bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Protein Intake after Intensive Care Unit on Discharge Destination for Critically Ill Patients: A Single-Center Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Katsumata Yoshifumi , Yatabe Tomoaki , Kuroiwa Hajime , Iwata Hideki , Oda Shota , Kawano Takashi
Published: July 2024

Introduction: Although nutritional therapy may be able to enable intensive care unit (ICU) survivors to return home instead of being discharged to a rehabilitation facility, post-ICU discharge nutritional therapy lacks investigation. This study evaluated the impact of nutritional therapy after ICU on discharge destination in critically ill patients. Methods: We enrolled consecutive adult patients who spent >72 h in the ICU from December 2020 to March 2023. The primary outcome was discharge destination. Energy and protein intake during the ICU stay and on days 7 and 14 after ICU discharge were evaluated. The target protein intake during the intensive treatment and general ward phases were 0.8 and 1.0 g/kg/day, respectively. Patients were categorized into home discharge (group A) and rehabilitation transfer (group B) groups. Factors affecting the discharge destination were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Results: Of the 183 patients included, 134 belonged to group A and 49 to group B. In group A, more patients reached the protein intake target than in group B. Logistic regression analysis identified achieving the protein intake target as an independent predictor of home discharge. Conclusion: Further studies are required to confirm the relationship between nutritional therapy during general ward and patient outcomes.
Impact of Renin-Angiotensin System Blockade on Mortality and Allograft Loss among Renal Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kung Chin-Wei , Lin Yi-Chih , Tseng Chi-Shin , Chou Yu-Hsiang
Published: July 2024

Introduction: The blockade of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has a beneficial effect on reducing the levels of proteinuria and blood pressure in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and reduces the risk of developing end-stage kidney disease in CKD patients. Nonetheless, a debate persists regarding the impact of RAS inhibitors on outcomes such as mortality and graft survival in renal transplant patients. To assess the effect of RAS inhibitors on graft recipients in the past decade, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: We searched Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Central Register of Clinical Trials from January 1, 2012, to August 1, 2022. We included 14 articles, comprising 5 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 9 cohort studies, including 45,377 patients. These studies compared patient or graft survival between an RAS inhibitor treatment arm and a control arm. Results: The meta-analysis revealed that RAS blockade was significantly associated with lower mortality in cohort studies (risk ratio [RR] = 0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.55–0.79), reduced allograft loss in cohort studies (RR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.54–0.71), and significant changes in systolic blood pressure in RCTs. Subgroup analysis of the groups of interest (interventions involving RAS blockade, follow-up period of ≥5 years) showed consistently reduced mortality (RR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.56–0.81) and reduced allograft loss (RR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.54–0.70). Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that the application of RAS blockade among renal transplant recipients was associated with lower mortality and allograft loss in cohort studies but not in RCTs. More powered clinical trials are needed to evaluate the effects of RAS blockade in renal transplant recipients.
Hyponatremia-induced epileptic seizure provoked by levetiracetam and pain medication intake in a patient with central diabetes insipidus
Authors: Nägele Herbert , Naegele Matthias P.
Published: July 2024

Introduction: Causes of epileptic seizures are often multifactorial but for an effective therapy they should be uncovered in detail.
Case presentation: We present a 67-year old male patient with a central diabetes insipidus, who experienced a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. The patient was treated with levetiracetam for prevention of further seizures, opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAID], i.e. ibuprofen because of severe back pain due to vertebral compression fractures. In this setting, he developed significant hyponatremia and experienced another epileptic seizure. After stopping analgesics and switching from levetiracetam to lacosamide, sodium levels returned to normal and the patient remained free of seizures since then.
Conclusion The interrelationships of medical therapy, sodium levels and epileptic seizures in the context of central diabetes insipidus are discussed.
Cholesin and GPR146 in Modulating Cholesterol Biosynthesis
Authors: Kim Jong-Won , Kim Yu Ji
Published: July 2024

Background: Cholesterol homeostasis in the human body is a crucial process that involves a delicate balance between dietary cholesterol absorption in the intestine and de novo cholesterol synthesis in the liver. Both pathways contribute significantly to the overall pool of cholesterol in the body, influencing plasma cholesterol levels and impacting cardiovascular health. Elevated absorption of cholesterol in the intestines has a suppressive impact on the synthesis of cholesterol in the liver, serving to preserve cholesterol balance. Nonetheless, the precise mechanisms driving this phenomenon remain largely unclear. Summary: This review aimed to discuss the previously unrecognized role of cholesin and GPR146 in the regulation of cholesterol biosynthesis, providing a novel conceptual framework for understanding cholesterol homeostasis. Key Messages: The discovery of cholesin, a novel protein implicated in the regulation of cholesterol homeostasis, represents a significant advancement in our understanding of cholesterol biosynthesis and its associated pathways. The cholesin-GPR146 axis could have profound implications across various therapeutic areas concerning abnormal cholesterol metabolism, offering new hope for patients and improving overall healthcare outcomes.
Exploring Biomechanical Correlates in Voice Analysis of Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Authors: Romero-Arias Tatiana , Hernández-Velasco Rocío , Betancort Moisés , Mena-Chamorro Patricio , Sabater Gálvez Lucía , Pérez del Olmo Adrián
Published: July 2024

Introduction: The predominant alterations in voice of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are phonatory instability, vocal asthenia and roughness, shortness of breath, hypophonia, and hypernasality. However, research on alterations of acoustic parameters has few studies and disparate results. The objective of this study was to investigate voice disturbances in patients with MS, both with objective measures (analysis of biomechanical) and subjective measures (scales and questionnaires). Methods: This is an experimental study with a total of 20 participants with MS. Voice samples were collected, and biomechanical correlates were analyzed through the Clinical Voice Systems program, Online Lab App. The VHI-30 (Voice Handicap Index) questionnaire, the GRBAS (grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, strain) scale, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used as subjective measures. Results: Ninety-five percentages of participants feel and describe dysphonic difficulties. Self-perception of vocal disability correlated with auditory vocal perceptual analysis in the sample of women. Conclusion: The biomechanical parameters showed alterations in the strength of the glottic closure, the efficiency index, and the structural imbalance index.
Beneficial Effects of Ketoanalogues on the Evolution of Renal Function and Bone Mineral Disorders in Patients with Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease: A Pilot Study
Authors: Kosmadakis Georgios , Necoara Aura , Fuentes Fanny , Ramade Nathalie , Baudenon Julien , Deville Clemence , Enache Ioana , Gueret Claudine , Haskour Abraham
Published: July 2024

Introduction: The supplementation with Ketoanalogues in patients on very low-protein diets has shown a favorable effect on the evolution of renal function. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the progression of renal function in advanced chronic kidney disease patients on a low-protein diet (<0.8 g/kg/d) with or without additional Ketoanalogues. Methods: The primary criterion is the evolution of the renal function at 6, 12, and 24 months for the two groups. The secondary criteria comprise the evolution of the body weight, mean blood pressure, 24-h proteinuria, salt and protein consumption, energy consumption, hemoglobin levels, serum albumin, prealbumin, C-reactive protein, liver function tests, serum electrolyte and phosphate levels, parathormone as well as calcium levels at the same time periods. Results: There was a significant nephroprotective effect of the Ketoanalogues after 12 and 24 months with no differences in the protein consumption between the two groups. Mean blood pressure, hemoglobin levels, 24-hour proteinuria, serum electrolyte, liver function tests, salt and protein consumption, and serum albumin and prealbumin did not present any significant differences. Serum bicarbonate and calcium levels were higher while serum phosphate and parathormone levels were lower in the Ketoanalogue group at all follow-up time points. During the 24-month follow-up period, 4 patients from the Ketoanalogue group and 8 patients from the control group quit the study. Conclusion: A low-protein diet supplemented with Ketoanalogues exerts significant nephroprotective effects and better bone mineral metabolism parameters compared to a low-protein diet only.
Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors use in patients with reduced kidney function hospitalized for fluid overload and heart failure: an observational study
Authors: Tan Shi Yun , Galang Lourdes Ducusin , Leong Ee Won , Huang Zhihua , Chin De Zhi , Sia Wan Jin , Kang Mei Ling , Tan Chieh Suai , Abdullah Hairil Rizal Bin , Lim Cynthia
Published: July 2024

Introduction: Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) is recommended in kidney disease and heart failure to reduce adverse clinical outcomes, but utilization can vary. To understand potential gaps in clinical practice and identify opportunities for improvement, we aimed to describe the prevalence and factors associated with SGLT2i prescription in patients with reduced kidney function hospitalized for fluid overload and/or heart failure.
Methods: Single-center observational study of patients with reduced kidney function (eGFR 20-59 ml/min/1.73 m2) hospitalized for fluid overload or heart failure between January 2022 and December 2023. Data was retrieved from electronic medical records. The outcome was SGLT2i prescription at discharge. Potential variables affecting SGLT2i prescription were identified during stakeholder engagement and evaluated using multivariable logistic regression.
Results: Among 2543 patients, the median age was 79 (71, 86) years and admission eGFR was 38.7 (28.4, 49.4) ml/min/1.73 m2. SGLT2i was prescribed to 630 (24.8%) patients at discharge. SGLT2i prescription at discharge was independently associated with cardiovascular disease (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.31-2.35), diabetes (OR 1.59, 95% CI: 1.19-2.14), fluid overload or heart failure as the primary discharge diagnosis (OR 1.71, 95% CI: 1.29-2.28), SGLT2i pre-hospitalization (OR 104.91, 95% CI: 63.22-174.08), RAS blocker (OR 2.1, 95% CI: 1.65-2.89) and higher eGFR (OR 1.01, 95% CI: 1.003-1.02) at discharge; but inversely associated with older age (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.96-0.98).
Conclusion: SGLT2i prescription at discharge was suboptimal among patients with reduced kidney function hospitalized for fluid overload and/or heart failure, especially in older age and more severe kidney disease. Additionally, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, primary discharge diagnosis of fluid overload or heart failure, prior SGLT2i use and concurrent RAS blocker at discharge were independently associated with SGLT2i prescription at discharge. Interventions are needed to increase clinicians’ knowledge and overcome clinical inertia to increase SGLT2i use in patients with fluid overload and heart failure.
Blood Volume Analysis and Cardiorenal Syndrome: From Bench to Bedside
Authors: Jefferies John Lynn , Stavish Cynthia Ann , Silver Marc A. , Butler Javed , Humes Harvey David , Strobeck John
Published: July 2024

Background: This review delves into the intricate landscape of cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) and highlights the pivotal role of blood volume analysis (BVA) in improving patient care and outcomes. Summary: BVA offers a direct and highly accurate quantification of intravascular volume, red blood cell volume, and plasma volume, complete with patient-specific norms. This diagnostic tool enhances the precision of diuretic and red cell therapies, significantly elevating the effectiveness of conventional care. Key Messages: Our objectives encompass a comprehensive understanding of how BVA informs the evaluation and treatment of CRS, including its subtypes, pathophysiology, and clinical significance. We delve into BVA principles, techniques, and measurements, elucidating its diagnostic potential and advantages compared to commonly used surrogate measures. We dissect the clinical relevance of BVA in various CRS scenarios, emphasizing its unique contributions to each subtype. By assessing the tangible impact of BVA on patient outcomes through meticulous analysis of relevant clinical studies, we unveil its potential to enhance health outcomes and optimize resource utilization. Acknowledging the challenges and limitations associated with BVA’s clinical implementation, we underscore the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration among cardiologists, nephrologists, and other clinicians. Finally, we identify research gaps and propose future directions for BVA and CRS, contributing to ongoing advancements in this field and patients affected by this complicated clinical syndrome.
Discordant High Remnant Cholesterol With LDL-C Increases the Risk of Stroke: A Chinese Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Han Minghui , Huang Keyong , Shen Chong , Hu Hongyue , Liu Fangchao , Li Jianxin , Yang Xueli , Chen Jichun , Liu Xiaoqing , Cao Jie , Chen Shufeng , Yu Ling , Zhao Yingxin , Wu Xianping , Zhao Liancheng , Li Ying , Hu Dongsheng , Huang Jianfeng , Lu Xiangfeng , Gu Dongfeng
Published: July 2024

BACKGROUND:

Previous studies focusing on assessing the effects of remnant cholesterol (RC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) on stroke may not consider their mutual influence. We aimed to explore the associations of RC and discordant high RC with LDL-C with stroke, ischemic stroke (IS), and hemorrhagic stroke.

METHODS:

This prospective cohort study was conducted based on 3 cohorts of the China-PAR (Prediction for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in China) project. RC was calculated as non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol minus LDL-C estimated by Martin/Hopkins equations. Concordant/discordant categories for RC versus LDL-C were determined based on cut-points of 130 mg/dL for LDL-C and equivalent percentile (32.50 mg/dL) for RC. Cox models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios and 95% CIs for incident stroke.

RESULTS:

Among 113 448 participants recruited at baseline, a total of 98 967 participants were eligible for the final analysis (mean age of 51.44 years; 40.45% were men). During 728 776.87 person-years of follow-up, 2859 stroke cases, 1811 IS cases, and 849 hemorrhagic stroke cases were observed. RC was positively associated with stroke and IS, but not hemorrhagic stroke, with adjusted hazard ratios (95% CIs) of 1.06 (1.02–1.10), 1.09 (1.04–1.13), and 0.95 (0.88–1.03) for per SD increase in RC. Compared with low LDL-C/low RC group, low LDL-C/high RC group had higher risks of stroke (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.02–1.30]) and IS (1.19, 1.03–1.38), while high LDL-C/low RC group had no increased risk of stroke (1.07 [0.95–1.20]) and IS (1.09 [0.94–1.25]).

CONCLUSIONS:

Higher RC was associated with increased risks of stroke and IS but not hemorrhagic stroke. Discordantly high RC, not discordantly high LDL-C, conferred higher risks of stroke and IS. Our findings support further lowering RC by interventions to reduce residual IS risk.
Gradual change of cortical representations with growing visual expertise for synthetic shapes
Authors: Kakaei Ehsan , Braun Jochen
Published: July 2024

Objective: Visual expertise for particular categories of objects (e.g., mushrooms, birds, flowers, minerals, and so on) is known to enhance cortical responses in parts of the ventral occipitotemporal cortex. How is such additional expertise integrated into the prior cortical representation of life-long visual experience? To address this question, we presented synthetic visual objects rotating in three dimensions and recorded multivariate BOLD responses as initially unfamiliar objects gradually became familiar.

Main results: An analysis of pairwise distances between multivariate BOLD responses (“representational similarity analysis,” RSA) revealed that visual objects were linearly discriminable in large parts of the ventral occipital cortex, including the primary visual cortex, as well as in certain parts of the parietal and frontal cortex. These cortical representations were present from the start, when objects were still unfamiliar, and even though objects were shown from different sides. As shapes became familiar with repeated viewing, the distribution of responses expanded to fill more of the available space. In contrast, the distribution of responses to novel shapes (which appeared only once) contracted and shifted to the margins of the available space.

Conclusion: Our results revealed cortical representations of object shape and gradual changes in these representations with learning and consolidation. The cortical representations of once-viewed shapes that remained novel diverged dramatically from repeatedly viewed shapes that became familiar. This disparity was evident in both the similarity and the diversity of multivariate BOLD responses.
The relationship between visual acuity loss and GABAergic inhibition in amblyopia
Authors: Ip I. Betina , Clarke William T. , Wyllie Abigail , Tracey Kathleen , Matuszewski Jacek , Jbabdi Saad , Starling Lucy , Templer Sophie , Willis Hanna , Breach Laura , Parker Andrew J. , Bridge Holly
Published: July 2024

Early childhood experience alters visual development, a process exemplified by amblyopia, a common neurodevelopmental condition resulting in cortically reduced vision in one eye. Visual deficits in amblyopia may be a consequence of abnormal suppressive interactions in the primary visual cortex by inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). We examined the relationship between visual acuity loss and GABA+ in adult human participants with amblyopia. Single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) data were collected from the early visual cortex (EVC) and posterior cingulate cortex (control region) of 28 male and female adults with current or past amblyopia while they viewed flashing checkerboards monocularly, binocularly, or while they had their eyes closed. First, we compared GABA+ concentrations between conditions to evaluate suppressive binocular interactions. Then, we correlated the degree of visual acuity loss with GABA+ levels to test whether GABAergic inhibition could explain visual acuity deficits. Visual cortex GABA+ was not modulated by viewing condition, and we found weak evidence for a negative correlation between visual acuity deficits and GABA+. These findings suggest that reduced vision in one eye due to amblyopia is not strongly linked to GABAergic inhibition in the visual cortex. We advanced our understanding of early experience dependent plasticity in the human brain by testing the association between visual acuity deficits and visual cortex GABA in amblyopes of the most common subtypes. Our study shows that the relationship was not as clear as expected and provides avenues for future investigation.
Appendicitis in the Neutropenic Patient: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kasprzycki Tomasz , Devito Melissa , Pina Nancy , Winston David , Gul-Muhammad Marium , Joyner Robert , Kowdley Gopal
Published: July 2024

Neutropenia increases the complexity of surgical decision-making in cases of acute appendicitis. In this systematic review, we discuss medical vs surgical management and timing of appendectomy in the neutropenic adult patient. We queried databases utilizing the key words “neutropenia” and “appendicitis.” The search identified 999 articles of which 481 articles were reviewed after duplicates were removed. Studies with pediatric patients, single case studies, and abdominal pain in neutropenic patients not caused by appendicitis were excluded. Seven studies remained in this review accounting for 130 patients, of which 28 were diagnosed with neutropenic appendicitis, and were included for final analysis. Four of the 7 articles were case reports, demonstrating the relative paucity of literature on this subject. Studies referred to the high risk of morbidity and mortality after surgical intervention in the neutropenic population, and attempting medical management first was common but not universal, reserving appendectomy for failure of medical management. Three studies suggested medical therapy as first-line management while 2 studies suggested surgical management and 2 studies did not distinguish a precedence. Both medical and surgical management have been successfully used in treating appendicitis in neutropenic patients. In most patients, medical management was attempted first (n = 16/28) vs immediate appendectomy (n = 7/28). Appendectomy was performed when medical management failed (n = 2/28) or after correction of neutropenia (n = 1/28). Timing or performance of appendectomy was unclear in 2 patients. With the increasing use of immunosuppressive medications, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and recent data from the CODA (Comparison of Outcomes of Antibiotic Drugs and Appendectomy) trial, medical management as a first-line treatment for most patients with neutropenia and appendicitis is warranted, and identifying a protocol for such patients would be of value.
The Effect of a Short-Term Mindfulness Program on Motor Skills and on Psychological and Social Behavior in Preschool Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Dorra Jalleli , Jarraya Sana
Published: July 2024

We assessed the effect of a one-week mindfulness-based intervention on resilience, social behavior, and motor skills in four to five-year-old children. In this randomized controlled trial, 45 children (22 females; 23 males; M age = 4.5, SD = 0.4 years) from the same preschool were randomly assigned to three groups: (a) a mindfulness group (MG; n = 15) that participated in five 30-min mindfulness sessions; (b) a physical activity group (PAG; n = 15) that engaged in five 45-min physical exercise sessions; and a control group (CG; n = 15) that received no intervention. Training sessions were held on five consecutive days. Prior to (T0) and after the five mindfulness sessions (T1), all participants blindly completed the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (to assess their motor skills), the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (to evaluate their behavior), and the Child and Youth Resilience Measure-28 (to measure their resilience). At baseline (T0), there were no significant differences between the groups. The mindfulness group experienced the strongest positive effects after the intervention (T1), with improvements in both motor skills and social behavior, though there was no significant effect on resilience. Our results suggest that a brief mindfulness training intervention is a promising strategy for improving motor skills and social behavior in early childhood settings.
Accumulating delay: Filipino Time, COVID-19 and experiences of male returnees in Cebu
Authors: Francisco-Menchavez Valerie
Published: July 2024

Unique to this paper is a gendered examination of return migration from the point of view of male return migrants. I analyze the perspectives of repatriated male migrant workers during their return migration in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a discussion of time as “accumulated delay,” I suggest that the (de)constructions of masculinity concerning overseas Filipino workers’ (OFWs) experiences of waiting and delay under repatriation and quarantine can be understood through the theoretical lens of immobility in migration research. I suggest that systemic delays in the circulation of global capital, necessitated by the global health pandemic, challenged migrant men’s cohesive narrative of migrant productivity.
Rewriting the Erased History of Blacks in New Orleans Urban Gardening and Farming
Authors: Broom Pamela , Kato Yuki , Roussel Shawn “Pepper”
Published: July 2024

Urban agriculture has gained prominence over the last decade in New Orleans, but the majority of the new gardens and farms that have emerged in the city since 2010 are neither culturally nor socially connected to the vibrant history of local food provisioning in the city’s Black communities. The history is tied closely to the region’s economic boom and bust, systemic oppression and segregation, and the cultural co-optation and devaluation of Black folk foodways in the city. By relying on the oral history to complement where the official or academic documentation has failed to capture the rich history of urban gardening by Black New Orleanians, this article demonstrates that the residents of Black communities in New Orleans once grew their own food, both as a form of collective efficacy and as a way of passing on horticultural knowledge and skills.
Foraging Educators as Vectors of Environmental Knowledge in Europe
Authors: Volinia Penelope , Mattalia Giulia , Pieroni Andrea
Published: July 2024

Widely accessible education on edible wild plants is increasingly in demand as more people search for ways to explore wild culinary uses. Despite this growing trend of nature exploration, few scholars have investigated the contribution of this new mode of engagement to human–nature connection and pro-environmental attitudes. Therefore, this research aims to explore the societal role of such foraging educators. Through convenience and snowball sampling, we recruited 31 foraging educators across Europe. Through semi-structured interviews, we inquired about their sources of knowledge, modalities of transmission and their roles as educators. The interviews revealed individuals who convey ethnobotanical knowledge to improve human–nature connection through experiences within nature. The educators gained their knowledge through written sources, vertical and horizontal sharing. Finally, foraging educators consider themselves social bridges of ecological knowledge, bringing scientific ethnobotanical information to a varied audience in an experiential way. Foraging stimulates the sharing of ecological knowledge, and it could be seen as a broader agroecological practice, enhancing the benefits of nature's contribution to people. There is great potential for emerging environmental education platforms and, correspondingly, for rethinking the food system.
Predicting viscosity for steelmaking slag: A stacking regression approach
Authors: Singh Manish Kumar , Singh Kaushal Kishore , Pal Snehanshu
Published: July 2024

The viscosity of steel slag plays a pivotal role in steelmaking, impacting various aspects of the steelmaking operation and product quality. This paper introduces a novel approach for predicting the viscosity of turndown slag from a basic oxygen furnace using a stacking regression model. The stacking model in this approach incorporates four base models: multiple linear regression (LR), random forest (RF), k-nearest neighbour (KNN) and AdaBoost (ADB), while random forest is selected as a meta-model. The selection of meta-models is done through a systematic framework provided for identifying suitable meta-models in a stacking model. Similarly, the framework also demonstrated the workflow for constructing and evaluating a series of stacking models with different configurations. On the evaluation of 20 stacking models (including two and three-layers), the optimal configuration is found to be LR + KNN with R2 value of 0.993 and the shortest training time. Additionally, a correlation analysis of slag viscosity with composition and temperature is done, which will help the operators of steel melting shops in optimize the steelmaking process based on the required slag viscosity. Ultimately, this study emphasizes the efficacy of optimal-configured stacking regression models in industrial applications, achieving both maximum accuracy and minimal computational time.
Transitioning elementary school libraries to joint-use spaces: Insights from organizational learning
Authors: Lee Pei-Chun
Published: July 2024

This study leverages organizational learning theory to analyse the transformation of traditional elementary school libraries into joint-use facilities, emphasizing operational strategies, institutional functionality and community engagement. It examines how these libraries promote communal reading by identifying three key success factors: strategic partnerships, comprehensive evaluation methods and deep community involvement. By providing practical insights and a framework for enhancing library services, the research presents a holistic view of the transition process, contributing to the optimization of joint-use libraries as community-centred educational resources. The study highlights the necessity for a comprehensive strategy that integrates community involvement with operational and managerial excellence and policy-driven actions. Joint-use libraries emerge as vital agents of educational equity and social cohesion, underscoring their importance to community welfare. Through the lens of organizational learning, the study deepens our understanding of the challenges and opportunities in transforming libraries into multifunctional community assets.
Flying Blind on Job Creation Policies? A Case Study of California
Authors: Neumark David , Wohl Emma
Published: July 2024

Are state job creation policies evidence-based? The authors present a case study of California's extensive set of job creation policies. The authors identify tax credits, grants, loans, entrepreneur training and assistance, and worker training and assistance policies, and estimate their costs. They synthesize what evidence there is on policy effectiveness. There is good evidence for a small number of state job creation policies, sometimes pointing to success in creating or retaining jobs. But for many state policies there is no evidence on effectiveness, or the evidence does not establish that the policy works.
Towards sustainable initiatives: Evidence from green finance mitigating ecological footprint in East Asia and Pacific nations
Authors: Aslam Bilal , Zhang Guitao , Amjad Muhammad Asif , Guo Shujun , Guo Rui , Soomro Azra
Published: July 2024

Green finance serves as a bridge between development and ecological sustainability. It provides a roadmap for countries to accomplish sustainable development goals by simultaneously curbing their ecological footprint. Green financing prioritizes eco-friendly technologies, sustainable behaviors, renewable energy, and green infrastructure, promoting positive changes. This study examines the role of green finance on the ecological footprint of 11 East Asian and Pacific countries from 2000 to 2023. This study uses different diagnostic tests to prove the existence of cross-sectional dependency, non-normality, and slope heterogeneity. The coefficients are estimated using the fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) approach and panel quantile regression at different quantiles. The results show the validity of an inverted U-shaped relationship between green finance and the ecological footprint. Further analysis explores that at the middle quantile, all selected countries except Mongolia and the Philippines, while the FMOLS approach shows that all countries’ green finance reduces their ecological footprint. Additionally, globalization reduces the ecological footprint, while economic growth, industrialization, and urbanization increase the ecological footprint. This study recommends that to fight against climate change, the selected countries should focus more on green finance. Financial institutions should provide funds only for environment-friendly technologies.
Environmental orientations at work: Scientific and embodied environmental knowledge
Authors: Schaupp Simon
Published: July 2024

Based on two qualitative case studies undertaken in Switzerland, this article compares the positioning of Climate Strike activists and construction workers on questions of climate change, so as to analyse the impact of work practices on environmental orientations. Building on a praxeological approach, the article argues that communities of practice in workplaces and educational institutions influence environmental orientations. Everyday practice in schools and universities fosters the scientific environmental knowledge that is central to the orientations of climate activists. By contrast, the practice of construction workers inculcates an embodied environmental knowledge which accompanies an orientation that takes environmental problems as not primarily a question of conservation, but rather as inherently linked to workplace matters. By way of conclusion, the article argues for an expanded notion of environmental concerns, beyond the acceptance of scientific facts on ecological crisis and towards embracing the embodied environmental knowledge more broadly prevalent among manual workers.
Trajectories and figurations: An analysis of sports elite in Lebanon
Authors: Maugendre Axel , Gasparini William
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the trajectories of elite sports actors in Lebanon, focusing on the three most popular sports in the country: football, basketball, and volleyball. Employing a combination of Life Course Theory and Norbert Elias's figurations, the research analyzes data gathered from interviews, academic literature, and official documents. It reveals that despite the complex Lebanese context, sports actors have the capacity to navigate and select various paths within the social and sports figurations. The findings highlight significant influences of religious communities and political structures on these trajectories whilst also identifying margins for freedom and individual strategies. The post-civil war era has distinctly shaped sports actors across generations, evolving toward a diversified and stratified governance in sports. This research underscores the need for a relational approach to comprehend the intricacies of trajectories within the Lebanese sports system.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma Arising in YAP1::MAML2 Fusion-Associated Metaplastic Thymoma: A Case Report
Authors: Sekhawat Vivek , van der Linde Martijn , Routledge Tom , Santis George , Nonaka Daisuke
Published: July 2024

Metaplastic thymoma is a rare thymic neoplasm that has generally been considered to follow a benign to indolent clinical course; however, 3 metaplastic thymomas with high-grade malignant transformation to sarcomatoid carcinoma have been reported. In recent years, both conventional metaplastic thymomas and this subset showing malignant transformation have been associated with recurrent YAP1::MAML2 fusions. We report a metaplastic thymoma showing transformation to squamous cell carcinoma, that to our knowledge is the fourth reported in the literature with transition to overtly malignant features and the first showing pure carcinomatous transformation, and in which YAP1::MAML2 fusion was demonstrated via next generation sequencing.
Nonlinear oscillation of elastic sagged cable using refined mode truncation: A comparative study
Authors: Gao Xin , Guo Tieding , Kang Houjun , Qiao Wanzhi
Published: July 2024

A nonlinear sagged cable, due to its initial curvature, leads to various challenges of empirical mode truncation used by routine Galerkin method when constructing reduced-order model. It is recently elucidated that ( Guo and Rega, 2023a ), the key for refined mode truncation (and thus for correct nonlinear dynamics prediction) is to first eliminate low-order nonlinear terms of spatial continuous structures. This paper focuses on refined truncation of nonlinear sagged cable by leveraging the recent low-order elimination perspective, which is realized by a normal form development. Further comparative studies for both primary resonant and two-to-one internally resonant dynamics of the sagged cable, including nonlinear frequency responses, backbone curves, and Poincaré mapping, demonstrate notable differences between the two different types of models built by either routine or refined truncation, which confirms necessity of the refined mode truncation used for geometrically nonlinear structures like sagged cables.
A new method for solving fractional optimal control problems
Authors: Syam Sondos M , Siri Z , Altoum Sami H , Md Kasmani R
Published: July 2024

In this article, we present a novel approach that utilizes the operational matrix method to solve fractional optimal control problems. We address the challenge of missing initial conditions for the co-state function by incorporating the linear shooting method. Our objective is to provide a method that not only enhances computational efficiency and reduces cost but also improves accuracy and usability. With our new approach, we can calculate the coefficients of the expansion solution without the need to solve an algebraic system. These coefficients can be generated explicitly or through an iterative process. We provide a proof of the uniform convergence of the approximate series of functions to the unique solution of the optimal control problem. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method, we solve several numerical examples and compare the results with those obtained by other researchers. Additionally, we extend the application of this new method to solve problems with multiple states, thereby expanding its scope to a wider range of problem domains. This allows us to address diverse scenarios using the same efficient and accurate approach. Through our research, we contribute to the development of a powerful and versatile method for solving fractional optimal control problems, offering significant advantages over existing techniques.
Viral ecologies: Refiguring ‘psychic immunology’, in the art of Helen Chadwick
Authors: Husain Amber
Published: July 2024

This article examines the artist Helen Chadwick’s 1989 digital montage series Viral Landscapes as an intervention in discourses of immunity circulating around the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the UK. The Viral Landscapes are unusual for art of this period in working closely with medical concepts and technologies, if only to problematise the ways in which these were mobilised. Strategically appropriating ideas of ‘psychic immunology’ emergent at the time, the work, I argue, formulates an affective ground for the extension of immunological responsibility beyond the confines of human bodies and societies. Through a close examination of the artist’s methods and the work’s aesthetics, I identify therein an alternative model of the subject from the closed bodily system and fixed identity presupposed by contemporary biomedicine. Influenced in particular by Deleuzo-Guattarian theories of machinic desire, as well as queer-theoretical constructions of the sexual subject as polymorphous, Chadwick’s model of the psychically immune subject seems to be grounded in a vital sexual energy, constructed through interpenetration by multiple, diffuse entities in ecological relation.
Axial Ablation versus Terminal Interruption of the Reflux Source (AAVTIRS): A Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: CR Keohane , D Westby , M Twyford , T Aherne , W Tawfick , SR Walsh
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Treatment of reflux has been shown to improve time to healing of Venous Leg Ulcers (VLU). Terminal Interruption of the Reflux Source (TIRS) treats reflux within the plexus of veins around an active VLU using foam sclerotherapy. The efficacy of TIRS in managing VLU has never been tested.

Methods

We performed a pragmatic, single centre, assessor-blinded, randomised controlled trial comparing endovenous ablation of the axial superficial veins (Axial Ablation-AA) vs TIRS. Patients of any age with VLU of any duration were eligible.

Results

98 Participants were randomised to AA or TIRS. 39/55, 70.9% (95%CI; 57.1-82.37) healed their VLU in the AA group, while 29/39, 74.36% (95%CI; 57.87-86.96) healed their VLU in the TIRS group, P = 0.45.4 were lost to follow-up. Median time to ulcer healing was 84 days (95%CI; 74.67-93.33) in the axial ablation group and 84 days (95%CI; 73.02-94.98) in the TIRS group. Hazard Ratio for ulcer healing with AA vs TIRS was 0.96 (95%CI 0.59-1.56). There were no significant quality of life differences.

Conclusion

The AAVTIRS trial did not show that axial ablation was superior to TIRS in the primary outcome of number of VLU healed in 6 months, or time to VLU healing. This trial is not powered to show non-inferiority. TIRS is a viable option for treatment of VLU. Further investigation is necessary before it can be recommended as an alternative to axial ablation. Trial registered at clinicaltrials.gov NCT04484168.
Investigation of the Effect of Antiseizure Medications on Cognition in Patients With Epilepsy
Authors: Mermi Dibek Dilara , Eraslan Boz Hatice , Öztura İbrahim , Baklan Barış
Published: July 2024

Background. The effect of antiseizure medications (ASMs) on cognition varies depending on the type of ASM. We aimed to investigate the effects of ASMs on patients with epilepsy based on the conflicting findings in the literature. Methods. Patients diagnosed with epilepsy who were taking ASMs were included. All patients underwent a neuropsychiatric assessment, Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, and general psychopathological tests. The patients were divided into polytherapy and monotherapy groups. Subgroups were categorized according to the type of ASMs, dosage, and duration of monotherapy. Results. Ninety-seven patients were included in this study. The polytherapy group showed a significant decrease in attention, total learning, and interpretation of proverbs compared to the monotherapy group. In the monotherapy group, carbamazepine use had a moderate positive correlation with working memory ( r = .669; P = .034), and a strong negative correlation with maintaining attention ( r = −.740; P = .014). The duration of levetiracetam monotherapy was negatively correlated with verbal memory (immediate recall r = −.436, P = .038; free recall r = .426, P = .043) and negatively weakly correlated with naming performance ( r = −.488, P = .025). Conclusion. The study showed polytherapy may affect verbal and working memory. Carbamazepine may affect working memory and the maintenance of attention in a dose-dependent manner. Levetiracetam may cause impairments in verbal memory and naming, depending on the duration of usage.
Standing Firm: Autoethnography and Speculative Futures
Authors: Douglas Kitrina , Carless David
Published: July 2024

This collaborative autoethnography reflects on 2020, the year of lockdown. During this year, we did a lot of walking. Markers within our physical environment provoked and inspired us to consider anew the paths that lie ahead for autoethnography and for us, in our collective work as autoethnographers.
Positive Youth Development Mediates the Relations Between Religiousness, Altruism, and Empathy Among Southeast Asian Emerging Adults
Authors: Buenconsejo Jet , Krauss Steven , Abdul Kadir Nor Ba’yah , Suryani Angela , Aruta John Jamir Benzon , Kittiteerasack Priyoth , Yu Yue
Published: July 2024

Religiousness has been proposed to promote prosociality among young people. Few investigations, however, have examined the underlying processes that facilitate these links, especially in non-Western and collectivistic societies. This study investigated the mediating role of the 5Cs (competence, confidence, connection, character, and caring) of positive youth development on the associations between religiousness, empathy, and altruism, while controlling for age and gender, among Southeast Asian emerging adults during COVID-19. Data were obtained from 1,888 emerging adults ( M age = 21.85; SD age = 2.81) from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Thailand. Structural equation modeling showed that confidence, connection, and character mediated religiousness and altruism while confidence, connection, character, and caring mediated religiousness and empathy, even after controlling for the covariates. However, confidence yielded negative relations with both outcomes. The results highlight the importance of distinguishing self-oriented and other-oriented thriving characteristics in facilitating empathy and altruistic behaviors in difficult situations.
Evaluating happiness trends across Europe: A comparative study
Authors: Ben Farhat Cherifa , Pontarollo Nicola
Published: July 2024

In our contribution, by using data from European Social Survey, we show that the percentage of happy people in European countries has increased over the last two decades, and that Eastern European countries are catching up. However, considerable differences between nations remain.
Treatment of Medial Patellar Instability With Bipolar Patellofemoral Cartilage Lesions: Staged De-rotational Distal Femoral Osteotomy Followed by Bipolar Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation and Tibial-Tubercle Osteotomy
Authors: Lurie Benjamin , Hatch George F.
Published: July 2024

Background:

Patellar instability with symptomatic cartilage lesions in young patients is a challenging problem to treat. The use of osteotomies to correct malalignment and fresh osteochondral allograft transplantation (OCA) to address cartilage lesions and patellofemoral dysplasia is a viable treatment option for carefully selected patients.

Indications:

The patient is a 22-year-old woman with medial patellar instability caused by iatrogenic distal femoral external rotation and uncontained grade IV patellofemoral lesions. The patient was indicated for OCA because the lesions were too large for an osteochondral autograft transfer system (OATS) and were uncontained and not amenable to autologous chondrocyte implantation. Bipolar OCA also addresses the patient’s patellofemoral dysplasia by restoring a more morphologically normal patellofemoral joint. The external rotation and mild varus deformity are corrected with a biplanar distal femoral osteotomy. Correction of malalignment is necessary prior to OCA transplantation to avoid abnormal graft loading and thereby decrease the risk of graft failure.

Technique Description:

(1) Diagnostic arthroscopy and fluoroscopic examination under anesthesia. (2) Lateral closing wedge de-rotational distal femoral osteotomy. (3) Bipolar OCA with tibial tubercle osteotomy and removal of hardware.

Results:

In this case, the patient had significant improvement in her symptoms and had full knee range of motion with a normal gait at 3 months after surgery. Depending on a patient’s preoperative function and the specific pathology, full recovery can take considerably longer. A successful outcome is considered return to activities of daily living without significant pain. Return to higher level athletic activities is significantly more unpredictable. Graft survival of bipolar patellofemoral OCA is variable, and the literature is limited by the small number of procedures performed, but published series range from 60% to 85% at 5 years.

Discussion/Conclusion:

A successful outcome in these unique, complex cases depends on good patient selection, preoperative planning, and surgical execution. Patellar instability can be reliably treated when the predisposing anatomical factors are appropriately corrected. Bipolar OCA can provide significant improvement in pain and function, but continues to have the highest rate of graft failure compared with other sites within the knee, and should be considered a salvage operation for patients with significant limitations in activities of daily living.

Patient Consent Disclosure Statement:

The author(s) attests that consent has been obtained from any patient(s) appearing in this publication. If the individual may be identifiable, the author(s) has included a statement of release or other written form of approval from the patient(s) with this submission for publication.