bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pre-operative plasma VEGF-C levels portend recurrence in epithelial ovarian cancer patients and is a bankable prognostic marker even in the initial assessment of a patient
Authors: Bhaskari J. , Bhagat Rahul , Shilpa V. , Premalata C.S. , Krishnamoorthy Lakshmi
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Our explorative study assessed a panel of molecules for their association with epithelial ovarian carcinomas and their prognostic implications. The panel included tissue expression of VEGF-C, COX-2, Ki-67 and eNOS alongside plasma levels of VEGF-C and nitric oxide.

Methods

130 cases were enrolled in the study. Plasma levels were quantified by ELISA and tissue expressions were scored by immunohistochemistry. The Chi square and Fischer’s exact test were applied to examine the impact of markers on clinicopathological factors. Non-parametric Spearman’s rank correlation test was applied to define the association among test factors.

Results

Plasma VEGF-C levels and COX-2 tissue expression strongly predicted recurrence and poor prognosis (< 0.001). Tissue Ki-67 was strongly indicative of late-stage disease (< 0.001). The aforementioned markers significantly associated with clinicopathological factors. Nuclear staining of VEGF-C was intriguing and was observed to correlate with high grade-stage malignancies, highly elevated plasma VEGF-C, and with recurrence. eNOS tissue expression showed no significant impact while nitric oxide associated positively with ascites levels. Tissue expression of VEGF-C did not associate significantly with poor prognosis although the expression was highly upregulated in most of the cases.

Conclusion

Plasma VEGF-C holds immense promise as a prognostic marker and the nuclear staining of VEGF-C seems to have some significant implication in molecular carcinogenesis and is a novel finding that commands further robust scrutiny. We present a first such study that assesses a set of biomarkers for prognostic implications in clinical management of epithelial ovarian carcinomas in a pan-Indian (Asian) population.
Effects of cognitive behavioural therapy and bright light therapy for insomnia in youths with eveningness: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Li Shirley Xin , Cheung Forrest Tin Wai , Chan Ngan Yin , Chan Joey Wing Yan , Zhang Jihui , Li Albert Martin , Espie Colin A. , Gradisar Michael , Wing Yun-Kwok
Published: April 2024

Background

Insomnia and eveningness are common and often comorbid conditions in youths. While cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) has been suggested as a promising intervention, it remains unclear whether it is sufficient to also address circadian issues in youths. In addition, despite that light has been shown to be effective in phase-shifting one’s circadian rhythm, there has been limited data on the effects of bright light therapy and its combination with CBT-I on sleep and circadian outcomes in youths. The current protocol outlines a randomised controlled trial that examines the efficacy of CBT-I and CBT-I plus bright light therapy (BLT) in reducing insomnia severity, improving mood symptoms and daytime functioning (e.g. sleepiness, fatigue, cognitive function), and improving subjective and objective sleep and circadian measures compared to a waitlist control group.

Methods

We will carry out a randomised controlled trial (RCT) with 150 youths aged 12–24 who meet the criteria of insomnia and eveningness. Participants will be randomised into one of three groups: CBT-I with bright light therapy, CBT-I with placebo light, and waitlist control. Six sessions of CBT-I will be delivered in a group format, while participants will be currently asked to use a portable light device for 30 min daily immediately after awakening throughout the intervention period for bright light therapy. The CBT-I with light therapy group will receive bright constant green light (506 lx) while the CBT-I with placebo light group will receive the modified light device with the LEDs emitting less than 10 lx. All participants will be assessed at baseline and post-treatment, while the two active treatment groups will be additionally followed up at 1 month and 6 months post-intervention. The primary outcome will be insomnia severity, as measured by the Insomnia Severity Index. Secondary outcomes include self-reported mood, circadian, daytime functioning, and quality of life measures, as well as sleep parameters derived from actigraphy and sleep diary and neurocognitive assessments. Objective measures of the circadian phase using dim-light melatonin onset assessment and sleep parameters using polysomnography will also be included as the secondary outcomes.

Discussion

This study will be the first RCT to directly compare the effects of CBT-I and BLT in youths with insomnia and eveningness. Findings from the study will provide evidence to inform the clinical management of insomnia problems and eveningness in youths.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04256915. Registered on 5 February 2020.
Human figure detection in Han portrait stone images via enhanced YOLO-v5
Authors: Zhang Junjie , Zhang Yuchen , Liu Jindong , Lan Yuxuan , Zhang Tianxiang
Published: April 2024

The unearthed Han Dynasty portrait stones are an important part of China’s ancient artistic heritage, and detecting human images in these stones is a critical prerequisite for studying their artistic value. However, high-precision target detection techniques often result in a large number of parameters, making them unsuitable for portable devices. In this work, we propose a new human image target detection model based on an enhanced YOLO-v5. We discovered that the complex backgrounds, dense group targets, and significant scale variations of targets within large scenes in portrait stones present significant challenges for human target image detection. Therefore, we first incorporated the SPD-Conv convolution and Coordinate Attention self-attention mechanism modules into the YOLO-v5 architecture, aiming to enhance the model’s recognition precision for small target images within Han portrait stones and strengthen its resistance to background disturbances. Moreover, we introduce DIoU NMS and Alpha-IoU Loss to improve the detector’s performance in dense target scenarios, reducing the omission of densely packed objects. Finally, the experimental results from our collected dataset of Han Dynasty stone figure images demonstrate that our method achieves fast convergence and high recognition accuracy. This approach can be better applied to the target detection tasks of special character images in complex backgrounds.
A comprehensive optimization mathematical model for wind solar energy storage complementary distribution network based on multi-regulatory devices under the background of renewable energy integration
Authors: Zhou Ke , Zhang Biyun , Jin Qingren , Bai Hao , Yang Weichen , Liu Tong
Published: April 2024

In the context of global energy transformation and sustainable development, integrating and utilizing renewable energy effectively have become the key to the power system advancement. However, the integration of wind and photovoltaic power generation equipment also leads to power fluctuations in the distribution network. The research focuses on the multifaceted challenges of optimizing the operation of distribution networks. It explores the operation and control methods of active distribution networks based on energy storage and reactive power compensation equipment. The stable operation of the distribution network is analyzed under the conditions of wind and photovoltaic integration, with a particular focus on precise regulation to address the limitations of existing methods. Afterwards, the study proposes an improvement plan that combines on load tap changer transformers and reactive power compensation equipment to solve complex power balance problems through second-order cone programming relaxation method. The results of numerical analysis show that the constructed mathematical model maintains a stable voltage of 1 to 1.1 pu at distribution network nodes within 24 h. Especially during peak hours from 15:00 to 24:00, it remains normal without any abnormal fluctuations when the control equipment is not added. These results confirm that precise regulation of multiple devices ensures voltage stability and avoids low or high voltage issues.
Why Biological Evolution Should Inspire Worship
Authors: Finlay Graeme
Published: April 2024

The theory of biological evolution has often provoked disagreement, which has frequently been divisive and counterproductive. At other times this scientific paradigm has been discussed with an apologetic intent, to explain why the science of biology and the theology of creation cannot be seen to be mutually exclusive. This paper urges Christians to move decisively to a third type of discourse. The new field of comparative genetics has provided conclusive evidence that biological evolution has given rise to the diversity of living forms, including human beings. Consequently, Christians should, with confidence, gladly accept the evolutionary paradigm and look upon evolution as a divinely ordained historical process that develops through random (stochastic, free) process, but that leads to a divinely purposed consummation. As a result, biological history in its freedom but directedness to God’s final purposes should elicit wonder. People who have come to faith in the God revealed redemptively in Jesus should uninhibitedly offer adoration and praise for evolutionary fruitfulness. Worship should characterise the human response to biological history.[1]

 

[1] In appreciation of Professor Tom McLeish FRS, scientist, teacher, theologian.
Indígenas privados de la libertad: una doble violación a sus derechos humanos
Authors: Salamanca Fonseca Laura Valeria , Ahumada Palacios Ángela Tatiana , Mosos Homez Laura Camila , Ospina Vallecilla Sebastián , Nieto Guarín Valeria
Published: April 2024

En el capítulo se explicará cómo la situación de los indígenas privados de la libertad en Colombia es una arista de especial importancia dentro del estado de cosas inconstitucional del sistema penitenciario y carcelario en el país. Se demostrará que esta población se ha visto enfrentada a numerosas violaciones a sus derechos humanos, ampliamente reconocidos en el ordenamiento jurídico colombiano. Lo anterior, por cuanto la visión imperante en la materia se ha enfocado en brindar un tratamiento carcelario con enfoque diferencial de tinte multicultural que se limita a reconocer la dualidad de jurisdicciones, la existencia del fuero indígena y la necesidad de infraestructura adecuada para cumplir la pena privativa de la libertad intramural y ha desconocido que, como se sostiene en este documento, lo acertado sería abordar la problemática desde una visión intercultural que reconozca la existencia de distintas cosmovisiones y en la que se privilegien los mecanismos alternativos de cumplimiento de la pena privativa de la libertad de los miembros de comunidades indígenas.
Developing a ‘national module’ for nurses considering a career in general practice: addressing the workforce crisis in primary care
Authors: Lewis Robin
Published: April 2024

The age profile of GPNs means that the pool of experienced GPNs available to recruit is rapidly shrinking. This article looks at potential solutions to the workforce crisis affecting practice nursing

If the predicted workforce crisis in primary care is to be avoided, there is a clear need to increase the number of student nurses considering a career in general practice. Initiatives such as the NHS England national module, described here, are integral to this process. Of the HEIs nationally that responded to a tender from NHS England, SHU was one of seven HEIs awarded a contract to deliver the module.

The SHU module uses a blended approach to learning and provides learners with an insight into general practice and the role of the general practice nurse. It is unique in that it is delivered in partnership with the South Yorkshire Primary Care Workforce and Training Hub and is designed to create a workforce ‘pipeline’ of new graduate nurses who will be equipped to access a regional career pathway for general practice nurses.
Hydroxyapatite ceramic-coated femoral components in younger patients followed up for 27 to 32 years
Authors: Upadhyay Piyush K. , Shah Nirav , Kumar Vishal , Mirza Saqeb B.
Published: April 2024

Aims

This study reports the results of 38 total hip arthroplasties (THAs) in 33 patients aged less than 50 years, using the JRI Furlong hydroxyapatite ceramic (HAC)-coated femoral component.

Methods

We describe the survival, radiological, and functional outcomes of 33 patients (38 THAs) at a mean follow-up of 27 years (25 to 32) between 1988 and 2018.

Results

Of the surviving 30 patients (34 THAs), there were four periprosthetic fractures: one underwent femoral revision after 21 years, two had surgical fixation as the stem was deemed stable, and one was treated nonoperatively due to the patient’s comorbidities. The periprosthetic fracture patients showed radiological evidence of change in bone stock around the femoral stem, which may have contributed to the fractures; this was reflected in change of the canal flare index at the proximal femur. Two patients (two hips) were lost to follow-up. Using aseptic loosening as the endpoint, 16 patients (18 hips; 48%) needed acetabular revision. None of the femoral components were revised for aseptic loosening, demonstrating 100% survival. The estimate of the cumulative proportion surviving for revisions due to any cause was 0.97 (standard error 0.03).

Conclusion

In young patients with high demands, the Furlong HAC-coated femoral component gives excellent long-term results.

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(4):286–293.
Comparison of the Effectiveness of Different Mechanical Tools for the Termination of Cover Crops Using a Modular Prototype
Authors: Calcante Aldo , Manenti Daniele , Torrente Marco Davide Michel , Oberti Roberto
Published: April 2024

Highlights

Cover crops are crops that cover the bare soil, providing multiple benefits.

Cover crops must undergo a termination which can be based on mechanical methods.

A modular prototype has been developed to evaluate different types of tools.

The synergic use of multiple tools in combination yields better results.

Abstract. Cover crops are crops that occupy the soil between the end of a cash crop and the beginning of the next one, providing both agronomic and environmental benefits. To allow for the subsequent cultivation of the cash crop, cover crops must undergo an appropriate termination process based on winter frost, herbicide chemical treatments, or mechanical methods. For this latter approach, previous published research has only examined the effectiveness of termination obtained with individual mechanical tools without considering the possible synergistic effects of multiple tools with complementary actions. To address this gap, a modular multi-tool prototype has been developed in this work. It allows for the evaluation of the effects of different types of tools, both individually and in combination. The working modules of the prototype include: 1) tine cultivator; 2) disk harrow; and 3) crimper roller. Field trials were carried out in 2021 and 2022 on three fields of approximately 6000 m2, which were divided into 60 plots each and sown with vetch and barley. The plots were mechanically terminated with the prototype in different configurations, and the effectiveness of the different modules and their combinations was subsequently evaluated by measuring the NDVI index using ground sensing technology. The results indicate that the disk harrow 15°, used alone and in combination with other tools considered (crimper roller and tine cultivator for barley, crimper roller for vetch), offered the best termination effectiveness for both barley and vetch, with a termination rate of greater than or equal to 85%. Keywords: Conservation agriculture, Cover crops, Crimper roller, Disk harrow, Mechanical termination, Tine cultivator.
Conceptualizing the Embodied Cognition of Uncertainty in Two Terrifying Tales: Lucy Lane Clifford's "The New Mother" and Neil Gaiman's Coraline
Authors: Kérchy Anna
Published: April 2024

Abstract: A comparative analysis of Neil Gaiman's dark fantasy novella Coraline and its source of inspiration, Lucy Clifford's Victorian cautionary tale "The New Mother," explores how the ominous dread related to the monstrous mother figure and the abjectification of the self are transformed into a "funcanny" experience in the postmodern rewriting. By relying on methodologies of corporeal narratology and cognitive poetics I study the embodied cognition of uncertainty during the child protagonists' psychic/physical confrontation with the unheimlich and the je ne sais quoi as forms of undecidability. The analysis maps linguistic attempts at formulating cognitive dissonance, tip-of-the-tongue phenomena, and subconscious thoughts. While Clifford uses narrative gaps to offer a metaimaginative insight into the catastrophic consequences of interpretive failures resulting from the misunderstanding of verbal and corporeal signs of disorientation, Gaiman's mind-reading instances of "psychonarration" reveal the troubled child's mental coping mechanisms, to celebrate infantile curiosity and fantasy in terms of gifts of empowerment, resilience, and empathy.
Life Beyond Ruin: Diné Presence in the Anthropocene
Authors: Powell Dana E.
Published: April 2024

Abstract: This essay is concerned with the overdetermination of frameworks of “ruin” and “loss” in studies of the Anthropocene and the epistemic-political effects of such framings for Indigenous Peoples. While planetary harm is well established, the unique effects of crisis-oriented research on Indigenous Peoples demands critical reflection. I argue that such persistent frameworks of ruin/loss in fact open a space for “settler sustainabilities” to get smuggled in: designs that entrench the status quo of capitalism and colonialism, while at the same time claiming to perform “alternatives.” With little comprehension of Indigenous history, politics, and place, settler sustainabilities effectively further Indigenous dispossession and profit from the loss/ruin ontology. Drawing upon collaborative and ethnographic research with Diné (Navajo) colleagues, and thinking with the growing scholarship in Indigenous political ecology, I show through empirical examples how Diné-led projects of territorial care in fact complicate narratives of loss/ruin as foundational framings for Native lives and landscapes. I suggest that attending to the empirics of innovations on the ground show an historical and decolonial sensibility, offering an ethic of land-based practice in times of crisis that does not accept ruin as the defining condition of possibility and futurity for Diné life.
Noise correction in differential phase contrast for improving phase sensitivity
Authors: Liu Hu , Liu Jialin , Zhou Wei , Xu Baoteng , Yue Zengqi , Xiong Daxi , Yang Xibin
Published: April 2024

Differential phase contrast (DPC) imaging relies on computational analysis to extract quantitative phase information from phase gradient images. However, even modest noise level can introduce errors that propagate through the computational process, degrading the quality of the final phase result and further reducing phase sensitivity. Here, we introduce the noise-corrected DPC (ncDPC) to enhance phase sensitivity. This approach is based on a theoretical DPC model that effectively considers most relevant noise sources in the camera and non-uniform illumination in DPC. In particular, the dominating shot noise and readout noise variance can be jointly estimated using frequency analysis and further corrected by block-matching 3D (BM3D) method. Finally, the denoised images are used for phase retrieval based on the common Tikhonov inversion. Our results, based on both simulated and experimental data, demonstrate that ncDPC outperforms the traditional DPC (tDPC), enabling significant improvements in both phase reconstruction quality and phase sensitivity. Besides, we have demonstrated the broad applicability of ncDPC by showing its performance in various experimental datasets.
Broadband thulium fiber amplifier for spectral region located beyond the L-band
Authors: Aubrecht Jan , Pokorný Jan , Švejkarová Bára , Kamrádek Michal , Peterka Pavel
Published: April 2024

We present the development of a pair of silica-based thulium-doped fiber amplifiers working together in a broad spectral range from 1.65 µm to 2.02 µm. For the one optimized for shorter wavelengths, we designed and prepared optical fiber with a depressed cladding. We show the performance of the amplifiers achieving small-signal gain of at least 10 dB over 350 nm range from 1670 nm to 2020 nm, maximum gain of 40.7 dB with a noise figure as low as 6.45 dB and an optical signal-to-noise ratio of up to 50 dB. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time that thulium fiber amplifiers of straightforward design without using redundant spectral filters operating efficiently in such a wide spectral region are demonstrated.
Helical hollow channel waveguide in YAG fabricated by femtosecond laser enhanced wet etching
Authors: Wu Jie , Xu Yixiao , Li Yue , Wang Fangjie , Zhai Yangliu , Deng Guoliang , Zhou Shouhuan
Published: April 2024

Three-dimensional optical waveguides with hollow channels have many advantages, such as strong mode confinement and excellent dispersion control ability. Femtosecond laser enhanced wet etching is widely used to fabricate hollow channel waveguides in transparent dielectric materials. We propose a method for fabricating hollow channel waveguides in YAG using femtosecond laser enhanced wet etching with a simpler fabrication process and shorter etching time compared with the previous work. After 90 h of etching, a series of helical hollow channel waveguides with a length of 5 mm and a radius of 32 µm were successfully fabricated. At a pitch of 3 µm, the waveguide exhibited a loss (including coupling loss and transmission loss) as low as 0.68 dB at 1030 nm. The helical hollow channel waveguide also exhibited exceptional isotropic light confinement capability and remarkable supercontinuum-generating properties. Moreover, helical hollow channel waveguides with a radius of 2 µm were successfully fabricated. According to simulations, waveguides of such size can effectively control dispersion. Our work presents, to our knowledge, a novel approach to fabricating hollow channel waveguides with arbitrary lengths using femtosecond laser–enhanced wet etching.
Health Professionals’ knowledge and practice on basic life support and its predicting factors in Ethiopia: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Asferie Worku Necho , Kefale Demewoz , Kassaw Amare , Ayele Amare Simegn , Nibret Gedefaye , Tesfahun Yohannes , Shimels Hailemeskel Habitamu , Demis Solomon , Zeleke Shegaw , Aytenew Tigabu Munye
Published: April 2024

Background

Basic Life Support (BLS) is a sequence of care provided to patients who are experiencing respiratory arrest, cardiac arrest, or airway obstruction. Its main purpose is to maintain the airway, breathing, and circulation through CPR. This review aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of Health Professionals’ knowledge and practice on basic life support in Ethiopia.

Method

Eligible primary studies were accessed from international database (PubMed, Google Scholar, Hinari databases) and grey literatures found in online repositories. The required data were extracted from those studies and exported to Stata 17 for analysis. A weighted inverse-variance random-effects model and Der Simonian-Laird estimation method were used to compute the overall pooled prevalence of Health Professional’s knowledge, practice of basic life support and its predictors. Variations across the included studies were checked using forest plot, funnel plot, I2 statistics, and Egger’s test.

Result

A total of 5,258 Health Professionals were included from 11 studies. The pooled prevalence of knowledge and practice outcomes on basic life support in Ethiopia were 47.6 (95% CI: 29.899, 65.300, I2: 99.21%) and 44.42 (95% CI: 16.42, 72.41, I2: 99.69) respectively. Educational status of the Professional’s was significantly associated with knowledge outcome. Those who had degree and above were 1.9 times (AOR: 1.90 (1.24, 2.56)) more likely knowledgeable on basic life support than under degree.

Conclusion

The overall pooled estimates of Health Professionals knowledge and practice on basic life support was considerably low. The educational status of the Health Professionals was significantly associated with knowledge outcome. The Health Professionals and responsible stakeholders should focus on the basic life support at Health Institutions. The professionals should advance their knowledge and skill on basic life support for the patients.
Swin-cryoEM: Multi-class cryo-electron micrographs single particle mixed detection method
Authors: Fang Kun , Wang JinLing , Chen QingFeng , Feng Xian , Qu YouMing , Shi Jiachi , Xu Zhuomin
Published: April 2024

Cryo-electron micrograph images have various characteristics such as varying sizes, shapes, and distribution densities of individual particles, severe background noise, high levels of impurities, irregular shapes, blurred edges, and similar color to the background. How to demonstrate good adaptability in the field of image vision by picking up single particles from multiple types of cryo-electron micrographs is currently a challenge in the field of cryo-electron micrographs. This paper combines the characteristics of the MixUp hybrid enhancement algorithm, enhances the image feature information in the pre-processing stage, builds a feature perception network based on the channel self-attention mechanism in the forward network of the Swin Transformer model network, achieving adaptive adjustment of self-attention mechanism between different single particles, increasing the network’s tolerance to noise, Incorporating PReLU activation function to enhance information exchange between pixel blocks of different single particles, and combining the Cross-Entropy function with the softmax function to construct a classification network based on Swin Transformer suitable for cryo-electron micrograph single particle detection model (Swin-cryoEM), achieving mixed detection of multiple types of single particles. Swin-cryoEM algorithm can better solve the problem of good adaptability in picking single particles of many types of cryo-electron micrographs, improve the accuracy and generalization ability of the single particle picking method, and provide high-quality data support for the three-dimensional reconstruction of a single particle. In this paper, ablation experiments and comparison experiments were designed to evaluate and compare Swin-cryoEM algorithms in detail and comprehensively on multiple datasets. The Average Precision is an important evaluation index of the evaluation model, and the optimal Average Precision reached 95.5% in the training stage Swin-cryoEM, and the single particle picking performance was also superior in the prediction stage. This model inherits the advantages of the Swin Transformer detection model and is superior to mainstream models such as Faster R-CNN and YOLOv5 in terms of the single particle detection capability of cryo-electron micrographs.
Vitreous hyper-reflective dots and the macular thickness after cataract surgery
Authors: Predović Jurica , Bosnar Damir , Marković Leon , Ćurić Ana , Bračić Josipa , Georgi Thomas , List Wolfgang , Glatz Wilfried , Ivastinovic Domagoj
Published: April 2024

Purpose

To assess the association between vitreous hyper-reflective dots (VHD) and the macular thickness changes following uneventful phacoemulsification.

Methods

In this prospective cohort study optical coherence tomography (OCT) examinations were performed preoperatively and 1 week, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively in patients undergoing cataract surgery. OCT images were analyzed for retinal central subfield thickness (CST) and preretinal VHDs. Surgeries were recorded for the assessment of lens fragments in the space of Berger.

Results

111 eyes of 97 patient were enrolled of whom 69 (62.2%) were female. VHDs were seen in 25 eyes (22.5%) at week 1; in 21 eyes (18.9%) at month 1 and in 3 eyes (2.7%) at month 3. In all eyes with VHDs retro-capsular lens fragments were visible immediately after phacoemulsification. The number of VHDs significantly decreased over the postoperative period. There was a moderate correlation between the number of VHDs and CST at 1 month (r = 0.426, p<0.001). In eyes with VHD the CST averaged 238.8±17.6 μm (214–266) at 1 week; 276.1±63.5 μm (231–481) at 1 month and 285.1±122.3 μm (227–785) at 3 months. In eyes with no detectable VHDs CST averaged 235.9±23.3 μm (192–311) at 1 week; 240.1±21.6 μm (200–288) at 1 month and 242.2±21.3 μm (205–289) at 3 months. Although the differences among the assessment points were relatively low, there was a significant difference in general (p<0.001, Friedman test).

Conclusion

In conclusion, VHDs seem to cause macular thickening throughout the postoperative course. The origin of VHDs is still unknown; however, they presumably represent lens fragments that provoke subclinical inflammation.
Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity among community-dwelling Peruvian adults: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Flores-Flores Oscar , Zevallos-Morales Alejandro , Pollard Suzanne L. , Checkley William , Siddharthan Trishul , Hurst John R. , Bernabé-Ortiz Antonio , Runzer-Colmenares Fernando M. , Witham Miles D. , Parodi Jose F.
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity (SO) have emerged as significant contributors to negative health outcomes in the past decade. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of probable sarcopenia, sarcopenia, and SO in a community-dwelling population of 1151 adults aged ≥55 years in Lima, Peru.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted between 2018 and 2020. Sarcopenia was defined as the presence of low muscle strength (LMS) and low muscle mass (LMM) according to European (EWGSOP2), US (FNIH) and Asian (AWGS2) guidelines. We measured muscle strength by maximum handgrip strength and muscle mass using bioelectrical impedance analyzer. SO was defined as a body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2 and sarcopenia.

Results

The study participants had a mean age of 66.2 years (SD 7.1), age range between 60 to 92 years old, of which 621 (53.9%) were men. Among the sample, 41.7% were classified as obese (BMI ≥30.0 kg/m²). The prevalence of probable sarcopenia was estimated to be 22.7% (95%CI: 20.3–25.1) using the EWGSOP2 criteria and 27.8% (95%CI: 25.2–30.4) using the AWGS2 criteria. Sarcopenia prevalence, assessed using skeletal muscle index (SMI), was 5.7% (95%CI: 4.4–7.1) according to EWGSOP2 and 8.3% (95%CI: 6.7–9.9) using AWGS2 criteria. The prevalence of sarcopenia based on the FNIH criteria was 18.1% (95%CI: 15.8–20.3). The prevalence of SO, considering different sarcopenia definitions, ranged from 0.8% (95%CI: 0.3–1.3) to 5.0% (95%CI: 3.8–6.3).

Conclusion

Our findings reveal substantial variation in the prevalence of sarcopenia and SO, underscoring the necessity for context-specific cut-off values. Although the prevalence of SO was relatively low, this result may be underestimated. Furthermore, the consistently high proportion of probable sarcopenia and sarcopenia point to a substantial public health burden.
Coalescence of multiple droplets induced by a constant DC electric field
Authors: Sun Liwei , Wang Jian , Chen Yanhui
Published: April 2024

In this work, the electro-coalescence process of three nanodroplets under a constant DC electric field is investigated via molecular dynamics simulations (MD), aiming to explore the electric manipulation of multiple droplets coalescence on the molecular level. The symmetrical and asymmetrical dynamic evolutions of electrocoalescence process can be observed. Our MD simulations show that there are two types of critical electric fields to induce the special dynamics. The chain configuration can be formed, when one of the critical electric field is exceeded, referred to as Ecc. On the other hand, there is another critical electric field to change the coalescence pattern from complete coalescence to partial coalescence, the so-called Ecn. Finally, we find that the use of the pulsed DC electric field can overcome the drawbacks of the constant DC electric field in the crude oil industry, and the mechanisms behind the suppressed effect of the water chain or non-coalescence are further revealed.
Identification of critical links based on the optimal reliable path in stochastic traffic networks
Authors: Sun Yi , Wang Sirui , Xu Xiang , Shen Liang
Published: April 2024

In urban stochastic transportation networks, there are specific links that hold great importance. Disruptions or failures in these critical links can lead to reduced connectivity within the road network. Under this circumstance, this manuscript proposed a novel identification of critical links mathematical optimization model based on the optimal reliable path with consideration of link correlations under demand uncertainty. The method presented in this paper offers a solution to bypass the necessity of conducting a full scan of the entire road network. Due to the non-additive and non-linear properties of the proposed model, a modified heuristic algorithm based on K-shortest algorithm and inequality technical is presented. The numerical experiments are conducted to show that improve a certain road link may not necessarily improve the overall traffic conditions. Moreover, the results indicate that if the travel time reliability is not considered, it will bring errors to the identification of key links.
Suicidal ideation, attempt and associated factors among prisoners in Northwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Fentahun Setegn , Wondie Mesele , Melkam Mamaru , Tadesse Gebresilassie , Tesfaw Getachew
Published: April 2024

Background

Suicide is a prominent source of harm and death globally, and it is the leading cause of premature death among prisoners. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with suicidal ideation and attempt among prisoners in Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

An institution-based cross-sectional study design was performed from May 23 to June 22, 2022. After proportional allocation to the three correctional institutions, a total of 788 study participants were randomly recruited. The World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used to evaluate suicide ideation and attempt. To determine factors associated with suicidal ideation and attempt, multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted. At a 95% confidence interval (CI) of P-value <0.05, statistical significance was declared.

Results

The prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempt among prisoners was 23.6% and 10.7%, with 95% CI (20.76, 26.70) and (8.68, 13.02), respectively. Female sex (AOR = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.12, 5.05), family history of mental illness (AOR = 3.09, 95% CI: 1.93, 4.88), depression (AOR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.43, 2.98), poor social support (AOR = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.56, 4.85) and previous incarceration (AOR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.18, 2.86) were significantly associated with suicidal ideation. However, being single (AOR = 2.58, 95% CI: 1.47, 4.54), family history of suicide (AOR = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.18, 5.01), depression (AOR = 2.62, 95% CI: 1.59, 4.31) and previous imprisonments (AOR = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.20, 3.69) were associated with suicidal attempt.

Conclusions

The prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempt among prisoners were found to be high. Therefore, the findings of this study recommend that early detection and design of prison mental health services should be delivered to develop mental health care, prevention, and intervention programs for incarcerated people to improve suicidal behavior in prison.
Risk relationship between inflammatory bowel disease and urolithiasis: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Fu Wenqiang , Zhu Bin , Chen Jun , Jin Xuelin
Published: April 2024

Background

The causal genetic relationship between common parenteral manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and urolithiasis remains unclear because their timing is difficult to determine. This study investigated the causal genetic association between IBD and urolithiasis using Mendelian randomization (MR) based on data from large population-based genome-wide association studies (GWASs).

Methods

A two-sample MR analysis was performed to assess the potential relationship between IBD and urolithiasis. Specific single nucleotide polymorphism data were obtained from GWASs, including IBD (n = 59957) and its main subtypes, Crohn’s disease (CD) (n = 40266) and ulcerative colitis (UC) (n = 45975). Summarized data on urolithiasis (n = 218792) were obtained from different GWAS studies. A random-effects model was analyzed using inverse-variance weighting, MR-Egger, and weighted medians.

Results

Genetic predisposition to IBD and the risk of urolithiasis were significantly associated [odds ratio (OR), 1.04 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00–.08), P = 0.01]. Consistently, the weighted median method yielded similar results [OR, 1.06 (95% CI, 1.00–1.12), P = 0.02]. The MR-Egger method also demonstrated comparable findings [OR, 1.02 (95% CI, 0.96–1.08), P = 0.45]. Both funnel plots and MR-Egger intercepts indicated no directional pleiotropic effects between IBD and urolithiasis. CD was strongly associated with it in its subtype analysis [OR, 1.04 (95% CI, 1.01–1.07), P = 0.01], and UC was also causally associated with urolithiasis, although the association was not significant [OR, 0.99 (95% CI, 0.95–1.03), P = 0.71].

Conclusion

A unidirectional positive causal correlation was identified between IBD and urolithiasis, with varying degrees of association observed among the different subtypes of IBD. Recognizing the increased incidence of urolithiasis in patients with IBD is crucial in clinical practice. Early detection and surveillance of IBD, improved patient awareness, adoption of preventive strategies, and promotion of collaborative efforts among healthcare providers regarding treatment methodologies are vital for improving patient outcomes.
Measuring cancer driving force of chromosomal aberrations through multi-layer Boolean implication networks
Authors: Cosentini Ilaria , Condorelli Daniele Filippo , Locicero Giorgio , Ferro Alfredo , Pulvirenti Alfredo , Barresi Vincenza , Alaimo Salvatore
Published: April 2024

Multi-layer Complex networks are commonly used for modeling and analysing biological entities. This paper presents the advantage of using COMBO (Combining Multi Bio Omics) to suggest a new role of the chromosomal aberration as a cancer driver factor. Exploiting the heterogeneous multi-layer networks, COMBO integrates gene expression and DNA-methylation data in order to identify complex bilateral relationships between transcriptome and epigenome. We evaluated the multi-layer networks generated by COMBO on different TCGA cancer datasets (COAD, BLCA, BRCA, CESC, STAD) focusing on the effect of a specific chromosomal numerical aberration, broad gain in chromosome 20, on different cancer histotypes. In addition, the effect of chromosome 8q amplification was tested in the same TCGA cancer dataset. The results demonstrate the ability of COMBO to identify the chromosome 20 amplification cancer driver force in the different TCGA Pan Cancer project datasets.
Who shares fake news on social media? Evidence from vaccines and infertility claims in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Unfried Kerstin , Priebe Jan
Published: April 2024

The widespread dissemination of misinformation on social media is a serious threat to global health. To a large extent, it is still unclear who actually shares health-related misinformation deliberately and accidentally. We conducted a large-scale online survey among 5,307 Facebook users in six sub-Saharan African countries, in which we collected information on sharing of fake news and truth discernment. We estimate the magnitude and determinants of deliberate and accidental sharing of misinformation related to three vaccines (HPV, polio, and COVID-19). In an OLS framework we relate the actual sharing of fake news to several socioeconomic characteristics (age, gender, employment status, education), social media consumption, personality factors and vaccine-related characteristics while controlling for country and vaccine-specific effects. We first show that actual sharing rates of fake news articles are substantially higher than those reported from developed countries and that most of the sharing occurs accidentally. Second, we reveal that the determinants of deliberate vs. accidental sharing differ. While deliberate sharing is related to being older and risk-loving, accidental sharing is associated with being older, male, and high levels of trust in institutions. Lastly, we demonstrate that the determinants of sharing differ by the adopted measure (intentions vs. actual sharing) which underscores the limitations of commonly used intention-based measures to derive insights about actual fake news sharing behaviour.
A fast comparative genome browser for diverse bacteria and archaea
Authors: Price Morgan N. , Arkin Adam P.
Published: April 2024

Genome sequencing has revealed an incredible diversity of bacteria and archaea, but there are no fast and convenient tools for browsing across these genomes. It is cumbersome to view the prevalence of homologs for a protein of interest, or the gene neighborhoods of those homologs, across the diversity of the prokaryotes. We developed a web-based tool, fast.genomics, that uses two strategies to support fast browsing across the diversity of prokaryotes. First, the database of genomes is split up. The main database contains one representative from each of the 6,377 genera that have a high-quality genome, and additional databases for each taxonomic order contain up to 10 representatives of each species. Second, homologs of proteins of interest are identified quickly by using accelerated searches, usually in a few seconds. Once homologs are identified, fast.genomics can quickly show their prevalence across taxa, view their neighboring genes, or compare the prevalence of two different proteins. Fast.genomics is available at https://fast.genomics.lbl.gov.
Corporate crime and conspiracy in contemporary television: Power, profits and paranoia
Authors: Bennett Eve , Giannini Erin
Published: April 2024

Television’s status as a medium that is firmly regulated and at times derided as a ‘vast wasteland’ suggests that it is not necessarily the place in which to find cultural critiques. Yet, such a viewpoint is ahistorical; whether operating on a public service or commercial model, both UK and US television share a significant history of series – both sitcoms and dramas – which offered both occasional and sustained criticisms of the products and results of a corporate culture that only grew stronger throughout the twentieth century. In this article, we not only introduce the Special Issue ‘Corporate Crime and Conspiracy in Contemporary Television’, but offer an overview of both UK and US television, from their earliest forays to contemporary shows, that have addressed corporations’ bad behaviour across decades and genres.
Secret histories, hidden figures: Revisionist history and corporate control in Timeless
Authors: Giannini Erin
Published: April 2024

This article examines the way Timeless (2016–18), a series focused on time travel, interacts with history and historical revision as either prescient of or commenting on the current era, particularly in the way it questions, through the stories it tells, accepted history and the consequences of excluded stories, particularly those of women and people of colour. Further, pitting the series’ protagonists against the machinations of a powerful corporate cabal that extends back to the US colonial era, with the goal of controlling citizens through the erasure and revision of history, offers real-world analogues to the control of information that persists to the present day.
Of broken promises and failed nations: Tipu Sultan at the Lahore Fort
Authors: Ahmed Sameer
Published: April 2024

In 2015, I wrote a play, Tiger of Mysore, on Tipu Sultan of Mysore (1750–99). The play has had three runs since. This article situates a distinct audience response (in what was a site-specific performance) within the larger backdrop of postcolonial nationalism in Pakistan. The study is guided by two questions: one, what was it about the performance that resulted in a varied reader/audience response? Two, in what ways did the site inscribe itself on the performance, and how did the performance write itself on the site? What I argue is that while the site itself was/is rich in evoking nostalgia for a supposedly glorious past, its expressive potential was intensified by the play in the context of Pakistan’s (dismal) performance as a nation state since 1947. While existing scholarship has analysed the nation state as an existential fantasy, Pakistan is more precarious owing to the state’s lack of connection to the territory it came to inhabit, and the aloofness of its ethnic minorities towards the idea of Pakistan. This compels the Pakistani state to define itself in oppositional terms to India, in an effort to deflect attention from its own failures. But the deflection is never complete and the people (who do partake of the Pakistan idea) are drawn in tandem to the broken promise of the country, as witnessed in the site-specific performance.
Does gender matter in ethical leadership perceptions? Cross-national evidence
Authors: Kristinsson Kari , Stangej Olga , Sund Berit , Minelgaite Inga
Published: April 2024

Last decade’s ethical leadership failures in business across the globe had severe ramifications, including bankruptcy for corporations that had previously been viewed as exemplary. Hence, ethical leadership has gained increased attention from both practitioners and researchers. In particular, the increased focus has been placed on ethical leadership perceptions in management settings. This paper presents empirical findings from a three-country experiment (N = 538) on the perceptions of ethical and unethical leadership, and how they interact with gender. Building on role congruity theory, we posit that female leaders encounter more severe criticism for unethical leadership compared to male leaders, but they also garner greater positive reactions for ethical leadership. We also hypothesize the existence of national differences in ethical leadership perceptions. Our results indicate that the rater’s perceptions are influenced by the gender of the leader they are rating and by ethical leadership. The rater’s gender, however, does not affect the evaluation of male and female leaders in the cultures examined. We have also found national differences among perceptions of ethical leadership, in line with the Corruption Perception Index. We further explore the consequences of these results for theoretical and practical applications in this paper and propose directions for future research.