bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preclinical validation of the advection diffusion flow estimation method using computational patient specific coronary tree phantoms
Authors: Bakker L. M. M. L. , Xiao N. , Lynch S. , van de Ven A. A. F. , UpdePac A. , Schaap M. , Buls N. , de Mey J. , van de Vosse F. N. , Taylor C. A.
Published: July 2023

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) does not allow the quantification of reduced blood flow due to coronary artery disease (CAD). In response, numerical methods based on the CCTA image have been developed to compute coronary blood flow and assess the impact of disease. However to compute blood flow in the coronary arteries, numerical methods require specification of boundary conditions that are difficult to estimate accurately in a patient‐specific manner. We describe herein a new noninvasive flow estimation method, called Advection Diffusion Flow Estimation (ADFE), to compute coronary artery flow from CCTA to use as boundary conditions for numerical models of coronary blood flow. ADFE uses image contrast variation along the tree‐like structure to estimate flow in each vessel. For validating this method we used patient specific software phantoms on which the transport of contrast was simulated. This controlled validation setting enables a direct comparison between estimated flow and actual flow and a detailed investigation of factors affecting accuracy. A total of 10 CCTA image data sets were processed to extract all necessary information for simulating contrast transport. A spectral element method solver was used for computing the ground truth simulations with high accuracy. On this data set, the ADFE method showed a high correlation coefficient of between estimated flow and the ground truth flow together with an average relative error of only . Comparing the ADFE method with the best method currently available (TAFE) for image‐based blood flow estimation, which showed a correlation coefficient of and average error of , it can be concluded that the ADFE method has the potential to significantly improve the quantification of coronary artery blood flow derived from contrast gradients in CCTA images.
ECT for adolescents: Effective but stigmatized
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: July 2023

A session at the May annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) focused on the benefits of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as a treatment for depression. The first part of the session was on ECT use in the general population, and clearly, while the treatment has been approved and in use for decades, there was great interest. The session was packed.
Renewable energy, social disruption and formalising the social licence to operate in South Africa
Authors: Mabele Bernard , Marais Lochner , Balta‐Ozkan Nazmiye , Mirzania Pegah , Mbobo Babalwa , van der Watt Phia , Cloete Jan , Venter Anita
Published: July 2023

A social licence to operate and corporate social responsibility are often applied voluntarily to ensure a positive relationship between businesses and communities. But South Africa's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme makes investment in local socio‐economic development a contractual obligation. To assess the implications of this legalised approach to CSR and the social licence to operate, between September 2019 and January 2020 we conducted seven focus group discussions and 24 key informant interviews in two towns in South Africa's Northern Cape province. The data were analysed thematically and triangulated with data on crime, municipal finance and house prices. Our concerns about the legalised approach are that it does not require local consent; it reduces local development to a needs analysis; it does not require local collaborative planning, despite adverse consequences such as social disruption; it bypasses local organisation and accountability; it does not provide cheaper local electricity; and it offers no guidelines for decommissioning.
An energy‐efficient power allocation algorithm under reliability constraint for industrial Internet of Thing systems
Authors: Zheng YaChen , Yang Kun , Yan Yan , Shen Jun , Mei HaiBo
Published: July 2023

With the development of 5G technology, the Internet of Things (IoT) system is becoming more and more widely used in various fields. However, the reliability issue still hinders the wide applications. For instance, the transmission reliability of the IoT system will be significantly affected by the status of end devices, wireless channel quality, and the environment. Moreover, according to the Automatic Repeat‐reQuest (ARQ) retransmission mechanism in the 802.15.4 protocol, if the IoT end devices pursue a conservative power model causing low signal transmission power, it is likely that the signal power will lose too much during the transmission process. This will result in the increase of the network packet loss rate and the power consumption during the data retransmission. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a reasonable transmission power allocation algorithm to ensure the transmission reliability, considering the ARQ retransmission mechanism. The algorithm intends to find the optimal transmission power of each IoT end device, so as to minimize the total energy consumption. The simulation results demonstrate that the power allocation algorithm improves the reliability of the IoT system, compared with other algorithms.
Bidirectional fabric evolution in Hamelin Pool microbialites, Shark Bay, Western Australia
Authors: Vitek Brooke E. , Suosaari Erica P. , Oehlert Amanda M. , Dupraz Christophe , Pollier Clément G. L. , Reid R. Pamela
Published: July 2023

Hamelin Pool, Shark Bay, Western Australia hosts the world's largest and most extensive assemblages of living marine microbialites, comparable in size and shape to ancient structures found throughout the fossil record. Documented here are the internal fabrics of modern microbialites collected throughout Hamelin Pool. Mesoscale and microscale observations of microbialite polished slabs and thin section scans, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy formed the basis for a fabric classification system that combines accretionary mat type with microfabric. Accretionary mat types included pustular, smooth, colloform, as well as ‘transitional’ mats that are a cross between pustular and smooth mats. Mapping of fabrics in 45 microbialite heads indicated bidirectional evolution. An upward progression of fabrics corresponded to changes in mat type as the head grew upward into shallower water. A downward evolution of microfabrics occurred as surface mats transitioned into the subsurface of the microbialite structure. Downward microfabric evolution occurred as a result of early taphonomic processes, and involved a progression from the original depositional architecture to subsequent stages of “Micritic Thickening”, and finally, “Cement Infilling”. The observed bidirectional evolution of microbialite microfabrics within Hamelin Pool offers a conceptual framework for the study of modern microbialites, not simply as the sole product of accretionary mat types but rather as the combined result of the activity of surface mats and their taphonomic evolution. Early taphonomic processes induce further lithification of the microbialites which may enhance preservation potential in the geological record.
Comparison of prevalence and mental health problems across symptom frequency of self‐reported symptoms of binge‐eating disorder in a community sample of adolescents
Authors: Andersen Sofie Thor , Strandberg‐Larsen Katrine , Skovgaard Anne Mette , Rimvall Martin Køster , Meyer Lene Bomholt , Olsen Else Marie
Published: July 2023

Objective

Binge‐eating disorder (BED) and subthreshold BED (SBED) are prevalent in adults and associated with mental health problems including depression, non‐suicidal self‐injury, lower quality of life, and suicidality. There is solid evidence that binge‐eating behaviors are also prevalent in adolescence, but knowledge about mental health in community adolescents with BED of different frequency thresholds is more limited. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and mental health problems associated with SBED of low frequency and/or limited duration compared with BED in a Danish community sample of adolescents.

Methods

We included 2509 adolescents who completed the online survey of the 16–17‐year follow‐up of the Copenhagen Child Cohort (CCC2000), including items on BED symptoms approximating the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM‐5) criteria, and items on mental health and quality of life.

Results

The 1‐year prevalence of SBED was 2.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.0%–3.3%) with a male:female ratio of 1:3.7; comparable to previous findings on BED in the same sample. SBED was also comparable to BED concerning cross‐sectional associations with overall mental health problems, lower health‐related quality of life, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation, whereas no associations were seen with non‐suicidal self‐injury after Holm–Bonferroni correction. In both groups, thoughts and behaviors concerning food and weight interfered significantly with daily life.

Discussion

SBED and BED were equally prevalent in this adolescent community sample, and similarly associated with indicators of poor mental health. The findings indicate that community adolescents reporting symptoms approximating clinical criteria of BED need intervention irrespectively of symptom frequency or duration.

Public Significance

This study adds knowledge to the field by comparing BED of low frequency and/or limited duration (“subthreshold BED,” SBED) with full‐syndrome BED in adolescents and showing that SBED in adolescence is both prevalent and associated with poor mental health to a similar extent as that of BED. Findings indicate that self‐reported symptoms according to clinical criteria of SBED and BED alike constitute a public health problem and point to youngsters in need of intervention.
Invasion dynamics of Ponto‐Caspian amphipods leads to changes in invertebrate community structure and function
Authors: Mathers Kate L. , Clinton Kelly , Constable Drew , Gerrard Chris , Patel Charlie , Wood Paul J.
Published: July 2023

Biological invasions remain one of the most pressing threats to biodiversity globally, with unprecedented rates of establishment that are unlikely to abate in the future. As such the occurrence of multiple interacting invasive non‐native species (INNS) is becoming more common. Despite this, much of the research on the interaction of multiple INNS is conducted within laboratory settings, with field studies remaining rare or being conducted as one‐off sampling. There is therefore a deficit of knowledge pertaining to the natural population trajectories of multiple INNS and the wider ecological implications for the structure and function of the native communities. Here we present multiple years of data collected from a reservoir in the United Kingdom, which has undergone invasion by three congener non‐native amphipods. We initially observed the coexistence of Dikerogammarus haemobaphes with Crangonyx pseudogracilis under habitat segregation in the reservoir. However, the following year saw complete displacement of C. pseudogracilis and reduced abundances of D. haemobaphes once the more competitive Dikerogammarus villosus established abundant populations in the reservoir. D. villosus exhibited strong effects for the structure and function of the wider macroinvertebrate community composition in addition to driving reductions in taxa and functional richness. Gastropoda taxa appeared to be unaffected by the invasion dynamics. Significant increases in functional divergence (and less so functional dispersion) values were also observed following D. villosus establishment, with this response metric possibly representing an important tool in detecting stress from biological invasions that we urge scientists to test more extensively. In contrast to D. villosus, D. haemobaphes implications for the wider ecological community appeared to be limited. Importantly, we observed evidence to suggest the presence of boom–bust cycles with the explosion of D. villosus leading to a dramatic drop in their abundances the following year. We believe that the wider ecological implications of their abundant populations were so great that resources were not sufficient within the reservoir to support their abundant populations, leading to the observed population collapses. We call for further studies that investigate the population trajectories and wider ecological implications of multiple non‐native species in field settings to further our limited knowledge base.
Climate change consequences for differential adult survival and the mating system of a temperate breeding shorebird
Authors: Stenzel Lynne E. , Hudgens Brian R. , Page Gary W. , Neuman Kristina K. , Palkovic Amy L. , Erbes Jennifer L. , Eyster Carleton R. , Ramer Bernadette A. , George Douglas E.
Published: July 2023

Managing for the effects of climate change on species whose populations are currently imperiled requires detailed knowledge of the relationship between their demographic rates and climate variables. We sought this information for the West Coast breeding population of snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus), which was federally listed as threatened in 1993 due to substantial declines in the numbers of plovers breeding along the coast and in the number of sites occupied for breeding. Snowy plovers employ a serially polygamous breeding system in which the male typically tends chicks to independence. This unusual breeding system is favored by male‐biased sex ratios in local populations. As part of a multispecies study of the effect of climate change on population growth, we used mark–capture models to examine climate drivers of adult survival for 1219 snowy plovers banded at Monterey Bay over 38 years and known to overwinter on the surrounding north‐central California outer coast. Nonclimate variables, including sex and unmeasured annual mortality risks (e.g., predator abundance), were the primary factors affecting adult survival. However, there is evidence that cold weather, particularly extended cold snaps with daily low temperatures below 2°C and daily high temperatures below 10°C, decreases overwinter survival. Exceptionally cold winters had a particularly strong effect on adult female plovers, contributing to the male‐biased adult sex ratios. Future winter climate on the north‐central California coast is projected to be generally warmer with fewer and shorter cold snaps. Reduced mortality from cold winter weather may mitigate other threats faced by plovers, such as anthropogenically enhanced predator populations, habitat loss, and accelerated sea level rise, while altering the adult sex ratio and potentially shifting the evolutionary landscape maintaining the plover's unusual breeding system.
Coral assemblages at higher latitudes favor short‐term potential over long‐term performance
Authors: Cant James , Reimer James D. , Sommer Brigitte , Cook Katie M. , Kim Sun W. , Sims Carrie A. , Mezaki Takuma , O'Flaherty Cliodhna , Brooks Maxime , Malcolm Hamish A. , Pandolfi John M. , Salguero‐Gómez Roberto , Beger Maria
Published: July 2023

The persistent exposure of coral assemblages to more variable abiotic regimes is assumed to augment their resilience to future climatic variability. Yet, while the determinants of coral population resilience across species remain unknown, we are unable to predict the winners and losers across reef ecosystems exposed to increasingly variable conditions. Using annual surveys of 3171 coral individuals across Australia and Japan (2016–2019), we explore spatial variation across the short‐ and long‐term dynamics of competitive, stress‐tolerant, and weedy assemblages to evaluate how abiotic variability mediates the structural composition of coral assemblages. We illustrate how, by promoting short‐term potential over long‐term performance, coral assemblages can reduce their vulnerability to stochastic environments. However, compared to stress‐tolerant, and weedy assemblages, competitive coral taxa display a reduced capacity for elevating their short‐term potential. Accordingly, future climatic shifts threaten the structural complexity of coral assemblages in variable environments, emulating the degradation expected across global tropical reefs.
Enantiomeric N‐(tert‐Butylsulfinyl) Polyfluoroalkyl Aldimines in aza‐Henry Reaction: Effective Route to Chiral Polyfluoroalkyl Nitroamines and Diamines
Authors: Rassukana Yuliya V. , Cherednichenko Alona S. , Shishkina Svitlana V. , Onys'ko Petro P.
Published: July 2023

A highly diastereoselective addition of nitromethane to the C=N bond of enantiomeric fluorine containing Ellman's aldimines, RFCH=NS(O)tert‐Bu (RF=CF3, CF2Br, C2F5, HC2F4), has been successfully developed. The synthetic potential of the resulting β‐nitrosulfinylamides was demonstrated through their conversion into optically active α‐fluoroalkylated 1,3‐nitroamines, 1,3‐diamines, and 4‐fluoroalkylated imidazolidin‐2‐ones.
Digital pathology systems enabling quality patient care
Authors: Hanna Matthew G. , Ardon Orly
Published: July 2023

Pathology laboratories are undergoing digital transformations, adopting innovative technologies to enhance patient care. Digital pathology systems impact clinical, education, and research use cases where pathologists use digital technologies to perform tasks in lieu of using glass slides and a microscope. Pathology professional societies have established clinical validation guidelines, and the US Food and Drug Administration have also authorized digital pathology systems for primary diagnosis, including image analysis and machine learning systems. Whole slide images, or digital slides, can be viewed and navigated similar to glass slides on a microscope. These modern tools not only enable pathologists to practice their routine clinical activities, but can potentially enable digital computational discovery. Assimilation of whole slide images in pathology clinical workflow can further empower machine learning systems to support computer assisted diagnostics. The potential enrichment these systems can provide is unprecedented in the field of pathology. With appropriate integration, these clinical decision support systems will allow pathologists to increase the delivery of quality patient care. This review describes the digital pathology transformation process, applicable clinical use cases, incorporation of image analysis and machine learning systems in the clinical workflow, as well as future technologies that may further disrupt pathology modalities to deliver quality patient care.
Experimental study of the influence of the degree of saturation on physical and mechanical properties of carbonate rocks in the Jurassic Tuwaiq Mountain Formation (Saudi Arabia)
Authors: Abd El Aal Ahmed , Abdullah Gamil M. S. , Radwan Ahmed E. , Ali Syed Haroon , Wahid Ali , Shoukat Noureen , Zakhera Mohamed , Moftah Hussein
Published: July 2023

Understanding the impact of saturation levels on the mechanical and physical properties of limestone and marly limestone deposits is very critical for geotechnical and mechanical studies in the energy and construction industries. This research aims to link the strength characteristics of carbonate rock (limestone and marly limestone) with physical and mechanical properties at saturation levels of 0, 0.25, 50%, 75% and 100%. To complete this work, 100 samples were collected and analysed employing an orderly research facility testing. According to experimental findings, the strength and durability of the limestone and marly limestone declined with rising saturation levels, while the P‐wave velocity Vp showed an upward trend from 0% to 100%. The uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of the limestones employed in this research significantly decreased (up to 36%) between the dry and saturated stages for limestone samples. While marly limestone, there is a drop (up to 32%) in UCS. The findings of a straightforward regression study show that it is possible to predict the strength properties of rocks directly from various saturation levels. Additionally, a number of various estimate connections were created utilizing independent variables like Vp and saturation level. The experimental outcomes showed that Vp showed an upward tendency with an increasing degree of saturation. The deformability and strength parameters of the samples declined with increasing saturation degrees. The elastic modulus and strength both decrease as clay and water amounts increase. The quality index (QI) number for limestone is 45, which indicates that it has extremely good quality and can be used as a building material at 0% saturation. At 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% saturation, it is evaluated at 43, 40, 33 and 31, respectively. The marly limestone samples have high quality at 0% (QI = 36), but poor quality at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% saturation (QI = 33, 30, 27 and 23). This research provides a better understanding of the relationship between saturation levels and the mechanical, physical and depositional characteristics of marly limestone and limestone, which might be helpful in industrial studies. Advance examination of distinctive sorts of carbonate rocks can be more supportive of broadening our understanding of this idea.
Research on the socioeconomic factors that influence the development of voluntary, non‐remunerated blood donation in China—A correlation and regression analysis based on data from 2012 to 2018
Authors: Lin Feng , Huang Yi , He Xu , Liu Zhong
Published: July 2023

Background and Aims

Previous research has shown that socioeconomic factors, such as income and education, are associated with blood donation behavior. This study aims to investigate the factors that influence blood donation behavior using a large database of blood donation records and to provide further empirical evidence and insights into the factors that influence blood donation behavior and to identify potential strategies to increase blood donation rates in China.

Methods

This study employed correlation analysis and regression analysis to investigate the impact of socioeconomic factors on blood donation rates in 36 major cities in China. The study also used the K‐Means clustering algorithm to identify the socioeconomic factors that influence blood donation behavior at the per capita level. Additionally, the study conducted correlation analysis between the donor's age groups and the socioeconomic factors. The indices of economy and education were determined by correlation analysis.

Results

At the city level, overall economic output and university student populations were positively correlated with total blood donation times. However, at the per capita level, this linear relationship disappeared. By applying the K‐Means clustering algorithm, the cities were divided into subgroups where the linear relationship reemerged. The study also found that the number of college students had a linear relationship with blood donors between the ages of 18–34.

Conclusion

City characteristics and demographics significantly impact blood donation rates in different ways. A universal policy may have limited effect given the heterogeneity across cities. Tailored interventions targeting specific city clusters and education levels are needed to promote blood donation behavior, especially among youth and students. Investment in education and targeted education on blood donation appear particularly impactful. A combined approach integrating social and economic policies will likely be most effective.
The role of negative pressure wound therapy with instillation and dwell time in the treatment of deep sternal wound infections—A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Bota Olimpiu , Taqatqeh Feras , Bönke Florian , Nowotny Jörg , Matschke Klaus , Bienger Kevin , Dragu Adrian
Published: July 2023

Background and Aims

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has gained a central role in the treatment of deep sternal wound infections (DSWIs) after median thoracotomy. Our study aims at proving the safety of using NPWT with instillation and dwell time (NPWTi‐d) in the treatment of DSWI.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated the patients who were treated at our institution between March 2018 and November 2021 for DSWI after radical sternectomy using NPWT or NPWTi‐d. The NPWTi‐d was applied to start the first postoperative day using 75 mmHg negative pressure for 3 h, followed by instillation of sodium hypochlorite <0.08% with a 3‐min dwell time.

Results

The NPWTi‐d group showed a shorter length of stay (29.39 ± 12.09 vs. 39.54 ± 17.07 days; p = 0.049), a shorter elapsed time between the debridement and the flap coverage (7.18 ± 4.27 vs. 11.86 ± 7.7 days; p = 0.003) and less operative or nonoperative dressing changes (1.73 ± 1.14 vs. 2.68 ± 56; p < 0.001). The in‐hospital mortality was 8.2%, with no significant differences between the two groups (p = 1).

Conclusion

NPWTi‐d can be safely employed in the treatment of DSWI. Further prospective randomized studies need to establish the role of NPWTi‐d in the control of infection and biofilm as well as in wound healing.
“I hope to all the world they don't forget women of Afghanistan”: An interrupted survey among doctors in Afghanistan
Authors: Endler Margit , Hassan Lubna , Gemzell‐Danielsson Kristina , Babak Shafiqa , Sohail Rubina ,   the FIGO Committee on Women Facing Crisis
Published: July 2023

Objective

To assess current access to essential sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) services in Afghanistan and how access has changed with the transition of power.

Methods

This is a cross‐sectional study based on data from an anonymous survey among doctors in Afghanistan in May 2022, analyzed using descriptive statistics. The survey recorded subjective estimates of access to SRHR services, barriers to access, extent of maternal mortality or near miss due to preventable factors, and the effect of the regime change on access.

Results

The data collection was interrupted after 60 responses. A majority of providers responded that their population went hungry often or always. According to our criteria for “access”, that 75% or more of the population was estimated to have it, no respondents (0%) assessed that access existed for services for gender‐based violence. The corresponding proportion responding that access existed was 3.4% for services after rape, 12.6% for legal abortion, 13.3% for antenatal care, and 20% for labor care. According to 41.7% of respondents, untreated postpartum hemorrhage accounted for a large or very large proportion of preventable maternal mortality or near miss. Almost half of respondents (47.4%) reported the same for lack of skilled providers, 66.2% reported it for the concept “too many pregnancies”, and 55% reported it for malnutrition and poor health. According to 43.3% of respondents, the regime change had reduced access to labor care to a large extent, 33.9% of respondents said this in relation to access to contraceptives, and 43.1% for overall access for internally displaced persons.

Conclusion

Interim data suggest that women in some settings in Afghanistan have no access to SRHR services, that preventable factors account for a large portion of maternal deaths or near miss, and that access has deteriorated since the transition of power.
Immune‐related interaction perturbation networks unravel biological peculiars and clinical significance of glioblastoma
Authors: Liu Zaoqu , Xu Yudi , Wang Yuhui , Weng Siyuan , Xu Hui , Ren Yuqing , Guo Chunguang , Liu Long , Zhang Zhenyu , Han Xinwei
Published: July 2023

The immune system is an interacting network of plentiful molecules that could better characterize the relationship between immunity and cancer. This study aims to investigate the behavioral patterns of immune‐related interaction perturbation networks in glioblastoma. An immune‐related interaction‐perturbation framework was introduced to characterize four heterogeneous subtypes using RNA‐seq data of TCGA/CGGA glioblastoma tissues and GTEx normal brain tissues. The stability and robustness of the four subtypes were validated in public datasets and our in‐house cohort. In the four subtypes, C1 was an inflammatory subtype with high immune infiltration, low tumor purity, and potential response to immunotherapy; C2, an invasive subtype, was featured with dismal prognosis, telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter mutations, moderate levels of immunity, and stromal constituents, as well as sensitivity to receptor tyrosine kinase signaling inhibitors; C3 was a proliferative subtype with high tumor purity, immune‐desert microenvironment, sensitivity to phosphatidylinositol 3′‐kinase signaling inhibitor and DNA replication inhibitors, and potential resistance to immunotherapy; C4, a synaptogenesis subtype with the best prognosis, exhibited high synaptogenesis‐related gene expression, prevalent isocitrate dehydrogenase mutations, and potential sensitivity to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Overall, this study provided an attractive platform from the perspective of immune‐related interaction perturbation networks, which might advance the tailored management of glioblastoma.
Medical image segmentation method based on multi‐scale feature and U‐net network
Authors: Wang Jingquan
Published: July 2023

In medical image segmentation (MIS), better segmentation results can be obtained by training the deeper neural network. However, directly building too deep network will cause problems such as gradient disappearance, which will affect the segmentation effect. Therefore, a dilated inception U‐Net (DIU)‐net network is constructed by combining the multi‐scale feature fusion (MSFF) method and the concept of Inception in Google net based on U‐net, and its effectiveness is verified by experiments. The DIU‐net network's training accuracy has been improved in the lung computed tomography (CT) and fundus vascular CT image data sets. And the attenuation of the loss function is relatively stable, with the highest accuracy of 99.6%. In comparison of evaluation indicators, the values of different indicators of DIU‐net in the two data sets are higher than those of the comparison network. The DICE coefficient of DIU‐net in the lung CT image in the experiment is 0.986 on average, which is 0.2% higher than that of ResU‐net. SE value is 0.985, which is 1.9% higher than SegNet. Specificity value is slightly higher than the second segmentation effect. F1 score is 0.985, 0.6% higher than ResU‐net, area under curve value is 0.99, 0.7% higher than FCN‐8 s. In general, the DIU‐net network proposed in the study will not cause gradient disappearance and other problems in the experiment. At the same time, this method also shows high efficiency and has strong feasibility for the actual MIS.
Trauma is only part of the story: Strengths moderate the relationship between trauma and needs for older youth in foster care
Authors: Spinelli Tawny R. , Bruckner Ellie , Jordan Neil , Kisiel Cassandra L.
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Many youth in foster care endure traumatic experiences (TE) that can lead to lasting negative outcomes. However, the identification of strengths may mitigate the impact of TE.

Methods

This study examines the frequency and distribution of identified strengths; whether strengths moderate the association between TE and various outcomes; and whether certain strengths have a larger moderation effect on the association between TE and life domain functioning. Administrative and clinical data, including the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment, were examined for 3324 transition age youth and emerging adults in out‐of‐home foster care in the United States. Participants were males and females between 14.5 and 21 years old. Pearson's chi‐square tests of association were conducted to determine whether identification of strengths varied significantly by sex or race/ethnicity. Negative binomial regressions were used to determine whether strengths modified the association between TE and needs domains.

Results

Of 11 measured strengths, 56% of youth had 7 or more strengths identified as centerpiece strengths, and 20% had all 11. No significant differences in identification of strengths were found across sex or race/ethnicity. All strengths significantly moderated the association of TE and outcomes across CANS domains tested. While cumulative strengths had the largest overall moderation effects, identification of education setting, coping and savoring skills, and interpersonal strengths as centerpiece strengths had the largest moderation effect among specific strengths.

Conclusions

Findings suggest assessing, identifying, and bolstering strengths may help to promote well‐being after trauma exposure.
Identifying predictors of psychological well‐being among volunteer mentors in Big Brothers Big Sisters
Authors: Anderson Amy J. , Jones Kristian V. , Melton Theresa N. , Keller Thomas E. , DuBois David L.
Published: July 2023

Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) facilitates mentoring relationships between youth and volunteer mentors. Although research has examined outcomes for youth in BBBS, relatively less investigation has been undertaken for volunteer outcomes. This study explored factors associated with changes in psychological well‐being among BBBS volunteer mentors. Participants included 593 mentors (Mage = 31) surveyed at study baseline and 15‐month follow‐up. A classification and regression decision tree approach was used to predict residualized change in psychological well‐being from study baseline with match length included as the first split variable, and demographic, individual, and relationship variables included as candidate predictors. Analyses indicated that mentors with longer relationships (>4.5 months) reported more positive change in psychological well‐being compared with mentors with shorter relationships. Perceived quality of program supervision was a further predictor within both groups of volunteers. Findings suggest that longer relationships and greater program support may contribute to mentor well‐being.
Pattern of bile cultures and antibiotic sensitivity tests in Sudanese patients diagnosed with obstructive jaundice: A single‐center prospective study
Authors: Babekir Mohammed Salah , Abdelrahim Elfatih Yousif , Doush Wael Mohialddin Ahmed , Abdelaziz Muataz S
Published: July 2023

Background and Aim

Biliary obstruction causes bacteriobilia and significant morbidity and high mortality, which necessitates prompt and effective treatment for a good clinical outcome. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine updated knowledge of biliary microbial spectrum, antibiotic sensitivity pattern, and key clinical factors of bacteriobilia.

Methods

This is a prospective study conducted during the period between November 2021 and December 2022 at Ibn Sina specialized hospital, Khartoum, Sudan, on 50 patients diagnosed with obstructive jaundice and symptomatic bacteriobilia who underwent open biliary surgeries electively. Bile samples were aspirated intra‐operatively and cultured, and antibiotic sensitivity tests were performed.

Results

Fifty‐four percent of patients diagnosed with obstructive jaundice who underwent elective open biliary surgeries were males with the ratio (2:1). Forty‐six percent of patients were between 61 and 75 years (elderly). The most frequent cause of obstructive jaundice was migrating biliary stones (48% of cases). Thirty‐two percent of patients were diabetic with bacteriobilia. The predominant isolated bacterial pathogen in this study was Escherichia coli (36% of cases). These biliary pathogens were sensitive to meropenem in 54% of cases and ciprofloxacin in 46%. Eventually, in all patients in this study, biliary bacterial pathogens were found to be resistant to a broad spectrum of antibiotics.

Conclusion

Careful selection of empirical antibiotic therapy based on surveillance of routine bile cultures during biliary tree procedures in patients with high risk of bacteriobilia will potentially help in improving the surgical outcomes and optimizing treatment of acute cholangitis, which is associated with high mortality.
Investigation of the binding interactions mechanism between zein with chrysin by multispectroscopic techniques
Authors: Gao Xue , Qi Ruiquan , Cheng Ye , Chen Junliang , He Yin , Mao Yitong , Cao Xiangyu
Published: July 2023

As a natural carrier protein, zein was intensively studied for the construction of a flavonoid delivery system. Chrysin has presented superior tumor‐resistant, anti‐inflammatory, and anti‐oxidation potentials among the flavonoid candidates in clinical practice. However, due to inadequate research, the binding mechanism and structural affinity of zein to chrysin are still indeterminate. Therefore, multispectral methods were employed to explore the molecular interaction of zein and chrysin in this work. These techniques showed that chrysin reduced the intrinsic fluorescence of zein via a static process and that the interaction between zein and chrysin was mainly driven spontaneously by hydrophobic forces. Additionally, the experimental results revealed the changed microenvironment in the vicinity of tyrosine and affected secondary structure in the presence of chrysin, indicating zein's conformation were altered by chrysin. This work provided comprehensive insight into the combination of plant‐derived protein (zein) and flavonoids (chrysin) and helped rationalize the protection, transportation, and release of chrysin through a zein‐based delivery system.
Synthetic gRNA/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein targeting HBV DNA inhibits viral replication
Authors: Zhang Jinyu , Zhang Yi , Khanal Sushant , Cao Dechao , Zhao Juan , Dang Xindi , Nguyen Lam Ngoc Thao , Schank Madison , Wu Xiao Y. , Jiang Yong , Ning Shunbin , Wang Ling , El Gazzar Mohamed , Moorman Jonathan P. , Guo Haitao , Yao Zhi Q.
Published: July 2023

The presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA (cccDNA), which serves as a template for viral replication and integration of HBV DNA into the host cell genome, sustains liver pathogenesis and constitutes an intractable barrier to the eradication of chronic HBV infection. The current antiviral therapy for HBV infection, using nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs), can suppress HBV replication but cannot eliminate integrated HBV DNA and episomal cccDNA. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas9 is a powerful genetic tool that can edit integrated HBV DNA and minichromosomal cccDNA for gene therapy, but its expression and delivery require a viral vector, which poses safety concerns for therapeutic applications in humans. In the present study, we used synthetic guide RNA (gRNA)/Cas9‐ribonucleoprotein (RNP) as a nonviral formulation to develop a novel CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated gene therapy for eradicating HBV infection. We designed a series of gRNAs targeting multiple specific HBV genes and tested their antiviral efficacy and cytotoxicity in different HBV cellular models. Transfection of stably HBV‐infected human hepatoma cell line HepG2.2.15 with HBV‐specific gRNA/Cas9 RNPs resulted in a substantial reduction in HBV transcripts. Specifically, gRNA5 and/or gRNA9 RNPs significantly reduced HBV cccDNA, total HBV DNA, pregenomic RNA, and HBV antigen (HBsAg, HBeAg) levels. T7 endonuclease 1 (T7E1) cleavage assay and DNA sequencing confirmed specific HBV gene cleavage and mutations at or around the gRNA target sites. Notably, this gene‐editing system did not alter cellular viability or proliferation in the treated cells. Because of their rapid DNA cleavage capability, low off‐target effects, low risk of insertional mutagenesis, and readiness for use in clinical application, these results suggest that synthetic gRNA/Cas9 RNP‐based gene‐editing can be utilized as a promising therapeutic drug for eradicating chronic HBV infection.
An analysis of the spatial variation of tropical cyclone rainfall trends in Mainland Southeast Asia
Authors: Chen Aifang , Huang Hao , Wang Jie , Li Yuxin , Chen Deliang , Liu Junguo
Published: July 2023

Tropical cyclones (TCs) and the associated rainfall (TCR) have received increasing attention because of their catastrophic damages. Due to the differences in TC characteristics and TCR in different ocean basins, the changes in TCR would be complicated for areas receiving TC landfalling from multi‐basins. Therefore, separating TCR and TC characteristics from the formation basins can offer more insights for accurately evaluating TCR in the landfalling areas. Here we selected the TC‐prone Mainland Southeast Asia (MSEA) to investigate changes in TCR regarding TC characteristics from the surrounding formation basins from 1983 to 2020. Results show that the interannual variability of the total TCs influencing MSEA (MSEA‐ALL‐TC) characteristics, including number, total duration, maximum intensity and accumulated cyclone energy, was dominated by the TCs originating from the Western North Pacific (WNP‐TC). However, the total TCR was controlled by the TCs originating from the WNP and the South China Sea (SCS‐TC), whose influence on TCR was concentrated in the eastern MSEA. TCR associated with TCs originating from the Bay of Bengal was relatively small and concentrated in the western MSEA. For the whole MSEA, the total TCR contributed up to 47% of the annual extreme rainfall amount. Annual TCR presented significant decreasing trends in the southeast MSEA, while increasing trends exist in the northeast. These contrasting trends are attributed to the reduced tendency of WNP‐TC track density and the increased SCS‐TC rainfall rate. We also found that the SCS‐TC induced a higher rainfall rate than the other two basins. The TC characteristics of number, total duration, maximum intensity and accumulated cyclone energy were significantly correlated with TCR in each formation basin, with the highest correlation of the total duration. This study improves our understanding of the influence of changes in TC characteristics on TCR in the TC multi‐source region.
Reduced in vitro starch hydrolysis and in vivo glycemic effects after addition of soy presscake to corn tortillas
Authors: Wu Mingjue (Shirley) , Taylor Carla , Zahradka Peter , Arntfield Susan
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND

Chronically elevated blood glucose leads to development of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, as well as increased risk for heart and kidney disease and vision loss. For many, elevated blood glucose can be managed through diet and exercise. Consequently, the availability of foods that limit blood glucose elevation would aid in addressing this global problem. This paper investigated the effect of adding soy presscake (SP) to corn tortillas on starch hydrolysis in vitro as well as the glycemic responses elicited in vivo upon consumption of these modified tortillas.

RESULTS

SP in corn tortillas decreased the rate and extent of starch hydrolysis in vitro. The in vivo glycemic index (GI) values decreased from 43 for corn control tortillas to 31 with 40% SP fortification. A high correlation (r = 0.9781) was found between the GI values from in vivo analysis and the area under the curve of starch hydrolysis in vitro. The best correlations (r > 0.96) between GI and degree of hydrolysis were found at 45–90 min of in vitro starch hydrolysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Incorporating SP into corn‐based tortillas lowers glycemic responses to them. In addition, in vitro starch hydrolysis could be used to estimate the GI values of food products and, in particular, the comparison of multiple items during food product development. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Metachronous colorectal cancer metastasis: Who, what, when and what to do about it
Authors: Cohen Ryan , Platell Cameron F.
Published: July 2023

Metachronous colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis occurs due to micrometastatic disease, in up to 23% of patients who have undergone curative‐intent treatment. Metachronous metastasis tends to occur within 2 years of initial treatment. Diagnosis relies on posttreatment surveillance strategies. Care for patients with metachronous CRC metastasis is complex and requires careful multidisciplinary consideration. Those with isolated and technically resectable diseases are recommended to undergo metastasectomy with adjunct chemotherapy, however, survival, even after curative‐intent resection, is poor.
Complications of cryoprobe cryoablation as a surgical adjuvant for the treatment of metastatic carcinoma to bone, benign bone tumors, and soft tissue tumors: A series of 148 patients
Authors: Gettleman Brandon S. , Richardson Mary K. , Ayad Mina , Christ Alexander B. , Menendez Lawrence R.
Published: July 2023

Background and Objective

This study describes the complication profile of modern cryoablation utilizing probes as an adjuvant during open surgical treatment of orthopedic tumors.

Methods

A retrospective, single‐surgeon study was performed for patients receiving cryoprobe cryoablation. Demographic information, malignancy‐related and operative details, and clinical courses were collected. Outcomes assessed included rates of complications, recurrence, and correlations between the number of probes or cryoablation cycles performed.

Results

In this 148‐patient study, 67.6% had metastatic carcinoma to bone, 27.7% had benign bone tumors, and 4.7% had soft tissue tumors. An average of 3.4 ± 1.7 cryoablation probes were utilized and 1.7 ± 0.6 freezing cycles were performed. The overall cohort aggregate complication rate was 16.9%. These complications included postoperative fracture (3.4%), nerve palsy (2.7%), wound complications (7.4%), and infection (3.4%). The number of cycles and probes was significantly correlated with the incidence of aggregate complications in the overall cohort (Pearson = 0.162, p = 0.049) and metastatic bone cohort (Pearson = 0.222, p = 0.027). There were 13 recurrences.

Conclusion

This study describes the complication rates involving cryoablation probes used as surgical adjuvants. Greater probe number usage was correlated with increased aggregate complications in patients with metastatic disease to bone; meanwhile, more treatment cycles were associated with increased aggregate complications in the overall cohort.
The impact of alcohol‐based hand sanitiser and hand washing with soap and water on bacterial skin microbiota composition
Authors: Vindenes Hilde Kristin , Drengenes Christine , Amin Hesham , Bertelsen Randi Jacobsen
Published: July 2023

Background

The use of alcohol‐based hand sanitiser (ABHS) and hand washing with soap and water increased during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Objectives

We aimed to determine the immediate impact (<1 h) of hand hygiene measures on sampling and profiling of the bacterial skin microbiota.

Methods

Skin swab samples were collected from the dorsal hand and inner elbow from five volunteers before and after application of ABHS and before and after washing hands with soap and water. Bacterial composition was determined by MiSeq sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene.

Results

Bacterial composition on the hands was similar before and after application of hand sanitiser, with Streptococcus spp. (19.3%–18.4%), Propionibacterium spp. (11.7%–11.9%), Corynebacterium spp. (11.2%–11.3%) and Staphylococcus spp. (7.8%–7.4%) as the most prevalent genera. The relative abundance of bacteria changed after hand washing with soap and water for Streptococcus spp. (15.7%–9.2%), Propionibacterium spp. (12.1%–8.3%), Staphylococcus spp. (8.2%–5.2%) and Lactobacillus spp. (7.1%–2.9%). For alpha diversity, the number of amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) on the hand was lower after washing with soap and water: mean: 94.6 (SD: 12.3) versus before: 165.5 (SD: 12.7), p = 0.003. The ASV richness did not differ before and after hand sanitiser application (p = 0.2 for both hand and inner elbow). The Faith PD index was lower after washing with soap and water: mean: 6.6 (SD: 0.41) compared to before (9.5 [SD: 0.52]), p = 0.002, but no change was seen for application of hand sanitiser on hand (p = 0.3) or elbow (p = 0.5).

Conclusions

Skin microbiome diversity did not differ before and after hand sanitiser application but was lower after washing with soap and water, perhaps due to the mechanical removal of bacteria during hand washing. Both Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria were affected, with the largest impact on the Gram‐negative bacteria.