bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stomatin-like protein 2 senses oxidative stress through the interaction with phosphatidic acid to promote mitochondrial unfolded protein response
Authors: Castelo Rueda Maria Paulina , Pichler Irene , Musilova Karolina , Kmoch Stanislav , Pramstaller Peter P. , Hnizda Ales , Hicks Andrew A. , Vozdek Roman
Published: May 2024

The mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mtUPR) is an essential mechanism that maintains mitochondrial fitness during stress. Using a genetic screen inCaenorhabditis eleganslooking for regulators of the mtUPR, we identifiedstl-1, an ortholog of human Stomatin-like protein 2 (SLP-2), as a positive regulator in healthy mitochondria. The loss of STL-1 and SLP-2 results in an impaired mtUPR inC. elegansand human cells, respectively. BothC. elegansSTL-1 and human SLP-2 are proteins located at the inner mitochondrial membrane and exhibit strong lipid binding affinity to phosphatidic acid. Oxidative stress alters the STL-1 localization within the mitochondrial membrane, and triggers the mtUPR dependent on both STL-1/SLP-2 and mitochondrial PA homeostasis. These results reveal an evolutionarily conserved mechanism of mitochondrial protection, in which STL-1/SLP-2 acts as a sensor for changes in mitochondrial membrane lipid composition through physical interaction with PA species, thereby mediating the mtUPR and enhancing stress resistance.
Impact of harmonic inflow variations on the size and dynamics of the separated flow over a bump
Authors: Marbona Himpu , Rodríguez Daniel , Martínez-Cava Alejandro , Valero Eusebio
Published: May 2024

The separated flow over a wall-mounted bump geometry under harmonic oscillations of the inflow stream is investigated with direct numerical simulations. The bump geometry gives rise to streamwise pressure gradients similar to those encountered on the suction side of low-pressure turbine (LPT) blades. Under steady inflow conditions, the separated-flow laminar-to-turbulent transition is initiated by self-sustained vortex shedding due to Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) instability. In LPTs the dynamics are further complicated by the passage of the wakes shed by the previous stage of blades. The wake-passing effect is modeled here by introducing a harmonic variation of the inflow conditions. Three inflow oscillation frequencies and three amplitudes are considered. The frequencies are comparable to the wake-passing frequencies in practical LPTs. The amplitudes range from 1% to 10% of the inflow total pressure. The dynamics of the separated flow are studied by isolating the flow components that are respectively coherent with and uncorrelated to the inflow oscillation. Three scenarios are identified. The first one is analogous to the steady inflow case. In the second one, the KH vortex shedding is replaced during a part of the inflow period by the formation and release of a large vortex cluster. The third scenario consists solely of the periodic formation and release of the vortex cluster; it leads to a consistent reduction of the separated flow length over the entire period compared to the steady inflow case and would be the most desirable flow condition in a practical application.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Measurement of pressure gradients near the interface in the viscous fingering instability
Authors: Gowen Savannah D. , Videbæk Thomas E. , Nagel Sidney R.
Published: May 2024

The viscous fingering instability, which forms when a less-viscous fluid invades a more-viscous one within a confined geometry, is an iconic system for studying pattern formation. For both miscible and immiscible fluid pairs the growth dynamics change after the initial instability onset and the global structures, typical of late-time growth, are governed by the viscosity ratio. Here we introduce an experimental technique to measure flow throughout the inner and outer fluids. This probes the existence of a new length scale associated with the local pressure gradients around the interface and allows us to compare our results to the predictions of a previously proposed model for late-time finger growth.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Epitaxial growth and stoichiometry control of pyrochlore
Nd2Ru2O7
thin films
Authors: Rabinovich K. S. , Kim G. , Yaresko A. N. , Christiani G. , Logvenov G. , Keimer B. , Boris A. V.
Published: May 2024

We report on the epitaxial growth of pyrochlore NRO thin films utilizing a reactive off-axis sputtering technique. The growth process employed Ru and Nd metal targets with a repetitive substrate temperature sequence. X-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, and spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements confirm that the structural, magnetic, and electronic properties of near-stoichiometric NRO films match those of the bulk material. Our spin-polarized density functional calculations based on Nd2Ru2O7 structural parameters accurately describe the optical spectra and assign Hubbard bands to the interband transitions observed above the optical band gap of 0.2 eV. By utilizing the technique's capability to adjust the degree of ruthenium deficiency, we investigated Nd2Ru2O7 films across a wide range of stoichiometric variations. Decreasing the Ru/Nd ratio results in lattice expansion, an increase in the optical band gap, and the suppression of Ru 4d intersite optical transitions. Additionally, this adjustment facilitates the elimination of minor inclusions of a ferromagnetic NdOx impurity phase, influencing the magnetic properties of stoichiometric films at low temperatures. The successful growth of Nd2Ru2O7 films opens up promising opportunities for designing and exploring strain- and light-induced states in pyrochlore ruthenates.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Nonlinear helicity anomalies in the cyclotron resonance photoresistance of two-dimensional electron systems
Authors: Mönch E. , Schweiss S. , Yahniuk I. , Savchenko M. L. , Dmitriev I. A. , Shuvaev A. , Pimenov A. , Schuh D. , Bougeard D. , Ganichev S. D.
Published: May 2024

Our studies of the cyclotron resonance (CR) photoresistance in GaAs-based two-dimensional electron systems (2DES) reveal an anomalously low sensitivity to the helicity of the incoming circularly polarized terahertz radiation. We find that this anomaly is strongly intensity dependent, and the ratio of the low-temperature photoresistance signals for the CR-active (CRA) and CR-inactive (CRI) polarities of magnetic field increases with lowering power, but, nevertheless, remains substantially lower than expected from conventional theory assuming interaction of the plane electromagnetic wave with the uniform 2DES. Our analysis shows that all data can be well described by the nonlinear CR-enhanced electron gas heating in both CRA and CRI regimes. This description, however, does not specify the source of anomalous CRI absorption that remains unclear.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
High fidelity control of a many-body Tonks-Girardeau gas with an effective mean-field approach
Authors: Hasan Muhammad S. , Fogarty T. , Li J. , Ruschhaupt A. , Busch Th.
Published: May 2024

Shortcuts to adiabaticity (STA) are powerful tools that can be used to control quantum systems with high fidelity. They work particularly well for single particle and noninteracting systems which can be described exactly and which possess invariant or self-similar dynamics. However, finding an exact STA for strongly correlated many-body systems can be difficult, as their complex dynamics may not be easily described, especially for larger systems that do not possess self-similar solutions. Here, we design STAs for one-dimensional bosonic gas in the Tonks-Girardeau limit by using a mean-field approach that succinctly captures the strong interaction effects through a quintic nonlinear term in the Schrödinger equation. We show that for the case of the harmonic oscillator with a time-dependent trap frequency the mean-field approach works exactly and recovers the well-known STA from literature. To highlight the robustness of our approach we also show that it works effectively for anharmonic potentials, achieving higher fidelities than other typical control techniques.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Testing the Quantumness of Gravity without Entanglement
Authors: Lami Ludovico , Pedernales Julen S. , Plenio Martin B.
Published: May 2024

Given a unitary evolution U on a multipartite quantum system and an ensemble of initial states, how well can U be simulated by local operations and classical communication (LOCC) on that ensemble? We answer this question by establishing a general, efficiently computable upper bound on the maximal LOCC simulation fidelity—what we call an “LOCC inequality.” We then apply our findings to the fundamental setting where U implements a quantum Newtonian Hamiltonian over a gravitationally interacting system. Violation of our LOCC inequality can rule out the LOCCness of the underlying evolution, thereby establishing the nonclassicality of the gravitational dynamics, which can no longer be explained by a local classical field. As a prominent application of this scheme we study systems of quantum harmonic oscillators initialized in coherent states following a normal distribution and interacting via Newtonian gravity, and discuss a possible physical implementation with torsion pendula. One of our main technical contributions is the analytical calculation of the above LOCC inequality for this family of systems. As opposed to existing tests based on the detection of gravitationally mediated entanglement, our proposal works with coherent states alone, and thus it does not require the generation of largely delocalized states of motion nor the detection of entanglement, which is never created at any point in the process.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Entangling Interactions Between Artificial Atoms Mediated by a Multimode Left-Handed Superconducting Ring Resonator
Authors: McBroom-Carroll T. , Schlabes A. , Xu X. , Ku J. , Cole B. , Indrajeet S. , LaHaye M. D. , Ansari M. H. , Plourde B. L. T.
Published: May 2024

Superconducting metamaterial transmission lines implemented with lumped circuit elements can exhibit left-handed dispersion, where the group and phase velocity have opposite sign, in a frequency range relevant for superconducting artificial atoms. Forming such a metamaterial transmission line into a ring and coupling it to qubits at different points around the ring results in a multimode bus resonator with a compact footprint. Using flux-tunable qubits, we characterize and theoretically model the variation in the coupling strength between the two qubits and each of the ring-resonator modes. Although the qubits have negligible direct coupling between them, their interactions with the multimode ring resonator result in both a transverse exchange coupling and a higher-order ZZ interaction between the qubits. As we vary the detuning between the qubits and their frequency relative to the ring-resonator modes, we observe significant variations in both of these interqubit interactions, including zero crossings and changes of sign. The ability to modulate interaction terms such as the ZZ scale between zero and large values for small changes in qubit frequency provides a promising pathway for implementing entangling gates in a system capable of hosting many qubits.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Toward a quantitative description of solvation structure: a framework for differential solution scattering measurements
Authors: Thompson Niklas B. , Mulfort Karen L. , Tiede David M.
Published: May 2024

Appreciating that the role of the solute–solvent and other outer-sphere interactions is essential for understanding chemistry and chemical dynamics in solution, experimental approaches are needed to address the structural consequences of these interactions, complementing condensed-matter simulations and coarse-grained theories. High-energy X-ray scattering (HEXS) combined with pair distribution function analysis presents the opportunity to probe these structures directly and to develop quantitative, atomistic models of molecular systems in situ in the solution phase. However, at concentrations relevant to solution-phase chemistry, the total scattering signal is dominated by the bulk solvent, prompting researchers to adopt a differential approach to eliminate this unwanted background. Though similar approaches are well established in quantitative structural studies of macromolecules in solution by small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS), analogous studies in the HEXS regime—where sub-ångström spatial resolution is achieved—remain underdeveloped, in part due to the lack of a rigorous theoretical description of the experiment. To address this, herein we develop a framework for differential solution scattering experiments conducted at high energies, which includes concepts of the solvent-excluded volume introduced to describe SAXS/WAXS data, as well as concepts from the time-resolved X-ray scattering community. Our theory is supported by numerical simulations and experiment and paves the way for establishing quantitative methods to determine the atomic structures of small molecules in solution with resolution approaching that of crystallography.
Unveiling the role of congruity in service robot design and deployment
Authors: Ma Chang , Fan Alei , Lee Seonjeong Ally
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the congruency effects of physically embodied robots in service encounters, which addressed a significant research gap concerning the synthesis of robot design elements (e.g., appearance and voice) and their service purposes.

Design/methodology/approach

Grounded in congruity theory and human-robot interaction literature, this study conducted a pretest and two experimental studies revealing the need to view robot design holistically and recognizing the pivotal role of congruity in shaping consumers’ service robot adoption. The moderating role of service purposes (utilitarian vs hedonic) was also investigated in terms of robot design and consumer reactions.

Findings

Consumers generally tend to favor robots with congruent designs, particularly for utilitarian service purposes. The serial mediation through perceived congruence and perceived intelligence explains such a favorite tendency.

Practical implications

This study advances service robot design research by highlighting the critical role of congruity in enhancing consumer engagement. It supports the use of comprehensive, congruent designs for services with utilitarian purposes and recommends adaptable designs for hedonic settings.

Originality/value

This study addressed the research gap by examining service robot design from a holistic perspective. The research findings highlight the importance of congruency effects in service robot design and deployment and provide valuable insights and guidelines to industry practitioners for optimal investment in service robots.
Economic uncertainty, risk-taking incentives and production management
Authors: Abdoh Hussein , Maghyereh Aktham
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to validate the link between production manipulation and a firm’s performance variability (fundamentals and stock returns). It explores whether executives' risk-taking incentives encourage production deviations around the normal level during uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilizing panel data of manufacturing firms from Compustat over three decades, the study investigates production management practices during economic uncertainty. The Economic Policy Uncertainty Index (EPU) is employed as a key metric. The empirical strategy involves documenting the effect of economic uncertainty on overproduction and underproduction, examining the role of executive compensation and assessing the impact on risk.

Findings

The research finds that risk-taking incentives increase over/underproduction, particularly amplifying the extent of underproduction during uncertainty. Production deviation rises, indicating that firms take greater risk by engaging in abnormal business operations. The study’s results are robust against various econometric methods, emphasizing the influence of risk-taking incentives on corporate production decisions.

Research limitations/implications

While providing valuable insights, the study acknowledges inherent limitations, including factors influencing production decisions beyond risk-taking incentives. Further research could explore additional determinants for a comprehensive understanding.

Practical implications

The findings highlight the potential dark side of executive compensation that motivates suboptimal risk-taking decisions, impacting risk, cost of capital and firm performance. Policymakers and compensation committees can use these insights to design efficient systems that mitigate moral hazard problems associated with productivity changes.

Social implications

The study emphasizes the broader social implications of production manipulation under uncertainty. It prompts discussions on the ethical considerations of managerial opportunism, its potential consequences for stakeholders and market dynamics.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by examining the role of economic uncertainty on production manipulation and the influence of risk-taking incentives. It extends the earnings management literature by considering real activity manipulation and emphasizing the importance of decomposing production deviation into positive and negative values.
Living beyond borders: the international legal framework to protecting rights to health of Indonesian illegal migrant workers in Malaysia
Authors: Tjitrawati Aktieva Tri , Romadhona Mochamad Kevin
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to analyse in the health access of Indonesian illegal migrant workers in Malaysia, during which time they were not covered by Indonesia’s national social health insurance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a sociolegal approach, the research approach is conducted to understand the effect of a law, policy and regulation on access to health-care access among Indonesian migrant workers working illegally in Malaysia. This research involved 110 respondents who work illegally in Malaysia. The research explored the perceptions of respondents concerning to health access services of illegal migrant workers.

Findings

The study demonstrated the weakness of provisions intended to guarantee the health access to health care of migrant workers from Indonesia illegally working in Malaysia. A decline in health status was observed, but it was not significant. Bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Malaysia is necessary to provide a framework for Indonesia providing health care to its citizens working in Malaysia, regardless of their legal status.

Originality/value

This paper concerns on the Indonesia illegal migrant workers experiencing illness and the access to the health service in Malaysia, and also the implementation of international regulation to protect Indonesian illegal migrant workers in Malaysia under ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers.
Tensile, flexural and free vibration characteristics of sustainable recycled polypropylene filled with spherical SiC through experimental and RVE analysis
Authors: Sahu Santosh Kumar , Sreekanth P.S. Rama , Deepthi Y.P. , Ma Quanjin , Erinle Tunji John
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the mechanical properties of sustainable recycled polypropylene (rPP) composite materials integrated with spherical silicon carbide (SiC) particles.

Design/methodology/approach

A representative volume element (RVE) analysis is employed to predict the Young’s modulus of rPP filled with spherical-shaped SiC at varying volume percentages (i.e. 10, 20 and 30%).

Findings

The investigation reveals that the highest values of Young’s modulus, tensile strength, flexural strength and mode 1 frequency are observed for the 30% rPP/SiC samples, exhibiting increases of 115, 116, 62 and 15%, respectively, compared to pure rPP. Fractography analysis confirms the ductile nature of pure rPP and the brittle behavior of the 30% rPP/SiC composite. Moreover, the RVE method predicts Young’s modulus more accurate than micromechanical models, aligning closely with experimental results. Additionally, results from ANSYS simulation tests show tensile strength, flexural strength and frequency within a 10% error range when compared to experimental data.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the field by demonstrating the mechanical enhancements achievable through the incorporation of sustainable materials like rPP/SiC, thereby promoting environmentally friendly engineering solutions.
Data, disasters and disquietude in ethnography: learning by trial and error how to behave like a civil servant in Malawi
Authors: Hendriks Tanja D.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

In this article, I answer the call to normalize and discuss how ethnographers navigate failure in the field by sharing my own experiences from long-term fieldwork in Malawi. I highlight, particularly, my own struggles with feelings of failure and the role of my interlocutors in helping me navigate and understand these situations.

Design/methodology/approach

My argument is based on more than 18 months of ongoing in-depth ethnographic fieldwork in Malawi, where I study the everyday practices of civil servants active in disaster governance, focusing on those working for the Malawi Government Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA).

Findings

I use ethnographic vignettes to show how my interlocutors tried to teach me what being a Malawian civil servant is all about, which often came most forcefully to the fore in moments where either I or they deemed that I had failed to behave like one.

Originality/value

This adds new empirical data to the discussions on the various manifestations and roles of failure in ethnographic research, underlining how frictions and feelings of failure are a difficult yet productive and central part of fieldwork and ethnographic data creation.
A life through the looking glass: the development of a qualitative method, International Digital Collaborative Autoethnographical Psychobiography (IDCAP)
Authors: Hopkinson Patrick , Niklasson Mats
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to introduce International Digital Collaborative Autoethnographical Psychobiography (IDCAP).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper describes how IDCAP was developed to answer research questions about what it takes and what it means to recover from mental illness. During its development, IDCAP combined the diverse and intersectional experiences, knowledge and interests of an Anglo-Swedish research team with what could be found in different publications concerning the experiences and the mental illnesses of the musicians Syd Barrett, Peter Green and Brian Wilson.

Findings

IDCAP combines features of autoethnography and psychobiography to offer a novel qualitative research method.

Research limitations/implications

Whilst IDCAP was created to focus on recovery from mental illness and musicians, it can be applied to other areas of research. It shares the same limitations as autoethnography and psychobiography, although some of the features of IDCAP may go some way to mitigate against these.

Practical implications

IDCAP is a novel research method that is offered to other researchers to develop and enhance further through application.

Social implications

IDCAP is a collaborative research method that encourages the involvement of a wide range of researchers from different countries and cultures. It can be used to give voice to marginalised groups and to counter discrimination and prejudice. Recovery from mental illness is a topic of great personal and social value.

Originality/value

IDCAP is a novel research method that, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, has not been explicitly used before.
Bootstraps, redlines and wage-theft: using Monopoly to critically examine American wealth inequality
Authors: Dingler Matt
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Scholarship on America’s K-12 economics curriculum reveals an inattention to many harmful economic realities, specifically wealth inequality. Critics of the present curriculum posit that its emphasis on out-dated concepts and models ignores crucial elements of reality that impact economic interaction and identities. In response to the dominant economic paradigm and methods, this practitioner-focused paper discusses an economically pluralist, pedagogically critical approach to interrogating destructive economic realities. It details how three social studies classroom simulations based on the board game Monopoly may be integrated with certain informational texts to explore economic factors that contribute to America’s unique form of wealth inequality.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper describes wealth inequality in America and rationalizes the need to make this social problem a focus of study in the secondary social studies classroom. First, I survey the present curricular apparatus of K-12 economics education and then argue for a pluralist approach that expands the curriculum’s dominant neoclassical paradigm. Connecting economic pluralism to critical citizen education, I draw upon emerging critical economic citizen education scholarship to explain attendant pedagogical and instructional approaches. The described lesson builds upon a tradition of Monopoly simulations, is rooted in critical citizen education pedagogy and aligns with Soroko’s (2023) critical economic literacy framework.

Findings

This paper progresses the curricular movement of economic pluralism through its critique of America’s current K-12 economics curriculum that does not focus on immediate, lived social problems. It further defines critical economics, citizenship and pedagogy, then details an instructional practice that employs critical disciplinary tools to investigate contributing factors of American wealth inequality.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the growing field of pluralist economic perspectives and pedagogies. Specifically, it enriches understanding of critical economics citizenship education by further defining attendant pedagogy and explaining Monopoly as an instructional tool for critical economics citizen education. Previous works have discussed Monopoly’s utility for teaching various concepts within the social studies disciplines. This simulation lesson is unique in its instructional approach that merges simulation experiences with certain informational texts to cultivate critical economic knowledge of American wealth inequality and critical economic skills for critiquing and transforming oppressive economic realities.
Outbound Profit Shifting and the Propensity to Engage in Cross‐Border Acquisitions
Authors: Tardios Janja A. , Clegg L. Jeremy
Published: May 2024

Accountability‐avoiding foreign direct investment (FDI) is a category of financial motives explaining where firms invest and how, yet our grasp of this phenomenon is incomplete. In contrast with tax‐haven FDI, where multinational enterprises (MNEs) invest in a host country to pursue inbound profit shifting, we consider a novel motive – FDI attracted by low host country financial transparency that enables outbound profit shifting (OPS). Cross‐border acquisitions (CBAs) are a takeover route to achieving OPS and global tax optimization. Our empirical context is 39,951 CBAs by 315 acquirers from 26 countries in the 1996–2015 period. We hypothesize and empirically show a positive relationship between OPS and CBAs and the probability that equity ownership of CBAs will be high. We find that the relationship between OPS and CBAs is stronger the more attractive or income unequal the host market, or when the multinational's industry is vertically or horizontally integrated. We attribute the lack of support for our hypothesis that MNEs require in‐house capability to conduct OPS to tax planning consultancies’ services. These findings highlight the role of low financial transparency as a novel locational determinant of OPS‐pursuing FDI and emphasize the distinction between inbound and outbound profit shifting as manifestations of accountability‐avoiding FDI.
Evaluating the impact of hot water killing larvae on gene expression using the transformer gene in Cochliomyia macellaria (Diptera: Calliphoridae)
Authors: Smith Joshua L.
Published: May 2024

In forensic entomology, determining the age of a larva from a body to estimate time since death is commonly performed through the measurement of a physical trait. Gene expression has been studied as an alternative age estimation approach, but the storage conditions required for these studies are different than those used in forensic entomological casework. Studies analyzing gene expression prioritize the preservation of RNA, which requires fresh tissue and ultra‐cold storage. Casework, in contrast, utilizes hot water killing specimens that may not be analyzed for a long period after collection. In the current study, the impact of hot water killing on gene expression was assessed for larval samples of the forensically important blow fly, Cochliomyia macellaria. Successful amplification of the sex‐determining gene, transformer, was tested across larvae ranging in size from 3.22 to 16.85 mm in length after storage times of 1–2 weeks, 4–5 weeks, and 8–9 weeks at 4°C in RNAlater. Larvae hot water killed were processed in tandem with larvae stored live to allow for a direct assessment of the impact of boiling on gene expression. As expected, the transformer gene was successfully amplified in all larvae stored live. For the hot water‐killed larvae, the success rate was only slightly lower, with 3 out of 75 larvae not generating a sex‐specific band pattern. The results show gene expression can be used for hot water‐killed samples, though future work across different genes, species, and extending to quantitative gene expression methods is needed.
Qualitative transformations of street‐seized ecstasy over a decade: A case study in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
Authors: Antonio Ananda da Silva , Wurzler Gleicielle Tozzi , Bhering Cecília de Andrade , de Oliveira Adriana Sousa , Cohen Luciana Silva do Amaral , de Oliveira Marco Antônio Martins , de Aquino Neto Francisco Radler , Vanini Gabriela
Published: May 2024

The illegal drug market is constantly evolving, with new drugs being created and existing ones being modified. Adulterants are often added to the mix, and the primary substance may be secretly replaced by a new one. Once‐known tablets can now be vastly different from what they are sold as, all due to the pursuit of profit and evasion of current drug regulations. These alterations in drug composition pose a threat to society, as their effects are still not well understood. Therefore, it is crucial for police intelligence and public health development to obtain the chemical profiles of illicit drugs. This study presents the chemical fingerprinting of ecstasy tablets seized in the state of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) between 2012 and 2021. The tablet samples were weighed, extracted, diluted with methanol, and acidified before analysis using gas chromatography high‐resolution mass spectrometry and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The major constituents found were MDMA and clobenzorex, with fewer occurrences of MDA, MDEA, and 2C‐B. The results also indicate that the occurrence of mega‐events in the study location impacted the chemical fingerprints of ecstasy. A total of 27 combinations of cutting agents, including caffeine, ephedrine, and anesthetics, were identified. Samples composed of clobenzorex were observed throughout the evaluated period in areas near highways, suggesting that this product is mainly used by truck drivers. These findings can help police intelligence units anticipate the behavior of the illicit market during major events, identify traffic routes, and support public health initiatives.
The relationship between satisfaction with life, dietary attitude, and comfort level in hemodialysis patients: Analysis with machine learning approach
Authors: Çiftci Necmettin , Yıldız Metin , Yildirim Zeynep
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Hemodialysis (HD) patients have become a serious public health problem, the number of which is increasing every year worldwide. This study aimed to determine the relationship between satisfaction with life, dietary attitude, and comfort level in patients receiving HD treatment.

Methods

This research was conducted in a relational cross‐sectional descriptive design. The research was conducted with 174 patients (85% of the population) receiving HD treatment between March 20 and September 30, 2023. In the study, hierarchical regression analysis was performed with SPSS 25.0. Machine learning analysis and prediction were performed using R programming language, version 4.1.3.

Results

The model used to determine the factors affecting satisfaction with life was significant and usable (F(2,171) = 25.855, p = 0.001). Attitudes of HD patients toward dietary therapy and their HD comfort levels together explained 22.3% of the total variance of satisfaction with life. In the regression model, according to the results of the t‐test regarding the significance of the regression coefficient, the increase in the HD comfort levels of the participants (t = 2.668, p = 0.008) and the increase in the attitude of the HD patients toward dietary therapy (t = 5.897, p = 0.001) caused a statistical increase in “satisfaction with life.” According to Shapley values, the most important variable in the prediction of satisfaction with life variable is attitude for the dietary attitude.

Conclusion

It was determined that the increase in the comfort levels of HD patients and their positive dietary attitudes increased satisfaction with life. It is recommended to provide education to increase patients' diet attitudes and comfort levels.
Pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma arising in mixed squamous and glandular papilloma: A case report
Authors: Nitanda Hiroyuki , Homma Taku , Taguchi Ryo , Umesaki Tetsuya , Ichiki Yoshinobu , Sakaguchi Hirozo , Ishida Hironori
Published: May 2024

Solitary pulmonary papillomas (SPPs) are rare lung neoplasms. Histologically, SPP is classified into three subtypes, and mixed squamous and glandular papilloma (MP) is the rarest subtype. Although SPPs are considered benign tumors, there have been several reports on the synchronous malignant transformation in SPPs. An 82‐year‐old asymptomatic man was referred to our hospital for further examination of a 2.2 cm‐sized left lung tumor. Pathology of bronchoscopic specimens showed the possibility of pulmonary papilloma but did not reveal any malignancy. The patient complained of bloody sputum during the eighth month after the initial visit. The size of the lesion had increased to 4.3 cm. These data suggested the existence of malignancy, and the patient underwent an operation. Histologically, the tumor was composed of fibrovascular cores and papillomatous fronds lined by pseudostratified columnar cells and mucin‐filled goblet cells. Keratinizing squamous epithelium was also observed. Overall, the diagnosis of MP was obtained by fundamental histology. In addition, a solid part beneath mild atypical squamous epithelia, which was composed of malignant‐appearing squamous cells and spindle‐shaped atypical cells, was observed. The spindle portion was positive for cytokeratin AE1/AE3 and vimentin, and focally positive for alpha‐smooth muscle actin (αSMA). The final diagnosis was pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma (PPC) arising in the MP. Only two cases have been reported for atypical spindle tumor cells that are found in MP or bronchiolar adenoma/ciliated muconodular papillary tumor (BA/CMPT), which has histologically similar features to MP. This is the second case report of PPC arising in MP.
Association of obesity and the clinical course of hospitalised COVID‐19 survivors
Authors: Emamjomeh Ali , Mohammadifard Noushin , Abbasi Mehdi , Askari Mozhde , Taheri Marzieh , Javanbakht Sahel , Ahmadian Mahshid , Sayyah Maedeh , Mahmoudi Shirin , Heidari Kamal , Sarrafzadegan Nizal
Published: May 2024

Obesity is a risk factor for chronic inflammation and severe pulmonary infections. This study aimed to assess the association between obesity and the clinical courses of hospitalised COVID‐19 survivors. This cross‐sectional study used the Isfahan COVID Cohort (ICC) baseline data. The ICC is an ongoing, 5‐year prospective, longitudinal cohort study conducted on hospitalised COVID‐19 survivors in affiliated hospitals of the Medical University of Isfahan (MUI), Iran. Patients aged 19 and over throughout Isfahan County were recruited using a consecutive sampling method 1 month after discharge. Demographic and basic characteristics, symptoms and clinical features of these patients were collected and analysed. A total of 3843 hospitalised patients with COVID‐19 were included in this study. Regarding the body mass index classification in the general obesity group, the patients with overweight and obesity had more extended hospitalisation and a higher frequency of low O2 saturation compared to the normal weight patients, and the highest frequency of low O2 saturation and more extended hospitalisation was observed in patients with obesity (5.9 ± 3.8 vs. 6.8 ± 5.4 vs. 7.1 ± 5.3, respectively; p = .001 and 59% vs. 64.5% vs. 65.5%; p < .001). Furthermore, individuals with abdominal obesity had a significantly longer duration of hospitalisation compared to the non‐abdominal obesity group (6.3 ± 4.6 vs. 7.0 ± 5.3; p < .001). In the fully adjusted model, a significant association was observed between abdominal obesity and an increased occurrence of low oxygen saturation compared to general obesity (odds ratio: 1.25, 95% confidence interval: 1.03–1.44). Obesity was associated with more extended hospitalisation and hypoxia in patients with COVID‐19. However, no significant relationship was found between obesity and other clinical courses.
Utility of IL‐36 immunostaining in distinguishing psoriasis from pityriasis rosea and pityriasis lichenoides
Authors: Ibraheim Marina Kristy , North Jeffrey P.
Published: May 2024

Background

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease driven by upregulation of cytokines in the Th17 pathway, including interleukin‐36 (IL‐36). Previous studies have highlighted the utility of IL‐36 immunostaining for psoriasis compared to spongiotic dermatitis and other psoriasiform dermatoses; however, no study has examined the role of IL‐36 staining in distinguishing psoriasis from pityriasis rosea (PR) and pityriasis lichenoides (PL), known histologic mimickers of psoriasis.

Methods

We compared the immunostaining pattern of IL‐36 for 21 PR cases, 22 PL cases, and 10 psoriasis cases. We graded the immunostaining as 0, negative; 1, focal weak; 2, diffuse weak; 3, focal, strong; or 4, diffuse strong. We further categorized stains as negative (0–2 score) or positive (3–4 score) and utilized Fisher's exact test to compare the immunostaining pattern of these entities.

Results

All psoriasis specimens were positive for IL‐36, whereas all PR specimens were negative (p = 0.00000002). Twenty PL specimens were negative (p = 0.000001). Nine of 10 pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta cases were negative (p = 0.00012), and 11 of 12 cases of pityriasis lichenoides chronica were negative (p = 0.00003).

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the potential role of IL‐36 immunostaining in distinguishing psoriasis from other psoriasiform dermatoses, including PR and PL.
Procalcitonin, brain natriuretic peptide and albumin as markers to predict prognosis in hospitalized older Japanese patients with a risk of infection
Authors: Higashikawa Toshihiro , Ito Toru , Ito Tomohiko , Mizuno Takuro , Ishigami Keiichirou , Kuroki Kengo , Maekawa Naoto , Usuda Daisuke , Yoshida Michiteru , Morita Takuro , Hamada Kazu , Yano Hiroshi , Takeshima Kento , Haraguchi Takatoshi , Yamada Shinya , Yamada Sohsuke , Ushimoto Tomoyuki , Sangen Ryusho , Izumida Toshihide , Kiyosawa Jun , Ono Taisuke , Iguchi Masaharu , Wato Yukihiro , Nakahashi Takeshi , Kasamaki Yuji , Fukuda Akihiro , Kanda Tsugiyasu , Morimoto Shigeto , Okuro Masashi
Published: May 2024

Aim

Whether serum concentration of procalcitonin (PCT), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and albumin (Alb) have an association with the outcome of hospitalized older patients is unclear. We investigated clinical outcomes and any predictive factors in hospitalized Japanese older patients with a risk of infection.

Methods

In the retrospective study, 820 Japanese patients were followed up for 30 days or until death. During the observation period, 656 patients survived and 164 patients died. The predictive factors of death were analyzed according to demographic and clinical variables.

Results

The survival rate was decreased as the serum PCT increased from <0.5 to ≥10 ng/mL, as was also the case with BNP from <300 to ≥300 pg./mL, whereas low Alb (<2.5 g/dL) showed a lower survival rate than high Alb (≥2.5 g/dL; P < 0.01). Using the Cox regression model, the multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) were as follows: PCT 0.5–2 versus <0.5 ng/mL: 1.61(1.04–2.49), PCT 2–10 versus <0.5 ng/mL: 1.91(1.15–3.16), PCT ≥10 versus <0.5 ng/mL: 2.90(1.84–4.59), high BNP 1.26 (0.89–1.76) and low Alb 0.68 (0.52–0.87). The mortality rate increased as the number of scores (PCT + BNP + Alb) increased.

Conclusions

Concentration‐dependent high PCT, high BNP and low Alb were positive risk factors associated with poor prognosis in hospitalized older patients with a risk of infection. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 571–576.
Prevalence of people living with multidrug‐resistant HIV and limited treatment options in Spain
Authors: Llibre Josep M. , García Federico , Blanco José Luis , Peláez Esmeralda Palmier , de Cea Álvaro Mena , Cortés Luis López , Alonso Marta Montero , Bernáldez Miguel Pascual , Schroeder Melanie , Sánchez Silvia Esteban , Alcántara Felipe Rodríguez
Published: May 2024

Objectives

Our aim was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of people with HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) with multidrug resistance (MDR; confirmed resistance to three or more [or resistance to two or more plus contraindication to one or more] core ART classes) and limited treatment options (LTOs) in Spain.

Methods

This was an observational, retrospective, multicentre, cross‐sectional chart review study undertaken in five reference Spanish centres. Participants were people with HIV on ART with MDR and LTOs (detectable viral load [HIV‐RNA >200 copies/mL], treatment‐limiting drug–drug interaction [DDI], or intolerance precluding the use of one or more ART classes). Prevalence, demographic/clinical characteristics, and treatment options were assessed. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify MDR‐associated variables.

Results

Of 14 955 screened people with HIV, 69 (0.46%) presented with MDR and 23 (0.15%) had LTOs. The population analysed was 73.9% male with a median age of 54.0 years; the median time since HIV diagnosis was 26.5 years, and median CD4+ cell count was 511.0 cells/μL. The only factor significantly associated with MDR (univariate analysis) was CD4+ cell count. Injection drug use was the most common transmission route. Comorbidities (mainly endocrine and cardiovascular disorders; 34.8% affecting HIV management) and concomitant treatments were frequent. No recent opportunistic infections were reported. Patients had been exposed to the following ART: nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (100%), protease inhibitors (95.6%), non‐nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (87.0%), and integrase strand transfer inhibitors (82.6%). The available fully active drugs were dolutegravir (39.1%), bictegravir (30.4%), and raltegravir (21.7%).

Conclusions

The prevalence of people with HIV with MDR and LTOs in Spain is very low, with approximately half of those studied not exhibiting virological suppression. Low CD4+ cell counts were associated with MDR. These findings may help address the impact and treatment needs of these patients and prevent clinical progression and transmission of MDR HIV.
Electrochemical corrosion and tribocorrosion behavior of CrN and CrAlN coatings in artificial seawater
Authors: Bai Xiao , Li Yang , Guo Chunting , Man Jia , Zhang Dejian , Wan Yong , Sun Huilai
Published: May 2024

This study investigated the corrosion and tribocorrosion behavior of CrN and CrAlN coatings deposited on steel through direct current magnetron sputtering. Additionally, the effects of Al addition on the microstructure, corrosion inhibition, and tribocorrosion behavior of CrN coatings were evaluated. Compared with the CrN coating, the CrAlN coating exhibited a denser columnar crystal structure and a higher hardness of 23.8 GPa. The CrAlN coating reacted with water to form Al2O3 and Cr2O3 films, which enhanced its corrosion resistance. Moreover, the addition of Al enhanced the wear resistance of the CrN coating and reduced the material loss due to corrosion, wear, and their synergistic effects. The CrAlN coating exhibited a low corrosion current density of 1.14 × 10−8 A/cm2, indicating a 92% reduction compared with the CrN coating. Furthermore, under either open circuit potential or anodic accelerated tribocorrosion conditions, the CrAlN coating featured significantly lower total material loss and synergistic material loss than the CrN coating, demonstrating higher corrosion and tribocorrosion protection.
Listening to Black Women's Perspectives of Birth Centers and Midwifery Care: Advocacy, Protection, and Empowerment
Authors: Anyiam Shalom , Woo Jennifer , Spencer Becky
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Black women in Texas experience high rates of adverse maternal outcomes that have been linked to health inequities and structural racism in the maternal care system. Birth centers and midwifery care are highlighted in the literature as contributing to improved perinatal care experiences and decreased adverse outcomes for Black women. However, compared with White women, Black women underuse birth centers and midwifery care. Black women's perceptions in Texas of birth center and midwifery care are underrepresented in research. Thus, this study aimed to highlight the views of Black women residing in Texas on birth centers and midwifery care to identify their needs and explore ways to increasing access to perinatal care.

Methods

Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 pregnant and postpartum Black women residing in Texas. Questions focused on the women's access, knowledge, and use of birth centers and midwifery care in the context of their lived maternal care experiences. Interview transcripts were reviewed and analyzed using inductive, qualitative content analysis.

Results

The Black women interviewed all shared experiences of discrimination and bias while receiving obstetric care that affected their interest in and overall perceptions of birth center and midwifery care. Participants also discussed financial and institutional barriers that impacted their ease of access to birth center and midwifery care services. Additionally, participants highlighted the need for culturally sensitive and respectful perinatal health care.

Discussion

The Black women interviewed in this study emphasized the prevalence of racism and discrimination in perinatal health care encounters, a reflection consistent with current literature. Black women also expressed a desire to use birth centers and midwifery care but identified the barriers in Texas that impede access. Study findings highlight the need to address barriers to promote equitable perinatal health care access for Black women.