bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison between connective tissue graft and xenogeneic acellular dermal matrix to treat single gingival recession: A data reanalysis of randomized clinical trials
Authors: Miguel Manuela Maria Viana , Ferraz Laís Fernanda Ferreira , Rossato Amanda , Cintra Tuana Mendonça Faria , Mathias‐Santamaria Ingrid Fernandes , Santamaria Mauro Pedrine
Published: June 2022

Objectives

There are few studies comparing xenogeneic acellular dermal matrixes (XDMs) with connective tissue graft (CTG) to treat single gingival recession (GR). The present study involved a reanalysis of previous studies and comparison of CTG or XDM to treat single RT1/GR.

Materials and methods

Fifty patients from three previous randomized clinical trials treated either by CTG (n = 25) or XDM (n = 25) were evaluated after 6‐month. Clinical, patient‐centered, and esthetic parameters were assessed. Pearson's correlation and regression analyses were also performed.

Results

Greater recession reduction (RecRed), percentage of root coverage (%RC), and complete root coverage (CRC) were observed in the CTG group (p ≤ 0.02). Gingival thickness (GT) and keratinized tissue width (KTW) gains were higher in the CTG group. The CTG group showed better esthetic at 6‐month. Logistic analyses reported that GT([OR] = 1.6473) and papilla height (PH) (OR = 8.20) are predictors of CRC. GT*XDM interaction was a negative predictor of CRC (OR = 7.105−5). GT at baseline acted as a predictor of RecRed in both groups (p = 0.03). The XDM graft impacted RecRed and %RC negatively. Baseline PH was a predictor of %RC for both grafts.

Conclusion

CTG was superior for treating RT1/GR, providing better root coverage outcomes and tissue gains over time. GT, PH, and graft type were classified as predictors of CRC.

Clinical significance

CTG presented better outcomes to treat single RT1 gingival recession when compared to the XDM.
Microtexture analysis of copper‐doped iron oxide thin films prepared by air pneumatic spray
Authors: Ghribi Faouzi , Ţălu Ştefan , Chouikh Fethi , Bouznit Yazid , Boudour Samah , Méndez‐Albores Alia , Cordova Gabriel Trejo
Published: June 2022

The stereometric and fractal concepts are crucial tools to analyse, to verify, to report 3‐D microtexture of thin film surfaces on the nanometre scale and thereby to generate useful topographic characteristics for better understanding and steering them toward further improvements and rational use in modern applications. At first, the present work aimed to prepare hematite α‐Fe2O3 thin films with (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 wt%) of Cu doping by using the air pneumatic spray method. Subsequently, the obtained pure α‐Fe2O3 and Cu‐doped α‐Fe2O3 thin films were characterised by XRD device, which determines their polycrystalline nature with the rhombohedral hematite structure. Analysis by UV‐VIS absorption showed that the transmittance of the thin films is extinct in the wavelength from approximately 500 to 800 nm, revealing that the films have good optical absorbance in the visible region. The obtained bandgap values varied between 2.23 and 2.21 eV. At second stage, the stereometric and fractal analysis are applied on 3‐D image data of pure α‐ Fe2O3 and Cu‐doped α‐Fe2O3 thin films, which in prior generated using AFM device. Accordingly, the obtained statistical parameters such as surface roughness, density distribution of peaks, depths etc. were used to understand the influence of Cu doping on the 3D microtexture of pure α‐ Fe2O3 and Cu‐doped α‐ Fe2O3 thin film surfaces.
A critical review of relationship quality measures: Is a fresh start needed? An agenda to move forward
Authors: Gottfredson Ryan K. , Wright Sarah L. , Heaphy Emily D.
Published: June 2022

Social relationships in and around work are a fundamental building block of organizational life. According to a number of relationship theories, the quality of those relationships is a critical aspect of their influence on a variety of employee and organizational outcomes. Relationship quality is, therefore, one of the most commonly studied constructs in management research. Our paper critically reviews the landscape of relationship quality measures used in management studies, identifying critical issues with how the construct has been conceptualized and measured. To help advance research on the subject and improve measurement, we identify and evaluate 21 relationship quality measures that have been developed for, or used in, management research. Overall, we find that the instruments used to measure relationship quality in management research have significant limitations associated with their conceptualizations and operationalizations. Many of these limitations stem from the fact that most of the measures used to assess the construct were not originally designed to measure relationship quality, which impedes research clarity and implications. We offer a future research agenda and several recommendations for the advancement of management research on relationship quality.
Effects of sweet potato vine silage supplementation on meat quality, antioxidant capacity and immune function in finishing pigs
Authors: Sun Bo , Wang Ruibo , Yue Zhiyuan , Zheng Hao , Zhou Qinglong , Bao Chunna , Shi Baoming , Lv Yinfeng , Shan Anshan , Ma Qingquan
Published: June 2022

Sweet potato vine, the byproduct of sweet potato, has a high nutritional value. Silage is an effective solution for nutrient preservation. This article explored the effects of sweet potato vine silage (SPVS) supplementation on meat quality, antioxidant capacity and immune function in finishing pigs. One hundred and eighty finishing pigs (Berkshire × Licha Black) with a body weight of 74.54 ± 3.32 kg were randomly divided into three groups. The three groups were separately fed basal diet (Ctrl), Ctrl supplemented with 2.5% SPVS (LSPVS) or 5% SPVS (HSPVS) on a dry matter basis. Results showed that the eye muscle area in the LSPVS group was significantly increased. The carcass weight in the HSPVS was significantly reduced compared with Ctrl. For the meat quality, only cooking loss in both HSPVS and LSPVS was reduced while other indexes had no significant differences. For the antioxidant capacity, the hepatic level of glutathione (GSH) peroxidase (GSH‐PX) was significantly upregulated in LSPVS but downregulated in HSPVS. In the serum, HSPVS decreased GSH level and increased GSH‐PX level. HSPVS significantly reduced hepatic interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) levels and LSPVS significantly reduced IL‐12 levels and increased IL‐8 and IL‐6 levels. Moreover, HSPVS and LSPVS promoted the secretion of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG in the serum. Our data showed that low‐dose SPVS supplementation improved carcass traits and high‐dose SPVS supplementation increased immune function in finishing pigs, which provides a new alternative to improve animal health.
The circadian system, sleep, and the health/disease balance: a conceptual review
Authors: Roenneberg Till , Foster Russell G. , Klerman Elizabeth B.
Published: June 2022

The field of “circadian medicine” is a recent addition to chronobiology and sleep research efforts. It represents a logical step arising from the increasing insights into the circadian system and its interactions with life in urbanised societies; applying these insights to the health/disease balance at home and in the medical practice (outpatient) and clinic (inpatient). Despite its fast expansion and proliferating research efforts, circadian medicine lacks a formal framework to categorise the many observations describing interactions among the circadian system, sleep, and the health/disease balance. A good framework allows us to categorise observations and then assign them to one or more components with hypothesised interactions. Such assignments can lead to experiments that document causal (rather than correlational) relationships and move from describing observations to discovering mechanisms. This review details such a proposed formal framework for circadian medicine and will hopefully trigger discussion among our colleagues, so that the framework can be improved and expanded. As the basis of the framework for circadian medicine, we define “circadian health” and how it links to general health. We then define interactions among the circadian system, sleep, and the health/disease balance and put the framework into the context of the literature with examples from six domains of health/disease balance: fertility, cancer, immune system, mental health, cardiovascular, and metabolism.
Inter‐relationships among body mass, body dimensions, jaw musculature and bite force in reptiles
Authors: Deeming D. C.
Published: June 2022

Bite force is important in understanding how feeding biomechanics impacts the life‐history of vertebrates. Bite force has been measured in many lizards and crocodilians but fewer turtles and snakes. Few comparative interspecific studies exist of the inter‐relationships between body size, jaw musculature and bite force. This study collated data reported in the literature for bite force and mass of the jaw musculature in reptiles and explored the relationships between these variables and body mass and size. Two hypotheses were explored: (1) bite force and mass of the jaw musculature scale with body size irrespective of order (as a broad taxonomic grouping) when controlled for phylogeny, and (2) bite force and jaw musculature mass would be directly related and be unrelated to order. Phylogenetically controlled Bayesian analyses showed that in relation to body mass there were different relationships with bite force for testudines compared to saurians and crocodilians. For snout–vent length, squamates and crocodilians exhibited a single relationship, but for head length, all reptile orders exhibited different allometric patterns. Although there was a strong phylogenetic signal in all cases, indicating that there are clusters of closely related species for a measure of size, there was no effect of order on the relationships between measures of body size and mass of the jaw musculature. The relationship between bite force and jaw muscle mass was isometric and did not differ among reptile orders. Several ecological factors may correlate with head morphology and bite force in reptiles. Further studies could explore the evolutionary drivers that shape the relationship between head size, jaw musculature and bite force. Similarities for the relationships between bite force and body size in different reptilian orders suggests that this could be a model system to demonstrate fundamental biomechanical principles of how jaw muscles generate a bite force.
Gene expression and clinical outcomes after dietary treatment for eosinophilic esophagitis: a prospective study
Authors: de Rooij Willemijn E. , Diks Mara A. P. , Warners Marijn J. , Ampting Marleen T. J. Van , van Esch Betty C. A. M. , Bredenoord Albert J.
Published: June 2022

Background

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an allergen‐mediated disease and elimination diets have proven to be effective to obtain clinical and histological remission. However, the effect of elimination diets on specific EoE transcripts and their clinical correlates is relatively unknown. The main aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of dietary treatment (four‐food elimination diet [FFED]) with or without addition of amino acid‐based formula (AAF) on a variety of pro‐/anti‐inflammatory, epithelial/barrier function and remodeling/fibrosis‐related markers of disease activity and clinical correlates (eosinophils, symptoms, and endoscopic signs) in adult EoE patients.

Methods

We conducted an analysis of biopsy samples and data collected during a randomized controlled trial with an elimination diet in adult patients with active EoE (≥15 eosinophils [eos] per high‐power field [hpf]). Demographics, symptoms (SDI‐score), endoscopic signs (EREFS) and peak eosinophil counts/hpf were recorded at baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment. Transcripts of 10 indicated genes were measured (qPCR) and compared to clinical correlates at baseline and after treatment.

Key Results

Forty patients (pooled FFED + FFED + AAF) (60% male, age 34.5 (interquartile range [IQR] 29–42.8 years) completed the diet. Peak eosinophil counts/hpf, symptoms and endoscopic signs were significantly decreased after 6 weeks dietary treatment. DSG‐1 levels were significantly upregulated from baseline to week 6, whereas IL‐13, CAPN‐14, IL‐5, IL‐10, CCL‐26, POSTN, TSLP, CPA‐3, and TGF‐β were significantly downregulated after 6 weeks of diet (all; <0.01). Prior to treatment, upregulation of CAPN‐14 and lower levels of DSG‐1 were associated with clinical fibrotic phenotypes, whereas upregulation of IL‐10 was linked to food impaction phenotypes.

Conclusion

These findings strongly suggest that elimination diets, besides a clinical and histological response, are associated with a broad transcriptional response at the level of the esophageal epithelium.
Normative values for esophageal functional lumen imaging probe measurements: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Bredenoord Albert J. , Rancati Francesca , Lin Haiying , Schwartz Naama , Argov Mirit
Published: June 2022

Background

The functional lumen imaging probe (Endoflip™) is increasingly used for evaluation of patients with esophageal symptoms. To improve the interpretation of Endoflip™ in clinical practice, normative values with appropriate cut‐off values are required.

Methods

Original clinical studies describing Endoflip™ use for measurements of esophageal motility in healthy adults were considered. Meta‐analysis was performed based on published values.

Results

A total of 17 articles were included in the systematic review, 15 of which were included in the meta‐analysis, representing 154 unique subjects. At 40 ml distention, the 5th–95th and 10th–90th percentiles for esophagogastric junction distensibility index (EGJ‐DI) were 1.96–10.95 mm2/mmHg and 2.36–8.95 mm2/mmHg, respectively. An EGJ‐DI below 2 mm2/mmHg was found in 5.4%, and below 3 mm2/mmHg in 20.1% of healthy subjects. At 50 ml distention, the 5th–95th and 10th–90th percentiles for EGJ‐DI are 2.86–10.66 mm2/mmHg and 3.28–9.12 mm2/mmHg, respectively (below 2 mm2/mmHg: 0.6%, 3 mm2/mmHg: 6.3%). The 5th–95th and 10th–90th percentiles for EGJ‐DI at 60 ml distention were 3.06–8.14 mm2/mmHg and 3.33–7.18 mm2/mmHg, respectively (below 2 mm2/mmHg: 0.0%, 3 mm2/mmHg: 7%). A clear cut‐off for lower values was identified while a large spread in values was observed for upper limits of normal for EGJ‐DI for all filling volumes.

Conclusions

Given these observations, we recommend using a cut‐off of 2 mm2/mmHg for clinical practice, values below can be considered abnormal. Given that 5.4% of the healthy subjects will have an EGJ‐DI below 2 mm2/mmHg at 40 ml, we recommend using the 50 and 60 ml distention volumes. The clinical use of an upper limit for normality of EGJ‐DI seems questionable.
Normative values of intra‐bolus pressure and esophageal compliance based on 4D high‐resolution impedance manometry
Authors: Kou Wenjun , Carlson Dustin A. , Kahrilas Peter J. , Patankar Neelesh A. , Pandolfino John E.
Published: June 2022

Background

This study aimed to quantify normative values of phase‐specific intra‐bolus pressure (IBP) and esophageal distensibility using 4D analysis of high‐resolution‐impedance manometry (HRIM).

Methods

HRIM studies of supine swallows from 34 normal controls were analyzed with respect to the four phases of bolus transit: (1) accommodation, (2) compartmentalization, (3) peristalsis/esophageal emptying, and (4) ampullary emptying. Phase‐specific IBP, bolus volume, and distensibility index (DI) in the esophageal body and esophagogastric junction (EGJ) during phases 1–3 were extracted.

Results

The median (5‐95th/IQR) IBP values were as follows: phase 1: 4.0 (−2.0–10.4/1.9–5.8) mmHg, phase 2: 5.7 (0.2–14.1/3.6–8.9) mmHg, and phase 3: 11.2 (2.9–19.4/7.7–15.1) mmHg. The median bolus volume calculated by integrating impedance planimetry cross‐sectional areas was 4.1 ml during the compartmentalization phase. The EGJ‐DI at max EGJ diameter during phase 2 and 3 was 2.8 (1.1–9.5/1.8–3.7) mm2/mmHg and 6.0 (3.2–20.3/5.1–7.8) mm2/mmHg, respectively. The phase 3 EGJ‐DI values (6.0 (3.2–20.3/5.1–7.8) mm2/mmHg) were similar to those calculated using functional lumen imaging probe (FLIP) at the 60 ml volume on the same subjects (5.8 [3.5–7.2/5.0–6.4] mm2/mmHg).

Conclusions and Inferences

4D‐HRIM provides a standardized methodology to track the nadir impedance and provide measurements of IBP during maximal distention across phases 1–3 of bolus transit. Median IBP and delta IBP were different across the phases, supporting the need to define IBP by phase. Additionally, the EGJ‐DI calculated during phase 3 was similar to the 60‐ml EGJ‐DI from FLIP in the same subjects suggesting that 4D‐HRIM can quantify EGJ opening during primary peristalsis.
Discrimination of atypical atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia from atrial tachycardia by the V‐A‐A‐V response
Authors: Kaneko Yoshiaki , Nakajima Tadashi , Tamura Shuntaro , Nagashima Koichi , Kobari Takashi , Hasegawa Hiroshi , Ishii Hideki
Published: June 2022

Introduction

The electrophysiological discrimination between fast‐slow (F/S‐) atrioventricular (AV) nodal reentrant tachycardia (NRT) and atrial tachycardia (AT) originating from the interatrial septum remains challenging. While a V‐A‐A‐V response may occur immediately after ventricular induction or entrainment of either tachycardia, the electrophysiological dissimilarities in that response between the two tachycardias remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify a diagnostic indicator discriminating F/S‐AVNRT from AT by examining the difference in the V‐A‐A‐V response between the two tachycardias.

Methods

This retrospective study included 17 patients with F/S‐AVNRT [seven with common‐form F/S‐AVNRT using a typical slow pathway (SP) and 10 with superior type F/S‐AVNRT using a superior SP] and 10 patients with reentrant AT. All 27 patients presented with long RP supraventricular tachycardia and an initial V‐A‐A‐V response upon ventricular induction or entrainment. The V‐A‐A‐V response in patients with F/S‐AVNRT was due to dual atrial responses. We measured the interval between the first (A1) and second atrial electrogram (A2) of V‐A‐A‐V and calculated ΔAA by subtracting A1‐A2 from the tachycardia cycle length.

Results

V‐A‐A‐V responses were observed most often upon ventricular induction of F/S‐AVNRT (6 ± 5 times) as well as AT (6 ± 6 times; p = .87). The V‐A‐A‐V response upon ventricular entrainment was observed in a single patient with F/S‐AVNRT versus 10 all patients with AT (p < .001). ΔAA ranged between −80 and 228 ms in F/S‐AVNRT and between −184 and 26 ms in AT. A ΔAA > 26 ms predicted a diagnosis of F/S‐AVNRT with a 76% sensitivity and 100% specificity, while a ΔAA <−80 ms predicted a diagnosis of AT with a 50% sensitivity and 100% specificity.

Conclusions

ΔAA is a useful, confirmatory, diagnostic indicator of F/S‐AVNRT versus AT associated with the V‐A‐A‐V response.
Energy democratization policy without democratization of policy governance in South Korea: A participatory democracy perspective
Authors: Heo Inhye
Published: June 2022

Policy governance with citizen participation has gained much attention in the application of participatory democracy. Accordingly, what conditions are needed to conform to the idea of policy governance and contribute to policy effectiveness? This article answers this question by examining the energy policy of the South Korean Moon Jae‐in government. It argues that—in addition to the formation of policy governance—democratizing its operation based on the democratic principles of legitimacy and responsibility is required, and theoretically presents conditions to this end. It then examines the Moon government's energy policy process, featuring nuclear phase‐out and fostering renewable energy. The government‐formed energy policy governance was represented by public debate committees and policy projects that accompany citizen participation under the banner of participatory democracy. However, it does not consider the democratic principles that led to people questioning its authenticity and brought about serious policy problems that hindered the accomplishment of policy objectives.

Related Articles

Ayhan, Kadir Jun, and Nancy Snow. 2021. “Introduction to the Special Issue: Global Korea Scholarship: Empirical Evaluation of a Non‐Western Scholarship Program from a Public Diplomacy Perspective.” Politics & Policy 49(6): 1282–91. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12440.

Heo, Inhye. 2013. “The Political Economy of Policy Gridlock in South Korea: The Case of the Lee Myung‐bak Government's Green Growth Policy.” Politics & Policy 41(4): 509–35. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12029.

Kane, John, Hui‐Chieh Loy, and Haig Patapan. 2010. “Introduction to the Special Issue: The Search for Legitimacy in Asia.” Politics & Policy 38(3): 381–94. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2010.00240.x.
Establishment of a method to predict dystocia due to physical imbalance between foetus and maternal pelvis in Japanese black cattle
Authors: Maeda T. , Kitahara G. , Osawa T.
Published: June 2022

This study aimed to clarify the relationship between the maternal pelvis and calf size in normal and dystocia groups (Experiment 1) and to establish a method to predict dystocia due to physical imbalance between foetus and maternal pelvis before calving based on the parameters found in Experiment 1 (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, 26 pairs of dams and their offspring were tested immediately after calving, and various parameters of offspring size and maternal pelvis were measured in normal and dystocia cases. The longitudinal diameter of the maternal pelvis was smaller (p < .01), and ratios of the offspring's birth weight and the width of the hoof crown (hoof width; measured using callipers) to the longitudinal diameter of the maternal pelvis were larger (p < .01) in the dystocia group than those in the normal group. In Experiment 2, 37 cows were tested, and in addition to the measurement items of Experiment 1, the inner pelvic diameter and the foetal hoof width were measured via ultrasonography at 285 days of gestation. The ratio of the internal diameter of the maternal pelvis (longitudinal diameter, transverse diameter and area) to the foetal hoof width was compared and was greater (p < .01) in the dystocia group than in the normal group. In conclusion, the risk of dystocia can be estimated by the ratio of the foetal hoof width to the longitudinal diameter of the maternal pelvis before calving.
Effect of drugs on fertility in male dogs: A review
Authors: Zdunczyk Slawomir , Domoslawska Anna
Published: June 2022

The aim of this literature review was to present and discuss the available data on the positive and negative effects of drugs on male dog fertility. Apart from information on hormones and anti‐hormonal agents, there is still only little information available regarding the effect of other drugs on sexual function and fertility in male dogs. A negative impact on fertility in male dogs has been reported for vincristine, cyclophosphamide, tetracycline and ketoconazole. However, preclinical safety studies of drugs for human use indicated that spermatogenesis in dogs may be sensitive to a wide variety of drugs. Thus, potential adverse effects of drugs on fertility should always be considered before their use in stud dogs. Also, in cases of reduced fertility or infertility in male dogs, previous medical treatment should be taken into account as a possible cause. In most cases, the effects of drugs on sexual function and spermatogenesis are reversible after the discontinuation of the drug. Further studies on the effects of drugs on male dog fertility are needed.
Never trust an unsound theory
Authors: Bennet Christian , Blanck Rasmus
Published: June 2022

Lajevardi and Salehi, in “There may be many arithmetical Gödel sentences”, argue against the use of the definite article in the expression “the Gödel sentence”, by claiming that any unsound theory has Gödelian sentences with different truth values. We show that their Theorems 1 and 2 are special cases (modulo Löb's theorem and the first incompleteness theorem) of general observations pertaining to fixed points of any formula, and argue that the false sentences of Lajevardi and Salehi are in fact not Gödel sentences.
A Fragilidade do Direito: As Lutas Por Direitos e o Mecanismo Imuntário da Soberania
Authors: Cordeiro Roan Costa , Souza Thais Pinhata de , Fonseca Angela Couto Machado
Published: June 2022

A luta por direitos tem abalado as categorias e conceitos que articulam o nexo entre política e direito. Não obstante, o sentido desse fenômeno permanece pouco explorado para além do exercício do poder soberano, que continua a limitar os horizontes do pensamento jurídico. Diante disso, este artigo tem por objetivo questionar a rede de significações que tem delimitado o papel do direito nos embates entre as ações divergentes e o discurso da soberania. Na primeira parte deste texto, destaca-se a pertinência de se indagar as operações conceituais mobilizadas pelo pensamento jurídico à luz de uma investigação crítico-filosófica do presente. Para tanto, dialoga-se ao longo deste trabalho com Hannah Arendt, Giorgio Agamben, Roberto Esposito e Iris Marion Young. Na segunda parte, considera-se que a ação possui uma gramática própria que, baseada na pluralidade, opera em curto-circuito com o discurso (imunitário) da soberania. Na terceira parte, de acordo com tal discurso, nota-se que o direito se institui como resposta imunitária que, fazendo-se valer da lógica da identidade, permite modular conflitos políticos e sociais, bem como produzir identidades e diferenças, exclusão e inclusão, afirmação e negação. Em confronto com os limites desse mecanismo jurídico, verifica-se que as lutas por direito podem revelar o momento fundacional do direito, enquanto artifício humano, no campo de forças entre estabilidade e fragilidade das coisas humanas. Portanto, convém ao pensamento político-jurídico o exercício crítico de questionar seus limites e bases, tendo em vista que novas fundações são possíveis.
Short‐term effects of electronic cigarettes on cerebrovascular function: A time course study
Authors: Mills Amber , Dakhlallah Duaa , Robinson Madison , Kirk Ally , Llavina Sam , Boyd Jonathan W. , Chantler Paul D. , Olfert I. Mark
Published: June 2022

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Acute exposure to electronic cigarettes (Ecigs) triggers abnormal vascular responses in systemic arteries; however, effects on cerebral vessels are poorly understood and time for recovery is not known. We hypothesized that exposure to cigarettes or Ecigs would trigger rapid (<4 h) impairment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) but that this would resolve by 24 h.

What is the main finding and its importance?

Cigarettes and Ecigs caused similar degree and duration of MCA impairment. We find it takes ~72 hours after exposure for MCA function to return to normal. This suggests that Ecig use is likely to produce similar adverse vascular health outcomes to those seen with cigarette smoke.

Temporal influences of electronic cigarettes (Ecigs) on blood vessels are poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated a single episode of cigarette versus Ecig exposure on middle cerebral artery (MCA) reactivity and determined how long after the exposure MCA responses took to return to normal. We hypothesized that cigarette and Ecig exposure would induce rapid (<4 h) reduction in MCA endothelial function and would resolve within 24 h. Sprague–Dawley rats (4 months old) were exposed to either air (n = 5), traditional cigarettes (20 puffs, n = 16) or Ecigs (20‐puff group, n = 16; or 60‐puff group, n = 12). Thereafter, the cigarette and Ecig groups were randomly assigned for postexposure vessel myography testing on day 0 (D0, 1–4 h postexposure), day 1 (D1, 24–28 h postexposure), day 2 (D2, 48–52 h postexposure) and day 3 (72–76 h postexposure). The greatest effect on endothelium‐dependent dilatation was observed within 24 h of exposure (∼50% decline between D0 and D1) for both cigarette and Ecig groups, and impairment persisted with all groups for up to 3 days. Changes in endothelium‐independent dilatation responses were less severe (∼27%) and shorter lived (recovering by D2) compared with endothelium‐dependent dilatation responses. Vasoconstriction in response to serotonin (5‐HT) was similar to endothelium‐independent dilatation, with greatest impairment (∼45% for all exposure groups) at D0–D1, returning to normal by D2. These data show that exposure to cigarettes and Ecigs triggers a similar level/duration of cerebrovascular dysfunction after a single exposure. The finding that Ecig (without nicotine) and cigarette (with nicotine) exposure produce the same effects suggesting that nicotine is not likely to be triggering MCA dysfunction, and that vaping (with/without nicotine) has potential to produce the same vascular harm and/or disease as smoking.
Influence of Electrode Parameters on the Performance Behavior of Lithium-Ion Battery
Authors: Geetha N. , Kavitha D. , Kumaresan Duraisamy
Published: June 2022

The importance of lithium-ion batteries in renewable energy storage applications cannot be sufficiently explained and can be used in hybrid vehicles, electronic devices, wearable electronics, and so on because of their high energy and power density. Here, we report the significance of understanding how the efficiency and performance are affected by battery internal chemistry. To study the degree of influence on battery efficiency, a computer-aided multiphysics simulation is implemented in comsol by using the mathematical model of the battery. The properties included in the study are initial salt concentration in the electrodes, length of the electrodes, the volumetric ratio of the electrode materials, the volumetric ratio of the electrolyte, initial concentration of lithium ions, and the lithium-ion diffusivity. The simulation results have indicated that the increment in the concentration of the positive electrode material has improved the battery performance by 15%, and the increase in the initial salt concentration produced a 14% increase in the power-energy performance.
Topology Optimization and Wave Propagation of Three-Dimensional Phononic Crystals
Authors: Gao Hao , Qu Yegao , Meng Guang
Published: June 2022

Phononic crystals are periodically engineered structures with special acoustic properties that natural materials cannot have. One typical feature of phononic crystals is the emergence of band gaps wherein the wave propagation is prohibited due to the spatial periodicity of constituents. This article presents a generalized plane wave expansion method (GPWEM) and a voxel-based discretization technique to calculate the band structures of given three-dimensional phononic crystals. Integrated with the adaptive genetic algorithm (AGA), the proposed method is used to perform topological optimization of constituent distribution to achieve maximized band gap width. Numerical results yielded from the optimization of a three-dimensional cubic phononic crystal verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. Eigenmodes of the phononic crystal with the optimized topology are investigated for a better understanding of the mechanism of band gap broadening.
Changes in supramolecular organization of cyanobacterial thylakoid membrane complexes in response to far-red light photoacclimation
Authors: MacGregor-Chatwin Craig , Nürnberg Dennis J. , Jackson Philip J. , Vasilev Cvetelin , Hitchcock Andrew , Ho Ming-Yang , Shen Gaozhong , Gisriel Christopher J. , Wood William H.J. , Mahbub Moontaha , Selinger Vera M. , Johnson Matthew P. , Dickman Mark J. , Rutherford Alfred William , Bryant Donald A. , Hunter C. Neil
Published: June 2022

Cyanobacteria are ubiquitous in nature and have developed numerous strategies that allow them to live in a diverse range of environments. Certain cyanobacteria synthesize chlorophylls d and f to acclimate to niches enriched in far-red light (FRL) and incorporate paralogous photosynthetic proteins into their photosynthetic apparatus in a process called FRL-induced photoacclimation (FaRLiP). We characterized the macromolecular changes involved in FRL-driven photosynthesis and used atomic force microscopy to examine the supramolecular organization of photosystem I associated with FaRLiP in three cyanobacterial species. Mass spectrometry showed the changes in the proteome of
Chroococcidiopsis thermalis
PCC 7203 that accompany FaRLiP. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy and electron microscopy reveal an altered cellular distribution of photosystem complexes and illustrate the cell-to-cell variability of the FaRLiP response.
Neighborhood socioeconomic inequality based on everyday mobility predicts COVID-19 infection in San Francisco, Seattle, and Wisconsin
Authors: Levy Brian L. , Vachuska Karl , Subramanian S. V. , Sampson Robert J.
Published: June 2022

Race and class disparities in COVID-19 cases are well documented, but pathways of possible transmission by neighborhood inequality are not. This study uses administrative data on COVID-19 cases for roughly 2000 census tracts in Wisconsin, Seattle/King County, and San Francisco to analyze how neighborhood socioeconomic (dis)advantage predicts cumulative caseloads through February 2021. Unlike past research, we measure a neighborhood’s disadvantage level using both its residents’ demographics and the demographics of neighborhoods its residents visit and are visited by, leveraging daily mobility data from 45 million mobile devices. In all three jurisdictions, we find sizable disparities in COVID-19 caseloads. Disadvantage in a neighborhood’s mobility network has greater impact than its residents’ socioeconomic characteristics. We also find disparities by neighborhood racial/ethnic composition, which can be explained, in part, by residential and mobility-based disadvantage. Neighborhood conditions measured before a pandemic offer substantial predictive power for subsequent incidence, with mobility-based disadvantage playing an important role.
Multiple autoimmune disorders in a patient with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder presenting with rhabdomyolysis
Authors: Sharma Nalin , Sharma Aman , Singla Neeraj , Sharma Navneet
Published: June 2022

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system characterised by longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis and involvement of the optic nerve and is associated with many autoimmune disorders. The index case, a known case of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, presented with quadriparesis and tea-coloured urine. Investigations revealed ongoing rhabdomyolysis related to autoimmune myositis and autoimmune haemolytic anaemia leading to pigment-induced acute kidney injury. Suspicion of other autoimmune disease prompted an immunological workup, which showed a positive Schirmer’s test and a positive anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) antibody test, disclosing Sjögren’s syndrome. Lack of improvement in muscle power with corticosteroids despite reduction in muscle enzymes led to an MRI of the spine, which showed longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis and involvement of the intracranial segment of the right optic nerve. These findings, along with a positive test for aquaporin-4 antibodies, confirmed NMOSD. Treatment with cyclophosphamide led to improvement in muscle power to grade 4 at discharge.
Unusual wound with increasing prevalence caused by artificial fingernail glue
Authors: Currie Rachel V , Martin Serena V , Khan Khalid
Published: June 2022

Clinical introduction

A healthy 17-year-old girl presents with a wound on her left medial thigh (figure 1). Two days earlier while applying acrylic nail tips, she spilled nail glue on her jeans in the area of concern. Despite noticing an immediate irritable sensation, she did not perform any first aid nor did she remove her clothing to check the underlying skin.

Figure 1

Wound left medial thigh.

Question

What is the pathological process of this wound?

De-epithelialisation due to removal of clothing glued to skin.

Chemical burn.

Partial thickness thermal burn.

Allergic reaction to nail glue.

For answer see page 02
BET 1: should Colles’ fractures be splinted in a long or short arm cast?
Authors: Ramsden Sophie , Beals Lauren
Published: June 2022

A short-cut review of the available medical literature was carried out to establish whether elbow immobilisation is required after closed reduction of a distal radial fracture. After abstract review, six papers were found to answer this clinical question using the detailed search strategy. The author, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of these papers are tabulated. It is concluded that elbow immobilisation is not required.
842 Multi-centre implementation of the SNAP Protocol for paracetamol overdose – fewer anaphylactoid reactions and shortened length of stay
Authors: Joseph Roshan , Manning William , Hemavathi Muniswamy , Austin Richard
Published: June 2022

Aims/Objectives/Background

Paracetamol overdose is the most common drug overdose in the UK. The standard treatment of Paracetamol toxicity is intravenous N-acetylcysteine (NAC) which is usually given as a 21-hour infusion in UK hospitals. A 12-hour infusion known as the ‘SNAP’ regimen has been implemented in some centres and appears on TOXBASE. The SNAP regimen has been associated with fewer anaphylactoid reactions than the standard 21-hour treatment. The SNAP regimen was initiated in two District General Hospital Emergency Departments within the same NHS Trust as part of a quality improvement project (QIP) to determine whether anaphylactoid reactions and inpatient length of stay could be reduced.

Methods/Design

Trust guidelines for Paracetamol overdose were revised advising the 12-hour SNAP regimen for treatment of adults along with a pre-filled prescription chart. A retrospective review of patient notes and electronic discharge letters was performed before and following the new guideline to identify patients who received NAC and whether they suffered any adverse reactions. The length of stay was also recorded.

Results/Conclusions

In three months from August to November 2020, across both sites, 60 adult patients received NAC for Paracetamol overdose. Of these, four patients had anaphylactoid reactions to NAC. Following the introduction of the SNAP regimen, in three months between April and June 2021, 36 adult patients received NAC, and there were no adverse drug reactions.

Prior to the introduction of the new guideline and prescription chart adult patients admitted for Paracetamol overdose had an average inpatient stay of 48.3 hours compared to an average stay of 44.5 hours following the introduction of the SNAP regimen.

The SNAP NAC regimen was not associated with more adverse drug reactions and has decreased length of stay in adult inpatients with Paracetamol Overdose.
1147 Prehospital oral trans-mucosal fentanyl citrate: preliminary experience and possible implications for civilian mass casualty response
Authors: Carenzo Luca , McDonald Adam , Grier Gareth
Published: June 2022

Aims/Objectives/Background

*The data below is pre-publication at the time of abstract submission*

There is scope for improving medical care, including analgesia provision, in the pre-hospital phase of civilian mass casualty incidents (MCIs). The oral trans-mucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC) lozenge has previously been identified as a possible method to address this need.

Methods/Design

We conducted a clinical service evaluation following the introduction of 400µg OTFC lozenges within London’s Air Ambulance (LAA) for the provision of pre-hospital analgesia. Our primary objective of the study was to identify potential benefits and limitations for the OTFC lozenge’s adoption as a pre-hospital analgesic option in LAA’s civilian response to a MCI.

We retrospectively analysed all major trauma patients attended to by LAA between 1stJanuary 2019 and 31stDecember 2020 who received a OTFC lozenge. We evaluated the patients’ mechanism of injury, initial vital signs and at handover at an Emergency Department (ED) and the need for additional rescue analgesia or sedation. We collected data on any adverse features including nausea, drowsiness or respiratory depression.

Results/Conclusions

190 patients were included in the data set, the majority having suffered penetrating trauma. We identified an increased need for rescue analgesia and sedation in blunt trauma patients requiring prolonged extrication or limb reduction. 1% (n=2) of patients presented with nausea requiring withdrawal of the lozenge. No patients had adverse features following use of the OTFC lozenge. Our findings were comparable to previous literature on the use of OTFC lozenges.

We argue that the OTFC lozenge has shown to be a safe and rapid method of delivering pre-hospital analgesia during LAA’s routine work. It has the advantage of not requiring intravenous (IV) access and presents a robust option for pre-hospital analgesia during a MCI.
1087 A service evaluation of the impact of e-scooters on emergency departments in Bristol (The SEED Study)
Authors: Qandil Sara , Roberts Thomas , Dickinson Thomas , Robinson Carl , Watkins Millie , Aubrey Emily , Dulac Emma , Willis Henry , Lockyer Andy , Lyttle Mark , Carlton Edward
Published: June 2022

Aims/Objectives/Background

E-scooters have risen in popularity worldwide. However, e-scooter associated injuries have become a growing area of concern. In the UK, rental e-scooters became legalised in 2020, and have been rolled out in several UK cities. There is no published UK literature reporting e-scooter related injuries. This service evaluation aims to evaluate the impact of e-scooters on Emergency Departments (ED) within one UK city.

Methods/Design

Between May to June 2021, we conducted an approved (CE:74681) prospective observational service evaluation for a 4-week period across three EDs; one Adult Major Trauma centre (MTC), one city-centre Trauma Unit and one Paediatric MTC. All patients presenting to ED with an injury associated with an e-scooter (driver, passenger or bystander) were identified prospectively. Data collected included information on context of injury event and key clinical variables. Data was entered onto the online platform REDCap, and exported into Excel for analysis. Descriptive statistics are presented.

Results/Conclusions

Ninety patients with an e-scooter related injury presented to ED during the evaluation. Median age was 25 years (IQR, 20-33). Findings demonstrate head, upper limbs and lower limbs were commonly injured. Of the 19% who experienced a head injury, two patients sustained an intracranial haemorrhage and one a basal skull fracture. Fractures were diagnosed in 41% of patients. Only 7% of riders were helmeted and 28% were intoxicated with alcohol. In total 62 x-rays and 13 CTs were undertaken. Although the majority were discharged following minor injuries, 11% of patients required admission, including one major trauma.

Whilst e-scooters are a convenient mode of transport, riders are vulnerable to traumatic injuries of varying severity. Notably, low rates of helmet use and high prevalence of alcohol intoxication, suggest a need for targeted public health interventions. Future large-scale research is required to better evidence injury patterns and severity, identify modifiable risk factors and inform policy.
762 Introducing a brief intervention to identify and provide guidance to overweight and obese children attending the emergency department
Authors: Mackenzie Megan , Anpananthar Amutha , Nightingale Helen
Published: June 2022

Aims/Objectives/Background

The aim of this project was to identify and provide guidance to overweight and obese children attending the paediatric emergency department.

Paediatric obesity is a rising problem in the United Kingdom where around two thirds of children entering secondary school are either overweight or obese. This leads to significant health impacts in both the short and long term as more children are diagnosed with hypertension and obesity.

The Emergency Department provides a unique opportunity to introduce a brief intervention to identify these children, have a brief conversation and offer guidance on healthy lifestyle with referral back to primary care services.

Methods/Design

We performed a Quality Improvement Project to measure height, weight and BMI centile in all children attending the Emergency Department to identify those who are overweight or obese. We created a toolkit that consists of training sessions and written resources for staff to sensitively communicate to parents about their child’s weight and empower them towards their journey for a healthier lifestyle.

We collected data from 10 children a week who met the inclusion criteria and established whether they had weight, height and BMI centile measured. We analysed the notes of those who had BMI centile measured to see if they had been discharged with a diagnosis of obesity and whether they were provided with information regarding healthy diet and lifestyle.

Results/Conclusions

In a sample taken over 15 weeks, we have seen improvement in auxology measurement, and evaluation of notes shows that 4 children were appropriately identified as overweight or obese. Additionally, we increased awareness throughout the department by teaching, posters and word of mouth.

We are encouraged by these initial numbers and anticipate further improvements as we have developed a toolkit to provide ongoing teaching to staff in the department.
Trends in healthy life expectancy in the age of austerity
Authors: Walsh David , Wyper Grant M A , McCartney Gerry
Published: June 2022

Background

Worrying changes in life expectancy trends have been observed recently in the UK, largely attributed to austerity policies introduced over the last decade. To incorporate changes to quality, rather than just length of, life, our aim was to describe trends in healthy life expectancy (HLE) for the relevant period.

Methods

In the absence of available long-term trends, we calculated new estimates of HLE for Scotland for the period 1995–2019, using standard HLE methodologies based on mortality and national survey data, and stratified by sex and socioeconomic deprivation.

Results

Overall, male and female HLE increased markedly between 1995 and 2009, but then decreased by approximately 2 years between 2011 and 2019. A decline was observed for the most and least deprived groups, but this was larger for those living in the 20% most deprived areas, where the decrease was 3.5 years.

Conclusions

Our findings are further evidence of changing levels of pre-pandemic population health in the UK. An increasing body of UK and international evidence have attributed these changes to UK Government austerity policies. There is an urgent need, therefore, to reverse cuts to social security and protect the income and health of the poorest across all of the UK.
Investigation of new solitons in nematic liquid crystals with Kerr and non-Kerr law nonlinearities
Authors: Raza Nauman , Arshed Saima , Butt Asma Rashid , Inc Mustafa , Yao Shao-Wen
Published: June 2022

Nematicons became a key topic of interest in liquid crystal technology in recent years. This paper contributes in understanding the fantastic features of nematicons in optics and further disciplines. This piece of research investigates nematicons for obtaining various exact solutions for Kerr and non-Kerr law nonlinearities with the help of the Kudryashov’s approach and the tanh–coth technique. The acquired outcomes involve rational, periodic and hyperbolic solutions as well as their combo-type solutions for all the four cases of nonlinearity. A comparative study is conducted to show the novelty of present results with results already existing in the literature. The constraint conditions obtained ensured that the existence of these solutions is extraordinarily favorable to further investigate the dynamics of nematicons for various kinds of nonlinearity. The dynamics of the few of the obtained solutions are also discussed by 3D plots.