bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design and utilisation of a novel, high-fidelity, low-cost, hybrid-tissue simulation model to facilitate training in robot-assisted partial nephrectomy
Authors: Croghan Stefanie M. , Voborsky Miroslav , Roche Adam F. , Condron Claire , O’Keeffe Dara A. , McGuire Barry B.
Published: March 2024

Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) has rapidly evolved as the standard of care for appropriately selected renal tumours, offering key patient benefits over radical nephrectomy or open surgical approaches. Accordingly, RAPN is a key competency that urology trainees wishing to treat kidney cancer must master. Training in robotic surgery is subject to numerous challenges, and simulation has been established as valuable step in the robotic learning curve. However, simulation models are often both expensive and suboptimal in fidelity. This means that the number of practice repetitions for a trainee may limited by cost restraints, and that trainees may struggle to reconcile the skills obtained in the simulation laboratory with real-world practice in the operating room. We have developed a high-fidelity, low-cost, customizable model for RAPN simulation based on porcine tissue. The model has been utilised in teaching courses at our institution, confirming both feasibility of use and high user acceptability. We share the design of our model in this proof-of-concept report.
Care Bundles in Surgical Site Infection Prevention: A Narrative Review
Authors: Ching Patrick R.
Published: March 2024

Purpose of Review

Surgical site infections are healthcare-associated infections that cause significant morbidity and mortality. Best practices in prevention of these infections are combined in care bundles for consistent implementation.

Recent Findings

Care bundles have been used in nearly all surgical specialties. While the composition and size of bundles vary, the effect of a bundle depends on the number of evidence-based interventions included and the consistency of implementation. Bundles work because of the cooperation and collaboration among members of a team. Bundles for prevention of surgical site infections should address the multiple risk factors for infection before, during, and after the surgery.

Bundles increase standardization of processes and decrease operative variance that both lead to reductions in surgical site infections.
The Impact of Maternal Interpersonal Violent Trauma and Related Psychopathology on Child Outcomes and Intergenerational Transmission
Authors: Graf Shannen , Schechter Daniel S.
Published: March 2024

Purpose of Review

This review aims to outline some consequences that maternal history of trauma with and without related psychopathology, such as posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), can have on their children’s development and functioning. It then addresses mechanisms through which intergenerational transmission of interpersonal violence (IPV) and related psychopathology may occur.

Recent Findings

Findings include the effects of maternal IPV experience and related psychopathology on child social-emotional and biologically-based outcomes. This includes increased developmental disturbances and child psychopathology, as well as physiological factors. Secondly, the review focuses on psychobiological mechanisms by which maternal experience of IPV and related psychopathology likely trigger intergenerational effects.

Maternal IPV and related psychopathology can have a negative impact on several areas of their child’s life including development, interactive behavior, psychopathology, and physiology. This transmission may partially be due to fetal and perinatal processes, genetic and epigenetic effects, and interactions with their parents.
A Study of Comparison of Outcomes of Submucous Diathermy, Coblation and Micro-debrider Assisted Inferior Turbinoplasty in Patients Having Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy
Authors: Bhagat Priyanka Ramakrishna , Bathla Meeta , Doshi Hiren , Solanki Karnadev , Gajjar Ritiksha
Published: March 2024

The cause of nasal obstruction in most of the patients is either nasal septal deviation or turbinate hypertrophy owing to vasomotor or perennial allergic rhinitis. Most cases of hypertrophic turbinate are usually mild and respond to antihistamine therapy, local decongestions, or allergy desensitization; however, surgery is required in some cases. In our present study, three surgical methods were used for inferior turbinoplasty i.e. Sub-mucous Diathermy, Coblation and Micro-debrider and patients were divided randomly in these groups. The efficacy and outcomes of these methods was compared on the basis of subjective and objective relief of symptoms and their safety, recurrence and post-operative morbidity. Out of 45 patients, highest number of patients belonged to 20–40 years of age with the mean age of 28.7 years and male female ration 0.78:1. All the patients were evaluated on the basis of preoperative Endoscopic grading of inferior turbinate and SNOT22 symptom scores (Sino Nasal Outcome Test 22), intra-operative timing and bleeding and post-operative pain, crusting, SNOT22 scores (Sino Nasal Outcome Test 22) and Endoscopic grading improvement in inferior turbinate. On comparing all the above methods, we found that Coblation and Micro- debrider were more or less equally effective and better than Sub-mucous diathermy for inferior turbinoplasty. Submucous diathermy has least benefits, still most commonly used method because of its simplicity, conventionality and least cost factor while other two methods need capital investment and higher learning curve of the surgeon.
The influence of acute sprint exercise on cognition, gaming performance, and cortical hemodynamics in esports players and age-matched controls
Authors: Mancı Egemen , Gençtürk Uğur , Günay Erkan , Güdücü Çağdaş , Herold Fabian , Bediz Cem Ş.
Published: March 2024

The relationship between esports and cognitive performance has recently gained increasing interest in the scientific community. However, our knowledge of the effects of acute sprint exercise (SE) on game performance and cognitive performance of esports players (as compared to age-matched controls) is scant. To address this gap, this study using a between-subjects design with pretest-posttest comparisons recruited amateur esports players aged between 18 and 35 years, and healthy age-matched controls who did not play esports games. The participants performed the Go/No-go test, Tracking Test, and the First Person Shooter (FPS) game Valorant immediately before and 5 and 30 min after SE. In addition to the behavioral performance, changes in the cortical hemodynamics of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) were recorded before and after the acute physical exercise while playing Valorant using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. The results show that amateur esports players have superior performance in both game performance (p < .001) and specific measures of cognitive performance (i.e., Tracking Test, p < .05), regardless of the sessions. After the acute physical exercise, the gaming performance in both groups improved, and amateur esports players showed a higher accuracy in the Go/No-go task 30 min after SE. Regarding PFC cortical hemodynamics, no significant difference was noticed in the oxygenation values of both groups between pre and post tests, and between-group differences (p > .05). In conclusion, our study provides evidence that (i) amateur esports players have superior cognitive performance in specific domains and (ii) an acute bout of physical exercise can increase the gaming performance of both amateur esports players and healthy age-matched controls.
Bullying victimisation in childhood and mental health in early adulthood: comparison of prospective and retrospective reports
Authors: Ni Yanyan , Baumann Nicole , Wolke Dieter
Published: March 2024

The association between childhood bullying victimisation and mental health problems in adulthood has been consistently reported in the literature. Previous studies used both retrospective and prospective reports to measure bullying victimisation. However, there could be biases in both reports. We aimed to assess agreement between prospective and retrospective reports of childhood bullying victimisation, to compare their associations with mental health in early adulthood, and to examine the associations of consistent prospectively and retrospectively reported bullying victimisation with adult mental health. Data were from the prospective Bavarian Longitudinal Study of neonatal at-risk children and term-born controls recruited at birth. 489 participants were followed from birth to age 26 (mean [SD]: 26.4 [0.8] years). Adult mental health was assessed using both the Achenbach Young Adult Self-Report (YSR) and standardised diagnostic interviews. Childhood bullying victimisation was prospectively reported by participants and parents at age 13 and retrospectively self-reported at age 26. We showed that the agreement between retrospective and prospective self-reports of bullying victimisation was fair (Kappa 0.30) with only slight agreement (Kappa 0.18) when compared with prospective parent-reports. Both prospectively and retrospectively self-reported bullying victimisation was associated with poor mental health. Retrospective reports tended to produce stronger associations. Participants who reported being bullied both retrospectively and prospectively had a particularly elevated risk for mental health problems. In conclusion, prospective and retrospective reports capture partly different individuals with exposure to bullying victimisation. Exposure to bullying victimisation, whether it was retrospectively or prospectively self-reported, was associated with an increased risk for mental health problems.
Integrative taxonomy led to recognising Clusia reginae (Clusiaceae), a new tree species from the Venezuelan Andes
Authors: Luján Manuel , Paolini-Ruiz Jorge , Sanoja Elio , Rojas Cherry A. , Ely Francisca
Published: March 2024

Clusia reginae (Clusiaceae) is described using an integrative taxonomy approach. Field observations, discriminant analyses of morphological characters and phylogenetic inference based on molecular data led to the recognition of a new species of tree. This new taxon is distinct for having broadly obovate leaves, white petals, bright yellow flower resin and relatively large fruits. Clusia reginae is known from the foothills and valleys of the Venezuelan Andes and is here assessed using IUCN criteria as Vulnerable.
Der transkonjunktivale Zugangsweg in der Unterlidchirurgie
Authors: Starke Vasco , Zemann Wolfgang , Schwaiger Michael
Published: March 2024

Der transkonjunktivale Zugang ist ein etabliertes Verfahren in der Mund‑, Kiefer- und Gesichtschirurgie zur Durchführung operativer Eingriffe in der Orbitaregion. Das breite Indikationsspektrum umfasst dabei nicht nur die Traumatologie und die Therapie von Tumorerkrankungen des Gesichtsschädels und angeborenen Gesichtsfehlbildungen, sondern zunehmend auch Behandlungen zur Wiederherstellung und Optimierung der Gesichtsästhetik. Der Zugangsweg vereint eine gute intraoperative Einsehbarkeit des Operationsgebiets mit einem unauffälligen postoperativen periorbitalen Erscheinungsbild ohne äußerlich sichtbare Narbenbildung. Neben den genannten Vorteilen des transkonjunktivalen Verfahrens ist dieser chirurgische Zugang allerdings auch mit relevanten Komplikationen verbunden, deren Beherrschung unbedingt gewährleistet sein muss. Das Komplikationsprofil umfasst u. a. das Auftreten von Lidfehlstellungen (Entropium oder Ektropium), kanthale Malpositionen, die Chemosis oder das Symblepharon. Ziel dieses Beitrags ist es, die häufigen Komplikationen im Rahmen des transkonjunktivalen Zugangs zu beleuchten und deren Management detailliert aufzuarbeiten, um einen praxisrelevanten Überblick zu schaffen, der in dieser Form in der Literatur noch nicht beschrieben wurde.
Does Travel Spread Infection?—Effects of Social Stirring Simulated on SEIRS Circuit Grid
Authors: Ohsawa Yukio , Kondo Sae , Maekawa Tomohide
Published: March 2024

Previous models of the spread of viral infection could not explain the potential risk of non-infectious travelers and exceptional events, such as the reduction in infected cases with an increase in travelers. In this study, we provide an explanation for improving the model by considering two factors. First, we consider the travel of susceptible (S), exposed (E), and recovered (R) individuals who may become infected and infect others in the destination region in the near future, as well as infectious (I). Second, people living in a region and those moving from other regions are treated as separate but interacting groups to consider the potential influence of movement before infection. We show the results of the simulation of infection spread in a country where individuals travel across regions and the government chooses regions to vaccinate with priority. As a result, vaccinating people in regions with larger populations better suppresses the spread of infection, which turns out to be a part of a general law that the same quantity of vaccines can work efficiently by maximizing the conditional entropy Hc of the distribution of vaccines to regions. This strategy outperformed vaccination in regions with a larger effective regeneration number. These results, understandable through the new concept of social stirring, correspond to the fact that travel activities across regional borders may even suppress the spread of vaccination if processed at a sufficiently high pace. This effect can be further reinforced if vaccines are equally distributed to local regions.
Low serum total cholesterol levels predict inferior prognosis of patients with POEMS syndrome
Authors: Zhang Jue , Zhang Ting , Yao Ye , Shen Xuxing , Jin Yuanyuan , Zhang Run , Chen Lijuan
Published: March 2024

Low serum cholesterol levels are associated with increased tumor morbidity and mortality. However, the relationship between serum lipid profile and POEMS syndrome (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein, skin changes) is still unclear. The aim of our study was to clarify the importance of the serum lipid profile in predicting the severity and prognosis of patients with POEMS syndrome. Forty-three patients with newly diagnosed POEMS syndrome admitted to the Department of Hematology of Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital between August 2013 and February 2023 were selected. They had explicit serum lipid profiles. There were 27 males and 16 females with a median age of 54 years (range, 28–77 years). Survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan–Meier method, and comparisons between the two groups were performed using the log-rank test. The Cox proportional-hazards model examined risk factors associated with the prognosis of POEMS syndrome. Receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curves assessed the predictive accuracy. 23 (53.5%) patients had low total cholesterol (TC) levels. Low levels of TC were concerned with unfavorable progression-free survival (PFS) (p = 0.007) and overall survival (OS) (p = 0.004), and at the same time, the low circulating TC concentration was an independent risk factor for PFS (p = 0.020) and OS (p = 0.011). Low TC values could improve the risk stratification, especially in high-risk patients. In conclusion, low serum TC levels may predict inferior prognosis in patients with POEMS syndrome; in future clinical application, low TC may be a reliable indicator of prognosis.
Land ownership and mineral exploration and extraction in Sweden
Authors: Johnson Eva Liedholm
Published: March 2024

The protection of the ownership of land and extraction of natural resources has been much in focus in Sweden in recent years. Government inquiries into the forestry sector and protection of the environment have succeeded each other. The sustainable supply of innovation-critical metals and minerals and its impact on agriculture and forestry have also been the subject of such inquiries. This article aims to problematize and discuss land ownership and mineral exploration and extraction in Sweden in relation to private and public interests. The emphasis is on private property and the landowner perspective vis-à-vis the use of mineral resources. The concept of property is only dealt with on a general level. The ownership of land and various legal restrictions are discussed on the basis of a theoretical model. The article includes a brief overview of ownership and the control of minerals in Norway and Finland. In addition, an overview comparison between minerals and forests in Sweden is done based on parameters that include legislation, public and private interests as well as rights related to the ownership of land, forestry and exploration and extraction of minerals. Changes in land use give rise to both negative and positive effects which should be regularly debated in conjunction with the system of compensation. The general acceptance of the fact that individual companies may prospect and extract minerals without the consent of the landowners is perhaps somewhat lower than when the state is a player. The state as an owner of mines and forests must set a good example as regards attitudes to restrictions and taking consideration of the environment and other stakeholders.
Current advances on the therapeutic potential of scutellarin: an updated review
Authors: Xie Yifei , Sun Guotong , Tao Yue , Zhang Wen , Yang Shiying , Zhang Li , Lu Yang , Du Guanhua
Published: March 2024

Scutellarin is widely distributed in Scutellaria baicalensis, family Labiatae, and Calendula officinalis, family Asteraceae, and belongs to flavonoids. Scutellarin has a wide range of pharmacological activities, it is widely used in the treatment of cerebral infarction, angina pectoris, cerebral thrombosis, coronary heart disease, and other diseases. It is a natural product with great research and development prospects. In recent years, with in-depth research, researchers have found that wild scutellarin also has good therapeutic effects in anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, anti-virus, treatment of metabolic diseases, and protection of kidney. The cancer treatment involves glioma, breast cancer, lung cancer, renal cancer, colon cancer, and so on. In this paper, the sources, pharmacological effects, in vivo and in vitro models of scutellarin were summarized in recent years, and the current research status and future direction of scutellarin were analyzed.

Graphical Abstract
The Effect of Unimodal, Non-pharmacological, Preoperative Psychological Prehabilitation Interventions on Preoperative Anxiety and Stress: A Systematic Review
Authors: Verhoeven J. G. , Horstink M. M. B. , Jeekel J. , Klimek M.
Published: March 2024

Background

Prehabilitation is a novel clinical strategy to optimize patients’ health in the waiting period before surgery.

Objectives

This article aims to gather the evidence for the effectiveness of unimodal, non-pharmacological psychological prehabilitation interventions on preoperative anxiety and stress before surgery.

Design

This is a PRISMA-guided systematic review and narrative synthesis of randomized controlled trials.

Methods

The online databases Medline, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO and Google Scholar were searched on March 20th 2023. The search strategy led to 13,667 records screened and five records of randomized controlled trials included for full-text analysis. A risk-of-bias assessment was performed using the Revised Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool.

Results

Significant reduction in preoperative anxiety was seen in three studies comprising 337 participants. Two studies did not find that unimodal psychological prehabilitation reduces preoperative anxiety. Only one study assessed preoperative stress and reported a significant reduction. Intervention types used included guided imagery, stress management training, virtual reality experience and computer cognitive behavioral therapy.

Conclusions

There is contradictory evidence whether unimodal, non-pharmacological psychological prehabilitation can reduce preoperative anxiety. There is little evidence that non-pharmacological prehabilitation can reduce preoperative stress. Suggestions to improve the research in this field are discussed.
Investigating the role of ultrasound-based shear wave elastography in kidney transplanted patients: correlation between non-invasive fibrosis detection, kidney dysfunction and biopsy results—a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Filipov Teodóra , Teutsch Brigitta , Szabó Anett , Forintos Attila , Ács Júlia , Váradi Alex , Hegyi Péter , Szarvas Tibor , Ács Nándor , Nyirády Péter , Deák Pál Ákos
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy are leading causes of renal allograft failure. Shear wave elastography could be a promising noninvasive method for providing information on the state of the kidney, with specific regard to fibrosis but currently available data in the literature are controversial. Our study aimed to analyze the correlation between shear wave elastography and various kidney dysfunction measures.

Methods

This review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021283152). We systematically searched three major databases (MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL) for articles concerning renal transplant recipients, shear wave elastography, fibrosis, and kidney dysfunction. Meta-analytical calculations for pooled Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients (r) were interpreted with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was tested with Cochran’s Q test. I2 statistic and 95% CI were reported as a measurement of between-study heterogeneity. Study quality was assessed with the QUADAS2 tool.

Results

In total, 16 studies were included in our meta-analysis. Results showed a moderate correlation between kidney stiffness and interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy, graded according to BANFF classification, on biopsy findings for pooled Pearson (r = 0.48; CI: 0.20, 0.69; I2 = 84%) and Spearman correlations (r = 0.57; CI: 0.35, 0.72; I2 = 74%). When compared to kidney dysfunction parameters, we found a moderate correlation between shear wave elastography and resistive index (r = 0.34 CI: 0.13, 0.51; I2 = 67%) and between shear wave elastography and estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) (r = -0.65; CI: − 0.81, − 0.40; I2 = 73%). All our outcomes had marked heterogeneity.

Conclusion

Our results showed a moderate correlation between kidney stiffness measured by shear wave elastography and biopsy results. While noninvasive assessment of kidney fibrosis after transplantation is an important clinical goal, there is insufficient evidence to support the use of elastography over the performance of a kidney biopsy.

Graphical abstract
Inquiry-Team-Based Lab Course Design Enhances Underrepresented Undergraduate Predictors of Persistence in the Sciences
Authors: Denton Nicholas L. , Kulesza Amy E.
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Persistence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) may be promoted in underrepresented student populations by implementing an authentic inquiry-team-based learning (ITBL) STEM laboratory course design.

Methods

Between Spring 2021 and Spring 2022, the research team compared junior and senior undergraduates enrolled in an ITBL-based pharmaceutical science lab course to a comparative student population enrolled in a traditionally designed biology lab course. At the end of either STEM lab course, students completed the experimentally validated Persistence in the Sciences (PITS) survey and an open-ended question asking them to recount a moment that validated or questioned their science identity determined the effect of the ITBL STEM lab course design on factors that may impact underrepresented students’ indicators of science identity formation and persistence in STEM.

Results

Students taking an ITBL-based pharmaceutical sciences lab course demonstrated higher scores on the persistence in the sciences instrument compared to students in the traditionally designed biology lab. Interestingly, different underrepresented student communities scored differently among the six factors. Multiple mechanisms of validating science identity were cited by students such as through gaining confidence in individualistic laboratory performance, collaborating through learning barriers, and fostering confidence and societal impact in a future career in pharmacy.

Conclusion

The pharmaceutical sciences ITBL lab offered a collaborative, growth-promoting environment with experiments that are authentic to perspective pharmacists, which resulted in students reporting higher persistence in the sciences scores indicative of feeling like a pharmacist such as project ownership content/emotion, science identity, and networking across various student demographics.
FLEW: A DNS Solver for Compressible Flows in Generalized Curvilinear Coordinates
Authors: Soldati Giulio , Ceci Alessandro , Pirozzoli Sergio
Published: March 2024

We present FLEW, an in-house high-fidelity solver for direct numerical simulation (DNS) of turbulent compressible flows over arbitrary shaped geometries. FLEW solves the Navier–Stokes equations written in a generalized curvilinear coordinate system, in which the surface coordinates are non-orthogonal, whereas the third axis is normal to the surface. Spatial discretization relies on high-order finite-difference schemes. The convective terms are discretized using an hybrid approach, combining the near-zero numerical dissipation provided by central approximations with the robustness of weighted essentially non-oscillatory (WENO) schemes, required to capture shock waves. Central schemes are stabilized using a skew-symmetric-like splitting of convective derivatives, endowing the solver with the energy-preserving property in the inviscid limit. The maximum order of accuracy is eighth for central schemes (also used for viscous terms discretization) and seventh for WENO. The code is oriented to modern high-performance computing (HPC) platforms thanks to message passing interface (MPI) parallelization and the ability to run on graphics processing unit (GPU) architectures. Reliability, accuracy and robustness of the code are assessed in the low-subsonic, transonic and supersonic regimes. We present the results of several benchmarks, namely the inviscid Taylor–Green vortex, turbulent curved channel flow, transonic laminar flow over a NACA 0012 airfoil and turbulent supersonic ramp flow. The results for all configurations proved to be in excellent agreement with previous studies.
A link between the global surface area receiving daily precipitation, wet-day frequency and probability of extreme rainfall
Authors: Benestad Rasmus E. , Lussana Cristian , Dobler Andreas
Published: March 2024

Both the total amount of precipitation falling on Earth’s surface and the fraction of the surface area on which it falls represent two key global climate indicators for Earth’s global hydrological cycle. We show that the fraction of Earth’s surface area receiving daily precipitation is closely connected to the global statistics of local wet-day frequency and mean precipitation intensity, based on the ERA5 reanalysis. Our analysis of the global statistical distribution of local temporal mean precipitation intensity $$\mu$$
μ
revealed a close link between (1) its global spatial average $$\langle \mu \rangle$$

⟨
μ
⟩

and (2) the total daily precipitation falling on Earth’s surface divided by the global surface area fraction on which it falls. This correlation highlights an important connection, since the wet-day frequency and the mean precipitation intensity represent two key parameters that may be used to approximately infer the probability of heavy rainfall on local scales. We also found a close match between the global mean surface temperature and both the total mass of 24-h precipitation falling on Earth’s surface as well as surface area receiving 24-h precipitation in the ERA5 data, highlighting the dependency between the greenhouse effect and the global hydrological cycle. Moreover, the total planetary precipitation and the daily precipitation area represent links between the global warming and extreme precipitation amounts that traditionally have not been included in sets of essential climate indicators. A simple back-of-the-envelope calculation suggests that half of $$\Delta \langle \mu \rangle /\Delta T = 0.47\, \text{mm}/\text{day}$$

Δ
⟨
μ
⟩
/
Δ
T
=
0.47

mm
/
day

can be explained by increased 24-h precipitation and half by a reduced fractional area of 24-h precipitation.
Harnessing wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) in Africa: a historic turning point towards strengthening the pandemic control
Authors: Manirambona Emery , Lucero-Prisno Don Eliseo , Shomuyiwa Deborah Oluwaseun , Denkyira Salomey Asaah , Okesanya Olalekan John , Haruna Usman Abubakar , Salamah Hazem Mohamed , Musa Shuaibu Saidu , Nkeshimana Menelas , Ekpenyong Aniekan Michael
Published: March 2024

Curbing infectious diseases has been a significant challenge worldwide, with existing conventional surveillance systems presenting gaps in providing timely and spatial information, which undermines prevention and control. This has propelled the use of Wastewater-Based surveillance (WBS), a valuable tool for infectious disease surveillance able to detect early infectious diseases among asymptomatic, pre-symptomatic, symptomatic, and post-symptomatic individuals. Despite the global attention and the contribution of WBS in monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic, its use in the African continent is still stunted, which may hamper the early detection, monitoring, prevention, and response to outbreaks. Africa can benefit from WBS, deemed to be quick, cost-effective, providing timely data to ensure early report of the presence of a high-consequence infectious pathogen and devise timely protective measures at a population-level perspective. In addition, considering its inclusivity in providing an overall burden of infectious agents representing the population even in areas with limited resources, wastewater surveillance is important in tackling health disparities. Therefore, it is crucial to overcome challenges related to implementing surveillance in Africa. This can be achieved by providing adequate investments for surveillance efforts, establishing modern infrastructure to enhance wastewater drainage, enhancing the healthcare workforce through training, improving healthcare infrastructure and equipment, and utilising digital health solutions. Collaborative efforts on both local and global scales are crucial for developing effective health policies, and a robust research capacity within the continent is crucial.
A high degree of phosphorus sediment saturation in a shallow reservoir system
Authors: Young Taylor , Hargiss Christina L. M. , Daigh Aaron , Norland Jack , Richardson Laurie
Published: March 2024

This study sought to establish the degree of phosphorus saturation in sediment within a shallow reservoir that has a history of being hypereutrophic with documented harmful cyanobacteria blooms. Five sites were chosen within the Des Lacs Reservoir System for sediment sampling. At each site a transect with five sampling points had sediment sampled at the 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm depth from the sediment–water interface line. The degree of phosphorus saturation was determined by measuring the amount of solution nitric acid extractable phosphorus adsorbed on the sediments using increasing phosphorus concentrations. Adsorption at low phosphorus concentrations indicates low phosphorus saturation while adsorption at only high concentrations indicates high phosphorus saturation. Sediment soil texture, organic matter, and carbon content was analyzed. Sediment within the lakes were measured to contain a mean total phosphorus concentration of 641 mg/kg (174 mg/kg standard deviation) with sediments being at more than 95% of their phosphorus saturation. With a high degree of phosphorus saturation, sediments are unable to readily sequester P from the water column and will internally load phosphorus which can sustain hypereutrophic conditions and cyanobacteria blooms. The high phosphorus sediment saturation is unique compared to other lakes and reservoirs which have lower phosphorus sediment saturation (20–70%) and some ability to sequester phosphorus. Nearly saturated sediment means there is a high risk of continued hypereutrophic conditions and cyanobacteria blooms in the reservoir and solutions such as reducing external phosphorus loading will be less effective.
Diverse retinal-kidney phenotypes associated with NPHP1 homozygous whole-gene deletions in patients with kidney failure
Authors: Esson Gavin , Logan Ian , Wood Katrina , Browning Andrew C. , Sayer John A.
Published: March 2024

A precise diagnosis in medicine allows appropriate disease-specific management. Kidney failure of unknown aetiology remains a frequent diagnostic label within the haemodialysis unit and kidney transplant clinic, accounting for 15–20% of these patients. Approximately 10% of such cases may have an underlying monogenic cause of kidney failure. Modern genetic approaches can provide a precise diagnosis for patients and their families. A search for extra-renal disease manifestations is also important as this may point to a specific genetic diagnosis. Here, we present two patients where molecular genetic testing was performed because of kidney failure of unknown aetiology and associated retinal phenotypes. The first patient reached kidney failure at 16 years of age but only presented with a retinal phenotype at 59 years of age and was found to have evidence of rod-cone dystrophy. The second patient presented with childhood kidney failure at the age of 15 years and developed visual difficulties and photophobia at the age of 32 years and was diagnosed with cone dystrophy. In both cases, genetic tests were performed which revealed a homozygous whole-gene deletion of NPHP1-encoding nephrocystin-1, providing the unifying diagnosis of Senior-Løken syndrome type 1. We conclude that reviewing kidney and extra-renal phenotypes together with targeted genetic testing was informative in these cases of kidney failure of unknown aetiology and associated retinal phenotypes. The involvement of an interdisciplinary team is advisable when managing such patients and allows referral to other relevant specialities. The long time lag and lack of diagnostic clarity and clinical evaluation in our cases should encourage genetic investigations for every young patient with unexplained kidney failure. For these and similar patients, a more timely genetic diagnosis would allow for improved management, a risk assessment of kidney disease in relatives, and the earlier identification of extra-renal disease manifestations.
Nutritional values of ready-to-eat snacks available in the Indian E-market—a comparative study based on the health star rating system
Authors: Alhalabi Baidaa , Joseph Alex , Venkatasubramanian Padma
Published: March 2024

Background

The popularity of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods has increased globally, especially among children, because they are readily available, convenient, tasty, and have attractive packaging designs. The number of packaged foods, drinks, and snacks has risen in the Indian market, and the presence of less-healthy packaged products is a significant cause of overweight and diseases related to diet. The Health Star Rating (HSR) System, initiated by the Australian and New Zealand governments, was designed to rank these packaged products based on fat, sugar, energy, salt, and other nutritional compositions. The study assessed the nutritional value of RTE snacks currently available in the Indian e-market using the HSR system.

Methods

This comparative study analyzed the nutritional values of RTE snacks from November 2022 to February 2023. The data  were extracted from the Indian e-market, namely Amazon Fresh, Flipkart Grocery, and Big Basket, using specific keywords. The HSR system has been used to evaluate and compare the healthiness of RTE snacks, using a star rating scale of 0.5 stars = bad to 5 stars = excellent. The study assessed 294 RTE products, including chips, cocoa-based snacks, and baked snacks, with a price range of INR 50 and below.

Results

The findings revealed that the mean HSR was low (1.46) stars [SD 0.63] out of (5) stars for the studied products, with significant concerns about high levels of energy, sugar, sodium, and saturated fat. Additionally, the study observed a limited utilization of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes (FVNL) in the market products.

Conclusion

The study highlights the unhealthiness of snack products available in the Indian e-market due to high levels of sugar, salt, and fat. These snacks also lack FVNL as nutritious ingredients. The data extracted can underscore public health concerns, highlight the importance of consumer awareness, and help snack manufacturers develop healthier snacks for society.
Indigeneity, land and labour in Paraguay
Authors: Ioris Antonio A. R.
Published: March 2024

This article is focused on the politics of indigeneity, which is an increasingly important concept and a central area of dispute in a globalised world. Indigeneity encapsulates the friction between ethnicity and class identities, which cannot be understood without a full consideration of differences and relationships between landowners, other economic sectors, non-indigenous workers and indigenous people. The text specifically deals with the circumstances of Paraguay, whose process of nation building is directly related to longitudinal attacks on its indigenous peoples and the unresolved problems of land, labour and rights. The case study investigates the long-term tendencies of Paraguayan society, in particular, the ongoing expansion of agribusiness and land grabbing in the northeast of the country that tragically affect the Paĩ Tavyterã indigenous people. The discussion is based on qualitative, engaged research over several years, which considered the indigenous population as co-investigators and active socio-political players. The conclusion is that, despite the fact that Paraguay is a major exporter of primary commodities, the prevailing geographical force is the accumulation of multiple forms of social, ecological and even economic degradation. Against those perverse trends, the important reaction of the Paĩ Tavyterã, as well as of other indigenous peoples, and their struggle to recover their land and socio-ecological relations greatly complicate national politics and challenge the hegemony of export-oriented agribusiness.
Variability in microplastic color preference and intake among selected marine and freshwater fish and crustaceans
Authors: Horie Yoshifumi , Mitsunaga Kensuke , Yamaji Kazuyo , Hirokawa Soichi , Uaciquete Dorcas , Ríos Juan Manuel , Yap Chee Kong , Okamura Hideo
Published: March 2024

Plastic pollution is considered a pervasive global environmental challenge. Colored microplastics are prevalent in aquatic environments and the gastrointestinal tracts of wild-captured fish and crustaceans. Fish are thought to employ color vision to detect microplastics, prompting our investigation into microplastic ingestion patterns in three marine fish species, Chrysiptera cyanea, Hypoatherina tsurugae, and Plotosus japonicus, and three freshwater fish species, Rhodeus ocellatus, Pseudorasbora parva, and Misgurnus anguillicaudatus. Microplastics in red, blue, yellow, green, and gray were introduced to these species, and their ingestion was observed over a 4 h period under light conditions. Additionally, as crustaceans play an important role in connecting producers (phytoplankton) and consumers (fish) in natural ecosystems, we assessed a freshwater crustacean, Neocaridina denticulata. The crustacean did not ingest microplastics, and only 14% of P. parva individuals ingested microplastics (a proportion lower than that observed in the other fish species). Notably, C. cyanea, P. japonicus, and R. ocellatus exhibited color preferences in microplastic ingestion, with C. cyanea favoring red, P. japonicus preferring blue and gray, and R. ocellatus favoring red and yellow. Conversely, H. tsurugae, P. parva, and M. anguillicaudatus did not exhibit such color preferences. These findings suggest that certain fish use color vision to recognize and selectively ingest microplastics, with color preference being species-specific. Overall, this study provides new insights into microplastic ingestion by fish, potentially informing future toxicological assessments of microplastics in marine and freshwater fish and crustaceans intendan consumption.
Heavy-traffic queue length behavior in a switch under Markovian arrivals
Authors: Mou Shancong , Maguluri Siva Theja
Published: March 2024

This paper studies the input-queued switch operating under the MaxWeight algorithm when the arrivals are according to a Markovian process. We exactly characterize the heavy-traffic scaled mean sum queue length in the heavy-traffic limit, and show that it is within a factor of less than 2 from a universal lower bound. Moreover, we obtain lower and upper bounds that are applicable in all traffic regimes and become tight in the heavy-traffic regime.

We obtain these results by generalizing the drift method recently developed for the case of independent and identically distributed arrivals to the case of Markovian arrivals. We illustrate this generalization by first obtaining the heavy-traffic mean queue length and its distribution in a single-server queue under Markovian arrivals and then applying it to the case of an input-queued switch.

The key idea is to exploit the geometric mixing of finite-state Markov chains, and to work with a time horizon that is chosen so that the error due to mixing depends on the heavy-traffic parameter.
Public Returns on Public Investment: Moderna’s Violation of the Social Contract
Authors: Sarpatwari Ameet
Published: March 2024

In January 2023, Moderna announced its intent to increase the price of the COVID-19 vaccine it co-developed with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by 400%. The federal government should pressure Moderna to change course and resume buying doses for all Americans, leveraging its purchasing power to obtain a fair price.
If Left Unchecked: Lessons Learned from Unfettered U.S. Government Support of the NIH-Moderna Vaccine
Authors: Ramachandran Reshma
Published: March 2024

The NIH-Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccine’s steep price increase raises concerns that this will be the new anchor for continued price hikes and underscores the need for upstream government intervention to enable greater accountability and stewardship of public biomedical research investment.
The Metaphysics of Meaning: Aquinas and the Meaning of Life
Authors: Gardner Patrick Xavier
Published: March 2024

While ‘the meaning of life’ has grown in prominence as a topic of philosophical inquiry, few Thomists have addressed it. Joshua Hochschild has recently offered a plausible explanation, arguing that ‘the meaning of life’ is a late modern ‘invention’, at home in a conceptual framework both philosophically problematic and incompatible with the principles of St. Thomas’ thought. He, therefore, counsels Catholic intellectuals to avoid the question of life’s meaning. I argue in contrast that St. Thomas offers the kind of metaphysical perspective that originally made ‘the meaning of life’ intelligible. First, I show that closer attention to the context in which the phrase emerges (that of German Romanticism) can clarify why much of the modern discourse on ‘the meaning of life’ succumbs to Hochschild’s critique. I then show that, even in the writings of its earliest modern proponents, we find compelling reasons to hold that ‘the meaning of life’ was always more at home within a Christian conceptual framework. Finally, I argue that St. Thomas’ account of providence and divine art in particular explain the purposefulness and significance of the world, such that Thomists who appeal to these notions are well positioned to address the question of life’s meaning in contemporary philosophical debates.
Educational intervention based on the extended parallel process model improves adherence to diabetic diet and glycaemic control indices: a randomised, double-blind, controlled, factorial field trial
Authors: Dehghan Tayebe , Mohsenpour Mohammad Ali , Karimi Masoud , Mehrabi Manoosh , Zare Morteza , Akbarzadeh Marzieh , Kohansal Atefeh , Fathi Fatemeh , Sohrabi Zahra
Published: March 2024

Nutritional education is pivotal in the medical nutritional therapy of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The extended parallel process model (EPPM) is a health education method for inducing desirable health behaviours. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of nutritional education based on the EPPM in T2DM patients on knowledge, attitude, practice, anthropometric indices, glycaemic factors, lipid profile and adherence to the diabetic diet. A randomised, double-blind, controlled, factorial field trial was designed for T2DM patients aged 30–59 years (n88). Participants were randomly allocated into four groups to receive EPPM-based nutritional education through gain framed message (GFM), loss framed message (LFM), their combination (G\LFM) or usual diabetic education in the control group (CG). Participants were assessed before and after the study duration. After 3 months of intervention, eighty participants finished the study. The EPPM-based intervention increased participants’ knowledge, behavioural intention, perceived sensitivity, severity, self-efficacy (P< 0·001 for all) and response efficacy (P= 0·029) in comparison with CG. GFM (P= 0·004) and G\FLM (P= 0·034) reduced carbohydrate intake and LFM (P= 0·034) and G\LFM (P= 0·047) decreased fat intake. Between-group analysis indicated interventions reduced weight (P= 0·046), BMI (P= 0·038), fasting blood sugar (P= 0·030), 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (P= 0·027) and TAG (P= 0·002) in comparison with the CG. Results were NS for protein intake, waist and hip circumference, waist:hip ratio, HbA1c, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL. Nutritional education based on EPPM could increase the knowledge and awareness of T2DM patients. Also, it could be beneficial for blood glucose amendment. Further investigations are recommended.
LUCAN'S SILVAE IN THE VITA VACCAE: A PREDECESSOR OF STATIUS’ OCCASIONAL POEMS?
Authors: Lóio Ana
Published: March 2024

An anonymous biography of Lucan known as the Life of Vacca attributes to the poet the composition of a work called Siluae. This information has been accepted by scholars with regard to both Lucan and Statius, thus transforming Lucan into a predecessor of Statius’ Siluae. This article seeks to demonstrate that neither the manuscript tradition of Lucan's biography nor alleged references to Lucan's Siluae in Statius’ collection substantiate the affirmation that Lucan composed a work called Siluae. It is argued that the Life of Vacca is most probably late and its very long catalogue of works (mostly problematic or otherwise unknown) aggrandizes Lucan in response to the need for a commendatory biography of the poet when he became a school author. Pomponio Leto is responsible for perpetuating the mention of Lucan's Siluae by including it in his influential biography of Lucan (the first to reach the printed press). It is further argued that the circumstances of the tradition of Statius’ Siluae explain Leto's acceptance of Lucan's work of the same title. Leto was working on a commentary on the recently rediscovered Siluae, which explains his inclusion of a work called Siluae in his biography of Lucan, a great poet who had preceded Statius. Finally, this article deconstructs the theories that find references to Lucan's Siluae in Statius’ Siluae or that justify Statius’ silence about Lucan's Siluae with its political motifs.