bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exposure to E-Cigarette Advertisements or Reviews and E-Cigarette Use Progression: A Longitudinal Examination of Short-Term and Long-Term Associations among US Young Adults
Authors: Duan Zongshuan , Romm Katelyn F. , Wang Yan , Huang Jidong , Berg Carla J.
Published: January 2024

Limited research has investigated the impact of e-cigarette advertising and reviews on the progression of e-cigarette use among young adults in the US. This study utilized five-wave longitudinal data (2018–2020) with 3006 young adults aged 18–34, reporting exposure to e-cigarette advertisements or reviews at Wave 1 (W1) and W3. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to examine the prospective associations between frequent exposure to e-cigarette advertisements or reviews and e-cigarette use progression in four groups: never users (n = 1271 at W1), former users (previously used but quit ≥ 6 months ago, n = 422 at W1), recent former users (used in the past 6 months but not in the past month, n = 186 at W1), and current users (used in the past month, n = 1127 at W1). Among baseline former users, frequent exposure to e-cigarette reviews was associated with current use at 6-month follow-up (aOR = 4.40, 95%CI = 1.46–13.29). Among baseline current users, frequent exposure to e-cigarette reviews was associated with increased days of use at 6-month follow-up (IRR = 1.20, 95%CI = 1.07–1.34) and 12-month follow-up (IRR = 1.18, 95%CI = 1.03–1.35). E-cigarette reviews may contribute to relapse among recent former users and increased usage frequency among current users, highlighting the need for enhanced e-cigarette promotional activity regulation.
Improving Guideline-Recommended Colorectal Cancer Screening in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC): Implementing a Patient Navigation and Practice Facilitation Intervention to Promote Health Equity
Authors: Glaser Kathryn M. , Crabtree-Ide Christina R. , McNulty Alyssa D. , Attwood Kristopher M. , Flores Tessa F. , Krolikowski Allana M. , Robillard Kevin T. , Reid Mary E.
Published: January 2024

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is effective in the prevention and early detection of cancer. Implementing evidence-based screening guidelines remains a challenge, especially in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), where current rates (43%) are lower than national goals (80%), and even lower in populations with limited English proficiency (LEP) who experience increased barriers to care related to systemic inequities. Methods: This quality improvement (QI) initiative began in 2016, focused on utilizing patient navigation and practice facilitation to addressing systemic inequities and barriers to care to increase CRC screening rates at an urban FQHC, with two clinical locations (the intervention and control sites) serving a diverse population through culturally tailored education and navigation. Results: Between August 2016 and December 2018, CRC screening rates increased significantly from 31% to 59% at the intervention site (p < 0.001), with the most notable change in patients with LEP. Since 2018 through December 2022, navigation and practice facilitation expanded to all clinics, and the overall CRC screening rates continued to increase from 43% to 50%, demonstrating the effectiveness of patient navigation to address systemic inequities. Conclusions: This multilevel intervention addressed structural inequities and barriers to care by implementing evidence-based guidelines into practice, and combining patient navigation and practice facilitation to successfully increase the CRC screening rates at this FQHC.
Facile Synthesis of Hollow V2O5 Microspheres for Lithium-Ion Batteries with Improved Performance
Authors: Fei Hailong , Wu Peng , He Liqing , Li Haiwen
Published: January 2024

Micro-nanostructured electrode materials are characterized by excellent performance in various secondary batteries. In this study, a facile and green hydrothermal method was developed to prepare amorphous vanadium-based microspheres on a large scale. Hollow V2O5 microspheres were achieved, with controllable size, after the calcination of amorphous vanadium-based microspheres and were used as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. As the quantity of V2O5 microspheres increased, the electrode performance improved, which was ascribed to the smaller charge transfer impedance. The discharge capacity of hollow V2O5 microspheres could be up to 196.4 mAhg−1 at a current density of 50 mAg−1 between 2.0 and 3.5 V voltage limits. This sheds light on the synthesis and application of spherical electrode materials for energy storage.
Mini-EUSO on Board the International Space Station: Mission Status and Results
Authors: Marcelli Laura
Published: January 2024

The telescope Mini-EUSO has been observing, since 2019, the Earth in the ultraviolet band (290–430 nm) through a nadir-facing UV-transparent window in the Russian Zvezda module of the International Space Station. The instrument has a square field of view of 44°, a spatial resolution on the Earth surface of 6.3 km and a temporal sampling rate of 2.5 microseconds. The optics is composed of two 25 cm diameter Fresnel lenses and a focal surface consisting of 36 multi-anode photomultiplier tubes, 64 pixels each, for a total of 2304 channels. In addition to the main camera, Mini-EUSO also contains two cameras in the near infrared and visible ranges, a series of silicon photomultiplier sensors and UV sensors to manage night-day transitions. Its triggering and on-board processing allow the telescope to detect UV emissions of cosmic, atmospheric and terrestrial origin on different time scales, from a few microseconds up to tens of milliseconds. This makes it possible to investigate a wide variety of events: the study of atmospheric phenomena (lightning, transient luminous events (TLEs) such as ELVES and sprites), meteors and meteoroids; the search for nuclearites and strange quark matter; and the observation of artificial satellites and space debris. Mini-EUSO is also potentially capable of observing extensive air showers generated by ultra-high-energy cosmic rays with an energy above 1021 eV and can detect artificial flashing events and showers generated with lasers from the ground. The instrument was integrated and qualified in 2019 in Rome, with additional tests in Moscow and final, pre-launch tests in Baikonur. Operations involve periodic installation in the Zvezda module of the station with observations during the crew night time, with periodic downlink of data samples, and the full dataset being sent to the ground via pouches containing the data disks. In this work, the mission status and the main scientific results obtained so far are presented, in light of future observations with similar instruments.
Optimal Extent of Neck Dissection for a Head and Neck Lymph Node Metastasis from a Remote Primary Site
Authors: Sung Han Wool John , Son Hyo One , Heo Da Beom , Won Ho-Ryun , Koo Bon Seok , Chang Jae Won
Published: January 2024

Background: Despite its rarity and limited documentation, therapeutic neck dissection (ND) for cervical lymph node (LN) metastases from distant primary sites is increasingly practiced, potentially enhancing survival rates. However, the optimal ND extent remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the safety of excluding upper neck levels from ND. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 25 patients who underwent ND for cervical LN metastases from remote primary tumors between 2015 and 2021 (12 with primary lung tumors, four with ovary, three with mammary gland, three with esophagus, two with thymus, and one with colon). Results: Assessing clinical characteristics and occult metastasis rates, we observed LN metastases predominantly at levels III and IV. Occult metastases occurred in 14 out of 25 patients, primarily at neck levels III and IV (55.0% and 50.0%, respectively). The five-year disease-specific survival rate for all patients was 44.3%. While no statistically significant impact of occult metastasis on prognosis was confirmed, an association between the postoperative LN ratio and poor prognosis was revealed. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that prophylactic NDs at levels I, II, and Va may not be essential for managing cervical LN metastases from remote primary malignancies. This could lead to a more tailored and less invasive therapeutic strategy.
Differences in the Incidence of Hypotension and Hypertension between Sexes during Non-Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Bos Elke M. E. , Tol Johan T. M. , de Boer Fabienne C. , Schenk Jimmy , Hermanns Henning , Eberl Susanne , Veelo Denise P.
Published: January 2024

Background: Major determinants of blood pressure (BP) include sex and age. In youth, females have lower BP than males, yet in advanced age, more pronounced BP increases result in higher average BPs in females over 65. This hypothesis-generating study explored whether age-related BP divergence impacts the incidence of sex-specific intraoperative hypotension (IOH) or hypertension. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed and Embase databases for studies reporting intraoperative BP in males and females in non-cardiac surgery. We analyzed between-sex differences in the incidence of IOH and intraoperative hypertension (primary endpoint). Results: Among 793 identified studies, 14 were included in this meta-analysis, comprising 1,110,636 patients (56% female). While sex was not associated with IOH overall (females: OR 1.10, 95%CI [0.98–1.23], I2 = 99%), a subset of studies with an average age ≥65 years showed increased exposure to IOH in females (OR 1.17, 95%CI [1.01–1.35], I2 = 94%). One study reported sex-specific differences in intraoperative hypertension, with a higher incidence in females (31% vs. 28%). Conclusions: While sex-specific reporting on intraoperative BP was limited, IOH did not differ between sexes. However, an exploratory subgroup analysis offers the hypothesis that females of advanced age may face an increased risk of IOH, warranting further investigation.
Systemic Congestion as a Determinant of Efficacy in Adaptive Servo-Ventilation Therapy: A Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Nomoto Yu , Imamura Teruhiko , Kinugawa Koichiro
Published: January 2024

Background: The optimal criteria for patient selection in the context of adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) therapy remain a subject of ongoing investigation. We postulate that baseline plasma volume, assessable through several straightforward clinical parameters, might be correlated with a more pronounced reduction in plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels following mid-term ASV therapy. Methods: We included patients diagnosed with congestive heart failure who had received continuous ASV therapy for a minimum of three months. The primary outcome of interest was the extent of decline in logarithmically transformed plasma BNP levels, defined as a decrease of more than 0.10 during the 3-month ASV treatment period. Results: A total of 66 patients were included in the study. The median age of the cohort was 66 years, with 53 patients (80%) being male. The median plasma volume status at baseline was −16.9%, and patients were categorized into two groups based on this median value. Patients with elevated baseline plasma volume status experienced a statistically significant reduction in plasma BNP levels (p = 0.016), whereas those with lower plasma volume exhibited no significant change in BNP levels (p = 0.23). A higher baseline plasma volume status was independently associated with a significant reduction in plasma BNP levels, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.036 (95% confidence interval: 1.01–1.07, p = 0.032). Conclusions: The presence of systemic congestion at baseline, quantified by the estimated plasma volume status, may serve as a crucial determinant of the efficacy of ASV therapy, leading to improvements in plasma BNP levels among patients suffering from congestive heart failure.
A Multicenter, Retrospective Comparison Study of Pregnancy Outcomes According to Placental Location in Placenta Previa
Authors: Lee Seon Ui , Jo Ji Hye , Lee Haein , Na Yoojin , Park In Yang
Published: January 2024

Background: We investigated the association between placental location and pregnancy outcomes in placenta previa. Methods: This multi-center retrospective study enrolled 781 women who delivered between May 1999 and February 2020. We divided the dataset into anterior (n = 209) and posterior (n = 572) groups and compared the baseline characteristics and obstetric and neonatal outcomes. The adverse obstetric outcomes associated with placenta location were evaluated using a multivariate logistic analysis. Results: Gestational age at delivery in the anterior group (253.0 ± 21.6) was significantly lower than that in the posterior group (257.6 ± 19.1) (p = 0.008). The anterior group showed significantly higher parity, rates of previous cesarean section, non-vertex fetal positions, admissions for bleeding, emergency cesarean sections, transfusions, estimated blood loss, and combined placenta accrete spectrum (p < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, the anterior group had higher rates of transfusion (OR 2.23; 95% CI 1.50–3.30), placenta accreta spectrum (OR 2.16; 95% CI 1.21–3.97), and non-vertex fetal positions (OR 2.47; 95% CI 1.09–5.88). Conclusions: These findings suggest that more caution is required in the treatment of patients with anterior placenta previa. Therefore, if placenta previa is diagnosed prenatally, it is important to determine the location of the body and prepare for massive bleeding in the anterior group.
Hybrid Endo-Epicardial Therapies for Advanced Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Wong Christopher X. , Buch Eric F. , Beygui Ramin , Lee Randall J.
Published: January 2024

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a growing health problem that increases morbidity and mortality, and in most patients progresses to more advanced diseases over time. Recent research has examined the underlying mechanisms, risk factors, and progression of AF, leading to updated AF disease classification schemes. Although endocardial catheter ablation is effective for early-stage paroxysmal AF, it consistently achieves suboptimal outcomes in patients with advanced AF. Identification of the factors that lead to the increased risk of treatment failure in advanced AF has spurred the development and adoption of hybrid ablation therapies and collaborative heart care teams that result in higher long-term arrhythmia-free survival. Patients with non-paroxysmal AF, atrial remodeling, comorbidities, or AF otherwise deemed difficult to treat may find hybrid treatment to be the most effective option. Future research of hybrid therapies in advanced AF patient populations, including those with dual diagnoses, may provide further evidence establishing the safety and efficacy of hybrid endo-epicardial ablation as a first line treatment.
A Comparison of Miller Straight Blade and Macintosh Blade Laryngoscopes for Intubation in Morbidly Obese Patients
Authors: Ratajczyk Pawel , Kluj Przemysław , Szmyd Bartosz , Resch Julia , Hogendorf Piotr , Durczynski Adam , Gaszynski Tomasz
Published: January 2024

The primary objective of this study was to demonstrate whether the Miller blade laryngoscope could provide better visualization of the vocal cords in morbidly obese patients than the Macintosh blade laryngoscope. The secondary objective was to identify the patient-measured factors associated with better visualization of the vocal cords when using the Miller vs. Macintosh blade, as well as whether the application of external pressure might improve the visibility of the glottis during intubation. A prospective, observational study encompassing 110 patients with a BMI > 40 undergoing elective bariatric surgery and intubation procedure was performed. The evaluation of the vocal cords was performed according to the Cormack–Lehane scale and POGO scale in the same patient during intubation, performed with a Miller and a Macintosh blade laryngoscope, in a random matter. The following parameters were assessed: body weight, height, BMI, neck circumference, thyromental distance, sternomental distance, mouth opening, and Mallampati scale and their impact on visualization of the vocal cords using the Miller blade without the application of external pressure. The Miller blade provides an improved view of the glottis compared to the Macintosh blade measured with both the Cormac–Lehane scale (45 (40.91%) without external pressure application on the larynx, and 18 (16.36%) with external pressure application on the larynx) and the POGO scale (45 (40.91%) without external pressure application on the larynx, and 19 (17.27%) with external pressure application on the larynx). The application of laryngeal pressure improved the view of the glottis. Among the measured features, a significant improvement in the visibility of the glottis could be found in patients with a BMI over 44.244 kg/m2 and a neck circumference over 46 cm. To conclude, the usage of the Miller blade improves the visibility of the glottis compared to the Macintosh blade in morbidly obese patients. The recommendation to use the Miller blade in this group of patients requires further investigation, taking into account the effectiveness of the intubation. Trial Registration: NCT05494463.
Improving Commercial Motor Bike Rim Disc Hardness Using a Continuous-Wave Infrared Fibre Laser
Authors: Ahuir-Torres Juan Ignacio , Batako Andre D. L. , Khidasheli Nugzar , Bakradze Nana , Zhu Guanyu
Published: January 2024

This study is focused on examining the feasibility of applying laser hardening to a commercial metallic bike rim, employing a CW IR fibre laser. The research comprises two main phases. The first phase involves an assessment of the impact of laser parameters on the metallic microstructure, while the second phase involves the actual laser hardening of the bike rim. A comprehensive evaluation encompassing hardness measurements, optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy was conducted on the samples. The microstructure type can be manipulated by skilfully adjusting the laser parameters, allowing for the creation of various microstructure variants within the laser-hardened zone for specific laser conditions. In this regard, multiple microstructure types were observed. The hardness of the laser-processed zones exhibited variations corresponding to the specific microstructure. Notably, the molten zone (MZ) and the second heat-affected zone (HAZ II) exhibited the highest levels of hardness. Furthermore, it was observed that a scan overlap of ≥ 75% led to an augmentation in hardness. This study sheds light on the intricate interplay between laser parameters, microstructure, and resultant hardness in the context of laser hardening of metallic materials.
Abundance and Diversity of Several Bacterial Genera in the Mariculture Environment
Authors: Sun Fulin , Wang Chunzhong , Xu Zhantang
Published: January 2024

Although there have been some studies on pathogenic bacteria and their pathogenicity in animals, few studies have assessed the effects of aquaculture on the diversity of potentially pathogenic bacteria. This study used Illumina sequencing and quantitative PCR to explore the diversity of several bacterial genera containing pathogenic bacteria in the mariculture environment and the intestines of different cultured animals. These bacterial genera can be divided into two categories: The first category (14 genera) had high abundances and a low coefficient of variation among similar samples were significantly correlated with the total number of bacteria (r2 > 0.7, p ≈ 0). The other category (7 genera) with low abundances and a high coefficient of variation had no significant relationship with bacterial abundance. These results indicated that these bacterial genera had different responses and adaptation mechanisms to the aquaculture environment. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that a high abundance of genera was closely related to the pond environment. The abundance of these bacterial genera in the animals’ intestines was much higher than source water, especially for Mycoplasma, Pseudoalteromonas, Vibrio, and Enterococcus, suggesting the aquaculture promoted the high abundance of these bacteria. This study provides a theoretical basis for sediment-associated pathogens acting as a potential pathogen source in the aquaculture environment. This study provides a strategy for disease prevention and control according to the characteristics of potential pathogens in the cultural process.
Systems Engineering for Naval Ship Design Evolution
Authors: Bottero Mattia , Gualeni Paola
Published: January 2024

The intensive integration of technology and the demand for high-level performance are specific features of warships, which are at present one of the most complex systems. An appropriate design process, able to foresee in a life cycle perspective, is necessary to properly implement the emergent properties and the capabilities required for the warship in the different operational profiles. This paper will delve into the integration of the Systems Engineering (SE) approach into the realm of naval ship design, fostering an innovative perspective. An integration of the design spiral method with the SE approach will be described, making possible the definition of a hinge between the two realms and depicting a novel comprehensive approach where the ship platform and the so-called payload are finally interconnected with each other.
Does Non-Farm Employment Promote Farmland Abandonment of Resettled Households? Evidence from Shaanxi, China
Authors: Sun Jingjing , Li Jie , Cui Yue
Published: January 2024

The de-agrarianisation of the labor force in the poverty alleviation resettlement (PAR) inevitably influences households’ farmland management and farmland abandonment in the relocated areas. Drawing on survey data from 1079 households in Shaanxi, China, this study uses the Heckman two-stage model to empirically examine the relationship between non-farm employment and farmland abandonment in relocated areas. Additionally, it explores heterogeneity by considering the quantity and spatial distribution of non-farm employment, as well as the moderating effect of the withdrawal of rural homesteads (WRH). The results show that: (1) non-farm employment significantly promotes both behavioral and scale of farmland abandonment, with the magnitude of this impact varying based on the quantity of non-farm employment; (2) Heterogeneity analyses show that areas with non-farm employment exert a noteworthy positive effect on farmland abandonment. On average, farmers engaged in non-farm employment outside the county (NEO) exhibit a higher marginal effect on both behavioral and scale aspects of farmland abandonment compared to those engaged in non-farm employment within the county (NEI). Furthermore, only when the number of NEI reaches 3 does the probability and scale of farmland abandonment surpass those of NEO; (3) Mechanism analysis sheds light on the role of WRH, indicating that the cultivation of land in WRH weakens the promotion of farmland abandonment by non-farm employment, particularly in the NEI group. Conversely, the duration of WRH strengthens the contributions of non-farm employment to farmland abandonment, and this effect is concentrated in the NEO group. These findings underscore the importance of actively cultivating and introducing new types of agricultural management entities, promoting the moderate-scale operation of farmland, and encouraging the recultivation of withdrawn rural homesteads as strategies to curb farmland abandonment.
Impact of Land-Use Changes on Climate Change Mitigation Goals: The Case of Lithuania
Authors: Dagiliūtė Renata , Kazanavičiūtė Vaiva
Published: January 2024

The land-use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector is receiving increasing attention in climate change mitigation and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission offsetting. The sector itself and measures applied to mobilize this sector in order to tackle climate change are dominant in nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement as well as in national strategies, as in the case of Lithuania. Lithuania has set the goal of becoming a carbon-neutral country in 2050, reducing GHGs by 80% compared to 1990 and offsetting the remaining 20% through the LULUCF sector. Therefore, this paper aims at analyzing historical land-use changes in 1990–2021, as reported for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat, and LULUCF’s potential to achieve climate change mitigation goals, taking into account different land-use change scenarios (business as usual, forest development, forest development + additional measures and forest land 40% + additional measures) for 2030 and 2050 in Lithuania. The scenarios are based on historical and potential future policy-based land-use changes. Projections of GHG emissions/removals for different scenarios are prepared according to the Good Practice Guidance and Uncertainty Management in National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (2006) by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The results indicate that land-use changes over the period 1990–2021 remained rather stable, with some increases in forest area and grassland at the expense of cropland. The whole LULUCF sector acted as a carbon sink in most cases, forests being a key category for removal. However, reaching climate neutrality in 2050 might be challenging, as the goal to offset 20% of remaining GHG emission compared to 1990 through LULUCF would not be met in any of the scenarios analyzed, even the scenario of maximal forest-area development and additional measures. Considering the high historical GHG-removal fluctuations and the uncertainties of the sector itself, caution should be taken when relying on LULUCF’s potential to reach the set goals.
Assessing the Vulnerability of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants to Climate and Land-Use Changes in a Mediterranean Biodiversity Hotspot
Authors: Kougioumoutzis Konstantinos , Tsakiri Maria , Kokkoris Ioannis P. , Trigas Panayiotis , Iatrou Gregoris , Lamari Fotini N. , Tzanoudakis Dimitris , Koumoutsou Eleni , Dimopoulos Panayotis , Strid Arne , Panitsa Maria
Published: January 2024

Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) play a critical role in providing ecosystem services through their provision of herbal remedies, food and natural skin care products, their integration into local economies, and maintaining pollinators’ diversity and populations and ecosystem functioning. Mountainous regions, such as Chelmos-Vouraikos National Park (CVNP), represent unique reservoirs of endemic MAP diversity that require conservation prioritisation. This study aims to provide insights into the sustainable management of MAPs, contributing to efforts to protect Mediterranean biodiversity amid the dual challenges of climate and land-use change, using a suite of macroecological modelling techniques. Following a Species Distribution Modelling framework, we investigated the vulnerability of endemic and non-endemic MAPs to climate and land-use changes. We examined the potential shifts in MAP diversity, distribution, and conservation hotspots within the CVNP. Our results revealed species-specific responses, with endemic taxa facing severe range contractions and non-endemic taxa initially expanding but eventually declining, particularly under land-use change scenarios. Local biodiversity hotspots are projected to shift altitudinally, with considerable area losses in the coming decades and elevated species turnover predicted throughout the CVNP, leading to biotic homogenization. Climate and land-use changes jointly threaten MAP diversity, calling for adaptive conservation strategies, thus highlighting the importance of proactive measures, such as awareness raising, establishing plant micro-reserves, assisted translocation, and promoting sustainable harvesting to protect these species within the CVNP. Our study offers vital insights for managing biodiversity hotspots amid global change pressures, stressing the need to integrate ecological and socioeconomic factors.
Microvariation at the Interfaces: The Subject of Predication of Broad Focus VS Constructions in Turinese and Milanese
Authors: Bentley Delia , Ciconte Francesco Maria
Published: January 2024

Presentational constructions, i.e., structures which introduce an event into the universe of discourse, raise the question of what it means for a predication to be entirely new in information structural terms. While there is growing consensus that these constructions are not topicless, there is no agreement on how to analyse their topic. The Romance languages of Northern Italy have figured prominently in this debate because the presentational constructions of many such languages exhibit VS order and an etymologically locative clitic in subject clitic position. This clitic has been claimed to be a subject of predication in a syntactic subject position. Adducing primary comparative evidence from Milanese and Turinese, we discuss patterns of microvariation which suggest that the etymologically locative clitic need not be a syntactic subject and can mark an aboutness topic provided by the discourse situation alone. We propose a parallel-architecture, Role and Reference Grammar account whereby the microvariation under scrutiny is captured in terms of the interfaces that are involved in the parsing of utterances. This account considers discourse to be an independent module of grammar, which, alongside the semantic and syntactic modules, is directly involved in linguistic variation and change.
Constructing Meaning: Historical Changes in mihi est and habeo Constructions in Romanian
Authors: Ilioaia Mihaela
Published: January 2024

In this article, I address the evolution of the competition between two Latin patterns, habeo and mihi est, in Romanian. As opposed to the other Romance languages, which replace the mihi est pattern with habeo in possessor and experiencer contexts, Romanian maintains both Latin patterns. The general evolution of these patterns in the Romance languages is well known, however, a detailed usage-based account is currently lacking. Building on the theoretical findings on the role of functional competition in linguistic change, the rivalry between the two patterns in Romanian has already been argued to have settled in terms of differentiation, with each of the two forms specializing in different functional domains by Vangaever and Ilioaia in 2021 in their study “Specialisation through competition: habeo vs. mihi est from Latin to Romanian“. With this idea as a starting point, I investigate, by means of a diachronic corpus study, whether the dynamics in the inventory of state nouns occurring in these constructions can affect their evolution and productivity. The preliminary results show that this is indeed the case. Concomitantly, I explore whether the historical changes that the two patterns have undergone over the centuries can be described in terms of grammaticalization, constructionalization, or in terms of constructional change.
Pain-Relieving Effects of Shockwave Therapy for Ledderhose Disease: An Ultrasound-Based Study of an Unusual Bilateral Case
Authors: Fulceri Federica , Ryskalin Larisa , Morucci Gabriele , Busoni Francesco , Soldani Paola , Gesi Marco
Published: January 2024

Ledderhose disease (LD, or plantar fibromatosis) is a rare, nodular, hyperproliferative condition affecting the plantar aponeurosis of the foot. At present, several conservative, non-surgical treatments have been documented, although with various degrees of success, with little evidence in the literature supporting their efficacy. In this scenario, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has emerged as a safe, effective, and less invasive approach for the successful treatment of several refractory musculoskeletal conditions and soft tissue injuries. Again, recent experimental evidence has shown that ESWT can exert beneficial effects on different fibroproliferative diseases, including Dupuytren’s and Peyronie’s disease. In contrast, the literature regarding the use of ESWT for LD is extremely limited, and no optimal application parameters have been defined to ensure its effectiveness for this disease. Therefore, in the present paper, we report a case of a 48-year-old male patient who developed bilateral foot LD, which was successfully treated with a novel ESWT protocol of treatment consisting of three sessions at 1-week intervals, with 2000 impulses at 5 Hz with an energy flux density of 0.20 mJ/mm2. Our data show that this ESWT treatment protocol was effective in completely relieving pain, restoring full functional activity, and thus, greatly improving the patient’s quality of life.
Characterizing Biogenic MnOx Produced by Pseudomonas putida MnB1 and Its Catalytic Activity towards Water Oxidation
Authors: Morales Elisa , Formanski Lauren , Sarah Shaner , Kari Stone
Published: January 2024

Mn-oxidizing microorganisms oxidize environmental Mn(II), producing Mn(IV) oxides. Pseudomonas putida MnB1 is a widely studied organism for the oxidation of manganese(II) to manganese(IV) by a multi-copper oxidase. The biogenic manganese oxides (BMOs) produced by MnB1 and similar organisms have unique properties compared to non-biological manganese oxides. Along with an amorphous, poorly crystalline structure, previous studies have indicated that BMOs have high surface areas and high reactivities. It is also known that abiotic Mn oxides promote oxidation of organics and have been studied for their water oxidation catalytic function. MnB1 was grown and maintained and subsequently transferred to culturing media containing manganese(II) salts to observe the oxidation of manganese(II) to manganese(IV). The structures and compositions of these manganese(IV) oxides were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction, and their properties were assessed regarding catalytic functionality towards water oxidation in comparison to abiotic acid birnessite. Water oxidation was accomplished through the whole-cell catalysis of MnB1, the results for which compare favorably to the water-oxidizing ability of abiotic Mn(IV) oxides.
Synergistic Effect of Spark Plasma Sintering Driven Solid-Solution Phases on Scratch Resistance in Two-Dimensional Materials
Authors: Agarwal Varad , Nisar Ambreen , Sukumaran Abhijith K. , Lou Lihua , Mohammed Sohail M. A. K.
Published: January 2024

Developing a solid lubricant with the ideal blend of lubrication and mechanical strength poses a formidable challenge. For the first time, we delve into synthesis and wear behavior of multicomponent 2D materials via spark plasma sintering (SPS) by mixing equimolar concentrations of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), and tungsten disulfide (WS2) using ball-milling (BM) and cryo-milling (CM) techniques. The mixing process controls the distribution of parent phases and thus solid-solutions, forming new phases, namely BCN, (Mo,W)S2, and B4C in the sample post sintering. The CM sample revealed a higher densification of 93% in contrast to the BM sample, with only 86% densification and a higher content of BCN, (Mo,W)S2, and B4C phases, exhibited via XRD and confocal Raman analysis. CM sample showed improved wear resistance (up to 46%) elicited from the lower wear volume loss (9.78 × 106 µm3) as compared to the BM sample (14.32 × 106 µm3). The dominant wear mechanisms were plowing, cracking, spallation, and severe abrasion in the BM sample, while cracking and plowing in the CM sample. The findings can pave the way for tailoring solid lubricants’ compositions and wear behavior per the intended application.
Prediction of Subsurface Microcrack Damage Depth Based on Surface Roughness in Diamond Wire Sawing of Monocrystalline Silicon
Authors: Wang Keying , Gao Yufei , Yang Chunfeng
Published: January 2024

In diamond wire saw cutting monocrystalline silicon (mono-Si), the material brittleness removal can cause microcrack damage in the subsurface of the as-sawn silicon wafer, which has a significant impact on the mechanical properties and subsequent processing steps of the wafers. In order to quickly and non-destructively obtain the subsurface microcrack damage depth (SSD) of as-sawn silicon wafers, this paper conducted research on the SSD prediction model for diamond wire saw cutting of mono-Si, and established the relationship between the SSD and the as-sawn surface roughness value (SR) by comprehensively considering the effect of tangential force and the influence of the elastic stress field and residual stress field below the abrasive on the propagation of median cracks. Furthermore, the theoretical relationship model between SR and SSD has been improved by adding a coefficient considering the influence of material ductile regime removal on SR values based on experiments sawing mono-Si along the (111) crystal plane, making the theoretical prediction value of SSD more accurate. The research results indicate that a decrease in wire speed and an increase in feed speed result in an increase in SR and SSD in silicon wafers. There is a non-linear increasing relationship between silicon wafer SSD and SR, with SSD = 21.179 Ra4/3. The larger the SR, the deeper the SSD, and the smaller the relative error of SSD between the theoretical predicted and experimental measurements. The research results provide a theoretical and experimental basis for predicting silicon wafer SSD in diamond wire sawing and optimizing the process.
Perception of Personal Participation of the Nurses in Resuscitation Procedures: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Koželj Anton , Strauss Maja , Poštuvan Vita , Strauss Koželj Anže , Strnad Matej
Published: January 2024

Background and Objectives: Resuscitation is one of the most stressful tasks in emergency medicine. The participation of nurses in this procedure can have specific effects on them. In this research, we wanted to find out what these effects are. Materials and Methods: A qualitative approach by conducting semi-structured interviews was used, and a thematic data analysis of the recorded interviews was carried out. The collected data were transcribed verbatim, with no corrections to the audio recordings. The computer program ATLAS.ti 22 was used for the qualitative data analysis. Results: Eleven male registered nurses were interviewed, with an average of 18.5 years of experience working in a prehospital environment (max. 32/min. 9). A total of 404 min of recordings were analyzed, and 789 codes were found, which were combined into 36 patterns and 11 themes. As the most stressful situations, the interviewees pointed out the resuscitation of a child, familiar persons, conflicts with the environment, conflicts within the resuscitation team, nonfunctioning or insufficient equipment, complications during resuscitation, and resuscitating a person only for training. As positive effects, the interviewees cited successful resuscitations or their awareness that, despite an unsuccessful resuscitation, they did everything they could. Conclusions: Participation in these interventions has a specific positive or negative impact on the performers. The interviewees shared the opinion that they can cope effectively with the adverse or stressful effects of resuscitation. Yet, despite everything, they allow the possibility of subconscious influences of this intervention on themselves.
Radiofrequency as the New Opportunity in Treating Overactive Bladder and Urge Urinary Incontinence—A Single-Arm Pilot Study
Authors: Franić Damir , Franić Ivanišević Maja , Verdenik Ivan
Published: January 2024

Background and Objectives: Until now, overactive bladder (OAB) with or without urge urinary incontinence (UUI) has been treated mainly in two ways: with behavioral methods and patient education, or using antimuscarinic drugs and/or beta-3 adrenergic receptor agonists. Unfortunately, these drugs may cause side effects in some women or are insufficiently effective, so patients abandon them. Therefore, in this pilot study, radiofrequency was evaluated as a new option in the treatment of OAB and UUI. Materials and Methods: Nineteen patients were enrolled in this pilot study using radiofrequency (RF), where the level of OAB and UUI was assessed using the validated ICIQ-OAB questionnaire. RF was applied four times for 20 min, once a week. Two weeks after treatment, the level of OAB and UUI was reassessed and processed statistically and the treatment effect evaluated. Results: Using the ICIQ-OAB, the severity of OAB and UUI was assessed: 0–3 mild symptoms; 4–7 moderate symptoms; 8–11 severe symptoms; 12–16 very severe symptoms. Before treatment, 10.5% of patients had mild symptoms, 21.1% moderate symptoms, 63.2% severe symptoms and 5.3% very severe symptoms. After treatment, 42.9% had mild symptoms, 50% moderate symptoms and 7% severe OAB and UUI symptoms. All four main symptoms—frequency, nocturia, urgency and incontinence—decreased statistically significantly, with the best results being found in urgency (p = 0.002). Conclusions: Based on this pilot study, RF seems a very promising method in the treatment of OAB and UUI. To extend our initial findings, it is necessary to perform a prospective, randomized and placebo-controlled study in order to obtain reliable results and to determine for how long one set of treatment maintains the results obtained immediately after the end of that treatment. In this way, we may determine how often the treatment needs to be repeated, if necessary, and when.
Echocardiographic Myocardial Work: A Novel Method to Assess Left Ventricular Function in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease and Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Frișan Alexandra-Cătălina , Mornoș Cristian , Lazăr Mihai-Andrei , Șoșdean Raluca , Crișan Simina , Ionac Ioana , Luca Constantin-Tudor
Published: January 2024

Myocardial ischemia caused by coronary artery disease (CAD) and the presence of metabolic abnormalities and microvascular impairments detected in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are a common cause of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Transthoracic echocardiography is the most-used, non-invasive imaging method for the assessment of myocardial contractility. The accurate evaluation of LV function is crucial for identifying patients who are at high risk or may have worse outcomes. Myocardial work (MW) is emerging as an alternative tool for the evaluation of LV systolic function, providing additional information on cardiac performance when compared to conventional parameters such as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) because it incorporates deformation and load into its analysis. The potential of MW in various conditions is promising and it has gained increased attention. However, larger studies are necessary to further investigate its role and application before giving an answer to the question of whether it can have widespread implementation into clinical practice. The aim of this review is to summarize the actual knowledge of MW for the analysis of LV dysfunction caused by myocardial ischemia and hyperglycemia.
Characteristics of COVID-19 Disease in Renal Transplant Recipients
Authors: Zimnickaitė Emilija , Kucinaitė Ieva , Zablockienė Birutė , Lisinskaitė Aistė , Zablockis Rolandas , Rimševičius Laurynas , Miglinas Marius , Jančorienė Ligita
Published: January 2024

Background and Objectives: Kidney transplant recipients are at risk of developing more severe forms of COVID-19 infection. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical course of COVID-19 infection among kidney transplant patients and a control group. Materials and Methods: We examined 150 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 infection. Patients were divided into study (kidney transplant recipients, n = 53) and control (without a history of kidney transplantation, n = 97) groups. Demographics, clinical characteristics, treatment data, and clinical outcomes were assessed. Results: The median patient age was 56.0 (46.0–64.0) years, and seventy-seven patients (51.3%) were men. The median Charlson comorbidity index was higher in the study group (3.0 vs. 2.0, p < 0.001). There was a higher incidence of hypoxemia in the control group upon arrival (52.6% vs. 22.6%, p = 0.001) and a higher NEWS index median (2.0 vs. 1.0 points, p = 0.009) and incidence of pneumonia during hospitalization (88.7% vs. 73.6%, p = 0.023). In the study group, there were more cases of mild (26.4% vs. 11.3%, p = 0.023) and critically severe forms of COVID-19 infection (26.4% vs. 3.1%, p < 0.001), kidney failure was more prevalent (34.0% vs. 1.0%, p < 0.001), and a greater number of patients were transferred to the intensive care unit (22.6% vs. 3.1%, p < 0.001) and died (18.9% vs. 1.0%, p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis revealed that treatment in the intensive care unit correlated with a higher mortality rate than transplantation itself (HR = 20.71, 95% CI 2.01–213.33, p = 0.011). Conclusions: The course of the COVID-19 disease in kidney transplant recipients is heterogeneous and can be more severe than in the general population. Even though patients may be hospitalized with fewer symptoms, complications and death are more likely to occur.
Effect of Cooling Rate on Microstructure Evolution and Mechanical Properties of SCM435 Steel
Authors: Chen Jilin , Feng Guanghong , Zheng Yaxu , Lin Peng , Wang Lijun , Li Yongchao
Published: January 2024

The microstructural evolution of SCM435 cold heading steel at different cooling rates was investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy, TEM, XRD, and electron backscatter diffraction. The results show that the cooling rate has a significant effect on the microstructure of the experimental steel. With an acceleration in the cooling, the microstructure of the steel gradually changed from ferrite and pearlite to ferrite, pearlite, and granular bainite; finally, the pearlite disappeared, and the microstructure changed to acicular ferrite, bainite, and martensite. With an increase in the cooling rate, the morphology of the carbide underwent an evolution from sheet carbide to short-rod carbide, granular carbide, and ultimately thin-strip carbide. With the acceleration in cooling, the proportion of large-angle grain boundaries gradually decreased, and the area of small-angle grain boundaries gradually increased. When the cooling rate was 0.1 °C/s, the proportion of large-angle grain boundaries was as high as 52.8%, and the dislocation density was only 1.91 × 1012 cm−2. When the cooling rate was 2.0 °C/s, the proportion of large-angle grain boundaries was only 27.1%, and the dislocation density increased to 5.38 × 1012 cm−2. With the increase in the cooling rate, the depth of the decarbonization layer and the thickness of the scale oxide gradually decreased, the proportion of the FeO phase in the scale phase gradually decreased, and the proportion of the Fe3O4 phase and Fe2O3 phase gradually increased. The tensile strength increased monotonously with the increase in cooling rate, whereas the elongation and area reduction first decreased, then increased, and then decreased. When the cooling rate was 1.0 m/s, the short rod and granular bainite in the material structure endowed the SCM435 steel with excellent strength and toughness matching, and the tensile strength and elongation of the steel reached 895 MPa and 24%, respectively.
Novel Approaches to Studying SLC13A5 Disease
Authors: Beltran Adriana S.
Published: January 2024

The role of the sodium citrate transporter (NaCT) SLC13A5 is multifaceted and context-dependent. While aberrant dysfunction leads to neonatal epilepsy, its therapeutic inhibition protects against metabolic disease. Notably, insights regarding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these phenomena are limited due to the intricacy and complexity of the latent human physiology, which is poorly captured by existing animal models. This review explores innovative technologies aimed at bridging such a knowledge gap. First, I provide an overview of SLC13A5 variants in the context of human disease and the specific cell types where the expression of the transporter has been observed. Next, I discuss current technologies for generating patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and their inherent advantages and limitations, followed by a summary of the methods for differentiating iPSCs into neurons, hepatocytes, and organoids. Finally, I explore the relevance of these cellular models as platforms for delving into the intricate molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying SLC13A5-related disorders.