bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kidney replacement therapy in COVID-19–Related acute kidney injury: The impact of timing on mortality
Authors: de Almeida Carlos Augusto Pereira , de Oliveira Marcia Fernanda Arantes , Teixeira Alexandre Macedo , Cabrera Carla Paulina Sandoval , Smolentzov Igor , Reichert Bernardo Vergara , Gessolo Lins Paulo Ricardo , Rodrigues Camila Eleuterio , Seabra Victor Faria , Andrade Lucia
Published: October 2024

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of the timing of KRT, dichotomized by a temporal criterion or by creatinine level, in patients with COVID-19–related AKI. This was a retrospective study involving 512 adult patients admitted to the ICU. All participants had laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and a confirmed diagnosis of AKI. The potential predictors were the determination of the timing of KRT based on a temporal criterion (days since hospital admission) and that based on a serum creatinine cutoff criterion. Covariates included age, sex, and the SOFA score, as well as the need for mechanical ventilation and vasopressors. The main outcome measure was in-hospital mortality. We evaluated 512 patients, of whom 69.1% were men. The median age was 64 years. Of the 512 patients, 76.6% required dialysis after admission. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 72.5%. When the timing of KRT was determined by the temporal criterion, the risk of in-hospital mortality was significantly higher for later KRT than for earlier KRT—84% higher in the univariate analysis (OR = 1.84, 95%, [CI]: 1.10–3.09) and 140% higher after adjustment for age, sex, and SOFA score (OR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.36–4.24). When it was determined by the creatinine cutoff criterion, there was no such difference between high and low creatinine at KRT initiation. In patients with COVID-19–related AKI, earlier KRT might be associated with lower in-hospital mortality.
Ecological and phylogenetic components of flatfish ectoparasites (Pleuronectiformes: Paralichthyidae) from the Southern Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Soler-Jiménez Lilia C. , Ocaña Frank A. , Hernández-Mena David I. , Centeno-Chalé Oscar A. , Aguirre-Macedo Ma. Leopoldina , Vidal-Martínez Víctor M.
Published: October 2024

For many years, parasite ecologists have debated the relative importance of phylogeny and ecology as drivers of parasite community structure. Here, we address this issue using data on the metazoan ectoparasite communities of different flatfish species. Twenty species of flatfish were collected along the continental shelf of the Southern Gulf of Mexico and examined for ectoparasites. Eight flatfish species were parasitized by at least one ectoparasite species. In total, 326 ectoparasites, representing 11 species (4 monogeneans, 4 copepods, 1 isopod, 1 branchiurid, and 1 leech) were removed from 1622 hosts examined. The highest prevalence (37.5%) occurred in Bomolochus sp1 from Trinectes maculatus, while the lower (0.1%) for Argulus sp., Gnathia sp. and Trachellobdella lubrica from Cyclopsetta chittendeni. Changes in the ectoparasite community structure per host species and region were evaluated using a Permutational Multivariate Analysis of Variance and represented by a multidimensional scaling analysis. Significant differences in the parasite species composition among regions and hosts were detected, but no significant interaction between regions and hosts occurred. A multivariate pairwise t-test detected significant differences in the parasite infracommunities between the Yucatan Shelf and the other two regions; in addition, significant differences were detected between C. chittendeni and the Syacium species as well as between Ancylopsetta dilecta and Syacium papillosum. In this case, there is no relationship between the patterns of ectoparasitic community structure and the inherent phylogenetic affinity of the hosts; instead, the variations in ectoparasitic communities are determined by a regional ecological component.
Quantitatively analyzing the college student employment policy in China based on PMC-index model
Authors: Cui Changming , Wang Kangyu
Published: October 2024

The employment policies targeted at university graduates, which are exceedingly valuable to the national human resource, are closely related to the national economy and people’s livelihood. The employment policies for college students are essential pathways for promoting high-quality job placement for graduates, making the review and evaluation of relevant policies exceedingly significant. This study analyzes the university-student employment policies issued between 1997 and 2023; the researchers utilize text mining and content analysis and refer to the policy indicators designed by existing scholars to develop an evaluation index for college student employment. A PMC index model was constructed to quantitatively evaluate 9 selected policy samples. The results indicate that P5, P6, and P7 have good consistency ratings; P8, P4, and P9 have acceptable consistency ratings; and P2, P3, and P1 have low consistency ratings. The average score for the 9 policy samples is 5.03, reflecting an overall satisfactory quality of China’s college student employment policies. By constructing a PMC surface, the model visually reveals certain deficiencies in China’s college-student employment policies in regard to policy design, policy tools, and policy content. This study provides countermeasures and proposals from aspects such as policy nature and policy measures.
DecentralDC: Assessing data contribution under decentralized sharing and exchange blockchain
Authors: Ke Wenjun , Liu Yulin , Wang Jiahao , Fang Zhi , Chi Zangbo , Guo Yikai , Wang Rui , Wang Peng
Published: October 2024

The issue of data quality has emerged as a critical concern, as low-quality data can impede data sharing, diminish intrinsic value, and result in economic losses. Current research on data quality assessment primarily focuses on four dimensions: intrinsic, contextual, presentational, and accessibility quality, with intrinsic and presentational quality mainly centered on data content, and contextual quality reflecting data usage scenarios. However, existing approaches lack consideration for the behavior of data within specific application scenarios, which encompasses the degree of participation and support of data within a given scenario, offering valuable insights for optimizing resource deployment and business processes. In response, this paper proposes a data contribution assessment method based on maximal sequential patterns of behavior paradigms (DecentralDC). DecentralDC is composed of three steps: (1) mining the maximal sequential patterns of sharing and exchange behavior paradigms; (2) determining the weights of these paradigms; (3) calculating the contribution of sharing and exchange databases combined with data volume. To validate our approach, two sharing and exchange scenarios of different scales are established. The experimental results in two scenarios validate the effectiveness of our method and demonstrate a significant reduction in cumulative regret and regret rate in data pricing due to the introduction of data contribution. Specifically, compared to the most competitive baseline, the improvements of mean average precision in two scenarios are 6% and 8%. The code and simulation scenarios have been open-sourced and are available at https://github.com/seukgcode/DecentralDC.
Engineered red Opto-mGluR6 Opsins, a red-shifted optogenetic excitation tool, an in vitro study
Authors: Shamsnajafabadi Hoda , Soheili Zahra-Soheila , Sadeghi Mehdi , Samiee Shahram , Ghasemi Pouria , Zibaii Mohammad Ismail , Gholami Pourbadie Hamid , Ahmadieh Hamid , Ranaei Pirmardan Ehsan , Salehi Najmeh , Samiee Dorsa , Kashanian Ali
Published: October 2024

Degenerative eye diseases cause partial or complete blindness due to photoreceptor degeneration. Optogenetic gene therapy is a revolutionary technique combining genetics and optical methods to control the function of neurons. Due to the inherent risk of photochemical damage, the light intensity necessary to activate Opto-mGluR6 surpasses the safe threshold for retinal illumination. Conversely, red-shifted lights pose a significantly lower risk of inducing such damage compared to blue lights. We designed red-shifted Opto-mGluR6 photopigments with a wide, red-shifted working spectrum compared to Opto-mGluR6 and examined their excitation capability in vitro. ROM19, ROM18 and ROM17, red-shifted variants of Opto-mGluR6, were designed by careful bioinformatics/computational studies. The predicted molecules with the best scores were selected, synthesised and cloned into the pAAV-CMV-IRES-EGFP vector. Expression of constructs was confirmed by functional assessment in engineered HEK-GIRK cells. Spectrophotometry and patch clamp experiments demonstrated that the candidate molecules were sensitive to the desired wavelengths of the light and directly coupled light stimuli to G-protein signalling. Herein, we introduce ROM17, ROM18 and ROM19 as newly generated, red-shifted variants with maximum excitation red-shifted of ~ 40nm, 70 nm and 126 nm compared to Opto-mGluR6.
Epi-SSA: A novel epistasis detection method based on a multi-objective sparrow search algorithm
Authors: Sun Liyan , Bian Jingwen , Xin Yi , Jiang Linqing , Zheng Linxuan
Published: October 2024

Genome-wide association studies typically considers epistatic interactions as a crucial factor in exploring complex diseases. However, the current methods primarily concentrate on the detection of two-order epistatic interactions, with flaws in accuracy. In this work, we introduce a novel method called Epi-SSA, which can be better utilized to detect high-order epistatic interactions. Epi-SSA draws inspiration from the sparrow search algorithm and optimizes the population based on multiple objective functions in each iteration, in order to be able to more precisely identify epistatic interactions.

To evaluate its performance, we conducted a comprehensive comparison between Epi-SSA and seven other methods using five simulation datasets: DME 100, DNME 100, DME 1000, DNME 1000 and DNME3 100. The DME 100 dataset encompasses eight second-order epistasis disease models with marginal effects, each comprising 100 simulated data instances, featuring 100 SNPs per instance, alongside 800 case and 800 control samples. The DNME 100 encompasses eight second-order epistasis disease models without marginal effects and retains other properties consistent with DME 100. Experiments on the DME 100 and DNME 100 datasets were designed to evaluate the algorithms’ capacity to detect epistasis across varying disease models. The DME 1000 and DNME 1000 datasets extend the complexity with 1000 SNPs per simulated data instance, while retaining other properties consistent with DME 100 and DNME 100. These experiments aimed to gauge the algorithms’ adaptability in detecting epistasis as the number of SNPs in the data increases. The DNME3 100 dataset introduces a higher level of complexity with six third-order epistasis disease models, otherwise paralleling the structure of DNME 100, serving to test the algorithms’ proficiency in identifying higher-order epistasis. The highest average F-measures achieved by the seven other existing methods on the five datasets are 0.86, 0.86, 0.41, 0.56, and 0.79 respectively, while the average F-measures of Epi-SSA on the five datasets are 0.92, 0.97, 0.79, 0.86, and 0.97 respectively. The experimental results demonstrate that the Epi-SSA algorithm outperforms other methods in a variety of epistasis detection tasks. As the number of SNPs in the data set increases and the order of epistasis rises, the advantages of the Epi-SSA algorithm become increasingly pronounced.

In addition, we applied Epi-SSA to the analysis of the WTCCC dataset, uncovering numerous genes and gene pairs that might play a significant role in the pathogenesis of seven complex diseases. It is worthy of note that some of these genes have been relatedly reported in the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD). Epi-SSA is a potent tool for detecting epistatic interactions, which aids us in further comprehending the pathogenesis of common and complex diseases. The source code of Epi-SSA can be obtained at https://osf.io/6sqwj/.
Seasonal effects of long-term warming on ecosystem function and bacterial diversity
Authors: Shinfuku Melissa S. , Domeignoz-Horta Luiz A. , Choudoir Mallory J. , Frey Serita D. , Mitchell Megan F. , Ranjan Ravi , DeAngelis Kristen M.
Published: October 2024

Across biomes, soil biodiversity promotes ecosystem functions. However, whether this relationship will be maintained within ecosystems under climate change is uncertain. Here, using two long-term soil warming experiments, we investigated how warming affects the relationship between ecosystem functions and bacterial diversity across seasons, soil horizons, and warming duration. Soils were sampled from these warming experiments located at the Harvard Forest Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) site, where soils had been heated +5°C above ambient for 13 or 28 years at the time of sampling. We assessed seven measurements representative of different ecosystem functions and nutrient pools. We also surveyed bacterial community diversity. We found that ecosystem function was significantly affected by season, with autumn samples having a higher intercept than summer samples in our model, suggesting a higher overall baseline of ecosystem function in the fall. The effect of warming on bacterial diversity was similarly affected by season, where warming in the summer was associated with decreased bacterial evenness in the organic horizon. Despite the decreased bacterial evenness in the warmed plots, we found that the relationship between ecosystem function and bacterial diversity was unaffected by warming or warming duration. Our findings highlight that season is a consistent driver of ecosystem function as well as a modulator of climate change effects on bacterial community evenness.
Decisional conflict and knowledge in women with BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants: An exploratory age group analysis of a randomised controlled decision aid trial
Authors: Kautz-Freimuth Sibylle , Lautz Zoë , Shukri Arim , Redaèlli Marcus , Rhiem Kerstin , Schmutzler Rita , Stock Stephanie
Published: October 2024

Female BRCA1/2 pathogenic variant (PV) carriers face substantial risks for breast and ovarian cancer. Evidence-based decision aids (DAs) can facilitate these women in their decision-making process on an individually suitable preventive strategy. However, there is a gap in previous literature exploring whether DA effectiveness varies according to women’s age. This is an exploratory subanalysis with a descriptive approach from a randomised controlled study assessing the effectiveness of a German decision aid (DA) for women with BRCA1/2 PVs compared to no DA use. From the original sample, women aged 18–40 years and >40 years and the intervention and control groups (IG, CG) within each of the age groups were compared regarding decisional conflict (using the Decisional Conflict Scale DCS) and knowledge at baseline and after DA use three and six months post study inclusion. The subanalysis involved 236 women aged 18–40 and 181 women aged >40 years. At baseline, both age groups differed significantly in all socio-demographic variables, except BRCA1/2 PV distributions. The younger age group displayed higher scores in the DCS subscale informed (p = .002) and higher knowledge (p = .010). Among the 18-40-year-olds, DA use (versus no DA) led to improvements in the DCS subscale informed at three (p = .025) and six months (p = .000). In the >40-year-olds, DA use (versus no DA) led to improvements in the DCS subscales informed (p = .028), values clarity (p = .028) and support (p = .030) and increased knowledge at three months (p = .048). These results indicate that both age groups benefited from DA use, but the older ones did so to a greater extent. This suggests that it might be useful to tailor DAs more closely to age- or life stage-related needs to enable more personalised care and support for women with BRCA1/2 PVs.
Harnessing explainable artificial intelligence for patient-to-clinical-trial matching: A proof-of-concept pilot study using phase I oncology trials
Authors: Ghosh Satanu , Abushukair Hassan Mohammed , Ganesan Arjun , Pan Chongle , Naqash Abdul Rafeh , Lu Kun
Published: October 2024

This study aims to develop explainable AI methods for matching patients with phase 1 oncology clinical trials using Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques to address challenges in patient recruitment for improved efficiency in drug development. A prototype system based on modern NLP techniques has been developed to match patient records with phase 1 oncology clinical trial protocols. Four criteria are considered for the matching: cancer type, performance status, genetic mutation, and measurable disease. The system outputs a summary matching score along with explanations of the evidence. The outputs of the AI system were evaluated against the ground truth matching results provided by the domain expert on a dataset of twelve synthesized dummy patient records and six clinical trial protocols. The system achieved a precision of 73.68%, sensitivity/recall of 56%, accuracy of 77.78%, and specificity of 89.36%. Further investigation into the misclassified cases indicated that ambiguity of abbreviation and misunderstanding of context are significant contributors to errors. The system found evidence of no matching for all false positive cases. To the best of our knowledge, no system in the public domain currently deploys an explainable AI-based approach to identify optimal patients for phase 1 oncology trials. This initial attempt to develop an AI system for patients and clinical trial matching in the context of phase 1 oncology trials showed promising results that are set to increase efficiency without sacrificing quality in patient-trial matching.
A novel approach to decision making in rice quality management using interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy Schweizer and Sklar power aggregation operators
Authors: Wang Ying , Khalid Usman , Ali Jawad , Binyamin Muhammad Ahsan
Published: October 2024

The Pythagorean fuzzy set and interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy set are the basis of the interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy set (IVPFS) which offers an effective approach to addressing the complex uncertainty in decision-analysis processes, making it applicable across a broad spectrum of applications. This paper introduces several aggregation operators within the IVPF framework, such as the interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy SS power weighted average operator, and the interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy SS power geometric operator using the notion of power aggregation operators through Schweizer and Sklar (SS) operations. The existence of SS t-norms and t-conorms in the IVPF framework for addressing multi-attribute decision-making problems gives the generated operator’s ability to make the information aggregation approach more adaptable compared to other current ones. The application of the proposed approach holds the potential to enhance crop yield, optimize resource utilization, and contribute to the overall sustainability of agriculture. Additionally, sensitivity and comparative analyses are provided to clarify the stability and dependability of the results acquired through this approach.
Black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in the Galapagos Islands: Native or adventive?
Authors: Adler Peter H. , Reeves Will K. , McCreadie John W.
Published: October 2024

Invasive species are a threat to ecosystems worldwide, but determining if a species is adventive or native is not always straightforward. The black flies that inhabit the Galapagos Islands, long known as Simulium ochraceum, are blood-feeding pests of humans and livestock. They first came to the attention of residents in 1989, suggesting a recent arrival. Earlier colonization, however, has been suggested, based largely on polymorphic genetic loci. To address questions of origin, provenance, and length of residency, we conducted a macrogenomic analysis of the polytene chromosomes of the S. ochraceum complex from seven sites in the Galapagos Islands and 30 sites in mainland Ecuador, Central America, and the Caribbean. Among 500 analyzed larvae, we discovered 88 chromosomal rearrangements representing 13 cytoforms, at least seven of which are probably full species. All evidence points to a single, cohesive cytoform with full species status in the Galapagos, conspecific with mainland populations, and widely distributed in the Neotropical Region. It has an identical, nearly monomorphic banding sequence with 10 novel fixed inversions and a subtle but unique Y-linked chromosomal rearrangement across all populations sampled in the Galapagos, the mainland, and the Caribbean. We recalled the name Simulium antillarum from synonymy with S. ochraceum and applied it to the Galapagos black flies, and we established that wolcotti is a junior synonym of antillarum. The time(s) and mode(s) of arrival of S. antillarum in the Galapagos remain uncertain, although the wide geographic distribution, including islands in the Caribbean, suggests that the species is an adept colonizer. Regardless of how long it has been in the archipelago, S. antillarum might have assumed a functional role in the streams of San Cristobal, but otherwise has had a detrimental effect on humans and livestock and potentially on the unique birds and mammals of the Galapagos Islands.
Validation of self-reported hypertension in young adults in the US-based Growing Up Today Study (GUTS)
Authors: Chen Jie , Hart Jaime E. , Fisher Naomi D. L. , Laden Francine
Published: October 2024

Background

Self-reporting is often used in large epidemiologic research to identify hypertensive participants, but its validity in young adults has not been sufficiently assessed. We aimed to validate self-reported hypertension diagnosis from questionnaires by using medical records among a sample of young adults aged 22–39 years in the Growing Up Today Study (GUTS), during a time of transition in national hypertension definitions.

Methods

A sample of 1,000 GUTS participants were asked for permission to access their medical records, to confirm their self-reported hypertension status on questionnaires from 2010 to 2019. Paired self-reported and medical record information was available for 318 participants. Medical records were reviewed by a clinical hypertension specialist. We evaluated agreement, kappa statistic, sensitivity and specificity of self-reporting. We assessed the correlations between blood pressure measurements self-reported on the 2019 questionnaire and those from medical records and compared the measurements using paired t-tests.

Results

The selected sample was generally representative of the full GUTS cohort. Agreement, kappa coefficient, sensitivity and specificity of self-reported hypertension were 85.5%, 0.72, 100%, and 75.3%. Although the absolute differences in blood pressure measurements between self-report and medical records were small (e.g., the average difference in typical recent blood pressures was 3.5/1.2 mm Hg), these measures were only moderately correlated.

Conclusions

Validity of self-reported hypertension was high in GUTS, ensuring use as an endpoint in future studies with confidence. We demonstrated that young adults likely without formal medical training are able to report hypertension status with reasonable accuracy.
Joint association of sedentary behavior and physical activity domains with depression in Korean adults: Cross-sectional study combining four biennial surveys (2016–2022)
Authors: Park Sungjin , Lee June-Hee
Published: October 2024

Although the increased prevalence of sedentary behavior and insufficient physical activity constitutes a global public health concern, there is limited research on their effects on mental health. We investigated the combined association of sedentary behavior (daily sitting or reclining ≥10 h/day) and physical activity domains (evaluated using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, including occupational physical activity, leisure-time physical activity, and transportation-related physical activity) with depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, cutoff score: 10). This cross-sectional study utilized biennial data of 21,416 adults (age >20 years) from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey waves 7–9 (2016–2022). Joint associations were explored by combining sedentary behavior and each physical activity domain into four levels. Sedentary behavior and occupational physical activity increased the risk of depression, leisure-time physical activity decreased the risk only in men, and transportation-related physical activity showed no significant association. Logistic regression each physical activity domain revealed, for men and women, a significantly higher risk of depression in the sedentary behavior (+)/occupational physical activity (+) group than in the sedentary behavior (–)/occupational physical activity (–) group (odds ratio: 3.05 and 2.66, respectively). The sedentary-behavior (+)/leisure-time physical-activity (–) group showed a significantly higher risk of depression than the sedentary behavior (–)/leisure-time physical activity (+) group (odds ratio: 2.50 and 2.14), and sedentary behavior (+)/transportation-related physical activity (–) group also showed a significantly higher risk of depression compared to the sedentary behavior (–)/transportation-related physical activity (+) group (odds ratio: 1.83 and 1.61). With concurrent exposure to sedentary behavior, the occupational physical activity and lack of leisure time and transportation-related physical activity synergistically increased the risk of depression. Encouraging leisure-time physical activity, minimizing rigorous occupational physical activity, and reducing sedentary behavior may reduce depressive symptoms, and research into specific domains of sedentary behavior and the quantity and quality of transportation-related physical activity is needed.
Altitudinal variation in reproductive investment among Gryllus campestris populations
Authors: Martínez-Viejo David , Rodríguez-Muñoz Rolando , Ojanguren Alfredo F.
Published: October 2024

Life history traits determine the organismal abundance within a population and are affected by the presence of trade-offs that modify relationships between traits. These relationships can vary across different environments either by local adaptation or phenotypic plasticity. Reproductive traits have direct fitness implications and therefore are suitable to study among population variation linked to environmental differences. Factors such as altitude are often related to differences in key physical factors like ambient temperature or the subsequent duration of the suitable period for annual activity. The aim of this work was to compare reproductive investment in females of the field cricket Gryllus campestris originated from different altitudes, but without identifying the components (genetic vs. phenotypic) of the analysed variables. This species has an annual cycle; after a winter diapause, adults emerge to breed by early mid spring to produce a new generation of nymphs. The study used females collected at the start of the 2021 breeding season, from 10 populations living in the Cantabrian region (Northern Spain). Five of them were located in areas under 170m a.s.l. and the other five above 1100m. Females were allowed to mate with a male from the same population and to lay eggs that we then collected to estimate egg mass and laying rate; both traits were analysed controlling for female size. We found no effect of altitude on any of the three measured traits, female size, egg mass, and laying rate, as well as on the relationships between each pair or traits. Our results suggest that this species is tolerant to environmental variation for the measured traits, showing that it has mechanisms to cope with a range of ambient temperatures.
Factors associated with COVID-19 infection in pregnant women: Focusing on maternal anxiety
Authors: Jeong Wonjeong , Kim Bora , Hong Shin Hee , Cho Eunsang , Kim Suk Young , Moon Jong Youn
Published: October 2024

Objective

Given the critical importance of maternal mental health for the well-being of both the mother and fetus, it is essential to thoroughly investigate the impact of COVID-19 infection on mental health. This study aims to identify the factors associated with COVID-19 infection and mental health, underscoring the necessity of effective mental health management for pregnant women.

Methods

Data were analyzed from 97 pregnant women who visited Gachon University Gil hospital in South Korea. Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infection status was categorized based on whether the infection occurred during pregnancy. Maternal anxiety, the dependent variable, was measured using the state anxiety scale of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between COVID-19 infection and anxiety.

Results

Among the 97 pregnant women, 50 (51.5%) experienced anxiety. Of those infected with COVID-19, 31 (64.6%) experienced anxiety. The mean anxiety score was significantly higher in pregnant women with COVID-19 infection compared to those without infection (Infected: Mean = 46.35, SD = 13.85; Non-infected: Mean = 39.59, SD = 10.58, p-value:0.008). Maternal depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder were significantly higher in pregnant women with COVID-19 infection, while fetal attachment showed no significant difference. Pregnant women infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy were more likely to experience anxiety compared to non-infected women (Adjusted OR = 9.37; 95% CI = 1.39–63.12).

Conclusion

This study highlights that pregnant women infected with COVID-19 are more likely to experience elevated levels of anxiety, emphasizing the critical importance of addressing mental health among pregnant women. The insights from this study could provide valuable guidance for policymaking, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to manage mental health in pregnant women and mitigate the risk of adverse outcomes.
‘Patera syndrome’ during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Canary Islands (Spain)
Authors: Pisos-Álamo Elena , Hernández-Cabrera Michele , López-Delgado Laura , Jaén-Sánchez Nieves , Betancort-Plata Christian , Lavilla Salgado Carmen , Suárez-Hormiga Laura , Briega-Molina Marta , Carranza-Rodríguez Cristina , Bolaños-Rivero Margarita , Hernández-Betancor Araceli , Pérez-Arellano José-Luis
Published: October 2024

Background

The number of migrants arriving on the shores of the Canary Islands continues to increase. The conditions under which the crossing is made, in small crowded, unsanitary boats (pateras or cayucos), have many and significant health problems.

Objective

To describe the demographic, clinical, microbiological characteristics and evolution of a series of patients who recently arrived by patera and required hospitalization.

Patients and methods

This observational, cross-sectional, and retrospective study included all patients newly arrived in Gran Canaria (Spain) by patera or cayuco from 2020 to 2022. Acute patera syndrome (APS) was defined as one or more of the following: dehydration, hypothermia, shock or rhabdomyolysis. Skin and soft tissue or musculoskeletal patera syndrome (SSTMSPS) was defined as conditions characterized by lesions of the skin, subcutaneous tissue, bone, or joint, excluding superficial erosions.

Results

During the study period, 193 migrants were admitted, mostly males with a median age of 23 years from West Africa. A total of 36.99% presented with APS with a single diagnostic criterion (most commonly dehydration, 86.9%), 11.56% with SSTMPS and 51.44% with both syndromes. A total of 109 patients presented with SSTMSPS, the most common being lower extremity ulcers. The most frequently isolated microorganisms were gram-negative (i.e. Shewanella algae). The McMahon score effectively predicted the need for renal replacement therapy in cases of rhabdomyolysis. Twenty patients presented with pneumomediastinum, which was benign. SARS-CoV-2 infection was not a problem in any of them. Surgical intervention was required in 22% of cases, including 8 amputations, all of which were minor. No patient died during admission.

Conclusion

Patera syndrome has specific characteristics that should be identified promptly to initiate the most effective treatment for optimal outcomes.
Comparison of bilateral ligaments after unilateral anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: Based on magnetic resonance imaging analysis
Authors: Huang Zirong , Liang Jiamin , Gao Hongliang , Chen Kan , Zhong Mingjin , Zhu Weimin
Published: October 2024

Objective

This study quantitatively assessed postoperative changes in graft inclination angle and femorotibial position after ACL reconstruction using MRI, to identify reliable indicators for evaluating knee stability.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 50 cases of ACL reconstruction from June 2019 to June 2020 included clinical outcome measures. MRI assessed graft/ACL inclination angles, medial/lateral anterior tibial translation (ATT), and femoral/tibial rotation angles on both surgical and contralateral sides. Femorotibial angle (FTA) and rotational tibial subluxation (RTS) were calculated for comparing MRI results.

Results

Following ACL reconstruction, graft inclination angles, ATT, and FA/TA were significantly greater than those of the contralateral knee joint (P<0.05). FTA and RTS did not differ significantly between sides, but exhibited significant correlation.

Conclusions

Graft inclination angles could not fully recover to normal levels post-ACL reconstruction, while notable medial/lateral ATT occurred on the surgical side. Additionally, a significant correlation was observed between FTA and RTS, suggesting their potential as combined clinical indicators for assessing knee joint rotation stability.
Analisis Metode Geolistrik 2D dan VLF-EM untuk Mendeteksi Jalur Air Panas Desa Jatimulyo, Kecamatan Jati Agung, Kabupaten Lampung Selatan
Authors: Putri Uci Amelia , Paembonan Andri Yadi , Antosia Risky Martin , Irawati Selvi Misna
Published: October 2024

Indonesia terletak pada pertemuan tiga Lempeng Tektonik yang merupakan zona rawan terjadinya letusan gunung api dan gempa tektonik sehingga banyak terdapat sumber daya panas bumi. Pada daerah penelitian Desa Jatimulyo terdapat manifestasi panas bumi berupa air panas, untuk itu perlu dilakukan survey geofisika berupa Metode Geolistrik 2D dan Metode Very Low Frequency Electromagnetic (VLF-EM) yang bertujuan untuk memodelkan litologi bawah permukaan dan mendeteksi patahan sebagai jalur keluar air panas. Metode Geolistrik 2D dilakukan dengan menginjeksi arus listrik ke bawah permukaan bumi sehingga beda potensial terukur dan didapatkan nilai resistivitas. Metode VLF-EM dapat mendeteksi arah dan posisi patahan dengan memanfaatkan frekuensi gelombang elektromagnetik yang rendah sehingga penetrasi kedalaman lebih dalam dibandingkan metode geolistrik 2D. Kedua metode dikorelasikan sehingga terdapat empat jenis litologi batuan pada daerah penelitian, nilai resistivitas 1Ωm – 22Ωm merupakan lempung tufan, nilai resistivitas 23Ωm – 80Ωm merupakan pasir tufan, nilai resistivitas 23Ωm – 310Ωm merupakan top soil dan nilai resistivitas 81Ωm – 688Ωm merupakan batuan beku. Pada hasil pemodelan terdapat patahan dengan arah baratlaut-tenggara dan timurlaut-baratdaya yang menjadi jalur keluarnya air panas kepermukaan.
Effect of probiotics 'Bio-health' and foliar fertilization with zinc sulfate on growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)
Authors: Hussain Muter Hussain  , Zainab Hassan Thajeel
Published: October 2024

The experiment was conducted in a private field in Jaflawiya, Al-Mishkhab District, Najaf Governorate, for the spring season 2021, to study the effect of soil application with probiotics Bio health and foliar fertilization with aqueous zinc sulfate on some vegetative growth characteristics and yield of okra Husainawia variety. The experiment was a factorial experiment according to Randomized Complete Block Design (R.C.B.D.) with 2 factors and 3 replicates. The first factor was ground application with probiotics Bio health at 3 levels (0, 2500, 5000 g ha-1) and the second factor is the foliar spraying of zinc in (ZnSO4.7H20) using 3 concentrations (0, 75 and 150 mg L-1). Both factors were applied 3 times during the growing season. The first application was in the stage of 4 true leaves and zinc was sprayed a week later. The second and third were 30 and 60 days after the first addition respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed and the averages were compared using the least significant difference test. Least Significant Difference Test (L.S.D.) at 0.05 probability level. The highest results were recorded in the treatment of adding the Bio health at a level of 5000 g ha-1, which led to the highest rates of vegetative growth indicators, quantitative and qualitative yield and chemical indicators, including plant height, leaf area, knot ratio, number of pods, total yield, nitrogen and phosphorous ratio in pods, zinc content in pods and protein % in pods. In general, the ground application of Bio health at 5000 g ha-1 with zinc 150 mg L-1 significantly outperformed most of the single and interaction treatments. It gave the highest significant increase in vegetative growth indicators, yield, chemical and qualitative indicators.
Parliamentary volatility in Dáil Éireann – unfreezing the Irish party system?
Authors: Domagała Katarzyna
Published: October 2024

The article provides an analysis of the phenomenon of parliamentary volatility during three consecutive terms of Dáil Éireann (2007–2011, 2011–2016 and 2016–2020). The study encompasses all personnel changes in the Irish parliament, including party-switching and replacements resulting from the expiration of mandates before the completion of the parliamentary term. To provide a broadercontext of the analysis, the article includes an overview of the main features of the Irish party system.The study demonstrates that from the perspective of classical systemic analysis, both types of fluctuations did not lead to significant changes in the party system or disrupt parliamentary arithmetic. More than half of the party-switching cases were a consequence of breaking party discipline. However, such formal provisions were not the primary cause of the second type of fluctuation – the expiration of mandates before the completion of the term.
A systematic catalog of studies on fetal heart rate pattern and neonatal outcome variables
Authors: Eenkhoorn Chantal , van den Wildenberg Sarah , Goos Tom G. , Dankelman Jenny , Franx Arie , Eggink Alex J.
Published: October 2024

Objectives

To study the methodology and results of studies assessing the relationship between fetal heart rate and specified neonatal outcomes including, heart rate, infection, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, and seizure.

Methods

Embase, Medline ALL, Web of Science Core Collection, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and CINAHL were searched from inception to October 5, 2023.

Results

Forty-two studies were included, encompassing 57,232 cases that underwent fetal monitoring and were evaluated for neonatal outcome. Heterogeneity was observed in the timing and duration of fetal heart rate assessment, classification guidelines used, number of assessors, and definition and timing of neonatal outcome assessment. Nonreassuring fetal heart rate was linked to lower neonatal heart rate variability. A significant increase in abnormal fetal heart rate patterns were reported in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, but the predictive ability was found to be limited. Conflicting results were reported regarding sepsis, seizure and intraventricular hemorrhage. No association was found between necrotizing enterocolitis rate and fetal heart rate.

Conclusions

There is great heterogeneity in the methodology used in studies evaluating the association between fetal heart rate and aforementioned neonatal outcomes. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy was associated with increased abnormal fetal heart rate patterns, although the predictive ability was low. Further research on developing and evaluating an automated early warning system that integrates computerized cardiotocography with a perinatal health parameter database to provide objective alerts for patients at-risk is recommended.
Subsistence and Resistance in the Consumption of Counterfeits in South Africa
Authors: Irwin Ronald H.
Published: October 2024

Considerable exploration of the manufacture of counterfeit goods exists in literature, however very little can be found on their consumption. In part due to its location at the confluence between the Atlantic and Indian Ocean sea routes, South Africa finds itself awash in counterfeit products. Constrained by corruption that drives undue enrichment, spiraling wealth inequality, and enforcement that cannot stem the influx of counterfeit goods, South African consumers face an ever-increasing likelihood of unknowingly purchasing counterfeit goods. This paper explores the research gap by leveraging a blend of media theory, semiotics, economic models, Fisherian hauntology, and personal qualitative interviews to better add to this under-researched area. By mapping both the market for counterfeits and the dangers that make research prohibitive, this paper is able to reveal the modes of counterfeit consumption; subsistence consumption and resistance consumption. Key findings indicate that an inflection point where subsistence consumption might become resistance consumption, and vice versa. These same key findings further suggest an as-yet unnoticed tension between the Kuznets Curve and the Easterlin Paradox. In this regard, this paper forges an opportunity for the field of public relations to become a significant voice in currently pressing issues of socioeconomic and geopolitical importance.
Application of microencapsulated phase change materials for controlling exothermic reactions
Authors: Shaddel Khalifelu Shiva , Hamid Naser , Rahimi-Ahar Zohreh , Seyedjabedar Nasim , Oroujzadeh Amirreza , Babapoor Aziz , Seyfaee Adrian
Published: October 2024

Thermal runaway is a frequent source of process safety issues, and the uncontrolled release of chemical energy puts reactors at risk. The design of the exothermic reactor faces challenges due to the selective sensitivity of the product to high temperatures and the need to increase the lifetime of the catalyst, optimize the product distribution, and improve the thermodynamic properties. Phase change material (PCM) encapsulation is recommended to reduce leakage, phase separation, and volume change problems. This work introduces encapsulated PCMs to improve reactor temperature control and minimize thermal runaway in exothermic processes. The warning temperature value setting effectively inhibits fugitive exothermic reactions and enhances heat transfer. When a sufficient quantity of encapsulated PCMs is input, the response speed will automatically accelerate. Spontaneous acceleration of the reaction rate due to thermal runaway of the reaction may be completely avoided by adding a sufficient amount of encapsulated PCM. Microencapsulation is used to control volume changes and inhibit thermal reactions. Preventive strategies include cooling, depressurization, safety release, emergency resources, and reaction containment. Encapsulated PCMs improve mechanical and thermal properties, surface-to-volume ratio, heat transfer surface, thermal capacity, and efficiency.
Wie ging es Trauernden in der Corona-Pandemie? Eine qualitative Studie
Authors: Blank Daniela , Baumann Klaus
Published: October 2024

Hintergrund: Die COVID-19-Pandemie führte zu Einschränkungen (Lockdown, Kontaktbeschränkungen, Maskierung, Restriktionen bei Bestattungen, etc.) für Angehörige von Sterbenden und Verstorbenen und ihre Trauerprozesse. Wie erlebten sie diese Coronabedingungen? Wie, von wem und in welchen Kontexten wurde ihren Bedürfnissen, auch nach Begleitung und Ritualen, begegnet? Wie sehen die Trauernden dies zum Zeitpunkt des Interviews?

Methode: Leitfadengestützte Online-Interviews mit 12 Trauernden (Wohnort: Deutschland), von denen jeweils ein oder mehrere Angehörige während der Pandemie verstarben.

Ergebnisse: Die Inhaltsanalyse brachte zehn Kategorien hervor, die das subjektive Trauererleben während der Pandemie beschreiben. Die Trauernden legen neben belastenden Faktoren auch unterstützende Faktoren dar – vor, während und nach dem Tod der nahestehenden Person. Gesprächsthemen waren besonders die Möglichkeit zum Abschiednehmen im Sterbeprozess, Ansprechpersonen, Beteiligung und Mitgestaltung der Bestattung, religiöse und spirituelle Bedürfnisse und Fragen, der Einklang pandemiebedingter Maßnahmen mit der inneren Wahrnehmung in der Trauer. Einige Trauernde stufen rückblickend ihre jeweils individuellen Abschiedsprozesse positiv ein mit Dankbarkeit und innerem Frieden – trotz pandemiebedingter Einschränkungen.

Schlussfolgerungen: Die Interviewten bestätigen das Bild der Beeinträchtigungen und Belastungen während der Pandemie und ergänzen es durch ihre Erfahrungen unterstützender Faktoren in ihren Trauerprozessen, die ihnen durch diese Belastungen hindurch in ihrer Trauer und Resilienz halfen, sowohl durch Personal in Pflegeeinrichtungen und Seelsorgepersonen als auch durch gesellschaftliche Bedingungen, die ihre Trauer nicht „exkommunizierten“ (Ariès).
Differential proinflammatory responses of colon epithelial cells to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide
Authors: Yılmaz Aysegul , Turk Seyhan , Malkan Ümit Yavuz , Haznedaroglu İbrahim Celalettin , Ucar Gulberk , Ozguven Sukru Volkan , Turk Can
Published: October 2024

Objectives

The study aims to compare the proinflammatory responses of colon epithelial cells to two potent virulence factors: lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2. Both agents are known to induce significant inflammatory responses, leading to severe clinical manifestations.

Methods

Human colon epithelial cells were treated with S protein and LPS at various time intervals (12, 24, 48, and 72 h). Cell viability was assessed, and the expression levels of key proinflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6) were measured using qRT-PCR. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess the data, incorporating t-tests and linear regression.

Results

The study found distinct patterns in cytokine expression in response to S protein and LPS. LPS treatment led to a rapid increase in cytokine expression at early time points (12 and 24 h), followed by a decline at later intervals. In contrast, S protein induced a more sustained proinflammatory response, with lower initial cytokine levels that persisted longer, particularly at 48 and 72 h.

Conclusions

The differential proinflammatory responses observed between S protein and LPS treatments highlight their unique impacts on colon epithelial cells. Specifically, LPS induced an early but transient spike in cytokine levels, suggesting a rapid but short-lived inflammatory response. Conversely, the S protein triggered a prolonged inflammatory reaction, which may contribute to the persistent symptoms seen in COVID-19. The findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying inflammatory responses in bacterial and viral infections. Understanding these differences can inform therapeutic strategies for conditions like sepsis and COVID-19, leading to targeted treatments that mitigate excessive inflammation and improve patient outcomes.