bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on Seismic Evaluation for Anchor Bolts in Circular Arrangement Using Elastic-Plastic Analysis
Authors: Terai Kensuke , Amino Masanori , Tamura Ichiro , Iida Satoshi
Published: November 2023

In a seismic evaluation of process equipment, anchor bolts for a component are required to resist against seismic conditions to support the component on the basement. Some components are directly fixed to the basement by anchor bolts, and anchor bolts of many cylindrical tanks or vessels are arranged on the circumference. Anchor bolts are basically designed in elastic base, but actual materials of them are confirmed to show plastic behavior by tensile testing. For rational evaluation for increasing seismic condition, an elastic-plastic analysis method has been studied to take account the condition that a few of the anchor bolts in circular arrangement become beyond elastic limit by seismic load. In this condition, even if yielding of a few bolts is occurred, it is expected that the other bolts within elastic limit bear against the seismic loads and keep equipment support function of the anchor bolts.

To evaluate this condition, static loading tests using a reduced scale model of a cylindrical storage tank and static pushover analyses taking into account the elastic-plastic characteristics of the anchor bolt material were performed.
Theoretical Solution of Obround Shell Under Internal Pressure
Authors: Jin Yao , Rust James
Published: November 2023

Pressurized enclosures with obround cross sections are common components in the petrochemical industries. Since no theoretical solutions are currently available, the analysis and design of such components mainly relies on empirical or numerical analysis methods. In engineering practice, the determination of shell wall thickness requires complex iterations. In this study, obround shapes are regarded as curved and straight segments with corresponding boundary conditions, respectively. The geometry and boundary conditions of each segment are relatively simple. The theoretical analysis of each segment was performed separately. By combining the existing closed-form solutions, a theoretical solution that partially satisfies the coordination of deformation at segment junction is obtained. The proposed combined solution can accurately describe the stress and displacement distributions of an obround shell under internal pressure. Considering the uniqueness of the elastic solution, the proposed solution is the closed-form theoretical solution for pressurized obround shells. When the straight segments of the obround section disappear, the obround becomes a circle. The proposed solution returns to the solution of cylindrical shell or Lame’s solution. The proposed solution can be considered as extended Lame’s solution. The solution provides a new theoretical analysis method. It is simpler, more efficient, and more accurate than empirical methods and numerical analysis. It is expected to change the status quo that the analysis of obround components relies on empirical formulas and numerical analysis, and to develop a new design method for obround components.
Pharmacological validation of dihydrofolate reductase as a drug target in
Mycobacterium abscessus
Authors: Aragaw Wassihun Wedajo , Negatu Dereje A. , Bungard Christopher J. , Dartois Véronique A. , Marrouni Abdellatif El , Nickbarg Elliott B. , Olsen David B. , Warrass Ralf , Dick Thomas
Published: November 2023

The
Mycobacterium abscessus
drug development pipeline is poorly populated, with particularly few validated target-lead couples to initiate
de novo
drug discovery. Trimethoprim, an inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) used for the treatment of a range of bacterial infections, is not active against
M. abscessus
. Thus, evidence that
M. abscessus
DHFR is vulnerable to pharmacological intervention with a small molecule inhibitor is lacking. Here, we show that the pyrrolo-quinazoline PQD-1, previously identified as a DHFR inhibitor active against
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
, exerts whole cell activity against
M. abscessus
. Enzyme inhibition studies showed that PQD-1, in contrast to trimethoprim, is a potent inhibitor of
M. abscessus
DHFR and over-expression of DHFR causes resistance to PQD-1, providing biochemical and genetic evidence that DHFR is a vulnerable target and mediates PQD-1’s growth inhibitory activity in
M. abscessus
. As observed in
M. tuberculosis
, PQD-1 resistant mutations mapped to the folate pathway enzyme thymidylate synthase (TYMS) ThyA. Like trimethoprim in other bacteria, PQD-1 synergizes with the dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) inhibitor sulfamethoxazole (SMX), offering an opportunity to exploit the successful dual inhibition of the folate pathway and develop similarly potent combinations against
M. abscessus
. PQD-1 is active against subspecies of
M. abscessus
and a panel of clinical isolates, providing epidemiological validation of the target-lead couple. Leveraging a series of PQD-1 analogs, we have demonstrated a dynamic structure-activity relationship (SAR). Collectively, the results identify
M. abscessus
DHFR as an attractive target and PQD-1 as a chemical starting point for the discovery of novel drugs and drug combinations that target the folate pathway in
M. abscessus
.
Healthy diet intervention reverses the progression of NASH through gut microbiota modulation
Authors: Panyod Suraphan , Wu Wei-Kai , Hu Meng-Yun , Huang Huai-Syuan , Chen Rou-An , Chen Yi-Hsun , Shen Ting-Chin David , Ho Chi-Tang , Liu Chun-Jen , Chuang Hsiao-Li , Huang Chi-Chang , Wu Ming-Shiang , Sheen Lee-Yan
Published: November 2023

Diet and gut microbiota impact the progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). An unhealthy diet, rich in fat and sugar, promotes gut microbiota dysbiosis, leading to the translocation of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and other harmful pathogen-associated molecular patterns to the liver, triggering hepatic inflammation and aggravating NASH. Currently, there are no approved pharmacological treatments for NASH, although novel drugs, such as obeticholic acid (OCA), have demonstrated beneficial effects. Healthy dietary modifications have been proposed to prevent and treat NASH. However, the therapeutic effect of the combined implementation of a healthy dietary intervention with pharmaceutical agents or dietary supplements for NASH treatment and how it interplays with the gut microbiota and associated pathways remains poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of a healthy dietary modification, either alone or in combination with a dietary supplement [ginger essential oil (GEO)] or drug (OCA), in a Gubra-Amylin diet-induced NASH mouse model. NASH was induced for 12 weeks, after which the interventions were administered for a subsequent 3-week period. Our findings revealed that healthy dietary intervention primarily restores obesity, lipidemia, and NASH. In contrast, GEO and OCA have additional benefits by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines by partially modulating the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 pathways. Moreover, healthy dietary intervention restores gut microbiota composition and function from dysbiosis, while GEO and OCA partially mediate the gut-derived LPS/toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor kappa B pathway. Therefore, adherence to healthy dietary patterns plays a primary role in NASH reversion, and additional supplementation of GEO or OCA could offer extra benefits in suppressing hepatic inflammation and preventing disease progression.

IMPORTANCE

The link between gut microbiota and diet is crucial in the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). This study underscores the essential role of a healthy diet in preventing and treating NASH by reversing obesity, lipidemia, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Moreover, the supplementation of functional food or drug to the diet can provide additional advantages by inhibiting hepatic inflammation through the modulation of the hepatic inflammasome signaling pathway and partially mediating the gut microbiota and lipopolysaccharide signaling pathway. This study highlights the importance of adopting healthy dietary habits in treating NASH and proposes that supplementing with ginger essential oil or obeticholic acid may offer additional benefits. Nonetheless, further clinical studies are necessary to validate these findings.
Risk of major adverse cardiovascular events associated with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in a population with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with and without type 2 diabetes: a UK database analysis using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink
Authors: Morgan Christopher Ll , Durand Adeline , McCormack Terry , Hughes Elizabeth , Berni Thomas R , Lahoz Raquel
Published: November 2023

Objectives

To estimate the 12-month probabilities of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and non-cardiovascular death in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).

Design

A retrospective database analysis.

Setting

UK primary care.

Participants

Patients were selected from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (Aurum) linked to Hospital Episode Statistics inpatient and Office of National Statistics mortality datasets. Patients with an ASCVD diagnosis between 01 January 2010 and 31 May 2018 and LDL-C ≥2.6 mmol/L were selected.

Primary outcomes

Primary outcomes were 12-month risk of (1) MACE (composite of revascularisation, unstable angina, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke and cardiovascular death) and (2) non-cardiovascular mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis estimated the probability of each outcome. A Cox proportional hazards model explored covariates associated with MACE.

Results

Of 102 245 study patients, 16 501 (16.1%) had a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). 65.5% of those with and 49.9% of those without T2DM had a lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) 6 months prior to index diagnosis. Twelve-month probability of MACE was 7.9% for non-T2DM and 11.8% for T2DM. LDL-C was significantly associated with risk of MACE (HR=1.19 (95% CI 1.16 to 1.22) per 1 mmol/L). History of acute coronary syndrome, other coronary heart disease, stroke and T2DM significantly increased the risk of MACE. Ezetimibe (0.88 (95% CI 0.79 to 0.99)) and low-intensity statins (0.88 (95% CI 0.79 to 0.97)) were associated with reduced 12-month MACE risk.

and low-intensity statins 0.88 (95% CI 0.79 to 0.97)

Conclusion

We confirmed the association between elevated LDL-C and MACE. Many patients with ASCVD and elevated LDL-C were untreated with LLT. With the increasing demands on general practitioners, initiatives aimed at improving identification and treatment of at-risk patients within primary care should be considered.
Effect of temperature fluctuations in cold seasons on acute myocardial infarction hospitalisations in northeast China: a retrospective observational cohort study
Authors: Zhang Ningning , Cao Pengyu , Zhao Lijing , Wang Lin , Shao Wangshu , Li Rongyu
Published: November 2023

Objective

This study aimed to determine the potential influence of ambient temperature on the incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Design

A retrospective observational cohort study.

Setting

Changchun, a northeastern city in China, has a temperate continental humid climate.

Participants

1933 AMI patients admitted to the outpatient department of the First Hospital of Jilin University were included in the study from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2019.

Outcome measure

We explored the effect of daily minimum and maximum temperatures, as well as temperature changes on two adjacent days, on the incidence of daily AMI from 1 to 5 days later in Changchun.

Results

We found that the average daily number of AMI cases was higher from October to April in cold season compared with the period between May and September in warm season. When the daily maximum temperature is ≤−6°C on the −2nd day, the incidence of AMI>3 persons more than doubled (from 8.51% and 10.88% to 20.23%) in the next 2 days (p=0.027); and more than 65% of the days had a maximum temperature fluctuation on |(−2nd day) − (−3rd day)| ≥2°C in these days, the OR of the daily incidence of AMI>3 persons is 3.107 (p=0.018); and in these days with enhanced temperature fluctuations, the proportion of AMI patients with hypertension had increased significantly from 20.83% to 45.39% (p=0.023).

Conclusion

Ambient temperature as environmental factor has a seasonal effect on the incidence of AMI in temperate continental humid climate regions, with a 2–3 days lag. Furthermore, the key factor contributing to the increase in the daily incidence of AMI during the cold season is temperature fluctuations, and maintaining a constant temperature may aid in preventing the occurrence of AMI.

Trial registration number

ChiCTR2300068294.
REstrictive versus StandarD FlUid Management in Mechanically Ventilated ChildrEn Admitted to PICU: study protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial (REDUCE-1)
Authors: Raman Sainath , Rahiman Sarfaraz , Kennedy Melanie , Mattke Adrian , Venugopal Prem , McBride Craig , Tu Quyen , Zapf Florian , Kuhlwein Eva , Woodgate Jemma , Singh Puneet , Schlapbach Luregn J , Gibbons Kristen S
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Intravenous fluid therapy is the most common intervention in critically ill children. There is an increasing body of evidence questioning the safety of high-volume intravenous fluid administration in these patients. To date, the optimal fluid management strategy remains unclear. We aimed to test the feasibility of a pragmatic randomised controlled trial comparing a restrictive with a standard (liberal) fluid management strategy in critically ill children.

Methods and analysis

Multicentre, binational pilot, randomised, controlled, open-label, pragmatic trial. Patients <18 years admitted to paediatric intensive care unit and mechanically ventilated at the time of screening are eligible. Patients with tumour lysis syndrome, diabetic ketoacidosis or postorgan transplant are excluded. Interventions: 1:1 random assignment of 154 individual patients into two groups—restrictive versus standard, liberal, fluid strategy—stratified by primary diagnosis (cardiac/non-cardiac). The intervention consists of a restrictive fluid bundle, including lower maintenance fluid allowance, limiting fluid boluses, reducing volumes of drug delivery and initiating diuretics or peritoneal dialysis earlier. The intervention is applied for 48 hours postrandomisation or until discharge (whichever is earlier). Endpoints: The number of patients recruited per month and proportion of recruited to eligible patients are feasibility endpoints. New-onset acute kidney injury and the incidence of clinically relevant central venous thrombosis are safety endpoints. Fluid balance at 48 hours after randomisation is the efficacy endpoint. Survival free of paediatric intensive care censored at 28 days is the clinical endpoint.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval was gained from the Children’s Health Queensland Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC/21/QCHQ/77514, date: 1 September 2021), and University of Zurich (2021-02447, date: 17 March 2023). The trial is registered with the Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12621001311842). Open-access publication in high impact peer-reviewed journals will be sought. Modern information dissemination strategies will also be used including social media to disseminate the outcomes of the study.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12621001311842.

Protocol version/date

V5/23 May 2023.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical volume and outcomes in spine surgery: a multicentre retrospective study in Tokyo
Authors: Oshima Yasushi , Ohtomo Nozomu , Kawamura Naohiro , Higashikawa Akiro , Hara Nobuhiro , Ono Takashi , Takeshita Yujiro , Fukushima Masayoshi , Azuma Seiichi , Kato So , Matsubayashi Yoshitaka , Taniguchi Yuki , Tanaka Sakae
Published: November 2023

Objectives

To investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical volume and outcomes in spine surgery.

Design

A retrospective cohort study using prospectively collected data.

Setting and participants

A total of 9935 patients who underwent spine surgery between January 2019 and December 2021 at eight high-volume spine centres in the Greater Tokyo metropolitan area were included.

Outcome measures

The primary outcome measures were the number of surgical cases, perioperative complications and patient-reported outcomes, including numerical rating scales for each body part, Euro quality of life 5-dimension (EQ5D), Neck Disability Index and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).

Results

The total number of surgeries in 2020 and 2021 remained lower than that of 2019, with respective percentages of 93.1% and 95.7% compared with the prepandemic period, with a marked reduction observed in May 2020 compared with the same period in 2019 (56.1% decrease). There were no significant differences between the prepandemic and postpandemic groups in the incidence of perioperative complications, although the frequency of reoperation tended to be higher in the postpandemic group (3.04% vs 3.76%, p=0.05). Subgroup analysis focusing on cervical spine surgery revealed significantly worse preoperative EQ5D scores in the postpandemic group (0.57 vs 0.54, p=0.004). Similarly, in lumbar spine surgery, the postpandemic group showed higher levels of leg pain (5.7 vs 6.1 to 0.002) and worse ODI scores (46.2 vs 47.7 to 0.02). However, postoperative outcomes were not different between pre and post-pandemic groups.

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted spinal surgeries in Japan, leading to a decrease in surgical volumes and changes in patient characteristics and surgical procedures. However, surgical outcomes remained comparable between the pre and postpandemic periods, indicating the resilience and adaptability of healthcare systems.
Randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial of the effect of the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on colorectal cancer recurrence and survival after surgery for resectable liver metastases: EPA for Metastasis Trial 2 (EMT2) study protocol
Authors: Hull Mark A , Ow Pei Loo , Ruddock Sharon , Brend Tim , Smith Alexandra F , Marshall Helen , Song Mingyang , Chan Andrew T , Garrett Wendy S , Yilmaz Omer , Drew David A , Collinson Fiona , Cockbain Andrew J , Jones Robert , Loadman Paul M , Hall Peter S , Moriarty Catherine , Cairns David A , Toogood Giles J
Published: November 2023

Introduction

There remains an unmet need for safe and cost-effective adjunctive treatment of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is safe, well-tolerated and has anti-inflammatory as well as antineoplastic properties. A phase 2 randomised trial of preoperative EPA free fatty acid 2 g daily in patients undergoing surgery for CRC liver metastasis showed no difference in the primary endpoint (histological tumour proliferation index) compared with placebo. However, the trial demonstrated possible benefit for the prespecified exploratory endpoint of postoperative disease-free survival. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that EPA treatment, started before liver resection surgery (and continued postoperatively), improves CRC outcomes in patients with CRC liver metastasis.

Methods and analysis

The EPA for Metastasis Trial 2 trial is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial of 4 g EPA ethyl ester (icosapent ethyl (IPE; Vascepa)) daily in patients undergoing liver resection surgery for CRC liver metastasis with curative intent. Trial treatment continues for a minimum of 2 years and maximum of 4 years, with 6 monthly assessments, including quality of life outcomes, as well as annual clinical record review after the trial intervention. The primary endpoint is CRC progression-free survival. Key secondary endpoints are overall survival, as well as the safety and tolerability of IPE. A minimum 388 participants are estimated to provide 247 CRC progression events during minimum 2-year follow-up, allowing detection of an HR of 0.7 in favour of IPE, with a power of 80% at the 5% (two sided) level of significance, assuming drop-out of 15%.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical and health research authority approval was obtained in January 2018. All data will be collected by 2025. Full trial results will be published in 2026. Secondary analyses of health economic data, biomarker studies and other translational work will be published subsequently.

Trial registration number

NCT03428477.
Feasibility and acceptability of using the Alarm Distress BaBy (ADBB) scale within universal health visiting practice in England: a mixed-methods study protocol
Authors: Baldwin Sharin , Insan Nafisa , Beauchamp Hilda , Gilroy Vicky , Morton Alison , Barlow Jane
Published: November 2023

Introduction

The Alarm Distress BaBy (ADBB) scale developed by Guedeney and Fermanian in 2001, is a validated screening tool designed for use by healthcare practitioners to identify infant social withdrawal. This study will explore the acceptability and feasibility of the use of the full ADBB scale and a modified ADBB (m-ADBB) scale as part of routine health visiting visits in England.

Methods and analysis

A mixed methods sequential exploratory design will be used. Five health visitors will be trained in using the ADBB scale and 20 in the m-ADBB scale, from two National Health Service sites in England. Qualitative semi-structured interviews will be carried out with health visitors after they receive the training and again 2 months after using the scales in routine family health visits. Quantitative data will also be collected from the same participants for a range of items during the study period. The theoretical framework of Normalisation Process Theory will underpin the study, to provide in-depth explanations of the implementation process. Qualitative data will be analysed using thematic analysis. Quantitative data will be analysed using descriptive analysis.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was granted by the University of Oxford Departmental Research Ethics Committee. Dissemination of results will be via organisational websites, social media platforms, newsletters, professional networks, conferences and journal articles.
Does Logistics Performance Affect the Relationship Between Export Upgrading and Economic Growth?
Authors: Haini Hazwan , Syazwan Ab Talib Mohamed , Loon Pang Wei , Olamilekan Lawal Abdulwahab
Published: November 2023

This study examines whether logistics performance affects the relationship between export upgrading and economic growth using a sample of 145 countries from 2007 to 2018. The relationship between logistics performance and export upgrading is relatively unexplored. We find that both logistics performance and export upgrading are associated with growth and complementary to growth. However, the marginal effects of export upgrading are insignificant at low levels of logistics performance. This relationship holds for our subsample of advanced economies; however, export upgrading and its interaction term with logistics performance are insignificant for our subsample of developing economies.
The architecture of basalt reservoirs in the North Atlantic Igneous Province with implications for basalt carbon sequestration
Authors: Rosenqvist Marija P. , Millett John M. , Planke Sverre , Johannesen Rakul M. , Passey Simon R. , Sørensen Erik V. , Vosgerau Henrik , Jamtveit Bjørn
Published: November 2023

Offshore CO
2
sequestration in basaltic formations of the North Atlantic Igneous Province may allow permanent storage of large volumes of CO
2
through rapid carbonate mineralization. Characterizing the internal architecture of such reservoirs is key to assessing the storage potential. In this study, six photogrammetry models and three boreholes on the Faroe Islands have been used to characterize the internal lava sequence architectures as a direct analogue to potential offshore North Atlantic Igneous Province storage sites. The studied formations are dominated by
c.
5 to 50 m thick simple and compound lava flows, with drill core observations documenting a transition from pāhoehoe moving towards ‘a’ā lava flow types interbedded with thin (<5 m thick) volcaniclastic rock units. The identification of flow margin breccias is potentially important as these units form excellent reservoirs in several other localities globally. Stacked, thick simple flows may present sealing units associated with dense flow interiors. Connected porous and permeable lava flow crusts present potential reservoirs; however, the degree of secondary mineralization and alteration can alter initially good reservoir units to impermeable barriers for fluid flow. Large-scale reservoir volumes may be present mainly within both vesicular, fractured pāhoehoe and brecciated flow margins of transitional simple lava flows.
A Life of Translocations
Authors: Rapoport Tom A.
Published: November 2023

Writing a career retrospective for this prestigious series is a huge challenge. Is my story really of that much interest? One thing that is different about my life in science is the heavy influence of the turmoil of the past century. Born in the US, raised in East Germany, and returning to the US relatively late in life, I experienced research under both suboptimal and privileged conditions. My scientific story, like the political winds that blew me from one continent to the next, involved shifts into different fields. For advice to young scientists, I would suggest: Don't be afraid to start something new, it pays to be persistent, and science is a passion. In addition to telling my own story, this article also provides the opportunity to express my gratitude to my trainees and colleagues and to convey my conviction that we have the best job on earth.
Consistently Tuned Battery Lifetime Predictive Model of Capacity Loss, Resistance Increase, and Irreversible Thickness Growth
Authors: Pannala Sravan , Movahedi Hamidreza , Garrick Taylor R. , Siegel Jason B. , Stefanopoulou Anna G.
Published: November 2023

Predicting changes in cell resistance and thickness as the battery ages can be as important as capacity fade in informing vehicle resale value, pack replacement schedules, and viability for repurposing before eventual recycling. Three well-known degradation mechanisms, namely SEI growth, lithium plating, and electrode particle fracture due to reversible expansion and contraction, are revisited and tuned using cycling data from cells experiencing plating and having significant loss of anode active material as the dominant degradation mechanism. Therefore, lifetime prediction achieved in this work cannot rely only on SEI growth rates calibrated from calendar aging test. More importantly, our model uses capacity-predictive irreversible SEI growth, net growth in plating, and accumulation of particle fracture as the cells cycle to predict the irreversible increases in cell thickness through a single set of tuned parameters. Last, but not least, the capacity-predictive degradation model can also predict the increased resistance through another single set of parameters. These two sets of scaling parameters achieve for the first time a consistently tuned model of degradation mechanisms for lifetime prediction of changes in battery capacity, resistance, and thickness as the battery ages. The model predictions are validated with conditions not used for parameter tuning.
Comparative Study of Mortars Made with Sands of Different Geological Origin
Authors: Yannick Tchedele Langollo , Alim Bilkissou , Abdou Nasser Njoya Mfokou , Taïga Oumar Ali , Jalil Njoya Moussa , Raphael Belinga Essama Boum , Jacques Richard Mache
Published: November 2023

The present work is a comparative study of sand mortars from various geological origins to highlight their influence on mortar qualities. Five different sands and the cement CEM II/B–P 42.5R were used to produce mortars with similar water/cement ratios (W/C). These are the “Sanaga” sand from the Sanaga River, the “Wouri” sand from the Wouri River, the Nyambaka basalt sand, the Meiganga granite sand, and the Leboudi gneiss sand. The physical, chemical, and mineralogical features of these sands were used to characterize and classify them. They were then used to formulate mortars, which were analyzed and compared. According to the results of the mortar setting time tests, the initial setting time ranges from 195 minutes for Sanaga sand mortar (MS04) to 210 minutes for gneiss sand mortar (MGN03), passing Wouri sand mortar (MW05) with 200 minutes, basalt sand mortar (MB01) with 198 minutes, and granite sand mortar (MGR02) with 196 minutes. The final setting time ranged from 496 minutes (MGR02) to 510 minutes (MGN03), with an average of 300 minutes added to the initial setting time. The flexural strength tests of the mortars reveal that crushed sands outperform alluvial sands. They range from 1.64 to 2.18 MPa after 2 days, 3 to 3.90 MPa after 7 days, and 7 to 14.84 MPa after 28 days. The results of the compressive strength tests show that quarry sand mortars have greater average compressive strengths than alluvial sand mortars, with basalt sand providing the greatest performance. These strengths range from 6.35 to 10.83 MPa after 2 days, 7.55 to 18.96 MPa after 7 days, and 22.81 to 34.58 MPa after 28 days, with the MB01 being the best sand. These findings reveal that the geological origin of sands, which specifies certain of their physicochemical and mineralogical attributes, has an impact on the properties of mortars. This impact is also influenced by granulometry and organic matter concentration.
Alcohol, Smoking, and Risks of Breast Cancer Recurrence and Mortality among Women with Luminal, Triple-Negative, and HER2-Overexpressing Breast Cancer
Authors: Loroña Nicole C. , Othus Megan , Malone Kathleen E. , Linden Hannah M. , Tang Mei-Tzu C. , Li Christopher I.
Published: November 2023

Background:

This study evaluates the relationship between smoking, alcohol, and breast cancer outcomes according to molecular subtype.

Methods:

This population-based prospective cohort consisted of 3,876 women ages 20 to 69 diagnosed with a first primary invasive breast cancer from 2004 to 2015 in the Seattle–Puget Sound region. Breast cancer was categorized into three subtypes based on estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2 expressions: luminal (ER+), triple-negative (TN; ER−/PR−/HER2−), and HER2-overexpressing (H2E; ER−/HER2+). We fit Cox proportional hazards models to assess the association between alcohol consumption and smoking status at diagnosis and risks of recurrence, breast cancer–specific mortality, and all-cause mortality.

Results:

Histories of ever smoking [HR, 1.33; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01–1.74] and current smoking (HR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.07–2.35) were associated with greater risk of breast cancer recurrence among TN cases. Smoking was also associated with greater risk of recurrence to bone among all cases and among luminal cases. Elevated risks of breast cancer–specific and all-cause mortality were observed among current smokers across all subtypes. Alcohol use was not positively associated with risk of recurrence or mortality overall; however, TN patients who drank four or more drinks per week had a decreased risk of recurrence (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.51–0.98) and breast cancer–specific mortality (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.55–0.97) compared with non-current drinkers.

Conclusions:

Patients with breast cancer with a history of smoking at diagnosis have elevated risks of recurrence and mortality.

Impact:

These findings underscore the need to prioritize smoking cessation among women diagnosed with breast cancer.
Drivers of Patient and Caregiver Preferences for Growth Hormone Deficiency Treatments in France: A Discrete Choice Experiment
Authors: Polak Michel , Demaret Béatrice , Henocque Robin , Chachoua Lylia , Aballea Samuel , Mezghani Marwa , La Torre Daria , Salvi Lara , Touraine Philippe
Published: November 2023

Introduction: The aim of this study was to identify drivers of preference for growth hormone deficiency (GHD) treatment in French children, and their caregivers, and to quantify the relative importance of different aspects of treatment modalities using a discrete choice experiment (DCE). Materials and Methods: Attributes characterizing GHD treatment modalities were identified through a literature review, qualitative interviews, and focus groups with children, adolescents, and caregivers. A DCE questionnaire of 12 choice tasks was administered online to four groups of participants: autonomous adolescents (12–18 years), nonautonomous adolescent/caregiver dyads, caregivers of nonautonomous children (3–11 years), and autonomous children/caregiver dyads. The survey was pilot tested. A multinomial logit model with random effects was used to estimate preference weights for all attribute levels. Results: Frequency of administration, injection pain, dose setting, type of device, storage, and device reusability were selected as DCE attributes following the qualitative research phase and a pilot study. A total of 105 patients were represented in the DCE survey. Frequency of administration and injection pain were the attributes with the greatest influence on respondents’ preferences and had similar importance. Weekly administration was significantly preferred over daily administration by all groups of participants. Respondents’ choices were also significantly influenced by the type of device, dose setting, and device reusability. Conclusion: Children with GHD and their caregivers prefer a less frequent injection schedule and lower injection pain. Both aspects of treatment modalities are important to consider in treatment decisions to alleviate the daily burden for GHD patients and their families and potentially enhance treatment adherence.
Simple Technique for Stabilizing Toric Intraocular Lens during Removal of Ophthalmic Viscosurgical Device
Authors: Ohashi Tsutomu , Fujiya Akio , Yoshida Maiko , Kojima Takashi
Published: November 2023

Introduction: The aim of this study was to describe a simple technique for the implantation of toric intraocular lenses (IOLs) with increased stability during ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD) removal. Methods: The technique was performed on 20 eyes with 20 patients (mean age: 77.9 ± 9.21 years). The patients had cataract surgery with implantation of a single-piece, acrylic IOL (AcrySof Toric IOL, SN6A; Alcon Laboratories, Inc.). The intraoperative IOL rotation during OVD removal, rotational error of toric IOL axis at 30 min and 24 h after surgery, and mean preoperative and postoperative IOP were evaluated. Images were captured before and after removal of OVD from surgical video, and used to evaluate intraoperative IOL rotation. Results: The mean amount of IOL rotation during OVD removal with the current technique was 0.88 ± 0.93°, which was less than the 10.25 ± 5.50° previously reported for the conventional technique. The rotational error of toric IOL axis at 30 min and 24 h were 3.90 ± 3.71 and 3.05 ± 3.22°, respectively. The mean preoperative IOP and postoperative IOP were 13.84 ± 2.39 and 14.15 ± 4.68 mm Hg, respectively. Conclusions: With the current technique, the toric IOL is stable during OVD removal and repositioning of the IOL during surgery is less likely to be required.
Cerebral Small Vessel Disease, Hypertension, and Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia
Authors: Hainsworth Atticus H. , Markus Hugh S. , Schneider Julie A.
Published: November 2023

Hypertension-associated cerebral small vessel disease is a common finding in older people. Strongly associated with age and hypertension, small vessel disease is found at autopsy in over 50% of people aged ≥65 years, with a spectrum of clinical manifestations. It is the main cause of lacunar stroke and a major source of vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia. The brain areas affected are subcortical and periventricular white matter and deep gray nuclei. Neuropathological sequelae are diffuse white matter lesions (seen as white matter hyperintensities on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging), small ischemic foci (lacunes or microinfarcts), and less commonly, subcortical microhemorrhages. The most common form of cerebral small vessel disease is concentric, fibrotic thickening of small penetrating arteries (up to 300 microns outer diameter) termed arteriolosclerosis. Less common forms are small artery atheroma and lipohyalinosis (the lesions described by C. Miller Fisher adjacent to lacunes). Other microvascular lesions that are not reviewed here include cerebral amyloid angiopathy and venous collagenosis. Here, we review the epidemiology, neuropathology, clinical management, genetics, preclinical models, and pathogenesis of hypertensive small vessel disease. Knowledge gaps include initiating factors, molecular pathogenesis, relationships between arterial pathology and tissue damage, possible reversibility, pharmacological targets, and molecular biomarkers. Progress is anticipated from multicell transcriptomic and proteomic profiling, novel experimental models and further target-finding and interventional clinical studies.
Genomic Selection Signals in Andean Highlanders Reveal Adaptive Placental Metabolic Phenotypes That Are Disrupted in Preeclampsia
Authors: O’Brien Katie A. , Gu Wanjun , Houck Julie A. , Holzner Lorenz M.W. , Yung Hong Wa , Armstrong Jenna L. , Sowton Alice P. , Baxter Ruby , Darwin Paula M. , Toledo-Jaldin Lilian , Lazo-Vega Litzi , Moreno-Aramayo Any Elena , Miranda-Garrido Valquiria , Shortt Jonathan A. , Matarazzo Christopher J. , Yasini Hussna , Burton Graham J. , Moore Lorna G. , Simonson Tatum S. , Murray Andrew J. , Julian Colleen G.
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND:

The chronic hypoxia of high-altitude residence poses challenges for tissue oxygen supply and metabolism. Exposure to high altitude during pregnancy increases the incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and fetal growth restriction and alters placental metabolism. High-altitude ancestry protects against altitude-associated fetal growth restriction, indicating hypoxia tolerance that is genetic in nature. Yet, not all babies are protected and placental pathologies associated with fetal growth restriction occur in some Andean highlanders.

METHODS:

We examined placental metabolic function in 79 Andeans (18–45 years; 39 preeclamptic and 40 normotensive) living in La Paz, Bolivia (3600–4100 m) delivered by unlabored Cesarean section. Using a selection-nominated approach, we examined links between putatively adaptive genetic variation and phenotypes related to oxygen delivery or placental metabolism.

RESULTS:

Mitochondrial oxidative capacity was associated with fetal oxygen delivery in normotensive but not preeclamptic placenta and was also suppressed in term preeclamptic pregnancy. Maternal haplotypes in or within 200 kb of selection-nominated genes were associated with lower placental mitochondrial respiratory capacity (
PTPRD
[protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor-δ]), lower maternal plasma erythropoietin (
CPT2
[carnitine palmitoyl transferase 2], proopiomelanocortin, and
DNMT3
[DNA methyltransferase 3]), and lower
VEGF
(vascular endothelial growth factor) in umbilical venous plasma (
TBX5
[T-box transcription factor 5]). A fetal haplotype within 200 kb of
CPT2
was associated with increased placental mitochondrial complex II capacity, placental nitrotyrosine, and GLUT4 (glucose transporter type 4) protein expression.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our findings reveal novel associations between putatively adaptive gene regions and phenotypes linked to oxygen delivery and placental metabolic function in highland Andeans, suggesting that such effects may be of genetic origin. Our findings also demonstrate maladaptive metabolic mechanisms in the context of preeclampsia, including dysregulation of placental oxygen consumption.
İşyerinde Dışlanma Çalışmalarının Bibliyometrik Analizi
Authors: KODALAK Oğuzhan , AKMAN Abdullah Zübeyr
Published: November 2023

İşyerinde dışlanma kavramı, bir bireyin özellikle de iş arkadaşları ve yöneticileri tarafından görmezden gelinmesi ya da dışlanması olarak ifade edilmektedir. İşyerinden dışlanmanın hem bireysel hem de örgtüsel bazı sonuçları vardır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, işyerinde dışlanma kavramının bibliyometrik haritalama yöntemiyle ortaya konulması ve gelecekteki çalışmalara ışık tutmasıdır. Çalışma kapsamında Web of Science veritabanında arama yapılmış ve Rstudio programı kullanılarak analizler ve görselleştirmeler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Sonuç olarak isyerinde dışlanma konusu iş tatmini, işten ayrılma niyeti, çalışan performansı, örgütsel bağlılık gibi bazı kavramlarla yakın ilişkili çıkmıştır. Ayrıca kavramla alakalı 228 adet çalışmaya ulaşılmış, 2022 yılında en çok çalışma, Frontiers in Psychology dergisinde en çok çalışma yapılmış ve kavramla alakalı anahtar kelime olarak öne çıkan kelimeler iş, performans ve sosyal dışlanma olduğu sonuçları bulunmuştur.
“To Make Books Is to Multiply”: Artists' Books and Feminist Expression in Mexico
Authors: Borowitz Maggie
Published: November 2023

In the late 1970s and early 80s, artist's books exploded in Mexico City. The impetus for this explosion has often been located in the artistic practice of the experimental artist Felipe Ehrenberg and the bookmaking workshops he offered beginning in 1976. While Ehrenberg was undoubtedly influential, this essay reexamines the history of this period—a so-called Golden Epoch of independent publishing in Mexico––in order to recuperate the significant role that feminist-aligned artists played in advancing the medium of the artist's book. In particular, I examine early editions produced by the artists Magali Lara and Yani Pecanins. Both prolific producers and staunch advocates for the artist's book medium, Lara and Pecanins wielded the book form's unique qualities in order to interrogate and validate aspects of women's experience that were often elided from both Mexican popular culture and the contemporaneous experimental art scene. Their early artist's books were conduits for feminist expression that pushed the limits of formal experimentation and forged new circuits of communication.
Revisiting Rasheed Araeen's Structures: 8bS at Manufactured Art, 1970
Authors: Gilchrist Kylie
Published: November 2023

In May 1970, Rasheed Araeen's work “8bS” appeared in Manufactured Art, a group exhibition dedicated to artistic engagements with industrial processes and advanced technology. Araeen's contribution, like many of his 1960–70s works, comprised lattice-like structures that engaged forms and techniques common to his professional training as a civil engineer. Like the Minimalist object, “8bS” deployed the grammar of productive techniques to structure artistic form, breaking with the compositional principles of formalist modernism and moving towards art beyond objecthood. Yet Araeen's contribution to Manufactured Art suggests that Araeen's structures also avoided the limitations of the Minimalist object's negative mimesis of technological infrastructure, while anticipating subsequent manoeuvres by artists such as Robert Morris. Revisiting Araeen's structures in Manufactured Art reinforces the singular importance of Araeen's structuralist modality, while provincializing US Minimalism as one of multiple trajectories working out of the stasis of modernist objecthood.
Equal Representation of Women in the Superior Judiciary: A Comparative Analysis between Pakistan and the United Kingdom
Authors: Tahir Rida
Published: November 2023

Pakistan does not have a senior judiciary that is representative of its population. Women are under-represented. There had never been any female Justices of the Supreme Court of Pakistan until January 2022, when Justice Ayesha Malik was appointed as the first female Supreme Court judge. Although there is no constitutional bar to appointing women to be judges, the system for appointing judges is based on outmoded notions of seniority that are hostile to women’s desire for career progression. The United Kingdom (UK) provides a valid comparison since the legal system of Pakistan is based on English law. The UK has been marginally more successful in promoting female judges. The UK features a more open and transparent system, from which Pakistan should consider borrowing elements, specifically, an independent Judicial Appointments Commission (jac). The UK model suggests that more positive change may occur in the future. A quota system may be effective in increasing appointments in Pakistan, although this may create its own difficulties. More fundamentally, building into the appointments process the recognition that women may have different social responsibilities than men may also facilitate change.
Religious Exemptions and the Constitutionality of Vaccine Mandates in the Philippines
Authors: Dayag Florian Kim P
Published: November 2023

Government responses to the covid-19 pandemic raise various legal concerns otherwise inconceivable in recent memory. One of the many implemented policies is the requirement of inoculation or vaccination to achieve herd immunity, similar to other diseases that have been eradicated by intensive vaccination programmes. Vaccine hesitancy, nevertheless, remains a persistent State concern which is complicated by reference to constitutionally protected rights. Refusal to be vaccinated on religious grounds has led various countries to provide religious exemptions to avoid judicial scrutiny. The Philippines, as the largest Christian nation in Asia, has a complex legal relationship with the church. This article discusses the State-church relationship from a constitutional and human rights law perspective and, using approaches formulated by the Philippine Supreme Court in religion clause analysis, attempts to assess, and possibly bridge, the perceived conflict between religious freedom and the Philippine government’s covid-19 vaccination policies.
Evaluating rhyme annotations for large corpora
Authors: BALEY Julien
Published: November 2023

Recent methods have been proposed to produce automatic rhyme annotators for large rhymed corpora. These methods, such as Baley (2022b) greatly reduce the cost of annotating rhymed material, allowing historical linguists to focus on the analysis of the rhyme patterns. However, evidence for the quality of those annotations has been anecdotal, consisting of a handful of individual poem case studies. This paper proposes to address the issue: first, we discuss previously proposed metrics that evaluate the quality of an annotator’s output against a ground-truth annotation (List, Hill, and Foster; 2019) and we propose an alternative metric that is better suited to the task. Then, sampling from Baley’s published annotated corpus and re-annotating it by hand, we use the sample to demonstrate the lacunae in the original approach and show how to fix them. Finally, the hand-annotated sample and source code are published as additional data, so that other researchers can compare the performance of their own annotators.
Negation in Hlai
Authors: LEE Hui-chi
Published: November 2023

This paper investigates various negation strategies in Hlai. The analysis is carried out within the framework of language typology. The most common negation in Hlai is expressed with vei11, immediately preceding the element it negates. The nominal and imperative predications are negated by the nonstandard negators guai121 and zou55. Each type of modal has its own specific suppletive form for negative expression. As previous studies contain little information on this topic, this paper contributes to the field by introducing, clarifying, and analyzing these divergent negative markers.
Immediate anteriority construction in Cantonese
Authors: LUI Pun Ho
Published: November 2023

This study explores the immediate anteriority (“IMANTE”) construction in Cantonese, in which two events form an “as soon as” relationship. By collecting examples from corpora, three types of IMANTE construction are categorized, based on the subordinate events: (i) achievement, (ii) completion point of a durational event, and (iii) inchoative point of a durational event. This study argues that (iii) is the default usage of a subordinate event when it is durational because it is unmarked and historically emerged earlier than (ii). Second, (iii) is seemingly a defining property of IMANTE besides “zero-time interval between two events”.