bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Concrete
Authors: Worsnick Matthew
Published: October 2023

From antiquity to the present, concrete has played important roles in the development of the built environment. At its most basic, concrete is a combination of aggregate and cement. The aggregate adds bulk and strength, and might be any coarse material but is most commonly stone of various levels of coarseness, from sand to large rock. The aggregate is bound together by cement, which becomes solid through chemical reaction. While a variety of cement compositions exist, the most common cement in architectural concrete, Portland cement, is made by combining, primarily, lime, silica, and aluminia compounds, which, when heated, react to form calcium silicates and calcium aluminates. When water is added to this mixture, a final series of chemical reactions and processes, called hydration, occurs, turning the liquid mixture into a permanent, cohesive solid. The manufacture of cement produces significant amounts of carbon dioxide, making it a major contributor to atmospheric carbonization and global warming. Concrete’s great architectural appeal lies in its slow change of state during construction. When first activated, concrete is a fluid that can fill the vessel into which it is poured or packed. Then, as it cures, it becomes a load-bearing solid. The result is a dense, stable architectural object that maintains the form of its temporary container. This plasticity enables the production of a wide spectrum of architectural components, from standardized, cost-efficient columns, beams, and panels, to unique, gymnastic forms. This, combined with its ability to simultaneously satisfy multiple fundamental architectural requirements—form, structure, mass, and enclosure, among others—makes concrete a desirable building material for architects, and an object of fascination (and, at times, loathing) by audiences of architecture. This bibliography on concrete reflects the inherently interdisciplinary nature of the study of materials as they contribute to the built environment. Writing on concrete spans a variety of disciplines, among them engineering, materials science, art history, cultural analysis, archaeology, anthropology, and architectural history and theory. The bibliography includes studies of architects, engineers, and buildings, of cities and empires, and of industries and social movements, as well as technical and theoretical considerations analyzing concrete itself.
Thomas Jefferson and Architecture
Authors: Nelson Louis
Published: October 2023

Thomas Jefferson (b. 1743–d. 1826), the author of the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States, is widely recognized as one of the founding voices of American democracy. He was also a celebrated Enlightenment thinker reading in and even contributing to bourgeoning fields of inquiry, including botany and other natural sciences, agricultural improvement, archaeology, political economies, modern languages, and many others he deemed “useful.” Often characterized as the first American architect, he was deeply engaged in the project of architecture both as a private interest and as a public necessity; a well-educated citizenry, he believed, was one conversant in the fundamentals of the arts, most especially in architecture. Jefferson’s commitment to race hierarchies meant that such a citizenry excluded people of color. His most important public designs were those for the nascent democracy in his home state of Virginia—the capitol building in Richmond and the University of Virginia—but his contributions to architecture and planning of the federal city of Washington, DC, are also important. Monticello, the residence on his home plantation, and Poplar Forest, his retreat villa also on a plantation, each consumed much of the remainder of his architectural energies, besides consulting with peers on the designs of their own houses. Although he had no formal education in architecture, he was very familiar with those books—most especially Palladio’s Four Books of Architecture, but others as well—that offered training in the fundamentals of the classical tradition. The substantial collection of Jefferson’s drawings betrays his dependence on accepted antique and modern models and adhering to established principles of order and proportion in the creation of new forms. He declared disinterest in aesthetic theory and his highest priority in his architectural design was to offer rightly proportioned and detailed models for an American audience he found lacking in taste. To that end, Jefferson played a critical role in laying the foundations of architecture as a discipline in the new nation. He corresponded with all the most important architects working in the new United States: Pierre Charles L’Enfant, Benjamin Latrobe, and William Thornton, among others. His influence also extended to many younger designers and builders; Jefferson mentored Robert Mills, often recognized as the first American-born professional architect, and he also played a key role in training William Blackburn and other prolific builders in early-19th-century Virginia. The bulk of his architectural drawings can be found in the collections of the University of Virginia and the Massachusetts Historical Society.
Roman Agriculture
Authors: Carlsen Jesper
Published: October 2023

The Roman Empire was an agrarian society. Most of the population tilled the land, but many rural laborers were slaves or tenants who did not own the land on which they worked. Economic behavior has always been embedded in a deep cultural context, and it is beyond dispute that an agrarian approach underlies Roman economic thought. The traditional ideal of a Roman citizen was as a farmer and as a soldier like the Republican hero Q. Cincinnatus, who allegedly was ploughing his land when the Senate appointed him dictator, and returned to it after a victorious sixteen-day military campaign. Although it was merely an ideal, land owing was considered the most social respectable form of investment for the elite, and, according to a law of 218 BCE, senators and their sons were forbidden to own large transport vessels. The role of agriculture in the Roman economy and the agrarian institutions changed over time, as Rome expanded and transformed from a small city-state in central Italy in fifth century bce to one of the Mediterranean great powers after the Second Punic War (218–201 bce) and finally the only superpower in the first five centuries ce. The development of Roman agriculture can be deduced from data available from written evidence—literary and legal sources, inscriptions, and papyri—and archaeological material, where excavations of farms and villas together with field surveys are important. Information about the development of the settlement pattern in certain regions depends on this evidence, but distribution maps may reflect only the degree of publications of archaeological fieldwork in these areas. The crops varied according to climate and geography, and there are huge differences between the Roman provinces from Britain in the north to the provinces of North Africa in the south and from Spain in the west to Syria in the east. The recent rapid development of paleoethnobotany has offered much new data on crops and agricultural practice in different regions. These regional diversities are also reflected in settlement patterns and the rural labor force. More traditional forms of labor, such as tenants and dependent peasants, dominated the rural manpower in the provinces, and agricultural slavery was widespread only in Italy and Sicily, with the exception of managers of estates owned by the elite. This diversity became even more profound in Late Antiquity with the transformation of society and the economy together with the slow disintegration of the empire.
Hindus and the Mughal Empire (1526–1857)
Authors: Saha Shandip
Published: October 2023

The origin of the Mughal Empire dates back to 1526 when the Timurid ruler of Central Asia, Babur, invaded North India in the final years of the Delhi Sultanate, which ruled over North India between 1206 and 1526. Babur ruled from 1526 to 1530 and was succeeded by his son, Humayun. Humayun ruled over North India between 1530 and 1538, when he was overthrown by the Afghan ruler Sher Shah (r. 1538–1545). Afghan rule over North India remained until 1555, at which point Humayun managed to regain control of North India, only to then die the following year. The territories over which Humayun ruled fell to the hands of his son, Akbar (r. 1556–1605) who left his successors a sprawling empire that stretched across most of the subcontinent. Akbar was succeeded by his son Jahangir (r. 1605–1627), who, in turn, was succeeded by Shahjahan (r. 1627–1658), the great Mughal patron of the arts who commissioned the Taj Mahal. The failed efforts of Shahjahan’s son and successor, Aurangzeb (r. 1658–1707) to expand the Mughal Empire triggered the decline of the empire, and by 1759 the Mughals were forced to accept British suzerainty. When, in 1857, Bahadur Shah II (r. 1837–1857) was deposed by the British and exiled to Burma, the Mughal Empire ceased to exist. The impact of the Mughal Empire can still be felt in India today through the manner in which Mughal history has been deployed by individuals to champion either a vision of a liberal, secular India or a vision of India based upon the religious and cultural values of the country’s Hindu majority. India’s Hindu nationalist government, which came to power in 2014, has endeavored to strip Muslims of their rights as citizens and to downplay if not completely erase the role of Mughals in Indian history by promoting a narrative that emphasizes the Mughals—and by extension all Muslims—as violent, intolerant outsiders. This has generated much public debate about India’s future as a nation, and it has also sparked a renewed interest in the religious history of the Mughals. This bibliography is meant to introduce the reader to the study of Mughal religious history and the more specific topic of Hindu-Mughal relations through a survey of relevant primary sources from the Mughal period and secondary sources written from the colonial period onward. The primary sources listed below are restricted to English translations, while the remaining sources represent a wide variety of perspectives written by professional and nonprofessional historians for scholarly and popular audiences.
International Law and International Relations Study in China
Authors: Liu Zhiyun , Xie Chunxu
Published: October 2023

The early 21st century has been a period of emergence of interdisciplinary research on international relations and international law in China. Over these two decades, some Chinese scholars overcame the difficulty of interdisciplinary research, the prejudice within the subject and the gap among different subjects. They have made pioneering interdisciplinary research on such subjects as international relations and international law in the field of necessity, key points, specific pathways, discipline system connections, principal issues, mutual reference of research methods, and interdisciplinary issues. Moreover, with their great efforts, interdisciplinary research has won a common recognition and is becoming a popular method. So far, China’s interdisciplinary research on international relations and international law has had definite achievements. However, to achieve sustainable development, it is necessary to continue to promote the interaction between the two disciplines in teaching, and to promote the construction of an interdisciplinary dialogue mechanism, as well as to promote the construction of an interdisciplinary cooperation platform. This research is funded by the National Social Science Foundation of China (20VHJ007).
Mamie Phipps Clark
Authors: Nkeramihigo Amanda , Christie Danielle , Salis Desiree , Rutherford Alexandra
Published: October 2023

Mamie Phipps Clark (b. 1917–d. 1983) was a psychologist who focused on identity development, racial self-consciousness, education, and counselling psychology. She was the second Black person (her husband being the first) and the first Black woman to earn a psychology doctorate at Columbia University in New York City, an impressive feat at a time when many schools and colleges in the United States were racially segregated. Black women, in particular, encountered numerous barriers to success. Born and raised in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Clark attended a segregated school and became aware of the separation of Blacks and Whites early. Her father, Harold H. Phipps, was a well-respected physician, and this afforded them some privileges and access to spaces usually restricted to Whites. Nevertheless, in a 1976 oral history interview, she recalled being aware of lynching at age six; there was always an awareness of what lines not to cross. After high school, Clark attended Howard University in Washington, DC, on a scholarship. There, she met her future husband, Kenneth Clark, who was studying psychology. Her interest in abnormal and educational psychology, and persuasion from Kenneth, led her to switch from math to psychology in her third year of studies. Clark pursued her master’s at Howard University. Her thesis investigated Black children’s awareness of themselves and their racial belonging, and found that this awareness developed quite early. This research catalysed subsequent controversial studies, co-authored with her husband and famously known as the doll studies. These became instrumental in the 1954 unanimous US Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, which overturned the 1896 “separate but equal” doctrine, making racial segregation unconstitutional in American public schools. Mamie was called as a rebuttal witness to the testimony of her former doctoral advisor who had testified to the inferiority of Black students. Subsequent to her PhD, Mamie was unable to find a university-based research position, noting the difficulty of securing such a position given the double jeopardy of being Black and female. Thus, she conceived of, founded, and directed the Northside Center for Child Development for the rest of her career. There, she oversaw a multiracial staff who provided comprehensive and innovative psychosocial services to disadvantaged children in the Harlem area. She retired as its director in 1979 and died in 1983. Despite some recovery efforts, Mamie Clark’s contributions to psychology, social change, and the well-being of children, families, and communities continue to be overlooked by history and overshadowed by her husband’s status as a prominent social scientist and public intellectual.
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in Geography Education
Authors: Solem Michael , Stoltman Joseph P.
Published: October 2023

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is a large-scale school-based study of student achievement in K-12 education in the United States. NAEP assessments are designed to be representative of the demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic diversity of the United States. Geography was included from 1994 to 2018. In 2019, the National Assessment Governing Board announced geography was being eliminated from the next decade-long assessment cycle along with economics, foreign language, and art. There have been five NAEP Geography assessments, three of which assessed the geographic knowledge of students in the fourth, eighth, and twelfth grades in 1994, 2001, 2010 and only at the eighth-grade level in 2014 and 2018. The NAEP program also collects contextual data to further provide information about the students, teachers, and schools participating in each assessment. After the assessment has been completed, NAEP shares the data publicly in reports known as the “NAEP Report Card.” Additionally, NAEP offers a variety of digital tools to support research regarding student achievement, including the NAEP Data Explorer, NAEP Item Maps, and released assessment items. Researchers may apply for a data license from the Institute of Education Sciences to obtain raw, restricted-use data files containing individual responses to NAEP assessments for advanced statistical analyses of student achievement. NAEP data have been leveraged by researchers to analyze relationships between student achievement and a variety of educational factors (e.g., instructional exposure, teacher quality, classroom technology) and noneducational factors (e.g., student and school socioeconomic status, school neighborhood effects). A comprehensive statistical analysis of NAEP Geography assessments at the eighth-grade level produced a predictive model that comprised of student- and school-level variables. Student characteristics including race, gender, and eligibility for free- or reduced-price lunches were consistently predictive of geography scores, conditional on all covariates. In contrast, school attributes including school type (e.g., private or public school); U.S. regional location (e.g., Southeast, West); and urbanicity (e.g., suburb, rural) were not statistically significant predictors on most assessments. Subsequent research involving NAEP Geography data has explored relationships between geography achievement and differences in students’ opportunity to learn geography, including disparities in students’ access to experienced geography teachers and exposure to high-quality instruction and learning activities.
Une approche d’affirmation pour les soins aux jeunes transgenres et de diverses identités de genre
Authors: Vandermorris Ashley , Metzger Daniel L
Published: October 2023

Un nombre croissant de jeunes s’identifient comme transgenres ou de diverses identités de genre. De nombreux pédiatres et dispensateurs de soins de première ligne accueilleront cette population dans leur pratique, dans le cadre de soins liés au genre ou de soins de santé généraux. Le présent document de principes se veut une ressource pour orienter les pédiatres et les dispensateurs de soins de première ligne à adopter une approche d’affirmation pour la prestation des soins réguliers à tous les jeunes. De plus, il contient de l’information visant à aider les dispensateurs à répondre aux demandes de conseils des jeunes transgenres et de diverses identités de genre et de leur famille au sujet des possibilités de transition médicale et d’orientation vers des services spécialisés s’ils le désirent et le jugent pertinent. Enfin, on anticipe que la demande de soins d’affirmation de genre continue d’augmenter, et certains dispensateurs de soins peuvent souhaiter acquérir les connaissances et les habiletés nécessaires pour amorcer les inhibiteurs d’hormones et les hormones d’affirmation de genre chez les adolescents. Le présent document ne contient pas de directives cliniques, mais de l’information fondamentale au sujet des divers éléments possibles des soins d’affirmation de genre, tout en reconnaissant que les besoins et les objectifs d’adolescents particuliers n’incluent pas automatiquement de telles interventions. D’autres ressources permettant d’acquérir les compétences nécessaires pour offrir des interventions d’affirmation de genre sont également proposées.
Making Room for Refugee Interpretation of Labelling: A Case Study from the Turkish–Syrian Border
Authors: Hampton Kathryn , Türkyilmaz Gökçe
Published: October 2023

Turkey admitted millions of refugees fleeing the Syrian civil war. However, the situation of Syrians in Turkey remains precarious under the temporary protection regime, unable to qualify as Convention refugees due to Turkey’s geographic reservation to the 1967 Protocol and with limited access to work permits and citizenship. Based on in-depth interviews, we provide a case study of refugee perspectives on refugee “labelling” as an absurd, historically contingent, and myth-telling process, which contributes to a growing body of research taking a bottom-up approach to understanding refugee protection. We put forward a refugee-interpreted view on labelling, finding that refugees explained labelling as an opaque and unpredictable digitised process, administrated through paper documents which act as talismans but also scams. Our study provides rich detail about how refugees subvert and cope with the labelling process through humour and mockery, historicity, and developing alternate forms of identity. We sought to use these interviews to work with refugees to turn a critical gaze on the paradigm of labelling from a refugee perspective and address the lack of empirical research centring refugee interpretations of labelling.
Plague, Religion and Urban Space in Sixteenth-Century Antwerp
Authors: Coomans Janna , Hermenault Léa , van Kooten Rogier , Weeda Claire
Published: October 2023

Antwerp’s response to the outbreak of plague in the 1570s offers new insights into the effects of epidemics on urban communities in relation to their religious, economic, and spatial fabric. Antwerp’s transition from a Catholic to Calvinist government in 1577, and back to Catholicism in 1585, allows us to study its reaction to and the effects of plague across religious boundaries within a short time span. Using GIS, we have compared various rich datasets concerning plague: the register of houses locked in quarantine; the health certificates issued by authorities; plague fatalities recorded in St. Jacob’s parish; a wide range of urban regulations; and information about the size of households, their composition, rents and real estate values in Antwerp. Combined analysis shows that Catholics and Protestants, whose houses were concentrated in different city districts and who had distinct professional and economic profiles, experienced plague quite differently, both physically and spiritually.
Interests in possession: a critique of Hall v HMRC
Authors: Anson-Holland James
Published: October 2023

Does a beneficiary with a life interest in a particular property under a will have an enforceable right to occupy that property in circumstances where a third party voluntarily pays an estate debt that could only otherwise have been satisfied by the executors selling the property? The recent decision in Hall v HMRC [2023] UKFTT 32 (TC) held that no such right existed and, as a result, the life-interest beneficiary did not have an ‘interest in possession’ for inheritance tax purposes. This article questions that result by arguing that the third-party payments discharged the estate debt and granted the life-interest beneficiary an enforceable right to occupy the property following the administration of the estate such that an ‘interest in possession’ must arise.
Bank payments on instructions of delinquent agents: a paradigm shift
Authors: Suen Christy
Published: October 2023

This case note discusses the implications of Lord Sumption’s judgment in Pt Asuransi Tugu Pratama Indonesia TBK v Citibank N.A. [2023] HKCFA 3 on the rights of a corporate customer against a bank that has debited its account upon the instructions of the customer’s delinquent officers. It proposes a new line of defences available to banks, namely the Greenwood estoppel and the unavailability of selective ratification to the customers. In particular, under the Greenwood estoppel, the issue of whether the knowledge of the wrongdoing agents shall be attributed to the corporate customer is also addressed.
New information on the neurocranium of Archeria crassidisca and the relationships of the Embolomeri
Authors: Pardo Jason D
Published: October 2023

Embolomeres have been considered candidate stem-amniotes by many authors, but recent work has shown that anatomical and phylogenetic support for this hypothesis may be ambiguous. Newer phylogenetic approaches focus on the anatomy of the endochondral bones surrounding the brain (neurocranium) and associated dermal investing bones, so accurate description of the neurocranium of tetrapods, and particularly embolomeres, is critical to assess the phylogenetic context of amniote origins. I here amend prior descriptions of the neurocranium of the abundant Early Permian embolomere, Archeria crassidisca, with a description of a previously unreported partial braincase. This specimen reveals features broadly associated with stem-tetrapods of the fin-to-limb transition and recently described in aïstopod stem-tetrapods, including a cranial notochordal remnant, a possible buccohypophyseal canal, and anteroventrally projecting saccular fossae that extend deep into the basioccipital. I present an amended description and reconstruction of the neurocranium and a phylogenetic analysis integrating these codings, which recovers embolomeres more robustly within the tetrapod stem. I review characters previously used to assign embolomeres to the amniote stem and find this evidence is ambiguous or incorrect. I then outline strong character support for a stem-tetrapod position of embolomeres, and implications for the ancestral body plan of crown-group tetrapods.
The immunometabolic landscape of bone marrow cells in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Shi Yutong , Qi Caiyun , Bai Ying
Published: October 2023

In multiple sclerosis (MS), the bone marrow hematopoietic system supplies immune cells to orchestrate central nervous system (CNS) inflammation and autoimmunity. Understanding the metabolic processes within the bone marrow is essential for unraveling the phenotype and function of immune cells. However, a comprehensive exploration of the metabolic landscape and its association with systemic immune response in MS at the single‐cell level has yet to be elucidated. Herein, we conducted an analysis of 70 289 bone marrow cells obtained from seven patients with MS and seven health controls (referenced as HRA001783) to address this question. Our focus was primarily on investigating the metabolic preferences of diverse immune cell populations and delineating their metabolic manifestations in the bone marrow microenvironment of MS. Through our analysis, we observed the activation of carbohydrate and amino acid metabolic pathways in the bone marrow cells of MS patients. Notably, we discovered significant metabolic alterations in cell–cell communication within the plasma cell population in the MS bone marrow. These findings shed light on the complex metabolic landscape within the bone marrow niche during MS and highlight the distinctive metabolic characteristics of plasma cells in this context, which may provoke novel understanding of MS pathogenesis and promote future design of immune therapies.
SMNhaploinsufficiency promotes ischemia/ reperfusion‐inducedAKI‐to‐CKDtransition by endoplasmic reticulum stress activation
Authors: Qian Xiaoqian , Li Jingyang , Bian Shuyang , Zhu Dongdong , Guo Qin , Bian Fan , Jiang Gengru
Published: October 2023

Acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are interconnected syndromes that represent a global public health challenge. Here, we identified a specific role of survival of motor neuron (SMN) in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)‐induced kidney injury and progression of CKD. SMN was an essential protein in all cell type and was reported to play important roles in multiple fundamental cellular homeostatic pathways. However, the function of SMN in experimental models of I/R‐induced kidney fibrosis has not extensively studied. Genetic ablation ofSMNor small interfering RNA‐base knockdown of SMN expression aggravated the tubular injury and interstitial fibrosis. Administration of scAAV9‐CB‐SMN or epithelial cell overexpression of SMN reduced I/R‐induced kidney dysfunction and attenuated AKI‐to‐CKD transition, indicating that SMN is vital for the preservation and recovery of tubular phenotype. Our data showed that the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) induced by I/R was persistent and became progressively more severe in the kidney without SMN. On the contrary, overexpression of SMN prevented against I/R‐induced ERS and tubular cell damage. In summary, our data collectively substantiate a critical role of SMN in regulating the ERS activation and phenotype of AKI‐to‐CKD transition that may contribute to renal pathology during injury and repair.
The ketone body β‐hydroxybutyrate shifts microglial metabolism and suppresses amyloid‐β oligomer‐induced inflammation in human microglia
Authors: Jin Lee‐Way , Di Lucente Jacopo , Ruiz Mendiola Ulises , Suthprasertporn Nopparat , Tomilov Alexey , Cortopassi Gino , Kim Kyoungmi , Ramsey Jon J. , Maezawa Izumi
Published: October 2023

Fatty acids are metabolized by β‐oxidation within the “mitochondrial ketogenic pathway” (MKP) to generate β‐hydroxybutyrate (BHB), a ketone body. BHB can be generated by most cells but largely by hepatocytes following exercise, fasting, or ketogenic diet consumption. BHB has been shown to modulate systemic and brain inflammation; however, its direct effects on microglia have been little studied. We investigated the impact of BHB on Aβ oligomer (AβO)‐stimulated human iPS‐derived microglia (hiMG), a model relevant to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). HiMG responded to AβO with proinflammatory activation, which was mitigated by BHB at physiological concentrations of 0.1–2 mM. AβO stimulated glycolytic transcripts, suppressed genes in the β‐oxidation pathway, and induced over‐expression of AD‐relevant p46Shc, an endogenous inhibitor of thiolase, actions that are expected to suppress MKP. AβO also triggered mitochondrial Ca2+ increase, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production, and activation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. BHB potently ameliorated all the above mitochondrial changes and rectified the MKP, resulting in reduced inflammasome activation and recovery of the phagocytotic function impaired by AβO. These results indicate that microglia MKP can be induced to modulate microglia immunometabolism, and that BHB can remedy “keto‐deficiency” resulting from MKP suppression and shift microglia away from proinflammatory mitochondrial metabolism. These effects of BHB may contribute to the beneficial effects of ketogenic diet intervention in aged mice and in human subjects with mild AD.
Anterior Tibial Artery Danger Zone During Anterolateral Plate Fixation of the Distal Tibia: A 3D CT Angiogram Modeling Study
Authors: O’Leary Brendan , Mitchell Brendon , Thomas Sean , Onodera Keenan , Huang Brady , Kent William
Published: October 2023

Objectives:

The objective of this study was to define the danger zone at which the anterior tibial artery (ATA) is at risk during anterolateral plating of the distal tibia using a novel 3D CTA modeling technique.

Methods:

We identified 116 patients (232 lower extremities) with lower extremity CTAs performed between 04/2020 and 04/2022. Those with lower extremity trauma, evidence of a previously healed tibia fracture, or poor visualization of the ATA were excluded. The remaining 150 lower extremities (92 patients) were modeled with an anterolateral distal tibia plate using Sectra IDS7 software. The distance of the ATA from bony landmarks was measured perpendicular to the level at which the vessel intersected the plate.

Results:

The ATA intersected the plate at a mean distance of 10.5 cm (95% CI 10.2 – 10.9) proximally, and distally at a mean distance of 4.6 cm (95% CI 4.4 – 4.9) from the central tibial plafond. The ATA intersected with the plate as far distal as hole number 1 and as proximal as hole 14 of the plate. The greatest injury risk was associated with plate holes 3-8. In this region the artery was at risk in 46-99 percent of specimens.

Conclusions:

The ATA is at risk when percutaneously placing screws in an anterolateral distal tibia plate. The artery can be as close as 4.4 cm and as far as 10.9 cm proximal to the tibial plafond when crossing the plate, correlating to a risk of injury to the ATA at plate holes 1 through 14.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, computed tomography angiography study.
Our experience with management of congenital urological pathologies in adulthood: What pediatric urologists should know and adult urologists adopt in pediatric practice experience
Authors: Chertin Leon , Neeman Binyamin B. , Jaber Jawdat , Verhovsky Guy , Zisman Amnon , Mamber Ariel , Kafka Ilan , Natsheh Ala Eddin , Koulikov Dmitry , Shenfeld Ofer Z. , Chertin Boris , Koucherov Stanislav , Neheman Amos
Published: October 2023

Purpose

To summarize our experience in the management of congenital anomalies in the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) in adults.

Materials and methods

We conducted a retrospective chart review of all adult patients who underwent primary surgical intervention for CAKUT between 1998 and 2021.

Results

The study included 102 patients with a median age of 25 (interquartile range, 23–36.5). Of these, 85 (83.3%) patients reported normal prenatal ultrasound, and the remaining 17 (16.7%) patients were diagnosed with antenatal hydronephrosis. These patients were followed-up conservatively postnatally and were discharged from follow-up because of the absence of indications for surgical intervention or because they decided to leave medical care. All studied adult patients presented with the following pathologies: 67 ureteropelvic junction obstructions, 14 ectopic ureters, 9 ureteroceles, and 6 primary obstructive megaureters, and the remaining 6 patients were diagnosed with vesicoureteral reflux. Forty-three percent of the patients had poorly functioning moieties associated with ectopic ureters or ureteroceles. Notably, 67% of patients underwent pyeloplasty, 9% underwent endoscopic puncture of ureterocele, 3% underwent ureteral reimplantation, 6% underwent endoscopic correction of reflux, 7% underwent partial nephrectomy of non-functioning moiety, and the remaining 9% underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic ureteroureterostomy. The median follow-up period after surgery was 33 months (interquartile range, 12–54). Post-operative complications occurred in 5 patients (Clavien-Dindo 1–2).

Conclusions

Patients with CAKUT present clinical symptoms later in life. Parents of patients diagnosed during fetal screening and treated conservatively should be aware of this possibility, and children should be appropriately counseled when they enter adolescence. Similar surgical skills and operative techniques used in the pediatric population may be applied to adults.
Intracameral antibiotics during cataract surgery: efficacy, safety, and cost–benefit considerations
Authors: Lieu Alexander C. , Jun Jong Hwa , Afshari Natalie A.
Published: October 2023

Purpose of review

We summarize evidence-based considerations regarding the use of intracameral antibiotics during cataract surgery.

Recent findings

The use of intraoperative intracameral antibiotics reduced the incidence of postcataract surgery endophthalmitis 3.5-fold, with an odds ratio ranging from 0.14 to 0.19. A survey of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery showed usage of intracameral injections of antibiotics increased by 16% in the United States between 2014 and 2021. The frequency of vancomycin usage has sharply dropped to 6%, while moxifloxacin is now the dominant choice at 83% among respondents. One analysis showed that 2500 patients need to be treated with intracameral antibiotics to prevent one case of endophthalmitis. A 500 μg intracameral moxifloxacin at $22 dollars per dose is cost-effective, including for patients with posterior capsular rupture (PCR).

Studies substantiate the safety and efficacy of intracameral antibiotics for endophthalmitis prophylaxis. Intracameral moxifloxacin and cefuroxime are the most common choices. While vancomycin shows potential for efficacy, further studies evaluating clinical outcomes are needed. Adverse events are rare and commonly due to errors in preparation. Topical antibiotics do not provide additional prophylactic benefits to intracameral regimens. Intracameral antibiotics given alone are cost-effective.
A Feasibility Study to Assess Sleep and Subsequent Breast Milk Volume Among Mothers With Hospitalized Preterm Infants
Authors: Baumgartel Kelley , Caplan Erin , Glover Carly , Louis Judette , Schreiber James
Published: October 2023

Background:

Sleep is essential for optimal health, and disturbed postpartum sleep is associated with compromised infant attachment. The postpartum experience of mothers with preterm infants is unlike the biological norm, as they are separated from their infants and often express breast milk.

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of conducting a clinical research study among women with hospitalized preterm infants. We also explored for associations between maternal sleep patterns and sleep-related psychological states and subsequent breast milk volume.

Methods:

Participants were recruited from Magee-Womens Hospital, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania New mothers completed daily sleep and pumping logs and scales to measure stress, trauma, depression, fatigue, and sleep quality.

Results:

A total of 78 women were screened, 18 women consented, and a total of 8 participants completed the study. Screening from the postpartum unit increased recruitment. The participants experience worsening sleep quality over time, moderate stress, and fatigue. Stress, postnatal depression, and fatigue are negatively associated with milk volume.

Implications for Practice and Research:

Postpartum recruitment with frequent follow-ups improved recruitment and retention. We present a preliminary association between maternal stress, fatigue, and depression, and subsequent breast milk volume. Sleep-related psychological states may negatively influence milk volume.
Exploring Cytokine Networks in Resistant Hypertension
Authors: Bolin Linda P. , Crane Patricia B. , Gunn Laura H.
Published: October 2023

Background

Controlling high blood pressure (BP) continues to be a major concern because the associated complications can lead to an increased risk of heart, brain, and kidney disease. Those with hypertension, despite lifestyle and diet modifications and pharmacotherapy, defined as resistant hypertension, are at increased risk for further risk for morbidity and mortality. Understanding inflammation in this population may provide novel avenues for treatment.

Objectives

This study aimed to examine a broad range of cytokines in adults with cardiovascular disease and identify specific cytokines associated with resistant hypertension.

Methods

A secondary data analysis was conducted. The parent study included 156 adults with a history of myocardial infarction within the past 3–7 years and with a multiplex plasma analysis yielding a cytokine panel. A network analysis with lasso penalization for sparsity was performed to explore associations between cytokines and BP. Associated network centrality measures by cytokine were produced, and a community graph was extracted. A sensitivity analysis BP was also performed.

Results

Cytokines with larger node strength measures were sTNFR2 and CX3. The graphical network highlighted six cytokines strongly associated with resistant hypertension. Cytokines IL-29 and CCL3 were found to be negatively associated with resistant hypertension, whereas CXCL12, MMP3, sCD163, and sIL6Rb were positively associated with resistant hypertension.

Discussion

Understanding the network of associations through exploring oxidative stress and vascular inflammation may provide insight into treatment approaches for resistant hypertension.
The Effects of Race, Ethnicity, and Maternal Education on Infant Mortality
Authors: Atkins Rahshida , Pontes Nancy M. H. , Patterson Natasha A. , Hinckson Afia , Aromolaran Damilola , McCray April , Pontes Manuel C. F.
Published: October 2023

Background

The state of New Jersey has a large Black/African American (AA) versus White racial disparity in infant mortality and educational level at childbirth. This disparity, measured by rate ratio, increases with greater maternal education among varied racial–ethnic groups. The nature of this disparity measured by rate differences has not been explored.

Objectives

Infant birth and mortality data were used to examine whether racial or ethnic disparities in infant mortality increased with greater maternal education, comparing rate differences and rate ratios. Racial and ethnic variations in the association between maternal education and infant mortality were examined.

Methods

Data were from the New Jersey State Health Assessment Data for all New Jersey births between 2014 and 2018 stratified by race and ethnicity, maternal education, and infant mortality (n = 481,333). R software was used to create a data set and estimate additive and multiplicative interactions, rate differences, and rate ratios for infant mortality by maternal race/ethnicity and educational levels among four racial–ethnic groups.

Results

Infant mortality was significantly greater for Black/AA and Hispanic mothers than for White mothers. At all educational levels, Black/AA mothers had the highest prevalence of infant mortality compared to other racial or ethnic groups. Rate differences in infant mortality showed a decrease in Black/AA–White differences for mothers with a high school education or less compared to mothers with a college degree. However, rate ratios showed an increase in Black/AA–White ratio with increasing education levels for mothers with high school education or less than mothers with a college degree. Risk ratios comparing infant mortality for Black/AA versus Hispanic or Asian mothers showed more than a twofold greater risk at all education levels for Black/AA infants. Finally, college-educated Black/AA mothers had significantly higher rates of infant mortality than White or Hispanic mothers with a high school education or less.

Discussion/Implications

Black/AA mothers with a college degree had a higher infant mortality rate than White, Hispanic, or Asian mothers with a high school education or less. Future research should address contextual/systemic contributors to this disparity.
Psychosocial issues in SCA MANUSCRIPT for medicine journal.docxPSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES IN SICKLE CELL DISEASE: A REVIEW (PREPRINT)PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES IN SICKLE CELL DISEASE: A REVIEW (PREPRINT)PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES IN SICKLE CELL DISEASE: A REVIEW (PREPRINT)
Authors: Essien Emmanuel Aniekan , Winter-Eteng Blessing F. , Onukogu Chinyere Uchechi , Nkangha Dominic Dennis , Daniel Faithful
Published: October 2023

    

Abstract 

Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is a severe sickle cell disease primarily affecting black populations and individuals in tropical countries. This condition causes significant morbidity and mortality and leads to various psychosocial challenges. Using a narrative review approach, this paper analysed 80 peer-reviewed articles published between 1989 and 2023 to understand these challenges comprehensively. Mental disorders, sleep disturbances, interpersonal relationship challenges, stigmatisation, and workplace discrimination significantly contributed to the psychosocial distress experienced by individuals with SCA and their families. Depression and anxiety were prevalent among individuals with SCA, leading to poor treatment adherence, increased pain, and disruptions in various aspects of life. Sleep disturbances, including sleep-disordered breathing and sleepwalking, were also significant contributors to poor sleep quality in SCA patients. Families of individuals with SCA also face challenges, including psychological stress, financial strain, and social disruption. Stigmatisation is common, leading to misconceptions and discrimination. Workplace discrimination is prevalent, with a high unemployment rate among adult SCA patients. Comprehensive care is crucial to address these psychosocial issues. Early identification and intervention, comprehensive support programs, patient and family education, enhanced pain management strategies, and integration of mental health into clinical care are recommended. School-based support, research and advocacy, and community support groups are also necessary. By addressing these challenges through comprehensive care and support, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and society can reduce psychosocial distress and improve the lives of individuals with Sickle cell anaemia.
Development of a Speech-based Composite Score for Remotely Quantifying Language Changes in Frontotemporal Dementia
Authors: Robin Jessica , Xu Mengdan , Kaufman Liam D. , Simpson William , McCaughey Stella , Tatton Nadine , Wolfus Charles , Ward Michael
Published: October 2023

Background:

Changes to speech and language are common symptoms across different subtypes of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). These changes affect the ability to communicate, impacting everyday functions. Accurately assessing these changes may help clinicians to track disease progression and detect response to treatment.

Objective:

To determine which aspects of speech show significant change over time and to develop a novel composite score for tracking speech and language decline in individuals with FTD.

Method:

We recruited individuals with FTD to complete remote digital speech assessments based on a picture description task. Speech samples were analyzed to derive acoustic and linguistic measures of speech and language, which were tested for longitudinal change over the course of the study and were used to compute a novel composite score.

Results:

Thirty-six (16 F, 20 M; Mage = 61.3 years) individuals were enrolled in the study, with 27 completing a follow-up assessment 12 months later. We identified eight variables reflecting different aspects of language that showed longitudinal decline in the FTD clinical syndrome subtypes and developed a novel composite score based on these variables. The resulting composite score demonstrated a significant effect of change over time, high test–retest reliability, and a correlation with standard scores on various other speech tasks.

Conclusion:

Remote digital speech assessments have the potential to characterize speech and language abilities in individuals with FTD, reducing the burden of clinical assessments while providing a novel measure of speech and language abilities that is sensitive to disease and relevant to everyday function.
Modelling the impacts of male alternative reproductive tactics on population dynamics
Authors: Young Jennifer A. M. , Balshine Sigal , Earn David J. D.
Published: October 2023

Observations of male alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) in a variety of species have stimulated the development of mathematical models that can account for the evolution and stable coexistence of multiple male phenotypes. However, little attention has been given to the population dynamic consequences of ARTs. We present a population model that takes account of the existence of two male ARTs (guarders and sneakers), assuming that tactic frequencies are environmentally determined and tactic reproductive success depends on the densities of both types. The presence of sneakers typically increases overall population density. However, if sneakers comprise a sufficiently large proportion of the population—or, equivalently, if guarders are sufficiently rare—then it is possible for the total population to crash to extinction (in this extreme regime, there is also an Allee effect, i.e. a threshold density below which the population will go extinct). We apply the model to the example of the invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus). We argue that ARTs can dramatically influence population dynamics and suggest that considering such phenotypic plasticity in population models is potentially important, especially for species of conservation or commercial importance.