bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RE‐START: Exploring the effectiveness of anti‐calcitonin gene‐related peptide resumption after discontinuation in migraine
Authors: Romero del Rincón Celia , Gonzalez‐Martinez Alicia , Quintas Sonia , García‐Azorín David , Fernández Lázaro Iris , Guerrero‐Peral Angel Luis , Gonzalez Osorio Yesica , Santos‐Lasaosa Sonia , González Oria Carmen , Sánchez Rodríguez Norberto , Iglesias Díez Fernando , Echavarría Íñiguez Ana , Gil Luque Sendoa , Huerta‐Villanueva Mariano , Campoy Díaz Sergio , Muñoz‐Vendrell Albert , Lozano Ros Alberto , Sánchez‐Soblechero Antonio , Velasco Juanes Fernando , Kortazar‐Zubizarreta Izaro , Echeverría Amaya , Rodríguez‐Vico Jaime , Jaimes Sánchez Alex , Gómez García Andrea , Morollón Sánchez‐Mateos Noemí , Belvis Robert , Navarro Pérez María Pilar , García‐Moncó Juan Carlos , Álvarez Escudero María Rocío , Montes Nuria , Gago‐Veiga Ana Beatriz
Published: January 2024

Background and purpose

According to the latest European guidelines, discontinuation of monoclonal antibodies against calcitonin gene‐related peptide (anti‐CGRP MAb) may be considered after 12–18 months of treatment. However, some patients may worsen after discontinuation. In this study, we assessed the response following treatment resumption.

Methods

This was a prospective study conducted in 14 Headache Units in Spain. We included patients with response to anti‐CGRP MAb with clinical worsening after withdrawal and resumption of treatment. Numbers of monthly migraine days (MMD) and monthly headache days (MHD) were obtained at four time points: before starting anti‐CGRP MAb (T‐baseline); last month of first treatment period (T‐suspension); month of restart due to worsening (T‐worsening); and 3 months after resumption (T‐reintroduction). The response rate to resumption was calculated. Possible differences among periods were analysed according to MMD and MHD.

Results

A total of 360 patients, 82% women, with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) age at migraine onset of 18 (12) years. The median (IQR) MHD at T‐baseline was 20 (13) and MMD was 5 (6); at T‐suspension, the median (IQR) MHD was 5 (6) and MMD was 4 (5); at T‐worsening, the median (IQR) MHD was 16 (13) and MMD was 12 (6); and at T‐reintroduction, the median (IQR) MHD was 8 (8) and MHD was 5 (5). In the second period of treatment, a 50% response rate was achieved by 57.4% of patients in MHD and 65.8% in MMD. Multivariate models showed significant differences in MHD between the third month after reintroduction and last month before suspension of first treatment period (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The results suggest that anti‐CGRP MAb therapy is effective after reintroduction. However, 3 months after resumption, one third of the sample reached the same improvement as after the first treatment period.
Misfolded alpha‐synuclein in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Implications for diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Smith Richard , Hovren Hanna , Bowser Robert , Bakkar Nadine , Garruto Ralph , Ludolph Albert , Ravits John , Gaertner Lia , Murphy Davan , Lebovitz Russ
Published: January 2024

Background

Alpha‐synuclein (α‐Syn) oligomers and fibrils have been shown to augment the aggregation of TAR DNA‐binding Protein 43 (TDP‐43) monomers in vitro, supporting the idea that TDP‐43 proteinopathies such as ALS may be modulated by the presence of toxic forms of α‐Syn. Recently, parkinsonian features were reported in a study of European patients and Lewy bodies have been demonstrated pathologically in a similar series of patients. Based on these and other considerations, we sought to determine whether seed‐competent α‐Syn can be identified in spinal fluid of patients with ALS including familial, sporadic, and Guamanian forms of the disease.

Methods

Based on the finding that α‐Syn has been found to be a prion‐like protein, we have utilized a validated α‐Synuclein seed amplification assay to determine if seed‐competent α‐Syn could be detected in the spinal fluid of patients with ALS.

Results

Toxic species of α‐Syn were detected in CSF in 18 of 127 ALS patients, 5 of whom were from Guam. Two out of twenty six samples from patients with C9orf72 variant ALS had positive seed‐amplification assays (SAAs). No positive tests were noted in superoxide dismutase type 1 ALS subjects (n = 14). The SAA was negative in 31 control subjects.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that a sub‐group of ALS occurs in which self‐replicating α‐Syn is detectable and likely contributes to its pathogenesis. This finding may have implications for the diagnosis and treatment of this disorder.
Investigation on damage creep constitutive model of rock under the coupled effect of freeze–thaw cycles and loading
Authors: Shi Sheng , Zhu Fengjin , Zhu Jiancai
Published: January 2024

The investigation on damage creep properties of rock under freeze–thaw conditions are essential for assessing the long‐term stability of rock mass engineering in cold regions. This research analyzed the damage characteristics of rock under the coupled effect of freeze–thaw cycles and loading; the damage variable under the coupled effect of freeze–thaw cycles and loading was proposed. A damage creep constitutive model was developed, and the determination method for the model parameters was proposed. The rationality of the model was calibrated using test data, and the calculation results of the proposed model were compared with classical Nishihara model. Additionally, the research analyzed the variation of model parameters with the number of freeze–thaw cycles and discussed the damage creep mechanisms of rock under the coupled effect of freeze–thaw cycles and loading.
The sensitivity of risk premiums to the elasticity of intertemporal substitution
Authors: Wu Zhiting
Published: January 2024

This paper incorporates reference‐dependent preferences  into a consumption‐based asset pricing model featuring Epstein–Zin utility. Three relevant results emerge from this extension. First, agents prefer the late resolution of uncertainty in recursive utility. Second, the late resolution of uncertainty helps replicate the downward‐sloping term structure of market excess return. Third, the intertemporal substitution elasticity is more sensitive to asset prices through increasing precautionary saving motivations. A closed‐form solution for the proposed model largely explains (i) high, volatile, and countercyclical equity premiums; (ii) low risk‐free rates; and (iii) the downward‐sloping term structure of equity premiums and variance ratios.
Actual conditions for returning home after hospitalization among older patients receiving home medical care in Japan: OHCARE Study
Authors: Murakami Naoko , Kabayama Mai , Yano Tomoko , Nakamura Chika , Fukata Yuka , Morioka Chihiro , Fang Wen , Nako Yumiko , Omichi Yuki , Koujiya Eriko , Godai Kayo , Kido Michiko , Tseng Winston , Wada Taizo , Nakamura Toshinori , Hirotani Atsushi , Fukuda Toshio , Tamatani Michio , Okuda Yoshinari , Ikushima Masashi , Baba Yoshichika , Nagano Masahiro , Nakamura Yukio , Rakugi Hiromi , Kamide Kei
Published: January 2024

Aim

To examine the actual conditions of older patients receiving home medical care after hospitalization over a period of 2 years in Japan.

Methods

The study population included 102 participants, aged ≥65 years, receiving home medical care, who consented to participate in the Osaka Home Care Registry (OHCARE) study in Japan over a period of 2 years. We investigated the actual conditions for returning home after hospitalization.

Results

The median age of the 102 participants was 84 years, and 61 (59.8%) were women. In the group that returned home, 42 (55.3%) of the respondents desired to recuperate in a familiar place, as in advanced care planning (ACP). During the 2‐year follow‐up period, the group that did not return home had significantly more deaths. A multivariate analysis showed the association in the presence of ACP (odds ratio: 4.72, 95% confidence interval: 1.60–13.86) and cardiac disease (odds ratio: 0.25, 95% confidence interval: 0.08–0.76). The lack of ACP in the medical records when the patient was admitted to the hospital may have prevented the return home.

Conclusion

In older patients who had difficulty returning home after hospitalization, the lack of ACP in home medical care may have been an influencing factor. ACP could help continue with home medical care. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 320–326.
Transcriptional features of low‐grade neuroepithelial tumors with the BRAF V600E mutation associated with epileptogenicity
Authors: Iijima Keiya , Komatsu Kanako , Miyashita Satoshi , Suyama Kyoka , Murayama Kumiko , Hashizume Koichi , Tabe Nao K. , Miyata Hajime , Iwasaki Masaki , Taya Shinichiro , Hoshino Mikio
Published: January 2024

Low‐grade neuroepithelial tumors are major causes of drug‐resistant focal epilepsy. Clinically, these tumors are defined as low‐grade epilepsy‐associated neuroepithelial tumors (LEATs). The BRAF V600E mutation is frequently observed in LEAT and linked to poor seizure outcomes. However, its molecular role in epileptogenicity remains elusive. To understand the molecular mechanism underlying the epileptogenicity in LEAT with the BRAF V600E genetic mutation (BRAF V600E‐LEAT), we conducted RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq) analysis using surgical specimens of BRAF V600E‐LEAT obtained and stored at a single institute. We obtained 21 BRAF V600E‐LEAT specimens and 4 control specimens, including 24 from Japanese patients and 1 from a patient of Central Asian origin, along with comprehensive clinical data. We submitted the transcriptome dataset of 21 BRAF V600E‐LEAT plus 4 controls, as well as detailed clinical information, to a public database. Preliminary bioinformatics analysis using this dataset identified 2134 differentially expressed genes between BRAF V600E‐LEAT and control. Additionally, gene set enrichment analysis provided novel insights into the association between estrogen response‐related pathways and the epileptogenicity of BRAF V600E‐LEAT patients. Our datasets and findings will contribute toward the understanding of the pathology of epilepsy caused by LEAT and the identification of new therapeutic targets.
Assessing wound complications in gastroscopy with Streptomyces protease enzyme combined with Shutai
Authors: Chen Qihui , Li Hangfei , Zhou Lijuan , Yang Zhanbo
Published: January 2024

Current gastroscopy practices necessitate a balance between procedural efficiency and patient safety. It has been hypothesized that increasing procedure outcomes through the use of Streptomyces protease enzyme and Shutai is possible; however, precise nature of any potential adverse reactions and complications remains unknown. In Zhanjiang, China, 213 patients undergoing gastroscopy participated in this controlled trial. The subjects were allocated at random into two groups: control and treatment. The treatment group was administered topical Streptomyces protease enzyme and intravenous Shutai. Using chi‐square and t‐tests, information regarding patient demographics, adverse reactions, wound healing, procedure duration, distress levels, and satisfaction was gathered and analysed. The demographic and medical history characteristics of the groups were comparable. There was a greater prevalence of modest immediate reactions in the treatment group (p < 0.05), whereas there were no significant variations observed in delayed reactions and long‐term complications (p > 0.05). The treatment group exhibited superior efficiency metrics, including shorter durations for diagnosis, procedure completion and recuperation (p < 0.05). The treatment group exhibited significantly higher patient satisfaction scores (p < 0.05). The incorporation of Streptomyces protease enzyme and Shutai into gastroscopy procedures resulted in significantly enhanced level of procedural efficacy and patient contentment while not introducing an additional risk of long‐term complications. The increase in moderate immediate reactions that have been observed requires additional research in order to determine their clinical significance. Although these agents present a possible progression in the field of gastroscopy, their application should be tempered by the immediate adverse reactions that have been documented.
High pyroelectric performance and its dependence on the field‐induced orientation in antiferroelectric PLZST system
Authors: Adukkadan Anil , Ranjan Rajeev , Kumar Viswanathan
Published: January 2024

In antiferroelectrics (AFE), the recovery of AFE phase from field‐induced ferroelectric (FEIN) phase occurs at the depolarization temperature, Td. In this study, we report an exceptionally high pyroelectric coefficient, p ≈ 16.00 × 10−2 C/m2 K at ∼70°C in the AFE composition Pb0.982La0.012(Zr0.60Sn0.30Ti0.10)O3 which lies close to FE‐AFE phase boundary. We closely examine this FEIN‐AFE transformation in virgin and poled samples, during heating, by temperature‐dependent X‐ray diffraction, polarization, strain–electric field hysteresis, dielectric and pyroelectric studies and report, for the first time, the mechanism responsible for this behavior.
Physical distancing during the COVID‐19 crisis: The roles of threat and moralization
Authors: Versteegt Lisanne , van Dijke Marius , van den Bos Kees
Published: January 2024

One reason why the COVID‐19 pandemic presented a challenge to public health is that individuals struggled to adhere to virus protective behaviors, such as physical distancing. To aid understanding why people engaged in distancing practices, we investigated the role of threat perceptions and the moralization of physical distancing. We collected longitudinal data from 340 US citizens across five measurement waves from April 2020 to June 2021. Results showed that individuals who perceived COVID‐19 as more threatening, and those who more strongly moralized physical distancing, were more likely to engage in physical distancing behavior. Moreover, the effect of threat perceptions on physical distancing behavior was mediated by moralization of physical distancing. These results provide new insights into the adherence to physical distancing behaviors during pandemics and underscore the importance of moralization in shaping behavior.
Arrestin beta‐2 deficiency exacerbates periodontal inflammation by mediating activating transcription factor 6 activation and abnormal remodelling of the extracellular matrix
Authors: Feng Meiting , Wang Ruiling , Deng Li , Yang Yanan , Xia Siying , Liu Feng , Luo Lijun
Published: January 2024

Aim

To investigate the specific role of arrestin beta‐2 (ARRB2) in the progression of periodontitis and the underlying mechanisms.

Materials and Methods

Single‐cell RNA sequencing data were used to analyse gene expression in periodontal tissues from healthy controls and patients with periodontitis. Real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining were performed to detect the expression of ARRB2. Furthermore, a ligature‐induced periodontitis model was created. Using radiographic and histological methods, RNA sequencing and luciferase assay, the role of ARRB2 in periodontitis and the underlying mechanisms were explored. Finally, the therapeutic effect of melatonin, an inhibitor of activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), on periodontitis in mice was assessed in both in vivo and in vitro experiments.

Results

ARRB2 expression was up‐regulated in inflammatory periodontal tissue. In the ligature‐induced mouse model, Arrb2 knockout exacerbated alveolar bone loss (ABL) and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. ARRB2 exerted a negative regulatory effect on ATF6, an essential targeted gene. Melatonin ameliorated ABL and an imbalance in ECM remodelling in Arrb2‐deficient periodontitis mice.

Conclusions

ARRB2 mediates ECM remodelling via inhibition of the ATF6 signalling pathway, which ultimately exerts a protective effect on periodontal tissues.
Immunoglobulin heavy constant gamma 1 silencing decreases tonicity‐responsive enhancer‐binding protein expression to alleviate diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Hu Qibo , Yang Qingxiao , Gao Hang , Tian Jing , Che Guanghua
Published: January 2024

Aims/Introduction

The molecular mechanisms of diabetic nephropathy (DN) are poorly identified. However, the advantage of an increasing amount on microarray data of diabetic nephropathy intrigued us to explore the mechanisms based on bioinformatics prediction for diabetic nephropathy.

Materials and Methods

Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to screen the hub genes associated with diabetic nephropathy. The average human renal tubular epithelial cells were exposed to high glucose (HG) to generate an in vitro cell model. In addition, a mouse model of diabetic nephropathy was established using a high‐fat diet and streptozotocin injection. Finally, the shRNA targeting immunoglobulin heavy constant gamma 1 (IGHG1) was introduced in vitro and in vivo to illustrate its effect on downstream factors and on the development diabetic nephropathy.

Results

Bioinformatics analysis revealed that IGHG1, TRIM11 (tripartite motif protein 11), and TonEBP are highly expressed in diabetic nephropathy. In vitro cell experiments demonstrated that IGHG1 positively regulates the expression of TRIM11 and TonEBP (tonicity‐responsive enhancer binding protein) in HK2 cells treated with high glucose. Furthermore, TRIM11 upregulates the expression of TonEBP through activation of the MEK/ERK (mitogen‐activated protein kinase/extracellular signal‐regulated kinase) signaling pathway in HK2 cells treated with high glucose. In vivo, animal experiments further confirmed that silencing IGHG1 could prevent the occurrence and development of diabetic nephropathy.

Conclusion

The silencing of IGHG1 alleviated diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting the TRIM11/MEK/ERK axis and by downregulating TonEBP.
Pathogenic bacteria prevalence in cultured Nile tilapia in Southwest Mexico: A real‐time PCR analysis
Authors: Soto‐Rodriguez Sonia A. , Marrujo Lopez Francis I. , Aguilar‐Rendon Karla G. , Guzmán Rafael Hernández
Published: January 2024

The present study investigates molecular‐based PCR techniques to estimate the prevalence of fish pathogens in southwest Mexico where recurrent mortality in the tilapia cultures has been observed. Sample of internal organs and lesions of Nile tilapia were taken and analysed in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022 to detect bacterial pathogens using PCR. No samples were taken in 2021 due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. The real‐time PCR conditions were optimized to allow a qualitative reliable detection of the bacteria from fixed fish tissue. A total of 599 pond‐ and cage‐cultured tilapia from the southwestern Mexican Pacific (Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas states) were analysed. In this tropical region, during 2018 and 2019 water temperatures of the tilapia cultures were generally with the optimal range to grow Nile tilapia, although extreme values were recorded on some farms. Most of the tilapia sampled were apparently healthy. No Francisella sp. was detected in any sample, and Staphylococcus sp. was the most prevalent (from 0% to 64%) bacteria from the three states over time. Low prevalence of Aeromonas sp. was found, from 0% to 4.3%, although the fish pathogen Aeromonas dhakensis was not detected. Sterptococcus iniae was only detected in Chiapas in 2019 at a low prevalence (1.4%), while the major tilapia pathogen S. agalactiae was detected at a high prevalence (from 0% to 59%) in the three Mexican states. This is the first detection of these pathogenic bacteria in rural farms using real‐time PCR and constitutes a great risk for tilapia aquaculture in Mexico, as well as a potential dispersion of these pathogens to other aquaculture areas.
Evidence‐based data for newly approved medications' use in older adults: An analysis from clinical trials to monographs
Authors: Gosselin Maude , Baroud Marie‐Laure , Denis Odélie‐Rose , Gagnon Marie‐Eve , Sirois Caroline
Published: January 2024

Background

Older adults have historically been excluded from clinical trials, limiting evidence‐based data. An updated picture of the situation with newly marketed medications is needed. We aimed to describe (1) the recommendations specific to older adults in monographs of newly marketed medications; (2) the representation of older adults in clinical trials of those medications.

Methods

In November 2020, we listed all medications that received a notice of compliance from Health Canada between January 2006 and September 2020, excluding those with indications irrelevant to community‐dwelling older adults and locally acting medications. We assessed the availability and clarity of recommendations in monographs regarding older adults. Using Clinicaltrials.gov, we identified randomized controlled double‐blind Phase III–IV trials led in Canada/United States of a sample of 30 commonly used medications among those previously listed. We extracted information on study design, participants, and efficacy/safety analysis specific to older patients. We used simple linear regression and Chi‐square/Fisher's exact tests to analyze time trends in the representation of older adults over different periods.

Results

A total of 195 monographs were included. Of the 130 monographs reporting a dosing recommendation in older adults, 53 (41%) also reported limited/insufficient data in this population or its subgroups. Of the 373 trials included, 217 (58%) did not integrate a maximum age as an inclusion criterion. However, only 113 (30%) reported including a proportion of older adults representative (or over‐representative) of the Canadian older population. Most trials (n = 289; 78%) did not provide efficacy or safety data specific to older adults. In our sample, the number/proportion of older adults in trials seemed to be increasingly reported over time, either explicitly or implicitly (e.g., inclusion criterion specifies <65 years old).

Conclusions

Newly marketed medications still appear to under‐represent older adults. The resulting lack of clear recommendations in monographs compromises evidence‐based practice, thereby perpetuating the risk to older adults' health.
Being Aware of Death: How and when Mortality Cues Incite Leader Expediency Versus Servant Leadership Behaviour
Authors: Ogbonnaya Chidiebere , Babalola Mayowa T. , Ali Moazzam , Ren Shuang , Usman Muhammed , Wang Zhining
Published: January 2024

The COVID‐19 crisis has been associated with existential concerns regarding mortality. These concerns, described as ‘mortality cues’, can influence people's emotions, behaviours, and the quality of leadership in organizations. Using the contingency model of death awareness (CMDA; Grant and Wade‐Benzoni, 2009), we provide new evidence on how mortality cues can incite negative and positive leadership behaviours via two forms of death awareness: death anxiety and death reflection. Specifically, we theorize that mortality cues can increase leader death anxiety, giving rise to leader expediency (a leader's use of unethical practices to expedite work for self‐serving purposes); however, mortality cues can also facilitate leader death reflection and, consequently, servant leadership behaviour. We further suggest that leaders’ responses to mortality cues depend on their psychological capital (PsyCap), such that leaders with high (vs. low) PsyCap respond to mortality cues with less expediency (via death anxiety) and more servant leader behaviours (via death reflection). We support our hypotheses through three separate studies using an experiment, time‐lagged data from healthcare workers, and daily diary data from non‐healthcare professionals. We conclude that mortality cues have a double‐edged influence on leadership behaviour. We also discuss the theoretical and practical implications of the findings.
The evolutionary history and distribution of cactus germplasm resources, as well as potential domestication under a changing climate
Authors: Khan Darya , Harris AJ , Zaman Qamar U. , Wang Hong‐Xin , Wen Jun , Landis Jacob B. , Wang Hua‐Feng
Published: January 2024

The angiosperm family Cactaceae, a member of the Caryophyllales, is a large and diverse group of stem succulents comprising 1,438–1,870 species within approximately 130 genera predominantly distributed from northern Canada to Patagonia. Four centers of diversity from Central and North America (Chihuahua, Puebla‐Oaxaca, Sonora‐Sinaloan, and Jalisco) and three centers of diversity from South America (Southern Central Andes, Caatinga, and Mara Atlantica) have played a pivotal role in disbursing cacti around the globe. Mexico is considered the richest area in cacti species with close to 563 species grouped into 50 genera. Approximately 118 species have been domesticated by Mesoamerican people as food crops and for ornamental purposes. Cacti inhabit a wide range of ecosystems and climate regions, ranging from tropical to subtropical and from arid to semiarid regions. Species belonging to the genus Opuntia are the major food crop producers in the family. Cacti have derived characteristics from familial synapomorphies within the Caryophyllales. Reproduction occurs through pollination facilitated by birds, bats, bees, and other insects. Climate variability, whether natural or human‐induced threatens global crop production including high temperatures, salinity, drought, flood, changes in soil pH, and urbanization. Cacti have several adaptations that are important for coping with abiotic stresses, such as crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM photosynthesis), as well as modifications to root and stem physiological pathways. This review aims to provide a comprehensive view of the fruit crops in Cactaceae, including their evolution, worldwide distribution, and the environmental factors impacting cultivation.
Coincidence: A word with two meanings for explaining and predicting the future
Authors: Archer Margaret S.
Published: January 2024

Connecting the critical realist morphogenetic model to insights made by Nicholas Rescher, this paper argues that our predictions are always subject to chance and contingency but nevertheless ineluctably useful for both practical and scientific inquiry. Contingency results from the causal openness of the world, including the causal openness of our own decision‐making. On the other hand, as Rescher notes, human interaction would fail without a degree of stability, which makes the predictions of morphostatic relations if not lawlike at least predictable in a practical sense. Nor is it just habit that makes for morphostasis. Human agents strive reflectively to produce in morphostatic ways the human goods they have created by their interaction. And beyond individual actors, there is, from the critical realist point of view, the combined effects of structure and culture inclining at least in the short‐term to reliably predictable if not lawlike outcomes. With that background, the paper reflects on the dual role of coincidence in social theory, on the one hand signalling contingency and the other on what, according to the active causal mechanisms, generally co‐occur.
Factors associated with progression or non‐progression to bariatric surgery in adults: A systematic review
Authors: Majstorovic Mia , Chur‐Hansen Anna , Andrews Jane M. , Burke Anne
Published: January 2024

Access to bariatric surgery is limited, and the factors related to undergoing or not undergoing the procedure are poorly understood.

To this end, a systematic review of PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL was conducted to deduce the factors associated with progression or non‐progression to bariatric surgery. Quantitative and qualitative English‐language articles ranging in date from database conception to September 2023 were included. Eligible studies employed adult participants (18 years of age or above) who had been referred for bariatric surgery.

A total of 57 studies were identified. Fifteen key factors were found, alongside six less frequently studied factors: age, sex, BMI, race and ethnicity, distance to clinic, socio‐economic status, insurance coverage, physical health, psychological health, eating history and habits, substance use and smoking, social influence and relationships, pre‐surgery process and requirements, surgery‐related concerns, choice of surgery, and others (emergency room visitation, COVID‐19 virus, health literacy, appearance perceptions, time‐off work, and stigma related to surgery).

No factors were found to be reliably associated with progression or non‐progression to bariatric surgery; however, the nature of these findings is tentative considering methodological flaws and limited research. Further studies are required to elucidate potential inequities in bariatric surgery access and educate policymakers and health professionals.
Dexmedetomidine and magnesium sulfate in preventing junctional ectopic tachycardia after pediatric cardiac surgery
Authors: Hassan Passaint Fahim , El Haddad Ahmed M.
Published: January 2024

Background

Junctional ectopic tachycardia (JET) is a serious tachyarrhythmia following pediatric cardiac surgery. It isn't easy to treat and better to be prevented. This study aimed to examine the prophylactic effects of dexmedetomidine, MgSO4, or their combination in reducing JET following pediatric open cardiac surgery.

Methods

Hundred and twenty children under 5 years, weighing more than 5 kg, who were scheduled for corrective acyanotic cardiac surgeries were randomized into three groups. Group MD (Dexmedetomidine–MgSO4 group): received dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg IV over 20 min after induction, then infusion 0.5 μg/kg/h for 72 h, and 50 mg/kg bolus of MgSO4 with aortic cross‐clamp release, then continued administration for 72 h postoperatively at a dose of 30 mg/kg/day. Group D (the dexmedetomidine group) received the same dexmedetomidine as the MD group in addition to normal saline instead of MgSO4. Group C (control group): received normal saline instead of dexmedetomidine and MgSO4. The primary outcome was the detection of JET incidence; the secondary outcomes were hemodynamic parameters, ionized Mg, vasoactive‐inotropic score, extubation time, PCCU and hospital stay, and perioperative complications.

Results

The incidence of JET was significantly reduced in Group MD and Group D (p = .007) compared to Group C. Ionized Mg was significantly higher in Group MD than in Groups D and C during rewarming and in the ICU (p < .001). Better hemodynamic profile in Group MD compared to Group D and Group C throughout surgery and in the ICU, the predictive indexes were significantly better in Group MD than in Groups D and C (p < .001). Including the extubation time, PCCU, and hospital stay.

Conclusion

Dexmedetomidine alone or combined with MgSO4 had a therapeutic role in the prevention of JET in children after congenital heart surgery.
Understanding hypergammaglobulinemia in experimental or natural visceral leishmaniasis
Authors: de Carvalho Camila Aparecida , Hiramoto Roberto Mitsuyoshi , Meireles Luciana Regina , de Andrade Heitor Franco
Published: January 2024

Nonspecific hypergammaglobulinemia (HGG) occurs in symptomatic human visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by L. L. infantum. This study assessed this finding in experimental infection in hamsters and natural infection in dogs. The serum concentration of proteins, albumin and globulins was determined through the biuret and bromocresol green reaction, where the HGG was better expressed through the albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio. HGG was associated with a higher concentration of specific anti‐glycan antibodies (BSA‐G)/promastigote soluble extract (PSE) and the presence of circulating immune complexes (IC) by dissociative enzyme‐linked immunoassay (ELISA). The study found monovalent IC in 37.9% (PSE) and 50% (BSA‐G) of sera from infected hamsters, with increased frequency as the disease progressed. HGG was found in >60% of the samples in dogs with VL, associated with higher levels of specific immunoglobulin (Ig)A and IgM, but not IgG, determined using the PSE and BSA‐G ELISA. HGG was associated with the presence of monovalent IC in 58.9% (PSE) and 63.4% (BSA‐G) positive dog samples. HGG may result not only from the nonspecific activation of B cells, with greater production of specific and nonspecific antibodies, but also due to lower IgG excretion due to the presence of soluble monovalent IC. HGG correlates to the progression of VL and may be a marker for manifested disease.
Age‐related changes in the fiber structure around adipocytes in the subcutaneous fat layer and their association with skin viscoelasticity
Authors: Mizukoshi Koji , Kurosumi Motonori , Hamanaka Yoshihiro
Published: January 2024

Objective

Age‐related changes in the fiber structure around adipocytes were investigated via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of excised skin tissues. In addition, the viscoelasticity of the subcutaneous fat layer was evaluated via elastography, and the association between the fiber structure and the viscoelastic properties was assessed.

Methods

Skin tissues excised from the facial cheek area were used. Then, SEM images of these tissues were obtained. The thickness and quantity of the fibers around adipocytes were assessed using a 5‐point scale. The score was used to grade 18 tissue samples. Moreover, the viscoelasticity of the subcutaneous fat layer in the same samples was evaluated via ultrasound elastography.

Results

Based on the SEM image score, an association was observed between the fiber status score and age, thereby indicating a tendency toward age‐related fibrosis. Fiber structures with high scores, which indicate fibrosis, had a significantly lower viscoelasticity based on ultrasound elastography.

Conclusion

The thickness and quantity of fibrous structures around adipocytes in the subcutaneous fat layer increase with age, and these changes can be associated with decreased viscoelasticity in the subcutaneous fat layer.
Data Opportunities: Creating a web of knowledge
Authors:   HS2 Ltd, Plunkett Emily
Published: January 2024

Large-scale projects, such as infrastructure or long-term research, generate some of the largest data sets which form the core of their legacy for research and future projects. Due to the scale of the data being generated and managed, projects have developed innovative approaches to transform data into meaningful information and ensure integration of data into the project lifecycle. This paper serves to present the background and context for the session presented at EAA 2022, Budapest, organised by HS2 Ltd and Jacobs Suedlink and summarises some of the papers presented within the session and which are now published in this issue.
Archaeologists, Hunter-Gatherers of Digital Data
Authors:   PJP d.o.o., Urankar Rafko , Krajšek Jure , Lipovec Boris
Published: January 2024

The rapid advancement of digital technologies has paved the way for a revolution in archaeological documentation. Since digital cameras, tablets, portable printers, drones, and other technical gadgets have become readily available and easily replaceable, this sensitive electronic equipment has become a much more common sight at excavation sites. In the not so distant past, information about small finds or stratigraphic units had to be documented on paper and later manually transferred into digital formats. The data was stored and processed using various programs, many of which were less than ideal for the task. Indeed, the process of digitalising the data was itself suboptimal and a source of many hours of extra work, which carried significant financial consequences. To alleviate these issues, we began developing a specialised program that would enable entering and combining data from different work phases and ultimately produce reports directly usable in final site publications. Enter Zoot, a database interface for entering and retrieving data such as lists, photos, 3D site models, small find details. It can process data, perform calculations, and prepare exports intended for further processing with more specialised programs. Zoot provides a framework for keeping track of and linking all graphical documentation (photos, drawings, models ...), small finds, and samples with the primary excavation documentation. In addition, it supports the direct retrieval of data for GIS and statistical processing. Most importantly, the program is a paperless solution designed to shorten the time of writing reports as it automatically generates catalogues (e.g. of small finds, graves). This enables researchers such as us faster data evaluation, and ultimately leads to more affordable and timely publications of our work.
Where Are All the Solar Panels?
Authors: Nemo Leslie
Published: January 2024

Solar installations on commercial rooftops, rights-of-way, and other segments of already-developed land lag behind similar projects on single-family homes. Factors such as building design, safety considerations, and state laws come together to determine if a project is financially viable.
Queen of the Skies
Authors: Langston Lee S.
Published: January 2024

The event of the last 747 off the production line was marked by many retrospectives in the media. Virtually every one of them described an uneventful engineering success story. In actuality, the jetliner was cutting-edge technology when it was first developed and in need of some solid, thinking-on-your-feet engineering to make it fly.
Predicting Knee Joint Contact Forces During Normal Walking Using Kinematic Inputs With a Long-Short Term Neural Network
Authors: Bennett Hunter J. , Estler Kaileigh , Valenzuela Kevin , Weinhandl Joshua T.
Published: January 2024

Knee joint contact forces are commonly estimated via surrogate measures (i.e., external knee adduction moments or musculoskeletal modeling). Despite its capabilities, modeling is not optimal for clinicians or persons with limited experience. The purpose of this study was to design a novel prediction method for knee joint contact forces that is simplistic in terms of required inputs. This study included marker trajectories and instrumented knee forces during normal walking from the “Grand Challenge” (n = 6) and “CAMS” (n = 2) datasets. Inverse kinematics were used to derive stance phase hip (sagittal, frontal, transverse), knee (sagittal, frontal), ankle (sagittal), and trunk (frontal) kinematics. A long-short term memory network (LSTM) was created using matlab to predict medial and lateral knee force waveforms using combinations of the kinematics. The Grand Challenge and CAMS datasets trained and tested the network, respectively. Musculoskeletal modeling forces were derived using static optimization and joint reaction tools in OpenSim. Waveform accuracy was determined as the proportion of variance and root-mean-square error between network predictions and in vivo data. The LSTM network was highly accurate for medial forces (R2 = 0.77, RMSE = 0.27 BW) and required only frontal hip and knee and sagittal hip and ankle kinematics. Modeled medial force predictions were excellent (R2 = 0.77, RMSE = 0.33 BW). Lateral force predictions were poor for both methods (LSTM R2 = 0.18, RMSE = 0.08 BW; modeling R2 = 0.21, RMSE = 0.54 BW). The designed LSTM network outperformed most reports of musculoskeletal modeling, including those reached in this study, revealing knee joint forces can accurately be predicted by using only kinematic input variables.
A Study on the Oil Film Thickness Between the Lower Rail of Oil Control Ring and Lower Flank of Oil Control Ring Groove of an Engine
Authors: Miura Ken , Ito Akemi , Nakamura Yuta , Yamada Rina , Nishibe Koichi , Usui Miyuki , Iijima Naoki
Published: January 2024

Lubricating oil consumption (LOC) of engines causes particulate matter in exhaust gas and abnormal combustion like pre-ignition which becomes a serious problem in hydrogen engines. Lubricating oil transports upward into the combustion chamber of an engine via the sliding surface, the gap, and the side and back of a piston ring. The target of this study was to clarify the mechanism of oil flowing between an oil control ring lower flank and the groove which was the first entrance of lubricating oil supplied from the crankshaft. Oil film thickness at the lower flank of the oil control ring was measured by laser-induced fluorescence method using optical fibers embedded in the lower flank of the ring groove. The measured oil film thickness was compared with forces acting on the lower rail of three-piece type oil control ring. The oil film thickness change was well explained using those forces and it was found that friction force at the sliding surface and pressure in the ring groove were dominant on the oil film thickness under all operating conditions tested in this study.
Differences in Glenohumeral Joint Contact Forces Between Recovery Hand Patterns During Wheelchair Propulsion With and Without Shoulder Muscle Weakness: A Simulation Study
Authors: Walford Shelby L. , Rankin Jeffery W. , Mulroy Sara J. , Neptune Richard R.
Published: January 2024

The majority of manual wheelchair users (MWCU) develop shoulder pain or injuries, which is often caused by impingement. Because propulsion mechanics are influenced by the recovery hand pattern used, the pattern may affect shoulder loading and susceptibility to injury. Shoulder muscle weakness is also correlated with shoulder pain, but how shoulder loading changes with specific muscle group weakness is unknown. Musculoskeletal modeling and simulation were used to compare glenohumeral joint contact forces (GJCFs) across hand patterns and determine how GJCFs vary when primary shoulder muscle groups are weakened. Experimental data were analyzed to classify individuals into four hand pattern groups. A representative musculoskeletal model was then developed for each group and simulations generated to portray baseline strength and six muscle weakness conditions. Three-dimensional GJCF peaks and impulses were compared across hand patterns and muscle weakness conditions. The semicircular pattern consistently had lower shear (anterior-posterior and superior-inferior) GJCFs compared to other patterns. The double-loop pattern had the highest superior GJCFs, while the single-loop pattern had the highest anterior and posterior GJCFs. These results suggest that using the semicircular pattern may be less susceptible to shoulder injuries such as subacromial impingement. Weakening the internal rotators and external rotators resulted in the greatest increases in shear GJCFs and decreases in compressive GJCF, likely due to decreased force from rotator cuff muscles. These findings suggest that strengthening specific muscle groups, especially the rotator cuff, is critical for decreasing the risk of shoulder overuse injuries.
Dynamically orthogonal narrow-angle parabolic equations for stochastic underwater sound propagation. Part II: Applications
Authors: Ali Wael H. , Lermusiaux Pierre F. J.
Published: January 2024

The stochastic dynamically orthogonal (DO) narrow-angle parabolic equations (NAPEs) are exemplified and their properties and capabilities are described using three new two-dimensional stochastic range-independent and range-dependent test cases with uncertain sound speed field, bathymetry, and source location. We validate results against ground-truth deterministic analytical solutions and direct Monte Carlo (MC) predictions of acoustic pressure and transmission loss fields. We verify the stochastic convergence and computational advantages of the DO-NAPEs and discuss the differences with normal mode approaches. Results show that a single DO-NAPE simulation can accurately predict stochastic range-dependent acoustic fields and their non-Gaussian probability distributions, with computational savings of several orders of magnitude when compared to direct MC methods. With their coupling properties and their adaptation in range to the dominant uncertainties, the DO-NAPEs are shown to predict accurate statistics, from mean and variance to multiple modes and full probability distributions, and to provide excellent reconstructed realizations, from amplitudes and phases to other specific properties of complex realization fields.
Transformative Social and Emotional Learning in Physical Education
Authors: Hemphill Michael A. , Wright Paul M.
Published: January 2024

In this article, the authors examine the idea of social and emotional learning (SEL) and discuss ways it can contribute to a favorable future for physical education. While physical education has a long history and best practices aligned with this initiative, there is certainly room to improve. Not only can practitioners be more intentional and explicit in the ways SEL is promoted, a favorable future for physical education would involve a transformative approach that helps students develop SEL skills while also addressing institutional and systemic barriers that limit opportunities for social and emotional development. As the authors explain, transformative SEL in physical education would be characterized by student empowerment, culturally responsive teaching, and students applying these lessons in other settings for the betterment of themselves and society. The article concludes with a discussion of what it would take to move in this direction with regard to theory, policy, research, and practice.
The transcription factor ZEB2 drives the formation of age-associated B cells
Authors: Dai Dai , Gu Shuangshuang , Han Xiaxia , Ding Huihua , Jiang Yang , Zhang Xiaoou , Yao Chao , Hong Soonmin , Zhang Jinsong , Shen Yiwei , Hou Guojun , Qu Bo , Zhou Haibo , Qin Yuting , He Yuke , Ma Jianyang , Yin Zhihua , Ye Zhizhong , Qian Jie , Jiang Qian , Wu Lihua , Guo Qiang , Chen Sheng , Huang Chuanxin , Kottyan Leah C. , Weirauch Matthew T. , Vinuesa Carola G. , Shen Nan
Published: January 2024

Age-associated B cells (ABCs) accumulate during infection, aging, and autoimmunity, contributing to lupus pathogenesis. In this study, we screened for transcription factors driving ABC formation and found that zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) is required for human and mouse ABC differentiation in vitro. ABCs are reduced in
ZEB2
haploinsufficient individuals and in mice lacking
Zeb2
in B cells. In mice with toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7)–driven lupus, ZEB2 is essential for ABC formation and autoimmune pathology. ZEB2 binds to +20-kb myocyte enhancer factor 2b (
Mef2b
)’s intronic enhancer, repressing MEF2B-mediated germinal center B cell differentiation and promoting ABC formation. ZEB2 also targets genes important for ABC specification and function, including
Itgax
. ZEB2-driven ABC differentiation requires JAK-STAT (Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription), and treatment with JAK1/3 inhibitor reduces ABC accumulation in autoimmune mice and patients. Thus, ZEB2 emerges as a driver of B cell autoimmunity.
Observation of millihertz-level cooperative Lamb shifts in an optical atomic clock
Authors: Hutson Ross B. , Milner William R. , Yan Lingfeng , Ye Jun , Sanner Christian
Published: January 2024

Collective couplings of atomic dipoles to a shared electromagnetic environment produce a wide range of many-body phenomena. We report on the direct observation of resonant electric dipole-dipole interactions in a cubic array of atoms in the many-excitation limit. The interactions produce spatially dependent cooperative Lamb shifts when spectroscopically interrogating the millihertz-wide optical clock transition in strontium-87. We show that the ensemble-averaged shifts can be suppressed below the level of evaluated systematic uncertainties for optical atomic clocks. Additionally, we demonstrate that excitation of the atomic dipoles near a Bragg angle can enhance these effects by nearly an order of magnitude compared with nonresonant geometries. Our work demonstrates a platform for precise studies of the quantum many-body physics of spins with long-range interactions mediated by propagating photons.