bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of body composition and genotype on haemodynamics during surgery for pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma
Authors: Pang Yingxian , Li Minghao , Jiang Jingjing , Chen Xiang , Fu Yan , Wang Cikui , He Yao , Zhao Yuanzhe , Wang Yong , Guan Xiao , Zhang Liang , Xu Xiaowen , Gan Yu , Liu Yalin , Xie Yaoling , Tang Tingyuan , Wang Jing , Xie Bin , Liang Zhihao , Chen Danlei , Liu Haipeng , Chen Changyong , Eisenhofer Graeme , Liu Longfei , Yi Xiaoping , Chen Bihong T.
Published: September 2022

Background

Maintaining intraoperative haemodynamic stability can reduce cardiovascular complications during surgery for pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL). Risk factors such as tumour size and catecholamine levels are reported to predict haemodynamic responses during surgery for PPGL. We hypothesized that additional factors including body composition and genetic information could further improve prediction.

Methods

Consecutive patients with PPGL confirmed by surgical pathology between June 2010 and June 2019 were retrospectively included. Cross‐sectional computed tomography images at the L3 level were used to assess body composition parameters including skeletal muscle area and visceral fat area. Next‐generation sequencing was performed using a panel containing susceptibility genes of PPGL. Differences in clinical‐genetic characteristics and body composition parameters were analysed and compared in patients with and without intraoperative haemodynamic instability (HDI).

Results

We included 221 patients with PPGL (median age 47 [38–56] years, and 52% male). Among them, 49.8% had Cluster 2 mutations (related to kinase signalling pathways), 44.8% had sarcopenia, and 52.9% experienced intraoperative HDI. Compared with patients without HDI, more patients with HDI had Cluster 2 mutations (59.8% vs. 38.5%, P = 0.002) and less had sarcopenia (35.9% vs. 54.8%, P = 0.005). Multivariate analysis showed that urine vanillylmandelic acid ≥ 58 μmol/day (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.840, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.012–3.347, P = 0.046), tumour size ≥ 4 cm (adjusted OR = 2.278, 95% CI = 1.242–4.180, P = 0.008), and Cluster 2 mutations (adjusted OR = 2.199, 95% CI = 1.128–4.285, P = 0.021) were independent risk factors for intraoperative HDI, while sarcopenia (adjusted OR = 0.475, 95% CI = 0.266–0.846, P = 0.012) decreased the risk.

Conclusions

Body composition and genotype were associated with intraoperative haemodynamics in patients with PPGL. Our results indicated that inclusion of body composition and genotype in the overall assessment of patients with PPGL helped to predict HDI during surgery, which could assist in implementing preoperative and intraoperative measures to reduce perioperative complications.
Clinical research progress of myocardial work in assessment and prediction of coronary artery disease in noninvasive pressure‐strain loop technique
Authors: Gao Lu , Wang Yinghui , Gao Ming , Chen Liping
Published: September 2022

Early identification and treatment of high‐risk coronary artery disease (CAD) is the main goal of current cardiovascular disease treatments. Speckle‐tracking ultrasound technology can quantify myocardial work using pressure‐strain loops. Because myocardial work takes into account the effect of the left ventricular systolic function afterload, it can more objectively reflect left ventricular myocardial mechanical function than the overall left ventricular longitudinal strain. Therefore, this technique is more widely used in diseases caused by CAD. This article reviews the evaluation and prediction of different CAD types using a variety of myocardial work parameters and provides a new method for clinical research to assess myocardial function, which is expected to become a new prediction method for CAD.
Potassium dihydrogen phosphate‐catalyzed synthesis of benzylpyrazolyl coumarin and pyrano [2,3‐c] pyrazole derivatives via cascade—One‐pot—Multicomponent reaction
Authors: Mathavan Sivagami , Yamajala Rajesh B. R. D.
Published: September 2022

A simple one‐pot protocol for the synthesis of benzylpyrazolyl coumarin and pyrano [2,3‐c] pyrazole derivatives in the presence of potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4) has been developed. This cascade reaction provides many advantages like environmentally benign reaction, mild reaction conditions, inexpensive catalyst, simple operation, easy workup procedure, a wide range of functional groups in good to excellent yields, and no need for column purification.
Transplanting China's ecological civilization to the Belt and Road Initiative: What will it take?
Authors: Brauteseth Bjørn Leif , Banik Dan
Published: September 2022

This article focuses on how Chinese state actors understand the concept of sustainable development and implement policies for achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We examine the concept of Ecological Civilization (EC) that has gained momentum within China and examine how EC is constructed around certain organizational principles that are difficult to export without expanding Beijing's political control abroad. Based on the example of a coal‐fired power plant in Kenya, we also explore the potential opportunities EC presents for African stakeholders to hold Chinese state actors to account for China's normative principles.
EXPLORE B: A prospective, long‐term natural history study of patients with acute hepatic porphyria with chronic symptoms
Authors: Cassiman David , Kauppinen Raili , Monroy Susana , Lee Ming‐Jen , Bonkovsky Herbert L. , Thapar Manish , Guillén‐Navarro Encarna , Minder Anna‐Elisabeth , Hale Cecilia , Sweetser Marianne T. , Ivanova Aneta
Published: September 2022

One‐year data from EXPLORE Part A showed high disease burden and impaired quality of life (QOL) in patients with acute hepatic porphyria (AHP) with recurrent attacks. We report baseline data of patients who enrolled in EXPLORE Part B for up to an additional 3 years of follow‐up. EXPLORE B is a long‐term, prospective study evaluating disease activity, pain intensity, and QOL in patients with AHP with ≥1 attack in the 12 months before enrollment or receiving hemin or gonadotropin‐releasing hormone prophylaxis. Data were evaluated in patients with more (≥3 attacks or on prophylaxis treatment) or fewer (<3 attacks and no prophylaxis treatment) attacks. Patients in the total population (N = 136), and more (n = 110) and fewer (n = 26) attack subgroups, reported a median (range) of 3 (0–52), 4 (0–52), and 1 (0–2) acute attacks, respectively, in the 12 months prior to the baseline visit. Pain, mood/sleep, digestive/bladder, and nervous system symptoms were each experienced by ≥80% of patients; most received hemin during attacks. Almost three‐quarters of patients reported chronic symptoms between attacks, including 85% of patients with fewer attacks. Pain intensity was comparable among both attack subgroups; most patients required pain medication. All groups had diminished QOL on the EuroQol visual analog scale and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality‐of‐life Questionnaire Core 30 versus population norms. Patients with AHP with recurrent attacks, even those having fewer attacks, experience a high disease burden, as evidenced by chronic symptoms between attacks and impaired QOL.
Cardiac resynchronization therapy in the presence of total atrioventricular block reduces long‐lasting atrial fibrillation episodes
Authors: Kugler Lara , Markendorf Susanne , Bachmann Marta , Eriksson Urs
Published: September 2022

Background

There is an ongoing debate on how cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in the presence of total AV block affects atrial fibrillation (AF) episodes and symptoms in patients with AF.

Methods

Seventy‐five patients with symptomatic, drug and ablation refractory AF received, irrespective of their left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), either a CRT device and underwent subsequent atrioventricular node (AVN) ablation or already had a total AV block and underwent CRT upgrade. Long‐lasting AF episodes (>48 h), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end‐diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left atrial diameter (LAD), NTproBNP levels, EHRA score, and NYHA class had been monitored on the follow‐up.

Results

The number of patients experiencing long‐lasting AF episodes (>48 h) and symptoms decreased significantly within 24 months after CRT implantation in the presence of total AV block (p < .001) from 57 (76%) to 25 (33.3%). Mean LAD decreased from 52 mm (IQR 48.0–56.0) to 48 mm (IQR 42.0–52.0, p < .001) and LVEDD from 54 mm (IQR 49.0–58.0) to 51 mm (IQR 46.5–54.0, p < .001).

Conclusion

A combination of total AVN block and biventricular pacing markedly reduces long‐lasting AF episodes, symptoms, left atrial diameter, and left ventricular end‐diastolic diameter.
Effect of non‐surgical therapy on plasma C‐reactive protein levels in patients with periodontitis: A single arm prospective clinical trial
Authors: Shah Bansari , Shah Monali , Geisinger Maria , Saleh Muhammad H. A. , Meghil Mohamed , Wang Hom‐Lay
Published: September 2022

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of scaling and root planing (SRP) on levels of plasma C‐reactive protein (CRP).

Methods

A total of 30 patients with advanced periodontitis as determined by Clinical Periodontal Sum Score (CPSS) were recruited. Venous whole blood samples were drawn to obtain serum samples from all participants at baseline and 1 month after SRP (post‐SRP). High‐sensitivity CRP (hs‐CRP) was measured by highly sensitive immunoturbidimetric assay. Wilcoxon signed‐rank test was used for data analysis. Spearman rank correlation analysis was conducted to test the correlations between CPSS and hs‐CRP at baseline and post‐SRP.

Results

There was a statistically significant reduction in the post‐SRP CPSS values from the baseline values (z = 4.783, p < 0.0001). Similarly, there was a statistically significant reduction in the post‐SRP hs‐CRP levels from the baseline levels (z = 4.782, p < 0.0001). Moreover, there was positive association between the baseline levels of CPSS and hs‐CRP (ρ = 0.5703) and the post‐SRP values of CPSS and hs‐CRP (ρ = 0.7507).

Conclusion

The present study suggests that SRP can significantly reduce the levels of CRP.
Demographic uncertainty and disease risk influence climate‐informed management of an alpine species
Authors: Gude Justin A. , DeCesare Nicholas J. , Proffitt Kelly M. , Sells Sarah N. , Garrott Robert A. , Rangwala Imtiaz , Biel Mark , Coltrane Jessica , Cunningham Julie , Fletcher Tammy , Loveless Karen , Mowry Rebecca , O'Reilly Megan , Rauscher Ryan , Thompson Michael
Published: September 2022

Climate change is expected to disproportionately affect species occupying ecosystems with relatively hard boundaries, such as alpine ecosystems. Wildlife managers must identify actions to conserve and manage alpine species into the future, while considering other issues and uncertainties. Climate change and respiratory pathogens associated with widespread pneumonia epidemics in bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) may negatively affect mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) populations. Mountain goat demographic and population data are challenging to collect and sparsely available, making population management decisions difficult. We developed predictive models incorporating these uncertainties and analyzed results within a structured decision making framework to make management recommendations and identify priority information needs in Montana, USA. We built resource selection models to forecast occupied mountain goat habitat and account for uncertainty in effects of climate change, and a Leslie matrix projection model to predict population trends while accounting for uncertainty in population demographics and dynamics. We predicted disease risks while accounting for uncertainty about presence of pneumonia pathogens and risk tolerance for mixing populations during translocations. Our analysis predicted that new introductions would produce more area occupied by mountain goats at mid‐century, regardless of the effects of climate change. Population augmentations, carnivore management, and harvest management may improve population trends, although this was associated with considerable uncertainty. Tolerance for risk of disease transmission affected optimal management choices because translocations are expected to increase disease risks for mountain goats and sympatric bighorn sheep. Expected value of information analyses revealed that reducing uncertainty related to population dynamics would affect the optimal choice among management strategies to improve mountain goat trends. Reducing uncertainty related to the presence of pneumonia‐associated pathogens and consequences of mixing microbial communities should reduce disease risks if translocations are included in future management strategies. We recommend managers determine tolerance for disease risks associated with translocations that they and constituents are willing to accept. From this, an adaptive management program can be constructed wherein a portfolio of management actions are chosen based on risk tolerance in each population range, combined with the amount that uncertainty is reduced when paired with monitoring, to ultimately improve achievement of fundamental objectives.
Beyond Laryngeal Clefts: Interarytenoid Injection Augmentation to Predict Success of Suture Augmentation in Children
Authors: Jáuregui Emmanuel J. , Abts Matthew F. , Dahl John P. , Parikh Sanjay R. , Horn David L. , Pickens Michael , Park Jason S. , DeMarre Kim , Hoang Jennifer , Johnson Kaalan
Published: September 2022

Objective

To assess the efficacy of interarytenoid injection augmentation (IAIA) and the ability of IAIA to predict response to interarytenoid suture augmentation (IASA) based on diet advancement on video fluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS).

Methods

Retrospective cohort analysis of patients with persistent pharyngeal dysphagia at a tertiary children's hospital with VFSS pre‐ and post‐IAIA were included between March 2011 and June 2019.

Results

Median age of the 229 patients was 2.2 years (5.8 months–19 years). Interarytenoid mucosal height (IAMH) was found to be above the false vocal folds in 112 patients (53.4%) and at true vocal folds in 10 (4.9%) patients. On VFSS post‐IAIA, 95 (41.5%) patients were successfully advanced in recommended diet consistency, 115 (50.2%) were stable, and 19 (8.3%) needed thicker consistency. Paired t‐tests on pre‐ and post‐operative consistency scores showed significant improvement, p‐value of <0.0001, 95% confidence interval (CI; 0.50–0.85). Poisson regression found no covariates with significant association with improvement on IAIA. For IASA patients, 35/60 (58.3%) improved on post‐op VFSS. Paired t‐tests on pre‐ and post‐operative consistency scores showed significant improvement, p‐value of <0.0001, 95% CI (0.63–1.33). Positive predictive value for IAIA predicting response to IASA was 77% with positive likelihood ratio of 2.3. The response to IAIA versus no response to IAIA likelihood ratios were found to have a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our study suggests IAIA yields objective improvement in swallow function on VFSS in nearly half of our patients and may be a reliable diagnostic tool to predict response to IASA in patients with persistent pharyngeal dysphagia with or without a laryngeal cleft.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 133:1749–1756, 2023
A TNNI2 variant c.525G>T causes distal arthrogryposis in a Chinese family
Authors: Li Yue , Nong Tianying , Li Yiqiang , Li Xia , Li Zhaohui , Lv Hui , Xu Hongwen , Li Jingchun , Zhu Mingwei
Published: September 2022

Background

Distal arthrogryposis (DA) is a group of congenital autosomal‐dominant disorders secondary to defects in joint and muscle function, characterized by multiple joint contractures of the hands and feet. DA can be divided into 10 types according to clinical features. DA has been confirmed to be caused by mutations in genes encoding components of the contractile apparatus of skeletal muscle fibers, such as troponin I2 (TNNI2).

Methods

In this study, we report a three‐generation DA family belonging to the DA2B type. The clinical characteristics of affected members are genetically stable and consistent, with severe deformities in hands and feet, and two affected adults had short stature. None exhibited facial abnormalities. Blood from three affected and three healthy members were collected for whole‐exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing.

Results

A missense variant in TNNI2 (NM_003282.4: c.525G>T: p.K175N) was successfully identified, which resulted in the substitution of amino acid at position 175 of TNNI2 from lysine to asparagines.

Conclusion

The variant c.525G>T in TNNI2 explains the cause of DA in the family. This variant was identified in Chinese people for the first time, and the same variant had been reported in another study but no description of clinical symptoms. Our study comprehensively characterized the c.525G>T variant in TNNI2.
Feasibility of oncology clinical trial‐embedded evaluation of social determinants of health
Authors: Aziz‐Bose Rahela , Zheng Daniel J. , Umaretiya Puja J. , Ilcisin Lenka , Stevenson Kristen , Koch Victoria , Valenzuela Ariana , Cole Peter D. , Gennarini Lisa M. , Kahn Justine M. , Kelly Kara M. , Tran Thai‐Hoa , Michon Bruno , Welch Jennifer J. G. , Silverman Lewis B. , Wolfe Joanne , Bona Kira
Published: September 2022

Social determinants of health (SDoH) are associated with stark disparities in cancer outcomes, but systematic SDoH data collection is virtually absent from oncology clinical trials. Trial‐based SDoH data are essential to ensure representation of marginalized populations, contextualize outcome disparities, and identify health‐equity intervention opportunities. We report the feasibility of a pediatric oncology multicenter therapeutic trial‐embedded SDoH investigation. Among 448 trial participants, 392 (87.5%) opted‐in to the embedded SDoH study; 375 (95.7%) completed baseline surveys, with high longitudinal response rates (88.9–93.1%) over 24 months. Trial‐embedded SDoH data collection is feasible and acceptable and must be consistently included within future oncology trials.
Effects of (i)a‐Si:H deposition temperature on high‐efficiency silicon heterojunction solar cells
Authors: Zhao Yifeng , Procel Paul , Smets Arno , Mazzarella Luana , Han Can , Yang Guangtao , Cao Liqi , Yao Zhirong , Weeber Arthur , Zeman Miro , Isabella Olindo
Published: September 2022

Excellent surface passivation induced by (i)a‐Si:H is critical to achieve high‐efficiency silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells. This is key for conventional single‐junction cell applications but also for bottom cell application in tandem devices. In this study, we investigated the effects of (i)a‐Si:H deposition temperature on passivation quality and SHJ solar cell performance. At the lower end of temperatures ranging from 140°C to 200°C, it was observed with Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) that (i)a‐Si:H films are less dense, thus hindering their surface passivation capabilities. However, with additional hydrogen plasma treatments (HPTs), those (i)a‐Si:H layers deposited at lower temperatures exhibited significant improvements and better passivation qualities than their counterparts deposited at higher temperatures. On the other hand, even though we observed the highest VOCs for cells with (i)a‐Si:H deposited at the lowest temperature (140°C), the related FFs are poorer as compared to their higher temperature counterparts. The optimum trade‐off between VOC and FF for the SHJ cells was found with temperatures ranging from 160°C to 180°C, which delivered independently certified efficiencies of 23.71%. With a further improved p‐layer that enables a FF of 83.3%, an efficiency of 24.18% was achieved. Thus, our study reveals two critical requirements for optimizing the (i)a‐Si:H layers in high‐efficiency SHJ solar cells: (i) excellent surface passivation quality to reduce losses induced by interface recombination and simultaneously (ii) less‐defective (i)a‐Si:H bulk to not disrupt the charge carrier collections.
Accepting but not engaging with it: Digital participation in local government‐run social credit systems in China
Authors: Li Haili , Kostka Genia
Published: September 2022

Over the past decade, China's central and municipal governments have consistently supported the development of social credit systems (SCSs). While research has highlighted the Chinese public's high approval and backing of SCSs, their engagement with these digital projects has not been fully explored. Based on 44 semi‐structured interviews, our research examines Chinese citizens' digital participation in government‐run SCSs at the local level. Our findings suggest that, despite perceiving SCSs as accepting and positive, most interviewees do not actively engage with local government‐run SCSs. Multiple factors can explain the gap between the high acceptance and low participation rates, including a lack of awareness regarding local SCSs, a perception that registering and maintaining a decent credit score requires major effort, various concerns involving data privacy and safety, algorithm accuracy and fairness, potential risks, unappealing benefits offered by SCSs, and the voluntary aspect of participating in local SCSs. Our research adds to the existing literature on digital governance in authoritarian contexts by explaining why Chinese citizens do not necessarily engage with state‐promoted digital projects.
Symmetry‐Protected Two‐Level System in the H3 Center Enabled by a Spin–Photon Interface: A Competitive Qubit Candidate for the NISQ Technology
Authors: Bian Guodong , Zhang Jixing , Xu Lixia , Fan Pengcheng , Li Mingxin , Wu Chenyu , Li Jichao , Wang Hailong , Zhang Qianfan , Cai Zhongyu , Yuan Heng
Published: September 2022

Recent technological advances in the noisy intermediate‐scale quantum (NISQ) era are promising. Optically addressable color centers in semiconductors can achieve spin localization and are the most promising spin qubit candidates for NISQ technologies. Exploring a suitable and scalable atomic‐like color center is a prerequisite in this context. Here, a symmetry‐protected two‐level system (qubit) derived from a set of naturally separated Bell states in the H3 center with C2v symmetry is characterized. The characterized qubit significantly reduces magnetic noise compared with a degenerate triplet in C3v systems for conventional qubits. The Hamiltonian, including the Coulomb interaction, spin–orbit coupling, and spin–spin interaction, is comprehensively developed using a combination of first‐principle calculations and group theory analyses. Consequently, an intrinsic spin–phonon interface embedded in an optical spin‐polarization loop can enable an effective interrogation of the information of the two‐level system. This study not only paves the way for developing further quantum information science applications utilizing the H3 center but also provides a competitive qubit candidate for the NISQ era.
Identification and functional analysis of shared gene signatures between systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's syndrome
Authors: Gao Zhaowei , Yang Lan , Liu Chong , Wang Xi , Zhang Huizhong , Dong Ke
Published: September 2022

Background

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that can affect multiple systems. Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease that may be primary SS (pSS) or occur together with other autoimmune diseases, including SLE. This study aimed to explore the shared gene signatures in SLE and pSS.

Methods

Gene expression data sets of SLE (GSE50772 and GSE81622) and pSS (GSE84844 and GSE48378) were obtained and analyzed for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. Gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were carried out for the DEGs.

Results

We screened 232 and 110 DEGs from the SLE and pSS data sets, respectively. We found 32 shared DEGs, which were all upregulated in patients compared with controls. Among these 32 DEGs, 11 genes showed a more than twofold change in all data sets (IFI27, IFI44L, RSAD2, IFIT1, IFI44, USP18, IFI6, HERC5, EPSTI1, OAS1, and OAS3). PPI analysis showed that 29 genes interacted with each other. GO analysis showed that these 32 shared DEGs were mainly enriched in biological processes associated with the type I interferon signaling pathway, defense response to viruses, response to viruses, negative regulation of viral genome replication, and the immune response. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis showed that these 32 DEGs were related to virus infection.

Conclusion

This study showed that alterations to biological processes associated with the response to virus infection play critical roles in both SLE and pSS.
How considering memory as an analogy to preparedness reveals its weaknesses
Authors: Heino Ossi , Huotari Vesa
Published: September 2022

Threats that fully escape our attention pose a potential, but also a true and invisible, danger to us. They should stand out as the main concern for practitioners who are responsible for the state and level of preparedness. However, to address them, we should first grasp them as pure possibilities. Figuring them out requires tools. This article introduces analogies as a potential tool for this task and analyses the concept of preparedness itself with it. By using memory as a source analogy, the article enables us to consider preparedness as a potential source of vulnerability—it reveals how we can help ourselves in becoming better prepared by scrutinizing the current practices by systematically analyzing the presumptions underpinning them. The vulnerabilities that are most likely to escape our attention are the ones that have become a constitutive part of our very thinking of preparedness. Better preparedness without a systematically and thoroughly scrutinized concept of preparedness will never be able to fulfill the promise it signals to the public. This article outlines one way to pursue such an understanding and employs it as well.
Human Cell‐Camouflaged Nanomagnetic Scavengers Restore Immune Homeostasis in a Rodent Model with Bacteremia
Authors: Park Sung Jin , Kwon Seyong , Lee Min Seok , Jang Bong Hwan , Guzmán‐Cedillo Axel E. , Kang Joo H.
Published: September 2022

Bloodstream infection caused by antimicrobial resistance pathogens is a global concern because it is difficult to treat with conventional therapy. Here, scavenger magnetic nanoparticles enveloped by nanovesicles derived from blood cells (MNVs) are reported, which magnetically eradicate an extreme range of pathogens in an extracorporeal circuit. It is quantitatively revealed that glycophorin A and complement receptor (CR) 1 on red blood cell (RBC)‐MNVs predominantly capture human fecal bacteria, carbapenem‐resistant (CR)Escherichia  coli, and extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamases‐positive (ESBL‐positive)E. coli, vancomycin‐intermediateStaphylococcus aureus(VISA), endotoxins, and proinflammatory cytokines in human blood. Additionally, CR3 and CR1 on white blood cell‐MNVs mainly contribute to depleting the virus envelope proteins of Zika, SARS‐CoV‐2, and their variants in human blood. Supplementing opsonins into the blood significantly augments the pathogen removal efficiency due to its combinatorial interactions between pathogens and CR1 and CR3 on MNVs. The extracorporeal blood cleansing enables full recovery of lethally infected rodent animals within 7 days by treating them twice in series. It is also validated that parameters reflecting immune homeostasis, such as blood cell counts, cytokine levels, and transcriptomics changes, are restored in blood of the fatally infected rats after treatment.
Self‐Powered Smart Gloves Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerators
Authors: Shen Sophia , Xiao Xiao , Yin Junyi , Xiao Xiao , Chen Jun
Published: September 2022

The hands are used in all facets of daily life, from simple tasks such as grasping and holding to complex tasks such as communication and using technology. Finding a way to not only monitor hand movements and gestures but also to integrate that data with technology is thus a worthwhile task. Gesture recognition is particularly important for those who rely on sign language to communicate, but the limitations of current vision‐based and sensor‐based methods, including lack of portability, bulkiness, low sensitivity, highly expensive, and need for external power sources, among many others, make them impractical for daily use. To resolve these issues, smart gloves can be created using a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), a self‐powered technology that functions based on the triboelectric effect and electrostatic induction and is also cheap to manufacture, small in size, lightweight, and highly flexible in terms of materials and design. In this review, an overview of the existing self‐powered smart gloves will be provided based on TENGs, both for gesture recognition and human‐machine interface, concluding with a discussion on the future outlook of these devices.
Ultraviolet Light‐Modulated Defects on BiOBr to Improve the Photocatalytic Fixation of Nitrogen to Ammonia
Authors: Ren Guangmin , Liu Sitong , Shi Meng , Zhang Zisheng , Li Zizhen , Meng Xiangchao
Published: September 2022

Defect engineering has been considered as a feasible approach to improve the photocatalytic activity in nitrogen fixation. However, as the main determinants of photocatalytic properties, the type of vacancy and controllable preparation methods remain elusive. Herein, a controllable method for defect fabrication on BiOBr is achieved by ultraviolet (UV) light illumination. With extending the UV light illumination time, the type of defects is switched from oxygen vacancies to triple‐vacancy associates (VBi‴VO••VBi‴). Notably, VBi‴VO••VBi‴ is much more stable compared with oxygen vacancies on the surfaces of BiOBr, resulting in higher photocatalytic activity in nitrogen fixation. The reaction mechanism of photocatalytic reduction of N2 to ammonia in different defects‐modified BiOBr is also proposed along with the testing results. Herein, a controllable method to fabricate vacancies on BiOBr induced by UV light is provided, and the reaction pathways of photocatalytic fixation of N2 on different defects‐modified BiOBr are demonstrated.
“Predators of Emotions”: The Role of School Assessment Policies in English Language Teachers' Emotion Labor
Authors: Nazari Mostafa , Molana Khazar
Published: September 2022

Emotion labor is expecting individuals to display institutionally‐accepted emotional behaviors. This study examined the role of school assessment policies in 13 Iranian English language teachers' emotion labor in a private language school. To this end, data were collected from semi‐structured interviews and narrative frames. Data analyses revealed three major themes in relation to the teachers' assessment‐related emotion labor: Constrained assessment agency, resilience in assessment, and the significance of heeding assessment emotions. The study shows that top‐down policies of the school created emotional conflicts for the teachers, yet such policies in turn motivated the teachers to invest more in implementing assessment techniques that respond to their own and students' needs. The findings are discussed in light of contextual particularities of assessment, which are linked to power and dominant discourses shaping teachers' assessment‐related emotion labor. Based on the findings, we provide implications for policymakers and teacher educators to pay more focal attention to teachers' assessment emotions and emotion labor.
Perceived and experienced constraint negotiation: do first‐time elk hunters know what they are in for?
Authors: Gruntorad Matthew P. , Chizinski Christopher J.
Published: September 2022

Opportunities to hunt big game species such as elk (Cervus canadensis) are often rationed through a lottery permit system when demand for permits exceeds the population's ability to sustain harvest levels. We conducted a survey of elk hunters and would‐be elk hunters in the summer of 2016 to compare elk‐hunting constraints among 3 groups of individuals. Groups consisted of 1) individuals who possessed a landowner hunting permit at some point between 2011 and 2016 (Landowner), 2) individuals who did not possess a landowner permit but did possess a general hunting permit between 2011 and 2016 (General), and 3) individuals who had not possessed a Nebraska elk‐hunting permit of any kind between 2011 and 2016 but had attempted to draw a permit from the lottery system at least once during these years (Lottery). We used latent class regression to classify survey participants based on their responses to 7 questions related to constraints to elk hunting that were either experienced (Landowner and General) or perceived (Lottery) on a 5‐point scale (Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree). Probability of latent class membership was estimated for each hunter group. Latent class regression revealed 6 latent classes with Landowner participants most likely to belong to classes who exhibited the least difficulty negotiating all constraints. General and Lottery participants were most likely to fall into classes exhibiting more difficulty negotiating constraints related to interactions with property owners for permissions to hunt on their land. Our findings can assist policy makers and managers with tailoring lottery permit systems, particularly in locations where most of the hunting opportunity is restricted to privately owned land.
Efficacy of secondary electric fences at preventing direct contact among white‐tailed deer
Authors: Khouri Renée M. , Wagner Donald C. , Walter W. David
Published: September 2022

Free‐ranging and captive cervid herds are at risk for chronic wasting disease transmission from direct contacts at fences, so we explored the use of a secondary electric fence to prevent contacts in white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Using a captive herd of white‐tailed deer in Pennsylvania, USA, we tested the efficacy of two electric fence designs (one three‐strand and one six‐strand) constructed along separate primary fence lines (each composed of 20 m of chain link and 20 m of woven wire fencing) dividing paddocks of captive deer. From June to November 2019, we conducted three trials of variable lengths to assess how season, age, and sex impacted behavior and motivation of deer to breach the electric fence. When no electric fence was in place, we observed 117 direct contacts through woven wire and chain link fences. With the electric fences in place, we observed electric fence breaches (which led to direct contact between deer) by weaned fawns (37 breaches, 4 direct contacts) and males in the mid‐ and late‐rut (2 breaches, 1 direct contact). The majority of breaches occurred across the three‐strand‐fence. Our results suggest that no style of primary fence alone is sufficient to prevent direct contacts and that the addition of a secondary, properly designed electric fence constructed along the primary fence of captive white‐tailed deer facilities could prevent direct contact between captive and free‐ranging deer.
Application of the Kovacic algorithm for the investigation of motion of a heavy rigid body with a fixed point in the Hess case
Authors: Bardin Boris S. , Kuleshov Alexander S.
Published: September 2022

In 1890, Hess found new special case of integrability of Euler–Poisson equations of motion of a heavy rigid body with a fixed point. In 1892, Nekrasov proved that the solution of the problem of motion of a heavy rigid body with a fixed point under Hess conditions reduces to integrating the second‐order linear differential equation. In this paper, the corresponding linear differential equation is derived and its coefficients are presented in the rational form. Using the Kovacic algorithm, we proved that the Liouvillian solutions of the corresponding second‐order linear differential equation exist only in the case, when the moving rigid body is the Lagrange top, or in the case, when the constant of the area integral is zero.
Mapping SYK to the sky
Authors: Pasterski Sabrina , Verlinde Herman
Published: September 2022

Abstract

The infrared behavior of gravity in 4D asymptotically flat spacetime exhibits a rich set of symmetries. This has led to a proposed holographic duality between the gravitational $$ \mathcal{S} $$
S
-matrix and a dual field theory living on the celestial sphere. Most of our current understanding of the dictionary relies on knowledge of the 4D bulk. As such, identifying intrinsic 2D models that capture the correct symmetries and soft dynamics of 4D gravity is an active area of interest. Here we propose that a 2D generalization of SYK provides an instructive toy model for the soft limit of the gravitational sector in 4D asymptotically flat spacetime. We find that the symmetries and soft dynamics of the 2D SYK model capture the salient features of the celestial theory: exhibiting chaotic dynamics, conformal invariance, and a w1+∞ symmetry. The holographic map from 2D SYK operators to the 4D bulk employs the Penrose twistor transform.
Genetic and morphometric variation in Schwarziana quadripunctata and Schwarziana mourei (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini)
Authors: Oi C. A. , Oliveira-Silva R. A. , Francoy T. M. , Imperatriz-Fonseca V. L. , Del Lama M. A.
Published: September 2022

Schwarzianabees are a ground-nesting stingless bee distributed in the Neotropical region.Schwarziana quadripunctatawas the first described and the most studied species of this genus. Now, there are four valid species ofSchwarzianabees, but it has been suggested that the diversity of this taxon may be higher, due to undescribed cryptic species. In this study, we investigated the populational diversity ofS. quadripunctatausing workers collected at 11 localities in Brazil (from the Northeast to South region). We also included one population ofS. mourei(collected in São Paulo state, 2 nests). We analysed the bees using geometric morphometrics and molecular analyses amplifying mtDNA cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and 16S to access the diversity among the populations. From the results of geometric morphometrics, the Mahalanobis distances betweenS. moureiandS. quadripunctataare greater than those distances amongS. quadripunctatapopulations. A similar scenario can also be observed looking to the phylogenetic tree generated by the molecular markers. Morphometry and molecular markers data showed significant association with geographic distance, indicating the existence of intrapopulation variation inS. quadripunctata. Our hypothesis was supported, that the populations ofS. quadripunctatashowed differences in haplotypic diversity. Overall, these analyses revealed a moderate level of intraspecific variation amongS. quadripunctatapopulations and discriminated well the speciesS. quadripunctatafromS. mourei.
Allgemeinmedizinische Behandlungsfälle in einer universitären Notaufnahme vor und nach Einführung eines strukturierten Ersteinschätzungssystems
Authors: Schleef Tanja , Engeleit Kristine , Krause Olaf , Schneider Nils
Published: September 2022

Hintergrund

In einer universitären Notaufnahme werden Patienten mit niedriger Behandlungsdringlichkeit und allgemeinmedizinisch-internistischen Beschwerden werktags durch Allgemeinärzte versorgt. Zur Festlegung der Behandlungsdringlichkeit wurde der Emergency Severity Index (ESI) eingeführt.

Ziel der Arbeit

Ziel war es, die Auswirkung der ESI-Einführung auf die Zusammensetzung des allgemeinmedizinischen Patientenkollektivs zu untersuchen sowie die Verteilung der ESI-Kategorien bei diesen Patienten darzustellen.

Methodik

Vergleich der allgemeinmedizinisch versorgten Patienten je 6 Monate vor (t0) und nach (t1) ESI-Einführung basierend auf Routinedaten und einem vom Allgemeinarzt auszufüllenden Erhebungsbogen. Die Analyse erfolgte deskriptiv und mittels χ2-Test bzw. t‑Test.

Ergebnisse

Es wurden 615 Behandlungsfälle in t0 und 751 Fälle in t1 ausgewertet. Dabei zeigten sich keine signifikanten Unterschiede hinsichtlich des Alters, des Geschlechts, des Anteils der mit ärztlicher Einweisung vorstelligen Patienten oder der stationären Aufnahmen. Die ESI-Einstufung erfolgte überwiegend in die niedrigen Dringlichkeitskategorien ESI 5 (37 %) und ESI 4 (46 %), bei 8 % der Patienten in ESI 3 bzw. 2. Der prognostizierte Ressourcenbedarf stimmte für 76 % der Patienten in ESI 5, für 36 % in ESI 4 und für 44 % der Patienten in ESI 3 überein. Für 3 % der ESI-5-Patienten und 7 % der ESI-4-Patienten war eine stationäre Aufnahme erforderlich.

Diskussion

Auch bei niedriger Behandlungsdringlichkeit kann eine stationäre Aufnahme indiziert sein, zudem weisen Abweichungen vom prognostizierten Ressourcenbedarf auf Triagierungsprobleme im untersuchten Patientenkollektiv hin. Zur Steuerung von Patienten in Versorgungsstrukturen außerhalb der Notaufnahme scheint die ESI-Ersteinschätzung nicht geeignet.
Notaufnahmebesuche von Pflegeheimbewohnern: Analyse von Routinedaten einer städtischen Klinik der Schwerpunktversorgung
Authors: Hoffmann Falk , Habbinga Kirsten
Published: September 2022

Hintergrund

In den letzten Jahren nimmt die Inanspruchnahme von Notaufnahmen in Deutschland zu, insbesondere durch ältere und pflegebedürftige Personen.

Ziel der Arbeit

Es werden Notaufnahmebesuche von Pflegeheimbewohnern hinsichtlich ihrer Charakteristika und Symptome, der Diagnostik und des stationären Verlaufs untersucht.

Material und Methoden

Es wurden Routinedaten eines Krankenhauses der Schwerpunktversorgung ohne Unfallchirurgie ausgewertet (Pius-Hospital Oldenburg). Aus dem Krankenhausinformationssystem wurden alle Notaufnahmebesuche von Pflegeheimbewohnern im Zeitraum 06/2014 bis 05/2017 selektiert.

Ergebnisse

Von 47.270 Notaufnahmebesuchen entfielen 1676 (3,6 %) auf Pflegeheimbewohner (mittleres Alter: 78,8 Jahre; 62,9 % weiblich). Insgesamt 20,1 % der Notaufnahmebesuche waren an Wochenenden und 80,6 % erfolgten zwischen 8–20 Uhr. Durch Vertragsärzte wurden 40,3 % eingewiesen. Insgesamt 84,2 % der Bewohner wurden stationär aufgenommen, die Verweildauer war genau einen Tag bei 21,1 % und 2–3 Tage bei weiteren 14,6 %. Mit längerer Verweildauer stieg der Anteil der Einweisungen durch Vertragsärzte. Von allen stationär aufgenommenen Bewohnern verstarben 10,3 % während des Krankenhausaufenthalts (davon 28,2 % am Aufnahmetag und 47,9 % binnen der ersten 3 Tage). Verstorbene waren älter, die Notaufnahmebesuche waren häufiger am Wochenende und eine Einweisung durch Vertragsärzte erfolgte seltener.

Diskussion

Die Studie zeigt Probleme auf verschiedenen Seiten. In Heimen sollten eine bessere interprofessionelle Kooperation mit Hausärzten sowie eine Stärkung der Palliativstrukturen erfolgen. In Notaufnahmen sollten Prozesse etabliert werden, die eine weitere ambulante Versorgung dieser Patientengruppe ermöglichen.
The transition from open to laparoscopic surgery for bilateral inguinal hernia repair: how we did it
Authors: Hidalgo Nils Jimmy , Bachero Irene , Hoyuela Carlos , Juvany Montserrat , Ardid Jordi , Martrat Antoni , Guillaumes Salvador
Published: September 2022

Purpose

To describe the transition process from open repair (OR) to laparoscopic repair (LR) of bilateral inguinal hernia in a small basic general hospital

Methods

We describe the technical details and training strategy used to facilitate the transition to systematic LR of bilateral inguinal hernia. We conducted a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from all patients undergoing bilateral inguinal hernia repair between January 2017 and December 2020. We analysed the evolution of LR and compared the surgical outcomes: complications, acute pain (24 h), chronic pain (> 3 months), and recurrence (1 year) of the patients operated on by OR and LR.

Results

We performed 132 bilateral inguinal hernia repairs, 55 (41.7%) ORs, and 77 (58.3%) LRs. A significant difference was observed in the choice of LR over time (2017: 9%, 2018: 32%, 2019: 75%, 2020: 91%, p < 0.001). The mean operative time was shorter in the OR group than in the LR group (56 min vs. 108 min, p < 0.001). However, the operative time of the LR decreased over the years. No significant differences were observed in complications or recurrence. LR was associated with lower acute postoperative pain at 24 h (2.2 vs. 3.1 points, p = 0.021) and lower chronic groin pain than OR (1.3% vs. 12.7%, p = 0.009).

Conclusion

A structured and systematized training process made the transition from OR to LR of bilateral inguinal hernias feasible and safe in a small basic general hospital. This transition did not increase complications or recurrence. Additionally, LR was associated with a decrease in postoperative pain and chronic groin pain.
IoT for measuring road network quality index
Authors: Raslan E. , Alrahmawy Mohammed F. , Mohammed Y. A. , Tolba A. S.
Published: September 2022

Egypt has been fighting the issue of ensuring road safety‚ reducing accidents‚ preserving the lives of citizens since its inception. For these reasons‚ precisely identifying the road condition‚ followed by effective and timely maintenance and rehabilitation measures‚ leads to an increase in the road network's safety level and lifespan. This paper presents a multi-input deep learning framework that combines BiLSTM and Depthwise separable convolution to work in parallel for automatic recognition of road surface quality and different road anomalies. Furthermore, we performed an investigation to compare deep networks approaches against other traditional approaches using real-time data sensed and collected from the Egyptian road network. The proposed deep model has achieved an average accuracy of 93.1%‚ which is superior compared to other evaluated approaches. Finally, we utilized the proposed model to estimate a road quality index in the Egyptian cities.
Quantitative physical performance tests can effectively detect Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Law Karlen K. P. , Lau Kenney K. L. , Shea Graham K. H. , Cheung Kenneth M. C.
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This review aimed to identify effective physical performance tests (PPT) as clinical outcome indicators for detecting and monitoring degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM).

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was performed on seven electronic databases on the effectiveness in detection and monitoring of DCM by PPT. All included studies were reviewed and undergone quality assessments on the risk-of-bias by Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and were pooled by random-effect analysis with level of significance at 0.05. Homogeneity among studies was assessed by I2-statistics and effect of PPT was confirmed by Cohen’s d effect size and confidence intervals.

Results

Totally, 3111 articles were retrieved, and 19 studies were included for review and meta-analysis. There were 13 studies investigating PPT regarding the upper limbs and 12 studies regarding the lower limbs. Performance in 10-second-Grip-and-Release Test (G&R) and 9-Hole-Peg Test (9HPT) was studied in 10 and 3 articles, respectively, while 10-second-Stepping Test (SST), 30-meter-Walking Test (30MWT) and Foot-Tapping Test (FTT) for lower limbs were studied in 5, 4, and 3 articles correspondingly. Only 1 study utilized the Triangle-Stepping Test. High-quality study with fair risk-of-bias was revealed from Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Large effect size facilitated detection and monitoring in DCM was unveiling for G&R, 9HPT, SST, and 30MWT. FTT, while also effective, was hindered by a high-degree heterogeneity in the meta-analysis.

Conclusion

Effective PPT including G&R, 9HPT, SST, 30MWT, and FTT was identified for disease detection and monitoring in DCM.