bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From Behavior to Bio-Inspiration: Aerial Reorientation and Multi-Plane Stability in Kangaroo Rats, Computational Models, and Robots
Authors: Chu Xiangyu , Schwaner M Janneke , An Jiajun , Wang Shengzhi , McGowan Craig P , Au Kwok Wai Samuel
Published: June 2024

Synopsis

Tails play essential roles in functions related to locomotor stability and maneuverability among terrestrial and arboreal animals. In kangaroo rats, bipedal hopping rodents, tails are used as effective inertial appendages for stability in hopping, but also facilitate stability and maneuverability during predator escape leaps. The complexity of tail functionality shows great potential for bio-inspiration and robotic device design, as maneuvering is accomplished by a long and light-weight inertial appendage. To (1) further understand the mechanics of how kangaroo rats use their tails during aerial maneuvers and (2) explore if we can achieve this behavior with a simplified tail-like appendage (i.e., template), we combined quantified animal observations, computational simulations, and experiments with a two degrees of freedom (2-DoF) tailed robot. We used video data from free-ranging kangaroo rats escaping from a simulated predator and analyzed body and tail motion for the airborne phase. To explain tail contributions to body orientation (i.e., spatial reorientation), we built a mid-air kangaroo rat computational model and demonstrated that the three-dimensional body orientation of the model can be controlled by a simplified 2-DoF tail with a nonlinear control strategy. Resulting simulated trajectories show movement patterns similar to those observed in kangaroo rats. Our robot experiments show that a lightweight tail can generate a large yaw displacement and stabilize pitch and roll angles to zero simultaneously. Our work contributes to better understanding of the form-function relationship of the kangaroo rat tail and lays out an important foundation for bio-inspiration in robotic devices that have lightweight tail-like appendages for mid-air maneuvering.
Empirical dynamic modeling for sustainable benchmarks of short-lived species
Authors: Tsai Cheng-Han , Munch Stephan B , Masi Michelle D , Stevens Molly H
Published: June 2024

The abundance dynamics of short-lived marine species often exhibit large-amplitude fluctuations, potentially driven by unknown but important species interactions and environmental effects. These complex dynamics pose challenges in forecasting and establishing robust reference points. Here, we introduce an empirical dynamic modeling (EDM) framework using time-delay embeddings to recover unspecified species interactions and environmental effects, and use walk-forward simulations with varying harvest rates to estimate maximum sustainable yield (MSY). Firstly, we apply our framework to simulated data under various dynamics scenarios and demonstrate the statistical robustness of EDM-based MSY. Secondly, we apply our framework to abundance and catch time series (>30 years) of federally managed brown shrimp stocks in the US Gulf of Mexico. We identify nonlinear signals and achieve high prediction accuracy in the empirical dynamics of brown shrimp. Lastly, based on the EDM of brown shrimp dynamics, we obtain MSY for timely and effective management. Our results highlight the utility of EDM in deriving reference points for short-lived species, particularly in situations where stock abundance and catch dynamics are influenced by unobserved species interactions and environmental effects in a complex ecosystem.
Legendre spectral method and error estimates for Helmholtz transmission eigenvalues in a cylinder
Authors: Tan Ting , Cao Waixiang
Published: June 2024

In this paper, an efficient Legendre spectral method based on a mixed formulation is proposed for Helmholtz transmission eigenvalues in a cylinder. To cope with the difficulty caused by the nonself-conjugacy of the problem, two auxiliary functions are first introduced to transform the initial problem into an equivalent fourth-order coupled form. Then the original three-dimensional problem is decomposed into a series of decoupled two-dimensional fourth-order transmission eigenvalue problems, with the help of the cylindrical coordinate transformation and the orthogonality of Fourier basis functions. By using the compact embedding theory of a class of weighted Sobolev spaces, a weak form and its discrete scheme for each two-dimensional fourth-order transmission eigenvalue problem are derived. Finally, error estimates for both the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions approximations are established, and the error is proved to converge exponentially with respect to the polynomial degree. Numerical experiments are provided to confirm the theoretical findings and to validate the efficiency of our algorithm.
Consistency is key: documentation distribution and efficiency in primary care
Authors: Apathy Nate C , Biro Joshua , Holmgren A Jay
Published: June 2024

Objectives

We analyzed the degree to which daily documentation patterns in primary care varied and whether specific patterns, consistency over time, and deviations from clinicians’ usual patterns were associated with note-writing efficiency.

Materials and Methods

We used electronic health record (EHR) active use data from the Oracle Cerner Advance platform capturing hourly active documentation time for 498 physicians and advance practice clinicians (eg, nurse practitioners) for 65 152 clinic days. We used k-means clustering to identify distinct daily patterns of active documentation time and analyzed the relationship between these patterns and active documentation time per note. We determined each primary care clinician’s (PCC) modal documentation pattern and analyzed how consistency and deviations were related to documentation efficiency.

Results

We identified 8 distinct daily documentation patterns; the 3 most common patterns accounted for 80.6% of PCC-days and differed primarily in average volume of documentation time (78.1 minutes per day; 35.4 minutes per day; 144.6 minutes per day); associations with note efficiency were mixed. PCCs with >80% of days attributable to a single pattern demonstrated significantly more efficient documentation than PCCs with lower consistency; for high-consistency PCCs, days that deviated from their usual patterns were associated with less efficient documentation.

Discussion

We found substantial variation in efficiency across daily documentation patterns, suggesting that PCC-level factors like EHR facility and consistency may be more important than when documentation occurs. There were substantial efficiency returns to consistency, and deviations from consistent patterns were costly.

Conclusion

Organizational leaders aiming to reduce documentation burden should pay specific attention to the ability for PCCs to execute consistent documentation patterns day-to-day.
Workflow analysis of breast cancer treatment decision-making: challenges and opportunities for informatics to support patient-centered cancer care
Authors: Salwei Megan E , Reale Carrie
Published: June 2024

Objective

Decision support can improve shared decision-making for breast cancer treatment, but workflow barriers have hindered widespread use of these tools. The goal of this study was to understand the workflow among breast cancer teams of clinicians, patients, and their family caregivers when making treatment decisions and identify design guidelines for informatics tools to better support treatment decision-making.

Materials and Methods

We conducted observations of breast cancer clinicians during routine clinical care from February to August 2022. Guided by the work system model, a human factors engineering model that describes the elements of work, we recorded all aspects of clinician workflow using a tablet and smart pencil. Observation notes were transcribed and uploaded into Dedoose. Two researchers inductively coded the observations. We identified themes relevant to the design of decision support that we classified into the 4 components of workflow (ie, flow of information, tasks, tools and technologies, and people).

Results

We conducted 20 observations of breast cancer clinicians (total: 79 hours). We identified 10 themes related to workflow that present challenges and opportunities for decision support design. We identified approximately 48 different decisions discussed during breast cancer visits. These decisions were often interdependent and involved collaboration across the large cancer treatment team. Numerous patient-specific factors (eg, work, hobbies, family situation) were discussed when making treatment decisions as well as complex risk and clinical information. Patients were frequently asked to remember and relay information across the large cancer team.

Discussion and Conclusion

Based on these findings, we proposed design guidelines for informatics tools to support the complex workflows involved in breast cancer care. These guidelines should inform the design of informatics solutions to better support breast cancer decision-making and improve patient-centered cancer care.
The gut bacterial composition across life stages of Sarcophaga peregrina (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) and the effects of amikacin on their development
Authors: Yang Fengqin , Ma Qiongshan , Zhang Xiangyan , Shang Yanjie , Ngando Fernand Jocelin , Ren Lipin , Cai Jifeng
Published: June 2024

Insects and microorganisms, ubiquitous organisms in the natural world, have developed intricate relationships throughout their evolutionary histories. However, most studies have concentrated on specific time points or life stages, but some limited studies have investigated the dynamics of microbial diversity within insects across life stages. Here, 16S rDNA sequencing technology was used to investigate the gut bacterial community across the life stages of Sarcophaga peregrina (Robineau-Desvoidy) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae). The results revealed that the gut bacterial diversity of S. peregrina varied with life stage and showed similarity in the nearby life stages. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla in S. peregrina. Genera such as Providencia, Ignatzschineria, and Myroides are implicated in potentially pivotal roles during the developmental processes of this flesh fly. Furthermore, the effects of amikacin on the growth and development of S. peregrina were not statistically significant. However, we did observe significant changes at the protein level, which suggests a close association between protein-level alterations and growth and development. Additionally, we speculate that S. peregrina regulates its nutritional status during nonfeeding stages to meet the demands of eclosion. This study represents the first comprehensive examination of the intestinal bacterial composition across various life stages of S. peregrina. Our findings deepen our understanding of the gut microbiota in this flesh fly and lay the groundwork for further exploration into the intricate interactions between microorganisms and insects.
Effectiveness of pharmacist intervention on antidepressant medication knowledge, necessity, and concerns beliefs in patients with depression
Authors: Yusuf Hadiza , Mohammed Shafiu , Magaji Mohammed Garba , Maiha Bilkisu Bello , Bello Shakirat Iyabo
Published: June 2024

Background

Sub-optimal patient medication knowledge, negative beliefs, and concerns about the potential of medications to cause harm are important contributory factors to non-adherence in patients with depression.

Objectives

To assess the effectiveness of a pharmacist intervention on antidepressant medication knowledge, necessity, and concerns beliefs in patients with depression.

Methods

A prospective interventional study (approval number: ABUCUHSR/2020/018) was carried out between April 2019 and March 2020 at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri, Nigeria. Patients were randomized into the usual care or intervention group. The intervention consisted of an educational programme, and data were collected at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Patient knowledge about medicines and beliefs about medicines questionnaires were used to assess patient knowledge and beliefs.

Key findings

A total of 49 (81.6%) and 52 (86.6%) participants completed the 6-month follow-up in the usual care and intervention groups, respectively. Significant improvements in mean medication knowledge scores of participants in the intervention group were observed at 3 months (P < .001) and 6 months (P < .001), respectively. Significant improvements in mean medication necessity and concerns belief scores of participants in the intervention group were also observed at 3 months (P < .001) and 6 months (P < .001), respectively. Medication knowledge (P < .001, partial η2 = 0.203), medication necessity (P < .001, partial η2 = 0.329), and medication concerns (P < .001, partial η2 = 0.163) positively changed with time.

Conclusion

Pharmacist intervention significantly improved antidepressant medication knowledge, necessity, and concerns beliefs in patients with major depressive disorder.
Reconstruction of a left main coronary artery aneurysm using a radial artery patch
Authors: Doronila Hazel , Kypson Alan , Landvater Lance , Anderson Curtis
Published: June 2024

A left main coronary artery aneurysm is a rare anomaly. There are no standardized treatment guidelines given the infrequency of reported cases. A 70-year-old African American female with an enlarging distal left main coronary artery aneurysm was taken to the operating room for surgical intervention. The patient underwent a successful open surgical repair of the aneurysm with reconstruction of the distal left main using a radial artery patch. No coronary bypasses were necessary. Aneurysm ligation with concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting is commonly reported but reconstruction may be preferable when the anatomy is suitable. Preservation of nonobstructed native coronary artery circulation should also be considered to avoid life-long graft dependency.
Nanoscale Analysis of Frozen Water by Atom Probe Tomography Using Graphene Encapsulation and Cryo-Workflows
Authors: Exertier Florant , Tegg Levi , Taylor Adam , Cairney Julie M , Fu Jing , Marceau Ross K W
Published: June 2024

There has been an increasing interest in atom probe tomography (APT) to characterize hydrated and biological materials. A major benefit of APT compared to microscopy techniques more commonly used in biology is its combination of outstanding three-dimensional (3D) spatial resolution and mass sensitivity. APT has already been successfully used to characterize biominerals, revealing key structural information at the atomic scale, however there are many challenges inherent to the analysis of soft hydrated materials. New preparation protocols, often involving specimen preparation and transfer at cryogenic temperature, enable APT analysis of hydrated materials and have the potential to enable 3D atomic scale characterization of biological materials in the near-native hydrated state. In this study, samples of pure water at the tips of tungsten needle specimens were prepared at room temperature by graphene encapsulation. A comparative study was conducted where specimens were transferred at either room temperature or cryo-temperature and analyzed by APT by varying the flight path and pulsing mode. The differences between the analysis workflows are presented along with recommendations for future studies, and the compatibility between graphene coating and cryogenic workflows is demonstrated.
Accretion properties of a low-mass active galactic nucleus: UGC 6728
Authors: Nandi Prantik , Naik Sachindra , Chatterjee Arka , Chakrabarti Sandip K , Safi-Harb Samar , Kumari Neeraj , Layek Narendranath
Published: June 2024

We present a comprehensive analysis of approximately 15 years (2006–2021) of X-ray observations of UGC 6728, a low-mass bare AGN, for the first time. Our study encompasses both spectral and temporal aspects of this source. The spectral properties of this source are studied using various phenomenological and physical models. We conclude that (a) the observed variability in X-ray luminosity is not attributed to the hydrogen column density (NH) as UGC 6728 exhibits a bare nucleus, implying a negligible NH contribution along the line of sight, and (b) the spectral slope in the X-ray band demonstrates a systematic variation over time, indicating a transition from a relatively hard state to a comparatively soft state. We propose that the underlying accretion dynamics around the central object account for this behaviour. By performing X-ray spectral fitting, we estimate the mass of the central supermassive black hole (SMBH) in UGC 6728 to be $M_{\rm BH}=(7.13\pm 1.23)\times 10^5$ M$_\odot$. Based on our spectral and temporal analysis, we suggest that UGC 6728 lacks a prominent Compton hump or exhibits a very subtle hump that remains undetectable in our analysis. Furthermore, the high-energy X-ray photons in this source are likely to originate from the low-energy X-ray photons through inverse Compton scattering in a Compton cloud, highlighting a connection between the emission in two energy ranges. We noticed a strong soft excess component in the initial part of our observations, which was later reduced substantially. This variation of soft excess is explained in view of accretion dynamics.
Overcoming confusion noise with hyperspectral imaging from PRIMAger
Authors: Donnellan J M S , Oliver S J , Béthermin M , Bing L , Bolatto A , Bradford C M , Burgarella D , Ciesla L , Glenn J , Pope A , Serjeant S , Shirley R , Smith J D T , Sorrell C
Published: June 2024

The PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics (PRIMA) concept aims to perform mapping with spectral coverage and sensitivities inaccessible to previous FIR space telescopes. PRIMA’s imaging instrument, PRIMAger, provides unique hyperspectral imaging simultaneously covering 25–235 µm. We synthesize images representing a deep, 1500 h deg−2 PRIMAger survey, with realistic instrumental and confusion noise. We demonstrate that we can construct catalogues of galaxies with a high purity (>95 per cent) at a source density of 42 k deg−2 using PRIMAger data alone. Using the XID+ deblending tool, we show that we measure fluxes with an accuracy better than 20 per cent to flux levels of 0.16, 0.80, 9.7, and 15 mJy at 47.4, 79.7, 172, and 235 µm, respectively. These are a factor of ∼2 and ∼3 fainter than the classical confusion limits for 72–96 and 126–235 µm, respectively. At $1.5 \le z \le 2$, we detect and accurately measure fluxes in 8–10 of the 10 channels covering 47–235 µm for sources with $2 \lesssim \log ({\rm SFR}) \lesssim 2.5$, a 0.5 dex improvement on what might be expected from the classical confusion limit. Recognizing that PRIMager will operate in a context where high-quality data will be available at other wavelengths, we investigate the benefits of introducing additional prior information. We show that by introducing even weak prior flux information when employing a higher source density catalogue (more than one source per beam), we can obtain accurate fluxes an order of magnitude below the classical confusion limit for 96–235 µm.
The Feasibility of Songwriting as Stress Management for Parents of Hospitalized Children
Authors: Marcovitz Jenna , Zhang Qiang , Jang Hayley , Adelman Sophie , Pincus Bethany , Bauman Julia , Mullur Rashmi
Published: June 2024

Parents of hospitalized children are exposed to a multitude of psychological, emotional, and physical stressors. This exploratory program examined the feasibility of songwriting interventions to reduce parental stress levels during hospitalization. Board-certified music therapists facilitated songwriting sessions with parents of hospitalized children within two inpatient children’s hospitals. Fifteen parents’ stress levels were measured over the course of 5 months. The validated Stress Numeric Rating Scale (SNRS-11) was used to measure parents’ pre- and post-stress levels when songwriting interventions were facilitated, with 0 indicating low-stress levels and 10 indicating high-stress levels. Results showed a significant reduction in mean stress levels, from 6.07 pre-session to 2.33 post-session (p = .002). Our findings support the existing data on the feasibility and effectiveness of songwriting as part of a music therapy program to provide non-pharmacological stress management. To our knowledge, our pilot is one of the first to specifically investigate the impact of songwriting on parent stress levels in the inpatient pediatric hospital setting.
The Concept of Soundscape as a Bridge between East and West
Authors: Imada Tadahiko
Published: June 2024

It was during the last decade of the nineteenth century that Western modernism, including literature and the visual and performing arts, made its appearance in Japan. In the case of music, the Meiji Restoration government (1868‒1912) strongly promoted European music to many elementary schools right after the failure to create a new Japanese music. More significant was the fact that the history of European classical music, which evolved over several centuries in the West, was introduced into Japan within a period of approximately ten years. Since then, European music’s autonomy and hegemony have been received at face value and taken for granted in Japan. The Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer attempted to retune and recreate this unequal flow between East and West in music education, and his concept of soundscape can possibly make music education more transparent in Japan. The author attempts to enter that discourse in this chapter.
Memayu Hayuning Bawana
Authors: Pranoto Henry Susanto
Published: June 2024

Music educators often require their students to be disciplined, but harmful discipline may lead to behavioral problems, educational weariness, rebellious attitude, and traumatic experiences. This chapter aims to explore the Javanese philosophy of life—memayu hayuning bawana—which aspires to safety, happiness, and world peace by preserving and maintaining harmony. This philosophy can be expressed in four living principles: steadfastness (prihatin), full acceptance of circumstance (nrimo), tolerance (tepa slira), and selflessness (tresno). It is applied not only in the tolerant culture, with hopes that it may help avoid conflict and encourage peace, but also in traditional gamelan teaching. Further study and embodiment of this philosophy may be necessary for contemporary music education worldwide, especially in Asia. By applying this Javanese philosophy (memayu hayuning bawana), music educators may develop broader and more positive teaching skills. As educators interact closely with students, music educators’ influence on students is unequivocal.
Sensory Imbibing, Indian Philosophy, and Vedic Metal
Authors: Dairianathan Eugene
Published: June 2024

This chapter begins with an exposition of the Indian philosophical tradition and practice of Advaita Vedanta (2000 to 800/600 BCE, the Upanishads), of a contemplation of a Self (ātman) as inner essence of personhood and cosmic universe. Studying exegetical contemplations of corporeality and incorporeality from a distant past raises question about (1) the prospect of applicability in the present, and (2) concepts of sound and music connected with this philosophical tradition. The author explores these issues through a Metal group in Singapore known as Rudra, whose Vedic Metal repertoire is inspired by their commentaries on texts from the Vedanta. Two musical compositions are studied as intersections of Vedic philosophical texts and Rudra’s Metal soundscapes. Coming to terms with sound in Vedanta contexts and Rudra’s soundscapes, the author considers points of coincidence and the implications for the role of Asian philosophy in twenty-first-century music education.
How Hebrews Reads Scripture
Authors: Docherty Susan
Published: June 2024

The theology and rhetoric of Hebrews is fundamentally shaped by Israel’s Scriptures, both in substance and in the language through which ideas are expressed. Every aspect of the author’s Christology depends on a close engagement with these authoritative texts, and appeal to them is equally constitutive of his ethical exhortation. The extensive deployment of the Scriptures in every section of Hebrews, together with the variety of techniques applied to their exegesis, reveal the letter’s author to be a confident and highly skilled interpreter of Israel’s sacred texts. Modern scholarship focuses particularly on investigating the direct citations which figure prominently in the letter’s argument and appear integral to its literary structure. This essay addresses the main critical issues raised by the presentation and interpretation of these formal quotations before considering more briefly some of the less explicit ways in which Scripture is reused in Hebrews. It engages with major areas of critical discussion in this subfield. Topics addressed include the selection and distribution of scriptural citations, text form, testimonia collections, the significance of the Psalms in the letter, the treatment of Scripture as divine speech, the relationship between the author’s interpretative method and early Jewish exegetical techniques, and implicit uses of Scripture such as allusions and appeals to biblical characters.
Royal Chronology
Authors: McKenzie Steven L. , Villar Vegas David
Published: June 2024

There exist sharp differences in the royal chronology of the books of Kings as it is preserved in the Masoretic Text and in the Septuagint. Some scholars think that the earliest attainable chronological system can be found in the MT. Other scholars believe that the earliest royal chronology is reflected in the LXX. No consensus exists on this matter in current research. More than that, new arguments in favor of each hypothesis have recently been put forward. This chapter gives voice to the two sides of the debate, presenting the respective arguments for the cases for the MT and for the LXX.
Prophecy in the Books of Kings
Authors: Sauerwein Ruth
Published: June 2024

This chapter investigates the role of prophecy in the books of Kings and prophecy’s literary purpose in the larger context of the so-called Deuteronomistic History. The narrative material on the different prophets in the books of Kings—as manifold as it may be—does have common themes. The similarities among all prophetic figures hint at the broader purpose in Deut–2 Kgs. Accordingly, all prophets in Kings seem to fulfill the role of Yhwh’s critical spokesperson to the kings of Israel and Judah and serve to explain why the demise of both kingdoms was inevitable. The chapter sheds light on the conceptual differences between prophecy in the Former and Latter Prophets. Methodologically the approach is based on the results of diachronic research such as literary (source) criticism and redaction history, and takes into account religious historical findings.
Greek Versions of the Books of Kings
Authors: Trebolle Barrera Julio
Published: June 2024

This chapter discusses the Greek versions of the books of Kings. It begins with a description of the importance of the Qumran manuscripts and their discovery for understanding the Greek textual witnesses. It then proceeds to a survey of those witnesses by groups: the Hexaplaric text (Alexandrinus, mss. 247 and 346, and the Armenian), the Kaige text (Vaticanus, 121, 509), the Lucianic texts (19 82 93 108 127), and those possibly representing a Hesychian recension. The chapter also covers Chronicles and Paralipomena as witnesses to the Old Greek of Kings, the LXX’s possible exegesis of the Hebrew Masoretic Text. The remaining sections of the chapter address the insight that the Greek versions afford into the process of composition of the books of Kings.
Deification, Justification, and Sanctification
Authors: Despotis Athanasios
Published: June 2024

This chapter discusses the relationship between three systematic categories from the perspective of the blend between religion and philosophy in early Christianity. Especially, concepts of theōsis often occur in the cultural backgrounds of the New Testament authors and their older Hellenistic Jewish contemporaries. In dialogue with and competition to other religious-philosophical traditions, Christian authors deliver reflections on deification, i.e., moral assimilation and ontic participation in God, to describe the path and the goal of Early Christian philosophy as a way of life that involves affiliation with a messianic community, reflecting on the Scripture and participation in rituals. The idea of justification by πίστις does not challenge synergism in this progress but defines who belongs to the people of God. Becoming righteous and participating in divine holiness, i.e., justification and sanctification, are aspects of an ongoing theomorphic transformation of baptized believers that will be accomplished at the eschaton.
Deification and Eschatology
Authors: Rowland Tracey
Published: June 2024

In this chapter it is argued that the relationship between deification and eschatology is intrinsic, but, since the 1970s, a split can be discerned. The split is between theologians who believe that the New Jerusalem is a divine gift for which creatures prepare in their daily struggles with the effects of original sin, and theologians who believe that it is only by the construction of the New Jerusalem that social problems, classified as “effects of original sin” can be eradicated. The division is similar to that in the Marxist tradition between feminists who believe that capitalism needs to be destroyed before patriarchy will collapse and feminists who believe that capitalism will only crumble once patriarchy has been undermined. In theological terms, the split between theologians is over soteriology and protology. Soteriology and protology might be described as the “double clasp” that holds the fields of deification and eschatology together.
Christian Deification
Authors: Cattoi Thomas
Published: June 2024

This chapter revisits the Christian notion of deification in light of analogous soteriological notions operative in traditions of dharma religions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism. First, a brief genealogy of deification in the early Christian East is presented, contrasting the “Origenist” construal of soteriology and the post-Chalcedonian understanding of theōsis. The second section introduces different interpretations of the soteriologies developed in the Bhagavad Gītā and the role of relational and non-relational trajectories to nirvāna characterizing the Tibetan tradition of deity visualization and the Buddhological speculation of the Abhisamayālaṅkāra. This survey will highlight the presence within the Christian and the dharma traditions of a tension between personal and non-personal understandings of deification and spiritual transformation. The chapter also foregrounds how Christianity’s normative embrace of the former and the dharma religions’ ability to accommodate both approaches reflect their distinctive institutional structures and the assimilation of divergent epistemologies.
Autocracy and Colonial Rule
Authors: Lawrence Adria
Published: June 2024

Scholars have shown that colonialism shaped successor regimes, creating conditions that favored democratic or autocratic rule. Though there is much literature on the effects of colonialism, there is less about colonial rule itself. What, if anything, makes colonial rule different from other kinds of autocratic rule? Political scientists have many theories about how postcolonial authoritarian regimes stay in power, but fewer about colonial regimes, and this chapter situates colonial rule within the study of autocracy. Drawing on existing scholarly work, it describes late imperial strategies for ruling colonial subjects. It focuses on direct and indirect rule, offering an analysis of these concepts, considering whether they make colonial rule distinctive, and questioning what they meant in practice. Under both types of rule, colonial officials and their delegates employed repression and violence to suppress resistance. This chapter thus shows that colonial regimes share features with other autocracies that depend on coercive practices to survive. Studying the colonial era has the potential to broaden our understanding of how autocratic regimes function.
Does express delivery run ahead of stock price?
Authors: Chang Jeffery (Jinfan) , Yang Shijie , Zhang Bohui
Published: June 2024

We study the role of logistics information in the stock price discovery process. Using a proprietary dataset on parcel-level express delivery service records from one of the largest express service providers in China, we find that express delivery contains firm-specific information for stock pricing. A long/short portfolio of buying (selling) stocks with high (low) quarterly growth in the number of parcels sent by firms generates an 8.23 percent risk-adjusted annual return. The return predictability is more significantly driven by document, light, and business-to-business parcels, which reflects the intensity of a firm’s overall operations (rather than just sales growth), and by parcels sent to new addresses, which represents new business expansion. Echoing this return predictability, parcel growth also predicts firm growth, profitability, and earnings surprises. Finally, we provide evidence on return predictability associated with topology of logistic network identified by parcel delivery data.
The gender of inheritance in an upper-class family network: Dallas, 1895–1945
Authors: O’Brien Shay
Published: June 2024

Inheritance increasingly drives the global wealth gap. But we know little about variation in bequest practices across wealthy populations, beyond the fact that eldest sons have traditionally inherited the largest fortunes. This article offers a case study of one wealthy population, combining the full kinship network of the Dallas upper class from 1895 to 1945 (n = 12 323) with probate data for a sample of elites who died in Dallas during that time period (n = 551). Although the population was highly patriarchal, suggesting that elites would unequivocally favor male heirs, women inherited three times more wealth than men. Less surprisingly, women and men inherited different types of wealth: income-producing capital flowed to men, and trusts and durable consumption assets flowed to women. Overall, family wealth arrangements formed a private, gendered safety net designed to maintain an upper-class lifestyle for all close kin, rather than simply preserving a patrilineal dynasty.
A computational framework to in silico screen for drug-induced hepatocellular toxicity
Authors: Zhao Yueshan , Park Ji Youn , Yang Da , Zhang Min
Published: June 2024

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is the most common trigger for acute liver failure and the leading cause of attrition in drug development. In this study, we developed an in silico framework to screen drug-induced hepatocellular toxicity (INSIGHT) by integrating the post-treatment transcriptomic data from both rodent models and primary human hepatocytes. We first built an early prediction model using logistic regression with elastic net regularization for 123 compounds and established the INSIGHT framework that can screen for drug-induced hepatotoxicity. The 235 signature genes identified by INSIGHT were involved in metabolism, bile acid synthesis, and stress response pathways. Applying the INSIGHT to an independent transcriptomic dataset treated by 185 compounds predicted that 27 compounds show a high DILI risk, including zoxazolamine and emetine. Further integration with cell image data revealed that predicted compounds with high DILI risk can induce abnormal morphological changes in the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrion. Clustering analysis of the treatment-induced transcriptomic changes delineated distinct DILI mechanisms induced by these compounds. Our study presents a computational framework for a mechanistic understanding of long-term liver injury and the prospective prediction of DILI risk.
A new specimen of Dacentrurus armatus Owen, 1875 (Ornithischia: Thyreophora) from the Upper Jurassic of Spain and its taxonomic relevance in the European stegosaurian diversity
Authors: Sánchez-Fenollosa Sergio , Escaso Fernando , Cobos Alberto
Published: June 2024

Dacentrurus armatus was the first stegosaur described in the European Upper Jurassic at the end of the 19th century. The description of a second dacentrurine taxon, ‘Miragaia longicollum’, diagnosed from material non-comparable with the D. armatus holotype, has been controversial, and its validity has been challenged. In this study, we describe a new relatively complete stegosaurian postcranial skeleton from the Villar del Arzobispo Formation (Upper Jurassic, Spain). The systematic study of this new specimen and a comprehensive taxonomic assessment of the material not attributed to Stegosaurus from the Upper Jurassic of Europe, reveal high morphological homogeneity and an absence of morphological criteria for distinguishing two dacentrurine taxa. Therefore, ‘Mi. longicollum’ is proposed as a subjective junior synonym of D. armatus. Moreover, a new diagnosis for D. armatus is suggested based on the holotype and referred specimens. As a result, only two stegosaurian species, Stegosaurus stenops and D. armatus, are recognized in Europe during the Late Jurassic. Finally, the species longispinus from the Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic, USA) is returned to the genus Alcovasaurus.
Disparities in Brachytherapy Utilization in Cervical Cancer in the United States: A Comprehensive Literature Review
Authors: Kumar Ritesh , Sherwani Zohaib , Lopez Melissa , Vergalasova Irina , Zhang Xinxin , Eckroate Brett , Hollingsworth Jessie , Girda Eugenia , Hathout Lara
Published: June 2024

(Abstracted from Gynecol Oncol 2024;179:79–84)

Advanced cervical cancer is commonly treated with concurrent chemotherapy and external beam radiation therapy (RT), followed by brachytherapy (BT) boost. Brachytherapy allows dose escalation to the central disease while limiting the dose to normal surrounding organs including the bladder, rectum, and small bowel and sigmoid colon.
Recurrence Rates and Patterns of Recurrence in Stage IA p53abn Endometrial Cancer With and Without Myometrial Invasion
Authors: Jamieson Amy , Grube Marcel , Leung Samuel , Chiu Derek , Lum Amy , Kwon Janice S. , Talhouk Aline , Gilks Blake , Kommoss Stefan , McAlpine Jessica N.
Published: June 2024

(Abstracted from Int J Gynecol Cancer 2024;0:1–6)

Endometrial cancer can be classified at the molecular level to categorize tumors with important diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications. The copy number high group is characterized by a very high number of somatic copy number alterations, low mutation rate, and frequent TP53 mutations.
Association of Pneumatosis Intestinalis With Surgical Outcomes and Mortality: A Matched, Retrospective Cohort Study and Literature Review
Authors: Klingbeil Kyle D. , Zelicha Hila , Chen Yijun , Bell Douglas S. , Livingston Edward H.
Published: June 2024

Background:

To determine the clinical importance of pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) on surgical decision-making and patient outcomes.

Methods:

A matched cohort observational study was conducted including all clinical encounters for both ambulatory and inpatient care at UCLA Health between February 15, 2006 and January 31, 2023. Patients were initially identified using encounter diagnostic codes for “other specified diseases of intestine.” A radiologic diagnosis of PI was then assessed using natural language processing techniques followed by confirmation using manual chart review. Patients who did not have PI served as a control group. Patient comorbidity was assessed using Elixhauser comorbidity scores. Logistic regression and Cox hazard analyses were used to assess associations between PI and mortality. The main outcome was 90-day all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes were the proportion of patients undergoing surgery and, of those, how many required bowel resections.

Results:

Of the 16,728 patients identified by diagnostic coding, 315 were confirmed to have a diagnosis of PI. The 90-day mortality rate for all patients with PI was 29%. Surgery was performed for 62 patients (20%), of whom 46 (72%) underwent bowel resection and 16 (28%) underwent abdominal exploration alone. Most patients underwent surgery for peritonitis (37%), bowel obstruction (31%), and/or pneumoperitoneum (23%) in association with PI; whereas only 8% of patients received surgery exclusively for PI. There was no statistically significant association between PI and mortality with logistic regression conditioned on other risk factors for mortality. In contrast, survival analysis of a matched cohort demonstrated a small effect of PI on mortality (hazard ratio = 1.24: 95% confidence interval = 1.16–1.32, P = 0.021).

Conclusions:

Most patients with a diagnosis of PI survive without requiring surgery. Of those who undergo surgery, nearly all have indications for laparotomy exclusive of PI. Mortality in patients who have pneumatosis is strongly associated with comorbid disease, with little to no independent association with PI. Our findings suggest that the presence of PI should not be a primary indication for surgical intervention.
Microvascular Autoregulation in Skeletal Muscle Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Derivation of Optimal Mean Arterial Pressure in the ICU: Pilot Study and Comparison With Cerebral Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Mirsajadi Amirali , Erickson Dustin , Alias Soumya , Froese Logan , Singh Sainbhi Amanjyot , Gomez Alwyn , Majumdar Raju , Herath Isuru , Wilson Maggie , Zarychanski Ryan , Zeiler Frederick A. , Mendelson Asher A. ,   on behalf of the Microvasclar Monitoring in Circulatory Shock and Sepsis (MiMICSS) Investigators and the Canadian Critical Care Translational Biology Group
Published: June 2024

IMPORTANCE:

Microvascular autoregulation (MA) maintains adequate tissue perfusion over a range of arterial blood pressure (ABP) and is frequently impaired in critical illness. MA has been studied in the brain to derive personalized hemodynamic targets after brain injury. The ability to measure MA in other organs is not known, which may inform individualized management during shock.

OBJECTIVES:

This study determines the feasibility of measuring MA in skeletal muscle using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) as a marker of tissue perfusion, the derivation of optimal mean arterial pressure (MAPopt), and comparison with indices from the brain.

DESIGN:

Prospective observational study.

SETTING:

Medical and surgical ICU in a tertiary academic hospital.

PARTICIPANTS:

Adult critically ill patients requiring vasoactive support on the first day of ICU admission.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES:

Fifteen critically ill patients were enrolled. NIRS was applied simultaneously to skeletal muscle (brachioradialis) and brain (frontal cortex) while ABP was measured continuously via invasive catheter. MA correlation indices were calculated between ABP and NIRS from skeletal muscle total hemoglobin (MVx), muscle tissue saturation index (MOx), brain total hemoglobin (THx), and brain tissue saturation index (COx). Curve fitting algorithms derive the MAP with the lowest correlation index value, which is the MAPopt.

RESULTS:

MAPopt values were successfully calculated for each correlation index for all patients and were frequently (77%) above 65 mm Hg. For all correlation indices, median time was substantially above impaired MA threshold (24.5–34.9%) and below target MAPopt (9.0–78.6%). Muscle and brain MAPopt show moderate correlation (MVx–THx r = 0.76, p < 0.001; MOx–COx r = 0.69, p = 0.005), with a median difference of –1.27 mm Hg (–9.85 to –0.18 mm Hg) and 0.05 mm Hg (–7.05 to 2.68 mm Hg).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE:

This study demonstrates, for the first time, the feasibility of calculating MA indices and MAPopt in skeletal muscle using NIRS. Future studies should explore the association between impaired skeletal muscle MA, ICU outcomes, and organ-specific differences in MA and MAPopt thresholds.
Efficacy and dose-response relationships of antidepressants in the acute treatment of major depressive disorders: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Zhou Shuzhe , Li Pei , Lyu Xiaozhen , Lai Xuefeng , Liu Zuoxiang , Zhou Junwen , Liu Fengqi , Tao Yiming , Zhang Meng , Yu Xin , Tian Jingwei , Sun Feng
Published: June 2024

Background:

The optimal antidepressant dosages remain controversial. This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of antidepressants and characterize their dose–response relationships in the treatments of major depressive disorders (MDD).

Methods:

We searched multiple databases, including the Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, and Web of Science, for the studies that were conducted between January 8, 2016, and April 30, 2023. The studies are double-blinded, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving the adults (≥18 years) with MDD. The primary outcomes were efficacy of antidepressant and the dose–response relationships. A frequentist network meta-analysis was conducted, treating participants with various dosages of the same antidepressant as a single therapy. We also implemented the model-based meta-analysis (MBMA) using a Bayesian method to explore the dose–response relationships.

Results:

The network meta-analysis comprised 135,180 participants from 602 studies. All the antidepressants were more effective than the placebo; toludesvenlafaxine had the highest odds ratio (OR) of 4.52 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.65–7.72), and reboxetine had the lowest OR of 1.34 (95%CI: 1.14–1.57). Moreover, amitriptyline, clomipramine, and reboxetine showed a linear increase in effect size from low to high doses. The effect size of toludesvenlafaxine increased significantly up to 80 mg/day and subsequently maintained the maximal dose up to 160 mg/day while the predictive curves of nefazodone were fairly flat in different dosages.

Conclusions:

Although most antidepressants were more efficacious than placebo in treating MDD, no consistent dose–response relationship between any antidepressants was observed. For most antidepressants, the maximum efficacy was achieved at lower or middle prescribed doses, rather than at the upper limit.
Social Determinants in COVID-19 Experiences of Children With Disabilities Receiving School-Based Services in Chicago: Mixed-Methods Study of Parent/Guardian Perspectives
Authors: Luo Catherine Y. , Kowalczyk Monica E. , Msall Michael E. , Volerman Anna
Published: June 2024

Objective:

To identify the impact of social determinants on the experiences of children with disabilities and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of parents/guardians.

Methods:

A mixed-methods study engaged parents/guardians of children with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in July to August 2021 at a developmental/behavioral pediatrics clinic in 1 urban academic medical center. All parents/guardians completed study-specific surveys on experiences and impact of COVID-19. A subset completed semi-structured interviews. Analysis included descriptive statistics and Fisher exact tests for survey questions and thematic analysis to code interviews and identify themes. Results were corroborated by experts in developmental/behavioral pediatrics and special education.

Results:

Participants included 24 parents/guardians representing 27 children (mean = 7.37 years). A majority attended public school (78%) and identified as non-White (78%). Most commonly, the children's disabilities were autism (52%), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (37%), and speech/language impairment (33%). The services received by children most commonly were speech/language (89%) and physical/occupational (70%) therapies. Five themes emerged about the impact of social determinants on experiences during COVID-19 related to: adapting to disruption of routines, attendance/engagement in learning, interruption of IEP services, support for children and families, and challenges with technology.

Conclusion:

Social determinants, such as housing, income, insurance, and quality of education, affected the experiences of families and their ability to adapt to the needs of children with disabilities in the setting of COVID-19 pandemic-related changes.