bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A rare case of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Kathmandu presenting with features of bacterial skin infection: A case report
Authors: Regmi Anil , Adhikari Biplov , Karki Pragya , Baral Suwash , Adhikari Irusha Rani
Published: March 2023

Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease caused by different species of genus Leishmania and transmitted by sandflies. Lesions of CL are most commonly present in the exposed areas, and the most familiar morphological type is papulo‐nodular. The diagnosis of CL should be considered while dealing with common skin lesions, as well as encountering uncommon pathologies. We present a case of a 26‐year‐old man living in Kathmandu originally from Humla whose clinical course was complicated by unsuccessful treatment with suspicion of bacterial skin infection. The patient first presented with an erythematous papule with some scale and crust with central ulceration over the left side of his upper lip and mild fever. With the suspicion of bacterial infection, he was initially treated with antibiotics, which showed no improvement prompting the referral to a tertiary center with further diagnostic workup. Punch biopsy confirmed the presence of amastigote form of leishmaniasis Donovan bodies. Also, the rk39 antibody test was positive. Clinicians need to pay more effort to the diagnosis of CL and include it in the differential diagnoses of patients presenting with typical lesions even if the region is not known to be endemic for CL or in the patient with no known history of insect bite.
Geographic isolation and environmental heterogeneity contribute to genetic differentiation in Cephalotaxus oliveri
Authors: Liu Hanjing , Wang Zhen , Zhang Yuli , Li Minghui , Wang Ting , Su Yingjuan
Published: March 2023

Evaluating the contributions of geographic distance and environmental heterogeneity to the genetic divergence can inform the demographic history and responses to environmental change of natural populations. The isolation‐by‐distance (IBD) reveals that genetic differentiation among populations increases with geographic distance, while the isolation‐by‐environment (IBE) assumes a linear relationship between genetic variation and environmental differences among populations. Here, we sampled and genotyped 330 individuals from 18 natural populations of Cephalotaxus oliveri throughout the species' distribution. Twenty‐eight EST‐SSR markers were applied to analyze population genetics, for the investigation of the driving factors that shaped spatial structure. In addition, we identified the outlier loci under positive selection and tested their association with environmental factors. The results showed a moderate genetic diversity in C. oliveri and high genetic differentiation among populations. Population structure analyses indicated that 18 populations were clustered into two major groups. We observed that the genetic diversity of central populations decreased and the genetic differentiation increased towards the marginal populations. Additionally, the signatures of IBD and IBE were detected in C. oliveri, and IBE provided a better contribution to genetic differentiation. Six outlier loci under positive selection were demonstrated to be closely correlated with environmental variables, among which bio8 was associated with the greatest number of loci. Genetic evidence suggests the consistency of the central‐marginal hypothesis (CMH) for C. oliveri. Furthermore, our results suggest that temperature‐related variables played an important role in shaping genetic differentiation.
Tree functional composition, functional diversity, and aboveground biomass show dissimilar trajectories in a tropical secondary forest restored through assisted natural regeneration
Authors: Ssekuubwa Enock , van Goor Wouter , Snoep Martijn , Riemer Kars , Wanyama Fredrick , Waiswa Daniel , Yikii Fred , Tweheyo Mnason
Published: March 2023

The growing trend of agricultural abandonment requires an understanding of the development of secondary forests on old fields in the context of restoration. However, few studies examine the regeneration trajectories of functional composition and functional diversity in afrotropical secondary forests. We tested how functional composition, diversity, and aboveground biomass (AGB) change with age and determined restoration success for a secondary forest restored through assisted natural regeneration in Uganda. We assessed the influence of distance to forests on regeneration. We sampled trees in 63 plots (2000 m2 each) in the secondary forest (16–22‐year old) and five plots in an old‐growth forest in 2011, 2014 and 2017. We computed functional composition (community‐weighted means—CWM) and diversity using categorical (habitat type, dispersal mode, fruit size, and successional group) and continuous traits (wood density and maximum height) of the species and calculated AGB. The secondary forest showed dissimilar trajectories of functional composition, diversity, and AGB. After 16–22 years, the secondary forest had not yet reached equivalent values of most attributes of functional composition, diversity and AGB in the old‐growth forest. The distance to forests had a negative effect on CWM of forest‐dependent species, nonpioneer light demanders, and functional divergence and a positive effect on CWM of pioneer species. We show that assisted natural regeneration can enhance the functional composition, functional diversity, and AGB of degraded forests and that continued monitoring is needed to attain full recovery. In planning passive restoration, sites closer to existing forests should be prioritized in order to achieve faster recovery.
SER: An R package to characterize environmental regimes
Authors: Wu Naicheng , Guo Kun , Zou Yi , He Fengzhi , Riis Tenna
Published: March 2023

Environmental regimes (or environmental legacy or historical legacy) are the dynamics of environmental characteristics over a given (either long or short) time period, such as frequency of mean or extreme events and rate of change, which might be absent by using only contemporary variables. We present SER, an R package for estimating environmental regimes for different environmental variables. Using the data included in the package, several examples are shown. SER is suitable for any type of environmental or biotic variables, including nutrient concentration, light, and dissolved oxygen. In addition, by changing the argument “days_bf,” it is possible to compute environmental regimes over any time period, such as days, months, or years. Our case study showed that the inclusion of environmental regimes increased the explained variation of temporal β‐diversity and its components. Environmental regimes are expected to advance the “environment–community” relationships in ecological studies. They can further be implemented in other subjects such as social science, socioeconomics, and epidemiology.
A re‐examination of the circumscription of Saxifraga mengtzeana (Saxifragaceae)
Authors: Zhang Xin‐Jian , Gornall Richard J. , Zhang Zhuo‐Xin , Chen Jun‐Tong , Sun Hang , Deng Tao
Published: March 2023

In the Flora of China account of Saxifraga mengtzeana Engl. & Irmsch., eight synonyms were attributed to it and one variant, recognized as Saxifraga epiphylla Gornall & Ohba, was split from it. This study reevaluates the taxonomic status of some of the synonyms and of the segregated species in light of new evidence presented here. Morphological and molecular evidence demonstrate that collections from northwestern Yunnan and Sichuan are genetically differentiated from those in southeastern Yunnan and neighboring Guangxi. Observations in the field and in cultivation show that the peltate petiole attachment diagnostic of S. mengtzeana var. peltifolia Engl. & Irmsch. is developmentally labile. Similar observations combined with molecular data show that viviparous phenotypes, formerly treated as S. epiphylla, although largely under genetic control, occur sporadically throughout the ranges of both northern and southern taxa. Collections from northwestern Yunnan and Sichuan are best recognized as Saxifraga geifolia Balf.f., whereas those from southeastern Yunnan and neighboring Guangxi are S. mengtzeana. Peltate‐leaved variants of the latter are given no status and are relegated to complete synonymy. Viviparous phenotypes of S. mengtzeana and S. geifolia are recognized at the rank of forma.
Encapsulation and retention profile of thymol in the preformed “empty” V‐type starch inclusion complex
Authors: Zhou Jingyi , Kong Lingyan
Published: March 2023

Starch, especially its amylose component can form inclusion complex (IC) with various small molecules, such as flavor and aroma compounds. Complexation of flavor compounds using starch matrices is driven by the hydrophobic interaction and the successful complexation may increase the retention of flavor compounds. In the present study, thymol (2‐isopropyl‐5‐methylphenol) at two different concentrations was introduced into three types of V‐type crystalline starches that have different inner helical cavity size, namely V6h, V7, and V8, and the formed ICs were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The encapsulation efficiency (EE), loading efficiency (LE), and retention profile were determined by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). The results indicated that when preparing ICs using V6h high amylose maize starch (HAMS) at a starch/thymol mass ratio of 2:1, the helical cavity of V6h helices was expanded and resulted in the formation of V7 crystals. Such circumstance could be owing to the cyclic structure of thymol and caused the minor phase transition at T2 of around 110°C observed in DSC. While in other conditions, the complexation with thymol did not alter the structure of starch. The EE and LE results suggested that V6h‐type HAMS exhibits higher capability to encapsulate thymol compared to V7 and V8 HAMS. All ICs demonstrated potent flavor retention ability and retained more than 70% of thymol after 8 h treatment. This study suggested that preformed “empty” V‐type starch could act as a potential matrix to encapsulate thymol, and this encapsulation technology should enable targeted applications of thymol for food processing and formulation applications.
Digital holographic technique based breast cancer detection using transfer learning method
Authors: Thomas Leena , Sheeja M. K.
Published: March 2023

The digital holographic technique is an interferometric method that provides comprehensive information on morphological traits such as cell layer thickness and shape as well as access to biophysical attributes of cells like refractive index, dry mass, and volume. This method helps characterize sample structures in three dimensions both statically and dynamically, even for transparent objects like living biological cells. This research work captures the digital holograms of breast tissues and analyzes the malignancy of the tissue using a deep learning technique. It enables dynamic measurement of the sample under investigation. Different transfer learning models such as Inception, DenseNet, SqueezeNet, VGG, and ResNet are incorporated in this work. The parameters accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and F1 score of different models are compared and found that the ResNet model outperforms better compared to other models.
Comparative analysis of denoising techniques in burn depth discrimination from burn hyperspectral images
Authors: Calin Mihaela Antonina , Piticescu Radu Robert , Parasca Sorin Viorel
Published: March 2023

This study analyzes and compares the performance of five denoising techniques (Lee filter, gamma filter, principal component analysis, maximum noise fraction, and wavelet transform) in order to identify the most appropriate one that lead to the most accurate classification of burned tissue in hyperspectral images. Fifteen hyperspectral images of burned patients were acquired and denoising techniques were applied to each image. Spectral angle mapper classifier was used for data classification and the confusion matrix was used for quantitative evaluation of the performances of the denoising methods. The results revealed that gamma filter performed better than other denoising techniques with values of overall accuracy and kappa coefficient of 91.18% and 0.8958 respectively. The lowest performance was detected for principal component analysis. In conclusion, the gamma filter could be considered an optimal choice for noise reduction in burn hyperspectral images and could be used for a more accurate diagnosis of burn depth.
Point‐of‐care optical devices in clinical imaging and screening: A review on the state of the art
Authors: Raj Reshmi , Firoz Khan Mohammad , Shariq Mohd , Ahsan Nuzhat , Singh Rinky , Kumar Basoya Pramod
Published: March 2023

Integration of optical technologies in biomedical sciences permitted light manipulation at smaller time‐length scales for specific detection and imaging of biological entities. Similarly, advances in consumer electronics and wireless telecommunications strengthened the development of affordable and portable point‐of‐care (POC) optical devices, circumventing the necessity of conventional clinical analyses by trained personnel. However, many of the POC optical technologies translated from bench to bedside require industrial support for their commercialization and dissemination to the population. This review aims to demonstrate the intriguing progress and challenges of emerging POC devices utilizing optics for clinical imaging (depth‐resolved and perfusion imaging) and screening (infections, cancer, cardiac health, and haematologic disorders) with a focus on research studies over the previous 3 years. Special attention is given to POC optical devices that can be utilized in resource‐constrained environments.
BimetallicCoCeO2oxide nanoparticles: An efficient and reusable heterogeneous catalyst for the preparation of2‐amino‐3‐cyano‐4H‐pyran derivatives
Authors: Shaikh S. A. , Kamble V. S. , Gupta R. H. , Awale A. G. , Salunkhe S. T. , Aghav B. D.
Published: March 2023

CoCeO2NPs were successfully synthesized and confirmed using x‐ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) techniques. The catalytic performance of the synthesized CoCeO2NPs catalyst was examined during the one‐pot multicomponent synthesis of biologically significant 2‐amino‐3‐cyano‐4H‐pyran derivatives. The reaction was easily accomplished using a one‐pot, three‐component reaction of dimedone, aryl aldehydes, and malononitrile in ethanol under reflux, with excellent yields and a short reaction time. The current catalytic system is more appealing because of its simple reaction conditions, uncomplicated product isolation, economic feasibility, and reusability of the catalyst free from significant loss of activity. This process offers an effective strategy for the synthesis of 2‐amino‐3‐cyano‐4H‐pyran derivatives.
Stream respiration exceeds CO2 evasion in a low‐energy, oligotrophic tropical stream
Authors: Solano Vanessa , Duvert Clément , Birkel Christian , Maher Damien T. , García Erica A. , Hutley Lindsay B.
Published: March 2023

Carbon dioxide (CO2) can be either imported to streams through groundwater and subsurface inputs of soil‐respired CO2 or produced internally through stream metabolism. The contribution of each source to the CO2 evasion flux from streams is not well quantified, especially in the tropics, an underrepresented region in carbon (C) cycling studies. We used high‐frequency measurements of dissolved O2 and CO2 concentrations to estimate the potential contribution of stream metabolism to the CO2 evasion flux in a tropical lowland headwater stream. We found that the stream was heterotrophic all year round, with net ecosystem productivity (NEP) values ranging from 0.84 to 4.06 g C m−2 d−1 (median 1.29 g C m−2 d−1; here we expressed gross primary productivity (GPP) as a negative flux and ecosystem respiration (ER) as a positive flux). Positive NEP values were the result of a relatively low and stable GPP through the seasons, compared to a higher and more variable ER favored by the high temperatures and organic matter availability, particularly during the wet season. The CO2 evasion flux was relatively low due to low turbulence (median: 1.09 g C m−2 d−1). As a result, daily NEP rates exceeded the CO2 evasion flux with a potential contribution of 129% (median; 120–175% interquartile range), despite the strong seasonal changes in flow regime and landscape connectivity. The CO2 excess was likely transported downstream, where it was ultimately emitted to the atmosphere. Our results highlight the overwhelming importance of ER to the C cycle of low‐energy, oligotrophic tropical streams.
Unraveling seasonal and interannual nutrient variability shows exceptionally high human impact in eutrophic coastal waters
Authors: Jiang Long , Lu Xinyu , Wang Guifen , Peng Mo , Wei Aihong , Zhao Yonggang , Soetaert Karline
Published: March 2023

Nutrient import into eutrophic estuarine‐coastal zones is modulated by river discharge and anthropogenic activities (agriculture, industry, sewage, etc.). Comparing anthropogenic vs. hydrological influences on nutrient loading is important for ecosystem managers but has been a long‐standing challenge. As an attempt to fill this gap, a retrospective study was conducted using multiyear (2012–2022) data in one of the most eutrophic coastal seas in China, the Jiangsu coastal waters. Of the two main pollutants on the Jiangsu coast, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) is extremely overloaded relative to phosphate (PO4). Their spatial distribution shows clear terrestrial sources as concentrations decrease offshore. Although in each survey DIN and PO4 are enriched in low‐salinity waters, their spatially averaged concentrations are out of phase with river discharge on the seasonal and interannual scales. A box model was applied to decompose contributions of river discharge and nutrient import by anthropogenic activities. Results show that the human impacts on the interannual nutrient variability exceed those of hydrological factors on the Jiangsu coast. Anthropogenic nutrient loading decreases during 2012–2020, paralleled with the reduced fertilizer use and other nonpoint sources. Sporadic nutrient fluxes from point sources are likely responsible for the aseasonal nutrient‐rich patches. Our study demonstrates that water quality in the Jiangsu coastal waters is highly affected by anthropogenic activities. Findings in this study have broad implications for local monitoring strategies and restoration efforts and provide insight into assessing human stress from field data in global eutrophic ecosystems.
Early vs delayed enteral nutrition or parenteral nutrition in hospitalized patients: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta‐analyses of randomized trials
Authors: Talebi Sepide , Zeraattalab‐Motlagh Sheida , Vajdi Mahdi , Nielsen Sabrina Mai , Talebi Ali , Ghavami Abed , Moradi Sajjad , Sadeghi Erfan , Ranjbar Mahsa , Habibi Sajedeh , Sadeghi Sara , Mohammadi Hamed
Published: March 2023

We conducted an umbrella review to summarize the existing evidence on the effect of early enteral nutrition (EEN) compared with other approaches, including delayed enteral nutrition (DEN), parenteral nutrition (PN), and oral feeding (OF) on clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients. We performed a systematic search up to December 2021, in MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, and Institute for Scientific Information Web of Science. We included systematic reviews with meta‐analyses (SRMAs) of randomized trials investigating EEN compared with DEN, PN, or OF for any clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients. We used “A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews” (AMSTAR2) and the Cochrane risk‐of‐bias tool for assessing the methodological quality of the systematic reviews and their included trial, respectively. The certainty of the evidence was rated using the “Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation” (GRADE) approach. We included 45 eligible SRMAs contributing with a total of 103 randomized controlled trials. The overall meta‐analyses showed that patients who received EEN had statistically significant beneficial effects on most outcomes compared with any control (ie, DEN, PN, or OF), including mortality, sepsis, overall complications, infection complications, multiorgan failure, anastomotic leakage, length of hospital stay, time to flatus, and serum albumin levels. No statistically significant beneficial effects were found for risk of pneumonia, noninfectious complications, vomiting, wound infection, as well as number of days of ventilation, intensive care unit days, serum protein, and pre–serum albumin levels. Our results indicate that EEN may be preferred over DEN, PN, and OF because of the beneficial effects on many clinical outcomes.
Recovery Benefit With Total Intravenous Anesthesia in Patients Receiving Rhinoplasty
Authors: Sagalow Emily S. , Estephan Leonard E. , Kumar Ayan T. , Hwang Michelle , Krein Howard , Heffelfinger Ryan
Published: March 2023

Objective

The aim was to evaluate the difference in recovery when comparing total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) to inhalational gas anesthesia in patients receiving rhinoplasty.

Study Design

Retrospective review.

Setting

Postoperative anesthesia care unit (PACU).

Methods

Patients who received a functional or cosmetic rhinoplasty at a single academic institution between April 2017 and November 2020 were included. Inhalational gas anesthesia was in the form of sevoflurane. Phase I recovery time, which was defined as the time it took a patient to reach ≥9/10 on the Aldrete scoring system was recorded, as well as the usage of pain medication in the PACU. The postoperative course and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) were also collected.

Results

Two hundred and two patients were identified with 149 (73.76%) who received TIVA and 53 (26.24%) who received sevoflurane. For the patients who received TIVA, the average recovery time was 101.44 minutes (standard deviation [SD]: 34.64) compared to an average recovery time of 121.09 minutes (SD: 50.19) for patients who received sevoflurane leading to a difference of 19.65 minutes (p = 0.002). Patients who received TIVA experienced less PONV (p = 0.001). There were no differences in the postoperative course including surgical or anesthesia complications, postoperative complications, hospital or Emergency Department admissions, or administration of pain medication (p > 0.05 for all).

Conclusion

When utilizing TIVA over inhalational anesthesia, patients undergoing rhinoplasty had significantly increased benefits in terms of reduced phase I recovery times and decreased incidence of PONV. TIVA was demonstrated to be a safe and efficacious method of anesthesia for this patient population.
Hydroxyurea for children with sickle cell disease in sub‐Saharan Africa: A summary of the evidence, opportunities, and challenges
Authors: Dexter Daniel , McGann Patrick T.
Published: March 2023

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a common and life‐threatening inherited blood disorder that affects more than 300,000 newborns per year. Because of the origins of the sickle gene mutation as a protective mechanism against malaria for those with sickle cell trait, more than 90% of annual SCD births are in sub‐Saharan Africa (sSA). Over the past several decades, there have been many important advances in the care of individuals with SCD, including early diagnosis through newborn screening programs (NBS), prophylactic penicillin, the development of vaccines to prevent invasive bacterial infections, and the emergence of hydroxyurea as the primary disease‐modifying pharmacologic therapy. These relatively simple and inexpensive interventions have significantly reduced the morbidity and mortality of sickle cell anemia (SCA) such that individuals with SCD can live longer and more complete lives. Unfortunately, although these interventions are relatively inexpensive and evidence‐based, they are only readily available for affected individuals living in high‐income settings, representing <5% of the global SCD population. In sSA, where >90% of the global SCD burden exists, SCD still results in early mortality with 50–90% of infants likely dying before reaching 5 years of age. Recently, there are an increasing number of efforts in many African countries to prioritize SCA with pilot NBS programs, improved diagnostics, and expanded SCD education for health care professionals and the general public. It is essential to include access to hydroxyurea as a core component of any SCD care program, but there are still many barriers that prevent the widespread global use of hydroxyurea. Here, we summarize what we know about SCD and hydroxyurea use in Africa and discuss a strategy to respond to what we consider to be a public health imperative to maximize access to and appropriate use of hydroxyurea for all individuals with SCD using innovative dosing and monitoring strategies.
A transformer architecture for retention time prediction in liquid chromatography mass spectrometry‐based proteomics
Authors: Pham Thang V. , Nguyen Vinh V. , Vu Duong , Henneman Alex A. , Richardson Robin A. , Piersma Sander R. , Jimenez Connie R.
Published: March 2023

Accurate retention time (RT) prediction is important for spectral library‐based analysis in data‐independent acquisition mass spectrometry‐based proteomics. The deep learning approach has demonstrated superior performance over traditional machine learning methods for this purpose. The transformer architecture is a recent development in deep learning that delivers state‐of‐the‐art performance in many fields such as natural language processing, computer vision, and biology. We assess the performance of the transformer architecture for RT prediction using datasets from five deep learning models Prosit, DeepDIA, AutoRT, DeepPhospho, and AlphaPeptDeep. The experimental results on holdout datasets and independent datasets exhibit state‐of‐the‐art performance of the transformer architecture. The software and evaluation datasets are publicly available for future development in the field.
Allosteric inhibition of TEM‐1 β lactamase: Microsecond molecular dynamics simulations provide mechanistic insights
Authors: Hellemann Erich , Nallathambi Amrita , Durrant Jacob D.
Published: March 2023

β‐lactam antibiotics target DD‐transpeptidases, enzymes that perform the last step of bacterial cell‐wall synthesis. To block the antimicrobial activity of these antibiotics, bacteria have evolved lactamases that render them inert. Among these, TEM‐1, a class A lactamase, has been extensively studied. In 2004, Horn et al. described a novel allosteric TEM‐1 inhibitor, FTA, that binds distant from the TEM‐1 orthosteric (penicillin‐binding) pocket. TEM‐1 has subsequently become a model for the study of allostery. In the present work, we perform molecular dynamics simulations of FTA‐bound and FTA‐absent TEM‐1, totaling ~3 μS, that provide new insight into TEM‐1 inhibition. In one of the simulations, bound FTA assumed a conformation different than that observed crystallographically. We provide evidence that the alternate pose is physiologically plausible and describe how it impacts our understanding of TEM‐1 allostery.
QSAR via multisite λ‐dynamics in the orphaned TSSK1B kinase
Authors: Liu Xiaorong , Tsang Pui Ki , Soellner Matthew B. , Brooks Charles L.
Published: March 2023

Multisite λ‐dynamics (MSλD) is a novel method for the calculation of relative free energies of binding for ligands to their targeted receptors. It can be readily used to examine a large number of molecules with multiple functional groups at multiple sites around a common core. This makes MSλD a powerful tool in structure‐based drug design. In the present study, MSλD is applied to calculate the relative binding free energies of 1296 inhibitors to the testis specific serine kinase 1B (TSSK1B), a validated target for male contraception. For this system, MSλD requires significantly fewer computational resources compared to traditional free energy methods like free energy perturbation or thermodynamic integration. From MSλD simulations, we examined whether modifications of a ligand at two different sites are coupled or not. Based on our calculations, we established a quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) for this set of molecules and identified a site in the ligand where further modification, such as adding more polar groups, may lead to increased binding affinity.
Locational preferences of high‐level overseas talent returning to China: Evidence from microdata analysis
Authors: Liu Ye , Huang Cuiying , Zhang Fangfang , Ma Haitao
Published: March 2023

While Chinese national and local governments have made every effort to attract high‐level overseas talent, limited scholarly attention has been paid to their decision of where to stay in China. Using resume data of 3372 individuals involved in the “Thousand Talent Program”, this study makes the first attempt to identify both regional and personal factors that affect locational choices of overseas talent in China. Descriptive results show that returned talent are unevenly distributed and are mostly concentrated in a few coastal provinces. Results from conditional logit models show that both academic career prospects and (natural and man‐made) amenities play an important role in shaping overseas talent's choices of where to work, but regional prosperity exerts no effect. Alumni social networks, scientific collaboration networks, and educational trajectories are found to greatly influence their locational choices. Results from mixed models suggest that the effect of these provincial factors may vary by age, time spent abroad, the type of talent, the location of undergraduate study, and the country of stay before return. This study enhances our knowledge of the international return migration of the highly skilled by focusing on state‐led academic migration and by challenging the conventional wisdom that high‐level global talent are rootless and cosmopolitan elites with similar locational preferences.
Moving to ‘Bei–Shang–Guang’? Internal migration, local hukou barriers and labour market outcomes among college graduates in China
Authors: Zhao Mengyao
Published: March 2023

Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, as the major metropolitan areas in China, offer good opportunities for economic and social mobility for in‐migrants. As such, these four locations have become the primary employment destinations for recent college graduates. Meanwhile, these cities have the most stringent hukou policies nationwide, which play a key role in the urban labour market segmentation between local residents and in‐migrants. Using three waves of data from a nationally representative survey, the China College Student Survey (2010, 2013, and 2015), this paper, for the first time, examined whether Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen have emerged as an ‘upward social class escalator region’ for young adults in China. After accounting for observed demographic and human capital characteristics and migrant selectivity, migrating into Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen has been found to be positively associated with earnings attainment, and the economic benefit from relocation is greater than that experienced by migrants elsewhere in the system. However, in‐migrants to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen have fewer opportunities to enter government organisations and public enterprises. These results cast doubt on the potential for Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen to act as escalators for individuals wishing to achieve all‐around upwards social mobility in China's urban labour market. The local hukou barrier may still be a salient factor in shaping migrants' labour market outcomes in China. This study contributes to existing knowledge on escalator theory by providing empirical evidence from an emerging market country, China. More importantly, it shed light on the role of location (such as large urban centres) in the complicated relationship between social mobility and migration.
Optimizing human reliability in work shifts scheduling: A real case of clothing job shop
Authors: Akbari Arekamari Mohammad , Ghasemi Namaghi Mohammad
Published: March 2023

In this research, we provide a mathematical model with an objective function of minimizing human errors for the problem of shift scheduling optimization. The unique aspects which are considered in our model are learning, forgetting, fatigue, and rest parameters (which affect the human reliability). Various problems with different human parameters, based on real cases of clothing job shops, are solved to study the efficiency and effectiveness of the optimization model. Two improved bacterial foraging algorithms are presented to handle the complexity of our problem. To examine the capability of the presented swarm intelligence algorithms in obtaining global optimum problem, we compare the results of the algorithms against the solution of basic bacterial foraging algorithm in terms of solutions quality. Results indicate that the solution approaches are more efficient in searching solution space and convergence. Analysis of different shift scheduling shows that in moderate fatigue condition, the scenario of scheduling with continuous work hours is better in terms of productivity. Also, experiments demonstrate that optimum reliable shift schedules are related to human factors. The findings of our research indicate that the presented scheduling model and improved algorithms can provide optimum shift schedules regarding human factors.
Uncertainty analysis of wind speed of wind turbine
Authors: Su Cunyou , Wu Jianxin , Jiang Guangjun , Zhang Nan , Song Xiaowen
Published: March 2023

The uncertainty of wind speed has a great impact on the reliability of wind turbines. However, previous studies usually used average wind speed or rated wind speed as inputs, ignoring the impact of time and space distribution on wind speed. Based on the hourly ground observation data of meteorological stations, four observation stations are taken as the research object of the uncertainty of wind speed spatial distribution. The four observation stations are divided into single day and one week, and seven data analysis indicators and normal distribution models are used day and night to analyze the uncertainty of wind speed time distribution. The results show that both spatial distribution and temporal distribution are important factors that cause the uncertainty of wind speed. Due to different geographical locations of four stations, their wind speed time domain diagrams are different, and the maximum wind speed, fluctuation frequency and fluctuation amplitude of wind speed at each observation station are different; The wind speed distribution of a single day is quite different from that of a week. The data of a single day and a week are analyzed by day and night, which is quite different from the overall data analysis. The necessity of wind speed uncertainty research of wind turbine considering the temporal and spatial distribution is verified, and it is concluded that normal distribution is not suitable for fitting the distribution model of four stations under study, which lays a foundation for determining the wind speed distribution model, analyzing the power characteristics of wind turbine, evaluating the generation capacity of wind turbine, and analyzing the reliability of wind turbine.
Development of a classification system for equine postoperative complications and its application in a cohort of 190 horses undergoing emergency laparotomy
Authors: Gandini Marco , Giusto Gessica
Published: March 2023

Background

Accurate reporting of postoperative complications is paramount to understanding procedural outcomes, comparing procedures and assuring quality improvement. Standardising definitions of complications in equine surgeries will improve the evidence of their outcomes. To this end, we proposed a classification for postoperative complications and applied it to a cohort of 190 horses undergoing emergency laparotomy.

Methods

A classification system for postoperative complications in equine surgery was developed. Medical records of horses that underwent equine emergency laparotomy and recovered from anaesthesia were analysed. Reported complications pre‐discharge were classified as per the new classification system, and the cost and days of hospitalisation were correlated with the equine postoperative complication score (EPOCS).

Results

Of the 190 horses that underwent emergency laparotomy, 14 (7.4%) did not survive to discharge (class 6 complications), and 47 (24.7%) did not develop complications. The remaining horses were classified as follows: 43 (22.6%) had class 1 complications, 30 (15.8%) had class 2, 42 (22%) had class 3, 11 (5.8%) had class 4; and three (1.5%) had class 5. The proposed classification system and EPOCS correlated with the cost and length of hospitalisation.

Limitations

This was a single‐centre study and the definition of scores was arbitrary.

Conclusions

Reporting and grading all complications will help surgeons better understand the patients’ postoperative course, thereby reducing subjective interpretation.
Complications associated with cerebrospinal fluid collection in dogs
Authors: Fentem Rory , Nagendran Aran , Marioni‐Henry Katia , Madden Megan , Phillipps Stephanie , Cooper Camilla , Gonçalves Rita
Published: March 2023

Background

This study aimed to identify complications associated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection in dogs.

Methods

This was a prospective, observational multicentre study using data collected from 102 dogs undergoing CSF collection for the investigation of neurological disease. CSF was collected from the cerebellomedullary cistern (CMC), lumbar subarachnoid space (LSAS) or both sites. Pre‐, intra‐ and postprocedural data were collected. Descriptive statistics were performed to outline complications associated with CSF collection.

Results

CSF sampling was attempted on 108 occasions, and CSF was acquired on 100 occasions (92.6%). Collection from the CMC was more likely to be successful than that from the LSAS. No dogs exhibited neurologic deterioration following CSF collection. There was no significant difference between pre‐ and post‐CSF collection short‐form Glasgow composite measure pain scores in ambulatory dogs (p = 0.13).

Limitations

The scarcity of complications limited the ability to quantify the incidence of some potential complications reported elsewhere.

Conclusions

Our results may be used to inform clinicians and owners that CSF sampling is associated with a low frequency of complications when performed by trained personnel.
Surgical treatment of pseudoankylosis of the temporomandibular joint in a dog
Authors: Watkins Moira , Elmenhorst Kine , Weston Philippa , Pink Jonathan
Published: March 2023

Pseudoankylosis of the temporomandibular joint is infrequent in veterinary practice and mostly seen secondary to trauma. This case report describes the surgical treatment of a 1‐year old, male, entire lurcher that presented with progressive lateral deviation of the muzzle to the left and decreased vertical mandibular range of motion of 6‐month duration. There was no history of trauma, no pain on palpation and complete loss of temporomandibular joint movement, even under sedation. Computed tomography investigation showed a left‐sided temporomandibular pseudoankylosis with osseous fusion between the zygomatic arch and mandible. Surgical excision of the ankylosed bone was performed and achieved an initial 5 cm interincisal gap. The surgical site healed, with no complications reported. Re‐examination at 4 weeks revealed good vertical mandibular range of motion with interincisal gap of approximately 5 cm. At 9 months post‐operatively, the dog had maintained good vertical mandibular range of motion and was able to eat normally, pant and hold large toys.
Hyperkalaemia in a greyhound under general anaesthesia
Authors: Pye Elliot , Ward Rob
Published: March 2023

Cases of intraoperative hyperkalaemia in healthy greyhound dogs under general anaesthesia have previously been reported in veterinary literature. This case report describes the identification and treatment of hyperkalaemia in an otherwise healthy greyhound undergoing general anaesthesia for a fracture repair. The clinical signs were sudden bradycardia and loss of P waves on the electrocardiogram waveform. Treatment consisted of intravenous 10% calcium gluconate, rapid recovery from anaesthesia, intravenous glucose administration and continued serum potassium monitoring postoperatively. Potential aetiologies of the hyperkalaemia are discussed.
Property as Metaphor: Home and Belonging in Goran Vojnović’s Film Piran – Pirano (Slovenia, 2010)
Authors: Rutar Sabine
Published: March 2023

In this chapter, the author analyzes property in the filmPiran–Pirano(Slovenia, 2010), directed by Goran Vojnović. The film is set in the Istrian town of Piran (It. Pirano) in today’s Slovenia. Its property metaphors encapsulate the historical experience of individuals who lived through the war’s aftermath, through displacement and the rifts between those who “vanished,” those who stayed, those who moved in from elsewhere, and those who—eventually—returned. Real estate is at the metaphorical center stage: an apartment in the town’s center which passes from an Italian family to a Slovene-Bosnian one. Looking from there, the author addresses further metaphorical devices of property: a piano, the town of Piran, the languages spoken (Slovene, Bosnian, Italian), and family graves. Through its cinematic approach, the chapter illustrates biographical experiences of voids—and who (potentially) filled them—in Piran and the Istrian peninsula.
The Joy and Burden of Living: Roma Communities in the Western Borderlands of the Postwar Soviet Union
Authors: Bartash Volha
Published: March 2023

Focusing on the processes of post-war community reconstruction and healing, this chapter outlines the experiences of Roma who spent the early post-war years in the western borderlands of the Soviet Union. The author demonstrates that Roma in the Baltic States, western Belarus, and western Ukraine faced similar challenges and choices, for example “to keep on the move or settle,” “to stay in the Soviet Union or leave for Poland,” and so on. Likewise, they found themselves affected by the confrontation between the nationalist insurgencies and the Soviet counterinsurgency. Analysis of the post-war lifestyles and mobility patterns of Roma reveals that their decisions were, first of all, informed by family and community considerations, such as looking for lost family members, taking care of orphans, and providing for their families. Drawing on published memoirs and oral histories, the author discusses how the Roma communities devastated by the Nazi persecution sought to heal from their multiple losses and return to a normal community life.
Insurance-Based Disparities in Congenital Cardiac Operations in the Era of the Affordable Care Act
Authors: Williamson Catherine G. , Park Mina G. , Mooney Bailey , Mantha Aditya , Verma Arjun , Benharash Peyman
Published: March 2023

A body of literature has previously highlighted the impact of health insurance on observed disparities in congenital cardiac operations. With aims of improving access to healthcare for all patients, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded Medicaid coverage to nearly all eligible children in 2010. Therefore, the present population-based study aimed to examine the association of Medicaid coverage with clinical and financial outcomes in the era the ACA. Records for pediatric patients (≤ 18 years) who underwent congenital cardiac operations were abstracted from the 2010–2018 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Operations were stratified using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (STAT) Category. Multivariable regression models were developed to evaluate the association of insurance status on index mortality, 30-day readmissions, care fragmentation, and cumulative costs. Of an estimated 132,745 hospitalizations for congenital cardiac surgery from 2010 to 2018, 74,925 (56.4%) were insured by Medicaid. The proportion of Medicaid patients increased from 57.6 to 60.8% during the study period. On adjusted analysis, patients with Medicaid insurance were at an increased odds of mortality (1.35, 95%CI: 1.13–1.60) and 30-day unplanned readmission (1.12, 95%CI: 1.01–1.25), experienced longer lengths of stay (+ 6.5 days, 95%CI 3.7–9.3), and exhibited higher cumulative hospitalization costs (+ $21,600, 95%CI: $11,500–31,700). The total hospitalization cost-burden for patients with Medicaid and private insurance were $12.6 billion and $8.06 billion, respectively. Medicaid patients exhibited increased mortality, readmissions, care fragmentation, and costs compared to those with private insurance. Our results of outcome variation by insurance status indicate the necessity of policy changes to attempt to approach equality in surgical out comes for this high-risk cohort.

Graphical Abstract

Baseline characteristics, trends, and outcomes by insurance status over the ACA rollout period 2010–2018
Tonsil volume and outcome of radiofrequency uvulopalatoplasty with or without tonsillectomy in adults with sleep-disordered breathing
Authors: Tschopp Samuel , Azalmad Khalid , Tschopp Kurt
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Predictors for the outcome of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty with and without tonsillectomy (UPPP ± TE) in sleep-disordered breathing have not been fully established. This study investigates tonsil grade, volume, and preoperative examination in predicting radiofrequency UPP ± TE outcomes.

Methods

All patients undergoing radiofrequency UPP with tonsillectomy if tonsils were present between 2015 and 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients underwent a standardized clinical examination, including Brodsky palatine tonsil grade from 0 to 4. Preoperatively and 3 months after surgery, sleep apnea testing was performed using respiratory polygraphy. Questionnaires were administered assessing daytime sleepiness using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and snoring intensity on a visual analog scale. Tonsil volume was measured intraoperatively using water displacement.

Results

The baseline characteristics of 307 patients and the follow-up data of 228 patients were analyzed. Tonsil volume increased by 2.5 ml (95% CI 2.1–2.9 ml; P < 0.001) per tonsil grade. Higher tonsil volumes were measured in men, younger patients, and patients with higher body mass indices. The preoperative apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) and AHI reduction strongly correlated with tonsil volume and grade, whereas postoperative AHI did not. The responder rate increased from 14% to 83% from tonsil grade 0 to 4 (P < 0.01). ESS and snoring were significantly reduced after surgery (P < 0.01), but the reduction was not influenced by tonsil grade or volume. No other preoperative factor other than tonsil size could predict surgical outcomes.

Conclusions

Tonsil grade and intraoperatively measured volume correlate well and predict the reduction of AHI, while they are not predictive of ESS and snoring response after radiofrequency UPP ± TE.
Positive Wild Animal Welfare
Authors: Browning Heather , Veit Walter
Published: March 2023

With increasing attention given to wild animal welfare and ethics, it has become common to depict animals in the wild as existing in a state dominated by suffering. This assumption is now taken on board by many and frames much of the current discussion; but needs a more critical assessment, both theoretically and empirically. In this paper, we challenge the primary lines of evidence employed in support of wild animal suffering, to provide an alternative picture in which wild animals may often have lives that are far more positive than is commonly assumed. Nevertheless, while it is useful to have an alternative model to challenge unexamined assumptions, our real emphasis in this paper is the need for the development of effective methods for applying animal welfare science in the wild, including new means of data collection, the ability to determine the extent and scope of welfare challenges and opportunities, and their effects on welfare. Until such methods are developed, discussions of wild animal welfare cannot go beyond trading of intuitions, which as we show here can just as easily go in either direction.