bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy and Its Association with Preeclampsia and Gestational Diabetes: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Avsar Huseyin Aytug , Atlihan Ufuk , Ata Can , Erkilinc Selcuk
Published: February 2024

Purpose
Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is the most common pregnancy-specific liver disease. It occurs in approximately 1/1000 to 1/10000 of pregnancies and usually resolves during the postpartum period without causing any hepatic sequelae or mortality in the mother. This is a condition complicated by itching in the body, increased liver enzymes and fasting bile acid levels (≥ 10 µmol/L). Although the relationship of intrahepatic cholestasis (ICP) with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and preeclampsia has been evaluated in studies, there are few studies examining the relationship of intrahepatic cholestasis with GDM and preeclampsia.
Methods
Patients who gave birth in our hospital between January 2018 and March 2022 were retrospectively reviewed from the hospital database and patient file records. Patients who were diagnosed with intrahepatic cholestasis and gave birth during the study period were retrospectively compared with all other patients who gave birth.
Results
In our study, consistent with previous studies, we demonstrated a higher risk of GDM and pre-eclampsia in women with ICP compared to those without ICP. In our study, we observed a significant correlation between ICP and adverse perinatal outcomes. There was a statistically significant relation between the presence of ICP and spontaneous preterm delivery, iatrogenic preterm delivery, 5th minute Apgar score < 7 and presence of Neonatal Care Unit (NICU). On the other hand, no significant relationship was found between the presence of ICP and the presence of Small Gestational Age (SGA) and meconium. In our study, there was a significant relationship between the presence of ICP and mode of delivery, and the presence of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) (p < 0.05). Those with ICP were found to have a lower gestational week and birth weight at birth, and a higher rate of caesarean delivery and PPH.
Conclusion
Our study suggested that patients with ICP had increased risk of development of GDM and preeclampsia.
Field Cycling Imaging: a novel modality to characterise breast cancer at low and ultra-low magnetic fields below 0.2T
Authors: Mallikourti Vasiliki , Ross Peter , Maier Oliver , Hanna Katie , Hussein Ehab , Davies Gareth , Lurie David , Lip Gerald , Lahrech Hana , Masannat Yazan , Broche Lionel
Published: February 2024

We propose Field-Cycling Imaging (FCI), a new MRI technology accessing a range of low and ultra-low magnetic fields (2mT to 0.2T), to acquire longitudinal relaxation time over 4 orders of magnitude of field strength, and covering the whole body. FCI obtains the Nuclear Magnetic Relaxation Dispersion (NMRD) profiles of tissues, which probes molecular dynamics at micro- to nanometer scales. We present a prospective study including 10 female patients with breast cancers. Low magnetic fields clearly differentiate tumours from adipose and glandular tissues and discriminates true tumour extent beyond that of conventional imaging, matching the true pathological size of the lesion. Using our FCI prototype, T1 variations at low and ultra-low field discriminate invasive from non-invasive cancers in patients (p < 0.05). To our knowledge, we described the first application of in vivo FCI in breast cancer, demonstrating relevant biomarkers that complement diagnosis of current imaging modalities, non-invasively and without contrast agents.
A quantum-assisted master clock in the sky: global synchronization from satellites at sub-nanosecond precision
Authors: Haldar Stav , Ducoing Sage , Agullo Ivan , Troupe James
Published: February 2024

This article develops a protocol to synchronize clocks on board a network of satellites equipped with quantum resources. We show that, in such a constellation, satellites reinforce each other's sync capabilities, forming a common clock that is more stable and precise than its constituents. We envision the resulting network as a master clock able to distribute time across the globe, providing the basis for a future quantum global navigation satellite system or a space-based quantum network. As an example of its capabilities, we show that a constellation of 50 satellites equipped with modest quantum resources, and distributed amongst 5 orbits at an altitude of 500 km, allows the synchronization of clocks spread across the globe at sub-nanosecond precision.
Anomalous frozen evanescent phonons
Authors: Chen Yi , Schneider Jonathan , Wang Ke , Scott Philip , Kalt Sebastian , Kadic Muamer , Wegener Martin
Published: February 2024

Evanescent Bloch waves are eigensolutions of spatially periodic problems for complex-valued wavenumbers at finite frequencies, corresponding to solutions that oscillate in time and space and that exponentially decay in space. Such evanescent waves are ubiquitous in optics, plasmonics, elasticity, and acoustics. In the limit of zero frequency, the wave “freezes” in time. We introduce frozen evanescent waves as the eigensolutions of the Bloch periodic problem at zero eigenfrequency. Elastic waves, i.e., phonons, in metamaterials serve as an example. We show that, in the complex plane, the Cauchy-Riemann equations for analytical functions connect the minima of the phonon band structure to frozen evanescent phonons. Their exponential decay length becomes unusually large if a minimum in the band structure tends to zero and thereby approaches a soft mode. This connection between unusual static and dynamic behaviors allows to engineer large characteristic decay lengths in static elasticity. For finite-size samples, the static solutions for given boundary conditions are linear combinations of frozen evanescent phonons, leading to interference effects. Theory and experiment are in excellent agreement. Anomalous behavior includes the violation of Saint Venant’s principle, which means that large decay-length frozen evanescent phonons can potentially be applied in terms of remote mechanical sensing.
At-home Wearable-based Monitoring and Machine Learning Predicts Clinical Measures and Biological Biomarkers of Disease Severity in Friedreich's Ataxia
Authors: Vaziri Ashkan , Mishra Ram , Nunes Adonay , Enriquez Ana ,   Victoria Profeta2, Wells McKenzie , Lynch David
Published: February 2024

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) results in progressive impairment in gait, upper extremity coordination, and speech. Currently, these symptoms are assessed through expert examination at clinical visits. Such in-clinic assessments are time-consuming, subjective, of limited sensitivity, and provide only a limited perspective of the daily disability of patients. In this study, we recruited 39 FRDA patients and remotely monitored their physical activity and upper extremity function using a set of wearable sensors for 7 consecutive days. We compared the sensor-derived metrics of lower and upper extremity function as measured during activities of daily living with FDRA clinical measures (e.g., mFARS and FA-ADL) and biological biomarkers of disease severity (guanine-adenine-adenine (GAA) and frataxin (FXN) levels). The results showed significant correlations with moderate to high effect size between multiple sensor-derived metrics and the FRDA clinical and biological outcomes. Finally, we developed multiple machine learning-based models to predict disease severity in FRDA using demographic, biological, and sensor-derived metrics. When sensor-derived metrics were included, the model performance enhanced 1.5-fold and 2-fold in terms of coefficient of determination for predicting FRDA clinical measures and biological biomarkers of disease severity, respectively. Our results signify the potential of at-home remote monitoring in assessing disease severity and monitoring motor dysfunction in FRDA.
Quantification of Entanglement and Coherence with Purity Detection
Authors: Lu He , Zhang Ting , Smith Graemn , Smolin John , Liu Lu , Peng Xu-Jie , Zhao Qi , Girolami Davide , Ma Xiongfeng , Yuan Xiao
Published: February 2024

Entanglement and coherence are fundamental properties of quantum systems, promising to power near future quantum technologies, such as quantum computation, quantum communication and quantum metrology. Yet, their quantification, rather than mere detection, generally requires reconstructing the spectrum of quantum states, i.e., experimentally challenging measurement sets that increase exponentially with the system size. Here, we demonstrate quantitative bounds to operationally useful entanglement and coherence that are universally valid, analytically computable, and experimentally friendly. Specifically, our main theoretical results are lower and upper bounds to the coherent information and the relative entropy of coherence in terms of local and global purities of quantum states. To validate our proposal, we experimentally implement two purity detection methods in an optical system: shadow estimation with random measurements and collective measurements on pairs of state copies. The experiment shows that both the coherent information and the relative entropy of coherence of pure and mixed unknown quantum states can be bounded by purity functions. Our research offers an efficient means of verifying large-scale quantum information processing.
Green approach for fabrication of high-quality graphene nanosheet from the waste of PET bottle plastic and wood sawdust by co-pyrolysis technology for dye adsorption from aqueous solution
Authors: Fouladi Mona , Heydari Maryam Kavousi , Tavakoli Omid , Hafezi Yousef
Published: February 2024

Among carbon-based nanoparticles, graphene has garnered significant attention since its discovery as a carbon allotrope, owing to its unique two-dimensional structure and outstanding characteristics. In this research study, we present an environmentally friendly, cost-effective technique with the potential for mass production of valuable products such as graphene nanosheets. Graphene was derived from a mixture of wood sawdust and Polyethylene-terephthalate (PET) bottles as the feedstock, along with a combination of sand and plant fertilizer (S/PF) that was modified by oxalic acid (OA) acting as a catalyst. The feedstock was successfully converted to graphite using a two-step fluidized-bed co-pyrolysis technology. Firstly, an experiment was conducted under a nitrogen atmosphere, subjecting the mixture to 500°C for 30 minutes at a ramping rate of 5°C/min, resulting in the synthesis of a black-charged residue. In the second step, graphite was obtained by subjecting the residue to 800°C for 2 hours at a ramping rate of 10°C/min, using the acid-modified catalyst in a nitrogen atmosphere. Finally, graphene nanosheets were produced from graphite through microwave-assisted liquid phase exfoliation. Due to the exceptional features of the synthesized graphene, it was used as an adsorbent for the removal of two organic dyes Rhodamine B (RB) and Malachite green (MG) from an aqueous solution. The effects of various factors on the adsorption capacity were studied in detail. The chemical structure and morphology of the synthesized samples were analyzed using advanced characterization techniques like XRD, FTIR, EDX, TGA, DTGA, and ZETA to determine the structure of graphene nanosheets and the degree of graphitization.
Navigating the complex dynamics of anesthesiologists’ professional identity formation in the context of their specialty training program: a phenomenographic perspective.
Authors: * Hanna Chin , Ingerman Åke , Block Linda , Hergès Helena Odentstedt
Published: February 2024

Background
A specialty training program is crucial for shaping future specialist doctors, imparting clinical knowledge and skills, and fostering a robust professional identity. This study investigates how anesthesiologists develop their professional identity, examining the unique challenges they face in gaining respect, balancing leadership and service duties, and establishing diverse work relationships. Professional identity in anesthesiology significantly influences well-being, teamwork, and patient safety, making it a crucial aspect of anesthesiology education. The study utilizes Creuss's model to describe professional identity formation as a socialization process within the anesthesiology community. Using phenomenography, the research explores various personal experiences and perspectives of this process, providing valuable insights for enhancing future anesthetic educational programs.
Method
Data for this phenomenographic study were collected through semi-structured interviews with anesthesia trainees and specialists, guided by open-ended questions. Conducted at a Swedish university hospital, participant selection used purposive sampling, reaching data saturation after 15 interviews. Iterative analysis followed the seven-step phenomenographic approach. The research team, comprising qualitative research and anesthesiology education experts, ensured result validity through regular review, discussion, and reflective practices.
Results
The study reveals three fundamental dimensions: 'Knowledge of Subject Matter,' 'Knowledge of Human Relations,' and 'Knowledge of Affect.' These dimensions offer insights into how anesthetists comprehend anesthesiology subjects, navigate interactions with colleagues and patients, and interpret emotional experiences in anesthesiology practice – all crucial elements in the formation of professional identity. The findings could be synthesized and described by three conceptions: The Outcome-Driven Learner, the Emerging Collaborator, and the Self-Directed Caregiver.
Conclusion
The study uncovers differing understandings in the development of anesthesiologists' professional identity, underscoring the necessity for a customized educational approach. Varying priorities, values, and role interpretations highlight the shortcomings of a generic, one-size-fits-all strategy. By acknowledging and integrating these nuanced perspectives, as elucidated in detail in this study, the future of anesthesia education can be enriched. This will necessitate a holistic approach, intertwining and focusing on humanities, tacit knowledge, and flexible teaching strategies, to guarantee thorough professional development, lifelong learning, and resilience.
Inpatient satisfaction survey based on national standard satisfaction questionnaire conducted in a tertiary hospital in Shenyang, China
Authors: Xintong Zhou , Moriyama Michiko , Tao Xin , Shuying Wang , Huiying Gao
Published: February 2024

Background In 2019, China released its first standardized patient satisfaction survey questionnaire and conducted a nationwide survey. However, due to significant developmental disparities among regions, the applicability of this national standard questionnaire remains unverified at the individual healthcare institution level. Furthermore, previous satisfaction studies often focused on influencing factors, with limited exploration into the relationships between these factors and their roles. This study aims to validate the national standard satisfaction questionnaire in a tertiary general hospital in Northeast China. Utilizing the questionnaire's inherent structure, the research investigates factors influencing inpatient satisfaction and explores the relationships and determinative roles of these factors.
Method This research employed a cross-sectional survey, utilizing the national standard satisfaction questionnaire, at a tertiary comprehensive hospital in Shenyang, Northeast China. The survey links were distributed through short message service (SMS) to inpatients between April and July 2022, with participation being voluntary. A total of 850 responses were gathered, resulting in a response rate of 5.51%.
Result The results of the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) demonstrate a well-fitting model for the questionnaire (c2/df = 2.931). Factors such as “Doctor communication”, “Medicine information”, “Discharge instructions”, “food”, and “medical staff’s attitudes towards patients’ visitors” emerged as significant influencing factors of inpatient satisfaction (all, p < 0.05). Additionally, “Gender” and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) level impacted patient satisfaction levels (both, p < 0.001) . Further Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID) analysis indicates that the key determinants of variations in patient satisfaction are ADL level and "Medication Information"(both, p < 0.001) .
Conclusion The satisfaction level in hospitals is primarily determined by the communication skills between doctors and patients, and it could be enhanced by providing professional assistance to patients with higher activities of daily living (ADL) levels and offering comprehensive information about medicines to all patients. Satisfaction levels exhibit baseline variations among different populations, such as males and females. The involvement of family caregivers has impacted the structure of the satisfaction model, along with various other aspects.
Group-related phenomena in Wikipedia edits
Authors: Burgess M. , Dunbar R. I.M.
Published: February 2024

Human communities have self-organizing properties that give rise to very speci c natural
grouping patterns, reected in the Dunbar Number and its layered structure (a Dunbar
Graph). Since work-groups are necessarily also social groups, we might expect the same
principles to apply here as well. One factor likely to be important in limiting the size of
groups is that conicts typically escalate with the number of people involved. Here we
analyse Wikipedia editing histories across a wide range of topics to show that there is an
emergent coherence in the size of groups formed transiently to edit the content of subject
texts, with two peaks averaging at around N = 8 for the size corresponding to maximal
contention, and at around N = 4 as a regular team. These values are consistent with the
observed sizes of conversational groups, as well as the hierarchical structuring of Dunbar
graphs. We use the Promise Theory of trust to suggest a scaling law that may apply to all
group distributions based on seeded attraction. In addition to providing further evidence
that even natural communities of strangers are self-organising, the results have important
implications for the governance of the Wikipedia commons and for the security of all online
social platforms and associations.
Determinants of Digital Technology Development in Sub-Saharan African Countries; Evidence from Panel Data Analysis
Authors: Beyene Elfenesh , Bedemo Amsalu , Gebremeskel Atnafu
Published: February 2024

The primary objective of this research is to explore the elements that shape the progression of digital technology in Sub-Saharan African nations. The study employs data obtained from 16 countries, covering the period between 2000 and 2020. Employing fixed effect panel regression analysis, our research indicates that various non-technological factors significantly impact digital technology development in the region. The results highlight that variables including general government final consumption expenditure, inflation rate, employment growth rate, financial development, ease of doing business index, logistics performance index, international migration, access to electricity, and access to safe drinking water have a positive impact on the development of digital technology. Conversely, international trade is identified as a negative influence, primarily due to insufficient infrastructural development. These findings underscore the significance of non-technological elements, encompassing aspects like globalization, economic conditions, favorable digital ecosystems, and the fulfillment of basic human needs, in shaping the landscape of digital technology in the region. The study, while acknowledging limitations in terms of selected indicators, years, and countries, emphasizes the need for broader investigations in future research. Practically, the study suggests that governments in the region should prioritize addressing these non-technological factors to fully leverage the potential of digital technology development. The originality and value of this research lies in its exploration of non-technological determinants, shedding light on their pivotal role in shaping the digital technology landscape in Sub-Saharan Africa
Gender differences in cognitive function of children with ADHD based on the Das-Naglieri Cognitive Assessment System
Authors: Lian Qiongxia , Qin Zixi , Li Dandan , Tan Xiaoying , Liu Hairun , Fu Yanhong , Yang Lixian
Published: February 2024

Background:Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neuro-developmental disorder with a relatively high prevalence. Due to the significant difference in incidence between males and females, gender has been used as an important factor in the study of ADHD. This study aimd to explore the gender difference in the cognitive function of children with ADHD using the Das-Naglieri Cognitive Assessment System (DN: CAS).
Methods: This study recruited 210 ADHD children as the test group and 118 healthy children as the control group. The gender ratio in each group was 1:1 with same age and grades. The DN: CAS was assessed in both groups.
Results: A comparison of sex differences within the ADHD group revealed that boys'performance in Planning was better than that of girls (p=0.018),while the ADHD boys received lower scores in Verbal-Spatial Relations,Sentence Repetition, and Attention than that of girls (P=0.015,0.033,0.031).
Only boys in the ≥9 year of age ADHD group received higher scores in Planning than that of girls in the same age range (p=0.031), gender differences were not found in the <9 year of age ADHD group and the control group. While only Boys in the <9 years of age ADHD group perform worser in Simultaneous Processing than that of girls in the same age range(p=0.045), gender differences were not found in the ≥9 year of age ADHD group and the control group.
Conclusion: Gender differences exist in cognitive function of children with ADHD.The DN: CAS can provide significant evidence of the weakness of ADHD girls in Planning tasks with acceptable sensitivity. This gender difference is related to age. The DN: CAS can identify gender differences in cognitive function among children with ADHD at various ages and assist clinicians in identifying girls with ADHD who have less pronounced externalizing symptoms.
Staphylococcus aureus colonization and prevalence of skin and soft tissue infections among people who inject drugs – a longitudinal study
Authors: Jörgensen Jimmy , Dahlman Disa , Blomé Marianne Alanko , Janson Håkan , Riesbeck Kristian , Nilsson Anna C.
Published: February 2024

People who inject drugs are frequently colonized with Staphylococcus aureus and have an increased risk for skin and soft tissue infections. This longitudinal study aims to describe S. aureus colonization in this group and the risk for infections during a one-year follow-up. We included 61 participants from the Malmö Needle Exchange Program. Mapping of S. aureus colonization was conducted by screening cultures every third month and S. aureus growth was semi-quantified. Data regarding infections and living conditions were collected from structured interviews. Statistics included univariate analysis with the Fischer’s exact test, univariate logistic regression and multivariate logistic regression. S. aureus colonization was detected in 46–63% of participants, and 75% reported one or more infections during the study period. Self-reported infections were associated with colonization in perineum (OR 5.08 [95% CI 1.45–17.73]), in skin lesions (OR 1.48 [95% CI 1.21–1.81]), and unstable housing situation (OR 12.83 [95% CI 1.56-105.81]). Thus, people who inject drugs are frequently colonized with S. aureus and report a surprisingly high prevalence of skin and soft tissue infections. Homeless people and those with skin colonization seem to be at highest risk. Effective clinical interventions are needed, aiming at preventing infections in this vulnerable group.
Iron Overload Promotes Hemochromatosis-Associated Osteoarthritis via the mTORC1-p70S6K/4E-BP1 Pathway
Authors: Fang Zhiyuan , Wang Chengwei , Zhu Jiang , Yang Gou Yang
Published: February 2024

Joint iron overload in hemochromatosis induces M1 polarization in synovial macrophages, releasing pro-inflammatory factors and leading to osteoarthritis development. However, the mechanism by which iron overload regulates M1 polarization remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the mechanism by which synovial iron overload promotes macrophage M1 polarization. Cell morphology, Prussian blue staining, qPCR, WB, ELISA, HE staining, saffranine O-staining and immunohistochemical analysis were performed. In vitro, iron-treated macrophages exhibited Prussian Blue staining indicative of iron overload and morphological changes towards M1 polarization. qPCR and Western Blot revealed increased expression of the M1 polarization markers iNOS and its protein. ELISA showed elevated TNF-α and IL-6 levels in supernatants. In vivo, ferrozine assay indicated significantly increased serum iron concentrations in all groups except A-Ctrl; Prussian Blue staining showed increased liver iron deposition in all groups except A-Ctrl. Iron deposition in rat synovium decreased in a DFO concentration-dependent manner; immunohistochemistry showed a corresponding decrease in iNOS and phosphorylated 4E-BP1 expression, and an increase in Arg-1 expression. Intracellular iron overload may exacerbate joint cartilage damage by promoting synovial macrophage M1 polarization through phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 in the mTORC1-p70S6K/4E-BP1 pathway.
Injuries induced by Recreational Activities in Older Adults: a CHIRPP Database Study
Authors: Joyal Rose , Gagnon Ann-Pier , Benhamed Axel , Blanchard Pierre-Gilles , Dubucs Xavier , Sirois Marie-Josée , Emond Marcel , Carmichael Pierre-Hugues , Mercier Eric
Published: February 2024

Background
Older adults are more active than before with rising participation in sports and recreational activities. However, despite this trend, sports-induced injuries and their outcomes in older adults are insufficiently described.
Objectives
To describe the characteristics, clinical care, outcomes, and disposition of older adults attending the emergency department (ED) for a traumatic injury sustained during recreational activities. The secondary objective was to explore the impact of trauma mechanism.
Methods
All patients aged 60 years and older presenting to the ED of three university-affiliated hospitals for a recreational injury were included. Data were collected systematically through the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP) sentinel surveillance system. All recreational activities and sports included in the CHIRPP database were classified into ten categories.
Results
A total of 1982 older adults were included (mean age: 68.5 (SD 6.89), females: 39.5%). The most common recreational activities and sports associated with injuries requiring ED consultation were cycling (42.3%), followed by skiing and snowboarding (16.8%), hockey and ice sports (11.0%) and motorized vehicles activities (7.9%). The most frequent body parts injured were upper limbs (38.9%), lower limbs (28.2%) and head (26.3%). Approximately one in five patients required hospitalization (21.6%).
Conclusion
The older population is engaging in activities historically associated with younger individuals. Injuries sustained during cycling, skiing and motor vehicle recreational activities are particularly frequent in older population attending EDs. Adapting ED care and prevention strategies for this population is essential.
Characteristics and critical care interventions in drowning patients treated by the Danish Air Ambulance from 2016-2021: a nationwide registry-based study with 30-day follow-up
Authors: Breindahl Niklas , Wolthers Signe Amalie , Møller Thea Palsgaard , Blomberg Stig Nikolaj Fasmer , Steinmetz Jacob , Christensen Helle Collatz , NA the Danish Drowning Validation Group
Published: February 2024

Background Improving oxygenation and ventilation in drowning patients early in the field is critical and may be lifesaving. The critical care interventions performed by physicians in drowning management are poorly described. The aim was to describe patient characteristics and critical care interventions with 30-day mortality as the primary outcome in drowning patients treated by the Danish Air Ambulance.Methods This retrospective cohort study with 30-day follow-up identified drowning patients treated by the Danish Air Ambulance from January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2021. Drowning patients were identified using a text-search algorithm (Danish Drowning Formula) followed by manual review and validation. Operational and medical data were extracted from the Danish Air Ambulance database. Descriptive analyses were performed comparing non-fatal and fatal drowning incidents with 30-day mortality as the primary outcome.Results Of 16,841 dispatches resulting in a patient encounter in the six years, the Danish Drowning Formula identified 138 potential drowning patients. After manual validation, 98 drowning patients were included in the analyses, and 82 completed 30-day follow-up. The prehospital and 30-day mortality rates were 28% and 67%, respectively. The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) severity scores from 4–7, indicating a critical emergency, were observed in 90% of the total population. They were significantly higher in the fatal vs non-fatal group (p < 0.01). At least one critical care intervention were performed in 68% of all drowning patients, with endotracheal intubation (62%), use of an automated chest compression device (41%), and intraosseous cannulation (39%) as the most frequently performed interventions. More interventions were generally performed in the fatal group (p = 0.01), including intraosseous cannulation and automated chest compressions.Conclusions The Danish Air Ambulance rarely treated drowning patients, but those treated were severely ill, with a 30-day mortality rate of 67% and frequently required critical care interventions. The most frequent interventions were endotracheal intubation, automated chest compressions, and intraosseous cannulation.
Quantitating the Summer Moisture Sources over Northwest China and Its Annual Variations in Dry and Wet years
Authors: Zhu Bin , Qian Peng , Zhu Tong , Fang Chenwei , Lu Chunsong , Chen Haishan , Liao Hong
Published: February 2024

The Northwest China (NWC) is located in an arid and semi-arid inland region, making its ecosystem highly vulnerable to changes of precipitation. Previous studies have revealed the wetting trend and potential moisture sources of the NWC, while not clearly quantified the moisture (water vapor and precipitation) sources and its interannual variability. Here, by performing and analyzing CAM5.1 simulation for 40 years, with a coupled atmospheric water tracer (AWT) algorithm, we find that the dominant sources of summer moisture over NWC are from terrestrial sources (82% of vapor and 77% of precipitation), i.e. from the North Asia (NA), Europe (EUP), southern Tibetan Plateau (STP), and southeastern China (SEC), rather than the oceanic sources. Due to the influence of synoptic patterns, the precipitation-conversion efficiency of water vapor from the southwestern airflow (STP and SEC) is higher than that from the northwestern airflow (NA and EUP). We also find that despite a general increasing trend in humidification, the fluctuation from relatively dry to wet years still persists in the NWC mainly influenced by the increased transport of moisture from terrestrial sources (NA and STP).
In a stranger's house: social isolation of internally displaced persons in war times
Authors: Tsybuliak Natalia , Popova Anastasiia , Lopatina Hanna , Suchikova Yana
Published: February 2024

This article explores the impact of internal displacement during wartime in Ukraine on individuals' social isolation. This study focused on understanding and comparing feelings of isolation in two different contexts: the native community in territories temporarily occupied by Russian troops since the full-scale war and the host community. The research reveals a consistent pattern of isolation characterized by feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion among internally displaced persons, irrespective of their location. Cultural disconnection emerges as a significant factor in both settings, with war-induced changes in social norms and practices leading to a sense of alienation in native communities, and the challenge of adapting to new cultural environments in host communities. This study highlights the difficulties faced by IDPs in building new social networks and the added complexity of emotional exhaustion caused by the ongoing war. It also underscores the heightened vulnerability of IDPs to bias, stigma and anxiety in social interactions. Overall, this qualitative study advances the understanding of the effects of displacement on social isolation and provides insights that can inform effective recovery strategies and foster of a resilient, cohesive national identity in post-war contexts in Ukraine.
FAN1-mediated translesion synthesis and POLQ/HELQ-mediated end joining generate interstrand crosslink-induced mutations
Authors: Tijsterman Marcel , Verschuren Jip , Schendel Robin van , Bostelen Ivo van , Knipscheer Puck
Published: February 2024

DNA interstrand cross-links (ICLs) prevent strand separation during DNA replication and transcription and therefore are extremely cytotoxic. To counteract these effects cells evolved various specialized ICL repair pathways. The division of labor between these routes, and the extent to which repair impact on genetic integrity is, however, still poorly understood. Here, we have determined the mutagenic consequences of ICL repair in the animal model C. elegans. Plasmids containing a single, site-specific, psoralen crosslink were injected into the worm’s gonad, after which targeted sequencing of transgenic progeny animals was conducted to establish repair profiles. Through genetic dissection we identified two mechanisms by which psoralen ICLs induce genetic change: i) translesion synthesis through POLH and REV1/3-mediated bypass, giving rise to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNVs), and ii) end joining through POLQ or HELQ action leading to deletions. Whilst we found no role for the Fanconi anemia genes FANCD2 and FANCI in causing nor suppressing these deletions, disruption of C. elegans TRAIP, which triggers the unloading of the CMG helicase at sites of blocked replication, resulted in a strikingly altered repair profile, arguing for a role for DNA replication in the aetiology of ICL-induced deletions. Translesion synthesis products were not affected by TRAIP deficiency. Instead, we found SNVs induced at ICLs to depend on the functionality of the Fanconi anemia-associated nuclease FAN1.
Combined Treatment of Ketogenic Diet and Propagermanium Reduces Neuroinflammation in Tay-Sachs Disease Mouse Model
Authors: İnci Orhan Kerim , Seyrantepe Volkan
Published: February 2024

Tay-Sachs disease is a rare lysosomal storage disorder caused by β-hexosaminidase A enzyme deficiency causing abnormal GM2 ganglioside accumulation in the central nervous system. GM2 accumulation triggers chronic neuroinflammation due to neurodegeneration-based astrogliosis and macrophage activity with the increased expression level of Ccl2 in the cortex of a recently generated Tay-Sachs disease mouse model Hexa-/-Neu3-/-. Propagermanium blocks the neuroinflammatory response induced by Ccl2, which is highly expressed in astrocytes and microglia. The ketogenic diet has broad potential usage in neurological disorders, but the knowledge of the impact on Tay-Sach disease is limited. This study aimed to display the effect of combining the ketogenic diet and propagermanium treatment on chronic neuroinflammation in the Tay-Sachs disease mouse model. Hexa-/-Neu3-/- mice were placed into the following groups: (i) chow diet, (ii) ketogenic diet (iii) chow diet with propagermanium, and (iv) ketogenic diet with propagermanium. Neuroinflammation markers were analyzed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Behavioral analyses were also applied for the assessment of phenotypic improvement. Notably,the expression levels of neuroinflammation-related genes were reduced in the cortex of 140-day-old Hexa-/-Neu3-/- mice compared to β-hexosaminidase A deficient mice Hexa-/- after combined treatment. Immunohistochemical analysis displayed correlated results with the RT-PCR. Our data suggest the potential to implement combined treatment to reduce chronic inflammation in Tay-Sachs and other lysosomal storage diseases.
The Longitudinal Assessment of Prenatal Cannabis Use on Neonatal Outcomes
Authors: habersham Leah , Hurd Yasmin , Nomura Yoko
Published: February 2024

Objective
Investigate the association between prenatal cannabis use and neonatal outcomes using longitudinal data from pregnant individuals.
Study Design
Data was leveraged from the Stress in Pregnancy longitudinal study, conducted between 2009 and 2013. Interviews and electronic medical records of 894 pregnant individuals were analyzed, with 791 identified as using cannabis. Cannabis use and neonatal outcomes (NICU admission, preterm delivery, low birth weight, fetal death) were investigated.
Results
Among participants analyzed, 13.1% used cannabis, who were generally younger (25.9 vs 27.9 years). Unadjusted analysis indicated a seven-fold increased risk of fetal death (OR 7.30) with cannabis, which persisted after adjustments (aOR 6.31). Adjusted models also suggested increased low birth weight risk (aOR 1.67).
Conclusion
This study highlights an association between prenatal cannabis use and elevated risks for fetal death and low birth weight.
Funding Support: NIH T32HL160513, NIDA R25DA033211, NIDA R01DA057310, Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai internal funds
Study on the effect of multiple optimization algorithms on rockburst prediction models
Authors: Chen Ying , Da Qi , Dai Bing , Wang Shaofeng , Wu Hao , He Guicheng
Published: February 2024

The rapidly expanding area of rockburst prediction has drawn a lot of interest because of its enormous potential to lower the risk of engineering disasters, enhance mine production safety, and protect employee lives. Consequently, the goal of this research is to forecast the rockburst intensity class for the prediction objective by optimizing four single machine learning models (SVM, DT, CNN, and RF) utilizing fifteen optimization algorithms (Bayes, SSA, DBO, SCA, SA, PSO, SO, POA, GWO, IGWO, AVOA, CSA, GTO, NGO, and WSO). The hybrid models were trained using a ten-fold cross-validation, and each hybrid model's performance was examined statistically. The SMOTE method then oversampled the original dataset in order to examine how the data equalization issue affected the hybrid models. The findings demonstrate that, in the original dataset, all optimization strategies increase the accuracy of the DT, CNN, and RF models; however, the balanced original dataset has a greater impact on the SVM models. And once the dataset is balanced, every optimization algorithm improves the accuracy of the SVM model and decreases the accuracy of the DT model; however, for the CNN and RF models, the majority of optimization algorithms improve the accuracy while only a small percentage of them do the opposite. An essential reference value for the development of later rock burst prediction models is provided by this study.
Microglial Pdcd4 deficiency mitigates neuroinflammation-associated depression via facilitating Daxx mediated PPARγ/IL-10 signaling
Authors: Li Yuan , Zhan Bing , Zhuang Xiao , Zhao Ming , Chen Xiaotong , Wang Qun , Liu Qiji , Zhang Lining
Published: February 2024

The imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammation in the brain is related to major depressive disorder (MDD), but the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. Herein, we found that Pdcd4 microglial conditional knockout (Pdcd4 mcKO) protected mice from LPS-induced hyperactivation of microglia and depressive-like behavior. Mechanically, microglial Pdcd4 promoted neuroinflammatory disturbance induced by LPS through inhibiting Daxx mediated PPARγ nucleus translocation and resulted in suppressing the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 expression. Finally, intracerebroventricular injection of the IL-10 neutralizing antibody IL-10Rα abolished the antidepressant effect of microglial Pdcd4 knockout under LPS-challenged conditions. Overall, our research reveals the specific role of microglial Pdcd4 in neuroinflammation, which could be a potential therapeutic target of neuroinflammation-related depression.
Groundwater assessment in endorheic basins at the transition arid-semi-arid climates in Africa- A case study of the Batha aquifer system, NE Chad
Authors: ARRAKHAIS ABAKAR BOURMA , Hamit Abderamane , Fontaine Claude , Abdelfadel Fatima , Dinar Moustapha , Razack Moumtaz
Published: February 2024

The present study focuses on the hydrogeological system of the Batha basin (Chad). This area is symptomatic of the functioning of an endoreic basin in an arid to semi-arid climate, of its water storage capacity related with the climatic fluctuations, and of the problems associated with assessing resources in this Sahelian zone. This basin forms the eastern part of the Lake Chad basin, which extends over 2.38 Mkm2. It is a vast sedimentary basin, filled by detrital and fluvial-lacustrine deposits of Eocene (Continental Terminal) to Quaternary age, and bordered by Precambrian crystalline formations. The study aims to assess the aquifer potential of the groundwater system and its dynamics using a combined geology-hydrogeology-hydrochemistry approach. The lithology defined an heterogeneous and multi-layered system. The piezometric map reveals the dynamics of the general groundwater flow direction SE-NW, suggesting the interconnection of the different parts of the aquifer system. Based on the concentrations of major ions in solution, the hydrochemical results have identified four main types of facies: calcium bicarbonate (dominant), sodium bicarbonate, sulphate-sodium and mixed. The mineralization of these facies appears to be essentially controlled by water-rock interaction and to a lesser extent by base exchange and evaporation process. Calculations of saturation indices indicate that these waters are close to equilibrium with the calcite-Mg phases, gaylussite and gypsum. Nevertheless, given the low and medium ionic contents, it appears that the groundwater in the Batha basin is moderately evolved. On the other hand, stable isotope analyses (δ2H and δ18O) of groundwaters show the existence of three compositional groups corresponding to: (A) ancient water disconnected from current meteoric influences, (B) mixtures of current meteoric water and older water affected by evaporation during infiltration, (C) mixtures of current and ancient meteoric water more impacted by the evaporation process. In addition, tritium (3H) analysis of these waters shows the existence of three composition groups corresponding to current rainwater, modern water and post-modern water. Taken together, these results show that the hydrogeochemical differentiations obtained from both ionic and isotopic analyses cannot be strictly associated with the different aquifers (Quaternary, Pliocene, CT and basement). This confirms the interconnection of the Batha system and suggests that the heterogeneity observed is mostly controlled by lithological and climatic variations.
Diagnostic value of the serum STIP1 concentration in patients with HCC and AFP-negative HCC
Authors: Sun Haiqing , Liu Ning , Lou Jinli
Published: February 2024

Objective
This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of serum STIP1 levels in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and AFP-negative hepatocellular carcinoma (ANHC) patients.
Methods
In this study, serum samples were collected from 158 HCC patients and 63 non-HCC patients (including 29 patients with chronic hepatitis B, 19 healthy individuals, and 15 patients with cirrhosis). The serum STIP1 concentration was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors associated with HCC and ANHC. The diagnostic value of each index, as well as combinations of indices for HCC and ANHC, was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.
Results
STIP1, DCP, and AFP levels were significantly greater in the HCC group than in the non-HCC group (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis revealed that age, ALT, TBIL, Log AFP, DCP, STIP1, and hepatitis B virus infection were significantly associated with HCC (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age, DCP, STIP1, and hepatitis B virus infection were independent predictors of HCC (P < 0.05). In addition, the diagnostic value of STIP1 for HCC was significantly greater than that of DCP. The AUC for STIP1 combined with DCP was 0.937, and the sensitivity, specificity, and Yoden index were 84.8%, 98%, and 0.828, respectively. Additionally, among 73 AFP-negative (< 7 ng/mL) HCC patients, univariate analysis revealed significant differences in age, ALT, AST, GGT, AFP, STIP1and hepatitis B virus infection(P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that age, STIP1 expression, and hepatitis B virus infection status were independent predictors for ANHC patients. The ROC curve exhibited an AUC of 0.919 for STIP1, with a diagnostic cutoff value of 68.5 U/mL, a sensitivity of 76.71%, and a specificity of 100%. Moreover, 36 ANHC patients and 19 AFP-negative non-HCC patients were included in the validation of the diagnostic model. Among them, 20 patients had STIP1 levels greater than 68.5 U/mL, resulting in a diagnostic accuracy of 67.3%, sensitivity of 55.6%, and specificity of 89.5%.
Conclusion
STIP1 demonstrated excellent diagnostic value for HCC and ANHC. Moreover, STIP1 can serve as a valuable adjunctive tool for the clinical diagnosis of HCC.
The role of adjuvant transcatheter arterial chemoembolization following repeated curative resection/ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma with early recurrence: a propensity score matching analysis
Authors: Huang Kaiquan , Qian Tao , Chen Wen , Lao Mengyi , Li Huiliang , Lin Weiqiao , Bai Xueli , Gao Shunliang , Ma Tao , Liang Tingbo
Published: February 2024

Background
The role of adjuvant transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) following repeated resection/ablation for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of adjuvant TACE following repeated resection or ablation in patients with early recurrent HCC.
Methods
Information of patients who underwent repeated surgery or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for early recurrent HCCs (< 2 years) at our institution from January 2017 to December 2020 were collected. Patients were divided into adjuvant TACE and observation groups according to whether they received adjuvant TACE or not. The recurrent-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared between the two groups before and after propensity score matching (PSM).
Results
Of the 225 patients enrolled., the median time of HCC recurrence was 11 months (IQR, 6–16 months). After repeated surgery or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for recurrent tumors, 45 patients (20%) received adjuvant TACE while the remaining 180 (80%) didn’t. There were no significant differences in RFS (P = 0.325) and OS (P = 0.072) between adjuvant TACE and observation groups before PSM. There were also no significant differences in RFS (P = 0.897) and OS (P = 0.090) between the two groups after PSM. Multivariable analysis suggested that multiple tumors, liver cirrhosis, and RFA were independent risk factors for the re-recurrence of HCC.
Conclusion
Adjuvant TACE after repeated resection or ablation for early recurrent HCCs was not associated with a survival benefit in this single-center cohort.