bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of acute kidney injury continuum in children
Authors: Chisavu Flavia , Gafencu Mihai , Stroescu Ramona , Chisavu Lazar , Schiller Adalbert
Published: October 2024

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The continuum of kidney damage after an AKI episode is poorly explored in the paediatric population.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study on 2346 children with AKI from a tertiary care hospital in Romania over a 9-year period. The main objective was to evaluate the impact of AKI duration on mortality and the risk of new-onset chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Results

Out of 2346 AKI patients, transient AKI was present in 655 patients (27.9%), persistent AKI in 1009 children (43%) and acute kidney disease in 682 patients (29.1%). In contrast to transient AKI, children who developed acute kidney disease were younger, with a higher degree of anaemia, lower number of platelets, higher procalcitonin, higher LDH, higher GGT, higher urea and higher serum creatinine levels. The pre-renal cause of AKI was the leading cause regardless of AKI duration. As kidney injury progressed over time, there was an increasing incidence of the intrinsic causes of AKI (11.1% in transient AKI, 13.2% in persistent AKI and 22.6% in acute kidney disease). Acute kidney disease patients had the highest mortality rate (16.42%), followed by transient AKI (14.66%) and persistent AKI (9.81%). Overall mortality increased in the presence of renal microvascular alterations, acute tubular necrosis, lower haemoglobin, serum proteins and platelets, and higher procalcitonin levels.

Conclusions

The continuum of AKI expressed as acute kidney disease resulted in an increased risk of new-onset CKD. CKD was influenced by the intrinsic cause of AKI and not by AKI severity.

Graphical abstract
Closed-form solutions for the optimal parameters of three inerter-enhanced dampers (IEDs) equipped on a ground acceleration-excited structure
Authors: Li Jiao , Qiao Xiaolin , Cheng Zhibao , Shi Zhifei
Published: October 2024

Replacing the viscous damper of tuned mass damper (TMD) with the proposed inerter-enhanced dampers (IEDs), novel vibration mitigation methods, namely the IED-TMDs, are proposed. Unlike the TMD, which brings only one additional freedom into the system, the proposed IED-TMDs introduce more freedoms into the considered dynamic system. As a result, the traditional fixed-point theory cannot be used. To address this issue, this paper develops an extended fixed-point theory. Firstly, the inerter and the springs of the IED-TMDs are optimized considering that all four fixed points are of the same height. The closed-form solutions for the optimal inerter and springs of the IED-TMDs are obtained. Secondly, to obtain the optimal damping ratio for the IED-TMDs with multi-fixed points, a new optimization criterion is introduced. Different from the traditional fixed-point theory which controls the slope of the transfer function at the fixed points, the new optimization criterion assumes that the local peaks of the transfer function in between the four fixed points have the same height as the fixed points. And, a flat plateau is achieved in the transfer function. Further, the closed-form solutions for the optimal damping ratio are simplified in consideration of actual applications. Finally, the vibration mitigation performance of the IED-TMDs is evaluated. Results show that the vibration mitigation performance of IED-TMDs is superior to that of the conventional TMD. This superior vibration mitigation performance is more significant for the IED-TMDs with a smaller mass ratio.
Physico-mechanical measurements, functional properties, proximate composition of newly developed climate-resilient cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) varieties and their classification with near-infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Doe-Addo K. S. , Tengey T. K. , Boakye A. , Zaukuu J-L. Z. , Oduro I. N. , Ellis W. O.
Published: October 2024

Cowpea is an important staple in Ghana and many tropical and subtropicalregions. Improving food security and agricultural sustainability for these crops requires the development of climate-resilient varieties.This study aimed to classify five newly developed climate-resilient cowpea varieties—Bawutawuta, SAMPEA 14, SARI-tuya, IT13K-1070–2, and IT07K-299–6—using Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) for classification, while standard methods were used to evaluate their composition, functional and physico-mechanical properties. Proximate composition, including moisture, protein, ash, fat, crude fiber, and carbohydrates, was determined according to Association of Official Analytical Chemists methods. NIRS data was processed within the 950–1650 nm range to reduce spectral noise, employing Savitzky-Golay smoothing for baseline correction. Linear Discriminant Analysis facilitated multi-class classification, with cross-validation performed using a leave-one-sample-out method to evaluate recognition and prediction accuracy. The cowpea varieties exhibited significant differences in their chemical and physico-mechanical properties. Moisture content ranged from 7.21% to 10.88%, protein from 22.84% to 32.53%, ash from 0.90% to 1.81%, fat from 2.56% to 9.13%, crude fiber from 2.90% to 4.78%, and carbohydrates from 47.43% to 53.85%. NIRS analysis demonstrated high sensitivity, achieving a recognition accuracy of 98.08% and a prediction accuracy of 96.19%. Bawutawuta and SARI-tuya presented distinct spectral profiles, while SAMPEA 14, IT13K-1070–2, and IT07K-299–6 showed overlapping spectra. These findings provide valuable insights into the unique attributes of each cowpea variety, which can be leveraged to optimize agricultural practices, processing, and storage of these climate-resilient varieties.
Girl Power
Authors: In Jin
Published: October 2024

This Element harnesses new data about gender and sustainability, presents inspiring stories of empowerment, and introduces a framework of building empowerment muscles. It unveils three shocking truths about young women's empowerment as well as disempowerment and patterns of environmental degradation, violence, and exclusion. It presents seven case studies of empowerment from around the world, each matched with distinct skill – a muscle of empowerment. The empowerment muscles are focus, hope, courage, advocacy, solidarity, endurance, and healing. From climate activist Greta Thunberg to the all-girl Afghan robotics team, the #NeverAgain movement against gun violence, to the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement, today's empowered girls are a transformative force for change. Lastly, unlike most works that use empowerment nebulously, this Element concretizes what empowerment is exactly – a set of muscles each reader can build and strengthen through 'workout' training exercises.
African Studies Keyword: “Transformation”
Authors: Hudani Shakirah E.
Published: October 2024

In the African Studies literature “transformation” emerges as a capacious discursive field and project of state power. In this Keyword article, I move from postindependence questions of transformative social change to violence as a transformative project of the nation-state, examining its imbrication with questions of transition and state aftermaths. I analyze transformation as a promise of worldmaking around horizons of the “post”: postapartheid, postconflict, and postcolonial. I then consider textures of transformative urbanism in changing African cities, and analyze processes implicated in reclaiming forms of discard, positing transformation as recuperation. Transformation is ultimately a multidirectional conceptual field capable of remaking personal worlds and theoretical orientations.
Implication of serum copper level, serum zinc level, and copper to zinc ratio in neonatal sepsis
Authors: Saadat Seyed Hossein , Goodarzi Rakhshaneh , Kargarian Marvasti Sadegh , Montazerghaem Sobhan
Published: October 2024

Background:

Zinc and copper are trace elements that have important roles in the function of the immune system. We aimed to compare serum zinc and copper levels in neonates with and without neonatal sepsis.

Methods:

This case–control study examined 54 newborns with sepsis and 54 matched healthy controls admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Children’s Hospital, Bandar Abbas, Iran. Neonates with the diagnosis of sepsis were regarded as cases and those admitted for other reasons were regarded as controls. Maternal and neonatal serum zinc and copper were measured on admission. Copper, zinc, and copper/zinc ratio differences between case and control groups were analyzed.

Results:

Neonatal zinc levels were significantly lower in the sepsis group versus controls (88.65 ± 40.64 vs 143.48 ± 69.57μg/dL, p < 0.001). Sepsis group mothers had lower zinc (66.04 vs 83.37μg/dL, p = 0.008) and copper (124.09 vs 157.74μg/dL, p < 0.001). Neonatal copper levels were slightly lower in the sepsis group. Copper/zinc ratio was significantly higher in the sepsis group (p < 0.001). In the sepsis group, the interval to the resolution of sepsis symptoms was significantly shorter in neonates with excess compared to sufficient copper levels (P = 0.023).

Conclusions:

Serum copper and zinc levels have an important role in the immune system’s response to the infection. Neonatal serum copper at levels higher than normal can lead to significantly shorter hospital stay. Also, higher Cu/Zn ratios can be found in neonatal sepsis, suggesting the potential utility of this index in the diagnosis of sepsis.
Gaps and opportunities for measuring equity with the Translational Science Benefits Model: Recommendations from the Center for American Indian and Alaska Native Diabetes Translation Research
Authors: Huebschmann Amy G. , Brega Angela G. , Stotz Sarah A. , Shane Aliassa L. , King Roxanna , Jernigan Valarie Blue Bird , Clyma Kaylee R. , Goins R. Turner , Ferguson Gary L. , Parker Tassy , Tsosie Nathania , Mumby Sara J. , Manson Spero M. , Fort Meredith P.
Published: October 2024

Translational research needs to show value through impact on measures that matter to the public, including health and societal benefits. To this end, the Translational Science Benefits Model (TSBM) identified four categories of impact: Clinical, Community, Economic, and Policy. However, TSBM offers limited guidance on how these areas of impact relate to equity. Central to the structure of our Center for American Indian and Alaska Native Diabetes Translation Research are seven regional, independent Satellite Centers dedicated to community-engaged research. Drawing on our collective experience, we provide empirical evidence about how TSBM applies to equity-focused research that centers community partnerships and recognizes Indigenous knowledge. For this special issue – “Advancing Understanding and Use of Impact Measures in Implementation Science” – our objective is to describe and critically evaluate gaps in the fit of TSBM as an evaluation approach with sensitivity to health equity issues. Accordingly, we suggest refinements to the original TSBM Logic model to add: 1) community representation as an indicator of providing community partners “a seat at the table” across the research life cycle to generate solutions (innovations) that influence equity and to prioritize what to evaluate, and 2) assessments of the representativeness of the measured outcomes and benefits.
Exploring the Association Between Floods and Diarrhea among Under-five Children in Rural India
Authors: Saha Jayanti , Hussain Dilwar , Debsarma Dhiman
Published: October 2024

Objective

Flood is one of the major public health concerns increasing the risk of childhood diarrhea. This study aims to explore the association of floods with diarrhea among under-five children in rural India.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out using large-scale nationally representative data from the National Family Health Survey-5. The Central Water Commission reports between the years 2018 and 2020 were used to group all the districts as non-flood-affected districts or flood-affected districts. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were employed to assess the association of floods with childhood diarrhea.

Results

The prevalence of diarrhea was higher among children exposed to three consecutive floods during the year 2019-21 than those children not exposed to flood. Children exposed to flood three times between the year 2018-19 to 2020-21 were associated with a 34% higher likelihood of developing diarrhea than those children exposed to flood one or two times.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that community health workers should target mothers belonging to the poor wealth quintile, young mothers, and mothers with young infants and more children to receive child health related counseling in flood-prone areas.
Does digital service trade promote inclusive domestic growth? – Empirical research of 46 countries
Authors: Yeerken Alai , Feng Deng
Published: October 2024

This study utilises panel data of 46 countries from 2005 to 2019 to examine the impact of digital service trade (DST) on inclusive growth. Inclusive growth is a growth model that promotes economic growth and development, while also building social equity and inclusiveness and balancing environmental sustainability. The findings indicate that a nation’s DST development significantly fosters domestic economic growth and development, specifically through its employment enhancement effect. DST substantially promotes social equity and inclusiveness, mainly through the inclusive innovation effect. However, DST is also found to increase carbon emissions, impeding environmentally sustainable growth, specifically via the energy demand effect. Hence, DST exerts diverse impacts on different facets of inclusiveness. The study also reveals heterogeneity in the effects of DST on the three aspects of inclusive growth related to trade’s import–export dynamics, income levels, and DST barrier intensities. This paper contributes to and refines the body of research on the relationship between DST and inclusive growth. It offers policy suggestions for crafting more open and mutually beneficial DST policies to foster social equity and inclusive global trade.
Time-periodic generalised solitary waves with a hydraulic fall
Authors: Shelton Josh
Published: October 2024

In an open channel flow, deviations to the lower topography can induce abrupt changes in the wave height, known as hydraulic jumps. This phenomenon occurs when the flow switches from subcritical to supercritical (or vice versa), and is commonly observed in rivers, flumes and weirs. Theoretical insight is typically sought through the study of reduced models such as the forced Korteweg–de Vries equation, in which previous work has predominantly focused on either stationary formulations or the initial transient behaviour caused by perturbations. In a joint theoretical and numerical study of the free-surface Euler equations, Keeler & Blyth (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 993, 2024, A9) have detected a new class of unsteady solutions to this problem. These emerge from an unstable steady solution, and feature large-amplitude time-periodic ripples emitted from a sudden decrease in the water depth forced by topography, known as a hydraulic fall.
Mixing of inelastic non-Newtonian fluids with inlet swirl
Authors: Kumar Dhananjay , Mondal Pranab Kumar
Published: October 2024

In the present work, the tangential (swirl) velocity component is superimposed at the intake of a narrow fluidic cylindrical pipe to achieve the desired mixing of inelastic non-Newtonian fluids/solutes at the outlet. We discuss an analytical method for obtaining the swirl velocity profile, considering the nonlinear viscous effects for both shear-thinning and shear-thickening fluids, represented by the power-law model. We numerically solve the species transport equation, coupled with the analytically derived swirl velocity, using our in-house developed code for the concentration distribution in the flow field. The results show that the inlet swirl and an increase in the shear-thinning fluid property improve advection-dominated mixing. Additionally, higher Reynolds numbers significantly enhance advection's dominance, as more rotation leads to the generation of vortices, resulting in an engulfment flow (chaotic convection) based mixing. We demonstrate that considering the increase in the shear-thinning fluid property with swirl intake reduces the amount of mixing time required in the convective regime.
Broadband near-perfect capture of water wave energy by an array of heaving buoy wave energy converters
Authors: Westcott Amy-Rose , Bennetts Luke G. , Sergiienko Nataliia Y. , Cazzolato Benjamin S.
Published: October 2024

Arrays of heaving buoy type wave energy converters (WECs) are a promising contender to harness the renewable power of ocean waves on a commercial scale but require strategies to achieve efficient capture of wave energy over broad frequency bands for economic viability. A WEC-array design is proposed for absorption over a target frequency range in the two-dimensional water wave context by spatially grading the resonant properties of WECs via linear spring–damper power take-off mechanisms. The design is based on theories for rainbow reflection and rainbow absorption, which incorporate analyses based on Bloch wave modes and pole–zero pairs in complex frequency space. In contrast to previous applications of these theories, the influence of a higher-order passband and associated pole–zero pairs are shown to influence absorption at the high-frequency end of the target interval. The theories are used to inform initialisations for optimisation algorithms, and an optimised array of only five WECs is shown to give near-perfect absorption ($\geq$99 %) over the target interval. Broadband absorption is demonstrated when surge and pitch motions are released, for irregular sea states, and for incident wave packets in the time domain, where the time-domain responses are decomposed into Bloch modes to connect with the underlying theory.
Lateral migration and bouncing of a deformable bubble rising near a vertical wall. Part 1. Moderately inertial regimes
Authors: Shi Pengyu , Zhang Jie , Magnaudet Jacques
Published: October 2024

The buoyancy-driven motion of a deformable bubble rising near a vertical hydrophilic wall is studied numerically. We focus on moderately inertial regimes in which the bubble undergoes low-to-moderate deformations and would rise in a straight line in the absence of the wall. Three different types of near-wall motion are observed, depending on the buoyancy-to-viscous and buoyancy-to-capillary force ratios defining the Galilei (

$Ga$

) and Bond (

$Bo$

) numbers of the system, respectively. For low enough

$Ga$

or large enough

$Bo$

, bubbles consistently migrate away from the wall. Conversely, for large enough

$Ga$

and low enough

$Bo$

, they perform periodic near-wall bounces. At intermediate

$Ga$

and

$Bo$

, they are first attracted to the wall down to a certain critical distance, and then perform bounces with a decreasing amplitude before stabilising at this critical separation. Periodic bounces are accompanied by the shedding of a pair of streamwise vortices in the wake, the formation of which is governed by the near-wall shear resulting from the no-slip condition. These vortices provide a repulsive force that overcomes the viscous resistance of the fluid to the departing motion, making the bubble capable of returning to the region where it is attracted again to the wall. Although periodic, the shedding/regeneration cycle of these vortices is highly asymmetric with respect to the lateral bubble displacements, vortices being shed when the gap left between the bubble and the wall reaches its maximum, and reborn only when this gap comes back to its minimum.
Inertial effects on free surface pumping with an undulating surface
Authors: Chen Zih-Yin , Pandey Anupam , Takagi Daisuke , Jung Sunghwan , Lee Sungyon
Published: October 2024

Free surface flows driven by boundary undulations are observed in many biological phenomena, including the feeding and locomotion of water snails. To simulate the feeding strategy of apple snails, we develop a centimetric robotic undulator that drives a thin viscous film of liquid with the wave speed

$V_w$

. Our experimental results demonstrate that the behaviour of the net fluid flux

$Q$

strongly depends on the Reynolds number

$Re$

. Specifically, in the limit of vanishing

$Re$

, we observe that

$Q$

varies non-monotonically with

$V_w$

, which has been successfully rationalised by Pandey et al. (Nat. Commun., vol. 14, no. 1, 2023, p. 7735) with the lubrication model. By contrast, in the regime of finite inertia (

${Re} \sim O(1)$

), the fluid flux continues to increase with

$V_w$

and completely deviates from the prediction of lubrication theory. To explain the inertia-enhanced pumping rate, we build a thin-film, two-dimensional model via the asymptotic expansion in which we linearise the effects of inertia. Our model results match the experimental data with no fitting parameters and also show the connection to the corresponding free surface shapes

$h_2$

. Going beyond the experimental data, we derive analytical expressions of

$Q$

and

$h_2$

, which allow us to decouple the effects of inertia, gravity, viscosity and surface tension on free surface pumping over a wide range of parameter space.
Beyond Migrant Penalty: How Marginalization Between Ethnicities in the Labor Market Is Revealed Across 16 Developed Economies
Authors: Lee Juhyun
Published: October 2024

This paper analyses the ethnic penalty by focusing on the racialization of labor market outcomes beyond the migrant penalty. An illegitimate statistical or taste-based discrimination can be revealed specifically by distinguishing migrants into ethnic groups. Accordingly, ethnic penalty based on five different ethnic groups was estimated through the difference in employment and job quality with respect to natives. The analysis was conducted at the country and European average levels using 16 European countries under a framework of ethnic penalty processes in the labor market. According to the analysis, Eastern Europeans were the most prominent ethnicity regarding higher employment across the 16 countries, although they were mostly posited in unskilled jobs. Migrants from the Middle East and North Africa were shown to be subject to a double penalty in both measures, and the penalty tendency was much clearer for females. Asians and South Americans showed the least penalty, while sub-Saharan Africans were revealed to hold an in-between position.
Geology and40Ar/39Ar age of the Khopoli olivine gabbro intrusion, Konkan Plain, western Deccan Traps
Authors: Shekhar Arunodaya , Jourdan Fred , Cucciniello Ciro , Naik Anmol , Sheth Hetu , Astha B.
Published: October 2024

The Khopoli intrusion is a small olivine gabbro intrusion exposed in the Konkan Plain, in the western part of the Deccan Traps continental flood basalt province. It intrudes lavas of the Neral and Thakurvadi formations, which belong to the lower part of the Western Ghats stratigraphic sequence and mainly comprise small-scale compound pāhoehoe flows and sheet lobes, respectively. Many of these lavas contain abundant cumulus olivine and clinopyroxene. The Khopoli intrusion is of considerable interest because its olivine gabbros are among the most magnesian Deccan rocks known, with bulk-rock MgO contents reaching 27 wt.%. Textural, mineralogical and geochemical features indicate that the olivine gabbros are olivine-pyroxene cumulates formed from an evolved tholeiitic basalt melt. Much of the original outcrop of the intrusion (mapped in 1980) is now lost owing to large-scale urban and industrial development. We have remapped the intrusion and obtained a40Ar/39Ar age of 67.3 ± 1.5 Ma (2σ) on fresh intercumulus plagioclase grains separated from one of the olivine gabbros, which is consistent with the age of the host volcanic sequence. Measured true density values of 2.93 to 3.13 g/cm3for olivine gabbros of the Khopoli intrusion suggest possible shallow causes for at least some of the high gravity anomalies found in the Deccan Traps.
Perceptions of patients and caregivers toward the management of rare disease in Malaysia: a qualitative research study
Authors: Supian Azuwana , Shafie Asrul A. , Ngu Lock-Hock , Ayob Hatijah , Chaiyakunapruk Nathorn
Published: October 2024

Objective

The management of rare diseases is rarely addressed among policymakers and public communities. It is hindered by the lack of information on its epidemiology and burden, especially from the perspective of patients and families with rare diseases. This study aims to understand the perceptions of rare disease patients and their families in the management of rare diseases in Malaysia.

Methodology

A qualitative interview was used to explore the perceptions of patients and families regarding the management of rare diseases in Malaysia. In-depth interviews were conducted with the rare disease patients or their parents/guardians provided by three major rare disease advocacy groups, between 1 July and 15 September 2016. The interviews focused on two key areas: the challenges associated with rare disease and the issues related to accessing medication.

Findings

Out of the nineteen recruited participants, seventeen (89.5 percent) completed the interview sessions. The significance of awareness, knowledge, and support from others emerged as crucial for families and patients living with rare diseases. Despite facing delayed diagnosis and treatment, a majority of patients and parents expressed satisfaction with the advancements in rare disease management. Nevertheless, a prominent challenge revolves around access to enzyme replacement therapy for eligible patients.

Conclusion

This study emphasizes the importance of healthcare professionals understanding patient with rare diseases perceptions to tailor communication strategies, provide accurate information, and address concerns effectively. The message underscores the significance of collaboration between healthcare providers and patient support groups to deliver adequate health information, potentially enhancing patients’ understanding and their illness perceptions.
Identification of the proliferative activity of germline progenitor cells in the adult ovary of the bat Artibeus jamaicensis
Authors: Porras-Gómez Tania J. , Moreno-Mendoza Norma
Published: October 2024

Until a few years ago, it was assumed that oocyte renewal did not take place in the ovary of adult organisms; however, the existence of germline progenitor cells (GPCs), which renew the ovarian follicular reserve, has now been documented in mammals. Specifically, in the adult ovary of bats, the presence of cells located in the cortical region with characteristics similar to GPCs, called adult cortical germ cells (ACGC), has been observed. One of the requirements that a GPC must fulfil is to be able to proliferate mitotically, so the evaluation of cell proliferation in ACGC is of utmost importance in order to be able to relate them to a parental lineage. Currently, there are several methods to determine cell proliferation, including BrdU labelling or the use of endogenous proliferation markers. Thus, the aim of this work was to evaluate the proliferative activity of ACGC in the adult ovary of the bat Artibeus jamaicensis, using different proliferation markers and correlating these with the protein expression of the transcription factor Oct4 and the germ line marker Ddx4. We found that the expression pattern of the proliferation markers BrdU, PCNA, Ki-67 and pH3 occurs at different times of the cell cycle, so co-localization of two or more of these markers allows us to identify proliferating cells. This allowed us to identify ACGC with proliferative capacity in the adult ovary of A. jamaicensis, suggesting that GPCs renew the follicle reserve during the adult life of the organism.
Primary versus staged repair for tetralogy of Fallot in symptomatic neonates: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Busro Pribadi W. , Satria Raymen , Safitri Safitri , Sudirman Adrian R. , Bachmid Muhammad R. , Fardhani Dwi G. , Nursalim Stefanus , Billy Matthew , Prasetio Renaldi
Published: October 2024

The choice between primary repair and staged repair strategy for Tetralogy of Fallot remains a subject of debate in clinical practice. This review aims to compare the outcomes and efficacy of two surgical approaches in managing Tetralogy of Fallot among neonatal populations. Literature search was conducted across seven databases, identifying a total of 1393 relevant studies. Inclusion criteria encompassed comparative studies focusing on primary repair and staged repair for Tetralogy of Fallot in neonates. Quality of included studies was assessed using The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for retrospective cohort studies. Data synthesis involved the extraction of post-operative outcomes. Meta-analysis was performed where feasible, pooling effect sizes to determine the overall impact of each repair strategy. Eight studies were selected for full-text appraisal. A total of 4464 Tetralogy of Fallot patients underwent surgical correction. The pooled mean patient age was 8.68 (±7.38) and 8.56 (±6.8) days for primary repair and staged repair, respectively. The primary repair was associated with a higher cardiac complications rate (odds ratio 1.50, 95% confidence interval 1.07 to 2.10) and transannular patch usage (odds ratio 2.62, 95% CI confidence interval 2.02 to 3.40). In contrast, staged repair was associated with longer hospital (mean difference 11.84, 95% confidence interval 9.59 to 14.10) and ICU (mean difference 3.06, 95% confidence interval 1.64 to 4.47) length of stay. However, no substantial differences were observed in terms of mortality and reintervention rates between these two approaches. The findings highlight the need for well-designed research and emphasise the importance of personalised approaches to address the intricate nature of Tetralogy of Fallot management in this population. Adjusting surgical approach to patient features may be necessary to maximise surgical outcomes.
Using spatial analysis to examine inequalities and temporal trends in food retail accessibility
Authors: Needham Cindy , Strugnell Claudia , Orellana Liliana , Allender Steven , Sacks Gary , Blake Miranda R , Horta Ana
Published: October 2024

Objective:

In this paper, we examined whether there are inequalities in access to food retail (by type and healthiness) across local government areas (LGA) in Greater Melbourne and by LGA grouped based on their distance from the central business district and Growth Area designation. We also examined whether these inequalities persisted over time.

Design:

This is a secondary analysis of a repeated cross-sectional census of food outlets collected at four time points (2008, 2012, 2014 and 2016) across 31 LGA. Using Geographical Information Systems, we present a spatial analysis of food retail environments in Melbourne, Australia, at these four times over eight years.

Setting:

Greater Melbourne, Australia.

Participants:

31 LGA in Greater Melbourne.

Results:

Findings show significant inequalities in access to healthy food retail persisting over time at the LGA level. Residents in lower density urban growth areas had the least access to healthy food retail. Unhealthy food retail was comparatively more accessible, with a temporal trend indicating increased accessibility over time in urban growth areas only.

Conclusion:

Accessibility to food outlets, particularly healthy food outlets and supermarkets, in Greater Melbourne is not equal. To identify and address health inequalities associated with rapid urban growth, further understanding of how people interact with the food environment needs to be explored.
Improvement of serum folate status in the US women of reproductive age with fortified iodised salt with folic acid (FISFA study)
Authors: Arynchyna-Smith Anastasia , Arynchyn Alexander N , Kancherla Vijaya , Anselmi Kenneth , Aban Inmaculada , Hoogeveen Ron C , Steffen Lyn M , Becker David J , Kulczycki Andrzej , Carlo Waldemar A , Blount Jeffrey P
Published: October 2024

Objective:

Mandatory folic acid fortification of enriched grains has reduced neural tube defect prevalence in several countries. We examined salt as an additional vehicle for folic acid fortification. The primary objective was to examine the change in serum folate concentration after 1 month of consumption of fortified iodised salt with folic acid (FISFA) among women of reproductive age. The secondary objectives were to examine (1) the feasibility of implementing FISFA intervention and (2) the acceptability of FISFA.

Design:

We conducted a pre–post intervention study (January–April 2023). Participants received a FISFA saltshaker with the study salt (1 g of sodium chloride salt fortified with 100 mcg of folic acid) to use instead of regular table salt for 1 month. Serum folate was measured using the Elecsys Folate-III immunoassay method at baseline and 1-month endpoint. Change in serum folate was assessed using a two-tailed Wilcoxon signed rank test for paired samples.

Setting:

Metropolitan city, Southern USA.

Participants:

Non-pregnant, 18–40-year-old women who lived alone/with a partner.

Results:

Thirty-two eligible women consented to participate, including eleven non-Hispanic-White, eleven non-Hispanic-Black and ten Hispanic. Post-intervention, there was a significant increase in median serum folate concentration of 1·40 nmol/l (IQR 0·74–2·05; P < 0·001) from 24·08 nmol/l to 25·96 nmol/l in an analytical sample of n 29. An increase was seen in 28/29 (93 %) participants. Feasibility: 100 % study consent and compliance. FISFA acceptability: 25 d average use; 1·28 g average daily intake; 96·7 % and 90 % reported taste and colour of FISFA as highly acceptable, respectively.

Conclusions:

FISFA is an effective approach to increasing serum folate concentrations among women of reproductive age. Findings should be replicated in a larger study.
The promotion of ultra-processed foods in modern retail food outlets in rural and urban areas in Kenya
Authors: Karugu Caroline H , Agyemang Charles , Wanjohi Milkah N , Ojiambo Veronica , Mugo Sharon , Sanya Richard E , Holdworth Michelle , Laar Amos , Vandevijvere Stefanie , Asiki Gershim
Published: October 2024

Objective:

To assess the availability and marketing of ultra-processed foods (UPF) in modern retail food outlets (supermarkets and minimarts) in Kenya and associated factors.

Design:

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kenya from August 2021 to October 2021. Variables included the geographic location and the socio-economic status (SES) levels, the food items displayed for sale and advertised in the stores, and locations in the stores such as the entrance.

Setting:

Three counties in Kenya (Nairobi – urban, Mombasa – coastal tourist and Baringo – rural). Each county was stratified into high and low SES using national poverty indices.

Participants:

Food outlets that offered a self-service, had at least one checkout and had a minimum of two stocked aisles were assessed.

Results:

Of 115 outlets assessed, UPF occupied 33 % of the cumulative shelf space. UPF were the most advertised foods (60 %) and constituted 40 % of foods available for sale. The most commonly used promotional characters were cartoon characters (18 %). UPF were significantly more available for sale in Mombasa (urban) compared to Baringo (rural) (adjusted prevalence rate ratios (APRR): 1·13, 95 % CI 1·00, 1·26, P = 0·005). UPF advertisements were significantly higher in Mombasa ((APRR): 2·18: 1·26, 3·79, P = 0·005) compared to Baringo and Nairobi counties. There was a significantly higher rate of advertisement of UPF in larger outlets ((APRR): 1·68: 1·06, 2·67 P = 0·001) compared to smaller outlets.

Conclusions:

The high marketing and availability of UPF in modern retail outlets in Kenya calls for policies regulating unhealthy food advertisements in different settings in the country.
Critical Importance of Tree and Non‐Tree Vegetation for African Precipitation
Authors: Te Wierik S. A. , Keune J. , Miralles D. G. , Gupta J. , Artzy‐Randrup Y. A. , Cammeraat L. H. , van Loon E. E.
Published: October 2024

Vegetation is a major contributor of terrestrial evaporation and influences subsequent precipitation over land. Studies suggest that forests are crucial for moisture recycling, although the specific contribution of different vegetation to precipitation remains unclear. Using a moisture recycling approach, we investigate the contribution of transpiration from trees and non‐tree vegetation to precipitation over Africa. We use precipitation source regions from simulated atmospheric moisture trajectories, constrained by observation‐based evaporation and precipitation products, and fractional vegetation cover data. Our findings show that trees provide a higher flux to precipitation (∼777 mm year−1) than non‐tree vegetation (∼342 mm year−1). However, considering the smaller spatial extent of trees compared to non‐tree vegetation, precipitation in most watersheds effectively depends more on the latter. Overall, non‐tree vegetation appears equally important as trees in terms of volumetric contributions to precipitation, and deserves attention in further research, considering ongoing land use changes that affect the continental water cycle.
Subtle Coastal Sinking Raises Storm Surge Risks
Authors: Derouin Sarah
Published: October 2024

New detection of millimeter-scale subsidence along vulnerable coastlines means flood risk predictions may be inaccurate.
Global Marine Heatwaves Under Different Flavors of ENSO
Authors: Gregory Catherine H. , Artana Camila , Lama Skylar , León‐FonFay Dalena , Sala Jacopo , Xiao Fuan , Xu Tongtong , Capotondi Antonietta , Martinez‐Villalobos Cristian , Holbrook Neil J.
Published: October 2024

Marine heatwaves (MHWs) have caused devasting ecological and socioeconomic impacts worldwide. Understanding the connection of regional events to large‐scale climatic drivers is key for enhancing predictability and mitigating MHW impacts. Despite the reported connection between MHWs globally and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), establishing statistically significant links between different types of ENSO events and MHWs remains challenging due to the limited duration of observational data. Here, we use 10,000 years of simulations from a Linear Inverse Model (LIM) to address this issue. Our findings reveal distinct connections between MHWs and ENSO, with diverging influences from different flavors of El Niño and La Niña events. In addition, under long‐lasting El Niño conditions, the likelihood of MHWs increases by up to 12‐fold in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. This study highlights the global connections between ENSO diversity and variations in MHW events.
Source Altitude of Energetic In‐Cloud Pulses Inside Thunderstorms and Implication for the Intrinsic Brightness of Terrestrial Gamma‐Ray Flashes
Authors: Lyu Fanchao , Qin Zilong , Cummer Steven A. , Zheng Yu , Jiang Sulin , Zheng Tianxue , Liu Yan , Xu Wei , Lyu Weitao
Published: October 2024

Upward Terrestrial Gamma‐Ray Flashes (TGFs) are mainly produced during the upward propagating negative leaders inside thunderclouds. The exact source position of TGFs, which is crucial to understanding TGF source properties, is still unclear. The link between positive energetic in‐cloud pulses (+EIPs) and TGFs provides us with a potential target to aim at. In this study, the low‐frequency radio emissions of 75 +EIPs are analyzed to retrieve the source altitudes with an improved ray theory model. Furthermore, the meteorology contexts of +EIPs derived from the ground‐based weather radars and satellite‐based infrared cloud top temperature measurements are investigated. +EIPs are produced at 8.8–13.7 km, with an average of 11.3 km inside thunderclouds, and at an average of ∼2.5 km below cloud tops. These altitudes indicate that a total number of 1.7 × 1016 to 2.6 × 1018 gamma ray photons with energy greater than 1 MeV are required for an EIP‐TGF to be measured by spaceborne detectors.
Relating Megathrust Seismogenic Behavior and Subduction Parameters via Machine Learning at Global Scale
Authors: Crisosto Lucas , Tassara Andrés
Published: October 2024

We investigate the relationship between the seismogenic behavior of global megathrusts and various subduction parameters. We performed a parametric approach by implementing three decision tree‐based Machine Learning (ML) algorithms to predict the b‐value of the frequency‐magnitude relationship of seismicity as a non‐linear combination of subduction variables (subducting plate age and roughness, slab dip, convergence speed and azimuth, distance to closest ridge and plate boundary). Using the Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) to interpret the ML results, we observe that plate age and subduction dip are the most influential variables. The results suggest that older, shallow‐dipping plates contribute to low b‐values, indicating higher megathrust stress. This pattern is attributed to the higher rigidity of older plates, increasing flexural strength, and generating a shallow penetration angle, increasing the frictional interplate area and intensifying the megathrust stress. These findings offer new insights into the non‐linear complexity of seismic behavior at global scale.
Synoptic Scale Controls and Aerosol Effects on Fog and Low Stratus Life Cycle Processes in the Po Valley, Italy
Authors: Pauli Eva , Cermak Jan , Bendix Jörg , Stier Philip
Published: October 2024

Fog and low stratus clouds (FLS) form as a result of complex interactions of multiple factors in the atmosphere and at the land surface and impact both the anthropogenic and natural environments. Here, we analyze the role of synoptic conditions and aerosol loading on FLS occurrence and persistence in the Po valley in northern Italy. By applying k‐means clustering to reanalysis data, we find that FLS formation in the Po valley is either based on radiative processes or moisture advection from the Mediterranean sea. Satellite‐based data on FLS persistence shows longer persistence of radiatively formed FLS events, likely due to air mass stagnation and a temperature inversion. Ground‐based aerosol optical depth observations further reveal that FLS event duration is significantly higher under high aerosol loading. The results underline the combined effect of topography, moisture advection and aerosol loading on the FLS life cycle in the Po valley.
GRACE Satellite Observations of Antarctic Bottom Water Transport Variability
Authors: Jeffree Jemma , Hogg Andrew McC. , Morrison Adele K. , Solodoch Aviv , Stewart Andrew L. , McGirr Rebecca
Published: October 2024

Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) formation and transport constitute a key component of the global ocean circulation. Direct observations suggest that AABW volumes and transport rates may be decreasing, but these observations are too temporally or spatially sparse to determine the cause. To address this problem, we develop a new method to reconstruct AABW transport variability using data from the GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) satellite mission. We use an ocean general circulation model to investigate the relationship between ocean bottom pressure and AABW: we calculate both of these quantities in the model, and link them using a regularized linear regression. Our reconstruction from modeled ocean bottom pressure can capture 65%–90% of modeled AABW transport variability, depending on the ocean basin. When realistic observational uncertainty values are added to the modeled ocean bottom pressure, the reconstruction can still capture 30%–80% of AABW transport variability. Using the same regression values, the reconstruction skill is within the same range in a second, independent, general circulation model. We conclude that our reconstruction method is not unique to the model in which it was developed and can be applied to GRACE satellite observations of ocean bottom pressure. These advances allow us to create the first global reconstruction of AABW transport variability over the satellite era. Our reconstruction provides information on the interannual variability of AABW transport, but more accurate observations are needed to discern AABW transport trends.
Contributions of Irrigation Modeling, Soil Moisture and Snow Data Assimilation to High‐Resolution Water Budget Estimates Over the Po Basin: Progress Towards Digital Replicas
Authors: De Lannoy Gabriëlle J. M. , Bechtold Michel , Busschaert Louise , Heyvaert Zdenko , Modanesi Sara , Dunmire Devon , Lievens Hans , Getirana Augusto , Massari Christian
Published: October 2024

High‐resolution water budget estimates benefit from modeling of human water management and satellite data assimilation (DA) in river basins with a large human footprint. Utilizing the Noah‐MP land surface model with dynamic vegetation growth and river routing, in combination with an irrigation module, Sentinel‐1 backscatter and snow depth retrievals, we produce a set of 0.7‐km2water budget estimates of the Po river basin (Italy) for 2015–2023. The results demonstrate that irrigation modeling improves the seasonal soil moisture variation and summer streamflow at all gauges in the valley after withdrawal of irrigation water from the streamflow in postprocessing (12% error reduction relative to observed low summer streamflow), even if the basin‐wide irrigation amount is underestimated. Sentinel‐1 backscatter DA for soil moisture updating strongly interacts with irrigation modeling: when both are activated, the soil moisture updates are limited, and the simulated irrigation amounts are reduced. Backscatter DA systematically reduces soil moisture in the spring, which improves downstream spring streamflow. Assimilating Sentinel‐1 snow depth retrievals over the surrounding Alps and Apennines further improves spring streamflow in a complementary way (2% error reduction relative to observed high spring streamflow). Despite the seasonal improvements, irrigation modeling and Sentinel‐1 backscatter DA cannot significantly improve short‐term or interannual variations in soil moisture, irrigation modeling causes a systematically prolonged high vegetation productivity, and snow depth DA only impacts the deep snowpacks. This study helps advancing the design of digital water budget replicas for river basins.
Interaction between subventricular zone microglia and neural stem cells impacts the neurogenic response in a mouse model of cortical ischemic stroke
Authors: Nath Suvra , Martínez Santamaría Jose C. , Chu Yu-Hsuan , Choi James S. , Conforti Pasquale , Lin Jia-Di , Sankowski Roman , Amann Lukas , Galanis Christos , Wu Kexin , Deshpande Sachin S. , Vlachos Andreas , Prinz Marco , Lee Jae K. , Schachtrup Christian
Published: October 2024

After a stroke, the neurogenic response from the subventricular zone (SVZ) to repair the brain is limited. Microglia, as an integral part of the distinctive SVZ microenvironment, control neural stem / precursor cell (NSPC) behavior. Here, we show that discrete stroke-associated SVZ microglial clusters negatively impact the innate neurogenic response, and we propose a repository of relevant microglia–NSPC ligand–receptor pairs. After photothrombosis, a mouse model of ischemic stroke, the altered SVZ niche environment leads to immediate activation of microglia in the niche and an abnormal neurogenic response, with cell-cycle arrest of neural stem cells and neuroblast cell death. Pharmacological restoration of the niche environment increases the SVZ-derived neurogenic repair and microglial depletion increases the formation and survival of newborn neuroblasts in the SVZ. Therefore, we propose that altered cross-communication between microglial subclusters and NSPCs regulates the extent of the innate neurogenic repair response in the SVZ after stroke.