bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hot Instantaneous Temperature and Affect: Meaningful Activities as a Buffer for Older Adults With Low Socioeconomic Status
Authors: Lin Zhixuan , Chin David C W , Fung Helene H , Lay Jennifer C , Tse Dwight C K
Published: June 2023

Background and Objectives

Extremely hot temperature affects psychological well-being negatively, especially for older adults with lower socioeconomic status (SES). The objectives of this study are to examine: (a) the impact of hot instantaneous temperature on older adults’ emotional well-being and (b) whether meaningful engagement could reduce the above impact, particularly for those of lower SES.

Research Design and Methods

We conducted a quantitative time-sampling study during hot-weather months (May–September) in 2021 and 2022. The sample comprises 344 participants aged 60 years or older (Mage = 67.15, SDage = 5.26) living in urban areas of Hong Kong, where hot days (daily maximum temperature ≥33°C) accounted for 23% of the study days. Participants reported positive and negative affect, and engagement in meaningful activities, three times a day over a 10-day period, and wore sensors that tracked the instantaneous temperature of their immediate environment. Multilevel modeling was employed to examine the impacts on affect from temperature, SES, and meaningful activity engagement.

Results

Hotter instantaneous temperature predicted greater momentary negative affect and less positive affect immediately afterwards. Meaningful engagement significantly buffered against the affective impacts of hotter temperature, and this buffering effect was more salient among older adults of lower SES.

Discussion and implications

This study highlights the role of meaningful engagement in reducing the impact of hotter instantaneous temperature on older adults’ emotional well-being, particularly for those of lower SES. Meaningful activity engagement may be capitalized on, as a strategy, to reduce climate-related social inequality.
The accuracy of approximating P-wave traveltimes in orthotropic media using VTI equations
Authors: Asgharzadeh Mehdi , Ahmadi Pouya , Bóna Andrej , Urosevic Milovan
Published: June 2023

Analysis of azimuthally varying non-hyperbolic moveout of P-wave traveltimes in orthotropic media can provide valuable information for reservoir fracture characterization and seismic data processing. Moveout velocities and azimuthal orientation of the two vertical symmetry planes plus anellipticity parameters defined for the three symmetry planes of an orthotropic medium can be estimated from the inversion of P-wave traveltimes measured in long-spread, wide-azimuth seismic surveys. Several orthotropic moveout equations have been developed to this date that can be used in the traveltime data inversion. The accuracy of the inversion results is primarily determined by the complexity of the equation and the assumptions (i.e. elastic or acoustic) made to derive it. Here, we show that often simpler moveout equations derived for transverse isotropy media with vertical axis of symmetry (VTI) can be used to estimate anellipticity parameters of the orthotropic media with high accuracy. We make an accuracy comparison analysis between non-hyperbolic moveout equations that are widely used in modelling P-wave traveltimes in VTI media. Our comparison analysis is based on the accuracy of estimating anellipticity parameters defined for two vertical [η(1) and η(2)] and one horizontal [η(3)] symmetry planes of a wide range of orthotropic media. The anellipticity parameters are estimated from the inversion of numerical traveltimes that are generated for a single and horizontal orthotropic layer. We show that for the survey geometry used in this analysis, most of the moveout equations can produce reliable estimates of the anellipticity parameters η(1) and η(2). Despite the availability of traveltime data from wide-azimuths and long source–receiver offsets, none of the moveout equations can estimate η(3) as accurate as η(1) and η(2) estimations. We show that while all the equations produce mostly accurate estimates of η(1) and η(2), generalized moveout approximation (GMA) provides the greatest accuracy. We also assess the validity of using GMA to invert P-wave traveltimes for three anellipticity parameters in terms of anisotropy in the background medium, fracture weakness, source–receiver offset (group angle) and traveltime data coverage in both the vertical (dip) and horizontal (azimuthal) planes. We show that, for a reasonable offset range, GMA can be reliably used to estimate anellipticity parameters η(1) and η(2) for an orthotropic medium that is constructed by intensive fracturing of a host medium with strong VTI anisotropy.
Ecosystems and Ordering: Exploring the Extent and Diversity of Ecosystem Governance
Authors: Maglia Cristiana , Wilson Rowe Elana
Published: June 2023

This article argues that, to grasp how global ordering will be impacted by planetary-level changes, we need to systematically attend to the question of the extent to which and how ecosystems are being governed. Our inquiry builds upon—but extends beyond—the environmental governance measures that have garnered the most scholarly attention so far. The dataset departs from the current literature on regional environmental governance by taking ecosystems themselves as the unit of analysis and then exploring whether and how they are governed, rather than taking a starting point in environmental institutions and treaties. The ecosystems researched—large-scale marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems—have been previously identified by a globe-spanning, natural science inquiry. Our findings highlight the uneven extent of ecosystem governance—both the general geographic extent and certain “types” of ecosystems seemingly lending themselves more easily to ecosystem-based cooperation. Furthermore, our data highlight that there is a wider range of governance practices anchored in ecosystems than the typical focus on environmental institutions reveals. Of particular significance is the tendency by political actors to establish multi-issue governance anchored in the ecosystems themselves and covering several different policy fields. We argue that, in light of scholarship on ecosystem-anchored cooperation and given the substantive set of cases of such cooperation identified in the dataset, these forms of ecosystem-anchored cooperation may have particularly significant ordering effects. They merit attention in the international relations scholarship that seeks to account for the diversity of global ordering practices.
Des corpus aux bases de données… et retour. Quelle architecture pour une base de données socioterminologiques?
Authors: Delavigne Valérie
Published: June 2023

The fact is now accepted that specialised discourses do not deviate from the rules of language: variation in all its forms emerges from corpora. One of the questions that now arises is that of “implementing” socioterminological data in terminological resources: how can sociolinguistic diversity be integrated into a descriptive program? After reviewing the types of variation, this article explores an approach to integrating some of these data into a terminographic ressource. This will provide an opportunity to discuss the question of the interface with the corpus, which is no longer confined to a descriptive objective, but is likely to become a pivotal element of a database.
Double SSA spectrum and magnetic field strength of the FSRQ 3C 454.3
Authors: Jeong Hyeon-Woo , Lee Sang-Sung , Cheong Whee Yeon , Kim Jae-Young , Lee Jee Won , Kang Sincheol , Kim Sang-Hyun , Rani B , Park Jongho , Gurwell Mark A
Published: June 2023

We present the results of a radio multifrequency ($\rm 3{-}340~GHz$) study of the blazar 3C 454.3. After subtracting the quiescent spectrum corresponding to optically thin emission, we found two individual synchrotron self-absorption (SSA) features in the wide-band spectrum. The one SSA had a relatively low turnover frequency (νm) in the range of $\rm 3{-}37~GHz$ (lower νm SSA spectrum, LSS), and the other one had a relatively high νm of $\rm 55{-}124~GHz$ (higher νm SSA spectrum, HSS). Using the SSA parameters, we estimated B-field strengths at the surface where optical depth τ = 1. The estimated B-field strengths were $\rm \gt 7$ and $\rm \gt 0.2~mG$ for the LSS and HSS, respectively. The LSS-emitting region was magnetically dominated before the 2014 June γ-ray flare. The quasi-stationary component (C), ∼0.6 mas apart from the 43 -GHz radio core, became brighter than the core with decreasing observing frequency, and we found that component C was related to the LSS. A decrease in jet width was found near component C. As a moving component, K14 approached component C, and the flux density of the component was enhanced while the angular size decreased. The high intrinsic brightness temperature in the fluid frame was obtained as TB, int ≈ (7.0 ± 1.0) × 1011 K from the jet component after the 2015 August γ-ray flare, suggesting that component C is a high-energy emitting region. The observed local minimum of jet width and re-brightening behaviour suggest a possible recollimation shock in component C.
An autopsy case of anti-MDA5 antibody-positive amyopathic dermatomyositis with an initial manifestation of panniculitis on the left upper arm
Authors: Onose Takafumi , Kido Toshiki , Okada Ikuma , Yamazaki Miho , Hounoki Hiroyuki , Makino Teruhiko , Yamauchi Naotaka , Matsushita Takashi , Tobe Kazuyuki , Shinoda Koichiro
Published: June 2023

A 53-year-old man was presented with refractory panniculitis on the left upper arm that had persisted for 10 months. The patient was diagnosed with lupus profundus, wherein oral glucocorticoid therapy was initiated. Four months prior, ulceration was observed in the same area. Dapson was administered instead, scarring the ulcer but enlarging the panniculitis. Five weeks earlier, he developed a fever, productive cough, and dyspnoea. Three weeks earlier, a skin rash was observed on the forehead, left auricle posterior to the neck, and extensor aspect of the left elbow. Chest computed tomography showed pneumonia in the right lung, after which the patient’s dyspnoea worsened. The patient was admitted and diagnosed with anti-MDA5 antibody-positive amyopathic dermatomyositis (ADM) based on skin findings, hyperferritinaemia, and rapidly progressive diffuse lung shadows. Glucocorticoid pulse therapy, intravenous cyclophosphamide, and tacrolimus were initiated, and later, plasma exchange therapy was combined. However, his condition worsened and required management with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The patient expired on day 28 after hospitalisation. An autopsy revealed hyalinising to fibrotic stages of diffuse alveolar damage. Strong expression of myxovirus resistance protein A was observed in three skin biopsy specimens from the time of initial onset, consistent with ADM. Anti-MDA5 antibody-positive ADM not only manifests typical cutaneous symptoms, but also rarely occurs with localised panniculitis, such as in the present case. In patients with panniculitis of unknown aetiology, the possibility of initial symptoms of ADM should be included in the differential diagnosis.
Interpersonal brain synchronization during face-to-face economic exchange between acquainted dyads
Authors: Kikuchi Yuto , Tanioka Kensuke , Hiroyasu Tomoyuki , Hiwa Satoru
Published: June 2023

Interpersonal brain synchronization (IBS) has been observed during social interactions and involves various factors, such as familiarity with the partner and type of social activity. A previous study has shown that face-to-face (FF) interactions in pairs of strangers increase IBS. However, it is unclear whether this can be observed when the nature of the interacting partners is different. Herein, we aimed to extend these findings to pairs of acquaintances. Neural activity in the frontal and temporal regions was recorded using functional near-infrared spectroscopy hyperscanning. Participants played an ultimatum game that required virtual economic exchange in two experimental settings: face-to-face and face-blocked conditions. Random pair analysis confirmed whether IBS was induced by social interaction. Contrary to the aforementioned study, our results did not show any cooperative behavior or task-induced IBS increase. Conversely, the random pair analysis results revealed that the pair-specific IBS was significant only in the task condition at the left and right superior frontal, middle frontal, orbital superior frontal, right superior temporal, precentral and postcentral gyri. Our results tentatively suggested that FF interaction in acquainted pairs did not increase IBS and supported the idea that IBS is affected by ‘with whom we interact and how’.
Parental unemployment: a ticking time bomb for children’s adverse childhood experiences
Authors: Padillah Raup
Published: June 2023

Parental unemployment poses a significant threat to the well-being and development of children, acting as a ticking time bomb that can trigger adverse childhood experiences. To defuse this time bomb, comprehensive support systems must be in place, including financial assistance, emotional support, educational resources and social integration programmes.
Brief peer coaching complements daily digital messages for chronic disease prevention among young adult Latinas
Authors: L’Engle Kelly , Trejo Evelin , Landeros Adam , Zúñiga Sandoval Erika , Jauregui Jazmin , Yang Susan
Published: June 2023

Young Latinas face multiple health challenges that place them at high risk for chronic diseases. Digital health promotion interventions can offer education and support to activate self-care and preventive behaviors. This pilot study evaluated a brief, theory-informed, culturally tailored intervention, Examen Tu Salud, that provided daily text and multimedia messages and weekly peer coaching via videoconference to improve health behaviors among young adult Latina women. Thirty-four participants who self-identified as Latina, female, and 18–29 years old were recruited from an urban college in Northern California to participate in a brief pilot test of the new intervention. Paired sample T-tests assessed health behavior and health activation changes from baseline to 1 month follow-up. Program participation and satisfaction were analyzed to assess feasibility of the intervention. Among 31 participants (91% completion), there were medium to large improvements in health outcomes. Confidence in preventing and managing one’s health (t[30] = 5.18, p < .001, d = 0.93), days of moderate-intensity physical activity (t[30] = 3.50, p < .001, d = 0.63), and fruit (t[30] = 3.32, p = .001, d = 0.60) and vegetable (t[30] = 2.04, p = .025, d = 0.37) consumption in a typical day increased. Intervention satisfaction and engagement with health coaches was high. We found that a brief digital coaching intervention designed for young adult Latinas has the potential to improve health activation and behaviors. More attention is needed to prevent chronic conditions among a growing number of Latinos in the USA.
Hearing and Functioning in Everyday Life Questionnaire: Development and Validation of an ICF-Based Instrument
Authors: Karlsson Elin , Mäki-Torkko Elina , Granberg Sarah , Widén Stephen , Manchaiah Vinaya , Swarnalatha Nagaraj Vinay , Pichora-Fuller Kathleen M. , Selb Melissa , Swanepoel De Wet , Yerraguntla Krishna , Gustafsson Johanna
Published: June 2023

Objectives:

Self-assessment instruments are commonly used in audiological rehabilitation. However, several studies highlight the lack of multidimensionality in existing outcome measures, with the consequence that they only partially capture aspects of functioning in everyday life for people living with hearing loss. This study aimed to develop and investigate the content validity of a self-assessment instrument based on the validated Brief International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health Core Set for Hearing Loss.

Design:

The design was a two-part instrument development study. The first part focused on the item-generation process of the instrument, named the Hearing and Functioning in Everyday Life Questionnaire (HFEQ) during an experts’ workshop. The second part focused on international content validation of the instrument using group interviews. Strategic sampling was used and 30 adults with hearing loss from India, South Africa, and the United States participated in the group interviews.

Results:

The expert’s workshop resulted in the first version of the HFEQ containing 30 items. The results from group interviews show that the content of the HFEQ was considered to be valid concerning its relevance, comprehensiveness, and comprehensibility. A majority (73%) of the HFEQ items were perceived by the participants as relevant and easy to comprehend. For the remaining 27% of the items, the content was perceived to be relevant in all countries, but some terms and expressions were reported to require rewording or clearer examples. These modifications will be made in the next step of the development process.

Conclusion:

Content validation of the HFEQ demonstrates promising results, with participants perceiving the content as relevant and comprehensible. Further psychometric validation is required to investigate other psychometric properties, such as construct validity and reliability. The HFEQ has the potential to become a valuable new instrument for assessing everyday functioning in people with hearing loss in audiological rehabilitation and in research.
Effect of Cervical Stenosis and Rate of Impact on Risk of Spinal Cord Injury During Whiplash Injury
Authors: Harinathan Balaji , Jebaseelan Davidson , Yoganandan Narayan , Vedantam Aditya
Published: June 2023

Study Design.

Finite Element Study.

Objective.

To determine the risk of spinal cord injury with pre-existing cervical stenosis during a whiplash injury.

Summary of Background Data.

Patients with cervical spinal stenosis are often cautioned on the potential increased risk of spinal cord injury (SCI) from minor trauma such as rear impact whiplash injuries. However, there is no consensus on the degree of canal stenosis or the rate of impact that predisposes cervical SCI from minor trauma.

Methods.

A previously validated three-dimensional finite element model of the human head-neck complex with the spinal cord and activated cervical musculature was used. Rear impact acceleration was applied at 1.8 m/s and 2.6 m/s. Progressive spinal stenosis was simulated at the C5 to C6 segment, from 14 mm to 6 mm, at 2 mm intervals of ventral disk protrusion. Spinal cord von Mises stress and maximum principal strain were extracted and normalized with respect to the 14 mm spine at each cervical spine level from C2 to C7.

Results.

The mean segmental range of motion was 7.3 degrees at 1.8 m/s and 9.3 degrees at 2.6 m/s. Spinal cord stress above the threshold for SCI was noted at C5 to C6 for 6 mm stenosis at 1.8 m/s and 2.6 m/s. The segment (C6–C7) inferior to the level of maximum stenosis also showed increasing stress and strain with a higher rate of impact. For 8 mm stenosis, spinal cord stress exceeded SCI thresholds only at 2.6 m/s. Spinal cord strain above SCI thresholds were only noted in the 6 mm stenosis model at 2.6 m/s.

Conclusion.

Increased spinal stenosis and rate of impact are associated with greater magnitude and spatial distribution of spinal cord stress and strain during a whiplash injury. Spinal canal stenosis of 6 mm was associated with consistent elevation of spinal cord stress and strain above SCI thresholds at 2.6 m/s.
Association Between Lenke Classification, The Extent of Lumbar Spinal Fusion, and Health-Related Quality of Life After Instrumented Spinal Fusion for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Authors: Frantzén Aron , Suominen Eetu N. , Saarinen Antti J. , Ponkilainen Ville , Syvänen Johanna , Helenius Linda , Ahonen Matti , Helenius Ilkka
Published: June 2023

Study Design.

Prospective cohort study.

Summary of Background Data.

Lenke classification is used to define the curve type in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). The association of Lenke classification and long-term postoperative health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remains unclear.

Objective.

The purpose of this study was to assess the association between Lenke classification and HRQoL in patients who underwent spinal fusion for AIS.

Materials and Methods.

In all, 146 consecutive patients (mean age 15.1 yr) operated for AIS between 2007 and 2019 with a minimum 2-year follow-up were included. Fifty-three (36%) patients reached the 10-year follow-up. Their HRQoL was assessed with the SRS-24 questionnaire preoperatively, at six months, two years, and 10 years after surgery.

Results.

The preoperative major curve was the largest in Lenke 3 (mean 63°) and 4 (mean 62°) groups and the lowest in Lenke 5 groups (mean 48°, P<0.05). These curves were corrected to a mean of 15° with no differences between groups. We found no evidence of differences between the preoperative HRQoL scores between the Lenke groups. The self-image domain of SRS-24 was lower in patients with isolated major thoracolumbar scoliosis (Lenke 5) when compared with double-thoracic (Lenke 2) group at the two-year follow-up (mean [95% CI] 3.6 [3.3–3.9] vs. 4.3 [4.1–4.6]). The postoperative satisfaction domain was lower in Lenke 5 group when compared with main thoracic (Lenke 1) group (mean [95% CI] 3.8 [3.5–4.0] vs. 4.3 [4.2–4.5]) and Lenke 2 group (mean 4.4, 95% CI 4.2–4.6) at the two-year follow-up. The mean total score of SRS-24 at the 10-year follow-up was highest in Lenke 1 group (mean 4.06, 95% CI 3.79–4.33) and lowest in Lenke 6 group (mean 2.92, 95% CI 2.22–3.61).

Conclusions.

Lenke classification and especially its curve type (major thoracic vs. major thoracolumbar scoliosis) was associated with long-term health-related quality of life after instrumented spinal fusion for AIS.
Perceptions and Proficiencies of Primary Care Physicians Treating Metabolic Syndrome: A Descriptive Survey-Based Study
Authors: Laszlo Nicholas
Published: June 2023

Introduction:

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a chronic condition that has been implicated in adverse public health outcomes worldwide, including in the United States. It has been linked to diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Little is known about the perceptions and practices of primary care physicians (PCPs) regarding MetS. The only studies examining this research topic were conducted outside the United States. The aim of this study was to evaluate the MetS knowledge, proficiency, training, and practices of American PCPs, for the purpose of informing future physician education initiatives directed at MetS.

Methods:

This was a descriptive correlational design using a Likert-scale questionnaire. The survey was distributed to more than 4000 PCPs. The first 100 completed surveys were evaluated using descriptive statistical analyses.

Results:

Cumulative survey results revealed that most PCPs perceived themselves as knowledgeable on MetS, but only a minority demonstrated an understanding of leading-edge MetS protocols. Ninety-seven percent agreed that MetS is a condition of concern, but only 22% reported possessing sufficient time and resources to fully address MetS. Only half indicated that they had received training in MetS.

Discussion:

Overall results suggested that a lack of time, training, and resources may pose the greatest obstacles to optimal MetS care. Future studies should aim to identify the specific reasons why these barriers exist.
The Relationship between Plastic Surgery Residency Instagram Characteristics and Doximity Rank
Authors: Huynh Christine , Wagner Ryan D. , Contractor Farah , DeGeorge Brent R.
Published: June 2023

Background:

Social media provides unique insight into the facilities, personnel, and culture of plastic surgery residency programs. Applicants can gain a more holistic view of programs based on their social media accounts. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between the popularity of a program's Instagram account and the program's Doximity ranking and to investigate the factors which contribute to greater viewership, with a special focus on diversity.

Methods:

Using Doximity's 2021-2022 Residency Navigator, a list of all integrated plastic surgery residency programs was obtained, and their social media accounts were documented. Instagram accounts were analyzed for metrics, post content, and website links. A 15-month period of posts was analyzed, then grouped into eight categories. Diversity was assessed using average Fitzpatrick skin type for each post containing photographs of people.

Results:

Of the 88 programs, 85 (96.6%) had an Instagram account at the time of analysis. Analysis of Instagram post content found that personnel and social function posts had significantly more likes than other categories. Posts with average Fitzpatrick type greater than or equal to III also had significantly more likes. Linear regression demonstrated a positive relationship between higher Doximity rank and number of followers; however, there was no clear relationship between rank and posts per week or engagement score.

Conclusions:

Plastic surgery social media accounts may make a positive impact on followers. It is important to understand the factors that can increase engagement and broaden viewership. Tailoring posts based on content popularity and highlighting diversity may help to accomplish these goals.
“Spin” in Observational Studies in Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator Flap Breast Reconstruction: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kim Patrick J. , Yuan Morgan , Wu Jeremy , Gallo Lucas , Uhlman Kathryn , Voineskos Sophocles H. , O’Neill Anne , Hofer Stefan O.P.
Published: June 2023

Background:

The deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap is widely used in autologous breast reconstruction. However, the technique relies heavily on nonrandomized observational research, which has been found to have high risk of bias. “Spin” can be used to inappropriately present study findings to exaggerate benefits or minimize harms. The primary objective was to assess the prevalence of spin in nonrandomized observational studies on DIEP reconstruction. The secondary objectives were to determine the prevalence of each spin category and strategy.

Methods:

MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched from January 1, 2015, to November 15, 2022. Spin was assessed in abstracts and full-texts of included studies according to criteria proposed by Lazarus et al.

Results:

There were 77 studies included for review. The overall prevalence of spin was 87.0%. Studies used a median of two spin strategies (interquartile range: 1–3). The most common strategies identified were causal language or claims (n = 41/77, 53.2%), inadequate extrapolation to larger population, intervention, or outcome (n = 27/77, 35.1%), inadequate implication for clinical practice (n = 25/77, 32.5%), use of linguistic spin (n = 22/77, 28.6%), and no consideration of the limitations (n = 21/77, 27.3%). There were no significant associations between selected study characteristics and the presence of spin.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of spin is high in nonrandomized observational studies on DIEP reconstruction. Causal language or claims are the most common strategy. Investigators, reviewers, and readers should familiarize themselves with spin strategies to avoid misinterpretation of research in DIEP reconstruction.
The 2023 Taiwan Stroke Society Guidelines for the management of patients with intracranial atherosclerotic disease
Authors: Lin Chun-Jen , Chung Chih-Ping , Liao Nien-Chen , Chen Po-Lin , Chi Nai-Fang , Lai Yen-Jun , Tang Chih-Wei , Wu Chia-Hung , Chang Feng-Chi , Luo Chao-Bao , Fay Li-Yu , Lin Chun-Fu , Chou Chung-Hsing , Lee Tsong-Hai , Lee Jiunn-Tay , Jeng Jiann-Shing , Lee I-Hui ,   Taiwan Stroke Society Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease Guidelines Consensus Group
Published: June 2023

Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is a major cause of ischemic stroke, especially in Asian populations, which has a high risk of recurrent stroke and cardiovascular comorbidities. The present guidelines aim to provide updated evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and management of patients with ICAD. Taiwan Stroke Society guideline consensus group developed recommendations for management of patients with ICAD via consensus meetings based on updated evidences. Each proposed class of recommendation and level of evidence was approved by all members of the group. The guidelines cover six topics, including (1) epidemiology and diagnostic evaluation of ICAD, (2) nonpharmacological management of ICAD, (3) medical therapy for symptomatic ICAD, (4) endovascular thrombectomy and rescue therapy for acute ischemic stroke with underlying ICAD, (5) endovascular interventional therapy for postacute symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis, and (6) surgical treatment of chronic symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis. Intensive medical treatment including antiplatelet therapy, risk factor control, and life style modification are essential for patients with ICAD.
Brood size in an uncertain world
Authors: James Alex , Hann Alexander , Holland E. Penelope
Published: June 2023

Reproduction in an uncertain world is fraught. The consequences of investing in too many offspring in a resource poor season can be disastrous but so too is missing the opportunity of a resource rich year. We consider a simple population and individual growth model and use Lyapunov exponents to find analytical results for the optimum brood size under stochastic environmental conditions. We show that if the environment shows dramatic changes between breeding seasons choosing a smaller brood size is more likely to be successful but the best strategy is to synchronize your reproduction to the food availability. Finally, we show that if the cost of having offspring is high it can be better to live in a highly varying world with a plastic strategy that synchronizes to the environment than to live in a deterministic world with a constant strategy, a finding with implications for invasive species and climate change.
‘Do I know you?’ Categorizing individuals on the basis of familiarity in kea (
Nestor notabilis
)
Authors: Suwandschieff Elisabeth , Mundry Roger , Kull Kristina , Kreuzer Lena , Schwing Raoul
Published: June 2023

Categorizing individuals on the basis of familiarity is an adaptive way of dealing with the complexity of the social environment. It requires the use of conceptual familiarity and is considered higher order learning. Although, it is common among many species, ecological need might require and facilitate individual differentiation among heterospecifics. This may be true for laboratory populations just as much as for domesticated species and those that live in urban contexts. However, with the exception of a few studies, populations of laboratory animals have generally been given less attention. The study at hand, therefore, addressed the question whether a laboratory population of kea parrots (
Nestor notabilis
) were able to apply the concept of familiarity to differentiate between human faces in a two-choice discrimination task on the touchscreen. The results illustrated that the laboratory population of kea were indeed able to differentiate between familiar and unfamiliar human faces in a two-choice discrimination task. The results provide novel empirical evidence on abstract categorization capacities in parrots while at the same time providing further evidence of representational insight in kea.
Classical spin Hamiltonians are context-sensitive languages
Authors: Stengele Sebastian , Drexel David , De las Cuevas Gemma
Published: June 2023

Classical spin Hamiltonians are a powerful tool to model complex systems, characterized by a local structure given by the local Hamiltonians. One of the best understood local structures is the grammar of formal languages, which are central in computer science and linguistics, and have a natural complexity measure given by the Chomsky hierarchy. If we see classical spin Hamiltonians as languages, what grammar do the local Hamiltonians correspond to? Here, we cast classical spin Hamiltonians as formal languages, and classify them in the Chomsky hierarchy. We prove that the language of (effectively) zero-dimensional spin Hamiltonians is regular, one-dimensional spin Hamiltonians is deterministic context-free, and higher-dimensional and all-to-all spin Hamiltonians is context-sensitive. This provides a new complexity measure for classical spin Hamiltonians, which captures the hardness of recognizing spin configurations and their energies. We compare it with the computational complexity of the ground state energy problem, and find a different easy-to-hard threshold for the Ising model. We also investigate the dependence on the language of the spin Hamiltonian. Finally, we define the language of the time evolution of a spin Hamiltonian and classify it in the Chomsky hierarchy. Our work suggests that universal spin models are weaker than universal Turing machines.
Mathematics meets the fashion industry on path to product innovation and sustainability
Authors: Magri M. , Ciarletta P.
Published: June 2023

Mathematics remains an endless source of inspiration for both the conception and the fabrication of clothes and fashion products. Over the last century, the prominent role of mathematics in the fashion industry has evolved together with the progress in computational resources and fabrication technologies. Nowadays, mathematics not only provides useful theoretical and computational tools to assist design and fabrication, but also acts as a catalyst of creativeness. This survey discusses the latest advances on mathematical models and methods in the fashion industry, restricting our attention to clothing design and multi-scale modelling, and their applications for digital manufacturing of textiles and garments. Particular focus is given to the usage of mathematics to drive product innovation and to reduce the environmental impact of the fashion industry in order to meet the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
Derivation of a macroscopic model for Brownian hard needles
Authors: Bruna Maria , Chapman Stephen J. , Schmidtchen Markus
Published: June 2023

We study the role of anisotropic steric interactions in a system of hard Brownian needles in two dimensions. Despite having no volume, non-overlapping needles exclude a volume in configuration space that influences the macroscopic evolution of the system. Starting from the stochastic particle system, we use the method of matched asymptotic expansions and conformal mapping to systematically derive a nonlinear non-local partial differential equation for the evolution of the population density in position and orientation. We consider the regime of high rotational diffusion, resulting in an equation for the spatial density that allows us to compare the effective excluded volume of a hard-needle system with that of a hard-sphere system. We further consider spatially homogeneous solutions and find an isotropic to nematic transition as density increases, consistent with Onsager’s theory.
Toward a universal theory of stable evolution
Authors: Ván Peter
Published: June 2023

The backbone of non-equilibrium thermodynamics is the stability structure, where entropy is related to a Lyapunov function of thermodynamic equilibrium. Stability is the background of natural selection: unstable systems are temporary, and stable ones survive. The physical concepts from the stability structure and the related formalism of constrained entropy inequality are universal by construction. Therefore, the mathematical tools and the physical concepts of thermodynamics help formulate dynamical theories of any systems in social and natural sciences.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Thermodynamics 2.0: Bridging the natural and social sciences (Part 1)’.
Social sciences and energy research interactions
Authors: Gunes Umit
Published: June 2023

Energy has had a definitive impact on human life throughout history. Beginning with the harnessing of fire, which offered warmth, improved shelter and more food, humanity's standard of living has been defined by the power derived from fuels and food. Access to energy is the briefest way in which to summarize the history of the world. Direct and indirect causes of war have involved access to energy, and the results of conflicts have been determined by who controlled the energy resources. Therefore, the scientific literature reveals very close interactions between energy studies and social science studies. The Scopus database contains about 118 000 publications in the fields of social sciences and energy. The current study aims to exploit this resource to identify the interactions that exist between the fields so that future research can investigate these more deeply and thus develop solutions to the problems of the modern world. The present article will analyse these publications systematically according to author, country, institution and year, in addition to examining the changes in keywords that have occurred in these studies over the years.

This article is part of the theme issue 'Thermodynamics 2.0: Bridging the natural and social sciences (Part 1)'.
Transconjugant range of PromA plasmids in microbial communities is predicted by sequence similarity with the bacterial host chromosome
Authors: Tokuda Maho , Yuki Masahiro , Ohkuma Moriya , Kimbara Kazuhide , Suzuki Haruo , Shintani Masaki
Published: June 2023

Nucleotide sequence similarity, including k-mer plasmid composition, has been used for prediction of plasmid evolutionary host range, representing the hosts in which a plasmid has replicated at some point during its evolutionary history. However, the relationships between the bacterial taxa of experimentally identified transconjugants and the predicted evolutionary host ranges are poorly understood. Here, four different PromA group plasmids showing different k-mer compositions were used as model plasmids. Filter mating assays were performed with a donor harbouring plasmids and recipients of bacterial communities extracted from environmental samples. A broad range of transconjugants was obtained with different bacterial taxa. A calculation of the dissimilarities in k-mer compositions as Mahalanobis distance between the plasmid and its sequenced transconjugant chromosomes revealed that each plasmid and transconjugant were significantly more similar than the plasmid and other non-transconjugant chromosomes. These results indicate that plasmids with different k-mer compositions clearly have different host ranges to which the plasmid will be transferred and replicated. The similarity of the nucleotide compositions could be used for predicting not only the plasmid evolutionary host range but also future host ranges.
Inoculum-dependent bactericidal activity of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis MmpL3 inhibitor
Authors: Berube Bryan , Deshpande Aditi , Bhagwat Amala , Parish Tanya
Published: June 2023

Indolcarboxamides are a promising series of anti-tubercular agents, which target

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

MmpL3, the exporter of trehalose monomycolate, a key cell-wall component. We determined the kill kinetics of the lead indolcarboxamide NITD-349 and determined that while kill was rapid against low-density cultures, bactericidal activity was inoculum-dependent. A combination of NITD-349 with isoniazid (which inhibits mycolate synthesis) had an increased kill rate; this combination prevented the appearance of resistant mutants, even at higher inocula.
The fall -- and rise -- in hospital-based care for people with HIV in South Africa: 2004-2017
Authors: Lauren Evelyn , Shumba Khumbo , Fox Matthew P. , MacLeod William , Stevens Wendy , Mlisana Koleka , Bor Jacob , Onoya Dorina
Published: June 2023

Background

ART scale-up has reduced HIV mortality in South Africa. However, less is known about trends in hospital-based HIV care, which is costly and may indicate HIV-related morbidity.

Methods

We assessed trends in hospital-based HIV care using a novel database: the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) National HIV Cohort. Our study included all adults ≥18 years receiving care in South Africa’s public sector HIV program from 2004 to 2017 with at least one CD4 count/viral load test in the NHLS database. We compared trends in the number of patients presenting for and receiving HIV care by facility type: hospitals vs. primary care clinics. We then assessed trends and predictors of incident hospitalization, defined as 2 or more hospital-based lab tests taken within 7 days. Finally, we assessed whether trends in incident hospitalizations could be explained by changes in patient demographics, CD4 counts, or facility type at presentation.

Results

Data were analyzed on 9,624,951 patients. The percentage of patients presenting and receiving HIV care at hospitals (vs. clinics) declined over time, from approximately 60% in 2004 to 15% in 2017. Risk of hospitalization declined for patients entering care between 2004-2012 and modestly increased for patients entering care after 2012. The risk of hospitalization declined the most in age groups most affected by HIV. Over time, patients presented with higher CD4 counts and were more likely to present at clinics, and these changes explained almost half the decline in hospitalizations.

Conclusions

The percentage of HIV care provided in hospitals declined as patients presented in better health and as treatment was increasingly managed at clinics. However, there may still be opportunities to reduce incident hospitalizations in people with HIV.

Funding

This work was supported by grant R01AI152149 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. NIH had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Global Longitudinal Active Strain Energy Density (GLASED): A Powerful Prognostic Marker in a Community-Based Cohort
Authors: Aung Nay , MacIver David H. , Zhang Henggui , Chadalavada Sucharitha , Petersen Steffen E.
Published: June 2023

BACKGROUND

Identifying the imaging methods that best predict heart failure risk, cardiovascular adverse events and death is crucial for tailoring optimal management. Potential prognostic markers include myocardial mass, left ventricular ejection fraction, myocardial strain, stroke work, contraction fraction, pressure-strain product and a new measurement called global active longitudinal strain density (GLASED).

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to assess the utility of a range of potential prognostic markers of left ventricular structure and contractile function in a community-based cohort.

METHODS

The impact of cardiovascular magnetic resonance image-derived markers, extracted by machine learning algorithms were compared to the future risk of adverse events in a group of 44,957 UK Biobank participants.

RESULTS

Most markers, including the left ventricular ejection fraction, had limited prognostic value. GLASED was significantly associated with heart failure, all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events with hazard ratios of approximately 1.4.

CONCLUSIONS

GLASED predicted major cardiovascular adverse events and mortality with the highest hazard ratios compared with conventional markers. The routine use of GLASED is recommended for assessing prognosis.

Graphical abstract
Proteo-genomics of soluble TREM2 in cerebrospinal fluid provides novel insights and identifies novel modulators for Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Wang Lihua , Nykänen Niko-Petteri , Western Daniel , Gorijala Priyanka , Timsina Jigyasha , Li Fuhai , Wang Zhaohua , Ali Muhammad , Yang Chengran , Marquié Marta , Boada Mercè , Alvarez Ignacio , Aguilar Miquel , Pastor Pau , Ruiz Agustín , Puerta Raquel , Orellana Adelina , Rutledge Jarod , Oh Hamilton , Greicius Michael D , Guen Yann Le , Perrin Richard J. , Wyss-Coray Tony , Jefferson Angela , Hohman Timothy J. , Graff-Radford Neill , Mori Hiroshi , Goate Alison , Levin Johannes , Sung Yun Ju , Cruchaga Carlos
Published: June 2023

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) plays a critical role in microglial activation, survival, and apoptosis, as well as in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis. We previously reported theMS4Alocus as a key modulator for soluble TREM2 (sTREM2) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). To identify additional novel genetic modifiers of sTREM2, we performed the largest genome-wide association study (GWAS) and identified four loci for CSF sTREM2 in 3350 individuals of European ancestry. Through multi-ethnic fine mapping, we identified two independent missense variants (p.M178V inMS4A4Aand p.A112T inMS4A6A) that drive the association inMS4Alocus and showed an epistatic effect for sTREM2 levels and AD risk. The novelTREM2locus on chr 6 contains two rare missense variants (rs75932628 p.R47H, P=7.16×10-19; rs142232675 p.D87N, P=2.71×10-10) associated with sTREM2 and AD risk. The third novel locus in theTGFBR2andRBMS3gene region (rs73823326, P=3.86×10-9) included a regulatory variant with a microglia-specific chromatin loop for the promoter ofTGFBR2. Using cell-based assays we functionally validated that overexpression ofTGFBR2increased sTREM2 and silencing reduced sTREM2, whereas modulatingRBMS3did not. The last novel locusNECTIN2on chr 19 (rs11666329, P=2.52×10-8) was independent ofAPOEgenotype and colocalized with cis-eQTL ofNECTIN2in the brain cortex and cis-pQTL of NECTIN2 in CSF. To our knowledge, this is the largest study to date aimed at identifying genetic modifiers of CSF sTREM2. This study provided novel insights into theMS4AandTREM2loci, two well-known AD risk genes, and identifiedTGFBR2andNECTIN2as additional modulators involved in TREM2 biology.
Autoencoder-based phenotyping of ophthalmic images highlights genetic loci influencing retinal morphology and provides informative biomarkers
Authors: Sergouniotis Panagiotis I. , Diakite Adam , Gaurav Kumar , Birney Ewan , Fitzgerald Tomas
Published: June 2023

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been remarkably successful in identifying associations between genetic variation and imaging-derived phenotypes. To date, the main focus of these analyses has been established, clinically-used imaging features. Here, we sought to investigate if deep learning approaches can help detect more nuanced patterns of image variability. To this end, we used an autoencoder to represent retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT) images from 31,135 UK Biobank participants. For each study subject, we obtained a 64-dimensional vector representing features of retinal structure. GWAS of these autoencoder-derived imaging parameters identified 118 statistically significant loci; 17 of these associations also reached genome-wide significance in a replication analysis that included 10,409 UK Biobank volunteers. These loci encompassed variants previously linked with retinal thickness measurements, ophthalmic disorders and/or neurodegenerative conditions (including dementia). Notably, the generated retinal phenotypes were found to contribute to predictive models for glaucoma and cardiovascular disorders. Overall, we demonstrate that self-supervised phenotyping of OCT images enhances the discoverability of genetic factors influencing retinal morphology and provides epidemiologically informative biomarkers.