bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synergy of Nodal Factors in Predicting Recurrence After Treatment of N1b Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Xian Keyao , Xu Siyuan , Huang Hui , Xing Chengwei , Wang Xiaolei , Liu Shaoyan , Liu Jie
Published: May 2024

Background

Nodal factors are important predictors of prognosis for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), but their synergistic effect is not well understood. We aimed to explore their synergy in predicting recurrence of clinical N1b (cN1b) PTC.

Methods

Patients who underwent surgery for cN1b PTC from 2013 to 2017 were enrolled. The association between nodal factors and recurrence was assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Interaction and stratified analyses were conducted according to significant nodal factors.

Results

Of 1067 cN1b PTC patients included, all nodal factors (bilateral metastasis, largest dimension > 3 cm, micro and gross extranodal extension (mENE, gENE), number of metastatic lymph nodes [MLN], lymph node yield [LNY], and ratio LNR]) were significantly associated with all site and nodal recurrence in the univariate analysis (all P < .05). Multivariate analyses revealed largest dimension > 3 cm, gENE and LNR > 0.21 were associated with elevated both all site (hazard ratio [HR] [95% CI], 2.58 [1.67-4.00], 1.87 [1.26-3.01], 1.68 [1.11-2.42], all P < .01) and nodal recurrences (HR [95% CI], 2.63 [1.67-4.13], 1.90 [1.15-3.12], 1.76 [1.17-2.66], all P < .01). LNR and gENE had interactive effect (all site recurrence: P for interaction = .009; nodal recurrence: P for interaction = .02). LNR was significantly associated with recurrence in patients without gENE (HR [95% CI], all site recurrence: 2.41 [1.50-3.87]; nodal recurrence: 2.51 [1.52-4.14], all P < .001), while when gENE appeared, LNR was no longer associated with recurrence (HR [95% CI], all site recurrence: 0.81 [0.43-1.54], P = .53; nodal recurrence: 0.85 [0.43-1.67], P = .64).

Conclusion

Nodal factors have synergistic effect in predicting recurrence in cN1b PTC patients. Increasing lymph nodes harvest may only decrease recurrence in patients without gENE, while not in gENE patients.
PAPP-A as a Potential Target in Thyroid Eye Disease
Authors: Conover Cheryl A , Bale Laurie K , Stan Marius N
Published: May 2024

Context

Proptosis in thyroid eye disease (TED) can result in facial disfigurement and visual dysfunction. Treatment with insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) inhibitors has been shown to be effective in reducing proptosis but with side effects.

Objective

To test the hypothesis that inhibition of IGF-IR indirectly and more selectively with PAPP-A inhibitors attenuates IGF-IR signaling in TED. Informed consent was obtained from patients with TED undergoing surgery, and retro-orbital tissue was collected for fibroblast isolation and culture. Operations were performed in Mayo Clinic operating suites. Cell culture was performed in a sterile tissue culture facility. Retro-orbital tissue was collected from 19 patients with TED.

Methods

Treatment of TED fibroblasts with proinflammatory cytokines. Flow separation of CD34− and CD34+ orbital fibroblasts, the latter representing infiltrating fibrocytes into the orbit in TED. PAPP-A expression and proteolytic activity, IGF-I stimulation of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/Akt pathway, and inhibition by immuno-neutralizing antibodies against PAPP-A, CD34+ status, and associated PAPP-A and IGF-IR expression were measured.

Results

Proinflammatory cytokines markedly increased PAPP-A expression in TED fibroblasts. IGF-IR expression was not affected by cytokine treatment. Inhibition of PAPP-A's proteolytic activity suppressed IGF-IR activation in orbital fibroblasts from patients with TED. TED fibroblasts that were CD34+ represented ∼80% of the cells in culture and accounted for ∼70% of PAPP-A and IGF-IR–expressing cells.

Conclusion

These results support a role for PAPP-A in TED pathogenesis and indicate the potential for novel therapeutic targeting of the IGF axis.
Neprilysin Inhibition Promotes Skeletal Growth via the CNP/NPR-B Pathway
Authors: Hakata Takuro , Ueda Yohei , Yamashita Takafumi , Yamauchi Ichiro , Kosugi Daisuke , Sugawa Taku , Fujita Haruka , Okamoto Kentaro , Fujii Toshihito , Taura Daisuke , Yasoda Akihiro , Akiyama Haruhiko , Inagaki Nobuya
Published: May 2024

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) plays a crucial role in enhancing endochondral bone growth and holds promise as a therapeutic agent for impaired skeletal growth. To overcome CNP's short half-life, we explored the potential of dampening its clearance system. Neprilysin (NEP) is an endopeptidase responsible for catalyzing the degradation of CNP. Thus, we investigated the effects of NEP inhibition on skeletal growth by administering sacubitril, a NEP inhibitor, to C57BL/6 mice. Remarkably, we observed a dose-dependent skeletal overgrowth phenotype in mice treated with sacubitril. Histological analysis of the growth plate revealed a thickening of the hypertrophic and proliferative zones, mirroring the changes induced by CNP administration. The promotion of skeletal growth observed in wild-type mice treated with sacubitril was nullified by the knockout of cartilage-specific natriuretic peptide receptor B (NPR-B). Notably, sacubitril promoted skeletal growth in mice only at 3 to 4 weeks of age, a period when endogenous CNP and NEP expression was higher in the lumbar vertebrae. Additionally, sacubitril facilitated endochondral bone growth in organ culture experiments using tibial explants from fetal mice. These findings suggest that NEP inhibition significantly promotes skeletal growth via the CNP/NPR-B pathway, warranting further investigations for potential applications in people with short stature.
Potential Mediating Role of Iron Biomarkers in the Association of Sex With Glucose, Insulin, and Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Khatami Farnaz , Lange Theis , Groothof Dion , Ahanchi Noushin Sadat , Quezada-Pinedo Hugo G , Raeisi-Dehkordi Hamidreza , De Borst Martin H , Vidal Pedro-Marques , Mohan Sailesh , Prabhakaran Dorairaj , Bano Arjola , Bakker Stephan J L , Muka Taulant , Eisenga Michele F
Published: May 2024

Context

Sex-specific prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) have been reported, but the underlying mechanisms are uncertain.

Objective

In this study, we aimed to investigate whether iron biomarkers mediate the association between biological sex and glucose metabolism and the incidence of T2D.

Methods

We used data from the general population enrolled in the prospective Prevention of REnal and Vascular ENd-stage Disease study in Groningen, The Netherlands. We measured ferritin, transferrin saturation (TSAT), hepcidin, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting plasma insulin (FPI) levels, and incidence of T2D. We used multivariable regression and mediation analyses to investigate our hypothesis. All iron biomarkers, FPG, and FPI were log-transformed.

Results

The mean (SD) age of the 5312 (51.3% female) individuals was 52.2 (11.6) years. Compared with males, females had lower FPG (β = −.01; 95% CI −0.02, −0.01) and FPI (β = −.03; 95% CI −0.05, −0.02) levels. Ferritin, hepcidin, and sTfR showed potential mediating effects on the association between sex and FPG, 21%, 5%, and 7.1%, respectively. Furthermore, these variables mediated 48.6%, 5.7%, and 3.1% of the association between sex and FPI, respectively. Alternatively, TSAT had a suppressive mediating role in the association of sex with FPG and FPI. The incidence of T2D was lower in females than in males (hazard ratio 0.58; 95% CI 0.44, 0.77), with 19.2% of this difference being mediated by ferritin.

Conclusion

Iron biomarkers may partially mediate the association between sex and glucose homeostasis. Future studies addressing the causality of our findings are needed.
Introduction: Antipolitics or Antinomianism?
Authors: Perl Jeffrey M.
Published: May 2024

In this introduction to part 3 of the Common Knowledge symposium “Antipolitics,” the journal's editor argues that, apart from sortition, the best guarantees of safety in a democracy are, first, to augment judicial oversight of all political processes and, second, to exclude politicians from the process of selecting judges. “There can never be too much judicial interference,” he writes, “in what politicians regard as their domain.” The author reached this conclusion during attempts by the newly elected Israeli government, in the spring of 2023, to make itself absolute by eliminating checks on its conduct that the Supreme Court had been developing and applying since the 1950s. Traditional Jewry and Judaism being notoriously hypernomian, the resistance to legality on the part of the ruling coalition has conveyed an aura of antinomian heresy. The choice in Israel appears to be between antipolitics and antinomianism, rather than between Left and Right politically—and the antipolitical model in Israel of a superintendent judiciary and an autonomous attorney general is arguably superior to the American prototype, even from the perspective (“all men are created equal . . . , endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights”) that we have come to regard as quintessentially American.
Early Experience With the Dual-Mode Radial-Access Catheter Armadillo in Neuroendovascular Procedures via the Radial Approach: A Multicenter Study of 71 Patients
Authors: El Naamani Kareem , Mastorakos Panagiotis , Teichner Eric M. , Sioutas Georgios S. , Salem Mohamed M. , Tjoumakaris Stavropoula I. , Gooch M. Reid , Rosenwasser Robert H. , Srinivasan Visish , Jankowitz Brian T. , Burkhardt Jan-Karl , Jabbour Pascal M.
Published: May 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

The transradial approach is increasingly being adopted by neurointerventionalists after several studies showed its safety, efficacy, and patient satisfaction. However, the use of non–radial-specific devices for transradial procedures is a major barrier for transradial adoption. In this study, we aim to demonstrate the efficacy, technical feasibility, and safety of the Armadillo dual-mode guide catheter (Q'Apel Medical Inc.) as a radial-specific catheter in various neurovascular pathologies.

METHODS:

This is a multicenter retrospective study of 71 patients who underwent neurointerventional procedures via the transradial route using the Armadillo guide catheter between 2021 and 2023.

RESULTS:

Our study cohort comprised 71 patients, mostly females (n = 33, 63.5%) with a mean age of 59.1 ± 13.5 years. 13 (18.3%) patients underwent carotid artery stenting and angioplasty, 39 (54.9%) aneurysm treatment, 9 (12.7%) vascular malformation embolization, 5 (7.0%) tumor embolization, and 5 (7.0%) middle meningeal artery embolization for chronic subdural hematomas. The mean procedure time was 61.4 ± 33.5 min, mean fluoro time was 29.6 ± 14.4 min, and mean radiation exposure was 93.3 ± 56.3 Gy cm2. During the procedures, 70 (98.6%) target vessels were successfully catheterized. The rate of access site complications was 0%, and 1 (1.4%) patient required conversion to the transfemoral route.

CONCLUSION:

The use of the Armadillo catheter showed promising outcomes in terms of safety, effectiveness, and technical feasibility in various neuroendovascular procedures, demonstrating a high success rate and low morbidity rate.
Repercussões psicológicas de adultos que sofreram abuso sexual na infância
Authors: Aguiar Gabriel Galvão , Cavalcante Danilo Ferreira , Lopez Jéssica Sumie Nakamura , Martins Thainá Santos , Teixeira Victória Ferreira de Velasco , Zanuzzi Tamara Rodrigues Lima , Oliveira Fábio Morato de
Published: May 2024

Objetivo: correlacionar o abuso sexual na infância com as repercussões psicológicas na idade adulta, das vítimas e destacar a importância de abordar o despreparo do sistema judiciário, a culpabilização das vítimas e as falhas no acesso à educação e à informação sobre sexualidade. Métodos: uma revisão de literatura foi conduzida utilizando métodos descritivos e analíticos, com a utilização de dados publicados nos últimos 10 anos, nas bases de dados PubMed e Scielo Brasil. Resultados: foram selecionados 13 artigos do PubMed e 10 artigos do Scielo Brasil para análise. Observa-se que o abuso sexual na infância tem repercussões que vão além do nível psicológico e cognitivo, afetando outras áreas, como mudanças na estrutura cerebral, problemas de saúde física, desenvolvimento de comportamentos de risco e dificuldades em estabelecer relações sociais, além de redução na expectativa de vida. Conclusões: são muitos os impactos negativos na vida de vítimas de abuso sexual infantil. O cuidado físico e psicológico voltado às vítimas de abuso infantil vai além da infância, demandando atenção nos anos subsequentes e durante a vida adulta, uma vez que o trauma repercute de formas diferentes, gerando repercussões negativas na qualidade de vida dos abusados. Verifica-se a necessidade de implementação de estratégias de ensino e capacitação para profissionais da área da educação, a fim de identificar e denunciar casos de violência sexual, bem como a imprescindibilidade em criar espaços para abordagem desse tema nas escolas
Liability of supervisory and resolution authorities in the European Banking Union
Authors: Αναστοπούλου Έλλη-Κυριακή
Published: May 2024

Η γνωστή έννοια της εξωσυμβατικής ευθύνης αποτελεί την καρδιά της παρούσας Διατριβής. Ειδικότερα, το ερευνητικό θέμα εστιάζει στο σύνθετο πεδίο της εξωσυμβατικής ευθύνης των χρηματοοικονομικών αρχών, δηλαδή των αρχών εποπτείας και εξυγίανσης σε ενωσιακό και εθνικό επίπεδο. Η έρευνα επισημαίνει θεμελιώδεις πτυχές των νομοθετικών διατάξεων και της σχετικής νομολογίας που διέπει την εξωσυμβατική ευθύνη σε επίπεδο Ένωσης, καθώς και σε επίπεδο ελληνικού δικαίου, ενώ εξετάζεται το status quo σε άλλες δικαιοδοσίες της ΕΕ.Οι χρηματοπιστωτικές αρχές, όπως οι κεντρικές τράπεζες, οι ρυθμιστικοί φορείς και οι εποπτικοί φορείς, διαδραματίζουν κρίσιμο ρόλο στη διατήρηση της σταθερότητας και της αποτελεσματικότητας του χρηματοπιστωτικού συστήματος. Οι ενέργειές τους περιλαμβάνουν ένα ευρύ φάσμα δραστηριοτήτων, συμπεριλαμβανομένου του καθορισμού νομισματικής πολιτικής, της επίβλεψης τραπεζών και χρηματοπιστωτικών ιδρυμάτων και της επιβολής της συμμόρφωσης με τα ρυθμιστικά πρότυπα ή της λήψης μέτρων εξυγίανσης. Ως εποπτικά όργανα επιφορτισμένα με την επίβλεψη και τη διασφάλιση της σταθερότητας και της ακεραιότητας των χρηματοπιστωτικών αγορών, οι αρχές αυτές διαθέτουν σημαντική ισχύ και επιρροή. Ενώ ο πρωταρχικός τους στόχος είναι να διαφυλάξουν τη συνολική σταθερότητα και να προστατεύσουν τα συμφέροντα διαφόρων ενδιαφερομένων, υπάρχουν περιπτώσεις όπου οι αποφάσεις ή οι παραλείψεις τους μπορούν να οδηγήσουν σε βλάβη σε τρίτα μέρη του χρηματοπιστωτικού συστήματος. Η Διατριβή απαντάει στο δίλημμα εάν οι χρηματοπιστωτικές αρχές εποπτείας και εξυγίανσης πρέπει να απολαύουν ασυλίας έναντι της εξωσυμβατικής τους ευθύνης ή πρέπει να υπέχουν ευθύνη για τη ζημία που προκάλεσαν κατά την άσκηση των καθηκόντων τους. Η έρευνα εστιάζει στους πιθανούς περιορισμούς που εφαρμόζονται στην ευθύνη των χρηματοπιστωτικών αρχών, αναλύοντας επίσης την αποζημιωτική ασυλία που χορηγείται στις χρηματοπιστωτικές αρχές όταν υπάρχει διαθέσιμο σύστημα εγγύησης καταθέσεων, καθώς επίσης και στα κενά στην προστασία του δικαιώματος της ιδιοκτησίας που προκύπτουν στο πλαίσιο εξυγίανσης. Η Διατριβή αφιερώνει ιδιαίτερη προσοχή στον εντοπισμό των κενών λογοδοσίας μεταξύ της ΕΚΤ και των αντίστοιχων αρμόδιων εθνικών αρχών, ενώ παράλληλα εξετάζει το ζήτημα της αποτελεσματικής δικαστικής προστασίας στις σύνθετες διοικητικές διαδικασίες.
Analysis of the melting process of carbon-bearing pellets in iron bath, slag bath and graphite crucible
Authors: Yang Chao , She Xue-feng , Wang Ru-yi , Lin Pei-fang , Wang Jing-song , Xue Qing-guo
Published: May 2024

Background With the increase in the amount of scrap steel in society, the proportion of electric furnace steelmaking is increasing year by year, especially in China. Due to the high Zn content, the electric furnace arc dust (EAFD) needs to be recovered by non-blast furnace process. Due to EAFD containing a large amount of zinc ferrite, it needs to be recovered by fire process. It is a promising process to melt the EAFD pellets to get the discount and zinc-rich secondary ash. Methods To clarify the melting behavior of pellets in the metallurgical process, the slag phase diagram and the effect of temperature and FeO on slag viscosity were calculated using FactSage, and the melting process of electric furnace arc dust (EAFD) pellets in a graphite crucible, iron bath, and slag bath were experimentally investigated. Results The experimental results show that the viscosity of the slag system decreases with increasing temperature and FeO content, and the effect of FeO on viscosity is greater. The viscosity decreased from 0.305 to 0.276 Pa·s when the FeO content in the slag was increased from 0 wt. % to 2 wt.% at 1773 K. The melting process of the EAFD pellets in an iron bath and graphite crucible was consistent, and after the formation of liquid-phase slag in the pellets, the liquid-phase slag was diffused to melt the pellets. Conclusions The iron bath improved the heat transfer conditions of the pellets, reducing the smelting time from 600 to 360 s. The slag bath promoted the slagging reaction of the contact part to change the pellet melting process and increase the pellet melting speed, and the EAFD pellets melted within 240 s in a slag bath.
Case Report: A case of disseminated cutaneous listeriosis following appendicitis from Lao PDR
Authors: Evans Terry John , Siratana Vannavong , Venkatesan Timothy , Davong Viengmon , Thanadabouth Khamphong , Ashley Elizabeth A.
Published: May 2024

Background Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne pathogen that is a rare cause of bacteraemia and meningitis in immunosuppressed patients, and carries a high mortality rate. Cutaneous manifestations of listeriosis are rare, and are usually associated with direct inoculation of the skin. Case A 41-year-old woman who initially presented to a hospital in Laos with appendicitis was diagnosed with disseminated listeriosis with cutaneous involvement. Intra-abdominal pathology probably contributed to bacterial bloodstream invasion. Initial treatment with meropenem was switched to ampicillin based on best practice, however our patient died 5 days after diagnosis. Conclusions This case highlights listeriosis as an important cause of mortality in low- and middle-income countries, exacerbated by poor availability of laboratory diagnostics and ineffective empiric antibiotic regimens. Improvements in food hygiene, surveillance, and increased laboratory capacity are important strategies to reduce rates of infection and clinical outcomes.
The genome sequence of the Barred Sallow moth, Tiliacea aurago ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
Authors: Crowley Liam M. , Zilli Alberto ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: May 2024

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Tiliacea aurago (the Barred Sallow; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). The genome sequence is 798.0 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.41 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 19,865 protein coding genes.
The genome sequence of an ichneumonid wasp, Ophion ellenae Johansson, 2019
Authors: Broad Gavin R. ,   Natural History Museum Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: May 2024

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Ophion ellenae (ichneumonid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Ichneumonidae). The genome sequence is 650.3 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 13 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 29.49 kilobases in length.
THE USE OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS IN PASSIVE AND ACTIVE SAFETY OF AUTOMOBILE
Authors: Kiba Petr A. , Kiba Maria R.
Published: May 2024

The article deals with the relevance of using composite materials of biological and synthetic origin in the elements of passive and active safety of the car. The topic of road safety is still topical, as cars are becoming more and more every year. The safety characteristics of vehicles should improve and environmental pollution should be reduced. To achieve these goals, various approaches of using composite materials in car body elements have been proposed. In addition to safety features, composite materials also reduce the weight of the vehicle. Such a vehicle picks up speed faster and consumes less fuel, reducing environmental pollution. Using the example of a Porsche car, parts made entirely and with carbon fiber are examined. A summary of the further use of the technology in the country and the world is given.
The purpose is to show the importance of using composite materials in active and passive safety elements of the car.
Method and methodology of the work. Theoretical analysis and generalization of scientific and technical literature in the context of research into the prospectivity of the use of composite materials in the automotive industry.
Results. According to the conducted research and practical experience examples are given in which areas of automobile construction composite materials can be used.
Scope of application of the results. The results can be used in the design and development of passive and active safety elements.
FORECASTING CONSUMER ACTIVITY USING MACHINE LEARNING METHODS
Authors: Novikov Vadim D. , Khamitov Renat M.
Published: May 2024

This article discusses forecasting consumer activity, and in particular forecasting household energy consumption using machine learning. Forecasting household energy consumption using machine learning is a topic that addresses various aspects of efficient and environmentally friendly use of electricity. The article discusses various machine learning methods and models that can be applied to solve the forecasting problem. The consideration of a neural network model such as LTSM is highlighted in a separate category, its description, the learning and use process are given, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of this model are given. After that, a model is trained on the prepared dataset to predict energy consumption.
Step 3 for the treatment of periodontal diseases: non-regenerative periodontal surgery
Authors: Vithlani Viren , Ide Mark
Published: May 2024

This article outlines the key aspects of considering non-regenerative periodontal surgery in step 3 of the UK version of the EFP S3-level clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of periodontitis. The third step of periodontal treatment is aimed at treating those sites that have not responded adequately, targeting non-responding or residual deep pockets. The purpose of non-regenerative surgery is to achieve access to root surfaces associated with residual pockets for further subgingival instrumentation, aiming to eliminate those lesions that add complexity to the management of periodontitis (such as infrabony defects, root concavities and furcations). At these localized sites, the main objective of periodontal surgery is to improve direct vision and access for professional instrumentation, to reduce or correct anatomical factors, partially regenerate lost periodontal tissue where possible, and ultimately create an environment that is easy and comfortable for the patient and the dental professional to maintain.

CPD/Clinical Relevance: Knowledge of the non-regenerative surgical treatment of Stage III and IV periodontitis patients is valuable for dental clinicians.
PES CAVOVARUS IN CHARCOT-MARIE-TOOTH DISEASE COMPARED WITH THE IDIOPATHIC CAVOVARUS FOOT: A PRELIMINARY WEIGHTBEARING CT ANALYSIS
Authors: Bernasconi A. , Cooper L. , Lyle S. , Patel S. , Cullen N. , Singh D. , Welck M.
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Pes cavovarus is a foot deformity that can be idiopathic (I-PC) or acquired secondary to other pathology. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is the most common adult cause for acquired pes cavovarus deformity (CMT-PC). The foot morphology of these distinct patient groups has not been previously investigated. The aim of this study was to assess if morphological differences exist between CMT-PC, I-PC and normal feet (controls) using weightbearing computed tomography (WBCT).

Methods

A retrospective analysis of WBCT scans performed between May 2013 and June 2017 was undertaken. WBCT scans from 17 CMT-PC, 17 I-PC and 17 healthy normally-aligned control feet (age-, side-, sex- and body mass index-matched) identified from a prospectively collected database, were analysed. Eight 2-dimensional (2D) and three 3-dimensional (3D) measurements were undertaken for each foot and mean values in the three groups were compared using one-way ANOVA with the Bonferroni correction.

Results

Significant differences were observed between CMT-PC or I-PC and controls (p< 0.05). Two-dimensional measurements were similar in CMT-PC and I-PC, except for forefoot arch angle (p= 0.04). 3D measurements (foot and ankle offset, calcaneal offset and hindfoot alignment angle) demonstrated that CMT-PC exhibited more severe hindfoot varus malalignment than I-PC (p= 0.03, 0.04 and 0.02 respectively).

Discussion

CMT-related cavovarus and idiopathic cavovarus feet are morphologically different from healthy feet, and CMT feet exhibit increased forefoot supination and hindfoot malalignment compared to idiopathic forms. The use of novel three-dimensional analysis may help highlight subtle structural differences in patients with similar foot morphology but aetiologically different pathology.
The Arab American Polyphonic Novel and Its Indictment of the Post-9/11 Political Agenda
Authors: Hazboun Taşyakan Reem
Published: May 2024

Following 9/11, the United States, led at the time by the George W. Bush administration, formulated and disseminated a political narrative replete with falsehoods and rigid binaries intended to justify changes to its domestic and foreign policy. That narrative was based on Orientalist tropes and American exceptionalism – ideas which have been part of American political discourse for more than a century. Two post-9/11 multi-narrator novels – Laila Halaby’s Once in a Promised Land (2007) and Laila Lalami’s The Other Americans (2019) – respond to the dominant political narrative by deconstructing the binaries it is based on and by demonstrating its harmfulness to American society. Through close readings that analyze the ideological implications of the polyphonic novel form, this paper reveals that Halaby’s and Lalami’s novels implicate the narrative in the destructive political polarization of the 2000s and the 2010s while subverting persistent modes of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim sentiment. Mikhail Bakhtin’s notions of polyphony and dialogism, as well as Jody Byrd’s concept of cacophony, clarify the ways that narration is used in Once in a Promised Land and The Other Americans to enable the indictment of the post-9/11 narrative.
Sources of the Planetary Theories in Fahhād’s ̔Alā ̓ī zīj: Solving a Medieval Case of Intellectual Fraud
Authors: Mozaffari S. Mohammad
Published: May 2024

According to the anonymous 13th-century Shāmil zīj, Abu ̓l-wafā ̓ al- Būzjānī’s (10 June 940–after 25 May 997) planetary theories were adopted in Ibn al- Fahhād’s 12th-century ̔Alā ̓ī zīj without acknowledgement. This puzzling case of plagiarism, noted by the late Prof. E. S. Kennedy in 1956, is solved by means of a graphical approach, together with some astronomical analysis, in order to (A) visualize the perplexing network of the development of planetary theories in medieval Islam and (B) distinguish the types of relations existing between them. The paper describes the new strategies invented in the Islamic period to modify the available planetary theories in order to reconcile them with the observations, called istidrāk and i ̔tibār, which were different from the standard methods set forth in the Almagest. The accusations of fraud are shown to be unfounded. It is shown that Ibn al-Fahhād’s solar and lunar theories and his precessional rate of 1°/66y are taken from the Mumtaḥan tradition; his theories of Jupiter and Saturn were the results of his modifications of ̔Abd al-Raḥmān al-Khāzinī’s corresponding theories in the Mu ̔tabar zīj (1121 ce) on the basis of the results he achieved from his observations; his theory of Mars was constructed on the basis of his observations, independent of any other available theory; and his theory of Venus is taken directly and faithfully from Khāzinī.
changeABLE cohesion : Dance and Disability in Post-war Sri Lanka
Authors: Reed Susan A.
Published: May 2024

Abstract: Dancers with disabilities are increasingly participating in performances throughout Asia. In this article, based on long-term research, I provide an analysis of changeABLE cohesion , a mixed-abled, intercultural performance co-created by Sri Lankan dancers and Gerda König, choreographer of the renowned German DIN A13 dance company. The article focuses on the experiences and interpretations of the dancers, analyzing the creative process they employed as well as the long-term impacts that participation in changeABLE cohesion had on their lives and work. By providing the perspectives of multiple actors, the article seeks to demonstrate how an expansive ethnographic approach can enrich our understanding of disability and intercultural performances and provide the means to more accurately address the many thorny ethical questions they raise .
“This Is a Political Play”: Making Coriolanus Relevant in Contemporary Iran
Authors: Vyroubalová Ema , O’Brien Shauna , Javanian Mohammadreza Hassanzadeh
Published: May 2024

Abstract: This article traces the performance history of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus in Iran, focusing on the most recent production of the play directed by Mostafa Koushki (b. 1984), performed between 2019 and 2020 in Tehran, Iran, and Kerala, India. Based on an original in-person interview with Koushki conducted by one of the authors in Tehran in July 2020, the article discusses how the production reflected and responded to the country’s volatile political climate. The analysis considers how various elements, including the minimalist set and costumes as well as gender-neutral casting, work together to communicate the production’s criticism of the current state of affairs in the Islamic Republic while staying within the boundaries imposed on theatre performances by the Iranian censorship regime .
Wavefront rotator with near-zero mean polarization change
Authors: Karan Suman , Senapati Nilakshi , Jha Anand K.
Published: May 2024

A K-mirror is a device that rotates the wavefront of an incident optical field. It has recently gained prominence over the Dove prism, another commonly used wavefront rotator, due to the fact that while a K-mirror has several controls for adjusting the internal reflections, a Dove prism is made of a single glass element with no additional control. Thus, one can obtain much lower angular deviations of transmitting wavefronts using a K-mirror than with a Dove prism. However, the accompanying polarization changes in the transmitted field due to rotation persist even in the commercially available K-mirrors. A recent theoretical work [Appl. Opt. 61, 8302 (2022)APOPAI0003-693510.1364/AO.472543] shows that it is possible to optimize the base angle of a K-mirror for a given refractive index such that the accompanying polarization changes are minimum. In contrast, we show in this paper that by optimizing the refractive index it is possible to design a K-mirror at any given base angle and with any given value for the mean polarization change, including near-zero values. Furthermore, we experimentally demonstrate a K-mirror with an order-of-magnitude lower mean polarization change than that of the commercially available K-mirrors. This can have important practical implications for OAM-based applications that require precise wavefront rotation control.
High-peak-power long-wave infrared BaGa4Se7 optical parametric oscillator with 6.7–13.9 µm widely tunable range
Authors: Liu Yu , Li Zhiyong , Yao Jiyong , Wang Hai , Zhu Ziren , Bai Jinzhou , Fu Jingjing , Lu Yue , Zheng Yijun , Tan Rongqing , Ke Changjun , Yuan Hongrui
Published: May 2024

A high-peak-power, widely tunable range long-wave infrared optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on the BaGa4Se7 (BGSe) crystal is demonstrated in this Letter. Pumped by a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser, a high-peak-power of 0.15 MW was achieved at 9.8 µm with a pulse width of 5.0 ns. At 11.0 µm, a high beam quality of M2
x
 = 4.1 and M2
y
 = 3.3 was achieved. By rotating the BGSe crystal, a broad tuning range of 6.7–13.9 µm was realized. Furthermore, a theoretical analysis was conducted to elucidate the reasons behind the improvement in beam quality in the x-direction as the wavelength of the idler wave increases.
Broadband chaos of an interband cascade laser with a 6-GHz bandwidth
Authors: Peng Yi-Bo , Dai Zhecheng , Lin Kai-Li , Wang Peng-Lei , Shen Zhijian , Chen Baile , Grillot Frédéric , Wang Cheng
Published: May 2024

Near-infrared semiconductor lasers subject to optical feedback usually produce chaos with a broad bandwidth of a few GHz. However, the reported mid-infrared interband cascade lasers (ICLs) only show chaos with a limited bandwidth below 1 GHz. Here we show that an ICL with optical feedback is able to generate broadband chaos as well. The mid-infrared chaos exhibits a remarkable bandwidth of about 6 GHz, which is comparable to that of the near-infrared counterpart. In addition, the spectral coverage in the electrical domain reaches as high as 17.7 GHz. It is found that the chaos bandwidth generally broadens with increasing feedback ratio and/or increasing pump current of the laser, while it is insensitive to the feedback length.
Stimulation and imaging of neural cells via photonic nanojets
Authors: Li Heng , Chen Xixi , Wu Tianli , Gong Zhiyong , Guo Jinghui , Bai Xiaosong , Li Jiawei , Zhang Yao , Li Yuchao , Li Baojun
Published: May 2024

Various neuromodulation techniques have been developed to modulate the peak activity of neurons, thereby regulating brain function and alleviating neurological disorders. Additionally, neuronal stimulation and imaging have significantly contributed to the understanding and treatment of these diseases. Here, we propose utilizing photonic nanojets for optical stimulation and imaging of neural cells. The application of resin microspheres as microlenses enhances fluorescence imaging of neural lysosomes, mitochondria, and actin filaments by generating photonic nanojets. Moreover, optical tweezers can precisely manipulate the microlenses to locate specific targets within the cell for real-time stimulation and imaging. The focusing capabilities of these microlenses enable subcellular-level spatial precision in stimulation, allowing highly accurate targeting of neural cells while minimizing off-target effects. Furthermore, fluorescent signals during neural cell stimulation can be detected in real-time using these microlenses. The proposed method facilitates investigation into intercellular signal transmission among neural cells, providing new insights into the underlying mechanisms of neuronal cell activities at a subcellular level.
Hollow-structured all-silicon terahertz metasurface supporting quasi-bound states in the continuum for refractive index based Auramine O concentration sensing
Authors: Tang Xin , Jia Haoduo , Li Lanbin , Li Ming , Wu Dai , Zhou Kui , Li Peng , Wang Weijun , Li Jitao , Yang Dingyu
Published: May 2024

Quasi-bound states in the continuum (QBIC), with exceptionally high-Q factors and the local field enhancement effect, have found potential applications in matter sensing. Introducing the QBIC mechanism into terahertz (THz) metasurfaces can significantly enhance the interaction between incident THz waves and matter, providing a feasible platform for the detection of biochemical substances. Currently, most experimental studies on terahertz QBIC metasurfaces utilize metallic structures. By contrast, research on terahertz all-dielectric QBIC metasurfaces generally remains at the simulation stage due to the high fabrication process requirements, and transitioning to the experimental stage still poses many challenges. In this paper, a hollow-structured all-silicon metasurface supporting THz QBIC is proposed. The resonance of THz QBIC is excited via a simple hollow structure and observed in experiment. Simulations and experimental results demonstrated that the designed THz QBIC metasurface can achieve sensing of Auramine O. Notably, it is the first study, to our knowledge, to employ a metasurface to sense Auramine O. Additionally, the sensing performance maintains good stability under different humidity and temperature conditions. This study provides new references and insights for the design and implementation of THz QBIC, and also opens a new pathway for the detection of Auramine O.
Defining a malaria diagnostic pathway from innovation to adoption: Stakeholder perspectives on data and evidence gaps
Authors: Simmons Bryony , Sicuri Elisa , Carter Jane , Hailu Asrat , Kiemde Francois , Mens Petra , Mumbengegwi Davis , Nour Bakri , Paulussen René , Schallig Henk , Tinto Halidou , van Dijk Norbert , Conteh Lesong
Published: May 2024

Malaria, a major global health concern, requires effective diagnostic tools for patient care, disease control, and elimination. The pathway from concept to the adoption of diagnostic products is complex, involving multiple steps and stakeholders. To map this process, our study introduces a malaria-specific diagnostic pathway, synthesising existing frameworks with expert insights. Comprising six major stages and 31 related activities, the pathway retains the core stages from existing frameworks and integrates essential malaria diagnostic activities, such as WHO prequalification processes, global stakeholder involvement, and broader health systems considerations. To understand the scope and availability of evidence guiding the activities along this pathway, we conducted an online survey with 113 participants from various stages of the malaria diagnostic pathway. The survey assessed perceptions on four critical attributes of evidence: clear requirements, alignment with user needs, accuracy and reliability, and public and free availability. It also explored the types of evidence used and the challenges and potential solutions related to evidence generation and use. Respondents reported using a broad range of formal and informal data sources. Findings indicated differing levels of agreement on the attributes across pathway stages, with notable challenges in the Approvals and Manufacturing stage and consistent concerns regarding the public availability of data/evidence. The study offers valuable insights for optimising evidence generation and utilisation across the malaria diagnostic pathway. It highlights the need for enhanced stakeholder collaboration, improved data availability, and increased funding to support effective evidence generation, sharing, and use. We propose actionable solutions, including the use of public data repositories, progressive data sharing policies, open-access publishing, capacity-building initiatives, stakeholder engagement forums, and innovative funding solutions. The developed framework and study insights have broader applications, offering a model adaptable for other diseases, particularly for neglected tropical diseases, which face similar diagnostic challenges.
Variables associated with owner perceptions of the health of their dog: Further analysis of data from a large international survey
Authors: Barrett-Jolley Richard , German Alexander J.
Published: May 2024

In a recent study (doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265662), associations were identified between owner-reported dog health status and diet, whereby those fed a vegan diet were perceived to be healthier. However, the study was limited because it did not consider possible confounding from variables not included in the analysis. The aim of the current study was to extend these earlier findings, using different modelling techniques and including multiple variables, to identify the most important predictors of owner perceptions of dog health. From the original dataset, two binary outcome variables were created: the ‘any health problem’ distinguished dogs that owners perceived to be healthy (“no”) from those perceived to have illness of any severity; the ‘significant illness’ variable distinguished dogs that owners perceived to be either healthy or having mild illness (“no”) from those perceived to have significant or serious illness (“yes”). Associations between these health outcomes and both owner-animal metadata and healthcare variables were assessed using logistic regression and machine learning predictive modelling using XGBoost. For the any health problem outcome, best-fit models for both logistic regression (area under curve [AUC] 0.842) and XGBoost (AUC 0.836) contained the variables dog age, veterinary visits and received medication, whilst owner age and breed size category also featured. For the significant illness outcome, received medication, veterinary visits, dog age and were again the most important predictors for both logistic regression (AUC 0.903) and XGBoost (AUC 0.887), whilst breed size category, education and owner age also featured in the latter. Any contribution from the dog vegan diet variable was negligible. The results of the current study extend the previous research using the same dataset and suggest that diet has limited impact on owner-perceived dog health status; instead, dog age, frequency of veterinary visits and receiving medication are most important.
A protocol for a critical realist systematic synthesis of interventions to promote pupils’ wellbeing by improving the school climate in low- and middle-income countries
Authors: Abbott Pamela , Shanks Rachel , Stanley Isabel , D’Ambruoso Lucia
Published: May 2024

Introduction

The review described in this protocol will be the first critical realist review of the literature reporting on the impact of interventions to promote pupils’ wellbeing by improving the school climate in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. The review is being carried out to inform the programme theory for a critical realist evaluation of a whole school mindfulness intervention in Ethiopia and Rwanda to improve pupils’ mental wellbeing. Our initial programme theory hypothesises that pupils’ (and teachers’) responses to the mindfulness intervention as well as changing the behaviour and attitudes of individual pupils and teachers, will change the ’school climate’ in ways that have a positive impact on mental wellbeing. This literature review will facilitate the identification of mechanisms for change working at the level of the whole school climate, something which is only infrequently discussed in evaluations of mindfulness interventions.

Methods and analysis

A critical realist review methodology will be used to provide a causal interdisciplinary understanding of how school climate can promote the wellbeing of pupils. This will be done through a systematic literature review and extrapolating context, agency, intervention, mechanisms, and outcome configurations and synthesising these to provide a conceptual understanding of the impact of interventions to improve school climate.

Discussion

The review findings will inform a critical realist evaluation of a mindfulness intervention in schools that we will be carrying out. The findings from the review will enable us to focus more precisely and transparently on what policymakers and other stakeholders need to know about how school climate changes due to introducing mindfulness to the curriculum and how this impacts pupils’ wellbeing [and for which pupils]. We will publish the findings from the review in academic and professional publications, policy briefs, workshops, conferences, and social media.

PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023417735.
Bee and butterfly records indicate diversity losses in western and southern North America, but extensive knowledge gaps remain
Authors: Souther Sara K. , Sandor Manette E. , Sample Martha , Gabrielson Sara , Aslan Clare E.
Published: May 2024

Pollinator losses threaten ecosystems and food security, diminishing gene flow and reproductive output for ecological communities and impacting ecosystem services broadly. For four focal families of bees and butterflies, we constructed over 1400 ensemble species distribution models over two time periods for North America. Models indicated disproportionally increased richness in eastern North America over time, with decreases in richness over time in the western US and southern Mexico. To further pinpoint geographic areas of vulnerability, we mapped records of potential pollinator species of conservation concern and found high concentrations of detections in the Great Lakes region, US East Coast, and southern Canada. Finally, we estimated asymptotic diversity indices for genera known to include species that visit flowers and may carry pollen for ecoregions across two time periods. Patterns of generic diversity through time mirrored those of species-level analyses, again indicating a decline in pollinators in the western U.S. Increases in generic diversity were observed in cooler and wetter ecoregions. Overall, changes in pollinator diversity appear to reflect changes in climate, though other factors such as land use change may also explain regional shifts. While statistical methods were employed to account for unequal sampling effort across regions and time, improved monitoring efforts with rigorous sampling designs would provide a deeper understanding of pollinator communities and their responses to ongoing environmental change.