bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on Tourism Spatial Structure of Urban Agglomeration in Central Region Based on Social Network Method
Authors: Lan Yong , Lu Ming , Chu Xiaoyong , Han Meijuan , Miao Ning , Qu Rui
Published: April 2023

With the passage of time, China’s economic development, people’s life gradually pursue enjoyment, so the development of tourism has gradually become an important pillar of national economic development. According to the urban geographical location of the central region, combined with the existing tourism economic conclusions, this paper studies the urban tourism economic data of the central region by using the method of social network, so as to understand the economic development of tourism in the central region in 2019. Through the research, it can be concluded that the correlation of urban tourism economy in Central China is not high among cities, and the tourism economy of cities is relatively different. The strength and influence of tourism economy of central cities with better tourism economic development are much higher than those without tourism economic strength. The tourism economy of each adjacent city circle is relatively close and develops relatively evenly, which shows that the development of tourism economy is closely related to the tourism economic development of adjacent cities. In the urban agglomeration in the central region, there is a high connection between the tourism economy of the cities in the six urban circles. In addition, it can be seen from the tourism economic network diagram of the urban agglomeration in the central region that among the six sub urban agglomerations, the cities in the sub urban agglomerations are closely related to the tourism economy of the central cities in the sub urban agglomerations, but from the perspective of the overall tourism economy, the tourism economic relations among cities are layered, This paper puts forward some suggestions conducive to the integrated development of urban tourism economy in Central China.
Decomposition of driving factors and analysis of spatio-temporal differences of financial environmental expenditure performance
Authors: Wang Yuze , Zhang Yuju , Li Chenchen , Wang Minghui
Published: April 2023

In order to clarify what factors affect the performance of government fiscal environmental protection expenditure from the perspective of “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” target, and to seek a key path to improve the performance of government fiscal environmental protection expenditure, this paper takes three provinces and one city in the Yangtze River Delta as an example, based on the LMDI model, the environmental protection expenditure performance is decomposed into eight driving factors in three dimensions. The research shows that fiscal environmental protection expenditure effectively promotes regional green development; the fiscal pressure dimension and social development dimension promoted the environmental protection expenditure performance, while the R&D innovation dimension inhibited the regional environmental protection expenditure performance. Among the eight driving factors considered, the effect of fiscal pressure on environmental protection has the strongest promoting effect on environmental protection expenditure performance, and the effect of R&D scale has the strongest inhibiting effect on environmental expenditure performance. At the same time, the temporal evolution trend and spatial characteristics of each factor are significantly different.
Foreign Body Accidents in a Pediatric Emergency Department
Authors: Bohadana Saramira Cardoso , Santos Rayza Gaspar dos , Magalhães Mirella Kalyne Cavalcante , Cesar Regina Grigolli
Published: April 2023

Introduction Foreign body accidents (FBAs) are frequent in children and can be severe, being a common cause of morbidity and mortality and a public health problem. As these accidents are multifactorial, their cause can only be determined by analyzing the clinical details and characteristics of the object. Knowing the associated mechanisms and factors is essential to determine a risk profile and have a preventive, therapeutic, and diagnostic purpose.

Objective The present study aimed to describe the incidence of FBAs in otorhinolaryngology according to their anatomical location, focusing on the aerodigestive system.

Methods This is a retrospective study performed by reviewing the medical records of 668 cases seen in the emergency department of a tertiary pediatric hospital in São Paulo, state of São Paulo, Brazil, between 2014 and 2017.

Results Foreign bodies (FBs) were found in the digestive system (238/668), in the nasal cavities (206/668), in the ears (182/668), in the oropharynx (34/668), and in the respiratory system (8/668). A total of 91.77% of the patients were treated in the emergency room. The main age group affected was < 5 years old, with no difference between genders. The most frequent complications affected the digestive system and the most serious occurred in cases involving the respiratory system.

Conclusion Multidisciplinary teams should be ready in the emergency room to provide adequate care in FBAs. Early diagnosis, FB removal in the emergency room or the surgical center and follow-up are essential. Developing prevention campaigns including a risk profile for certain products and/or materials, helping to ensure safety for consumers, is necessary. For this, a national database with compulsory notification containing relevant information on FBAs in the pediatric population should be created.
Inpatient Decongestive Therapy for Lymphedema in Acute Postsurgical Head and Neck Cancer Patients*
Authors: Lemoine John Christian , Vaitaitis Vilija , Jarreau Trisha , Germain Joel St. , Son Leslie , Pou Anna M. , Mays Ashley
Published: April 2023

Introduction Head and neck lymphedema is an omnipresent morbidity related to head and neck cancer therapies. Studies on therapy for these patients in the acute postsurgical population have not been published to date.

Objective To assess changes in the measurements of lymphedema in surgical head and neck cancer patients during the hospital stay with implementation of modified decongestive therapy (MDT).

Methods Patients aged > 18 years undergoing neck dissection with or without primary-site resection or laryngectomy between 2016 and 2019 were included. Facial measurements were obtained prior to beginning MDT and again prior to discharge. A total facial composite measurement was calculated and used to assess change over time. Rates ≥ 2% of change were considered significant.

Results A total of 38 patients were included (subsites: larynx = 27; thyroid = 4; oral cavity = 3; and neck = 4). The mean number of days between surgery and the start of lymphedema therapy was 3.0 days. The mean number of days between measurements was 5.2 days. Reduction in the total composite score was observed in 37 (97%) patients, and 35 (92%) patients had a total composite reduction score > 2%. Tumor subsite and surgery type did not portend toward greater percent change, except for those patients treated with total laryngectomy, regional flap reconstruction, and neck dissection (p = 0.02).

Conclusion Acute postsurgical inpatient MDT was associated with reduced total composite measurements in patients after head and neck surgery. As the first published study on lymphedema therapy in this acute postsurgical period, further prospective case-control studies are warranted to explore further benefits of acute therapy.
PET/MRI Applications in Pediatric Epilepsy
Authors: Pedersen Christian , Aboian Mariam , Messina Steven A. , Daldrup-Link Heike , Franceschi Ana M.
Published: April 2023

Epilepsy neuroimaging assessment requires exceptional anatomic detail, physiologic and metabolic information. Magnetic resonance (MR) protocols are often time-consuming necessitating sedation and positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) comes with a significant radiation dose. Hybrid PET/MRI protocols allow for exquisite assessment of brain anatomy and structural abnormalities, in addition to metabolic information in a single, convenient imaging session, which limits radiation dose, sedation time, and sedation events. Brain PET/MRI has proven especially useful for accurate localization of epileptogenic zones in pediatric seizure cases, providing critical additional information and guiding surgical decision making in medically refractory cases. Accurate localization of seizure focus is necessary to limit the extent of the surgical resection, preserve healthy brain tissue, and achieve seizure control. This review provides a systematic overview with illustrative examples demonstrating the applications and diagnostic utility of PET/MRI in pediatric epilepsy.
The Value of Multiple Medication Trials Prior to Balloon Sinuplasty in the Management of Chronic Sinonasal Disease
Authors: Shah Anand G. , Ojeaga Macaulay , Novak Josephine , Honrubia Vincent
Published: April 2023

Introduction In patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, conservative interventions with extended medical trials are often attempted prior to procedural treatment. Balloon sinuplasty (BSP) is an established procedure for symptomatic relief from chronic rhinosinusitis. However, data suggesting the suboptimal efficacy of prolonged medication management trials, prior to BSP, is lacking.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of prolonged medication management trials, prior to BSP, for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

Methods A retrospective review was performed for all adults with chronic rhinosinusitis who received extended medical management prior to their BSP at two outpatient clinics, from November 1, 2013, to June 31, 2018. The patients' Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT) scores were compared between baseline, post-medication trials, and post-BSP.

Results The SNOT scores of a total of 64 patients were collected. Overall, patients showed a significant worsening of symptoms during the medication management trials from baseline (p = 0.002126) but significant improvement of symptoms after undergoing BSP (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion The patient symptom burden worsened and prolonged during medication management trials. The BSP procedure alone showed significant improvement in the quality of life for chronic rhinosinusitis patients, when considering their SNOT scores. The worsening of patients' symptoms during medication management may invalidate the necessity of prolonged medication management trials.
Theoretical study of the spectroscopic constants of the ground state of the diatomic Ba-RG (RG = Kr, Xe, Rn) based on the coupled cluster theory with spin–orbit coupling
Authors: Xian Wei-Qi , Zhang Zhi-Peng , Tu Zhe-Yan , Zhou Hu , Li Lian-Bi , Chen Ai-Min
Published: April 2023

The spectroscopic constants including equilibrium distance, harmonic frequency and binding energy of the ground state of the diatomic Ba-RG (RG = Kr, Xe, Rn) are studied by using the closed-shell coupled-cluster theory with spin–orbit coupling (SOC) at the singles, doubles, and non-iterative triples level [CCSD(T)] based on the two-component relativistic pseudo-potentials. The advantage of the adopted computational protocol is that the SOC is incorporated in the post-Hartree–Fock part (i.e. the couple-cluster iteration) which makes it possible to significantly improve the computational efficiency. The extrapolation to the complete basis set (CBS) limit is used to provide the most accurate computational values in the framework of the adopted theoretical approach. The computational values to the CBS limit show that the SOC effect decreases the equilibrium distance by 0.067 Å while the binding energy increases by 21.023 cm−1 for the heaviest Ba-Rn, but not significant in the Ba-Kr and Ba-Xe. To date, both experimental and theoretical spectroscopic constants for Ba-Rn are unavailable, the present work thus provides the reliable theoretical results of the ground state of Ba-Rn for the future investigations.
All dissolvable and transient plasmonic device enabled by nanoimprint lithography
Authors: Xiao Yibo , Cao Xinyi , Dong Qiao , Gao Li
Published: April 2023

Dissolvable and transient devices are important for environment-friendly disposal and information security. Similar to transient electronic devices, photonic devices use dissolvable metals such as magnesium and zinc to enable tunable plasmonic resonances. However, functional nanostructured substrates made of a common photoresist and a soft substrate are not dissolvable. In this study, we report the large-area, dissolvable polylactic-co-glycolic acid nanostructures formed by nanoimprint lithography and discuss the impact of the imprinting temperatures and ambient conditions on the formed nanostructures. The deposition of a thin layer of metal can yield a quasi-3D plasmonic device, and the choice of zinc metal can result in an all-dissolvable device in water over a few days. Consequently, the transmission spectra of these plasmonic devices could be tuned after placement in water. This strategy yields a truly transient nanophotonic device that can be degraded after performing its function for a specific period.
Optimization of energy parameters for laser-induced PDT of cervical tissues using numerical simulation and fluorescent monitoring
Authors: Alekseeva P M , Efendiev K T , Savelieva T A , Moskalev A S , Steiner R , Loschenov V B
Published: April 2023

The main problem in the photodynamic therapy (PDT) of tumors is insufficient light exposure to tissue or the appearance of undesirable surface effects. The reason is the irregular distribution of the absorbed light dose by depth. The influence of the spot diameter on the relative fluence rate in the near-surface layer of the cervical tissue was studied by Monte Carlo simulation. Photodynamic exposure with chlorine-type photosensitizer (PS) was carried out on the tissue model with laser 660 nm at the same power density with a change in spot diameter from 5 to 15 mm and radiation energy density from 100 to 300 J cm−2. The distributions of the fluorescence indices of the PS and the hemoglobin oxygenation degree by depth were obtained. The dependence of PS photobleaching on the energy density was established at the same power density and different spot diameters. The developed method increased the efficiency of PDT by delivering a sufficient energy density of laser radiation to the entire tumor tissue by depth without thermal damage, that allowed minimizing side effects and prevent possible growth and recurrence of the disease.
Computational ghost imaging through a dynamic scattering medium based on a convolutional neural network from simulation
Authors: Yu Zhan , Li Xinjia , Bai Xing , Wang Yujie , Chen Xingyu , Liu Yang , Sun Mingze , Zhou Xin
Published: April 2023

An imaging method through a dynamic scattering medium is presented based on computational ghost imaging (CGI) and a convolutional neural network (CNN). The CNN is adopted to improve CGI quality, and its training set is obtained from numerical simulation rather than actual experiments, which greatly reduces the workload. A concise mathematical model is given to reflect the absorption and scattering effects of the dynamic medium. By adding Gaussian white noise with different intensities to the detected light intensity sequence, the undulation caused by dynamic scatterer is simulated, and then the network is trained under these conditions. Compared to the dataset without adding noise, our proposed method leads to a better performance of the trained network in imaging through a dynamic scattering medium, not only for the simple binary objects, but also the complex grayscale ones. The effectiveness of this method has been verified in experiments of scattering medium rotated at different speeds.
Isomorphism between the Białynicki-Birula and the Landau-Peierls Fock space quantization of the electromagnetic field in position representation
Authors: Federico M , Jauslin H R
Published: April 2023

We first present a summary of the quantization of the electromagnetic field in position space representation, using two main approaches: the Landau-Peierls approach in the Coulomb gauge and the Białynicki-Birula (BB) approach, based on the Riemann–Silberstein vector. We describe both in a framework that starts with a classical Hamiltonian structure and builds the quantum model in a bosonic Fock space by a precisely defined principle of correspondence. We show that the two approaches are completely equivalent. This is formulated by showing that there is a unitary map between the Fock spaces that makes them isomorphic. Since all the physically measurable quantities can be expressed in terms of scalar products, this implies that the two quantizations lead to exactly the same physical properties. We show furthemore that the isomorphism is preserved in the time evolutions. To show the equivalence, we use the concepts of helicity and frequency operators. The combination of these two operators provides a formulation that allows one to make the link between these two methods of quantization in a precise way. We also show that the construction in the BB quantization that avoids the presence of negative eigenvalues in the Hamiltonian, in analogy with the one for the Dirac equation for electrons and positrons, can be performed through an alternative choice of the canonical variables for Maxwell’s equations.
Comprehensive studies on the universality of BKT transitions—machine-learning study, Monte Carlo simulation, and level-spectroscopy method
Authors: Otsuka Hiromi , Shiina Kenta , Okabe Yutaka
Published: April 2023

Comprehensive studies are made on the six-state clock universality of two models using several approaches. We apply the machine-learning technique of phase classification to the antiferromagnetic (AF) three-state Potts model on the square lattice with ferromagnetic next-nearest-neighbor (NNN) coupling and the triangular AF Ising model with anisotropic NNN coupling to study two Berezinskii–Kosterlitz–Thouless transitions. We also use the Monte Carlo simulation paying attention to the ratio of correlation functions of different distances for these two models. The obtained results are compared with those of the previous studies using the level-spectroscopy method. We directly show the six-state clock universality for totally different systems with the machine-learning study.
Child Survival and Annual Crop Yield Reductions in Rural Burkina Faso: Critical Windows of Vulnerability Around Early-Life Development
Authors: Belesova Kristine , Gasparrini Antonio , Wilkinson Paul , Sié Ali , Sauerborn Rainer
Published: April 2023

Populations that are reliant on subsistence farming are particularly vulnerable to climatic effects on crop yields. However, empirical evidence on the role of the timing of exposure to crop yield deficits in early-life development is limited. We examined the relationship between child survival and annual crop yield reductions at different stages of early-life development in a subsistence farming population in Burkina Faso. Using shared frailty Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for confounders, we analyzed 57,288 children under 5 years of age followed by the Nouna Health and Demographic Surveillance System (1994–2016) in relation to provincial food-crop yield levels experienced in 5 nonoverlapping time windows (12 months before conception, gestation, birth–age 5.9 months, ages 6.0 months–1.9 years, and ages 2.0–4.9 years) and their aggregates (birth–1.9 years, first 1,000 days from conception, and birth–4.9 years). Of the nonoverlapping windows, point estimates were largest for child survival related to food-crop yields for the time window of 6.0 months–1.9 years: The adjusted mortality hazard ratio was 1.10 (95% confidence interval: 1.03, 1.19) for a 90th-to-10th percentile yield reduction. These findings suggest that child survival in this setting is particularly vulnerable to cereal-crop yield reductions during the period of nonexclusive breastfeeding.
Quantitative model for genome-wide cyclic AMP receptor protein binding site identification and characteristic analysis
Authors: Chen Yigang , Lin Yang-Chi-Dung , Luo Yijun , Cai Xiaoxuan , Qiu Peng , Cui Shidong , Wang Zhe , Huang Hsi-Yuan , Huang Hsien-Da
Published: April 2023

Cyclic AMP receptor proteins (CRPs) are important transcription regulators in many species. The prediction of CRP-binding sites was mainly based on position-weighted matrixes (PWMs). Traditional prediction methods only considered known binding motifs, and their ability to discover inflexible binding patterns was limited. Thus, a novel CRP-binding site prediction model called CRPBSFinder was developed in this research, which combined the hidden Markov model, knowledge-based PWMs and structure-based binding affinity matrixes. We trained this model using validated CRP-binding data from Escherichia coli and evaluated it with computational and experimental methods. The result shows that the model not only can provide higher prediction performance than a classic method but also quantitatively indicates the binding affinity of transcription factor binding sites by prediction scores. The prediction result included not only the most knowns regulated genes but also 1089 novel CRP-regulated genes. The major regulatory roles of CRPs were divided into four classes: carbohydrate metabolism, organic acid metabolism, nitrogen compound metabolism and cellular transport. Several novel functions were also discovered, including heterocycle metabolic and response to stimulus. Based on the functional similarity of homologous CRPs, we applied the model to 35 other species. The prediction tool and the prediction results are online and are available at: https://awi.cuhk.edu.cn/∼CRPBSFinder.
Novel insights into diminished cardiac reserve in non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy from four-dimensional flow cardiac magnetic resonance component analysis
Authors: Ashkir Z , Johnson S , Lewandowski A J , Hess A , Wicks E , Mahmod M , Myerson S , Ebbers T , Watkins H , Neubauer S , Carlhäll C J , Raman B
Published: April 2023

Aims

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterized by hypercontractility and diastolic dysfunction, which alter blood flow haemodynamics and are linked with increased risk of adverse clinical events. Four-dimensional flow cardiac magnetic resonance (4D-flow CMR) enables comprehensive characterization of ventricular blood flow patterns. We characterized flow component changes in non-obstructive HCM and assessed their relationship with phenotypic severity and sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk.

Methods and results

Fifty-one participants (37 non-obstructive HCM and 14 matched controls) underwent 4D-flow CMR. Left-ventricular (LV) end-diastolic volume was separated into four components: direct flow (blood transiting the ventricle within one cycle), retained inflow (blood entering the ventricle and retained for one cycle), delayed ejection flow (retained ventricular blood ejected during systole), and residual volume (ventricular blood retained for >two cycles). Flow component distribution and component end-diastolic kinetic energy/mL were estimated. HCM patients demonstrated greater direct flow proportions compared with controls (47.9 ± 9% vs. 39.4 ± 6%, P = 0.002), with reduction in other components. Direct flow proportions correlated with LV mass index (r = 0.40, P = 0.004), end-diastolic volume index (r = −0.40, P = 0.017), and SCD risk (r = 0.34, P = 0.039). In contrast to controls, in HCM, stroke volume decreased with increasing direct flow proportions, indicating diminished volumetric reserve. There was no difference in component end-diastolic kinetic energy/mL.

Conclusion

Non-obstructive HCM possesses a distinctive flow component distribution pattern characterised by greater direct flow proportions, and direct flow-stroke volume uncoupling indicative of diminished cardiac reserve. The correlation of direct flow proportion with phenotypic severity and SCD risk highlight its potential as a novel and sensitive haemodynamic measure of cardiovascular risk in HCM.
Searching for intralocus sexual conflicts in the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) genome
Authors: Sylvestre Florent , Mérot Claire , Normandeau Eric , Bernatchez Louis
Published: April 2023

Differences between sexes in trait fitness optima can generate intralocus sexual conflicts that have the potential to maintain genetic diversity through balancing selection. However, these differences are unlikely to be associated with strong selective coefficients and are challenging to detect. Additionally, recent studies have highlighted that duplications on sexual chromosomes can create artifactual signals of intralocus sexual conflicts. Thus, testing the relationship between intralocus sexual conflicts and balancing selection requires stringent filtering of duplicated regions, and dedicated methods to detect loci with low levels of intersex differentiation. In this study, we investigated intralocus sexual conflicts in the three-spined stickleback using whole-genome sequencing (mean coverage = 12×) of 50 females and 49 males from an anadromous population in the St. Lawrence River, Québec, Canada. After stringent filtering of duplications from the sex chromosomes, we compared three methods to detect intralocus sexual conflicts. We found only two genomic regions under potential intralocus sexual conflict that also showed signals of balancing selection. Overall, our results suggest that most intralocus sexual conflicts do not drive long-term balancing selection and are most likely transient.
Self-compatibility in yeast is selected for reproductive assurance not population-level compatibility
Authors: Nieuwenhuis Bart P S , Shraim Rasha , Al Ghaithi Hamed
Published: April 2023

In haploid species, sexual reproduction by selfing lacks the common benefits from recombination and is indistinguishable from asexual reproduction at the genetic level. Nevertheless, the evolution of self-compatibility, known as homothallism in organisms with mating types, has occurred hundreds of times in fungi. Two main hypotheses have been proposed for the evolution of homothallism. First, that homothallism offers reproductive assurance, which is especially important when species have an obligatory sexual phase in their lifecycle. Second, that homothallism is associated with population-level compatibility, increasing the chance of outbreeding. Here, we test these hypotheses using the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, which is homothallic by mating-type switching, leveraging natural variation for switching efficiency in this species. Combining empirical tests with cellular automaton simulations, we show that homothallism by switching increases mating success of switching genotypes, but does not affect population-level compatibility. Experiments show that outcrossing is actually reduced under homothallism. This reduction in outcrossing is explained by our simulations, which show that due to local mating, gametes that mated through intraclonal selfing are no longer available for outcrossing. Our results suggest that the recurrent evolution of haploid self-compatibility is likely driven by selection for mating assurance, not to increase the potential for outcrossing.
Successful colonization of novel spruce hosts by European and North American spruce bark beetles can favour trans-Atlantic range expansion
Authors: Isitt Rylee , Økland Bjørn , Krokene Paal , Sweeney Jon , Heard Stephen B , Pureswaran Deepa S
Published: April 2023

The European spruce bark beetle Ips typographus and the North American spruce beetle Dendroctonus rufipennis cause high mortality of spruces on their native continents. Both species have been inadvertently transported beyond their native ranges. With similar climates and the presence of congeneric spruce hosts in Europe and North America, there is a risk that one or both bark beetle species become established into the non-native continent. There are many challenges that an introduced population of bark beetles would face, but an important prerequisite for establishment is the presence of suitable host trees. We tested the suitability of non-native versus native hosts by exposing cut bolts of Norway spruce (Picea abies), black spruce (Picea mariana) and white spruce (Picea glauca) to beetle attacks in the field in Norway and Canada. We quantified attack density, brood density and reproductive success of I. typographus and D. rufipennis in the three host species. We found that I. typographus attacked white and black spruce at comparable densities to its native host, Norway spruce, and with similar reproductive success in all three host species. In contrast, D. rufipennis strongly preferred to attack white spruce (a native host) but performed better in the novel Norway spruce host than it did in black spruce, a suboptimal native host. Our results suggest that I. typographus will find abundant and highly suitable hosts in North America, while D. rufipennis in Europe may experience reduced reproductive success in Norway spruce.
Comparative effects of benzoic acid and sodium benzoate in diets for nursery pigs on growth performance and acidification of digesta and urine
Authors: Choi Hyunjun , Chen Ying , Longo Flavio , Kim Sung Woo
Published: April 2023

The objective of this study was to evaluate the comparative effects of benzoic acid and sodium benzoate in feeds on digesta pH, urinary pH, and growth performance for nursery pigs. A total of 432 pigs (6.9 ± 0.9 kg BW) were assigned to eight treatments (6 pigs per pen, replication = 9) in a randomized complete block design with initial body weight (BW) as a block and fed for 41 d in three phases (7/17/17 d, respectively). Treatments were 1) a basal diet (NC), 2) NC + 0.25% bacitracin methylene disalicylate (antibiotic; bacitracin: 250 g/t feed; PC), 3) NC + 0.25% benzoic acid, 4) NC + 0.35% benzoic acid, 5) NC + 0.50% benzoic acid, 6) NC + 0.30% sodium benzoate, 7) NC + 0.40% sodium benzoate, and 8) NC + 0.60% sodium benzoate. Growth performance and fecal scores were measured for each phase. One gilt representing the median BW of each pen was euthanized to collect digesta from the stomach, proximal jejunum, distal jejunum, and cecum, and urine. The PC tended to improve average daily gain (ADG) in phase 1 (P = 0.052) and phase 2 (P = 0.093) as well as average daily feed intake (ADFI) in phase 2 (P = 0.052). Overall, increasing supplemental benzoic acid tended to have a quadratic effect on ADG (P = 0.094), but no difference in ADFI was observed. Increasing supplemental sodium benzoate showed a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) on ADG and linearly increased (P < 0.05) ADFI. Urinary pH linearly decreased (P < 0.05) with increasing supplemental benzoic acid, but was not affected by supplemental sodium benzoate. Increasing supplemental benzoic acid or sodium benzoate linearly increased (P < 0.05) benzoic acid content in digesta of the stomach. Increasing supplemental benzoic acid or sodium benzoate also linearly increased (P < 0.05) urinary hippuric acid. However, the PC did not decrease urinary pH or increase urinary benzoic acid and hippuric acid. With slope-ratio assay using ADG and urinary hippuric acid as dependent variables and benzoic acid intake as an independent variable, the relative bioavailability of benzoic acid compared to sodium benzoate was not different. In conclusion, supplementation of benzoic acid and sodium benzoate could improve the growth performance of nursery pigs. The relative bioavailability of sodium benzoate to benzoic acid of nursery pigs did not differ based on BW gain and urinary hippuric acid.
Heterogeneous causal effects of neighbourhood policing in New York City with staggered adoption of the policy
Authors: Antonelli Joseph , Beck Brenden
Published: April 2023

In New York City, neighbourhood policing was adopted at the police precinct level over the years 2015–2018, and it is of interest to both (1) evaluate the impact of the policy, and (2) understand what types of communities are most impacted by the policy, raising questions of heterogeneous treatment effects. We develop novel statistical approaches that are robust to unmeasured confounding bias to study the causal effect of policies implemented at the community level. We find that neighbourhood policing decreases discretionary arrests in certain areas of the city, but has little effect on crime or racial disparities in arrest rates.
Global positioning system (GPS) and platform transmitter terminal (PTT) tags reveal fine-scale migratory movements of small birds: A review highlights further opportunities for hypothesis-driven research
Authors: Iverson Autumn R , Schaefer Jessica L B , Skalos Shannon M , Hawkins Carly E
Published: April 2023

Studying migration is critically important for understanding the full-annual cycle of migrating birds and aids in management and conservation. In recent years, global positioning system (GPS) and platform transmitting terminal (PTT) tags have become miniaturized, revolutionizing migration research by allowing for higher location accuracy and global coverage for smaller species. We reviewed 116 primary research papers from 2006 to 2021 that reported on GPS- or PTT-tagged small birds (<500 g) during migration and assessed research aims, tag efficacy, ecological findings, and future opportunities. Reviewed papers covered 58 unique species (nearly half of which were shorebirds) and 65% of studies tagged birds at breeding grounds. Tags that did not require retrieval had higher success obtaining data, with PTT tags having the greatest success (85% of deployed tags had data). Of studies that reported tag load information, most (70%) reported tag loads ≥3% body mass, which is a potential concern given that 3% is considered the preferable upper limit. Most papers (69%) focused on presenting spatial information such as migratory routes, stopover sites, and habitat use, and only 33% of papers tested explicit hypotheses, demonstrating that we are in the early stages of understanding small bird migration at fine scales. Almost all tag deployments (93%) occurred in the northern hemisphere, most often in the United States (24%), indicating a deficiency in GPS and PTT research on small bird migration from the southern hemisphere. GPS and PTT tags have revealed new biological insights not possible with other technologies by providing fine-scale movement data and global coverage. There are exciting opportunities for researchers to move beyond descriptive spatial studies and explore hypothesis-driven migratory research, into topics such as intraspecific variation, carry-over effects, and climate-driven movements for irruptive species.
Key Discoveries in Plant Pathology During the Past Half Century: Impacts on the Life Sciences and on Plant Disease Management
Authors: Wang Nian , Scherm Harald
Published: April 2023

Plant pathology plays a critical role in safeguarding plant health, food security, and food safety through science-based solutions to protect plants against recurring and emerging diseases. In addition, plant pathology contributed significantly to basic discoveries that have had broad impacts on the life sciences beyond plant pathology. In December 2021, The American Phytopathological Society (APS) conducted a survey among its members and among the readership of its journals to identify and rank key discoveries in plant pathology that have had broad impacts on science and/or practical disease management during the past half century. Based on the responses received, key discoveries that have broadly impacted the life sciences during that period include the Agrobacterium Ti plasmid and its mechanism in T-DNA transfer, bacterial ice nucleation, cloning of resistance genes, discovery of viroids, effectors and their mechanisms, pattern-triggered immunity and effector-triggered immunity, RNA interference and gene silencing, structure and function of R genes, transcription activator-like effectors, and type-III secretion system and hrp/ hrc. Major advances that significantly impacted practical disease management include the deployment and management of host resistance genes; the application of disease models and forecasting systems; the introduction of modern systemic fungicides and host resistance inducers, along with a better understanding of fungicide resistance mechanisms and management; and the utilization of biological controls and suppressive soils, including the implementation of methyl-bromide alternatives. In this special issue, experts from the pertinent fields review the discovery process, recent progress, and impacts of some of the highest ranked discoveries in each category while also pointing out future directions for new discoveries in fundamental and applied plant pathology.
Building resilient heart center teams
Authors: Cohen Mitchell I. , St. Louis James , Fazio Joanna
Published: April 2023

Purpose of review

The purpose of this review is to move beyond measures to improve individual resilience but to focus on measures to achieve better team resilience.

Recent findings

The COVID pandemic, shortages of heath care workers, and subsequent viral resurgence in 2022 placed tremendous stress on pediatric healthcare systems. Much has been written about individual wellness, mindfulness, and strategies to be a more resilient individual. However, little has been written on the importance of team resilience. Resilient teams work together to overcome daily stressors and challenges. Although leaders must create and foster a collaborative culture to establish cohesive and resilient teams; it also requires tremendous institutional support. Four key factors have emerged with regards to successful team resilience: candor, humility, resourcefulness, and compassion and empathy. This article discusses the key elements required for resilient teams to not only survive but also to thrive.

Effective heart centers, like the symphony, are a collection of individuals all coming together to care for a child or create a singular piece of music. Heart centers without effective leaders will most certainly fail, but even with the most accomplished and passionate leaders, there must be administrative institutional support and a shared vision.
Breastfeeding Characteristics and Duration of Feeding Human Milk in Infants With Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Russel Sarah M. , Lessen Rachelle , Rovner Alisha J. , Delahanty Michelle , Hollowell Chelsea , Trabulsi Jillian C.
Published: April 2023

Background:

Although infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) are able to breastfeed successfully, the factors that affect feeding human milk across the first year are not well established.

Purpose:

The objective of this study was to examine breastfeeding characteristics and their relationships to the exclusivity and duration of feeding human milk among infants with CHD.

Methods:

Breastfeeding characteristics data from a cohort of 75 infants with CHD enrolled in a study that examined relationships among milk type and infant growth in the first year of life were analyzed.

Results:

Infants whose mothers reported not having enough milk were exclusively fed human milk for a shorter duration than those who did not have this challenge (P = .04); however, the duration of feeding any human milk did not differ (P = .18). Average daily volume expressed at 1 month was positively related to the duration of exclusive human milk (β = .07, P = .04) and any human milk (β = .07, P = .04) feeding.

Conclusions:

Future efforts to support feeding human milk in infants with CHD should emphasize practices that support maximal human milk production.
Role of tissue factor pathway inhibitor in hormone-induced venous thromboembolism
Authors: Arafat Amina , Gennari Paolo , Ignatov Atanas , Tchaikovski Svetlana
Published: April 2023

Exposure to higher levels of steroid hormones, like that in pregnancy or during combined hormonal contraception, increases the risk of venous thromboembolism. Development of resistance to activated protein C (APC) thought to be the underlying pathomechanism of this prothrombotic state. This coagulation phenomena is largely to be explained by the hormone-induced impairment of the protein S/ tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) leading to a less efficient inactivation of factor Va and factor VIIIa by APC. APC resistance and decreased protein S/TFPI function were associated with the risk of first as well as recurrent venous thromboembolism. Preexisting disturbances in these pathways are likely to predispose to thrombosis during hormone exposure and can persist over years after the thrombosis event.

Further studies are necessary to investigate the predictive value of forgoing APC resistance and decreased protein S/TFPI function or an excessive alteration in these parameters during hormone intake on the development of hormone-induced venous thromboembolism.
Classics of infectious diseases: A bibliometric analysis of the 100 most cited articles
Authors: Yilmaz Hanci Sevgi
Published: April 2023

In our study, the 100 most cited publications in the field of “Infectious Diseases” in the WOS database were evaluated bibliometrically. “Web of Science” database “advanced mode” feature was used. A search was made in the field of “Infectious Diseases.” The top 100 most cited publications were determined. The total number of citations of the publications, the annual number of citations, the authors, the information of the study and the journal were analyzed. There were a total of 552,828 publications in the field of “Infectious Diseases” in the WOS between 1975 and 2023. The total citation average of the 100 most cited publications was 2246.02 ± 2165.35 and the annual citation average was 208.04 ± 215.00. The first 3 subjects in the first hundred articles were listed as antibiotic resistance (21%), coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (17%) and gram positive agents (10%). The first 3 journals in which the studies were published the most were determined as “Clinical Infectious Diseases” (33%), “Lancet Infectious Diseases” (20%), and “Emerging Infectious Diseases” (9%). A significant relationship was found between the subject of the study, the quarter (Q) category of the journal, the continent of authors and publisher, the funding status, the year of publication, the open access status and the number of citations per year (P < .0001). Our study is the first to analyze the top 100 most cited studies in the field of “Infectious Diseases” in the literature and their citation characteristics. Most of the most cited studies on the subject were on antibiotic resistance. The study subject, author, journal, publisher and publication access features, funding status and publication year affect the number of citations per year.
Development of a risk score to predict portal vein tumor thrombosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Tortora Raffaella , Farella Nunzia , Morisco Filomena , Coppola Carmine , Izzo Francesco , Salomone Megna Angelo , Federico Alessandro , Messina Vincenzo , Nardone Gerardo , Piai Guido , Ragone Enrico , Adinolfi Luigi Elio , D’Adamo Giuseppe , Stanzione Maria , Francica Giampiero , Torre Pietro , De Girolamo Vincenzo , Coppola Nicola , Guarino Maria , Dallio Marcello , Rocco Lucia , Di Costanzo Giovan Giuseppe ,   for the Progetto Epatocarcinoma Campania Group
Published: April 2023

Background

Portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) is a common complication of hepatocellular carcinoma and is one of the most negative prognostic factors. The management of patients with PVTT is challenging. The aim of the study was to develop a score predictive of tumor thrombosis.

Methods

Data from a large cohort of 2243 hepatocellular carcinoma patients (all stages) recorded in the Progetto Epatocarcinoma Campania (January 2013–April 2021) database were analyzed. To construct the score, univariate generalized estimated equation models, the bootstrap approach for internal validation, and a regression coefficient-based scoring system were used.

Results

PVTT (any location) was found in 14.4% of cases and was related to shorter survival. Males, younger patients, and symptomatic cases were more prevalent among the PVTT group. At multivariate analysis, size ≥5 cm, massive or infiltrative hepatocellular carcinoma growth, and alpha-fetoprotein ≥400 ng/mL were significantly associated with PVTT. A risk prediction score of PVTT based on eight variables was developed. Using a continuous score, the risk was associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.30 (1.27–1.34; P < 0.001). Considering a dichotomous score >8 versus a score ≤8 the OR for PVTT was 11.33 (8.55–15.00; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The risk score for PVTT might be useful for clinicians to optimize hepatocellular carcinoma management by picking out patients with more aggressive cancers and higher mortality rates. Prospective validation of the score is needed before its application in daily clinical practice.
Exercise habits that include exercise partners and irritable bowel syndrome in a young Japanese population: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Yamamoto Yasunori , Furukawa Shinya , Miyake Teruki , Watanabe Junichi , Kato Aki , Kusumoto Katsunori , Takeshita Eiji , Ikeda Yoshio , Yamamoto Naofumi , Saeki Yuka , Hiasa Yoichi
Published: April 2023

Objective

Evidence regarding the association between exercise habits and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains scarce in a young population. It is also unknown whether the existence of an exercise partner affects this issue. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between exercise habits that include an exercise partner and IBS in a young Japanese population.

Methods

This study enrolled 8923 Japanese university students and examined exercise frequency and intensity, and exercise partners using self-administered questionnaires. IBS and functional dyspepsia were defined according to the Rome III criteria.

Results

The prevalence of IBS in this survey was 6.5%. Moderate frequency exercise was inversely related with IBS [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.65 (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.51–0.83), P for trend = 0.005]. Moderate and high exercise intensities were independently and inversely related with IBS, respectively [aORs were moderate: 0.76 (95% CI: 0.61–0.95) and high: 0.62 (95% CI: 0.48–0.78), P for trend = 0.001]. Exercising with a group or with friends instead of alone was independently inversely related with IBS [aOR with groups: 0.53 (95% CI: 0.40–0.70) and with friends: aOR 0.71 (95% CI: 0.54–0.93)]. After excluding subjects with overlapping IBS and functional dyspepsia, an inverse association between high intensity of exercise or exercise in a group and IBS remained significant.

Conclusion

The frequency and intensity of exercise may be independently inversely related with IBS in a young Japanese population. Also, exercise with others may be important for preventing IBS.
A novel prognostic index for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma combined baseline metabolic tumour volume with clinical and pathological risk factors
Authors: Yuan Tingting , Chen Xuetao , Zhang Yuewei , Wei Maomao , Zhu Hua , Yang Zhi , Wang Xuejuan
Published: April 2023

Objectives

This study aimed to develop a novel prognostic index integrating baseline metabolic tumour volume (MTV) along with clinical and pathological parameters for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Methods

This prospective trial enrolled 289 patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL. The predictive value of novel prognostic index was compared with Ann Arbor staging and National Comprehensive Cancer Network International Prognostic Index (NCCN-IPI). We used the concordance index (C-index) and a calibration curve to determine its predictive capacity.

Results

Multivariate analysis revealed high MTV (>191 cm3), Ann Arbor stage (III–IV) and MYC/BCL2 double expression lymphoma (DEL) to be independently associated with inferior progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Ann Arbor stage and DEL could be stratified by MTV. Our index, combining MTV with Ann Arbor stage and DEL status, identified four prognostic groups: group 1 (no risk factors,), group 2 (one risk factor), group 3 (two risk factors), and group 4 (three risk factors). The 2-year PFS rates were 85.5, 73.9, 53.6, and 13.9%; 2-year OS rates were 94.6, 87.0, 67.5, and 24.2%, respectively. The C-index values of the novel index were 0.697 and 0.753 for PFS and OS prediction, which was superior to Ann Arbor stage and NCCN-IPI.

Conclusion

The novel index including tumour burden and clinicopathological features may help predict outcome of DLBCL (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02928861).