internal basin geometry, demonstrating that the karst system has evolved in the thickest sector of the basin. ERT profiles delineate the underground passages that connect dolines at depth. Finally, GPR data image shallow subsurface ghost-rock karstification that spread out from the surface to depth and that took advantage of vertical fractures and slightly arched bedding planes. Our results point out the role of the fracture corridors in channelizing hydrodynamic energy at a sufficiently high level to create caves by the total removal of dissolved material, whereas in the surrounding areas under low hydrodynamic conditions, overall shallow ghost-rock karstification took place, creating residual weathered rocks (alterites).
Study of chlorophyll dye from peppermint (mentha spicata) used as a sensitizer in TiO2 solar cells
Authors: García Ariana , Lopez-Luke Tzarara , Montes-Valenzuela Isaac , Reta-Hernández Manuel , Esparza Diego , Rivas Jesús Manuel
Published: March 2024

Chlorophyll from peppermint (mentha spicata) was evaluated as a natural dye sensitizer in TiO2 solar cells. The final photoconversion efficiency depended on the solvent used as chlorophyll dispersant and the technique used to sensitize the mesoporous TiO2 film. Evaluated sensitization techniques included pipetting, immersion, and electrophoresis. Best solar cell performance was obtained using methanol as solvent simultaneously with electrophoresis. A short circuit current density (J
sc) of 0.174 mA/cm2 and an open circuit voltage (V
oc) of 0.508 V were obtained. The photoconversion efficiency reached 0.39 %. However, sensitizing by the pipetting technique allowed a photoconversion efficiency of 0.35 % with better reproducibility.
Fundamental absorption bandwidth to thickness limit for transparent homogeneous layers
Authors: Padilla Willie J. , Deng Yang , Khatib Omar , Tarokh Vahid
Published: March 2024

Past work has considered the analytic properties of the reflection coefficient for a metal-backed slab. The primary result established a fundamental relationship for the minimal layer thickness to bandwidth ratio achievable for an absorber. There has yet to be establishment of a similar relationship for non-metal-backed layers, and here we present the universal result based on the Kramers–Kronig relations. Our theory is validated with transfer matrix calculations of homogeneous materials, and full-wave numerical simulations of electromagnetic metamaterials. Our results place more general fundamental limits on absorbers and thus will be important for both fundamental and applied studies.
Consumo y circulación de bienes culturales argentinos en China: Debates y perspectivas para un plan de promoción nacional
Authors: Estrader Joaquín
Published: March 2024

Los bienes culturales son la base inmaterial de nuestra sociedad, cuyos elementos representan los valores, las costumbres y el devenir histórico de la nación. En la actualidad, las formas simbólicas de la cultura se han convertido en productos intercambiables con un valor estratégico desde el punto de vista político y económico. Teniendo en cuenta el creciente peso de las relaciones y los intercambios con la República Popular China, este artículo intenta contribuir al debate sobre el consumo y la circulación de los bienes culturales argentinos, con el fin de proveer nuevas perspectivas y visibilizar un campo de estudios parcialmente ignorado por los académicos de nuestro país. Partiendo de un análisis bibliográfico que aborda conceptualizaciones de la sociología, la diplomacia pública y los estudios de marca país, este artículo evalúa las bases para el intercambio cultural sino-latinoamericano, la moderna sociedad de consumo en China y los procesos de circulación exterior para la promoción de bienes culturales argentinos. Además, se plantean algunas perspectivas para pensar un plan nacional de promoción, considerando las diferencias culturales entre ambas sociedades, la identificación y la selección estratégica de productos simbólicos para su circulación y el apoyo de los actores no-gubernamentales.
HSPB1 promotes tumor invasion by inducing angiogenesis in PitNETs
Authors: Li Bin , Zhao Sida , Chen Yiyuan , Gao Hua , Xie Weiyan , Wang Hongyun , Zhao Peng , Li Chuzhong , Zhang Yazhuo
Published: March 2024

The clinical diagnosis and treatment of pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) that invade the cavernous sinus are fraught with difficulties and challenges. Exploring the biological characteristics involved in the occurrence and development of PitNETs that invade the cavernous sinus will help to elucidate the mechanism of cavernous sinus invasion. There are differences between intrasellar tumors (IST) and cavernous sinus-invasion tumors (CST) in ultramicrostructure, tumor microenvironment (TME), gene expression, and signaling pathways. The microvascular endothelial cell is increased in CST. The VEGFR signaling pathway, VEGF signaling pathway, and chemokine signaling pathway are activated in CST. HSPB1 is upregulated in CST and promotes cell proliferation, cell viability, and migration. HSPB1 promotes the release of VEGF from GT1-1 cells and activates the VEGF signaling pathway in bEnd.3 cells. HSPB1 promotes the migration of bEnd.3 cells to GT1-1 cells and promotes the formation of blood vessels of bEnd.3 cells. bEnd.3 cells can release CCL3 and CCL4 and promote the vitality, proliferation, and migration of GT1-1 cells. HSPB1 promotes the formation of blood vessels of bEnd.3 cells and ultimately leads to tumor growth in vivo. HSPB1 acts as a key gene for invasion of the cavernous sinus in PitNETs, remodeling TME by promoting the formation of blood vessels of brain microvascular endothelial cells. The synergistic effect of tumor cells and microvascular endothelial cells promotes tumor progression. The mechanism by which HSPB1 promotes tumor invasion by inducing angiogenesis in PitNETs may be a new target for the treatment of PitNETs invading the cavernous sinus.