bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi-group formation tracking fault-tolerant control for matched nonlinear multi-agent systems with switching topologies and unknown control inputs
Authors: Wu Xiaojing , Guo Zhenan , Zhen Ran , Luo Xiaoyuan
Published: April 2024

The multi-group formation fault-tolerant control problem for high-order nonlinear multi-agent systems with parameter uncertainties, unknown external disturbances, switching topologies, and non-cooperative targets are investigated in this paper. A fully distributed formation tracking control protocol is proposed based on the total interaction information between subgroups being zero and the neighboring relative information of multi-agent in the subgroups. In addition, an algorithm is proposed to design the parameters of time-varying formation tracking control protocol. At the same time, it does not require knowing the bounds of actuator faults, parameter uncertainties, control inputs of the leaders, and unknown disturbances. Then, it is proved that the designed control protocols can make the high-order nonlinear multi-agent systems accomplish the desired time-varying multi-group formation, and the errors are uniformly asymptotically bounded stable. Finally, the effectiveness of the designed control protocol is demonstrated by simulation examples of three subgroups.
Investigation of Parotid Cancer Cases Diagnosed as Bell’s Palsy at Initial Presentation: The 23 Year Experience of a Single Institution
Authors: Suzuki Eisuke , Kawata Ryo , Ayani Yusuke , Higashino Masaaki , Terada Tetsuya , Haginomori Shin-Ichi
Published: April 2024

Objective: Facial nerve paralysis due to parotid carcinoma is sometimes misdiagnosed as Bell’s palsy. This study aimed to compare patients with parotid carcinoma with and without accompanying facial nerve paralysis and to capture the features of patients misdiagnosed with Bell’s palsy. Methods: Among 209 patients, 42 (20%) had facial nerve paralysis. Of these 42 patients, 14 had received treatment for facial nerve paralysis without being diagnosed with parotid carcinoma (pretreatment group); the remaining 28 patients had not received any pretreatment and were diagnosed with parotid carcinoma at the initial visit to our hospital (no pretreatment group). This study compared patients with and without facial nerve paralysis and the pretreatment and no pretreatment groups. Results: The 42 patients with facial nerve paralysis had a significantly higher frequency of pain/tenderness and adhesion with surrounding tissues, significantly higher proportions of deep lobe tumors, and a significantly higher proportion of high-grade malignancy. In addition, the disease-specific and disease-free 5 year survival rates were significantly poorer in patients with than in those without facial nerve paralysis. The comparison between the pretreatment and no pretreatment groups revealed no significant differences in any factors nor survival rate. Five patients in the pretreatment group complained of palpable masses or pain/tenderness at the time of their initial treatment for paralysis. Conclusion: Patients with parotid carcinoma who present with facial nerve paralysis at the initial visit have a significantly poorer prognosis. The number of cases in the pretreatment group can be reduced by performing a detailed examination, which can potentially improve the prognosis.
Cumulative childhood interpersonal trauma and parental stress: The role of partner support
Authors: Bakhos Gaëlle , Villeneuve Élise , Bélanger Claude , Paradis Alison , Brassard Audrey , Bergeron Sophie , Godbout Natacha
Published: April 2024

Parents who have experienced cumulative childhood interpersonal trauma (CCIT, i.e., an accumulation of different types of abuse) tend to experience higher parental stress following the birth of a child. As CCIT is associated with lower levels of partner support, which is linked to increased parental stress, partner support could explain the link between CCIT and parental stress. Yet, these variables have never been studied using a dyadic approach. This study examined the role of received and provided partner support in the association between CCIT and parental stress. A randomly selected sample of 1119 couples with infants completed online questionnaires assessing CCIT, partner support, and parental stress. An actor-partner interdependence model path analysis showed that both parents’ CCIT were associated with increased paternal stress through fathers’ lower received and provided support, and with increased maternal stress through mothers’ received and provided support. Overall, the findings highlight the significance of examining the interdependence between both parents’ experience and the role of partner support as a key factor explaining the link between CCIT and parental stress, thereby emphasizing its importance as an intervention target.
Silvia De Marchi (1929) on numerical estimation: A translation and commentary
Authors: Bertamini Marco , Bobbio Andrea
Published: April 2024

Vittorio Benussi (1878–1927) is known for numerous studies on optical illusions, visual and haptic perception, spatial and time perception. In Padova, he had a brilliant student who carefully worked on the topic of how people estimate numerosity, Silvia De Marchi (1897–1936). Her writings have never been translated into English before. Here we comment on her work and life, characterized also by the challenges faced by women in academia. The studies on perception of numerosity from her thesis were published as an article in 1929. We provide a translation from Italian, a redrawing of its 23 illustrations and of the graphs. It shows an original experimental approach and an anticipation of what later became known as magnitude estimation.
Centring or suburbanization? Changing locations of producer services in Shanghai
Authors: Wei Yehua Dennis , Xiao Weiye , Wu Yangyi
Published: April 2024

Producer services are a critical indicator of global cities in advanced economies, whose spatial-temporal dynamics reflect the trajectory of urban transformation. However, the growth of producer services in China cannot be fully explained by current theories (e.g. neoclassical, institutional, global city and human capital theories), especially regarding their development process and geographical contexts. This study developed a context-sensitive analytical framework to comprehensively examine the location of producer services in Shanghai, a global city. We used rigorous geospatial analytical methods and considered sectoral differences and local contexts, especially institutional factors and urban spatial structure. We found that producer services in Shanghai were still concentrated in the city centre, but a dispersion trend could be detected, and subcentres were emerging in suburban areas. Further analysis highlighted producer service firms’ significant sector differences and various underlying spatiotemporal locational determinants. We identified positive effects of agglomeration on the emergence of centres for IT and research services. However, the concentration of financial and real estate services needs diversity, and agglomeration had a negative impact on them. Also, access to public transit promoted the development of IT and research services. Our study suggests that none of the existing theories alone can explain the location of producer servicer firms in Shanghai, and that sectoral heterogeneity and spatiality of producer services should be seriously considered in policy development and future studies.
Individual differences in service quality of university libraries in Bangladesh
Authors: Alam Md Jahangir , Wares-Ul-Matin  , Begum Bilkis
Published: April 2024

This study measured the individual differences in the service quality of Bangladeshi university libraries by type of university, user and gender. A modified SERVQUAL (service quality) model was adopted for the academic library environment, which included 30 items under five dimensions with a 7-point Likert scale. The survey was conducted among 61 teachers, 50 researchers and 455 students from two public, two international and two private universities in Bangladesh. The individual differences in library service quality were calculated through an analysis of variance and independent sample t-test for the university, user and gender categories. The overall service quality was significantly different ( p < .001) among the users of the public ( M = 4.02), private ( M = 5.08) and international ( M = 5.10) university libraries, as well as between male ( M = 4.48) and female ( M = 5.01) users. Several statistical methods supported the sampling adequacy, reliability and validity of the adapted model, which could be used as a basis for further assessments of library service quality by different demographic groups, both locally and globally.
Evaluation of Design Parameters (α and β) for Analysis and Design of Piles on Soft Clays
Authors: Haque Md. Nafiul , Abu-Farsakh Murad Y.
Published: April 2024

This paper presents the analyses of 12 prestressed concrete instrumented test piles (TPs) that were driven in different bridge construction projects of Louisiana as part of a load testing program. The 12 TPs were driven mainly in cohesive soils. Detailed soil characterizations including both laboratory and in situ tests were conducted to determine the different soil properties. The TPs were instrumented with vibrating wire strain gauges to be able to calculate the distribution of skin friction and end-bearing capacities separately. Static load tests and dynamic load tests were conducted on each TP after end of driving to calculate the ultimate load capacity. Fifty six soil layers exhibiting clayey soil behavior and sandy soil behavior dominated the remaining 15 soil layers. The total stress parameter (α) and the effective stress parameter (β) were back-calculated for each soil layer. The α values ranged from 0.22 to 1.80, and the β values ranged from 0.11 to 0.83. Regression analyses were performed on 42 soil layers (75% data) to develop an empirical model to predict α as a function of undrained shear strength. The remaining 25% of the data were used to verify the developed model, and good agreement was observed between the measured and predicted values.
Study on Location Selection of Urban Two-Level Joint Express Delivery Stations Considering Fair Cost Allocation among Enterprises
Authors: Ji Hao , Yang Shuang , Jia Bin , Zhang Meng , Su Bing
Published: April 2024

The rapid growth of e-commerce has heightened the importance for express delivery companies to ensure timely deliveries. Consequently, it is essential to explore ways to deliver more packages to customers while simultaneously reducing costs through the adoption of a joint distribution mode. This study presents a two-level delivery location selection model within the joint distribution mode, considering factors such as delivery station capacity and the number of transport vehicles, with the objective of minimizing the total cost associated with selecting delivery station locations. The proposed model is addressed using a combination of the k-means algorithm and the improved discrete firefly algorithm. In addition, to facilitate equitable cost allocation among enterprises, the Shapley value method is introduced in this study. A case study based on real data from an urban distribution network in the city of Hebei Province, China, is adopted to perform the experiments. The results of this study indicate that the improved algorithm not only improves solution accuracy but also reduces solution time when compared to both the particle swarm optimization and artificial bee colony methods. Furthermore, the application of the Shapley value method demonstrates the efficacy of a rational allocation of costs.
Synthetic Population: A Reliable Framework for Analysis for Agent-Based Modeling in Mobility
Authors: Bigi Federico , Rashidi Taha Hossein , Viti Francesco
Published: April 2024

This paper presents a comprehensive and innovative evaluation framework for identifying a reliable population synthesis for agent-based modeling–transportation-oriented simulations (ABM–TOS). We show, via this framework and different metrics for the analysis of the generated distribution of the individuals’ attributes, that population synthesizers may fail to correctly replicate the real population heterogeneity owing to diverse control variables, data limitations, and post-simulation computation of certain parameter distributions. To show these shortcomings, the authors propose a systematic classification of different types of distributions crucial for mobility simulations. The proposed framework aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the population and serve as a rapid ’debugging’ tool to identify and rectify any flaws in a specific population during the calibration of the activity-based mobility simulation models. To prove the effectiveness of this framework, we applied it to synthetic populations generated through MOBIUS (mobility optimization based on iterative user synthesis), a newly developed synthetic population generator, which in this case was employed to create different variants of the Luxembourg population (1%, 10%, 30%). The application of our framework to these populations not only provided an effective method for assessing their goodness of fit, but also helped highlight the distributions that are most critical to the successful implementation of the methodology.
Do medical devices contribute to sustainability? The role of innovative polymers and device design
Authors: Vienken Jörg , Boccato Carlo
Published: April 2024

Sustainability of a medical device has not yet become a major issue in public discussions compared to other topics with impact to material performance, clinical application, production economy and environmental pollution. Due to their unique properties, polymers (plastics) allow for multiple, flexible applications in medical device technology. Polymers are part of the majority of disposable and single use medical device and contribute with 3% to the worldwide production of plastics. The global medical polymer market size was valued 19.9 billion US-$ in 2022 and its value projection for 2030 is expected to reach 43.03 billion US-$ Here, a wider concept of related sustainability is introduced for medical devices and their polymer components. A close look on medical device specification reveals that additional properties are required to provide sustainability, such as biodegradability, quality by device design (QbD), as well as an inbuild performance service for patients, healthcare professionals and healthcare providers. The increasing global numbers for chronic and non-communicable diseases require a huge demand for single use medical devices. A careful look at polymer specification and its performance properties is needed, including possible chemical modifications and degradation processes during waste disposal. Bioengineers in charge of design and production of medical devices will only be successful when they apply a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to medical device sustainability.
Intimate Partner Sexual Violence: A Phenomenological Interpretative Analysis Among Female Survivors in France
Authors: Sanchez Marianne , Romo Lucia , Rogue Sacha , Fouques Damien
Published: April 2024

Despite its prevalence, intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) remains a concealed and poorly understood form of violence against women. Although it is associated with numerous detrimental effects on mental health, very little is known about the subjective meaning of IPSV for survivors. This study addresses this gap by exploring IPSV from the perspective of female survivors within the context of their relationship with a male partner, using interpretative phenomenological analysis. This study seeks to provide a detailed examination of the personal experience of IPSV and to illuminate its meaning from a personal standpoint. We conducted in-depth interviews with seven IPSV survivors who were recruited after filing a complaint for intimate partner violence (IPV) in France. In total, five superordinate themes were identified: (a) “Setting the stage” describes how the complex dynamics preceding IPSV influence self-representation; (b) “Feeling like I’m nothing” describes the emotional experience of IPSV; (c) “Trying to get it, not getting it” describes how IPSV generates intense cognitive load; (d) “Looking back, developing a theory” describes how IPSV is interpreted retrospectively after breaking up with a violent partner; and (e) “Today: living with it” describes how IPSV affects the present. This study highlights how emotional distress and cognitive uncertainty are present on the way to IPSV, through IPSV, and even after filing charges and separating from the violent partner. Additionally, it shows that survivors attribute IPSV to a sense of individual vulnerability related to romantic love, hope, and traumatic childhood history. This study presents unique findings as it is the first one to explore the lived experience of IPSV among a sample of French IPV survivors.
The Seed of Doubt: Examining the Role of Alternative Social and News Media for the Birth of a Conspiracy Theory
Authors: Schatto-Eckrodt Tim , Clever Lena , Frischlich Lena
Published: April 2024

Consuming conspiracy theories erodes trust in democratic institutions, while conspiracy beliefs demotivate democratic participation, posing a potential threat to democracy. The proliferation of social media, especially the emergence of numerous alternative platforms with minimal moderation, has greatly facilitated the dissemination and consumption of conspiracy theories. Nevertheless, there remains a dearth of knowledge concerning the origin and evolution of specific conspiracy theories across different platforms. This study aims to address this gap through a large-scale, cross-platform examination of the genesis of new conspiracy theories surrounding the death of Jeffrey Epstein. Through a (semi-) automated content analysis conducted on a distinctive dataset comprising N = 8,020,314 Epstein-related posts posted on both established platforms ( Twitter, Reddit) and alternative platforms ( Gab and 4Chan), we demonstrate that conspiracy theories emerge early and influence public discourse well in advance of reports from established media sources. Our data shows that users of the studied platforms immediately turn to conspirational explanations, exhibiting skepticism towards the official representation of events. Especially on alternative platforms, this skepticism swiftly transformed into unwarranted conspiracy theorizing, partly bolstered by references to alternative news media sources. The present study shows how conspirational explanations thrive in low information environments and how alternative media plays a role in turning rational skepticism into unwarranted conspiracy theories.
The Role of Sensory Impairment in Cognitive Health Appraisal: A Study of Older Korean Americans Living in Subsidized Senior Housing
Authors: Jang Yuri , Park Juyoung , Chung Soondool , Lewis Charity , Haley William E. , Kim Miyong T.
Published: April 2024

Objectives

We examined how the association between cognitive performance and cognitive health appraisal would be moderated by vision and/or hearing impairment.

Methods

Data were collected from 315 older Korean–American residents in subsidized senior housing in Los Angeles ( M age = 79.4 years). Linear regression models examined the direct and interactive effects of cognitive performance, vision impairment, and hearing impairment on cognitive health appraisal.

Results

Negative appraisal of cognitive health was associated with lower cognitive performance and poorer ratings for vision and hearing. Moreover, we found a significant interaction between cognitive performance and hearing impairment ( β = .13, p < .05), as well as a three-way interaction among cognitive performance, vision impairment, and hearing impairment ( β = .12, p < .05).

Discussion

The association between objective and subjective measures of cognition was weakened when hearing was impaired. Such a pattern was further evident when both vision and hearing were impaired.
Effect of Cryptotanshinone on BDNF/TrkB Pathway in Hippocampus of Chronic Stress-induced Depression Rats
Authors: Lin Shaomei , Wu Shuifa , Liao Wanting , Chen Wanqiong , Cai Congyi , Zhang Yin , Chen Mingzhu
Published: April 2024

Background

Cryptotanshinone (CTS) is a monomer possessing a diverse array of pharmacological properties, primarily derived from Salvia miltiorrhiza. CTS was examined for its impact on rats with depression subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) in this study.

Materials and Methods

Depression-like behavior of rats was established by isolated feeding combined with CUMS for 28 days, with CTS (7/14/21 mg/kg) or fluoxetine (5 mg/kg) administered once daily during this time. A comprehensive evaluation was performed, including body weight assessment, sucrose preference test, forced swimming test, and open field test. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was conducted to detect pathological changes in hippocampal CA1 neurons. Western blot analysis was employed to assess the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB), Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1), and Cofilin expression levels in the hippocampus.

Results

The depression rat model was successfully constructed. CTS can significantly improve impaired neurons in the hippocampal CA1 area, depression-like behaviors, and weight loss in CUMS-induced rats. Moreover, CTS reversed the down-regulation of BDNF/TrkB and Rac1/Cofilin in the CUMS-induced rats’ hippocampus.

Conclusion

CTS demonstrates the therapeutic potential for depression by improving depression-like behaviors and ameliorating impaired neurons in the hippocampal CA1 area, and the mechanisms may involve the up-regulation of BDNF/TrkB and related signaling proteins Rac1/Cofilin.
Baicalin Inhibits VSMC Phenotypic Transition and Ameliorates Atherosclerosis via GSK3β-TCF21 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Huo Meng , Lin Jingjing , Xu Qiaoqiao , Zhang Haina , Ye Qizhen
Published: April 2024

Background

Atherosclerosis (AS) is the pathological basis of acute myocardial infarction, acute stroke, and other acute critical illnesses. Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotypic transformation plays a remarkable role in the occurrence and development of AS. Previous studies have found that GSK3β-TCF21 is a key signaling pathway regulating VSMC phenotypic transformation. Baicalin is an important herbal monomer for cardiovascular protection, but whether it can regulate the GSK3β-TCF21 signaling pathway and VSMC phenotypic transformation remains unclear.

Purpose

The study aimed to explore the role of Baicalin in AS and VSMC phenotypic transformation and whether the GSK3β-TCF21 signaling pathway participates in this process.

Materials and Methods

In this study, through the AS mouse model and ox-LDL-induced VSMC phenotypic transformation model in vitro, the effect of Baicalin on the GSK3β-TCF21 signaling pathway and VSMC phenotypic transformation was investigated.

Results

Pathological staining showed that the AS plaque area of the Baicalin group decreased significantly ( p < 0.001). The expression of the marker gene (TAGLN, ACTA2, CNN1, and MYH11) of VSMC phenotypic transformation was significantly increased ( p < 0.001) after Baicalin treatment. Baicalin could activate GSK3β and increase the expression of TCF21 significantly ( p < 0.001) to inhibit VSMC phenotypic transition. Inhibiting the GSK3β-TCF21 signaling pathway was able to reduce the effects of Baicalin on reducing VSMC phenotypic transition and protecting AS.

Conclusion

Our study indicates that Baicalin is protective in inhibiting VSMC phenotypic transformation and ameliorating AS by regulating GSK3β-TCF21.
Does International Education Mobility Increase Environmental Concerns?
Authors: Di Pietro Giorgio
Published: April 2024

This paper applies propensity score matching to data from a recent Flash Eurobarometer survey (covering 27 European Union countries) in order to estimate the effect of participation in international education mobility programmes on young people's environmental attitudes. The empirical results consistently show that an education experience abroad has a modest but statistically significant positive effect on environmental concerns. This finding sheds light on the important role that studying abroad can play in promoting environmental awareness among the youth.
Validation of a commercial ELISA kit to measure 11-oxoetiocholanolone in equine and bovine feces
Authors: Zoratti Aloma , Pividori Isabella , Comin Antonella , Prandi Alberto , Peric Tanja
Published: April 2024

Feces are a noninvasive and easily collectible matrix that may help determine cumulative hormone metabolite concentrations over medium-to-long times. To date, 11-oxoetiocholanolone, an important metabolite of cortisol, has been measured in equine and bovine feces solely by an in-house enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Therefore, we validated the use of a commercial ELISA kit (11-oxoetiocholanolone ELISA kit; Cayman Chemical), which had been validated on sheep feces and human urine, to measure 11-oxoetiocholanolone in feces from 42 horses and 32 bulls. The ELISA kit had good precision (intra- and inter-assay CVs: 5.8% and 11.2% for equine feces; 9.9% and 11.2% for bovine feces, respectively), analytical sensitivity (0.186 ng/mL for both equine and bovine feces), and accuracy (parallelism and recovery tests) in determining 11-oxoetiocholanolone concentrations in feces from both species. We found ranges of 11-oxoetiocholanolone concentrations of 1–109 ng/g in equine feces and 40–302 ng/g in feces of bulls. The Cayman Chemical ELISA kit offers a simple and accessible means of analysis of 11-oxoetiocholanolone in equine and bovine fecal samples.
Daprodustat: A Hypoxia-Inducible Factor–Prolyl Hydroxylase Inhibitor for Anemia of Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Johnson Haley N. , Prasad-Reddy Lalita
Published: April 2024

Objective:

The objective was to review the safety and efficacy of daprodustat, a hypoxia-inducible factor–prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor (HIF-PHI) in the treatment of anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Data Sources:

A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and ClinicalTrials.gov using the keywords “daprodustat,” “GSK1278863,” and “hypoxia-inducible factor-prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors” from January 2010 through November 2023.

Study Selection and Data Extraction:

Literature was included if it evaluated pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and/or safety of daprodustat in human subjects and was reported in English. The manufacturer’s product monograph was also utilized.

Data Synthesis:

Daprodustat significantly increased hemoglobin levels in CKD patients on dialysis (difference 0.18 g/dL) and not on dialysis (difference 0.08 g/dL) over 52-week treatment periods compared with erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESA) in Anemia Studies in CKD: Erythropoiesis via a Novel PHI Daprodustat (ASCEND)-D and ASCEND-ND, respectively. First occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) was similar between daprodustat and ESAs in both trials.

Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice in Comparison to Existing Drugs:

Daprodustat can be used in patients with CKD on dialysis and already receiving an ESA for at least 6 weeks to further increase serum hemoglobin levels without increasing the risk of MACE. Adverse effects of daprodustat that may occur more than ESAs include headache, emesis, and thrombosis.

Conclusions:

Daprodustat is a novel oral, non-iron therapy for treatment of anemia of CKD. It was Food and Drug Administration approved in 2023 in patients already receiving dialysis for at least 4 months but not in non-dialysis patients. Long-term data for safety and additional benefits are pending.
Abbreviated Urine Collection Compared With 24-Hour Urine Collection for Measuring Creatinine Clearance in Adult Critically Ill Patients: A Systematic Review
Authors: Saad Mohamed Omar , Mohamed Adham , Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Izham
Published: April 2024

Objective:

To evaluate the accuracy of abbreviated urine collection (≤12 hours) compared with 24-hour urine collection for measuring creatinine clearance (CrCl) in critically ill adult patients.

Data Sources:

We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ProQuest Dissertations and Thesis Global; screened reference lists of included studies; and contacted the authors when needed. English studies only were considered with no restriction on dates.

Study Selection and Data Extraction:

After duplicate removal, 2 reviewers screened titles/abstracts, reviewed full-text articles, and extracted data independently. Studies that compared abbreviated versus 24-hour urine collection for measuring CrCl were included. We assessed the risk of bias using the QUADAS-2 tool. We extracted correlation coefficients, mean prediction errors (ME)—as a measure of bias, and root mean squared prediction errors (RMSE)—as a measure of precision.

Data Synthesis:

Five studies were included, comprising 528 adult critically ill adults from surgical, medical, and trauma intensive care units (ICUs). Three studies had high risk of bias, and 2 had low risk. The studies evaluated different durations of urine collection, including 30-minute, 2-hour, 4-hour, 6-hour, and 12-hour. Mean 24-hour CrCl ranged from 57 mL/min/1.73 m2 to 103 mL/min. Abbreviated urine collection led to CrCl that correlated well with the 24-hour measured CrCl (correlation coefficient ranged from 0.8 to 0.95). Mean prediction error ranged from 5 mL/min/1.73 m2 to 16 mL/min (from 8% to 25% of the 24-hour CrCl). Root mean squared prediction error calculated from 1 study was 30.5 mL/min/1.73 m2.

Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice:

Abbreviated urine collection is used to measure CrCl for renal drug dosing in critically ill patients, but its accuracy is not well-established.

Conclusions:

Abbreviated urine collection may overestimate CrCl compared with 24-hour urine collection. Larger, well-conducted studies are needed to evaluate the accuracy of CrCl measured using different durations of urine collection in critically ill patients.
Forefoot Morphotypes in Cavovarus Feet: A Novel Assessment of Deformity
Authors: Malhotra Karan , Patel Shelain , Cullen Nicholas , Welck Matthew
Published: April 2024

Background:

The cavovarus foot is a complex 3-dimensional deformity. Although a multitude of techniques are described for its surgical management, few of these are evidence based or guided by classification systems. Surgical management involves realignment of the hindfoot and soft tissue balancing, followed by forefoot balancing. Our aim was to analyze the pattern of residual forefoot deformities once the hindfoot is corrected, to guide forefoot correction.

Methods:

We included 20 cavovarus feet from 16 adult patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth who underwent weightbearing CT (mean age 43.4 years, range: 22-78 years, 14 males). Patients included had flexible deformities, with no previous surgery. Using specialized software (Bonelogic 2.1, Disior) a 3-dimensional, virtual model was created. Using morphologic data captured from normal feet in patients without pathology as a guide, the talonavicular joint of the cavovarus foot was digitally reduced to a “normal” position to simulate the correction that would be achieved during surgical correction. Models of the corrected position were exported and geometrically analyzed using Blender 3.64 to identify anatomical trends.

Results:

We identified 4 types of cavovarus forefoot morphotypes. Type 0 was defined as a balanced forefoot (2 cases, 10%). Type 1 was defined as a forefoot where the first metatarsal was relatively plantarflexed to the rest of the foot, with no significant residual adduction after talonavicular joint correction (12 cases, 60%). Type 2 was defined as a forefoot where the second and first metatarsals were progressively plantarflexed, with no significant adduction (4 cases, 20%). Type 3 was defined as a forefoot where the metatarsals were adducted after talonavicular derotation (2 cases, 10%).

Conclusion:

In this relatively small cohort, we identified 4 forefoot morphotypes in cavovarus feet that might help surgeons to recognize and anticipate the residual forefoot deformities after hindfoot correction. Different treatment strategies may be required for different morphotypes to achieve balanced correction.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, retrospective case series.
Venous Thromboembolism Risk Factors in Women With Obesity Who Undergo Cesarean Delivery
Authors: Fatokun Tolulope B. , Swartz Sarah E. , Ebeid Ahmed , Cordes Sophia A. , Gimovsky Alexis C. , Sparks Andrew D. , Amdur Richard L. , Ahmadzia Homa K.
Published: April 2024

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading cause of maternal mortality. Obesity and cesarean delivery are established risk factors for pregnancy-related VTE. We identified additional risk factors among patients with obesity who underwent a cesarean delivery to identify those who need VTE prophylaxis. We conducted a secondary analysis of data from the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network (MFMU) Cesarean Registry Database using a case-control design. Cases were identified as women with obesity having a pre-pregnancy body mass index of >30 kg/m2, who underwent cesarean delivery and subsequently developed deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE). These women were compared to a control group of women with obesity who underwent cesarean delivery but did not develop DVT or PE. Analysis of risk factors associated with VTE was performed using Chi-Square test and Fisher's exact test. We identified 43 VTE cases and 172 controls in the MFMU database. Increased risk of VTE was noted in women with endometritis (OR of 4.58 [95% CI: 1.86-11.2, P = .0004]), receiving a blood transfusion (OR 17.07 [95% CI: 4.46-65.3, P = .0001]), having a coagulopathy (OR 27.73 [95% CI: 3.24-237.25, P = .0003]), and urinary tract infection (OR 2.39 [95% CI: 1.08-5.28, P = .03]). Important risk factors for VTE in women with obesity who undergo cesarean delivery include endometritis, intra- or post-operative transfusion, coagulopathy, and urinary tract infection. The presence of one or more of these factors may help guide provider decision-making regarding whether to administer thromboprophylaxis.
The Impact of Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations on Health Care Utilization, Quality Measures, Health Outcomes and Costs from 2012 to 2023: A Scoping Review
Authors: Holm Julie , Pagán José A. , Silver Diana
Published: April 2024

Most of the evidence regarding the success of ACOs is from the Medicare program. This review evaluates the impacts of ACOs within the Medicaid population. We identified 32 relevant studies published between 2012 and 2023 which analyzed the association of Medicaid ACOs and health care utilization ( n = 21), quality measures ( n = 18), health outcomes ( n = 10), and cost reduction ( n = 3). The results of our review regarding the effectiveness of Medicaid ACOs are mixed. Significant improvements included increased primary care visits, reduced admissions, and reduced inpatient stays. Cost reductions were reported in a few studies, and savings were largely dependent on length of attribution and years elapsed after ACO implementation. Adopting the ACO model for the Medicaid population brings some different challenges from those with the Medicare population, which may limit its success, particularly given differences in state Medicaid programs.
Safe Medication Assessment Toward Patient Safety in Home Health Care: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Rosengren Kristina , Szemberg Charlotta
Published: April 2024

Collaboration across hospital-primary-community healthcare continuum is crucial to ensuring secure medication management at home, particularly among elderly persons. The study aim was to describe older adult’s experiences of medication assessment using Safe Medication Assessment (SMA) in connection to home visits. A study was conducted, with data from 44 participants analyzed through qualitative content analysis (semi-structured interviews) at baseline, 1-month, and 3-month follow-ups based on SMA’s 20 items. The results include 1 theme “Personcentredness due to medication management,” and 2 categories, “Systematic approach towards safe medication at home” and “Taking control over prescribed drugs.” SMA ensures a systematic work approach during home visits conducted by mobile team units, working in partnership with all involved parties (elderly, care providers, relatives) improving safe medication management at home.
Examining Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome in Relation to Social Problem Solving in Young Adults
Authors: Miller Melissa C. , Shapiro Steven K. , Becker Stephen P.
Published: April 2024

Objective:

Cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS), previously referred to as sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT), is characterized by symptoms such as excessive daydreaming, mental confusion, and hypoactivity. CDS symptoms are associated with emotional, social, and daily life impairments. The way in which one solves problems in their daily life is associated with experiences of further problems, such that maladaptive problem-solving can lead to further physical and psychological problems. However, there is limited information on how CDS symptoms are associated with problem solving. The current study examined CDS symptoms in relation to different social problem solving approaches.

Method:

A total of 280 college students (ages 18–23 years; 77.9% female) completed measures of psychopathology symptoms and social problem solving.

Results:

Above and beyond ADHD and internalizing symptoms, CDS symptoms were independently associated with negative problem orientation and avoidance style domains of maladaptive problem solving.

Conclusion:

Findings indicate that CDS symptoms are related to specific difficulties with social problem solving. CDS symptoms may lead to difficulties attending to problems or working through relevant steps needed to identify solutions for the problem, which may then lead to avoidance and social withdrawal. Longitudinal research is needed to evaluate maladaptive problem solving as a potential mechanism in the association between CDS, social withdrawal, and internalizing symptoms.
Cueing Dancers to “Externally Rotate From the Hips” Improves Potentially Injurious Ankle Joint Angles and Contact Forces During a Demipointe Ballet Position
Authors: Hulburt Tessa , Santos Laura , Moos Katherine , Popoli David , Nicholson Kristen
Published: April 2024

Introduction: The demipointe dance position puts the ankle at high risk of overuse injury and posteromedial ankle pain due to increased ankle valgus forces. Previous work has shown that creating lower limb external rotation intrinsic to demipointe with hip external rotation reduces foot pronation that causes ankle valgus stress. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to examine long axis rotation kinematics of the hip, knee, and ankle as well as the ankle joint contact forces in demipointe to better understand the biomechanical impact(s) of the specific cue to increase hip external rotation in this position. Methods: Three-dimensional motion capture and force plate data were collected from 23 contemporary or ballet pre-professional dancers (age: 19.94 ± 1.34 years) who each performed 3 dancer-selected (DS) demipointe positions and 3 demipointes with the cue to “externally rotate from the hips.” Results: The cue to increase hip external rotation resulted in significantly increased hip external rotation angle [DS: 37.5; 9.42° (median; interquartile range), Cued: 39.9; 10.8°, P < .0001)] and significantly reduced ankle eversion angle (DS: 8.13; 11.4°, Cued: 7.77; 10.3°, P = .023). However, total turnout angle was also significantly decreased (DS: 75.8; 7.91°, Cued: 75.4; 7.73°, P < .0001), which is undesirable for proper esthetic performance of demipointe. Total ankle joint force remained unchanged, but ankle eversion force was significantly reduced (DS: 15.3; 4.18 %bodyweight (BW), Cued: 14.7; 4.99 %BW, P < .0001) with use of the cue. Discussion/Conclusion: Utilization of a cue to increase hip external rotation was successful in increasing hip contribution to turnout angle and reducing injurious ankle eversion force. Further coaching using this cue may allow dancers to produce these advantageous mechanics while maintaining turnout angle.
Do U.S. Trade Agreements Affect Corruption in Latin America? A Difference in Difference Analysis
Authors: Calcagno Peter , Crawford Taylor , Maldonado Beatriz
Published: April 2024

Free trade is important in the development of good economic institutions. One issue, in particular, is whether free trade agreements (FTA) can reduce corruption. Liberalizing trade while reducing corruption can reinforce moral behavior. We examine FTA between the United States and its Latin American trading partners. Free trade may provide incentives that could possibly result in countries becoming less corrupt over time. However, since 2004 the United States has included explicit anti-corruption clauses in its agreements. Using a difference-in-difference framework and a panel of 16 Latin American countries between 1991 and 2018, we test if trade agreements with the U.S. have any effect on corruption. We find that there is an increase in general corruption in countries after signing these trade agreements in comparison to countries that never signed one. These findings suggest that letting countries determine their own rules for reducing corruption might be better than dictating them through an agreement.
Syndecan-1 Level, a Marker of Endothelial Glycocalyx Degradation, Is Associated With Fetal Exposure to Chorioamnionitis and Is a Potential Biomarker for Early-Onset Neonatal Sepsis
Authors: O’Neil Michaela , Demeulenaere Sasha K. , DeChristopher Phillip J. , Holthaus Emily , Jeske Walter , Glynn Loretto , Husain Aliya , Muraskas Jonathan
Published: April 2024

The goal of this investigation was to identify the association between Syndecan-1 (S1) serum levels in preterm newborns exposed to chorioamnionitis (CA) in utero and the potential of S1 as a biomarker of early-onset neonatal sepsis. A cohort of preterm newborns born <33 weeks gestational age was recruited. Within 48 hours of birth, 0.5 mL of blood was drawn to obtain S1 levels, measured via ELISA. Placentas were examined and classified as having (1) no CA, (2) CA without umbilical cord involvement, or (3) CA with inflammation of the umbilical cord (funisitis). S1 levels were compared between preterm newborns without exposure to CA verus newborns with exposure to CA (including with and without funisitis). Preterm newborns exposed to CA were found to have significantly elevated S1 levels compared to those unexposed. Although S1 levels could not differentiate fetal exposure to CA from exposure to CA with funisitis, the combined CA groups had significantly higher S1 levels compared to those not exposed to CA. S1 level has the potential to become a clinically useful biomarker that could assist in the management of mothers and preterm newborns with CA and funisitis. Furthermore, S1 level could aid in the diagnosis and treatment of early-onset neonatal sepsis.
Cystoid macular edema occurring after intracameral bimatoprost implantation
Authors: Bettach Emmanuel , Wiener Rony , Brosh Koby , Zadok David , Goldberg Mordechai
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This case report aims to report the development of cystoid macular edema (CME) unilaterally following the administration of bimatoprost implant (Durysta) injections in both eyes for the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Observations

An 84-year-old female patient, previously diagnosed with POAG, underwent bimatoprost implant (Durysta) injections in both eyes, spaced one month apart. Subsequently, the patient experienced a gradual decline in visual acuity in her left eye attributed to the development of CME. The condition resolved following a treatment regimen involving topical dexamethasone and nepafenac.

Conclusion

The use of bimatoprost implant may lead to the occurrence of CME. Ophthalmologists must vigilantly monitor patients post-implantation, especially if they exhibit visual symptoms or have risk factors for a CME.
Open Defecation Practice and Its Determinants Among Households Owned Toilet Facilities in Gambela Town, South West Ethiopia
Authors: Birasa Dame Fiseha , Donacho Dereje Oljira , Gil Ruot Gatwech , Debele Gebiso Roba
Published: April 2024

The use of toilet facilities is a major sanitation intervention, as it reduces the spread of diarrheal diseases. In areas where toilets are misused, human excreta may be disposed of in open fields, bushes, and other open places. However, information about the level of utilization of toilet facilities in developing regions of Ethiopia is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to identify open defecation (OD) levels and determinants of OD among household-owned toilets in Gambella town, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 561 households in Gambela Town, using systematic random sampling and questionnaires. The level of OD was analyzed using frequency and percentage. The determinants of OD were assessed using binary logistic regression. Variables with a P-value less than .25 in univariable logistic regression were entered into the multivariable logistic regression model, and statistical significance was declared at a P-value less than .05. The model’s fit was tested using Hosmer and Lemeshow’s goodness of fit. The study found that OD was 47.2% [95% CI: 43.2%-51.4%] among those who owned toilet facilities. The determinants of OD were: occupation of household head [AOR: 5.27, 95% CI: 3.08-9.00], toilet facilities lacking a superstructure [AOR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.16-3.43], toilet facilities lacking doors [AOR: 3.23, 95% CI: 1.97-5.27], large family size [AOR: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.29-3.60], knowledge of the respondents [AOR: 2.40, 95% CI: 1.50-3.99], and respondents with negative attitude [AOR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.12-2.74]. Therefore, key stakeholders should focus on improving toilet utilization, considering those factors in their interventions.
Prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis in Turkey: A nationwide epidemiologic study
Authors: Öztürk Bilgin , Taşkıran Esra , Demir Serkan , Tuncer Meryem Aslı , Kürtüncü Murat , Karabudak Rana , Siva Aksel , Efendi Hüsnü , Ata Naim , Ülgü Mustafa Mahir , Birinci Şuayip
Published: April 2024

Background:

Many studies on multiple sclerosis (MS) reveal different prevalence and epidemiologic results.

Objectives:

In this study, we aimed to determine the epidemiologic profile of MS using official health records in Turkey.

Methods:

Patients diagnosed with MS from the official health data of the Ministry of Health, representing the entire population of Turkey, were included in the study. Prevalence and incidence calculations were performed using the data on gender, age, year of birth, city of residence, and year of diagnosis.

Results:

As a result of the study, the number of patients with the ICD code G35 was determined as 201,061 and the number of patients with this code entered at least three times was determined as 82,225. The prevalence of MS in Turkey was calculated as 96.4 per 100,000 and the female/male ratio as 2.1/1. The incidence of MS in 2022 was 6.2 per 100,000 and the mean patient age was 43.1 ± 13.3 years (female: 43.0 ± 13.1 vs male: 43.2 ± 13.7) while the mean age at first diagnosis was 34.0 ± 13.0 (female: 33.6 ± 12.6 vs male: 34.9 ± 13.7).

Conclusion:

The research was conducted via Official Database of Turkey, which includes population of 85 million and provides valuable insights into the prevalence and incidence rates of this chronic disease.