bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How face is perceived in Chinese and Japanese
Authors: Xiao Qi , Zhou Ling
Published: January 2024

This study aims to examine how Chinese and Japanese speakers perceive face-enhancement and face-threat from a
value-construct perspective. A mixed-method research design consisting of a questionnaire and structured interviews was employed.
The results suggest that the values which trigger face-enhancement and face-threat are differently distributed between the two
linguacultures in face-threatening and face-enhancing situations. Both Chinese and Japanese participants agreed that competence
was the top value for face-enhancement. The Chinese participants considered status superiority as the more sensitive triggering
value of face-enhancement, whereas the Japanese participants believed that good public image, self-esteem, and pride were the main
factors. In face-threatening scenarios, the Japanese participants paid more attention to self-abasement and shame, inconsideration
and irresponsibility, whereas the Chinese were more sensitive to incompetence. We attribute these differences in individuals’
perspectives on interpersonal relationships as a possible cause of their divergent perceptions of face.
11.2 W/mm power density AlGaN/GaN high electron-mobility transistors on a GaN substrate
Authors: Hu Yansheng , Wang Yuangang , Wang Wei , Lv Yuanjie , Guo Hongyu , Zhang Zhirong , Yu Hao , Song Xubo , zhou Xingye , Han Tingting , Dun Shaobo , Liu Hongyu , Bu Aimin , Feng Zhihong
Published: January 2024

In this letter, high power density AlGaN/GaN high electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) on a freestanding GaN substrate are reported. An asymmetric Γ-shaped 500-nm gate with a field plate of 650 nm is introduced to improve microwave power performance. The breakdown voltage (BV) is increased to more than 200 V for the fabricated device with gate-to-source and gate-to-drain distances of 1.08 and 2.92 μm. A record continuous-wave power density of 11.2 W/mm@10 GHz is realized with a drain bias of 70 V. The maximum oscillation frequency (f
max) and unity current gain cut-off frequency (f
t) of the AlGaN/GaN HEMTs exceed 30 and 20 GHz, respectively. The results demonstrate the potential of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs on free-standing GaN substrates for microwave power applications.
Bidirectional rectifier with gate voltage control based on Bi2O2Se/WSe2 heterojunction
Authors: Li Ruonan , Lu Fangchao , Deng Jiajun , Fu Xingqiu , Wang Wenjie , Tian He
Published: January 2024

Two-dimensional (2D) WSe2 has received increasing attention due to its unique optical properties and bipolar behavior. Several WSe2-based heterojunctions exhibit bidirectional rectification characteristics, but most devices have a lower rectification ratio. In this work, the Bi2O2Se/WSe2 heterojunction prepared by us has a type Ⅱ band alignment, which can vastly suppress the channel current through the interface barrier so that the Bi2O2Se/WSe2 heterojunction device has a large rectification ratio of about 105. Meanwhile, under different gate voltage modulation, the current on/off ratio of the device changes by nearly five orders of magnitude, and the maximum current on/off ratio is expected to be achieved 106. The photocurrent measurement reveals the behavior of recombination and space charge confinement, further verifying the bidirectional rectification behavior of heterojunctions, and it also exhibits excellent performance in light response. In the future, Bi2O2Se/WSe2 heterojunction field-effect transistors have great potential to reduce the volume of integrated circuits as a bidirectional controlled switching device.
Geant4 silver anniversary: 25 years enabling scientific production
Authors: Basaglia T. , Bell Z.W. , D'Agostino D. , Dressendorfer P.V. , Pia M.G. , Ronchieri E.
Published: January 2024

This paper summarizes Geant4 contribution to scientific research over
the past 25 years through a scientometric analysis of the results with which it has been
associated. The scientometric data collected from scholarly literature and
databases are evaluated with methods pertaining to econometrics and ecology to
quantify relevant traits, diversity and disparity in their scientific and
geographic distributions, and to identify statistically significant trends. The
analysis reviews the contribution of Geant4 to the field — experimental particle
physics — that originally motivated its development and highlights its role in
other research domains including nuclear physics and engineering, astrophysics
and space science, biomedical physics, archaeology and the cultural heritage.
Development of dual-harmonic RF system for CSNS-II
Authors: Wu Jian , Wu Bin , Li Xiao , Li Xiang , Liu Yang , Long Wei , Zhang Chunlin
Published: January 2024

The upgrade of the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS-II) encompasses the development of a dual harmonic RF system for the Rapid Cycling Synchrotron (RCS). The objective of this system is to achieve a maximum second harmonic voltage of 100 kV. To meet this requirement, a high gradient cavity is being used in place of the traditional ferrite loaded cavity. Magnetic alloy (MA) loaded cavities, which can attain very high field gradients, have demonstrated their suitability for high-intensity proton synchrotrons. As a result, designing an RF system with MA-loaded cavities has emerged as a primary focus. Over the past decade, substantial advancements have been made in the development of MA-loaded cavities at CSNS. This paper provides an overview of the RF system that incorporates the MA-loaded cavity and presents the high-power test and beam test results of the system.
3D-printed bioink loading with stem cells and cellular vesicles for periodontitis-derived bone defect repair
Authors: Yu Guang-Tao , Zhu Wen-Xiang , Zhao Yu-Yue , Cui Hao , Chen Hao , Chen Yan , Ning Ting-Ting , Rong Ming-Deng , Rao Lang , Ma Dan-Dan
Published: January 2024

The suitable microenvironment of bone regeneration is critically important for periodontitis-derived bone defect repair. Three major challenges in achieving a robust osteogenic reaction are the exist of oral inflammation, pathogenic bacteria invasion and unaffluent seed cells. Herein, a customizable and multifunctional 3D-printing module was designed with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) modified epsilon-poly-L-lysine (EPLGMA) loading periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) and myeloid-derived suppressive cells membrane vesicles (MDSCs-MV) bioink (EPLGMA/PDLSCs/MDSCs-MVs, abbreviated as EPM) for periodontitis-derived bone defect repair. The EPM showed excellent mechanical properties and physicochemical characteristics, providing a suitable microenvironment for bone regeneration.In vitro, EPMs presented effectively kill the periodontopathic bacteria depend on the natural antibacterial properties of the EPL. Meanwhile, MDSCs-MV was confirmed to inhibit T cells through CD73/CD39/adenosine signal pathway, exerting an anti-inflammatory role. Additionally, seed cells of PDLSCs provide an adequate supply for osteoblasts. Moreover, MDSCs-MV could significantly enhance the mineralizing capacity of PDLSCs-derived osteoblast. In the periodontal bone defect rat model, the results of micro-CT and histological staining demonstrated that the EPM scaffold similarly had an excellent anti-inflammatory and bone regeneration efficacyin vivo. This biomimetic and multifunctional 3D-printing bioink opens new avenues for periodontitis-derived bone defect repair and future clinical application.
Biogenic synthesis of silver, gold, and palladium nanoparticles using moringa oleifera seeds: exploring photocatalytic, catalytic, and antimicrobial activities
Authors: Prabhu M S Anandha , Sheela G Edwin , Mohammad Abeer M , Hegazy Rabab A , Florence S Sasi , Sarojini V
Published: January 2024

In this study, we explored the green synthesis of metal nanoparticles (Ag-NPs, Au-NPs, and Pd-NPs) using Moringa oleifera seed (MOS) extract, which is known for its nutrient density, antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory effects, and potential benefits in managing cholesterol, blood sugar levels, as well as promoting digestion, skin, and hair health. The nanoparticles’ size was controlled by varying the concentration of MOS extract. The successful formation of Au-NPs and Ag-NPs was confirmed through surface plasmon resonance (SPR), while the absence of absorption at 420 nm indicated the reduction of Pd2+ ions to Pd0, affirming the synthesis of Pd-NPs. The nanoparticles exhibited mono-dispersed, spherical shapes with confirmed crystallinity. Sizes were determined as 28 nm for Pd-NPs, 5 nm for Au-NPs, and 19 nm for Ag-NPs. The MOS extract’s phenols and proteins played a crucial role in reducing and stabilising Ag-NPs, Au-NPs, and Pd-NPs. Notably, the synthesised nanoparticles demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity, particularly against Salmonella typhi, making them potential antibacterial agents. The catalytic efficiency of Au-NPs, Ag-NPs and Pd-NPs was studied using the reduction of 4-Nitrophenol (4-NP) by NaBH4 to 4-Aminophenol. Additionally, Au-NPs showed enhanced photocatalytic degradation rate constant and catalytic reaction rate constant of 0.0038/min and 0.261/min respectively, due to their small size and increased surface area. By combining a green synthesis approach with an in-depth analysis of properties and diverse applications, this study provides valuable insights into the immense potential of MOS-assisted metal nanoparticles for various technological and environmental advancements.
2024 roadmap on 2D topological insulators
Authors: Weber Bent , Fuhrer Michael S , Sheng Xian-Lei , Yang Shengyuan A , Thomale Ronny , Shamim Saquib , Molenkamp Laurens W , Cobden David , Pesin Dmytro , Zandvliet Harold J W , Bampoulis Pantelis , Claessen Ralph , Menges Fabian R , Gooth Johannes , Felser Claudia , Shekhar Chandra , Tadich Anton , Zhao Mengting , Edmonds Mark T , Jia Junxiang , Bieniek Maciej , Väyrynen Jukka I , Culcer Dimitrie , Muralidharan Bhaskaran , Nadeem Muhammad
Published: January 2024

2D topological insulators promise novel approaches towards electronic, spintronic, and quantum device applications. This is owing to unique features of their electronic band structure, in which bulk-boundary correspondences enforces the existence of 1D spin–momentum locked metallic edge states—both helical and chiral—surrounding an electrically insulating bulk. Forty years since the first discoveries of topological phases in condensed matter, the abstract concept of band topology has sprung into realization with several materials now available in which sizable bulk energy gaps—up to a few hundred meV—promise to enable topology for applications even at room-temperature. Further, the possibility of combining 2D TIs in heterostructures with functional materials such as multiferroics, ferromagnets, and superconductors, vastly extends the range of applicability beyond their intrinsic properties. While 2D TIs remain a unique testbed for questions of fundamental condensed matter physics, proposals seek to control the topologically protected bulk or boundary states electrically, or even induce topological phase transitions to engender switching functionality. Induction of superconducting pairing in 2D TIs strives to realize non-Abelian quasiparticles, promising avenues towards fault-tolerant topological quantum computing. This roadmap aims to present a status update of the field, reviewing recent advances and remaining challenges in theoretical understanding, materials synthesis, physical characterization and, ultimately, device perspectives.
Preparation and investigation of mechanical behavior and characterization of AA7475/ZrO2/Gr hybrid MMC
Authors: Madhavarao Singuru , Rao V V S Kesava , Chekuri Rama Bhadri Raju
Published: January 2024

In this study, the influence of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) and graphite (Gr) on the mechanical behavior and characterization of Hybrid metal matrix composites (HMMCs) is investigated. By using the stir casting method, the samples are prepared with aluminum alloy (AA7475) as matrix and 2, 3, and 4 weight percentages (wt%) of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) and graphite (Gr) as reinforcements. The synthesized composites were subjected to microstructural, density, porosity, yield strength (YS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS), and hardness were examined. Microstructural characteristics were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRD pattern indicated the presence of the ZrO2 and Gr phases in HMM composites. By conducting a corrosion resistance test, the rate of corrosion for the HMMCs was determined. Furthermore, the Tafel plot curve was employed to probe the level of corrosion resistance. With an increase in ZrO2 the corrosion resistance increases whereas decline in ductility is noted. The HMMCs 3 sample exhibit superior physical and mechanical properties when compared to other HMMCs and base matrix. Tensile fractography was carried out to determine the various fracture mechanisms.
Introduction
Authors: Ross Linda M , Navickas Katrina , Kelly Matthew , Anderson Ben
Published: January 2024

This introduction outlines the purposes and general themes of the edited collection New Lives, New Landscapes: Rural Modernity in Britain. It explains how the approach taken is inspired by Nan Fairbrother’s influential New Lives, New Landscapes (1970), which combined insight into planning processes and the discipline of landscape architecture with a broader consideration of social and cultural change in the post-war period, particularly that flowing from increased mobility. Central to Fairbrother’s vision was the belief that it was possible to make new demands on the landscape, such as the development of new energy infrastructure, that showed due regard for the needs and sensibilities of the people that had to live with them. The introduction then summarises how the collections responds historically to the issues raised by Fairbrother’s book.
The View from the Land, 1947–1968: ‘Modernity’ in British Agriculture, Farm, and Nation
Authors: Sayer Karen
Published: January 2024

This chapter argues that agricultural land and buildings, as elements of the British landscape, became significant components in the representation of Britain as Modern nation state after the Second World War. It focuses on the acres of Britain that were tasked (after the Agriculture Act of 1947) with increasing food production. It argues that far from being in tension, as has often been thought, improved conservation of the countryside and improved agricultural production 1947-1968 (represented as ‘modernisation’) were intimately woven together. With agriculture harnessed to the idea of Britain as a science-led, technological world power in 1947, Agricultural modernity was one expression of Britain’s post-war national identity. Grants, advice, and policy harmonised vernacular structures, new farming processes, wildlife management, and the amenities of a countryside celebrated as the epitome of a natural ’England’, enriching and feeding the literal body politic. By the time of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the British countryside was being represented as a rich palimpsest of modernised agricultural practice, tradition, and natural resource alive to emerging European environmental policy and global questions of sustainability.
‘Think Rural: Act Now’: The State of the Countryside and Rural Arts Residencies in the 1970s and 1980s
Authors: Holt Ysanne
Published: January 2024

In consideration of relations between post-1945 urban and rural modernity, this essay focuses on particular approaches adopted by a regional arts association, Northern Arts, in its support for the arts in rural contexts from the early 1970s and 80s. Through a study of that association’s innovative partnerships and its development of artist residency programmes in two state-owned forests in the region, Grizedale in the Cumbrian lake district and Kielder in north Northumberland, it explores interrelationships between the urban and rural, the centre and peripheries, and reflects on the wider social, cultural and economic implications of contemporary discussions on the value of the arts, and in terms of wider priorities in investment in rural locations. At a time of considerable social change and economic decline, the northern region provided something of a model for future ways of working, one increasingly adapted and adopted by central agencies in subsequent urban as well as rural development and regeneration schemes, but not – as this essay goes on to suggest – without some loss to their original integrity.
The New ‘New Landscapes’: A Personal View
Authors: O’Riordan Tim
Published: January 2024

In this epilogue, Tim O’Riordan, Emeritus Professor of Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia, reflects upon the long-term implications of the arguments Nan Fairbrother made in New Lives, New Landscapes (1970). O’Riordan argues that Fairbrother’s optimism that planning might be used to manage environmental change in the interests of communities has long since given way to a bleak prognosis, both for democratic control over land use and our shared ecological futures. All is not with hope. Focusing first on the impact Fairbrother had on his generation of environmentalists, he then outlines the principles of ‘sustainable localism’, through which means the new landscapes and the new lives of the future might be brought into harmony.
It’s High Time: Linguistics and High Schools in Post-Conflict Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Runić Marija
Published: January 2024

In post-conflict Bosnia and Herzegovina language issues have been primarily used to forge national myths and boost ethnic divisions among three major ethnic groups. Such role of language has left little room for linguistically informed education. Drawing on the insights from fieldwork conducted in three high schools with three different settings of first language (L1) teaching, this chapter analyses how linguistics could be incorporated into secondary education of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It describes in detail context-specific properties of L1 teaching in the country’s current education system, which rests on highly conflicting language ideologies and prescriptivist approach to language. Finally, it advances several tailor-made proposals in order to press for structural reforms in the domain of L1 curriculum, with the ultimate goal of promoting dispassionate view of language, linguistic tolerance, and peaceful coexistence.
Linguistics in Schools: The English Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Hudson Richard
Published: January 2024

This chapter considers the past, present and future of attempts to link linguistics to education in England, with occasional glances at other countries. It distinguishes top-down initiatives taken by governments, and bottom-up initiatives driven by linguists and teachers. It also considers the challenges and opportunities for those wanting to introduce linguistics into education, arguing that any linguist can make a serious contribution to education by doing what they do best: teaching undergraduates, researching, writing and scholarship. It ends on a note of optimism.
Linguistics for Younger Learners: Discovering Languages at the Start of Secondary School
Authors: Wenham Mary
Published: January 2024

This chapter outlines the conception and implementation of a linguistics course designed for Year 7 (11-year old) children at the outset of their secondary language learning. Considering the varying approaches to foreign language teaching and recent requirements in primary school language provision in the UK, it argues that the elements of literacy and phonics that are expertly taught in primary school might be useful as foundations for secondary language learning. The approach is influenced by studies into age effects and explicit versus implicit language learning and coincides with recommendations found in the Modern Foreign Languages Pedagogy Review 2016. The remainder of the chapter describes in more detail the four-week introduction to language that comprises the questions: What is a language? How are languages related to one another? How do we write a language down? How is learning a language like cracking a code? The chapter concludes with observations on how the course has benefited language learners.
‘A New Geography of Defense’
Authors: Whyte Jeffrey
Published: January 2024

This chapter details the efforts of the American and British intelligence officers who popularised the concept of ‘psychological warfare’ between 1940-42. In the context of fierce political battles between American interventionists and isolationists, this chapter outlines the construction of a geographical imagination of psychological warfare as a new and scientifically calibrated method of attack that ‘knew no limits in time and space’ — what Nelson Rockefeller called ‘a new geography of defense’ in which the civilian’s thoughts, feelings and opinions became a new terrain of international contest. It concludes with a consideration of the origins of the United States’ so-called ‘strategy of truth’ that would define the rhetoric of its international communications in the early Cold War period.
Covert Crusade
Authors: Whyte Jeffrey
Published: January 2024

This chapter details the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) stewardship of American psychological warfare between 1948 and the formation of the United States Information Agency in 1953. It narrates these events through the so-called ‘Crusade for Freedom,’ a long-running covert CIA campaign fronted by the ostensibly private citizens of the National Committee for a Free Europe (NCFE). While the CIA’s ruse against American citizens was spectacular, this chapter goes beyond revelation to analyse the ways in which the Crusade for Freedom encouraged regular Americans to imagine themselves as engaged in a personalised ‘spiritual war’ against the Soviet Union. This chapter considers the pastoral nature of American psychological warfare both at home and aboard, detailing its use of Christian ‘technologies of the self,’ notably confession and catechism. It concludes that the early years of the Cold War were deeply formative of the enduring perceptions and mythologies that continue to surround psychological war.
Psywar in Vietnam
Authors: Whyte Jeffrey
Published: January 2024

This chapter traces the evolution of psychological warfare’s theory and practice in the US military, with an emphasis on the counterinsurgency turn during the Vietnam War. It considers the significance of the United States Information Agency and its provision of technical and advisory support to friendly governments around the world. It focuses especially on the USIA’s Joint United States Public Affairs Office (JUSPAO), which in 1965 became the nerve centre of US information and psychological war programs in Vietnam. It details US efforts to ‘win the hearts and minds’ of the Vietnamese people, including the construction of Vietnam’s first national television broadcast system. It concludes that, despite their social scientific credentials, US psychological warriors found themselves unable to understand – let alone win – the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese people they sought to govern.
Conclusion
Authors: Whyte Jeffrey
Published: January 2024

This chapter concludes the book by bringing its analysis to bear upon the contemporary return of psychological warfare to popular political imaginations. Pushing back against claims that the contemporary ‘post-truth’ era is defined by novel practices of disinformation and psychological warfare, this chapter argues that the contemporary moment is best understood in terms of continuity rather than rupture with the past. It concludes with analysis of the way that contemporary threat imaginaries surrounding psychological warfare license new reactionary approaches to psychological warfare.
Knowing Europe?
Authors: Maier Jürgen
Published: January 2024

This chapter analyses the sources and consequences of political knowledge for all European elections since 1989 and for all EU member states. Our findings suggest that the determinants of EU‐related knowledge are multiple. In general, individual resources and motivations have a much larger impact on knowledge than the context by which individuals are surrounded. Whereas education, gender, and interpersonal communication are the most influential micro‐level factors, it is much more difficult to assess which macro‐level variables account for knowledge differences. Trend analyses reveal that knowledge gaps between social groups tend to increase whereas differences between contexts tend to decline over time. Finally, knowledge is systematically related to EU attitudes and behaviour. High knowledge is always correlated with a favourable image of the EU and with a greater likelihood of participation in European elections. The results are discussed in light of the (un)intended consequences of European elections.
Epidural versus patient-controlled intravenous analgesia on pain relief and recovery after laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer: randomized clinical trial
Authors: Kikuchi Satoru , Matsusaki Takashi , Mitsuhashi Toshiharu , Kuroda Shinji , Kashima Hajime , Takata Nobuo , Mitsui Ema , Kakiuchi Yoshihiko , Noma Kazuhiro , Umeda Yuzo , Morimatsu Hiroshi , Fujiwara Toshiyoshi
Published: January 2024

Background

Epidural analgesia (EDA) is a main modality for postoperative pain relief in major open abdominal surgery within the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocol. However, it remains unclear whether EDA is an imperative modality in laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG). This study examined non-inferiority of patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) to EDA in terms of postoperative pain and recovery in patients who underwent LG.

Methods

In this open-label, non-inferiority, parallel, individually randomized clinical trial, patients who underwent elective LG for gastric cancer were randomized 1:1 to receive either EDA or PCIA after surgery. The primary endpoint was pain score using the Numerical Rating Scale at rest 24 h after surgery, analysed both according to the intention-to-treat (ITT) principle and per protocol. The non-inferiority margin for pain score was set at 1. Secondary outcomes were postoperative parameters related to recovery and adverse events related to analgesia.

Results

Between 3 July 2017 and 29 September 2020, 132 patients were randomized to receive either EDA (n = 66) or PCIA (n = 66). After exclusions, 64 patients were included in the EDA group and 65 patients in the PCIA group for the ITT analysis. Pain score at rest 24 h after surgery was 1.94 (s.d. 2.07) in the EDA group and 2.63 (s.d. 1.76) in the PCIA group (P = 0.043). PCIA was not non-inferior to EDA for the primary endpoint (difference 0.69, one side 95% c.i. 1.25, P = 0.184) in ITT analysis. Postoperative parameters related to recovery were similar between groups. More EDA patients (21 (32.8%) versus 1 (1.5%), P < 0.001) developed postoperative hypotension as an adverse event.

Conclusions

PCIA was not non-inferior to EDA in terms of early-phase pain relief after LG.

Registration number: UMIN000027643 (https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index-j.htm).
Information Aggregation Under Ambiguity: Theory and Experimental Evidence
Authors: Galanis Spyros , Ioannou Christos A , Kotronis Stelios
Published: January 2024

We study information aggregation in a dynamic trading model. We show theoretically that separable securities, introduced by Ostrovsky in the context of Expected Utility, no longer aggregate information if some traders have imprecise beliefs and are ambiguity averse. Moreover, these securities are prone to manipulation as the degree of information aggregation can be influenced by the initial price set by the uninformed market maker. These observations are also confirmed in our laboratory experiment using prediction markets. We define a new class of strongly separable securities, which are robust to the above considerations and show that they characterize information aggregation in both strategic and non-strategic environments. We derive several testable predictions, which we are able to confirm in the laboratory. Finally, we show theoretically that strongly separable securities are both sufficient and necessary for information aggregation but, strikingly, there does not exist a security that is strongly separable for all information structures.
Liver toxicity in rats after subchronic exposure to HTP aerosol and cigarette smoke
Authors: Tian Yushan , Wang Hongjuan , Han Shulei , Fu Yaning , Lu Fengjun , Wang Wenming , Li Xianmei , Ma Shuhao , Feng Pengxia , Shi Zhihao , Chen Huan , Hou Hongwei
Published: January 2024

Background

Heated tobacco product (HTP) considered to be a novel tobacco product which was reported safer than traditional cigarettes evidenced by lower potential harmful components released. Liver is an important detoxification organ of the body, the chemical components in aerosols are metabolized in the liver after absorbed, so it is necessary to explore the effect of HTP on the liver.

Materials and Methods

The potential effect of HTP and cigarette smoke (CS) on SD rats was explored according to OECD 413 subchronic inhalation. The rats were randomly divided into Sham (air), different dosage of HTP groups (HTP_10, 23 and 50 μg nicotine/L aerosol) and Cig_23 (23 μg nicotine/L aerosol) group. After exposure, the clinical pathology, inflammation and oxidative stress were measured.

Results

The clinical pathology results showed that both HTP_50 and Cig_23 led to abnormality of ALT for male rats. CS and HTP exposure reduced the expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α and mitochondrial medicated oxidative stress. In addition, the ATP production was reduced in Cig_23 group. Although inflammation and oxidative stress were displayed, no apoptosis were observed by TUNEL assay and these existed obvious pathological changes only in HTP_50 group, while in CS group with equivalent nicotine, hepatocytes swelling were observed in liver.

Conclusion

CS exposure induced liver damage through mitochondrial mediated oxidative stress and inflammation, which was also observed in high concentration of HTP exposure group. For the same equivalent nicotine, HTP may show lower toxic effect on liver than CS.
Identification and Pathogenicity of Fungal Species Associated with Branch Canker and Shoot Blight on Persimmons (Diospyros kaki) in California
Authors: Elfar Karina , Bustamante Marcelo I. , Arreguin Molly , Nouri Mohamed T. , Eskalen Akif
Published: January 2024

Persimmon is a relatively new crop to California agriculture. Asian persimmons (Diospyros kaki) are the dominant species commercially cultivated in the United States, primarily grown in California, covering approximately 1,153 ha of bearing trees. In the growing seasons of 2020 and 2021, unusual shoot blight and branch cankers were observed in several persimmon orchards in San Joaquin and Solano counties in California. The most prevalent symptoms were well-defined black discoloration in the cambium and streaking in the vascular tissues of green shoots. On woody branches and old pruning wounds, symptoms manifested as black wedge-shaped cankers. Isolations from affected tissues revealed the occurrence of Diaporthe species, including D. chamaeropis, D. foeniculina, and an undescribed Diaporthe sp. as the most frequent isolated pathogens, followed by Eutypella citricola and Phaeoacremonium iranianum. The isolates were identified through multilocus phylogenetic analyses using nucleotide sequences of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer, β-tubulin, and translation elongation factor 1-alpha genes. To fulfill Koch’s postulates, mycelium plugs of the various fungal species identified were inserted in 2-year-old branches of mature persimmon trees after making wounds using a corkborer in field conditions. Results showed that Diaporthe spp., E. citricola, and P. iranianum are the main causal agents of branch canker and shoot dieback of persimmon trees in California, with Diaporthe spp. being the most frequently isolated pathogen.
Real-time 3D Transesophageal Echocardiography for the Placement of Ventriculoatrial Shunt: A Case Series and Technical Note
Authors: Chui Jason , MacDougall Keith , Ng Wai
Published: January 2024

Background:

Ventriculoatrial (VA) shunts are used to manage hydrocephalus and idiopathic intracranial hypertension when peritoneal drainage of cerebrospinal fluid is not feasible. The technique of distal catheter placement during VA shunt insertion is controversial, especially between fluoroscopy-guided and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)-guided techniques.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed our utilization of 2-dimensional (2D) ultrasound-guided internal jugular vein catheterization combined with 3-dimensional (3D) TEE-guided distal VA shunt placement and compared it to the conventional fluoroscopy-guided technique.

Results:

Ten patients underwent 18 VA shunt insertion procedures between November 2012 and October 2022. The patients had a mean (SD) age of 50 (19) years, body mass index of 35 (14) m/kg², and minimal comorbidities. All had previously undergone failed ventriculoperitoneal shunt procedures. The use of 2D ultrasound to guide internal jugular vein catheterization and 3D TEE to guide distal catheter placement resulted in 22-minute shorter surgical times compared with the fluoroscopy-guided technique (91 minutes vs. 113 minutes, respectively). No complications were noted with either technique.

Conclusions:

The combined use of 2D ultrasound and 3D TEE allowed for faster procedure times and more precise distal catheter confirmation, contributing to a more streamlined surgical procedure. This small case series underscores the feasibility, efficiency, and safety of anesthesiologist-delivered combined 2D ultrasound and 3D TEE during VA shunt insertion. The use of 3D TEE allows repeated confirmation of distal catheter position and has potential to improve patient safety during rare but complex VA shunt insertion procedures.
Frailty: Implications for Neuroanesthesia
Authors: Mitchell Amy , Flexman Alana M.
Published: January 2024

Frailty is increasingly prevalent in the aging neurosurgical population and is an important component of perioperative risk stratification and optimization to reduce complications. Frailty is measured using the phenotypic or deficit accumulation models, with simplified tools most commonly used in studies of neurosurgical patients. There are a limited number of frailty measurement tools that have been validated for individuals with neurological disease, and those that exist are mainly focused on spine pathology. Increasing frailty consistently predicts worse outcomes for patients across a range of neurosurgical procedures, including early complications, disability, non-home discharge, and mortality. Evidence for interventions to improve outcomes for frail neurosurgical patients is limited, and the role of bundled care pathways, prehabilitation, and multidisciplinary involvement requires further investigation. Surgery itself may be an intervention to improve frailty in selected patients, and future research should focus on identifying effective interventions to improve both short-term complications and long-term outcomes.
Acne Vulgaris: Clinical Aspects and Treatments
Authors: Geng Ryan , Sibbald R. Gary
Published: January 2024

Acne vulgaris is a common chronic skin condition characterized by variable combinations of papules, pustules, cysts, and nodules that invariably arise from comedones. This article focuses on the clinical presentation of acne vulgaris subtypes and treatment options. Other related topics discussed include epidemiology and differential diagnoses.

GENERAL PURPOSE

To review the clinical presentation and treatment of acne vulgaris.

TARGET AUDIENCE

This continuing education activity is intended for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses with an interest in skin and wound care.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES

After participating in this educational activity, the participant will:

1. Identify a differential diagnosis of acne vulgaris.

2. Recognize clinical feature of various acne vulgaris subtypes.

3. Specify epidemiologic characteristics of acne vulgaris.

4. Select topical, systemic, and nonpharmaceutical treatment options for a patient with acne vulgaris.
Developing a Practical Tool for Predicting Wound Healing Outcomes of Patients with Diabetic Forefoot Ulcers: Focus on Vasculopathy and Infection
Authors: Moon Kyung-Chul , Cha Ji-Hwan , Han Seung-Kyu , Son Ji-Won
Published: January 2024

OBJECTIVE

To develop a preliminary risk scoring system to predict the prognosis of patients with diabetic forefoot ulcers based on the severity of vasculopathy and infection, which are the major risk factors for amputation.

METHODS

Forefoot was defined as the distal part of the foot composed of the metatarsal bones and phalanges and associated soft tissue structures. The degree of vasculopathy was graded as V0, V1, or V2 according to transcutaneous partial oxygen tension values and toe pressure. The degree of infection was graded as I0, I1, or I2 according to tissue and bone biopsy culture results. The risk scores were calculated by adding the scores for the degree of vasculopathy and infection and ranged from 0 to 4. Wound healing outcomes were graded as healed without amputation, minor amputation, or major amputation. The authors evaluated wound healing outcomes according to risk scores.

RESULTS

As the risk score increased, the proportion of patients who underwent both major and minor amputations increased (P < .001). In the multivariate logistic analysis, the odds ratios of amputation also increased as the risk score increased. Patients with a risk score of 4 were 75- and 19-fold more likely to undergo major and minor amputations, respectively, than patients with a risk score of 0 (P = .006 and P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The risk score can be used as an indicator to predict the probability of amputation in patients with diabetic forefoot ulcers.
Outpatient Foot-Sparing Surgery Is Safe in Selected Patients with Diabetic Foot Infections
Authors: Aragón-Sánchez Javier , Víquez-Molina Gerardo , López-Valverde María Eugenia , Aragón-Hernández Cristina , Aragón-Hernández Javier , Rojas-Bonilla José María
Published: January 2024

OBJECTIVE

To determine if outpatient foot-sparing surgery for patients with diabetic foot infections (DFIs) is associated with a higher rate of treatment failure or longer healing time.

METHODS

In this prospective observational study, the authors consecutively recruited a cohort of 200 patients with moderate and severe DFIs from the Diabetic Foot Unit of Hospital San Juan de Dios, Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social, San José de Costa Rica, Costa Rica from October 15, 2020 to December 15, 2021. They compared outpatients with those admitted. Cox univariate analysis was performed, with time to treatment failure and time to healing as dependent variables and outpatient management as the independent variable.

RESULTS

Seventy-one patients underwent surgery on an outpatient basis (35.5%), and 129 (64.5%) were admitted. Sixty of 111 patients (54.1%) with moderate infections were treated as outpatients versus 11 of 89 (12.4%) of those with severe infections. Twelve (16.9%) of the outpatients and 26 (20.2%) of those admitted presented failure (P = .57). The Cox univariate analysis with time to failure of treatment associated with outpatient management reported a hazard ratio of 1.26 (95% CI, 0.64–2.50; P = .50), and the analysis regarding healing time reported a hazard ratio of 0.91 (95% CI, 0.66–1.25; P = .56).

CONCLUSIONS

Foot-sparing surgery on an outpatient basis was safe in more than half the cases of moderate DFIs, especially in patients with osteomyelitis. This approach is not associated with treatment failure or a longer healing time. Patients with severe infections, penetrating injuries, necrosis, or high inflammatory response and those with peripheral arterial disease who require revascularizations should be admitted to the hospital.
The Effect of Education Via Videoconferencing at Home on Individuals’ Self-efficacy and Adaptation to Life with a Stoma: A Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Özkaya Edanur , Harputlu Deniz
Published: January 2024

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of education via videoconferencing at home on individuals’ self-efficacy and adaptation to life with a stoma.

METHODS

A randomized controlled experimental study was conducted between November 2021 and July 2022 in an education and research hospital (face-to-face) and at the homes of individuals with a stoma (online). The study sample consisted of 60 individuals with a stoma: 30 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group. Study data were collected using the Individuals with Stoma Identification Form, Stoma Self-efficacy Scale (SSES), and Ostomy Adjustment Inventory-23 (OAI-23). After discharge, participants in the experimental group received educational booklets and education on stoma care in four video conference sessions. The authors analyzed the data using frequency and percentage distributions, χ
2 analyses, independent-sample t tests, Wilcoxon tests, and Mann-Whitney U tests.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference between the median pretest SSES and OAI-23 scores and the median posttest SSES and OAI-23 scores in the experimental group. At the end of the study, more individuals in the experimental group cared for their own stoma.

CONCLUSIONS

The education provided to individuals with a stoma significantly increased their self-efficacy and stoma adaptation scores. Hence, providing structured, continuous education on stoma care by nurses and using videoconferencing as an education method are recommended.
A Novel and Reproducible Classification of Cervical Dumbbell Tumors to Inform Surgical Approach and Reconstruction Techniques
Authors: Yang Minglei , Zhong Nanzhe , Lou Yan , Jiang Dongjie , Liu Yujie , Dai Zeyu , Wan Wei , Jiao Jian , Yang Xinghai , Xiao Jianru
Published: January 2024

Study Design.

A retrospective case series.

Objective.

This study developed a novel classification system based on imaging and anatomy to select optimal surgical approaches and reconstruction strategies to achieve total resection of cervical dumbbell tumors and restore spinal stability.

Summary of Background Data.

Total resection is necessary to decrease the recurrence rate of cervical dumbbell tumors. Previous cervical dumbbell tumor classifications are insufficient for determining surgical strategies, therefore, a practical classification is needed.

Methods.

This study included 295 consecutive patients with cervical dumbbell tumors who underwent total surgical resection. A novel classification of cervical dumbbell tumors was developed based on magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. Continuous variables were expressed as mean±standard deviation (SD) and were compared using an unpaired two-tailed Student’s t‑test. The χ2 test or Fisher’s exact test was used for categorical variables. Kendall’s W test assessed three independent raters’ inter- and intra-rater reliabilities on 140 cervical dumbbell tumors.

Results.

The inter-rater and intra-rater consistency coefficient was 0.969 (χ2=404.3, P<0.001) and 0.984 (χ2=273.7, P<0.001). All patients with type I and II tumors underwent single-posterior surgeries to achieve total resection. Of the patients in this study, 86.1%, 25.9%, 75.9%, and 76.9% underwent posterior surgeries for types IIIa, IIIb, IVa, and V tumors, respectively. All patients with type IVb tumors underwent a combined anterior and posterior approach. Posterior internal fixation was used for all patients in posterior surgery. Anterior reconstruction was applied for patients with type IVb tumors (20/20, 100%) and some with Type V tumors (3/13, 23.1%). The mean follow-up duration was 93.6±2.6 months. Recurrence was observed in 19 (6.4%) patients.

Conclusion.

We describe a novel classification system that is of practical use for planning the complete resection of cervical dumbbell tumors.
Related health burden with the improvement of air quality across China
Authors: Xu Huaiyue , Wang Qing , Zhu Huanhuan , Zhang Yayi , Ma Runmei , Ban Jie , Liu Yiting , Chen Chen , Li Tiantian
Published: January 2024

Background:

Substantial progress in air pollution control has brought considerable health benefits in China, but little is known about the spatio-temporal trends of economic burden from air pollution. This study aimed to explore their spatio-temporal features of disease burden from air pollution in China to provide policy recommendations for efficiently reducing the air pollution and related disease burden in an era of a growing economy.

Methods:

Using the Global Burden of Disease method and willingness to pay method, we estimated fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and/or ozone (O3) related premature mortality and its economic burden across China, and explored their spatio-temporal trends between 2005 and 2017.

Results:

In 2017, we estimated that the premature mortality and economic burden related to the two pollutants were RMB 0.94 million (68.49 per 100,000) and 1170.31 billion yuan (1.41% of the national gross domestic product [GDP]), respectively. From 2005 to 2017, the total premature mortality was decreasing with the air quality improvement, but the economic burden was increasing along with the economic growth. And the economic growth has contributed more to the growth of economic costs than the economic burden decrease brought by the air quality improvement. The premature mortality and economic burden from O3 in the total loss from the two pollutants was substantially lower than that of PM2.5, but it was rapidly growing. The O3-contribution was highest in the Yangtze River Delta region, the Fen-Wei Plain region, and some western regions. The proportion of economic burden from PM2.5 and O3 to GDP significantly declined from 2005 to 2017 and showed a decreasing trend pattern from northeast to southwest.

Conclusion:

The disease burden from O3 is lower than that of PM2.5, the O3-contribution has a significantly increasing trend with the growth of economy and O3 concentration.
Prevention and Treatment of Burn Scar Contracture: A Practical Review
Authors: Raborn Layne N. , Janis Jeffrey E.
Published: January 2024

Burn contracture affects close to one-third of all burn patients, leading to significant functional impairment and costs. Effective prevention and treatment strategies are necessary to decrease morbidity and unnecessary costs. This scoping review aimed to summarize prevention and treatment strategies used for management of burn scar contractures published in the literature since 2000. A comprehensive PubMed review was performed in October 2022 to identify methods of burn contracture prevention and treatments. Non-English, duplicate, and unavailable articles were excluded. Data were extracted including publication year, techniques, and outcomes. A total of 327 publications met criteria for inclusion. Most articles were published in 2011 (n = 22). Treatment strategies were discussed in 82.9% of studies, prevention in 16.5%, and both in 0.6%. The most common areas discussed included the upper extremity (n = 127) and neck (n = 102). Flaps were the most frequently used method (n = 208), followed by autografts (n = 89). Most preventative therapies were still in early stages of development. Burn contracture management requires a highly individualized approach with many available reconstructive techniques available. Further research is needed to improve prevention techniques and decrease morbidity and cost to patients.