bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
×Sorbaronia fallax (C.K.Schneid.) C.K.Schneid. nothosubsp. mitschurinii (A.K.Skvortsov & Maitul.) nothosubsp. nov., with taxonomical notes on Aronia ×prunifolia ‘Floribunda’ sensu Cinovskis (Maleae, Amygdaloideae, Rosaceae)
Authors: STALAŽS ARTURS , BĀDERE AIGA
Published: December 2023

For a while, two species were known—Aronia mitschurinii [known also under the names Aronia melanocarpa auctt., Aronia ×prunifolia auctt., and Aronia ×prunifolia ‘Floribunda’ sensu Cinovskis] and ×Sorbaronia fallax. Discoveries over the past 20 years led to the inclusion of A. mitschurinii in the genus ×Sorbaronia as ×S. mitschurinii in 2013, still recognizing it as a separate species. Since ×S. mitschurinii is a backcross between true Aronia melanocarpa and ×S. fallax, in 2021, the name ×S. mitschurinii was synonymized with ×S. fallax to follow the provisions of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Shenzhen Code). Unfortunately, ×Sorbaronia fallax s. str. and ×S. mitschurinii s. str. are morphologically very different taxa. Furthermore, ×S. mitschurinii s. str. is the first artificially created species that has for some time already become invasive in Europe. In order to ensure practical needs in horticulture and nature conservation, where both of these taxa have been separated as two different species for a long time, this paper makes a nomenclatural act to raise ×S. mitschurinii from synonyms to nothosubspecies status—×Sorbaronia fallax nothosubsp. mitschurinii nothosubsp. nov. The new taxonomic approach will make it possible to distinguish two morphologically different taxa in the future, henceforth invasive plants will respectively be called ×Sorbaronia fallax nothosubsp. mitschurinii and those cultivated only in gardens will be called ×Sorbaronia fallax nothosubsp. fallax. The name Aronia ×prunifolia ‘Floribunda’ sensu Cinovskis used by Latvian authors is nothing more than ×Sorbaronia fallax nothosubsp. mitschurinii.
Agaricus sect. Xanthodermatei (Agaricales) of West Bengal, India
Authors: TARAFDER ENTAJ , DUTTA ARUN KUMAR , KARUNARATHNA SAMANTHA C. , HE MAO-QIANG , TIAN FENGHUA , ACHARYA KRISHNENDU
Published: December 2023

Four species of Agaricus (Agaricaceae, Basidiomycota) belonging to the A. sect. Xanthodermatei of A. subg. Pseudochitonia, viz. Agaricus punjabensis, A. endoxanthus, A. melanocarpus, and A. xanthodermulus, are described from West Bengal, India, based on morphological and molecular sequences (nrDNA ITS and LSU rDNA) data. Comprehensive descriptions, field photographs of the specimens, and comparisons with morphologically similar and phylogenetically related taxa are provided. Among the four taxa, Agaricus punjabensis, A. melanocarpus, and A. xanthodermulus represent their first records for India, and Agaricus endoxanthus is newly reported for the state of West Bengal.
A nomenclatural and taxonomic review of the names and new combination published between 1886 and 1931 in Kalanchoe (Crassulaceae subfam. Kalanchooideae) by British botanist Nicholas Edward Brown (1849–1934)
Authors: SMITH GIDEON F.
Published: December 2023

The British botanist Nicholas Edward Brown (1849–1934) who worked in the Herbarium of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, from 1873 until well beyond his retirement, had a special interest in succulent plants, predominantly, but not exclusively, the Aizoaceae, the vygie family. He also described 12 species of Kalanchoe (Crassulaceae subfam. Kalanchooideae) as new, and published one new combination in the genus for a species that he had earlier placed in Cotyledon. The nomenclature and taxonomy of the names published in Kalanchoe by Brown is reviewed and discussed in a historical context. Where necessary, the names are typified.
A Machine Learning Model for Lightning-Related Deaths in Brazil
Authors: de Oliveira Maionchi Daniela , Araújo Adriano Carvalho Nunes e , Martins Walter Aguiar , da Silva Junior Gonçalves , de Souza Danilo Ferreira
Published: December 2023

Brazil presents the highest number of lightning-related deaths in the world. This study aimed to identify the key victims’ characteristics associated with such fatalities in Brazil and to develop a model that predicts the number of deaths as function of the victims’ data. The dataset provided by the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System in Brazil (DATASUS) was analyzed and machine learning regression techniques were applied. The gradien-boosting regressor (GBR) model was found to be the most effective, achieving a prediction accuracy of 97%. Through the analysis of 34 initial variables, 10 variables were identified as having the greatest influence on the model’s outcomes. These variables included race, gender, age group, occupational accidents, education, and location of death. Understanding these characteristics is crucial for implementing targeted prevention and safety strategies in various regions, helping to mitigate the risk of lightning-related deaths worldwide. Additionally, the methodology used in this study can serve as a framework for similar research in different locations, allowing for the identification of important factors specific to each region. By adapting the machine learning regression techniques and incorporating local datasets, researchers can gain valuable insights into the determinants of lightning-related fatalities, enabling the development of effective prevention and safety measures tailored to specific geographical areas.

Significance Statement

This study presents a machine learning approach using the gradient-boosting regressor (GBR) method to estimate the weekly number of lightning-related deaths with an impressive 97% prediction accuracy. The research includes a comprehensive analysis of various factors, such as race, gender, age group, occupational accidents, education, and location of death, providing valuable insights for targeted preventive strategies and safety measures. The findings significantly contribute to understanding lightning-related fatalities in Brazil. The proposed machine learning model demonstrates a robust and accurate fit to the data, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of patterns and underlying trends in lightning fatalities.
Gait variability-based classification of the stages of the cognitive decline using partial least squares-discriminant analysis
Authors: Kwak Kiyoung , Kostic Emilija , Kim Dongwook
Published: December 2023

The purpose of the present study was to examine the differences in gait variability in terms of spatiotemporal, sub-gait cycle, ground reaction force, and the joint profiles of kinematics and kinetics between older individuals with and without risk of potential cognitive impairment, and to derive the crucial features to discriminating the older adults with future risk cognitive decline by using partial least squares-discriminant analysis. A total of 90 community-dwelling older adults aged over 65 years underwent cognitive function assessment and were divided into three groups depending on cognitive assessment score. The participants’ level-walking was analyzed by using three-dimensional instrumented gait analysis. The coefficient of variation was extracted and then comparatively analyzed depending on the stages of the cognitive decline. To identify the most important contributor when differentiating the older adults with a risk of future cognitive decline, partial least squares-discriminant analysis was applied, and the discriminative power of the coefficients confirmed as features of great importance were investigated via the receiver operating characteristic area under the curve. The differences in gait variability were found mainly between the suspected dementia groups and other groups, especially in joint dynamics variables. Through the partial least squares-discriminant analysis, the discriminative features were found as follows: the mid-stance, the moments, and the power in the hip, knee, and ankle joints. In addition, the discrimination model was found to differentiate well between the three groups. The classification accuracy of intact cognition, diminished cognition, and suspected dementia was 0.857, 0.710, and 0.857, respectively. These findings mean that gait variability changes according to continuous cognitive decline, especially in sub-gait cycles and joint biomechanics, and suggest that measures of variation can be used as predictors to identify older individuals with a risk of potential cognitive impairment.
The multiple and competing functions of local reviews of serious child abuse cases in England
Authors: Dickens Jonathan , Cook Laura , Cossar Jeanette , Okpokiri Cynthia , Taylor Julie , Garstang Joanna
Published: December 2023

When children are killed or seriously harmed from abuse or neglect, there is pressure to ‘learn the lessons’ to prevent similar events. England has a long-established system of locally-based multi-agency reviews for this, but the recurrence of tragedies and repetitive findings raise questions about its effectiveness. Reflecting and building on our research into reviews completed between 2017 and 2021, we analyse the complexity that routine criticisms of inter-agency working disguise, and argue that reviews are shaped by their multiple, competing functions. The stated purpose is to improve practice. Within this are other overt but ambiguous goals: establishing what happened, accountability, reassurance and commemoration. Then there are covert functions: to dissipate public outrage, deflect attention from underlying causes, and distort understandings of the work by making it seem straightforward. Reviews would benefit from paying more attention to the dynamics of frontline practice and the local actions to implement the lessons.
Active uncertainty reduction for safe and efficient interaction planning: A shielding-aware dual control approach
Authors: Hu Haimin , Isele David , Bae Sangjae , Fisac Jaime F
Published: December 2023

The ability to accurately predict others’ behavior is central to the safety and efficiency of robotic systems in interactive settings, such as human–robot interaction and multi-robot teaming tasks. Unfortunately, robots often lack access to key information on which these predictions may hinge, such as other agents’ goals, attention, and willingness to cooperate. Dual control theory addresses this challenge by treating unknown parameters of a predictive model as stochastic hidden states and inferring their values at runtime using information gathered during system operation. While able to optimally and automatically trade off exploration and exploitation, dual control is computationally intractable for general interactive motion planning, mainly due to the fundamental coupling between the robot’s trajectory plan and its prediction of other agents’ intent. In this paper, we present a novel algorithmic approach to enable active uncertainty reduction for interactive motion planning based on the implicit dual control paradigm. Our approach relies on sampling-based approximation of stochastic dynamic programming, leading to a model predictive control problem that can be readily solved by real-time gradient-based optimization methods. The resulting policy is shown to preserve the dual control effect for a broad class of predictive models with both continuous and categorical uncertainty. To ensure the safe operation of the interacting agents, we use a runtime safety filter (also referred to as a “shielding” scheme), which overrides the robot’s dual control policy with a safety fallback strategy when a safety-critical event is imminent. We then augment the dual control framework with an improved variant of the recently proposed shielding-aware robust planning scheme, which proactively balances the nominal planning performance with the risk of high-cost emergency maneuvers triggered by low-probability agent behaviors. We demonstrate the efficacy of our approach with both simulated driving studies and hardware experiments using 1/10 scale autonomous vehicles.
Evaluation of the Safety and Effectiveness of Topical Intrapleural Application of Tranexamic Acid in Thoracic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Alzahrani Amer , Alkofide Hadeel , Joharji Hala , Korayem Ghazwa B. , Aljohani Sarah , Alshareef Hanan , AlFaifi Mashael , Alalawi Hassan , Sulaiman Khalid Al
Published: December 2023

Objectives

Bleeding remains a common complication post-thoracic surgery. Although intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA) has been shown to decrease blood loss, its use has been associated with adverse effects. Accordingly, topical TXA has been proposed as an alternative to reduce bleeding with fewer systemic complications.

Methods

We searched Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing topical TXA versus control (i.e., placebo) in patients undergoing thoracic procedures. The primary outcome was total postoperative blood loss at 24 hours. Secondary outcomes included were the number of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions, and hospital length of stay (LOS). Meta-analyses were pooled using mean difference with inverse-variance weighting and random-effects.

Results

Out of the 575 unique studies that were screened, we identified three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 399 patients. Out of the three RCTs analyzed, two studies, accounting for 67% of the total, were found to have a low risk of bias. The primary outcome of 24-h post-operative blood loss was significantly lower in patients who received TXA (mean difference [MD] −93.6 ml, 95% CI −121.8 to −65.4 ml, I2 = 45%). In addition, the need for RBC transfusion was significantly lower in the topical TXA group compared to control (MD −0.5 units, 95% CI −0.8 to −0.3 units, I2 = 60%). However, there was no significant difference in the hospital length of stay (LOS) (MD −0.3 days, 95% CI −0.9 to 0.4 days, I2 = 0%). These results remained consistent after several sensitivity analyses. The use of topical intrapleural tranexamic acid has also been found to be safe without any significant safety concerns.

Conclusion

Topical intrapleural TXA reduces blood loss and the need for blood transfusions during thoracic surgery. In addition, there is no evidence of the increased safety concerns associated with its use. Larger trials are necessary to validate these findings and evaluate the safety and efficacy of different dosages.
Mapping Media Developments and Issues: Topics, Clusters, and Content of JMCQ Articles on Communication Technology/Media Channels, 1935–2017
Authors: Rice Ronald E. , Bucy Erik P.
Published: December 2023

This study analyzed JMCQ articles in the specific topic area of mass communication technology and media channels, overall and across four 20-year periods. Primary topics changed from emphasizing media industry and policy issues, international issues of information freedom, audience research, and WWII media issues in early periods to more specific regulatory issues, ratings and audience analyses, macro and social issues, and media technology development issues in more recent periods. JMCQ serves as a treasure trove of the history of broadcast media technology and competition, policy debates, and audience interests, with a recent emphasis on more rigorous empirical analyses.
31 years survival rate of ARPE® single-mobility prosthesis in trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis
Authors: Druel Thibault , Cievet-Bonfils Maxime , Comtet Jean-Jacques , Gazarian Aram
Published: December 2023

A retrospective study of 41 trapeziometacarpal prostheses showed that the implant survival rate decreased linearly over time with a critical period in the first years; ranging from 83% after 5 years to 50% after 30 years.

Level of evidence: IV
The Curative and Preventative Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Ferroptosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Peng Wei , Yang Renyi , Li Kexiong , Jian Xiaolan , Zeng Puhua
Published: December 2023

Primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a leading variant of primary liver cancer, holds significant global prevalence with strong implications for morbidity, mortality, and prognosis. Prevention and treatment paradigms are perpetually evolving in response to this malignancy. Ferroptosis, an iron and reactive oxygen species (ROS) dependant mode of cellular death, is catalyzed by an overabundance of lipid peroxidation, subsequently causing plasma membrane rupture. There is a unique interest in the relationship of ferroptosis with HCC development and progression, as compared to the interplay of apoptosis, autophagy, and necroptosis. Recent discoveries underscore the implications of ferroptosis in HCC evolution. Moreover, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and its respective active components display anti-HCC properties, a mechanism thought to be primarily attributed to the induction of ferroptosis in HCC cells. In support of preventive and therapeutic strategies for HCC, this manuscript provides a comprehensive review of the role of ferroptosis in HCC, its regulatory network, and the cutting-edge research focused on the treatment of HCC via ferroptosis modulation using TCM.
Development and impact of a tailored eHealth resource on fibromyalgia patient’s self-management and self-efficacy: A mixed methods approach
Authors: O’Brien-Kelly Joanne , Moore David , O’Leary Ian , O’Connor Tom , Moore Zena , Patton Declan , Nugent Linda
Published: December 2023

Aim

To develop an eHealth resource to support fibromyalgia patients and explore it for usability and impact on their self-management and self-efficacy.

Background

Fibromyalgia is a complex, non-progressive chronic condition characterised by a bewildering array of symptoms for patients to self-manage. International guidelines recommend patients receive illness-specific information once diagnosed to promote self-management and improve health-related quality of life.

Design

A 3-phase mixed methods exploratory sequential design.

Methods

Qualitative interviews explored the information and self-management needs of fibromyalgia patients attending a large tertiary hospital in Dublin. Identified themes together with an extensive review of the literature of interventions proven to be impactful by patients with fibromyalgia were utilised in the design and development of the eHealth resource. The resource was tested for usability and impact using pre and post-intervention outcomes measures.

Results

Patient interviews highlighted a lack of easy accessible evidenced information to support self-management implicating the urgent need for a practical solution through development of a tailored eHealth resource. Six themes emerged for inclusion; illness knowledge, primary symptoms, treatment options, self-management strategies, practical support and reliable resources. Forty-five patients who tested the site for usability and impact demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in self-efficacy after 4 weeks access with a medium positive effect size. Patients with the most severe fibromyalgia impact scores pre-intervention demonstrated the most improvement after 4 weeks. Patients gave the resource a System Usability Score A rating, highly recommending it for fellow patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

Conclusions

The study demonstrated how the development of a novel eHealth resource positively impacted fibromyalgia patients’ self-efficacy to cope with this debilitating condition.

Impact

This study suggests that access to eHealth can positively impact patients self-efficacy, has the potential to be a template for eHealth development in other chronic conditions, supporting advanced nurse practitioners working in chronic disease management.
Arab identity and attitudes toward migration in Kuwait and Qatar
Authors: Blaydes Lisa , Gengler Justin
Published: December 2023

This paper explores the attitudes of expatriate workers towards the future of migration to the Arab Gulf states. We conduct an online survey and framing experiment administered to more than 2900 expatriate workers in Kuwait and Qatar. We find that Arab migrants are less supportive of future migration than other migrants and also exhibit high levels of ethnic-group bias in favor of fellow Arabs. Evidence from the framing experiment suggests that Arab migrants disfavor Indian workers, even though workers from South Asia are less likely to pose competition for jobs. Our findings provide empirical evidence for ethnic boundary policing within the migrant community and speak to the conditions that encourage anti-migrant sentiment and in-group favoritism among Arab expatriate workers in the Gulf region.
Personality and Humbleness: The Role of the HEXACO Model of Personality in Development of Humble Leaders
Authors: Hassan Saad , Malik Muhamamd Faisal , Raza Saqlain , Suhardi Mulyadi , Merdiani Wentri
Published: December 2023

Individual differences can be found in every aspect of emotion, thinking, and behaving. The discovery of basic personality structure models was a watershed for highlighting the importance of individual differences and their outcomes. Different individuals have differences depending upon their personality; these personality dimensions are described in terms of other personality traits in a concise but complete manner. Following the intentions and outcomes of the study, two of them were conducted where; in the first one was carried out to find how the HEXACO model of personality traits will impact Humble Leadership? While the second study intended to explain the impact of Humble Leadership on employee engagement through the mediating role of felt obligations. Two hundred sixteen respondents (leaders and workers) of government sector organizations participated in the study. Results of our research indicated/suggested that Honesty–Humility, Agreeableness, Emotionality, and Conscientiousness significantly contribute to the development of Humble Leadership; however, extroverts and Openness have an insignificant and negative impact on developing a Humble Leader. The outcome of study 2 suggested that Humble Leadership and Employee Engagement significantly impact each other while Felt Obligation plays a significant mediating role in this relationship.
Authentic Experience, Place Attachment, and Behavioral Intention: Vietnamese Religious Tourism
Authors: Nguyen-Viet Bang , Van Nguyen Si
Published: December 2023

This quantitative study used the Stimulus-Organism-Response theory to examine the relationships among authentic experience, tourist satisfaction, place attachment, and behavioral intention in religious destination context. The survey questionnaire was designed to obtain the data. The responses of 566 tourists that paid a visit to the Father Diep Church, a famous religious destination in southern Vietnam, were analyzed. The results revealed that tourist satisfaction significantly influenced on place attachment, destination revisit intention, and word-of-mouth. Furthermore, word-of-mouth and revisit intentions were sharply and positively impacted by place attachment, whereas the influence of authentic experience on tourist satisfaction, revisit intention, and word-of-mouth was noteworthy. Moreover, demographic factors, such as being female, being a business tourist, and observing a different religion (non-Catholic), were associated with higher revisit intention. These findings could provide guidelines for developing marketing strategies for religious destinations and be theoretically based on for further empirical validation.
Balancing the value and risk of exercise-based therapy post-COVID-19: a narrative review
Authors: Singh Sally J. , Daynes Enya , McAuley Hamish J.C. , Raman Betty , Greening Neil J. , Chalder Trudie , Elneima Omer , Evans Rachael A. , Bolton Charlotte E.
Published: December 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can lead to ongoing symptoms such as breathlessness, fatigue and muscle pain, which can have a substantial impact on an individual. Exercise-based rehabilitation programmes have proven beneficial in many long-term conditions that share similar symptoms. These programmes have favourably influenced breathlessness, fatigue and pain, while also increasing functional capacity. Exercise-based rehabilitation may benefit those with ongoing symptoms following COVID-19. However, some precautions may be necessary prior to embarking on an exercise programme. Areas of concern include ongoing complex lung pathologies, such as fibrosis, cardiovascular abnormalities and fatigue, and concerns regarding post-exertional symptom exacerbation. This article addresses these concerns and proposes that an individually prescribed, symptom-titrated exercise-based intervention may be of value to individuals following infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
Clinical–radiological–pathological correlation in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Verbelen Tom , Godinas Laurent , Dorfmüller Peter , Gopalan Deepa , Condliffe Robin , Delcroix Marion
Published: December 2023

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare and potentially life-threatening complication of acute pulmonary embolism. It is characterised by persistent fibro-thrombotic pulmonary vascular obstructions and elevated pulmonary artery pressure leading to right heart failure. The diagnosis is based on two steps, as follows: 1) suspicion based on symptoms, echocardiography and ventilation/perfusion scan and 2) confirmation with right heart catheterisation, computed tomography pulmonary angiography and, in most cases, digital subtraction angiography. The management of CTEPH requires a multimodal approach, involving medical therapy, interventional procedures and surgical intervention. This clinical–radiological–pathological correlation paper illustrates the diagnostic and therapeutic management of two patients. The first had chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease without pulmonary hypertension at rest but with significant physical limitation and was successfully treated with pulmonary endarterectomy. The second patient had CTEPH associated with splenectomy and was considered unsuitable for surgery because of exclusive subsegmental lesions combined with severe pulmonary hypertension. The patient benefited from multimodal treatment involving medical therapy followed by multiple sessions of balloon pulmonary angioplasty. Both patients had normalised functional capacity and pulmonary haemodynamics 3–6 months after the interventional treatment. These two examples show that chronic thromboembolic pulmonary diseases are curable if diagnosed promptly and referred to CTEPH centres for specialist treatment.
Selection of potential targets for stratifying congenital pulmonary airway malformation patients with molecular imaging: is MUC1 the one?
Authors: van Horik Cathy , Zuidweg Marius J.P. , Boerema-de Munck Anne , Buscop-van Kempen Marjon , Brosens Erwin , Vahrmeijer Alexander L. , von der Thüsen Jan H. , Wijnen René M.H. , Rottier Robbert J. , Tummers Willemieke S.F.J. , Schnater J. Marco
Published: December 2023

Currently there is a global lack of consensus about the best treatment for asymptomatic congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) patients. The somatic KRAS mutations commonly found in adult lung cancer combined with mucinous proliferations are sometimes found in CPAM. For this risk of developing malignancy, 70% of paediatric surgeons perform a resection for asymptomatic CPAM. In order to stratify these patients into high- and low-risk groups for developing malignancy, a minimally invasive diagnostic method is needed, for example targeted molecular imaging. A prerequisite for this technique is a cell membrane bound target. The aim of this study was to review the literature to identify potential targets for molecular imaging in CPAM patients and perform a first step to validate these findings.

A systematic search was conducted to identify possible targets in CPAM and adenocarcinomain situ(AIS) patients. The most interesting targets were evaluated with immunofluorescent staining in adjacent lung tissue, KRAS+CPAM tissue and KRAS–CPAM tissue.

In 185 included studies, 143 possible targets were described, of which 20 targets were upregulated and membrane-bound. Six of them were also upregulated in lung AIS tissue (CEACAM5, E-cadherin, EGFR, ERBB2, ITGA2 and MUC1) and as such of possible interest. Validating studies showed that MUC1 is a potential interesting target.

This study provides an extensive overview of all known potential targets in CPAM that might identify those patients at risk for malignancy and conducted the first step towards validation, identifying MUC1 as the most promising target.
Development of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) for intercity travel & rural/island areas: the case study of Greece
Authors: Papaioannou Georgios , Polydoropoulou Amalia , Tsirimpa Athena , Pagoni Ioanna
Published: December 2023

The specific features and requirements of island regions and rural areas make Mobility as a Service (MaaS) an attractive and evolving concept in the realm of Intercity/Rural/Island transportation. The primary goal of this research is to provide qualitative insights relative to the added value and development of MaaS for the previously mentioned transport services through a case study from Greece, a country with approximately 250 inhabited islands. In island settings, the primary societal motivation for MaaS is to enhance the accessibility of islands and improve individuals' access to multiple transport services. MaaS is found to have a strong potential to act as an enabler for more efficient transport and better accessibility to remote/island locations, acting in a complementary manner with currently applied “external” measures such as the Greek “Transport Equivalent”. To further assess the potential, development and impact of MaaS a focus group comprised by key-representatives from industry and academia stakeholders is created. The MaaS Ecosystem, as described by the experts, is comprised of the MaaS Provider, all the intercity/rural/island transport providers currently operating in the Greek market, MaaS Enabling entities (associations, regulators, investors, research institutions), the Integration Drivers and the customers. The issue of transport providers’ liability in case of disruptions and existing market regulations constitute, according to the results, an important challenge towards development of an Intercity MaaS, which needs to be addressed by legislative studies in a pan-European level. Most likely user groups for Intercity/Rural/Island MaaS are young people and digitally educated people, whilst less likely patronage groups are the elderly and “vulnerable” population groups. Relative to the external environment, high degree of fragmentation of the intercity transport industry combined by “autonomous” behavior of actors (“silo effect”) appears to be the greatest threat towards MaaS whilst anticipated capital investments in infrastructure and vehicles, which are foreseen in the proxime future, are the greatest opportunities.
Injectiondesign: web service of plate design with optimized stratified block randomization for modern GC/LC-MS-based sample preparation
Authors: Lu Miaoshan , Jiang Hengxuan , Wang Ruimin , An Shaowei , Wang Jiawei , Yu Changbin
Published: December 2023

Background

Plate design is a necessary and time-consuming operation for GC/LC-MS-based sample preparation. The implementation of the inter-batch balancing algorithm and the intra-batch randomization algorithm can have a significant impact on the final results. For researchers without programming skills, a stable and efficient online service for plate design is necessary.

Results

Here we describe InjectionDesign, a free online plate design service focused on GC/LC-MS-based multi-omics experiment design. It offers the ability to separate the position design from the sequence design, making the output more compatible with the requirements of a modern mass spectrometer-based laboratory. In addition, it has implemented an optimized block randomization algorithm, which can be better applied to sample stratification with block randomization for an unbalanced distribution. It is easy to use, with built-in support for common instrument models and quick export to a worksheet.

Conclusions

InjectionDesign is an open-source project based on Java. Researchers can get the source code for the project from Github: https://github.com/CSi-Studio/InjectionDesign. A free web service is also provided: http://www.injection.design.
Consistent traffic noise impacts few fitness-related traits in a field cricket
Authors: Welsh Gabrielle T. , Anner Sophia C. , Westwood Mary L. , Rockwell Victoria , O’Toole Hannah , Holiday Megan , Tinghitella Robin M.
Published: December 2023

Background

Anthropogenic habitat change is occurring rapidly, and organisms can respond through within-generation responses that improve the match between their phenotype and the novel conditions they encounter. But, plastic responses can be adaptive or maladaptive and are most likely to be adaptive only when contemporary conditions reasonably mimic something experienced historically to which a response has already evolved. Noise pollution is a ubiquitous anthropogenic stressor that accompanies expanding urbanization. We tested whether the amplitude of traffic noise influences a suite of fitness-related traits (e.g. survival, life history, reproductive investment, immunity) and whether that depends on the life stage at which the noise is experienced (juvenile or adult). Our treatments mimic the conditions experienced by animals living in urban roadside environments with variable vehicle types, but continuous movement of traffic. We used the Pacific field cricket, an acoustically communicating insect that was previously shown to experience some negative behavioral and life history responses to very loud, variable traffic noise, as a model system.

Results

After exposing crickets to one of four traffic noise levels (silence, 50dBA, 60dBA, and 70dBA which are commonly experienced in their natural environment) during development, at adulthood, or both, we measured a comprehensive suite of fifteen fitness-related traits. We found that survival to adulthood was lower under some noise treatments than under silence, and that the number of live offspring hatched depended on the interaction between a female’s juvenile and adult exposure to traffic noise. Both of these suggest that our noise treatments were indeed a stressor. However, we found no evidence of negative or positive fitness effects of noise on the other thirteen measured traits.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that, in contrast to previous work with loud, variable traffic noise, when noise exposure is relatively constant, plasticity may be sufficient to buffer many negative fitness effects and/or animals may be able to habituate to these conditions, regardless of amplitude. Our work highlights the importance of understanding how the particular characteristics of noise experienced by animals influence their biological responses and provides insight into how commensal animals thrive in human-dominated habitats.
Spatiotemporal distribution and environmental influences of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in Shandong Province, China
Authors: Duan Qing , Tian Xueying , Pang Bo , Zhang Yuwei , Xiao Chuanhao , Yao Mingxiao , Ding Shujun , Zhang Xiaomei , Jiang Xiaolin , Kou Zengqiang
Published: December 2023

Background

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease discovered in China in 2009. The purpose of this study was to describe the spatiotemporal distribution of SFTS and to identify its environmental influencing factors and potential high-risk areas in Shandong Province, China.

Methods

Data on the SFTS incidence from 2010 to 2021 were collected. Spatiotemporal scan statistics were used to identify the time and area of SFTS clustering. The maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model was used to analyse environmental influences and predict high-risk areas.

Results

From 2010 to 2021, a total of 5705 cases of SFTS were reported in Shandong. The number of SFTS cases increased yearly, with a peak incidence from April to October each year. Spatiotemporal scan statistics showed the existence of one most likely cluster and two secondary likely clusters in Shandong. The most likely cluster was in the eastern region, from May to October 2021. The first secondary cluster was in the central region, from May to October 2021. The second secondary cluster was in the southeastern region, from May to September 2020. The MaxEnt model showed that the mean annual wind speed, NDVI, cattle density and annual cumulative precipitation were the key factors influencing the occurrence of SFTS. The predicted risk map showed that the area of high prevalence was 28,120 km2, accounting for 18.05% of the total area of the province.

Conclusions

The spatiotemporal distribution of SFTS was heterogeneous and influenced by multidimensional environmental factors. This should be considered as a basis for delineating SFTS risk areas and developing SFTS prevention and control measures.
Malnutrition and cerebral intraparenchymal damage in patients with thrombosis of dural sinuses and/or cerebral veins
Authors: Xiang Weiwei , Liang Yangyang , Chen Zhibo , Wang Hanmin , Guan Yangtai , Xie Dewei
Published: December 2023

Backgrounds

Thrombosis of dural sinuses and/or cerebral veins (CVT) is an uncommon form of cerebrovascular disease. Malnutrition is common in patients with cerebrovascular disease, and early assessment of malnutrition and individualized nutritional treatment have been reported to improve functional outcomes of these patients. As for CVT patients, little is known about whether these patients would suffer from malnutrition. Also, the correlation between malnutrition and cerebral intraparenchymal damage (CID) in CVT patients was rarely studied.

Methods

Patients with CVT were retrospectively included in this observational study. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to investigate the effects of nutritional indexes on the risk of CID. Subsequently, we used the independent risk factors to construct the nomogram model, and the consistency index (C-index), calibration curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) to assess the reliability and applicability of the model.

Results

A total of 165 patients were included in the final analysis. Approximately 72.7% of CVT patients were regarded as malnourished by our malnutrition screening tools, and malnutrition is associated with an increased risk of CID. Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) (OR = 0.873; CI: 0.791, 0.963, p = 0.007) remained as an independent predictor for CID after adjustment for other risk factors. The nomogram model showed that PNI and gender have a great contribution to prediction. Besides, the nomogram model was consistent with the actual observations of CID risk (C-index = 0.65) and was of clinical significance.

Conclusions

We reported that malnutrition, as indicated by PNI, was associated with a higher incidence of CID in CVT patients. Also, we have constructed a nomogram for predicting the risk of CID in these patients.
Medical student perceptions of mental illness: a cross-sectional transnational study in two medical schools
Authors: Rees Annie , Cuthbert Callum , Shah Viraj , Rong Lim , Peh Daniel , Baptista Ana , Smith Susan
Published: December 2023

Background

Despite shifting global attitudes, mental illness remains highly stigmatised amongst practicing doctors. This has wider implications on doctors’ training to care for patients with mental illness. There is need for exploration of the presence and mitigation of stigma in early medical education to prevent such attitudes propagating into clinical practice. Thus, this study explores whether stigmatising attitudes are detectable amongst medical students in London and Singapore and examines whether they are ameliorated by specific curricular and welfare features of formal medical education, utilising the Mental Illness Stigma Framework (MISF).

Methods

A mixed-methods approach was adopted. Medical students at Imperial College London (UK; n = 211) and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore; n = 141) completed a validated scale (the OMS-HC-15) to assess attitudes towards mental illness. Semi-structured interviews were conducted (Imperial: n = 12, NTU: n = 8) until theoretical saturation was reached. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively and comparatively using SPSS and interview data subjected to inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Total OMS-HC-15 scores ranged from 19–51 for Imperial (n = 211) and 16–53 for NTU (n = 141). No significant differences in overall stigma scores were found between the two schools (p = 0.24), nor when comparing year groups within each school. Four themes were identified across interview data: student perceptions, impacts of medical school culture, university support, and curricular impacts on mental illness perceptions. Themes allowed identification of aspects of medical school that were well-received and warranted further emphasis by students, alongside areas for improvement.

Conclusion

Mental health stigma was identified in two medical schools, with differing cultures. Mean stigma scores obtained were comparable between both UK and Singaporean medical students. Nuanced differences were identified via subgroup analysis, and the MISF identified both shared and country-specific drivers for this stigma across the qualitative data. Actionable recommendations to mitigate this were hypothesised. Curricular improvements such as earlier psychiatric teaching and sharing of personal stories may improve future stigma scores as students’ progress through the course. Specific welfare-based changes to formal support systems were also deemed to be beneficial by students. The impacts of welfare and curricular redesign in relation to societal influence on students’ attitudes warrants further investigation, as does medical students’ self-stigma.
Nanotheranostic Trojan Horse for visualization and photo-immunotherapy of multidrug-resistant bacterial infection
Authors: Pang Xin , Xu Haohang , Geng Qishun , Han Yu , Zhang Huiya , Liu Heng , Zhang Xiao , Miao Mingsan
Published: December 2023

Effective diagnosis and therapy for bacterial infections, especially those caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) species, greatly challenge current antimicrobial stewardship. Monocytes, which can chemotactically migrate from the blood to infection site and elicit a robust infection infiltration, provide a golden opportunity for bacterial theranostics. Here, a nano-Trojan Horse was facilely engineered using mannose-functionalized manganese-eumelanin coordination nanoparticles (denoted as MP-MENP) for precise two-step localization and potent photothermal-immunotherapy of MDR bacterial infection. Taking advantage of the selective recognition between mannose and inflammation-associated monocytes, the MP-MENP could be passively piggybacked to infection site by circulating monocytes, and also actively target infiltrated monocytes that are already accumulated in infection microenvironment. Such dual-pronged targeting enabled an efficient imaging diagnosis of bacterial infection. Upon laser irradiation, the MP-MENP robustly produced local hyperemia to ablate bacteria, both extracellularly and intracellularly. Further combined with photothermal therapy-induced immunogenic cell death and MP-MENP-mediated macrophage reprogramming, the immunosuppressive infection microenvironment was significantly relieved, allowing an enhanced antibacterial immunity. Collectively, the proposed nanotheranostic Trojan Horse, which integrates dual-pronged targeting, precise imaging diagnosis, and high-performance photothermal immunotherapy, promises a new way for complete eradication of MDR bacterial infection.
Exclusive breastfeeding practices and its determinants in Indian infants: findings from the National Family Health Surveys-4 and 5
Authors: Reddy N Samarasimha , Dharmaraj Aravind , Jacob Jovis , Sindhu Kulandaipalayam Natarajan
Published: December 2023

Background

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in infants for the first 6 months of life. This analysis aims to estimate the proportion of Indian infants exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months using the National Family Health Surveys (NFHS)-4 and 5, and further, determine factors associated with EBF practices.

Methods

EBF for this analysis was defined as when infants received only breast milk and no complementary feeds (solid food, water, animal milk, baby formula, juice, and fortified food) in the last 24 h prior to the survey. The proportion of infants exclusively breastfed was plotted from birth to 6 months as per the age of children at the time of the survey, and this was computed for individual states, union territories, and overall, for India. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to examine factors influencing EBF in Indian infants.

Results

The proportion of Indian infants exclusively breastfed for 6 months was 31.3% (1280/4095; 95% CI 29.9, 32.7) and 43% (1657/3853; 95% CI 41.4, 44.6) as per the NFHS-4 and 5 surveys, respectively. In NFHS-5, infants of scheduled tribes (aOR 1.5; 95% CI 1.2, 1.9) and mothers who delivered at public health facilities (aOR 1.3; 95% CI 1.1, 1.5) showed an increased odds of being exclusively breastfed at 6 months of life compared to their counterparts. Further, infants of mothers aged < 20 years (aOR 0.5; 95% CI 0.4, 0.7), low birth weight infants (aOR 0.6; 95% CI 0.4, 0.8), and infants in whom breastfeeding was initiated one hour after birth (aOR 0.8; 95% CI 0.7, 0.9) showed a reduced odds of being exclusively breastfed at 6 months compared to their counterparts.

Conclusions

The overall EBF practice showed an increasing trend in the NFHS-5 compared to the NFHS-4 survey. However, a vast gap remains unaddressed in the Indian setting with > 50% of the population still not exclusively breastfeeding their infants for the WHO recommended duration of first 6 months. Behavioral studies dissecting the complex interplay of factors influencing EBF within the heterogenous Indian population can help plan interventions to promote and scale-up EBF in Indian infants.
Exploring Piezo1, Piezo2, and TMEM150C in human brain tissues and their correlation with brain biomechanical characteristics
Authors: Raha Arjun , Wu Yuning , Zhong Lily , Raveenthiran Jatheeshan , Hong Minji , Taiyab Aftab , Wang Li , Wang Bill , Geng Fei
Published: December 2023

Unraveling the intricate relationship between mechanical factors and brain activity is a pivotal endeavor, yet the underlying mechanistic model of signaling pathways in brain mechanotransduction remains enigmatic. To bridge this gap, we introduced an in situ multi-scale platform, through which we delineate comprehensive brain biomechanical traits in white matter (WM), grey-white matter junctions (GW junction), and the pons across human brain tissue from four distinct donors. We investigate the three-dimensional expression patterns of Piezo1, Piezo2, and TMEM150C, while also examining their associated histological features and mechanotransduction signaling networks, particularly focusing on the YAP/β-catenin axis. Our results showed that the biomechanical characteristics (including stiffness, spring term, and equilibrium stress) associated with Piezo1 vary depending on the specific region. Moving beyond Piezo1, our result demonstrated the significant positive correlations between Piezo2 expression and stiffness in the WM. Meanwhile, the expression of Piezo2 and TMEM150C was shown to be correlated to viscoelastic properties in the pons and WM. Given the heterogeneity of brain tissue, we investigated the three-dimensional expression of Piezo1, Piezo2, and TMEM150C. Our results suggested that three mechanosensitive proteins remained consistent across different vertical planes within the tissue sections. Our findings not only establish Piezo1, Piezo2, and TMEM150C as pivotal mechanosensors that regulate the region-specific mechanotransduction activities but also unveil the paradigm connecting brain mechanical properties and mechanotransduction activities and the variations between individuals.