bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mitigating effect of gallic acid on zinc oxide nanoparticles and arsenic trioxide-induced spermatogenesis suppression, testicular injury, hormonal imbalance, and immunohistochemical changes in rats
Authors: Behairy Amany , Hashem Mohamed M. M. , Abo-EL-Sooud Khaled , El-Metwally Abeer E. , Soliman Ahmed M. , Mouneir Samar M. , Hassan Bayan A. , Abd-Elhakim Yasmina M.
Published: June 2024

The current study compared the effects of incorporated exposure to arsenic trioxide (As) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) on male reproductive hormones, oxidative stress, and inflammatory biomarkers in adult rats to each metal alone. A defensive trial with gallic acid (GA) has also been studied. A total of 60 adult male Sprague Dawley rats were categorized into six groups: control, GA (20 mg/kg), ZnONPs (100 mg/kg), As (8 mg/kg), ZnONPs with As, and GA concurrently with ZnONPs and As at the same previous doses. The regimens were applied for 60 days in sequence. Current findings showed significant weight loss in all study groups, with testicular weights significantly decreased in the As and combined groups. Testosterone, follicular stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone serum levels were also considerably reduced, while serum levels of estradiol increased. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) immunoexpression was significantly upregulated while proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was downregulated. Moreover, there was a significant elevation of testicular malondialdehyde, reduction of testicular superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase with disruptive testes, prostate glands, and seminal vesicle alterations in all experimental groups with marked changes in the combined group. Additionally, the present results revealed the protective effects of GA on ZnONPs and As adverse alterations in rats. GA enhanced sperm picture, oxidant status, and hormonal profile. Also, it modulates iNOS and PCNA immunoexpression and recovers the histoarchitecture of the testes, prostate glands, and seminal vesicles. Ultimately, GA may be a promising safeguarding agent against ZnONPs and As-induced disturbances to reproductive parameters.
Use of a sample injection loop for an accurate measurement of particle number concentration by flow cytometry
Authors: Shin Hye Ji , Yang Inchul , Park Sang-Ryoul , Lee Ji Youn
Published: June 2024

Flow cytometry plays a pivotal role in biotechnology by providing quantitative measurements for a wide range of applications. Nonetheless, achieving precise particle quantification, particularly without relying on counting beads, remains a challenge. In this study, we introduce a novel exhaustive counting method featuring a sample loop–based injection system that delivers a defined sample volume to a detection system to enhance quantification in flow cytometry. We systematically assess the performance characteristics of this system with micron-sized polystyrene beads, addressing issues related to sample introduction, adsorption, and volume measurement. Results underscore the excellent analytical performance of the proposed method, characterized by high linearity and repeatability. We compare our approach to counting bead–based measurements, and while an approximate bias value was observed, the measured values were found to be similar between the methods, demonstrating its comparability and reliability. This method holds great promise for improving the accuracy and precision of particle quantification in flow cytometry, with implications for various fields including healthcare and environmental monitoring.
Single ion mobility monitoring (SIM2) stitching method for high-throughput and high ion mobility resolution chiral analysis
Authors: Chalet Clément , Rathahao-Paris Estelle , Alves Sandra
Published: June 2024

Chiral analysis is of high interest in many fields such as chemistry, pharmaceuticals and metabolomics. Mass spectrometry and ion mobility spectrometry are useful analytical tools, although they cannot be used as stand-alone methods. Here, we propose an efficient strategy for the enantiomer characterization of amino acids (AAs) using non-covalent copper complexes. A single ion mobility monitoring (SIM2) method was applied on a TIMS-ToF mass spectrometer to maximize the detection and mobility separation of isomers. Almost all of the 19 pairs of proteinogenic AA enantiomers could be separated with at least one combination with the chiral references L-Phe and L-Pro. Furthermore, we extended the targeted SIM2 method by stitching several mobility ranges, in order to be able to analyze complex mixtures in a single acquisition while maintaining high mobility resolution. Most of the enantiomeric pairs of AAs separated with the SIM2 method were also detected with this approach. The SIM2 stitching method thus opens the way to a more comprehensive chiral analysis with TIMS-ToF instruments.

Graphical Abstract
Scale modeling of thermo-structural fire tests of multi-orientation wood laminates
Authors: Gangi Michael J. , Lattimer Brian Y. , Case Scott W.
Published: June 2024

The stacking sequence of laminated wood significantly impacts the composite mechanical behavior of the material, especially when scaling down thermo-mechanical tests on plywood. In previous research, we developed a scaling methodology for thermo-structural tests on samples with similar cross sections, however this paper focused on testing plywood samples with different stacking sequences between the scales. Plywood samples at ½-scale and ¼-scale were subjected to combined bending and thermal loading, with the loading scaled to have the same initial static bending stresses. While the ¼-scale 4-layer [0°/90°]s laminate and the ½-scale 8-layer [0°/90°/90°/0°]s laminate had an equal number of 0° and 90° layers, as the char front progresses, the sections behave differently. Thus, modeling becomes essential to extrapolating the data from the smaller ¼-scale test to predict the behavior of the larger ½-scale test. Reduced cross-sectional area models (RCAM) incorporating classical laminated plate theory were used to predict the mechanical response of the composite samples as the char front increased. Three methods were proposed for calibrating the RCAM models: Fourier number scaling, from detailed kinetics-based pyrolysis GPyro models, and fitting to data from fire exposure thermal response tests. The models calibrated with the experimental char measurements produced the most accurate predictions. The experimental char models validated to predict the behavior of the ¼-scale tests within 2.5%, were then able to predict the ½-scale test behavior within 4.5%.
Using T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging-derived radiomics to classify cervical lymphadenopathy in children
Authors: Xu Yanwen , Chu Caiting , Wang Qun , Xiang Linjuan , Lu Meina , Yan Weihui , Huang Lisu
Published: June 2024

Background

Cervical lymphadenopathy is common in children and has diverse causes varying from benign to malignant, their similar manifestations making differential diagnosis difficult.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate whether radiomic models using conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could classify pediatric cervical lymphadenopathy.

Methods

A total of 419 cervical lymph nodes from 146 patients, and encompassing four common etiologies (Kikuchi disease, reactive hyperplasia, suppurative lymphadenitis and malignancy), were randomly divided into training and testing sets in a ratio of 7:3. For each lymph node, 1,218 features were extracted from T2-weighted images. Then, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) models were used to select the most relevant ones. Two models were built using a support vector machine classifier, one was to classify benign and malignant lymph nodes and the other further distinguished four different diseases. The performance was assessed by receiver operating characteristic curves and decision curve analysis.

Results

By LASSO, 20 features were selected to construct a model to distinguish benign and malignant lymph nodes, which achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.89 and 0.80 in the training and testing sets, respectively. Sixteen features were selected to construct a model to distinguish four different cervical lymphadenopathies. For each etiology, Kikuchi disease, reactive hyperplasia, suppurative lymphadenitis, and malignancy, an AUC of 0.97, 0.91, 0.88, and 0.87 was achieved in the training set, and an AUC of 0.96, 0.80, 0.82, and 0.82 was achieved in the testing set, respectively.

Conclusion

MRI-derived radiomic analysis provides a promising non-invasive approach for distinguishing causes of cervical lymphadenopathy in children.

Graphical Abstract
The effect of formation swimming on tailbeat and breathing frequencies in killer whales
Authors: Spina Federica , Weiss Michael N. , Croft Darren P. , Luschi Paolo , Massolo Alessandro , Domenici Paolo
Published: June 2024

In many aquatic taxa, formation traveling can reduce the energetic expenditure of locomotion by exploiting the vorticity trails shed by neighbors or through drafting. Cetaceans, especially odontocetes, often swim in groups; nevertheless, the possibility that whales gain energetic benefits from swimming in formation remains poorly studied, apart from mother-calf pairs. Between June and September in 2019 and 2021, we recorded aerial videos of Southern Resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the Salish Sea (USA) travelling in groups. We estimated whale tailbeat and breathing frequencies as proxies of the relative energetic costs of swimming, and tested the effect of swimming speed, relative positioning (e.g., leaders, whales in the middle of groups, or followers), sex and estimated size on these observed proxies. Our results reveal a complex relationship between physical characteristics, relative positioning, and energetic proxies. Intervals between respiration lasted longer in large-sized trailing individuals, but the overall breathing frequency was similar for all whales regardless of their position. The tailbeat frequency was mainly associated to whale sex, size, and swimming speed; in addition, tailbeat frequency showed a decreasing trend as the number of individuals in the formation increased. We found moderate evidence that position-based energetic effects may be present in the formation swimming of killer whales, and it is likely that additional factors such as social ties and hierarchies, play a key role in determining individual positioning in travelling groups.

Significance

Swimming in formation has been extensively studied in fish and other aquatic animals and has been documented to provide energetic advantages. Our understanding of the potential energetic benefits of wild cetacean formation swimming has been constrained by the difficulties of studying the movement of whale groups from traditional observation platforms. In recent years, non-invasive observations of cetaceans using unoccupied aerial systems have significantly improved the observation of these species in the wild, providing an exciting opportunity to better understand their behaviors and habits. Our results show a tendency for formation swimming to affect two energetic proxies (tailbeat frequency and the duration of underwater intervals between surfacing events). The results of this study set the stage for further research to identify the multiple determinants affecting killer whale formation swimming which go beyond purely energetic advantages, e.g. social relationships.
Ophthalmological research in Germany: suggestions by an international expert panel
Authors: Ader Marius , Cursiefen Claus , Fauser Sascha , Gliem Martin , Helbig Horst , Lagrèze Wolf , Marshall John , Roesky Christian , Sahel José-Alain , Schlötzer-Schrehard Ursula , Sieving Paul , Ueffing Marius
Published: June 2024

Purpose

To evaluate the research performance in ophthalmology in Germany based on the findings of the recent research map of the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG) and to suggest strategies for future improvements on a national level both to DOG as well as to politics. The focus is on preclinical and translational clinical research.

Methods

International expert panel evaluation and discussion organized by the Task Force Research of the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG).

Results

The international view on the German ophthalmological research landscape was generally positive. The value for money relationship was judged as very good. As Germany is facing an aging society and vision impairment will create an ever-increasing socioeconomic burden, the reviewers suggested several lines of future activities: an increased activity of securing intellectual property, more lay audience lobbying, intensified collaboration and critical mass building between “lighthouses” of ophthalmic research in Germany, as well as the establishment of a German national eye institute equivalent.

Conclusion

The ophthalmological research performance in Germany was rated to be very good by an international expert panel. Nonetheless significant improvements were requested in the fields of translation (clinical trials, IP), synergy between specialized institutions and governmental funding for a German center for eye research.
Bowel function, urinary tract function, and health-related quality of life in males with anorectal malformations
Authors: Gertler Joshua , Granström Anna Löf , Oddsberg Jenny , Gunnarsdóttir Anna , Svenningsson Anna , Wester Tomas , Örtqvist Lisa
Published: June 2024

Purpose

There is a knowledge gap regarding long-term outcomes for males undergoing surgery for an anorectal malformation (ARM). The purpose of this study was to investigate bowel function, bladder function, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in male patients with an anorectal malformation.

Methods

This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study included males treated for ARM at our institution between 1994 and 2017. Bowel function was assessed with bowel function score (BFS) while urinary tract function was assessed with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) questionnaires. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was investigated using age-relevant questionnaires (KIDSCREEN and PGWBI). Patient characteristics were retrospectively collected from the medical records and descriptive statistics were used for analysis. Functional outcomes were compared with gender and age-matched controls while HRQoL was compared to normative data. The study was approved by ethics review authorities.

Results

A total of 58 (44.6%) of 130 males responded to the questionnaires. Regarding bowel function, 24 (42.1%) of 57 patients and 81 (95.3%) of 85 controls, respectively, reported a well-preserved bowel function represented by a BFS ≥ 17 (p < 0.001). Soiling issues and ‘feels urge’ items improved significantly with age. In a linear regression model, BFS increased significantly with age. For most parameters, the proportion of ARM patients with lower urinary tract symptoms was larger, though not significantly, compared to the controls. However, straining and stress incontinence were reported significantly more often by ARM patients. In patients and controls, voiding outcomes in terms of prevalence of having symptoms and the number of cumulative symptoms drop with increasing age. Children and adults reported similar or, in some domains, better HRQoL outcomes when compared to normative European data.

Conclusion

Bowel function is impaired in male patients with ARM but significantly improves with age. Urinary tract function was affected, but overall comparable to the controls. HRQoL was unaffected. No significant association between the studied outcomes could be shown.

Level of evidence

III.
Modelling impacts of a salt and sugar tax on hypothetical intra-category food substitutions, BMI and environmental footprints in the UK population
Authors: Eustachio Colombo Patricia , Green Rosemary , Nájera Espinosa Sarah , Scarpa Giulia , Saha Ria , Scheelbeek Pauline
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Taxes on unhealthy foods can help improve population health in the United Kingdom (UK), but the health effects of food substitutions resulting from these taxes are often unclear. We investigated the potential impacts of a salt and sugar tax on hypothetical intra-category food substitutions, cost, body-mass index (BMI), and environmental footprints.

Methods

Purchase panel data from Kantar (2017) were used to determine the most popular foods high in salt or sugar within eight ‘salt-intensive’/‘sugar-intensive’ food categories. Within food categories, the most popular lower salt (≤ 1.5 g salt/100 g product) and lower sugar (≤ 22.5 g sugar/100 g product) substitutes were also identified. Hypothetical swaps between high salt/sugar foods and lower salt/sugar substitutes were explored, focusing on changes to cost, caloric intake and BMI, and environmental impacts in the UK population.

Results

The suggested intra-category substitutions were largely like-for-like and did not accrue an added overall cost to consumers. The substitutions reduced calorie intake by about 200 kcal/day and lowered the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the UK from approximately 60–65% to about 40–45%. The proposed food substitutions led to a total reduction of -2.7Mt of greenhouse gases, ∼ -500.000 ha of land, -0.5km3 of blue water, -12km3 of scarcity weighted water, ∼ -12.000t of phosphorus, and nearly − 14.000t of sulphur dioxide over one year for the UK population due to reductions in calorie intake.

Conclusion

Food substitutions following a tax on salt and sugar could lead to significant benefits for health and the environment, without necessarily resulting in major changes to people’s expenditure on familiar salty and sugary snacks.
Harm reduction strategies for cannabis-related problems: a literature review and typology
Authors: Pratschke Jonathan
Published: June 2024

Measures that seek to minimise the health and social consequences of substance use are an integral part of national drug strategies in many European countries. Against the backdrop of a high prevalence of cannabis use in the economically advanced countries, and increasing demand for treatment for cannabis-related problems, a range of harm reduction measures have been implemented by peers, statutory bodies and third-sector organisations. Based on a systematic review of the literature, the author describes these different forms of intervention, identifies innovative strategies and presents a simple typology that can be used when exploring existing measures or seeking to develop new policies. This typology covers different kinds of legal, socio-organisational and health-related interventions. All study designs were eligible for inclusion, with the exception of case reports, non-systematic reviews, editorials and news stories. Studies had to be published between 2011 and 2022, in English, and they had to refer to Europe, the Americas, Australia or New Zealand. A two-concept search was implemented using Embase.com and a number of other databases, combined with citation searches and manual website searching to improve coverage of research reports and advocacy documents. A total of 35 documents were deemed eligible, many of which rely on qualitative research methods.
An atypical case of fatal ‘esophageal apoplexy’: post-mortem findings and differential diagnosis
Authors: de Boer Hans H. , O’Donnell Chris
Published: June 2024

Forensic pathologists need to have comprehensive knowledge of a large variety of causes of sudden natural death. We describe a case of sudden and unexpected death in woman in her sixties due to rupture of a large paraesophageal hematoma. The post-mortem examination and differential diagnosis are discussed. The combined findings of whole-body post-mortem CT imaging (PMCT), targeted PMCT angiography, autopsy, and histology are most in keeping with ‘esophageal apoplexy’; a rare cause of hemorrhage in the esophageal wall. A review of the literature indicates that most cases of esophageal apoplexy are self-limiting and that fatal complications are exceedingly rare. Our case demonstrates that esophageal apoplexy can present as sudden unexpected death.
Dietary content and combined training, but not daily physical activity, are associated with 6-month bone mineral changes in adolescents with obesity: A Secondary analysis of the PAC-MAnO trial
Authors: Videira-Silva Antonio , Santos Inês , Freaza Dalise , Gameiro Mariana , Sardinha Luis B. , Fonseca Helena
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The present study aimed to explore the influence of diet and physical activity (PA) changes on bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) alterations in adolescents with obesity undergoing a weight loss program.

Methods

Six-month longitudinal data from 71 adolescents (aged 15.1 [± 1.6] years; 57.7% girls) with a BMI z-score of 3.03 (± 0.78), previously recruited for the PAC-MAnO trial, were analyzed using Generalized Estimation Equations for over time changes and linear regressions with BMC, BMD and BMD z-score as dependent variables, adjusting for confounders (including type of exercise- aerobic vs. combined).

Results

Adjusting for confounders, changes in carbohydrate (CH) and protein content showed to positively and negatively predict BMD z-score variance, respectively (β = 0.44, 95%CI: 0.01, 0.04, p < .001); β = -0.57, 95%CI: -0.06, -0.03, p < .001), yet no associations were found between PA and bone-related parameters. Combined exercise showed better results on BMC compared to aerobic exercise (β = 0.09, 95%CI: 0.05 to 0.13, p < .001).

Conclusions

Increased CH content, instead of protein, may be associated with BMD improvements in adolescents with obesity. Type of exercise may moderate the impact of PA on bone health.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02941770.

What is Known• Adolescents with obesity may be at a higher risk of osteopenia/osteoporosis• Obesity and inadequate diet and physical activity (PA) may have an adverse effect on bone metabolism

What is New• Improvements in adiposity and muscle mass and increased diet carbohydrate content are associated with bone mineral density (BMD) improvements• Type of exercise (i.e., combined training vs. aerobic) may moderate the impact of PA on BMD, and calcium intake may mediate this impact
Links and the Diaconis–Graham Inequality
Authors: Cornwell Christopher , McNew Nathan
Published: June 2024

In 1977 Diaconis and Graham proved two inequalities relating different measures of disarray in permutations, and asked for a characterization of those permutations for which equality holds in one of these inequalities. Such a characterization was first given in 2013. Recently, another characterization was given by Woo, using a topological link in $${\mathbb {R}}^3$$

R

3

that can be associated to the cycle diagram of a permutation. We show that Woo’s characterization extends much further: for any permutation, the discrepancy in Diaconis and Graham’s inequality is directly related to the Euler characteristic of the associated link. This connection provides a new proof of the original result of Diaconis and Graham. We also characterize permutations with a fixed discrepancy in terms of their associated links and find that the stabilized-interval-free permutations are precisely those whose associated links are nonsplit.
Effects of parenteral nutrition + best supportive nutritional care vs. best supportive nutritional care alone on quality of life in patients with pancreatic cancer—a secondary analysis of PANUSCO
Authors: Emanuel Aline , Rosenberger Friederike , Krampitz Julia , Decker-Baumann Christiane , Märten Angela , Jäger Dirk , Rötzer Ingeborg
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Parenteral nutrition (PN) can be an effective treatment to improve the nutritional status of patients with pancreatic cancer, but the effects of PN on quality of life (QoL) are still understudied. Therefore, we aimed at investigating whether the best supportive nutritional care (BSNC) in combination with PN at home compared to BSNC alone changed QoL in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer undergoing chemotherapy over a period of 7 weeks.

Methods

n = 12 patients in the PANUSCO study received nutritional counseling only (control group (CG)) and n = 9 patients were also given supportive PN (intervention group (IG)). The primary endpoint was the change of QoL (EORTC-QLQ-C30 and QLQ-PAN26) over 7 weeks between the groups.

Results

There was a significant worsening in social functioning in IG (p = 0.031) and a significant difference between groups in change of social functioning (p = 0.020). In all other domains of QoL, there was no significant difference between groups. Within groups, there was a significant improvement in the domain weight loss in IG (p = 0.031), showing that patients were less worried about their weight being too low. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in the change of BW over time between groups (p < 0.001) with IG showing an increase (p = 0.004) and CG showing no change (p = 0.578).

Conclusion

The administration of PN had in one of five domains negative consequences on QoL. The decision to administer PN should always be made individually and together with the patient, and the impact on QoL should be included in the decision to administer PN.
Characterisation of gradient flows for a given functional
Authors: Brooks Morris , Maas Jan
Published: June 2024

Let X be a vector field and Y be a co-vector field on a smooth manifold M. Does there exist a smooth Riemannian metric $$g_{\alpha \beta }$$

g

α
β

on M such that $$Y_\beta = g_{\alpha \beta } X^\alpha $$

Y
β

=

g

α
β

X
α

? The main result of this note gives necessary and sufficient conditions for this to be true. As an application of this result we provide a gradient-flow characterisation for dissipative quantum systems. Namely, we show that finite-dimensional ergodic Lindblad equations admit a gradient flow structure for the von Neumann relative entropy if and only if the condition of bkm-detailed balance holds.
Uniqueness of weak solutions of the Plateau flow
Authors: Wright Christopher
Published: June 2024

In this paper, we study the uniqueness of weak solutions of the heat flow of half-harmonic maps, which was first introduced by Wettstein as a half-Laplacian heat flow and recently studied by Struwe using more classical techniques. On top of its similarity with the two dimensional harmonic map flow, this geometric gradient flow is of interest due to its links with free boundary minimal surfaces and the Plateau problem, leading Struwe to propose the name Plateau flow, which we adopt throughout. We obtain uniqueness of weak solutions of this flow under a natural condition on the energy, which answers positively a question raised by Struwe.
Latest Pliensbachian to Early Toarcian depositional environment and organo-facies evolution in the North-German Basin (Hondelage Section)
Authors: Marten Tim , Ruebsam Wolfgang , Mutterlose Jörg , Wiesenberg Guido L. B. , Schwark Lorenz
Published: June 2024

The Pliensbachian/Toarcian boundary interval represents a transition from a coldhouse into a hothouse climate state, involving the demise of a land-based cryosphere, initiating a third-order global sea-level rise. Within the intensely studied Northwest Tethyan shelf region, the South-German Basin has been investigated in more detail than the North-German Basin (NGB). We here provide a palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the Pliensbachian/Toarcian transition from the Hondelage fossil excavation site located in the NGB employing organic, isotope, and major/trace element proxies. Here, the late Pliensbachian was characterized by cold climate, low sea level, and a slow hydrological cycle, causing minor terrigenous sediment and nutrient fluxes to the basin, instigating low marine productivity. Shallow, well-mixed shelf waters of normal salinity favored aerobic degradation of planktonic biomass, preventing sedimentary accumulation of organic matter. These conditions changed in the earliest Toarcian, where increased temperatures led to sea-level rise via meltdown of land-based ice and accelerated the hydrological cycle, causing salinity stratification. Enhanced riverine sediment and nutrient supply from nearby landmasses promoted marine primary productivity, which caused anoxic conditions in bottom and pore waters favoring enhanced preservation and accumulation of organic matter. A short-lived sea-level fall at the Lower Elegans Bed coincided with lowered productivity and enhanced carbonate precipitation, due to reduced runoff and recovery of the carbonate factory. Increased redox-sensitive trace element concentrations above the Lower Elegans Bed suggest a renewed inflow of low-salinity arctic water masses via the Viking Corridor and potentially increased freshwater input, promoting water column stratification, enhanced planktonic productivity, and re-establishment of bottom water anoxia/euxinia.

Graphical abstract
Outcomes following spinal instrumented fusions in patients with parkinson’s disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Alissa Ahmad Issa , McDonnell Jake M. , Ross Tayler D. , Wu Neil , Sowa Aubrie , Wall Julia , Darwish Stacey , Butler Joseph S.
Published: June 2024

Background

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) patients represent challenging spinal surgery candidates due to associated frailty and deformity. This study consolidates the literature concerning spinal surgery outcomes in PD versus non-PD patients, to evaluate if PD predisposes patients to worse post-operative outcomes, so that treatment protocols can be optimised.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted of PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Google Scholar databases per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies of interest included comparative (PD versus non-PD) cohorts undergoing spinal instrumented fusions. Post-operative clinical outcomes were collated and compared for significance between cohorts. Further analysis was made on outcomes based on the different surgical procedures performed (Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF), Thoracolumbar or Lumbar fusions, Thoracolumbar or Lumbar fusions without Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression fracture (OVCF) patients). All statistical analysis was performed using The R Project for Statistical Computing (version 4.1.2), with a p-value of < 0.05 deemed statistically significant.

Results

In total, 2,323,650 patients were included across 16 studies. Of those, 2,308,949 (99.37%) were patients without PD (non-PD), while 14,701 (0.63%) patients had PD at time of surgery. The collective mean age was 68.23 years (PD: 70.14 years vs non-PD: 64.86 years). Comparatively, there were 844,641 males (PD: 4,574; non-PD: 840,067) and 959,908 females (PD: 3,213; non-PD: 956,695). Overall, there were more post-operative complications in the PD cohort. Specifically, PD patients experienced significantly more surgical site infections (p = 0.01), increased rates of revision surgeries (p = 0.04) and increased venous thromboembolic events (p = 0.02) versus the non-PD cohort. In thoracolumbar/lumbar spinal fusions without OVCF patients, the PD cohort had increased rates of revision surgeries (p < 0.01) in comparison to the non-PD cohort. However, when including OVCF patients in thoracolumbar/lumbar spinal fusions, the PD cohort had significantly higher amounts of postoperative complications (p = 0.01), pneumonia (p = 0.02), and revision surgeries (p < 0.01) when compared to the non-PD cohort.

Conclusion

Although more robust prospective studies are needed, the results of this study highlight the need for advanced wound care management in the postoperative period, both in-hospital and in the community, in addition to comprehensive multidisciplinary care from allied health professionals, with potential for the use of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols in PD patients undergoing spinal instrumented fusions.
A CMIP6-ensemble-based evaluation of precipitation and temperature projections
Authors: Yılmaz Banu , Aras Egemen , Nacar Sinan
Published: June 2024

Understanding climate change’s effects on dam basins is very important for water resource management because of their important role in providing essential functions such as water storage, irrigation, and energy production. This study aims to investigate the impact of climate change on temperature and precipitation variables in the Altınkaya Dam Basin, which holds significant potential for hydroelectric power generation in Türkiye. These potential impacts were investigated by using ERA5 reanalysis data, six GCMs from the current CMIP6 archive, and two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP2 − 4.5 and SSP5 − 8.5) scenario data. Four Multi-Model Ensemble (MME) models were developed by using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approach (ENS1), simple averaging (ENS2), weighted correlation coefficients (ENS3), and the MARS algorithm (ENS4), and the results were compared to each other. Moreover, quantile delta mapping (QDM) bias correction was used. The 35-year period (1980–2014) was chosen as the reference period, and further evaluations were conducted by dividing it into three future periods (near (2025–2054), mid-far (2055–2084), and far (2085–2100)). Considering the results achieved from the MMEs, variations are expected in the monthly, seasonal, and annual assessments. Projections until the year 2100 indicate that under optimistic and pessimistic scenarios, temperature increases could reach up to 3.11 °C and 5.64 °C, respectively, while precipitation could decrease by as much as 19% and 43%, respectively. These results suggest that the potential changes in temperature and precipitation within the dam basin could significantly impact critical elements such as future water flow and energy production.
Modelling sustainable investing in the CAPM
Authors: Hens Thorsten , Trutwin Ester
Published: June 2024

Empirical studies investigate various causes and effects of sustainable investments. While some attempts have been made to describe the results found by theoretical models, these are relatively complex and heterogeneous. We relate to existing studies and use a parsimonious Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) in which we model different aspects of sustainable investing. The basic reasoning of the CAPM, that investors need to be compensated for the bad aspects of assets applies so that investors demand higher returns for investments that are harmful from an environmental, social, or governance (ESG) perspective. Moreover, if investors have heterogeneous views on the ESG–characteristics of a company, the market requires higher returns for that company, provided richer investors care more about ESG than poorer investors, which is known as the Environmental Kuznets Curve. Besides the effect on asset prices, we find that sustainable investing has an impact on a firm’s production decision through two channels—the growth and the reform channel. Sustainable investment reduces the size of dirty firms through the growth channel and makes firms cleaner through the reform channel. We illustrate the magnitude of these effects with numerical examples calibrated to real-world data, providing a clear indication of the high economic relevance of the effects.
Groundwater seeps are hot spots of denitrification and N2O emissions in a restored wetland
Authors: Klionsky Sarah M. , Neill Christopher , Helton Ashley M. , Lawrence Beth
Published: June 2024

Restorations of former cranberry farms (“bogs”) aim to re-establish native wetland vegetation, promote cold water habitat, and attenuate nitrogen (N) delivery to coastal waters. It is unclear, though, how elements of restoration design such as microtopography, groundwater interception, and plant communities affect N removal via denitrification. In a recently restored riparian cranberry bog with created microtopography, we compared denitrification potential, nitrous oxide (N2O) yield of denitrification (ratio of N2O:N2O + N2 gases), in situ N2O fluxes, soil chemistry, and plant communities at the highest and lowest elevations within 20 plots and at four side-channel groundwater seeps. Denitrification potential was > 2 × greater at low elevations, which had plant communities distinct from high elevations, and was positively correlated with plant species richness (Spearman’s rho = 0.43). Despite detecting high N2O yield (0.86 ± 0.16) from low elevation soils, we observed small N2O emissions in situ, suggesting minimal incomplete denitrification even in saturated depressions. Groundwater seeps had an order of magnitude higher denitrification potentials and 100–300 × greater soil NO3− concentrations than the typically saturated low elevation soils. Groundwater seeps also had high N2O yield (1.05 ± 0.15) and higher, but spatially variable, in situ N2O emissions. Our results indicate that N removal is concentrated where soils interact with NO3–rich groundwater, but other factors such as low soil carbon (C) also limit denitrification. Designing restoration features to increase groundwater residence time, particularly in low lying, species rich areas, may promote more N attenuation in restored cranberry bogs and other herbaceous riparian wetlands.
Improvement in organization of Cu–O coordination and super-electrons in Bi-2212 ceramic matrix with Ag/Sr partial substitution
Authors: Al Azzawi Abdullah Nabel Salman , Türköz Mustafa Burak , Erdem Ümit , Yildirim Gürcan
Published: June 2024

This study rationalizes the reason for an increase in the electrical conductivity, crystal quality, surface morphology, and superconductive transition temperatures for Bi-2212 superconductors via scientific facts and discussions depending on replacing the optimum Ag/Sr sites in the system for the first time. Every experimental result and related calculations indicate the successful replacement of monovalent Ag+ ions for the divalent Sr2+ ions in the polycrystalline Bi-2212 structure. Moreover, it is observed that the bulk Bi-2212 ceramic prepared with a partial substitution level of x = 0.01 is observed to possess the highest electrical conductivity and superconductive transition temperatures of 84.68 K and 86.26 K for the $$T_{c}^{offset}$$

T

c

offset

and $$T_{c}^{onset}$$

T

c

onset

, respectively. Besides, in the case of the optimum replacement level, the Bi-2212 ceramic exhibits the most uniform and smoothest surface appearance, highest interactions between the grains, best microcrystal distributions/orientations, and largest average crystalline distribution along the crystal structure. In this regard, this study becomes a leader in broadening the application spectra including the heavy-industrial technologies, innovative, advanced engineering-related sectors, and large-scale application fields for Bi-2212 superconducting ceramics.
AI and medical imaging technology: evolution, impacts, and economic insights
Authors: Buaka Emefa Surprize Deborah , Moid Md Zubab Ibne
Published: June 2024

This paper examines the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on medical imaging technology, tracing the evolution of medical imaging from the development of X-ray technology in the 19th century, and describing AI’s integration into medical imaging beginning in the second half of the 20th century. This paper explores AI’s role in early disease detection, enhanced diagnostics, and streamlined workflows. Legal considerations are also discussed, exemplified by proposed regulations such as the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act and the U.S. Algorithmic Accountability Act.
Help those helping others - the role of universities in facilitating digitalisation and virtualisation in non-profit organisations
Authors: Jabbar Abdul , Apostolidis Chrysostomos , Baines Ning , Devine Anthony , Christofi Michael , Trivedi Siddhi
Published: June 2024

In this paper we explore the role of universities in supporting the adoption of digitalisation and virtualisation technologies in non-profit organisations, through the development of strategic partnerships. Despite the increasing interest in technology transfer and adoption in various industries, there is currently very limited research on the opportunities and challenges digital technologies can create for organisations supporting societal change. By adopting a Service-Dominant logic (S-D logic) lens, we explore technology transfer as an interaction between organisations, and we use in-depth interviews with 13 non-profit organisations based in the UK, to understand better their current level of technology adoption and the challenges they face in the technology adoption process. We then explore how universities, as strategic partners, can act as intermediaries, supporting more meaningful technology adoption by non-profits and their stakeholders. We conclude that universities need to move beyond their focus on the dyadic relationships with industry and consider themselves as facilitators of interactions and value co-creation within the wider technology transfer ecosystem, as they need to consider several diverse stakeholders if they are to support the digitisation and virtualisation in non-profits.
Multi-temporal morphological analysis coupled to seismic survey of a mass movement from southern Italy: a combined tool to unravel the history of complex slow-moving landslides
Authors: Gioia Dario , Corrado Giuseppe , Minervino Amodio Antonio , Schiattarella Marcello
Published: June 2024

Impressive and large-scale slow-moving landslides with a long-term evolutionary history of activity and dormancy are a common landform in the southern Apennines mountain belt. The spatial and temporal evolution of a multi-stage complex landslide located in a catchment of the frontal sector of the southern Apennine chain was reconstructed by multitemporal geomorphological analysis, near-surface seismic survey, and DEM comparison. The Tolve landslide shows a multi-decadal evolution characterized by intermittent periods of activity and dormancy. Geomorphological evidences suggest that the initial failure of the large-scale landslide has a multi-millennial age and can be related to a roto-translational movement that evolved in an earthflow. Recent evolution is associated with a major reactivation event in the middle and lower sectors of the larger complex landslide, which probably is related to a heavy rainfall event occurred in January 1972. Recent evolution is mainly associated with minor movements in the source area, toe advancements, and widespread shallow landslides along the flank of the earthflow. Our results demonstrate the need to integrate traditional geomorphological analysis with multi-source data to reconstruct the evolution of slow-moving landslides and to identify their main predisposing and triggering factors.
Greedy recursive spectral bisection for modularity-bound hierarchical divisive community detection
Authors: Cardoso Douglas O. , da Silva Junior João Domingos Gomes , Oliveira Carla Silva , Marques Celso , de Assis Laura Silva
Published: June 2024

Spectral clustering techniques depend on the eigenstructure of a similarity matrix to assign data points to clusters, so that points within the same cluster exhibit high similarity and are compared to those in different clusters. This work aimed to develop a spectral method that could be compared to clustering algorithms that represent the current state of the art. This investigation conceived a novel spectral clustering method, as well as five policies that guide its execution, based on spectral graph theory and embodying hierarchical clustering principles. Computational experiments comparing the proposed method with six state-of-the-art algorithms were undertaken in this study to evaluate the clustering methods under scrutiny. The assessment was performed using two evaluation metrics, specifically the adjusted Rand index, and modularity. The obtained results furnish compelling evidence, indicating that the proposed method is competitive and possesses distinctive properties compared to those elucidated in the existing literature. This suggests that our approach stands as a viable alternative, offering a robust choice within the spectrum of available same-purpose tools.
Can the Administrative Loads of Physicians be Alleviated by AI-Facilitated Clinical Documentation?
Authors: Bundy Henry , Gerhart Jay , Baek Sally , Connor Crystal Danielle , Isreal McKenzie , Dharod Ajay , Stephens Casey , Liu Tsai-Ling , Hetherington Timothy , Cleveland Jeffery
Published: June 2024

Background

Champions of AI-facilitated clinical documentation have suggested that the emergent technology may decrease the administrative loads of physicians, thereby reducing cognitive burden and forestalling burnout. Explorations of physicians’ experiences with automated documentation are critical in evaluating these claims.

Objective

To evaluate physicians’ experiences with DAX Copilot (DAXC), a generative AI-facilitated clinical documentation tool.

Design

Semi-structured interviews were conducted in August and September of 2023 with physician-users of DAXC.

Participants

A purposive sample of 12 interviewees, selected from 116 primary care physicians, employed at a multi-site academic learning health system.

Approach

After completing all 12 interviews, three study personnel independently analyzed and coded the transcripts. Reconciliation sessions were then held to merge the three analyses into one summary, eliminating redundant codes, and grouping findings into themes.

Key Results

For a majority of interviewees, DAXC reduced the amount of time spent documenting encounters, and alleviated anxieties of having to retain important clinical details until there was time to make notes. DAXC also allowed physicians to be more engaged during appointments, resulting in more personable provider-patient encounters. However, some physicians weighed these benefits against an uneasy feeling that interviewees might be asked to see more patients if DAXC was mandated. Physicians also noted that the tool would occasionally imagine or misgender patients, offer unsolicited and inappropriate diagnoses, and mistake critical details in transcription. The few physicians less enthusiastic about the generative technology portrayed themselves as creatures of habit who had cultivated long-standing workflows and particular notation practices that DAXC could neither improve upon nor reproduce.

Conclusions

According to physician interviewees, automated AI-driven clinical documentation has the potential to significantly reduce the administrative burden associated with particular types of provider-patient encounters. Addressing the growing pains of the incipient technology, identified here, may allow for a broader applicability for clinical practice.
The effects of Constitutional Court Judgments in the context of EU integration: the case of Romania as an EU Member State
Authors: Dumbrava Horatius
Published: June 2024

This contribution analyses the conflict between the Constitutional Court of Romania (the ‘CCR’) and the Court of Justice of the European Union (the ‘CJEU’) from the perspective of the affirmation of constitutional identity by the Constitutional Court of Romania as a national independent court, to the detriment of the principle of primacy of EU law enshrined in the settled case-law of the European Court of Justice. The following analysis focuses on two aspects of this conflict. The first involves consideration of the use of the concept of constitutional identity by the Constitutional Court of Romania as a tool to limit the principle of primacy of EU law, with the main argument being that the Constitutional Court is the supreme national institution the task of which is to ensure the supremacy of the Romanian Constitution on Romanian territory even insofar as concerns EU law and the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union. The second aspect focused upon in this analysis consists of the effects of the conflict between the two jurisdictions - the constitutional and the European Union – as seen in the constitutional decisions adopted by the Constitutional Court of Romania.