bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exposure to ambient PM2.5 and its association with the loss of labor productivity of manufacturing plants in India
Authors: Majumder Piyali , Chaudhary Ekta , Dey Sagnik
Published: August 2024

Evidence of the impacts of ambient air pollution on health in India has been expanding. However, the economic impact of air pollution has rarely been explored. Here, we examined the impact of exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) derived from satellite data at 1 km × 1 km resolution on the productivity of the manufacturing plants using a micro-level dataset for the period 2008–2009 and 2009–2010 across 465 districts in India. Using a system generalized methods of moments techniques, we estimated that for every 10% increase in PM2.5 exposure, labor productivity decreases by 14.8% after controlling for the confounding factors. For exposure exceeding the national ambient air quality standard of annual PM2.5 in India (40 μg m−3), the labor productivity decreases by a bigger margin (20%) for the same margin of increase in PM2.5. We found that labor productivity loss due to ambient air pollution was lower for plants using capital-intensive production techniques. The labor productivity in plants with a higher share of blue-collar workers was more sensitive to exposure to PM2.5 as opposed to plants with a higher share of supervisors or managerial staff. This suggests that plant-level managerial skill and capital-intensive production techniques (including expenditure on pollution control and abatement equipment) will be critical in mitigating air pollution-induced labor productivity loss across manufacturing plants in India.
Investigating the Impact of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) and Cement Kiln Dust (CKD) on fine grained Soil Subgrade in Al Hillah City
Authors: Jamal Ahmed Zainab , Jafer Hassnen , Ahmed Al-Kremy Abdul Rudha
Published: August 2024

In many parts of the world, fine grained soils are regarded as one of the major concerns for civil engineering projects. To mitigate these problems, fine grained soils are typically replaced with stronger materials. However, due to the high cost of this approach, various researchers have tried alternative approaches, the most popular of which is soil stabilization. This method could be deemed suitable for pavements. The research focuses on stabilizing fine soil through the utilization of cement kiln dust (CKD) and ground granulated blast slag (GGBS). This research involves treating fine soil with 10% of the total binder consist from (GGBS+CKD), with the amount of GGBS to CKD determined by dry soil weight as follows: (10% GGBS + 0% CKD), (8% GGBS + 2% CKD), (6% GGBS + 4% CKD), (2% GGBS + 8% CKD), and (0% GGBS + 10% CKD). The compaction parameters, consistency limitations, and the findings of the Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) test were used to assess the enhancement levels. In addition, specimens were subjected to UCS testing after (7-28) days of curing. The findings demonstrated that the combination of GGBS activated by CKD notably enhanced the physical characteristics of fine soil. The Plasticity Index (PI) decreased from 7.4 for untreated soil to 4.8 for a mixture containing 10% binder, comprised of 2% GGBS and 8% CKD, and to 4.25 for a single-binder mixture with 10% CKD. Furthermore, the unconfined compressive strength test (UCS) results indicated that a 10% binder mixture of 8% GGBS and 2% CKD increased the UCS by 2.9 to 5.9 times compared to untreated soil after 7-28 days of curing.
Sustainable Use of Recycled Concrete Aggregate for Soil Improvement
Authors: Salah Hashem Asraa , Shaban Alaa M.
Published: August 2024

One of the most significant issues that engineers face in geotechnical engineering projects is weak and problematic soils. Therefore, there is always a necessity to develop sustainable methods to improve properties of weak soils in order to enhance the performance of the structures built upon them. The aim of this research is to improve the characteristics of loose, poorly graded sand soil using recycled concrete aggregate (RCA). RCA with various grain-size distributions was utilized as a partial replacement for the soil. The replacement contents were 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% by the weight of the treated soils. The compaction and bearing resistance characteristics of the treated soils were investigated. The results showed that the inclusion of RCA significantly improves engineering characteristics of the soil in terms of California bearing ratio (CBR) and maximum dry density (MDD). Additionally, it was found the 15% represents optimum RCA content that can be utilized for stabilizing weak subgrade soils. Consequently, the study’s findings support the value of including RCA in field application stabilization plans for geotechnical and road engineers.
Study of the Dispersion of Bitumens Modified with Secondary Polyethylene Terephthalate
Authors: Ahmed Adnan Hayder Al-Razoqi , Alexandra Olegovna Shrubok , Igorevna Zholnerkevich Veronika , Wako Bleck Junior Happi
Published: August 2024

The paper considers the possibility of using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste in the production of bitumen. The article presents the results of modifying bitumen with PET powders. A method has been developed for producing polymer powders from waste PET bottles using a non-toxic solvent. The powders obtained using this technology are finely dispersed and can be used to modify bitumen. By mixing PET powder into petroleum bitumen, it is possible to obtain it can homogeneous binder with a leads to increase the plasticity interval and lowering the penetration values. It has been found that with the introduction of 4% wt. PET powder softening temperature of bitumen increases by 15°C, brittleness temperature decreases by 6.6°C, and penetration – by 22×0.1 mm. It has been established that while the change in the plasticity interval, the adhesive properties of bitumen increase, which is explained by the increased content of aromatic compounds and resins in them.
Selecting the Best Ring Road Around Hilla City to Improve Traffic Operation
Authors: Saadi Musllim Ali , Abdul Ameer Alwash Ali
Published: August 2024

Hilla city, located in Babil Governorate, suffers from high traffic congestion, because it lacks ring roads to solve the problem of internal traffic congestion. Therefore, this study highlights the importance of ring roads in helping to solve traffic congestion. Three ring roads were proposed for the city and the changes in traffic performance are discussed. Each of these proposed ring roads will connect external roads connected to “60th Street” (the artery of Hilla city) with each other outside the city. Through the economic evaluation that was conducted, it became clear that the best proposed route that can be chosen is proposal No. 2, as it is the most economical among the proposed rings; its total cost amounted to approximately 90.5 billion Iraqi dinars. In order to investigate the impact of the proposed ring roads on the traffic level of service and access time, the Vissim program was used. It has been shown that adding a ring road to the city will contribute to reducing internal congestion by approximately 24%. It is also noticed that the level of service for 60th Street has improved from Level (F) to Level (C). Finally, future traffic volumes were calculated and analyzed for the year 2030. It was found that the level of service has worsened by one level; it has shifted from level of service (C) to (D) for 60th Street.
The Impact of Construction Structure Material on the Dynamic Response of Railway Bridges Under Passing of High-speed Trains
Authors: Mohammed Abd Al-Mohsen Ahmed , Muteb Haitham Hassan.
Published: August 2024

With the development of life and its requirements increasing, it has become necessary to find means that reduce the time to meet them, and one of these means is high-speed trains. Many previous studies have dealt with different properties affecting the dynamic behavior of railway bridges. In this research, the effect of changing the structural material of part of the main bridge structure on its dynamic behavior were be studied. Two types of bridges were studied. The first is the steel-girder bridge, and the second is the polygonal concrete bridge. The bridge modeling was done through the program SAP2000 and the structural analysis of the study model was done by using the finite element method. Material and mechanical properties from laboratory experiments were used for previous studies. The results for the two dynamic behavior parameters that were tested showed larger values in the polygonal model of the bridge. It increases in the steel beam model by 59% for vertical displacement and by 45% for vertical acceleration. The vertical displacement values were within the limits of the international standard L/600, and the vertical acceleration was within the limits of the European standard 3.5 g. The best design for each speed should be determined by conducting more study, which should include testing models at various speeds.
Analysis of the Impact of Overloading for Trucks on the Design Life of Flexible Pavement
Authors: Al-Janabi Alia Jasem , Obaid Hayder Abbas
Published: August 2024

Premature deterioration of flexible pavements due to increased truck axle loads poses a significant challenge on Iraqi roadways. This study focuses on managing the properties of the wearing layer to achieve a better balance between the damage ratio and the longest design life at the expense of the binder layer’s properties. The pavement performance and design life assessment, considering fatigue cracking and rutting damage, was conducted using KENLAYER software, which employs Asphalt Institute design models and formulas to compute stresses and strains in the asphaltic pavement. The overload rate was also calculated in the range (from 2 to 40%). This rate regardless of overloading rate, the majority of trucks exceeded their legal limit except for some kinds which are [Type 2(T), Type 2(F), Type 3(T), Type 4(M), Type2-S2 (F), Type2-S3(F), Type2-S3(T) Type 3-S2(F) and Type 3-S3(T)] where were used to transport a specified material such as water, fuel, food and shipping container therefore, the overloading rate should be considered in the design and measured carefully according to truck type cargo. This study emphasizes the importance of considering heavy truck axle loads and their effects on pavement deterioration. The findings contribute to understanding the structural behavior of pavements subjected to overloading, providing insights for optimizing pavement design and improving the longevity of flexible pavements under challenging traffic conditions.
An optical fingerprint recognition method based on diffraction field
Authors: Wu Yixuan , Liu Yu , Zhu Haibitao , Tao Shaohua
Published: August 2024

Biometric technology, which authenticates identities with high reliability and stability by comparing the unique characteristics of human bodies, is widely used in the fields of electronic labeling, information security, access control, etc. Fingerprint recognition technology, which has the advantages of easy operation, fast recognition and high safety, has become the mainstream of the information decryption and access control application. In this paper, we proposed an optical fingerprint recognition method, which fulfilled recognition by comparing the characteristic intensity distributions of the diffraction fields of fingerprints. We carried out experiments for the recognition of fingerprints from different fingers and the same finger, and cropped fingerprints. The recognition results verified the feasibility of the proposed method. The method has advantages in terms of operation speed, recognition accuracy, and tolerance for partial information loss, and provides an effective way in optical sensing.
Generalized quantum Arimoto–Blahut algorithm and its application to quantum information bottleneck
Authors: Hayashi Masahito , Liu Geng
Published: August 2024

Quantum information bottleneck was proposed by Grimsmo and Still (2016 Phys. Rev. A 94 012338) as a promising method for quantum supervised machine learning. To study this method, we generalize the quantum Arimoto–Blahut algorithm by Ramakrishnan et al (2021 IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory
67 946) to a function defined over a set of density matrices with linear constraints so that our algorithm can be applied to optimizations of quantum operations. This algorithm has wider applicability, and we apply our algorithm to the quantum information bottleneck with three quantum systems. We numerically compare our obtained algorithm with the existing algorithm by Grimsmo and Still. Our numerical analysis shows that our algorithm is better than their algorithm.
A modular GUI-based program for genetic algorithm-based feedback-assisted wavefront shaping
Authors: Anderson Benjamin R , O’Kins Andrew , Makrasnov Kostiantyn , Udby Rebecca , Price Patrick , Eilers Hergen
Published: August 2024

We have developed a modular graphical user interface (GUI)-based program for use in genetic algorithm-based feedback-assisted wavefront shaping. The program uses a class-based structure to separate out the universal modules (e.g. GUI, multithreading, optimization algorithms) and hardware-specific modules (e.g. code for different SLMs and cameras). This modular design makes the program easily adaptable to a wide range of lab equipment, while providing easy access to a GUI, multithreading, and three optimization algorithms (phase-stepping, simple genetic, and microgenetic).
Social inequity in ageing in place among older adults in Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries: a mixed studies systematic review
Authors: Bolster-Foucault Clara , Vedel Isabelle , Busa Giovanna , Hacker Georgia , Sourial Nadia , Quesnel-Vallée Amélie
Published: August 2024

Background

Most older adults wish to remain in their homes and communities as they age. Despite this widespread preference, disparities in health outcomes and access to healthcare and social support may create inequities in the ability to age in place. Our objectives were to synthesise evidence of social inequity in ageing in place among older adults using an intersectional lens and to evaluate the methods used to define and measure inequities.

Methods

We conducted a mixed studies systematic review. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and AgeLine for quantitative or qualitative literature that examined social inequities in ageing in place among adults aged 65 and older in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries. Results of included studies were synthesised using qualitative content analysis guided by the PROGRESS-Plus framework.

Results

Of 4874 identified records, 55 studies were included. Rural residents, racial/ethnic minorities, immigrants and those with higher socioeconomic position and greater social resources are more likely to age in place. Women and those with higher educational attainment appear less likely to age in place. The influence of socioeconomic position, education and social resources differs by gender and race/ethnicity, indicating intersectional effects across social dimensions.

Conclusions

Social dimensions influence the ability to age in place in OECD settings, likely due to health inequalities across the lifespan, disparities in access to healthcare and support services, and different preferences regarding ageing in place. Our results can inform the development of policies and programmes to equitably support ageing in place in diverse populations.
Venkatapuram responds to “Positive epidemiology, revisited: the case for centering human rights and economic justice”
Authors: Venkatapuram Sridhar
Published: August 2024

This commentary responds to the article by Qureishi et al (Am J Epidemol. 2024;193(10):1313–1317) that criticizes a new proposal for “positive epidemiology.” They argue that positive epidemiology, as it is being proposed and conducted, ignores supraindividual social contextual factors that constrain the well-being of some individuals more than others, and it could exacerbate inequalities if applied at a population level, among other harms. They offer an alternative approach to defining causal factors that are helpful for well-being and seek to ground their view in human rights and economic justice frameworks. This commentary considers their criticisms of positive epidemiology and suggests that their alternative, as well as all research into positive health and well-being, would benefit from drawing on the ongoing debates and literature in health equity and justice philosophy. A coherent conception of health and well-being, the link between health/well-being and theories of justice, and the capabilities approach are discussed. The efforts at conducting epidemiology for the causes and distribution of good health and well-being grounded in justice are welcomed.

This article is part of a Special Collection on Mental Health.
Critical feminist epidemiology in action: reflections from a multidisciplinary partnership between Mujeres Unidas y Activas and academic researchers
Authors: Cohen Alison K , Flores Juanita , Jiménez María , Coll Kathleen M , López Nathalie , Quiles Taina B , Castillo Beda , Darwish Sajia , Rich Amy , Franco Marina
Published: August 2024

Critical feminist research addresses social inequities, encourages equitable partnerships between researchers and participants, and acknowledges that research can be inherently political. Building upon critical feminist research practices, community-based participatory research, and social and structural epidemiology, we propose the approach of critical feminist epidemiology. A critical feminist epidemiology approach can study community and population health inequities with an eye toward identifying interventions that reduce inequities, through research processes that center the lived experiences of people from minoritized genders. We describe how our interdisciplinary, community-led team used a critical feminist epidemiology approach for an applied public health research project. Mujeres Unidas y Activas, a community organizing nonprofit led by and for Latina and Indigenous immigrant women, partnered with academic researchers to conduct community-led research on how their approach to building community power affected the health and well-being of organization members and their families. Critical feminist epidemiology is a promising approach for conducting research that is grounded in and relevant to the lives of women and gender-expansive people. Building upon social epidemiology and community-based participatory research, critical feminist epidemiology can be a useful research approach to generate novel evidence to inform action toward health equity for communities and populations.

This article is part of a Special Collection on Methods in Social Epidemiology.
Assessing the Accuracy of Reporting of Hypertension on Death Certificates in Australia
Authors: Adair Tim , Li Hang , Rao Chalapati
Published: August 2024

BACKGROUND

There is insufficient evidence of how accurately hypertension is reported on death certificates, which are the primary evidence of causes of death. This study assesses the accuracy of reporting of hypertension on death certificates of decedents in Australia who previously had their blood pressure measured.

METHODS

Blood pressure data from the 2014–2015 and 2017–2018 National Health Surveys were linked to death registration data from July 2015 to December 2021 (average 3.3 years from survey to death). The percentage of decedents with hypertension reported on the death certificate was calculated according to blood pressure level and previous diagnosis of hypertension.

RESULTS

Hypertension was reported on the death certificate of 20.2% (95% confidence interval 12.1%–28.3%) of decedents who had very high to severe blood pressure (160/100 mm Hg and above), 14.5% (10.3%–18.8%) who had high blood pressure (140 to <160 / 90 to <100 mm Hg), 14.1% (10.8%–17.4%) who had normal to high blood pressure (<140/90 mm Hg) and who took hypertension medication, and 17.8% (13.6%–22.0%) who had been diagnosed with hypertension. Where the decedent had very high to severe blood pressure, hypertension was reported for 27.9% (14.1%–41.8%) of deaths if they had been diagnosed with hypertension, and 21.7% (9.6%–33.7%) where another cardiovascular disease was reported on the death certificate.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypertension mortality in Australia is only reported for a minority of deaths of people with high or very high to severe blood pressure; this is also found for those with a prior diagnosis of hypertension.
A case report of elevated bromide levels from pyridostigmine bromide for treatment of myasthenia gravis
Authors: Defayette Aubrey , Anibaldi Elizabeth , Abad Ajay , Ibegbu Chinazom , Silvestri Nicholas , Doobay Ravi
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Elevated serum bromide levels can cause dermatological, gastrointestinal, and neurological abnormalities. As bromide and chloride are both halogens, bromide may interfere with chloride assays, causing a falsely high serum chloride concentration and a low or negative anion gap. There is a paucity of data describing bromide toxicity from high doses of pyridostigmine bromide (PB). This case report describes a patient with an elevated bromide level with neurological symptoms from a therapeutic dose of PB.

A 37-year-old male with myasthenia gravis secondary to type B2 thymoma following thymectomy presented in myasthenic crisis. He required mechanical ventilation and was managed with steroids, intravenous immune globulin, plasmapheresis, and PB. On day 9, the patient experienced acute agitation. He had an anion gap of 2 mEq/L and a chloride concentration of 109 mEq/L. The plasma creatinine concentration was 0.63 to 1.15 mg/dL and urine output was 0.76 to 1.79 mL/kg/h throughout his admission. All other laboratory values were normal. The daily dose of PB was 660 mg on day 9, but the patient received 76 mg of intravenous PB over the first few days of his admission with the largest dose in 24 hours equal to 48 mg. On day 10, the patient’s bromide level was 37 μg/mL. His agitation was initially managed with quetiapine, followed by PB dose reduction. To our knowledge, there are 2 cases in the literature of bromide toxicity secondary to PB. These patients experienced neurological symptoms with bromide levels of 88 to 90 μg/mL. Bromide concentrations of more than 12 μg/mL are associated with a higher risk of neuronal dysfunction demonstrated as disturbances on an electroencephalogram, and levels greater than 50 μg/mL are considered toxic. While our patient’s bromide level was not as high as those previously reported, no other causes for his agitation were identified.

Conclusion

Elevated bromide levels from therapeutic PB can occur, and monitoring of these levels should be considered.
Sarah Orne Jewett’s China
Authors: Sy Lloyd Alimboyao
Published: August 2024

This essay reads Sarah Orne Jewett’s Deephaven (1877) to show how chinaware could be used to delineate American identity in late nineteenth-century fiction. As I show, china’s aura of exoticism—reflected in its very name—could be deployed by regionalist writers to prop up local identity. Importantly, Jewett’s characters make china the centerpiece of their bequeathals so that the foreign is the vehicle by which generations exert influence over the present. Chinaware’s utility reifies the association of Asian identity with objectification. The town more generally appropriates Chinese signifiers and objects in their creation of a distinct spirit. I argue that towns perform this subsumption of the international in the service of the regional to position themselves in an intriguing position with regards to the national: distinct but also useful. Authors like Jewett show how the regional can, in part, deviate from the national by offering a tame and safe version of exoticism. The stakes of materiality thus include the determination of American belonging.
Losing the West, Finding Western Worlds
Authors: Goodman Audrey
Published: August 2024

“Losing the West, Finding Western Worlds” explores how recent critical work in Western American studies breaks apart the region’s foundational myths and invites readers and reviewers to revise understandings of this popular, enduring, and protean genre. Reflecting on four studies that interrogate Western American fiction, film, and comic books (two monographs by British scholars Mark Asquith and Neil Campbell; a study of the Black Western by film historian Mia Mask; and a collection of essays edited by Christopher Conway and Antoinette Sol on varieties of comic book westerns produced around the world), the essay considers how this diverse cohort of scholars pursues a common imperative to unlearn “the West” and sets new directions for literary and cultural studies of the region. Through rereadings of the work of writers and actors who fracture and reassemble the heroic settler narrative from the perspective of outsiders, these critics contend, the West can emerge as a place whose stories offer more complete understandings of the past, whose heroes illuminate the political challenges of the present, and whose writers provide the right words for imagining a better future.
A continental-scale analysis reveals the latitudinal gradient of stomatal density across amphistomatous species: evolutionary history vs. present-day environment
Authors: Liu Congcong , Huang Kexiang , Zhao Yifei , Li Ying , He Nianpeng
Published: August 2024

Background and Aims

Amphistomy is a potential method for increasing photosynthetic rate; however, the latitudinal gradients of stomatal density across amphistomatous species and their drivers remain unknown.

Methods

Here, the adaxial stomatal density (SDad) and abaxial stomatal density (SDab) of 486 amphistomatous species–site combinations, belonging to 32 plant families, were collected from China, and their total stomatal density (SDtotal) and stomatal ratio (SR) were calculated.

Key Results

Overall, these four stomatal traits did not show significant phylogenetic signals. There were no significant differences in SDab and SDtotal between woody and herbaceous species, but SDad and SR were higher in woody species than in herbaceous species. Besides, a significantly positive relationship between SDab and SDad was observed. We also found that stomatal density (including SDab, SDad and SDtotal) decreased with latitude, whereas SR increased with latitude, and temperature seasonality was the most important environmental factor driving it. Besides, evolutionary history (represented by both phylogeny and species) explained ~10- to 22-fold more of the variation in stomatal traits than the present-day environment (65.2–71.1 vs. 2.9–6.8 %).

Conclusions

Our study extended our knowledge of trait–environment relationships and highlighted the importance of evolutionary history in driving stomatal trait variability.
Effects of host size on progeny sex and survivorship of Hymenoepimecis pinheirensis
Authors: Xavier Gabriel Máximo , Gonzaga Marcelo Oliveira , de Castro Vitor Campos , Silva William Dias , Valentim Alisson Montanheiro , Rios Moura Rafael
Published: August 2024

Parasitoid larvae consume their hosts to obtain the nutritional resources required for their development. Parasitoid wasps can optimally select the size of their hosts by laying unfertilized and fertilized eggs according to the amount of biomass available for consumption by the larvae. However, parasitoids may eventually experience low host availability within the optimal range of body sizes, affecting the survival of their offspring. In this study, we identified a situation in which all available hosts (Leucauge volupis) were smaller than those previously observed to be parasitized by Hymenoepimecis pinheirensis at the same study site. Therefore, we investigated how these parasitoids can bypass the scarcity of ideal hosts. Female wasps biased their oviposition toward the largest L. volupis females available. In this suboptimal scenario, they did not oviposit only unfertilized eggs, which developed into relatively small offspring (males). In this situation, they lay fertilized eggs mainly on larger spiders. Larval mortality was high, but the larvae attached to the larger spiders were more likely to complete their development. In general, H. pinheirensis females managed to target the best hosts available but could not delay the oviposition of fertilized eggs or avoid offspring mortality. Here, we discuss the potential causes of asynchronies in the life cycles of parasitoid wasps and their hosts, the availability of optimal hosts, and how these factors may affect their populations.
Physiological function of gut microbiota and metabolome on successful pregnancy and lactation in the captive Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis)
Authors: Shah Syed Ata Ur Rahman , Tang Bin , He Dekui , Hao Yujiang , Nabi Ghulam , Wang Chaoqun , Kou Zhangbing , Wang Kexiong
Published: August 2024

Gestation period in captive Yangtze finless porpoise (YFP) is a well-coordinated and dynamic process, involving both systemic and local alterations. The gut microbiota and its connection to fecal metabolites are crucial in supporting fetal development and ensuring maternal health during reproductive stages. This study evaluates changes in the gut microbiota and their correlation with fecal metabolites in captive YFPs during different reproductive stages. The results reveal that microbial community structure changed significantly during reproductive stages, while gut microbial diversity remained stable. The genus unclassified Peptostrptococcaceae, Corynebacterium, and norank KD4–96 were significantly greater in non-pregnancy (NP), Terrisporobacter was significantly greater in lactating (LL), and Clostridium was significantly higher in early-pregnancy (EP) compared to the other groups. The host fecal metabolome exhibited significant alterations during the reproductive stages. Indoxyl sulfate, octadecatrienoic acid, and methionyl-methionine were significantly higher in the NP; galactosylglycerol, chondroitin 6-sulfate, and lumichrome were significantly higher in the EP and mid-pregnancy (MP); and valylleucine and butyryl-l-carnitine were significantly higher in the LL. The altered metabolites were mostly concentrated in pathways associated with arachidonic acid metabolism (significantly altered in NP), leucine, valine, and isoleucine biosynthesis (significantly altered in EP and MP), and glycerophospholipid metabolism (significantly altered in LL compared to others stages). Additionally, we found a strong link between variations in the host metabolism and alterations in the fecal bacteria of captive YFP. In conclusion, this study provides detailed insights into host metabolic and fecal bacterial changes in captive YFP during reproduction stages, providing important knowledge for improving the reproductive management in the captive YFP.
The multivariate Bernoulli detector: change point estimation in discrete survival analysis
Authors: van den Boom Willem , De Iorio Maria , Qian Fang , Guglielmi Alessandra
Published: August 2024

Time-to-event data are often recorded on a discrete scale with multiple, competing risks as potential causes for the event. In this context, application of continuous survival analysis methods with a single risk suffers from biased estimation. Therefore, we propose the multivariate Bernoulli detector for competing risks with discrete times involving a multivariate change point model on the cause-specific baseline hazards. Through the prior on the number of change points and their location, we impose dependence between change points across risks, as well as allowing for data-driven learning of their number. Then, conditionally on these change points, a multivariate Bernoulli prior is used to infer which risks are involved. Focus of posterior inference is cause-specific hazard rates and dependence across risks. Such dependence is often present due to subject-specific changes across time that affect all risks. Full posterior inference is performed through a tailored local-global Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm, which exploits a data augmentation trick and MCMC updates from nonconjugate Bayesian nonparametric methods. We illustrate our model in simulations and on ICU data, comparing its performance with existing approaches.
Reduced-rank clustered coefficient regression for addressing multicollinearity in heterogeneous coefficient estimation
Authors: Zhong Yan , He Kejun , Li Gefei
Published: August 2024

Clustered coefficient regression (CCR) extends the classical regression model by allowing regression coefficients varying across observations and forming clusters of observations. It has become an increasingly useful tool for modeling the heterogeneous relationship between the predictor and response variables. A typical issue of existing CCR methods is that the estimation and clustering results can be unstable in the presence of multicollinearity. To address the instability issue, this paper introduces a low-rank structure of the CCR coefficient matrix and proposes a penalized non-convex optimization problem with an adaptive group fusion-type penalty tailor-made for this structure. An iterative algorithm is developed to solve this non-convex optimization problem with guaranteed convergence. An upper bound for the coefficient estimation error is also obtained to show the statistical property of the estimator. Empirical studies on both simulated datasets and a COVID-19 mortality rate dataset demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method to existing methods.
Value of transperineal three-dimensional ultrasonography in diagnosis of pelvic floor dysfunction
Authors: Zhuang Yingbin , Yao Liping , Liu Yanjie
Published: August 2024

Objectives

To investigate the correlation between 3-dimensional ultrasonography parameters and pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) and its application value in diagnosis and treatment.

Methods

Ninety-two patients with PFD and 22 without who underwent 3-dimensional ultrasonography were selected. Transperineal 3-dimensional ultrasonography was performed by Voluson E8 colour Doppler ultrasonography to analyse the anteroposterior diameter (LHAD), transverse diameter (LHLD), pelvic diaphragmatic hiatus area (LHA), and bladder neck mobility (BND) of the patients. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound parameters in PFD were analysed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves. Paired sample t test was used to analyse the improvement of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) in patients with PFD.

Results

Patients with PFD had significantly higher levels of △LHAD, △LHLD, △LHA, and BND than controls (all P < .01). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that △LHA or BND levels were independent risk factors for the development of PFD. The ROC results showed that the area under the ROC curve with BND level was the highest (0.917). The diagnostic sensitivity of BND in PFD was 100.0% and the specificity was 70.7%. In urinary incontinence (UI) patients, there was a significant positive correlation between the occurrence of UI and BND levels (all r > 0, P < .05). After PFMT treatment, the levels of △LHAD, △LHLD, △LHA, and BND in patients with PFD were significantly decreased (all P < .001).

Conclusions

The abnormal changes in the level of 3-dimensional ultrasound parameters can be used as a sensitive indicator to evaluate PFD and a guiding parameter for PFMT treatment.

Advances in knowledge

The feasibility of operation and repetition by 3-dimensional pelvic floor ultrasonography could provide a reliable imaging basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment of patients with PFD.
Looking for Signs of Life: A Christian Perspective on Defining and Determining Death
Authors: Omelianchuk Adam
Published: August 2024

Looking to Scripture through the eyes of contemporary medical experience, I analyze the meaning of the criteria used for determining death, specifically in the light of Jesus’ final moments and the resurrection of the Shunammite’s son in 2 Kings, chapter 4. I argue that four theses are consistent with, and informed by, these passages that can help guide Christian belief and decision-making about how death is determined in the clinical context: (1) death is neither permanent nor irreversible; (2) something like the “brain-dead” state is, at best, a confounding state that requires one to “pace and pray” or let go; (3) that the case for determining death by neurologic criteria depends on the “working togetherness” of the body’s parts for the sake of impacting its environment; and (4) that the practice of neurologically based death determination is a response to the problem of disaggregation of the human form into its organ systems that modern critical care medicine makes possible. I end with advice about how Christians might approach the debates over the law and practice, even if they cannot come to a consensus.
A peculiar post-vaccination eruption
Authors: Volonté Martina , Favale Emanuele M , Di Giuli Nicolò , Brazzelli Valeria , Barruscotti Stefania , Fiandrino Giacomo , Tomasini Carlo F , Vassallo Camilla
Published: August 2024

We report the case of a 47-year-old woman who presented with the appearance of oral mucositis and vegetative lesions localized on the major skin folds that appeared after Comirnaty (BNT162b2) BioNTech anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Clinical, histological and immunopathological findings led to a diagnosis of pemphigus vegetans (Neumann variant) and the Naranjo score suggested a probable association with the vaccination. To our knowledge, despite its rarity, one other case of pemphigus vegetans after Comirnaty (BNT162b2) BioNTech anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination has already been described in literature.
Factors Associated With Poor Clinical and Microbiologic Outcomes in Candida auris Bloodstream Infection: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Jimenez Adriana , Rosa Rossana , Ayoub Samantha , Guran Rachel , Arenas Sebastian , Valencia Nickolas , Stabile Janna C , Estepa Adrian T , Parekh Dipen J , Ferreira Tanira , Gershengorn Hayley B , Prabaker Kavitha K , Eckardt Paula A , Zahn Matthew , Abbo Lilian M , Shukla Bhavarth S
Published: August 2024

Background

Candida auris has become a growing concern worldwide because of increases in incidence of colonization and reports of invasive infections. There are limited data on clinical factors associated with poor outcomes in patients with C. auris bloodstream infection (BSI).

Methods

We assembled a multicenter retrospective cohort of patients with C. auris BSI from 2 geographics areas in US healthcare settings. We collected data on demographic, clinical, and microbiologic characteristics to describe the cohort and constructed multivariate logistic regression models to understand risk factors for 2 clinical outcomes, all-cause mortality during facility admission, and blood culture clearance.

Results

Our cohort consisted of 187 patients with C. auris BSI (56.1% male, 55.6% age >65 years); 54.6% died by facility discharge and 66.9% (of 142 with available data) experienced blood culture clearance. Pitt bacteremia score at infection onset was associated with mortality (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.19 [1.01–1.40] per 1-point increase). Hemodialysis was associated with a reduced odds of microbiologic clearance (0.15 [0.05–0.43]) and with mortality (3.08 [1.27–7.50]).

Conclusions

The Pitt bacteremia score at the onset of C. auris BSI may be a useful tool in identifying patients at risk for mortality. Targeted infection prevention practices in patients receiving hemodialysis may be useful to limit poor outcomes.
Emerging Patterns of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa: 175 Cases From an Inflammatory Bowel Disease Network
Authors: Hodges Phoebe , Adeniyi Oluwafunmilayo , Devani Smita , Nwoko Chinenye , Owoseni Opeyemi , Boateng Kwadwo Gyebi Agyenim , Ocanit Anthony , Muhofa Abdallah , Dankiri Nasiru Altine , Duduyemi Babatunde , Alemayehu Zenahebezu Abay , Musa Yusuf , Micah Eileen , Kabagambe Pissi , Shewaye Abate Bane , Thomas Preetha , Wanjara Samuel , Epstein David , Watermeyer Gillian , Fathi Hani , Alatise Olusegun , Mbelle Mzamo , Kelly Paul , Croft Nicholas M
Published: August 2024

There is a knowledge gap on the epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease in Africa. To begin to address this issue, we formed a case reporting network of practitioners with an interest in inflammatory bowel disease across sub-Saharan Africa. Here, we report a series of 175 cases from 12 countries over 2 years.
Severe familial dilated cardiomyopathy in a young adult due to a rare LMNA mutation: a case report
Authors: Belcher Adam M , Annie Frank H , Rinehart Sarah , Elashery Ahmad , Amer Muhammad
Published: August 2024

Background

Familial dilated cardiomyopathy prognosis and disease progression vary greatly depending upon the type of genetic mutation. Family history and genetic testing are paramount in developing the best treatment plan for a patient. However, with rare or novel mutations, the significance may be unknown. Regarding this, the following case report highlights the importance of vigilance and suspicion when treating a patient with a variant of unknown significance. Additionally, it shows the importance of thoroughly investigating the family history of cardiovascular disease.

Case summary

A 25-year-old Caucasian male was found to have a right bundle branch block and dilated cardiomyopathy upon presentation to the emergency department. Later testing showed that the dilated cardiomyopathy was due to an incredibly rare lamin A/C (LMNA) gene mutation, R349L. Despite treatment with a maximum-tolerable medication regimen and an automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, the patient continued to decline and required a heart transplant.

Discussion

This case provides more information on the severity of this specific LMNA mutation that has only been documented once before. Of note, the time from the initial emergency department visit to the heart transplant was approximately 2 years. Given the patient’s young age and rapid disease progression, in addition to a strong family history of sudden cardiac death, the significance of this mutation should not be understated. The additional knowledge gained from this case report can be used to aid in timely interventions and prognosis evaluation.
Plasma 21-deoxycortisone: a sensitive additive tool in 21-hydroxylase deficiency in newborns
Authors: Fiet Jean , Bachelot Guillaume , Sow Coumba , Farabos Dominique , Helin Nicolas , Eguether Thibaut , Dufourg Marie-Noelle , Bellanne-Chantelot Christine , Ribaut Bettina , Bachelot Anne , Young Jacques , Houang Muriel , Lamazière Antonin
Published: August 2024

Objective, Design, and Methods

Although 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) has historically been the steroid assayed in the diagnosis of congenital adrenal 21-hydroxylase deficiency (CAH-21D), its C11-hydroxylated metabolite, 21-deoxycortisol (21DF), which is strictly of adrenal origin, is assayed in parallel in this pathology. This steroid (21DF) is oxidized by 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 into 21-deoxycortisone (21DE). In the context of CAH-21D confirmation testing, confounding factors (such as intensive care unit admission, stress, prematurity, early sampling, and variations of sex development) can interfere with the interpretation of the gold-standard biomarkers (17OHP and 21DF). Since its tissue concentrations are especially high in the placenta, we hypothesized that 21DE quantification in the neonatal periods could be an interesting biomarker in addition to 17OHP and 21DF. To verify this hypothesis, we developed a new mass spectrometry-based assay for 21DE in serum and applied it to newborns screened for CAH-21D.

Results

In newborns with CAH-21D, the mean serum levels of 21DE reached 17.56 ng/mL (ranging from 8.58 ng/mL to 23.20 ng/mL), and the mean 21DE:21DF ratio was 4.99. In contrast, in newborns without CAH-21D, the 21DE serum levels were low and not statistically different from the analytical 21DE limit of quantification (0.01 ng/mL).

Conclusion

Basal serum 21DE appears to be a novel sensitive and specific biomarker of CAH-21D in newborns.
Preluding on the harp in the late 18th and early 19th centuries
Authors: Marville Jovanka
Published: August 2024

The practice of improvised or apparently improvised preludes has been widely documented over the centuries. Harpists of the late 18th and early 19th centuries were widely expected to introduce pieces of music with improvised preludes. This article shows how harpists drew techniques from thoroughbass treatises and keyboard repertory. Harpists also created their own idiosyncratic features for preludes, using the idiomatic characteristics of their instrument (refined arpeggios, hand-crossings, harmonic sounds) while using the harp’s pedals to expand the harmonic and chromatic palette of the repertory. The article also shows how formulaic figuration and harmonic patterns were used as building blocks for improvised and composed preludes, and as elements in the education of harpists.
Application repetition and electrode–tissue contact result in deeper lesions using a pulsed-field ablation circular variable loop catheter
Authors: Di Biase Luigi , Marazzato Jacopo , Gomez Tara , Byun Eric , Zou Fengwei , Grupposo Vito , Mohanty Sanghamitra , La Fazia Vincenzo Mirco , Ammirati Giuseppe , Lin Aung , Garcia Domingo Ynoa , Della Rocca Domenico , Al Ahamad Amin , Schiavone Marco , Gasperetti Alessio , Freilich Michael , Serna Juan Cedeno , Forleo Giovanni , Liu Xu , Lakkireddy Dhanunjaya , Tondo Claudio , Natale Andrea , Zhang Xiao-Dong
Published: August 2024

Aims

Pulsed-field ablation (PFA) is a novel, myocardial-selective, non-thermal ablation modality used to target cardiac arrhythmias. Although prompt electrogram (EGM) signal disappearance is observed immediately after PFA application in the pulmonary veins, whether this finding results in adequate transmural lesions is unknown. The aim of this study is to check whether application repetition and catheter–tissue contact impact lesion formation during PFA.

Methods and results

A circular loop PFA catheter was used to deliver repeated energy applications with various levels of contact force. A benchtop vegetal potato model and a beating heart ventricular myocardial model were utilized to evaluate the impact of application repetition, contact force, and catheter repositioning on contiguity and lesion depth. Lesion development occurred over 18 h in the vegetal model and over 6 h in the porcine model. Lesion formation was found to be dependent on application repetition and contact. In porcine ventricles, single and multiple stacked applications led to a lesion depth of 3.5 ± 0.7 and 4.4 ± 1.3 mm, respectively (P = 0.002). Furthermore, the greater the catheter–tissue contact, the more contiguous and deeper the lesions in the vegetal model (1.0 ± 0.9 mm with no contact vs. 5.4 ± 1.4 mm with 30 g of force; P = 0.0001).

Conclusion

Pulsed-field ablation delivered via a circular catheter showed that both repetition and catheter contact led independently to deeper lesion formation. These findings indicate that endpoints for effective PFA are related more to PFA biophysics than to mere EGM attenuation.