bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intragranular ferrite nucleation on MX carbonitrides and dislocations
Authors: Sobotka Evelyn , Kreyca Johannes , Povoden-Karadeniz Erwin
Published: November 2023

The competing mechanisms of ferrite nucleation on (Ti,V)(C,N) MX carbonitrides and dislocations, as well as their dependence on deformation, are investigated experimentally by thermo-mechanical treatments and via simulation. The impact of recrystallization and the resulting austenite grain size on intragranular ferrite nucleation is evaluated. The austenite-to-ferrite transformation temperatures, affected by different microstructures, are examined by isothermal uniaxial single-hit compression tests on a dilatometer DIL 805 and compared to thermal treatments without deformation. Different resulting microstructures are analyzed by using optical light microscopy. The experimental data is used for the validation of thermo-kinetic simulations with the mean-field modeling software MatCalc using the implemented models for the austenite grain evolution, the on-particle nucleation of ferrite on the surface of MX particles, the dislocation density evolution, and recrystallization.
Event Detection with Word-Word Relation Classification
Authors: Shen Yatian , Han Yiru , Yang Huijing , Wang Songyang , Lu Chengeng
Published: November 2023

Event detection (ED) is a critical task in information extraction, aiming to identify triggers and types. Current research has increasingly focused on fine-grained types, where a single sentence may contain multiple trigger words and event types. Previous models only considered sentence-level features, neglecting word-word features and word positional information in the text. We propose a novel labeling scheme that treats event detection as a word-word relation recognition task. In this approach, we first identify relationships between word pairs and then utilize these relationships to perform trigger and event-type detection. By adopting this method, we can efficiently and concurrently identify triggers and types in a sentence. Leveraging word pair relationships effectively addresses scenarios in which multiple trigger words appear in a single sentence. The results demonstrate that our approach outperforms several baseline models.
Image Water Ripple Detection Method Based on Constraint Convolution and Attention Mechanism
Authors: Kang Wei , Zhou Kun , Xu Chenlei , Ma Hongfu , Chi Jingchai , Pan Fan
Published: November 2023

Noise can introduce irrelevant interference signals, reduce the signal-to-noise ratio of the image, weaken the contrast between the target and the background, and make it more difficult to detect the target in the image, thus increasing the difficulty of water ripple detection. Therefore, a method for image water ripple detection based on constraint convolution and attention mechanism is proposed. Using the attention mechanism for image denoising, the “attention map” is calculated from both channel and spatial aspects, and the calculated “attention map” is multiplied by the image feature map for adaptive feature learning to achieve image denoising processing. The convolutional neural network is used to extract the features of the input image. Based on feature extraction, the constrained convolution operation is applied to highlight the detailed features of water ripples. The features obtained from the constrained convolution operation are input into the support vector machine classifier for the classification and detection of water ripples. According to the relationship between the patterns and features learned by the classifier, whether the image belongs to the category of water ripples is judged, to achieve water ripple detection. The experimental results show that the proposed method has a good image denoising effect and water ripple detection effect.
Difference in boreal winter predictability between two dynamical cores of Community Atmosphere Model 5
Authors: Kim Ha-Rim , Kim Baek-Min , Choi Yong-Sang , Jun Sang-Yoon , Son Seok-Woo
Published: November 2023

This study investigates the sensitivity of the boreal winter prediction skill of Community Atmosphere Model 5 to the choice of the dynamical core. Both finite volume (FV) and spectral element (SE) dynamical cores are tested. An additional FV with the SE topography (FVSE) is also conducted to isolate the possible influence of the topography. The three dynamical core experiments, which ran from 2001/2002–2017/2018, are validated using Japanese 55 year reanalysis data. It turns out that the SE (−4.27 °C) has a smaller cold bias in boreal-winter surface air temperature (SAT) than the FV (−5.17 °C) and FVSE (−5.29 °C), particularly in North America, East Asia, and Southern Europe/Northern Africa. Significant North Atlantic Oscillation-like biases are also identified in the mid-troposphere. These biases affect seasonal prediction skills. Although the overall prediction skills of boreal-winter SAT, quantified by the anomaly correlation coefficient (ACC), and root-mean-square error (RMSE), are reasonably good (ACC = 0.40 and RMSE = 0.47 in the mean values of SE, FV, and FVSE), they significantly differ from one region to another, depending on the choice of dynamical cores. For North America and Southern Europe/Northern Africa, SE shows better skills than FVSE and FV. Conversely, in East Asia, FV and FVSE outperform SE. These results suggest that the appropriate choice of the dynamical cores and the bottom boundary conditions could improve the boreal-winter seasonal prediction on a regional scale.
Environmental performance of Malaysia’s air pollutants based on data envelopment analysis with slack-based measure and Malmquist productivity index
Authors: Othman Murnira , Latif Mohd Talib , Abdul Halim Nor Diana
Published: November 2023

Air pollutants have a significant impact on humans and the environment, making their reduction and mitigation crucial and requiring attention from policymakers. In this study, the impact of air pollutant concentrations, namely particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm (PM10), particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3) and carbon monoxide (CO) on the environmental performance of 15 states in Malaysia was examined using available data from 2018 to 2021. The analysis was performed using data envelopment analysis (DEA) with slack-based measure (SBM) and the Malmquist productivity index (MPI). The efficiency values were used for principal component analysis (PCA) to infer the influencing factors that are highly redundant or dependent on each other. Results from SBM-DEA suggested an important aspect of gross domestic product toward efficiency score, where high efficiency values were observed for Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and a small state like Perlis (efficiency value of 1.000). The MPI score indicated that the performance of each state was relatively low for the years 2019–2020, which suggested a regression in performance productivity due to the haze episode. PCA analysis showed that there were two factors, where the highest contribution for Factor 1 was Melaka and Johor with an average contribution of 8.15% and for Factor 2 was Perlis and Perak with an average contribution of 23%. This study’s findings showed that air pollutants play significant roles in achieving good environmental performance in order to tackle global issues such as global warming and climate change.
Local well-posedness and singularity formation in non-Newtonian compressible fluids
Authors: Lerman Ariel , Disconzi Marcelo M , Noronha Jorge
Published: November 2023

We investigate the initial value problem of a very general class of3+1non-Newtonian compressible fluids in which the viscous stress tensor with shear and bulk viscosity relaxes to its Navier–Stokes values. These fluids correspond to the non-relativistic limit of well-known Israel–Stewart-like theories used in the relativistic fluid dynamic simulations of high-energy nuclear and astrophysical systems. After establishing the local well-posedness of the Cauchy problem, we show for the first time in the literature that there exists a large class of initial data for which the corresponding evolution breaks down in finite time due to the formation of singularities. This implies that a large class of non-Newtonian fluids do not have finite solutions defined at all times.
Identification Of Greenhouse Gases Emissions From Shipyard Activity In Lamongan, Indonesia
Authors: Afiuddin Ahmad Erlan , Hardiyanti Fitri , Ayona Islahiya Yuli , Sarena Sryang Tera , Dermawan Denny
Published: November 2023

Following International Maritime Organization (IMO) policy directives, the maritime industry has been seeking efficient solutions to alter the energy consumption patterns of ports and ships to ensure the sustainable operation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to support sustainable transport. However, there is little focus on identifying the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions related ship manufacture. The shipyard industry can generate greenhouse gas effects from burning fossil fuels and energy use. This study aims to identify the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced in the shipyard industry. The first step to calculating the number of greenhouse gas emissions is to start by identifying the sources of CO2 emissions, then calculate the emissions by the calculations referred to IPCC 2006. Based on the research results, total primary and secondary CO2 emissions in the shipyard is 358,693,723 tons CO2/year.
Ecofriendly HPLC Method for Simultaneous Determination of the Co-Prescribed Drugs in Chemotherapy Omeprazole, Ondansetron and Deflazacort in Spiked Human Plasma
Authors: Abdallah Fatma F , Fatma M , Gouda Ahmed M , Abdelaleem Eglal A , Emam Aml A
Published: November 2023

Green, selective and accurate high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) chromatographic method is presented for simultaneous separation and quantitation of the co-prescribed drugs in chemotherapy omeprazole, ondansetron and deflazacort in spiked human plasma. An isocratic HPLC separation was performed on X Bridge C18 (4.6 × 250 mm) column with 5 μm particle size using mobile phase consisting of methanol: ammonium acetate buffer pH 4 adjusted by acetic acid (60: 40, v/v). The injection volume was 20μL with UV detection wavelength at 237 nm at room temperature. Flow rate of the mobile phase was adjusted to be 2.0 ml/min. Dexamethasone was used as internal standard to correct the variation during sample pretreatment. FDA guidelines were followed to validate the developed method. Successful application of the developed method was revealed by simultaneous determination of omeprazole, ondansetron and deflazacort in spiked human plasma in ranges of 1–20, 0.1–8 and 0.2–8 μg mL−1 for omeprazole, ondansetron and deflazacort, respectively. Four greenness assessment tools were used to evaluate the greenness of the developed method and the results were accepted. This method permitted the accurate simultaneous determination of the studied drugs, thus it can be used during therapeutic drug monitoring in daily clinical practice.
Long-term Hepatitis B and Liver Outcomes Among Adults Taking Tenofovir-Containing Antiretroviral Therapy for HBV/HIV Coinfection in Zambia
Authors: Vinikoor Michael J , Hamusonde Kalongo , Muula Guy , Asombang Mah , Riebensahm Carlotta , Chitundu Helen , Sunkuntu-Sichizya Veronica , Bhattacharya Debika , Sinkala Edford , Lauer Georg , Chung Raymond , Mbewe Wilson , Egger Matthias , Bosomprah Samuel , Wandeler Gilles
Published: November 2023

Background

Long-term outcomes of tenofovir-containing antiretroviral therapy (ART) for hepatitis B virus (HBV)/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection were evaluated in Zambia.

Methods

A prospective cohort of adults with HIV and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positivity was enrolled at ART initiation. On tenofovir-containing ART, we ascertained HBV viral load (VL) non-suppression, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation, serologic end-points, progression of liver fibrosis based on elastography, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence. We also described a subgroup (low HBV VL and no/minimal fibrosis at baseline) that, under current international guidelines, would not have been treated in the absence of their HIV infection.

Results

Among 289 participants at ART start, median age was 34 years, 40.1% were women, median CD4 count was 191 cells/mm3, 44.2% were hepatitis B e antigen-positive, and 28.4% had liver fibrosis/cirrhosis. Over median 5.91 years of ART, 13.6% developed HBV viral non-suppression, which was associated with advanced HIV disease. ALT elevation on ART was linked with HBV VL non-suppression. Regression of fibrosis and cirrhosis were common, progression to cirrhosis was absent, and no cases of HCC were ascertained. HBsAg seroclearance was 9.4% at 2 and 15.4% at 5 years, with higher rates among patients with low baseline HBV replication markers.

Conclusions

Reassuring long-term liver outcomes were ascertained during tenofovir-based ART for HBV/HIV coinfection in Zambia. Higher than expected HBsAg seroclearance during ART underscores the need to include people with HIV in HBV cure research.
Witnessing the Suffering of Others in Watercolor and Pencil: Jadwiga Simon-Pietkiewicz’s Holocaust Art Exhibited in Sweden, 1945–46
Authors: Martínez Victoria Van Orden
Published: November 2023

In the Holocaust’s immediate aftermath (1945–1946), a small gallery in Lund, Sweden exhibited the paintings and drawings of Polish artist Jadwiga Simon-Pietkiewicz, which depicted her former fellow inmates in the Ravensbrück concentration camp. This exhibit and subsequent exhibitions elsewhere in Sweden marked rare instances of early postwar Holocaust art displayed in a country that had been relatively unaffected by the Holocaust. By analyzing the response of the Swedish public and press to the artwork in these exhibits, as well as Swedish and international responses to “atrocity photos” of the liberation, the author broadens our understanding of Holocaust art, early testimonies, and agency and resistance during and after the Holocaust.
Clusters of Disease Activity and Early Risk Factors of Clinical Course of Pediatric Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Distante Manuela , Rotulo Silvia , Ranalli Marco , Pedace Eugenio , Lionetti Paolo , Arrigo Serena , Alvisi Patrizia , Miele Erasmo , Martinelli Massimo , Zuin Giovanna , Bramuzzo Matteo , Cananzi Mara , Aloi Marina ,   SIGENP IBD Working Group, Baldi M , Banzato C , Barera G , Castellucci G , Corpino M , Cozzali R , De Giacomo C , Diaferia P , Dilillo D , Felici E , Illiceto M T , Knafelz D , Norsa L , Pavanello P M , Ravelli A , Romagnoli V , Romano C , Salvatore S
Published: November 2023

Background

This study aimed to define clusters of disease activity and prognostic factors of disease course in a well-characterized cohort of children with Crohn’s disease (CD).

Methods

All patients from the SIGENP IBD (Italian Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition Inflammatory Bowel Disease) registry with a 5-year follow-up and 6-monthly evaluation were included. Active disease was defined for each semester as follows: clinical activity (weighted Pediatric Crohn’s Disease Activity Index ≥12.5 or Mucosal Inflammation Noninvasive Index ≥8) and active disease on endoscopy (Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn’s Disease >3 or fecal calprotectin >250 µg/g) or imaging. Formula-based clusters were generated based on previously published patterns in adults.

Results

Data from 332 patients were analyzed. A total of 105 (32%) experienced a quiescent disease course; 49 (15%) and 31 (9%) a moderate-to-severe chronically active and chronic intermittent disease, respectively; 104 (31%) and 43 (13%) had active disease in the first 2 years after diagnosis and remission thereafter and vice versa, respectively. Surgery at diagnosis was significantly associated with a quiescent course (odds ratio [OR], 10.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.05-25.22; P=.0005), while growth impairment at the diagnosis and active disease requiring corticosteroids at 6 months were inversely related to the quiescent group (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.27-0.81; P= .007; and OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.16-0.71; P= .005, respectively). Perianal involvement at diagnosis and moderate–severe activity at 6 months correlated with disease progression (OR, 3.85; 95% CI, 1.20-12.85; P=.02).

Conclusions

During the first 5 years of follow-up, one-third of children with CD experience a quiescent course. However, another one-third have a moderate-to-severe disease course. Surgery at the diagnosis is related to a quiescent course, while growth impairment and lack of response to induction therapy correlate with more severe disease activity during follow-up.
Variant-Specific IgA Protects Against Omicron Infection
Authors: Goh Yun Shan , Fong Siew-Wai , Hor Pei Xiang , Loh Chiew Yee , Wang Bei , Salleh Siti Nazihah Mohd , Ngoh Eve Zi Xian , Lee Raphael Tze Chuen , Poh Xuan Ying , Rao Suma , Chia Po Ying , Ong Sean W X , Lee Tau Hong , Lim Clarissa , Teo Jefanie , Pada Surinder , Sun Louisa Jin , Ong Desmond Luan Seng , Somani Jyoti , Lee Eng Sing , Maurer-Stroh Sebastian , Wang Cheng-I , Leo Yee-Sin , Lye David C , Young Barnaby Edward , Ng Lisa F P , Renia Laurent ,   NCID Study Group, Yu Jocelyn Jin , Soh Zheng Kuang , Chin Yi Qing , Lim Jonathan Jordon , Ongko Juwinda , Libau Eshele Anak , Theo Celine , Abdullah Mohammed Ridzwan Bin , Diong Shiau Hui , Yeo He Ping ,   COVID-19 Cohort Study Group, Rouers Angeline , Wei Chang Zi , Tay Matthew Zirui , Torres-Ruesta Anthony , Wong Nathan , Huang Yuling , Ong Alice Soh Meoy , Chua Adeline Chiew Yen , Nguee Samantha , Tan Yong Jie , Neo Vanessa , Kam Isaac Kai Jie , Yadunandan Ajayanandan , Selvam Sooriya Kannan , Goh Jarvis , Ying Ng Kah , Yi Sim Xin , Lun Wong Wei , Loo Anna Xinyi , Loo Liang Hui
Published: November 2023

Background

The emergence of rapidly evolving severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants, coupled with waning vaccine-induced immunity, has contributed to the rise of vaccine breakthrough infections. It is crucial to understand how vaccine-induced protection is mediated.

Methods

We examined 2 prospective cohorts of mRNA vaccinated and boosted individuals during the Omicron wave of infection in Singapore.

Results

We found that individuals who remain uninfected over the follow-up period had a higher variant-specific IgA, but not IgG, antibody response at 1 month after booster vaccination, compared with individuals who became infected.

Conclusions

We conclude that IgA may have a potential contributory role in protection against Omicron infection.

Clinical Trials Registration . NCT05142319.
A new PK/PD target for assessing efficacy of micafungin against Candida parapsilosis
Authors: Beredaki Maria-Ioanna , Pournaras Spyros , Meletiadis Joseph
Published: November 2023

Background

Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) targets of echinocandins failed to support current clinical breakpoints of Candida parapsilosis as the PTA is low for susceptible isolates despite the good clinical efficacy of echinocandins against these infections. We therefore investigated the effect of micafungin against C. parapsilosis using an in vitro PK/PD in the presence of 10% human serum.

Methods

Three susceptible (MIC = 0.5–2 mg/L) and one resistant (MIC > 8 mg/L) C. parapsilosis sensu stricto isolates were tested at two different inocula (104 and 103 cfu/mL) simulating micafungin human exposures in RPMI and in RPMI + 10% pooled human serum. The exposure–effect relationship tAUC0–24/MIC was described and different PK/PD targets were determined in order to calculate the PTA for the standard 100 mg IV q24h dose.

Results

A maximal effect was found at fCmax ≥ 4 mg/L in RPMI and tCmax ≥ 64 mg/L (fCmax = 0.08 mg/L) in the presence of serum for which in vitro PK/PD targets were 50 times lower. Stasis in the presence of serum was found at 272–240 tAUC0–24/MIC, close to the clinical PK/PD target (285 tAUC/MIC), validating the in vitro model. However, the PTA was low for susceptible isolates with EUCAST/CLSI MICs ≤ 2 mg/L. Among the different PK/PD targets investigated, the PK/PD target 28 tAUC/MIC associated with 10% of maximal effect with the low inoculum resulted in PTAs ≥ 95% for susceptible isolates with EUCAST/CLSI MICs ≤ 2 mg/L.

Conclusions

A new PK/PD target was found for micafungin and C. parapsilosis that supports the current clinical breakpoint. This target could be used for assessing echinocandin efficacy against C. parapsilosis.
Long-term outcomes of stimulated salivary flow and xerostomia after definitive intensity-modulated radiation therapy for patients with head and neck cancer
Authors: Hiraoka Shinya , Yoshimura Michio , Nakajima Aya , Nakashima Ryota , Mizowaki Takashi
Published: November 2023

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the time to recovery from xerostomia and analyze its predictors, along with long-term outcomes of stimulated salivary flow after intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for head and neck cancer (HNC). We evaluated patients with HNC who had received IMRT with curative intent between 2012 and 2018 at our institution. The salivary recovery ratio (SRR) was defined as ‘(the stimulated salivary flow)/(pre-treatment salivary flow)’. The cutoff value of SRR in salivary recovery was estimated via the relationship between SRR and xerostomia grades. The salivary recovery time was defined as the time for SRR to exceed cutoff values from the end of radiotherapy. Fifty-seven patients were analyzed, with a 48-month median follow-up period of stimulated salivary flow. The cutoff value for SRR was 44.8%, and patients with a higher grade of xerostomia had a lower SRR (P < 0.001). The median salivary recovery time was 12 months. The cumulative incidence rates of salivary recovery at two and four years were 84 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 53–79) and 92% (95% CI: 82–97), respectively, and these were significantly lower in patients with a higher mean parotid gland dose, mean oral cavity dose and stimulated salivary flow per parotid gland volume. Stimulated salivary flow and xerostomia recover over a long period after radiotherapy.
Module 1: Setting Goals for Therapy
Authors: Jaywant Abhishek , Oberlin Lauren E. , Cherestal Stephanie , Bueno Castellano Christina , Wilkins Victoria M. , Kanellopoulos Dora
Published: November 2023

This chapter covers approaches the therapist can use to facilitate goal setting and enhance motivation in treatment. Goal setting is one of the most effective ways to foster motivation and achieve behavioral change, since setting goals improves the likelihood of successful behavioral change. The chapter includes strategies from Motivational Interviewing, a collaborative, evidence-based approach designed to foster internal motivation. While the facilitation needs only one session, a second session can be helpful to clarify goals for clients having difficulty articulating their goals or suboptimal motivation. At the end of the goal-setting session, therapists should emphasize to the client the importance of home practice during treatment.
Module 8: Confronting Feared and Avoided Situations
Authors: Jaywant Abhishek , Oberlin Lauren E. , Cherestal Stephanie , Bueno Castellano Christina , Wilkins Victoria M. , Kanellopoulos Dora
Published: November 2023

This chapter discusses how clients can evaluate the function of avoidance in their life. The therapist should aim to identify any existing maladaptive avoidance behaviors and patterns and should encourage clients to practice engaging in avoided situations to reduce anxiety and improve functioning. The fight-or-flight response may occur even if the situation is not inherently dangerous, which then motivates avoidance and escape. This module does not provide an exhaustive protocol for exposure therapy, but clients with psychiatric disorders that warrant exposure-based treatment may benefit from dedicated exposure protocols. The chapter discusses the differences between false alarms and true alarms and explains that people recovering from COVID-19 experience interoceptive and somatic sensations and then avoid activities that might trigger similar symptoms.
Module 10: Fatigue and Sleep
Authors: Jaywant Abhishek , Oberlin Lauren E. , Cherestal Stephanie , Bueno Castellano Christina , Wilkins Victoria M. , Kanellopoulos Dora
Published: November 2023

This chapter discusses fatigue and sleep disturbances that can occur as sequelae of COVID-19. Being aware of these issues may help clients to implement behavioral strategies to better manage fatigue and improve sleep. Using cognitive behavioral therapy techniques can help clients to better manage fatigue, learn to develop healthier activity patterns to reframe thoughts, and use mindfulness techniques to decrease overfocus on their symptoms. The chapter covers unhelpful thoughts that clients may have in the context of fatigue and behavioral strategies. It highlights the importance of home practice of the strategies and skills so they will be available when needed.
Module 11: Participating In Medical Treatment
Authors: Jaywant Abhishek , Oberlin Lauren E. , Cherestal Stephanie , Bueno Castellano Christina , Wilkins Victoria M. , Kanellopoulos Dora
Published: November 2023

This chapter highlights the importance of medical adherence in the context of well-being and recovery after COVID-19. It explores strategies to enhance clients’ motivation and improve their adherence to medical recommendations, and addresses common barriers to treatment engagement. Adherence to medical and rehabilitation recommendations can improve clients’ daily functioning, reduce disability, and help them return to a more independent and satisfying life. The chapter considers the barriers to adherence, which include mood and anxiety issues, low motivation, ambivalence, practical barriers, cognitive difficulties, treatment dissatisfaction, and misconceptions about COVID-19. Other topics discussed are how to prepare for medical appointments and telehealth visits. Home practice of the strategies is encouraged to implement skills and experience change in anxiety and depression symptoms.
Loss and Grief
Authors: Jaywant Abhishek , Oberlin Lauren E. , Cherestal Stephanie , Bueno Castellano Christina , Wilkins Victoria M. , Kanellopoulos Dora
Published: November 2023

This chapter explores the various ways that experiences of loss and grief affected individuals with COVID-19. Grief is a normal human response to loss, but other mental health challenges may co-exist or develop. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in many forms of loss—not only death but also changes in functioning, socialization, religious practices, and social roles. Therapists also have personal experiences with the pandemic and can utilize self-care and mindfulness to attend to their emotional responses. Moreover, empathy stemming from the pandemic experience can help inform their responses to clients while maintaining a connected professional stance. The chapter also highlights the role of acceptance in grief.
StarkML: application of machine learning to overcome lack of data on electron-impact broadening parameters
Authors: Zakuskin Aleksandr S , Labutin Timur A
Published: November 2023

Parameters of electron-impact (Stark) broadening and shift of spectral lines are of key importance in various studies of plasma spectroscopy and astrophysics. To overcome the lack of accurately known Stark parameters, we developed a machine learning approach for predicting Stark parameters of neutral atoms’ lines. By implementing a data pre-processing routine and explicitly testing models’ predictive ability and generalizability, we achieve a high level of accuracy in parameters prediction as well as physically meaningful temperature dependence. The applicability of the results is demonstrated by the case of low-temperature plasma diagnostics. The developed model is readily accessible for predicting desired Stark parameters.
Magnetic-reconnection-heated corona model: implication of hybrid electrons for hard X-ray emission of luminous active galactic nuclei
Authors: Liu Jie-Ying , Mao Jirong , Liu B F
Published: November 2023

It is widely accepted that X-ray emission in luminous active galactic nuclei (AGNs) originates from hot corona. To prevent the corona from overcooling by strong X-ray emission, steady heating to the corona is essential, for which the most promising mechanisms is the magnetic reconnection. Detailed studies of the coupled disc and corona, in the frame of magnetic field transferring accretion-released energy from the disc to the corona, reveal that the thermal electrons can only produce X-ray spectrum with $\Gamma _{\rm 2-10\, keV}\gt 2.1$, which is an inevitable consequence of the radiative coupling of the thermal corona and disc. In this work, we develop the magnetic-reconnection-heated corona model by taking into account the potential non-thermal electrons accelerated in the magnetic reconnection process, in addition to the thermal electrons. We show that the features of the structure and spectrum of the coupled disc and corona can be affected by the fraction of magnetic energy allocated to thermal electrons. Furthermore, we investigate the effects of the power-law index and energy range of non-thermal electrons and the magnetic field on the spectrum. It is found that the X-ray spectrum from the Comptonization of the hybrid electrons can be flatter than that from thermal electrons only, in agreement with observations. By comparing with the observed hard X-ray data, we suggest that a large fraction ($\gt 40~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$) of the magnetic energy be allocated to the non-thermal electrons in the luminous and flat X-ray spectrum AGNs.
Geographies of the War on Terror
Authors: Fernandez Shereen
Published: November 2023

The “war on terror” was declared by President George W. Bush in the aftermath of the terror attacks on 11 September 2001. Although the United States had experienced terrorist attacks in the months and years before, in many ways the 9/11 attacks signified a rupture in time in which the terms “terrorism,” “terrorists,” and “extremists” circulated widely and were used increasingly to profile those racially viewed as Muslim and Arab. Immediately after the attacks, the United States declared a national emergency and Congress granted the president with an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) to launch attacks on those nations that allegedly harbored and supported Islamist terror networks, beginning with Afghanistan and Iraq. In various speeches to the world, George Bush created a new geography through the prism of the “new” war on terror: one which divided the world into nations that supported terrorism and those that aimed to eliminate it, like the United States. As geographers and other scholars have argued, this “new” war was built on prior understandings of US foreign policy and a continuation of solidifying empire. As the threat of terrorism spiraled across the West, there was an endless cycle of legislating international and domestic counterterrorism operations, and a move toward embracing preemptive security strategies to “manage” the blowback of violence from the war on terror. Based on the mantra that prevention is the cure, states in the Global North and South have redefined what constitutes terrorism and relied upon preemptive strategies of policing and securitization to quash dissent and nonviolent ideologies to catch the “would-be-terrorist,” while aggressively threatening the civil liberties of communities and increasing racism, notably Islamophobia, as part of the ruins of the war on terror.
Bacterial Leaf Streak Diseases of Plants: Symptom Convergence in Monocot Plants by Distant PathogenicXanthomonasSpecies
Authors: Heiden Nathaniel , Broders Kirk A. , Hutin Mathilde , Castro Mary Ortiz , Roman-Reyna Verónica , Toth Hannah , Jacobs Jonathan M.
Published: November 2023

Bacterial leaf streak (BLS) is a disease of monocot plants caused by Xanthomonas translucens on small grains, X. vasicola on maize and sorghum, and X. oryzae on rice. These three pathogens cause remarkably similar symptomology in their host plants. Despite causing similar symptoms, BLS pathogens are dispersed throughout the larger Xanthomonas phylogeny. Each aforementioned species includes strain groups that do not cause BLS and instead cause vascular disease. In this commentary, we hypothesize that strains of X. translucens, X. vasicola, and X. oryzae convergently evolved to cause BLS due to shared evolutionary pressures. We examined the diversity of secreted effectors, which may be important virulence factors for BLS pathogens and their evolution. We discuss evidence that differences in gene regulation and abilities to manipulate plant hormones may also separate BLS pathogens from other Xanthomonas species or pathovars. BLS is becoming an increasing issue across the three pathosystems. Overall, we hope that a better understanding of conserved mechanisms used by BLS pathogens will enable researchers to translate findings across production systems and guide approaches to control this (re)emerging threat.
CRP Predicts the Need to Escalate Care After Initial Debridement for Musculoskeletal Infection
Authors: Moore-Lotridge Stephanie N. , Daryoush Joshua R. , Wollenman Colby C. , Gibian Joseph T. , Johnson Samuel R. , Thomsen Isaac P. , Schoenecker Jonathan G.
Published: November 2023

Background:

Musculoskeletal infections (MSKIs) are a major cause of morbidity in the pediatric population and account for nearly 1 in every 10 consultations with a pediatric orthopaedic provider at a tertiary care center. To prevent or deescalate the risk of adverse medical and musculoskeletal outcomes, timely medical intervention in the form of antibiotics and potential surgical debridement is required. While there have been numerous studies indicating the value of laboratory testing during the initial workup of a child with MSKI, few studies to date have examined the utility of longitudinal assessment of laboratory measures in the acute setting to monitor the efficacy of antibiotic therapy and/or surgical intervention. The purpose of this investigation was to retrospectively determine whether measuring changes in the inflammatory response could indicate the need for escalated care. Specifically, this study examined the hypothesis that serial measurements of C-reactive protein (CRP), immediately preoperatively and 2 days after surgical debridement, could predict the need for medical (change in antibiotics) or surgical (additional debridement) escalation.

Methods:

Retrospective review of pediatric patients undergoing operative debridement for the treatment of MSKI between September 2009 and December 2015 from whom laboratory data (CRP) was obtained preoperatively and at postoperative day (POD) 2. Patient demographics, the need for escalated care, and patient outcomes were evaluated.

Results:

Across 135 pediatric patients, preoperative CRP values >90 mg/L and a positive change in CRP at POD2 effectively predicted the need for escalation of care after initial surgical debridement (Area under the Receiver Operator Curve: 0.883). For each 10-unit increase in preoperative CRP or postoperative change in CRP, there was a 21% or 22% increased risk of needing escalated care, respectively. Stratification by preoperative CRP >90 mg/L and change in CRP postoperatively likewise correlated with increased rates of disseminated disease, percent tissue culture positivity, length of stay, and rate of adverse outcomes.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrates the utility of serial CRP to assess the need for escalated care in patients being treated for MSKI. As serial CRP measurements become standard of practice in the acute setting, future prospective studies are needed to optimize the timing of CRP reassessment during inpatient hospitalization to prognosticate patient outcomes, weighing both improvements of patient care and clinical burden.

Level of Evidence:

Level III—retrospective comparative study.
A re-usable, locally manufactured, half-face respirator provides better protection than fitted disposable N95 masks
Authors: Mbadjeu Hondjeu Arnaud Romeo , Ng William C.K. , Anwari Vahid , Kazlovich Kate , Xiao Maggie Z.X. , Rozenberg Dmitry , Zalewski Alan , Afenu Edem , Hiansen Joshua Qua , Mashari Azad
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has led to persistent shortages of respiratory protective equipment in many jurisdictions. Re-usable industrial respirators have been proposed and deployed as an alternative, but also face severe supply limitations. Numerous respirator designs have been proposed since the start of the current pandemic, but few have been systematically tested on healthcare workers (HCWs).

OBJECTIVE

In this paper, we describe a locally manufactured respirator named ‘Duo’ that includes separate, valved, inspiratory and expiratory pathways and accommodates up to two filters. Duo was compared with the disposable commercial N95 in a cohort of 41 HCWs using standardised quantitative fit-testing.

DESIGN

A prospective observational cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Conducted between May and June 2020 among HCWs at Toronto General Hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Forty-one HCWs of both sexes working at Toronto General Hospital.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Quantitative fit-testing involving seven tests as prescribed by Canadian standard CSA Z94.4-18. We measured the median overall fit-factors; the individual manoeuvre fit-factors and pass rate.

RESULTS

The median [IQR] overall fit-factors were 2947 [2228 to 4405] and 77.2 [51.9 to 152.1] for the Duo and disposable N95 respirators respectively (P < 0.0001). The overall pass rate of quantitative fit-testing fitted disposable N95 was 58.5% (24/41), and 100% for the Duo.

CONCLUSIONS

A re-usable, locally manufactured, half-face respirator performs better than fitted disposable N95 masks as assessed by quantitative fit-testing. This can help address the global supply disruption for a better response to future pandemics. The device requires further modification and testing to optimise exhalation flow resistance, and full conformance with technical standards is required for regulatory approval.
Antinociceptive and adverse effects of morphine:ketamine mixtures in rats
Authors: Strumberger Conor D. , D’Epagnier Evangeline J. , Nguyen Kevin H. , Rogers John D. , Meyer Matthew P. , Malhotra Yashmita , Hinman Jillian E. , Jansen Elisabeth L. , Minervini Vanessa
Published: November 2023

Prescription opioids are the gold standard for treating moderate to severe pain despite their well-documented adverse effects. Of all prescription medications, opioids are abused most widely, and fatal overdoses have reached epidemic levels. One strategy for improving the margin of safety of opioids is combining them with non-opioid drugs to decrease the opioid dose needed for pain relief, thereby reducing adverse effects that occur with larger doses. The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist ketamine has been used safely as an analgesic but only under a very limited range of conditions. The current studies characterized the antinociceptive, behavioral suppressant, and gastrointestinal effects of morphine and ketamine alone and in mixtures to determine their interaction in 24 adult male Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 8 per assay). Given alone, both morphine and ketamine produced antinociception, decreased responding for food, and reduced gastrointestinal transit (i.e. produced constipation). The effects of morphine:ketamine mixtures generally were additive, except for the antinociceptive effects of 1:1 mixtures for which the difference in slope (i.e. non-parallel shift) between the observed and predicted effects suggested synergy at smaller doses and additivity at larger doses. The potency of morphine to produce constipation was not enhanced by administration of morphine:ketamine mixtures with antinociceptive effects. The nature of the interaction between morphine and ketamine for adverse effects such as dependence, withdrawal, abuse, or respiratory depression remains unknown but also might be related to the ratio of each drug in mixtures. It will be important to identify conditions that produce the largest potential therapeutic window in humans.
The real-world study of the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer in China
Authors: Cui Jiujie , Fu Qihan , Chen Xiaobing , Wang Yanling , Li Qi , Wang Feng , Li Zhihua , Dai Guanghai , Wang Yusheng , Zhang Hongmei , Liang Houjie , Zhou Jun , Yang Liu , Wang Fenghua , Zheng Leizhen , Chen Xiaofeng , Gong Ping , Liu Jiang , Yuan Ying , Wang Lin , Cheng Yuejuan , Zhang Jun , Zhou Yuhong , Guo Weijian , Zhan Xianbao , Zou Zhengyun , Li Da , Zeng Shan , Li Enxiao , Li Zhiwei , Teng Zan , Cao Dan , Kan Jie , Xiong Jianping , Quan Ming , Yao Jiayu , Yang Haiyan , Wang Liwei
Published: November 2023

Objective:

Real-world diagnostic and treatment data for pancreatic cancer in China are lacking. As such, the present study investigated the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer (including locally advanced and metastatic disease) in the Hospital-based Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Cohort in China of the China Pancreas Data Center database.

Methods:

A total of 5349 Chinese patients with advanced pancreatic cancer were identified from a database. The entire course of real-world pancreatic cancer management was analyzed.

Results:

The proportion of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer was higher among males than females (62.4% vs 37.6%, respectively). Patients typically had a history of hypertension (30.8%), diabetes (21.6%), and cholangitis (20.2%). Abdominal pain (51.6%), abdominal distension (27.1%), jaundice (20.1%), and weight loss (16.3%) were the main symptoms observed in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer in this cohort. Serum carbohydrate antigen (CA)19-9 is one of the most common tumor markers. In the present study, 2562 patients underwent first-line therapy. The median progression-free survival (PFS) for patients undergoing first-line therapy was 4.1 months. The major options for first-line therapy included gemcitabine (GEM) plus S-1 (GS/X) (23.4%), nab-paclitaxel plus GEM (AG) (18.1%), oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and leucovorin-modulated fluorouracil (FOLFIRINOX; 11.9%), nab-paclitaxel plus S-1 (AS) (8.9%), and GEM combined with oxaliplatin/cisplatin (GEMOX/GP) (7.6%). The AS and GS/X regimens were associated with the highest PFS rates.

Conclusion:

This is the first study to report multicenter, real-world data regarding advanced pancreatic cancer in China. Results revealed that real-world treatment options differed from guideline recommendations, and PFS was shorter than that in previously reported data. Improving intelligent follow-up systems and standardizing diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer is recommended.
Impact of urinary diversion type on urethral recurrence following radical cystectomy for bladder cancer: Propensity score matched and weighted analyses of retrospective cohort
Authors: Yu Jiwoong , Lee Chung Un , Chung Jae Hoon , Song Wan , Kang Minyong , Jeon Hwang Gyun , Jeong Byong Chang , Seo Seong Il , Jeon Seong Soo , Sung Hyun Hwan
Published: November 2023

Background:

The absence of randomized controlled trials and the presence of inherent selection bias in existing studies have led to ongoing uncertainty regarding the impact of urinary diversion (UD) type (orthotopic UD or non-orthotopic UD) on urethral recurrence (UR) following radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer. This study aimed to assess the impact of the UD types on UR after RC and to identify predictive factors associated with UR.

Materials and Methods:

This retrospective analysis encompassed 612 male patients who underwent RC for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. Among them, 341 patients received non-orthotopic UD (ileal conduit [IC] or ureterocutaneostomy [UC]), whereas 271 received orthotopic neobladder (NB) between January 2012 and October 2022. To mitigate potential biases, we employed 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) and stabilized inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW). Kaplan–Meier analysis and log-rank tests were employed to assess UR-free survival between the IC/UC and NB groups, while multivariable Cox regression analysis was conducted to determine predictive factors for UR.

Results:

Among the 612 patients included, 33 (5.4%) experienced UR. PSM yielded matched cohort comprising 412 patients, evenly distributed with 206 patients in each group (IC/UC and NB). Clinicopathological data demonstrated similarity between the two groups. Patients who underwent NB exhibited significantly superior UR-free survival in both PSM (log-rank P=0.033) and IPTW cohorts (log-rank P=0.009). NB reconstruction (vs. IC/UC) emerged as a substantial protective factor against UR (hazard ratio [HR] 0.283; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.088–0.916; P=0.035), whereas prostatic urethral involvement was identified as a significant risk factor (HR 5.328; 95% CI 1.298–21.868; P=0.020) in the PSM cohort. Additionally, in the IPTW cohort, NB reconstruction (vs. IC/UC) maintained its significance as a protective factor against UR (HR 0.336; 95% CI 0.131–0.858; P=0.023) along with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (HR 0.335; 95% CI 0.116–0.969; P=0.044), whereas prostatic urethral involvement remained a significant risk factor (HR 3.752; 95% CI 1.484–9.488; P=0.005).

Conclusions:

Even after mitigating selection bias, NB reconstruction holds a protective effect against UR in male patients undergoing RC for bladder cancer.
Validation of the Wellvii VitalDetect blood pressure monitor in general population according to the International Standardization Organization 81060-2:2018
Authors: Li Lin-Yi , Chen Jin-Feng , Bing Sen , Liu Kui , Cheng Rui , Wan Yi
Published: November 2023

Objective

To evaluate the accuracy of the Wellvii VitalDetect automated oscillometric finger blood pressure monitor (single cuff size) for self/home blood pressure measurement according to the AAMI/ESH/ISO Universal Standard (ISO 81060-2:2018).

Methods

According to the universal standard, a total of 92 participants were recruited and finally blood pressure of 85 eligible participants was sequentially measured and compared with a standard mercury sphygmomanometer.

Results

A total of 255 comparison pairs were obtained and analyzed based on the universal standard. For the validation criterion 1 of the ISO 81060-2:2018 universal standard, the mean ± SD of the differences between the test device and reference blood pressure readings was 1.66 ± 7.67 and 1.04 ± 6.45 mmHg for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively. For criterion 2, the SD of the averaged blood pressure differences between the test device and reference blood pressure per subject was ± 6.49 mmHg (pass ≤ 6.73 mmHg) and ± 5.67 mmHg (pass ≤ 6.86 mmHg) for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively.

Conclusion

The Wellvii VitalDetect automated finger blood pressure monitor passed all the requirements for validation by the ISO 81060-2:2018 universal standard and can be recommended for self/home blood pressure measurement in general population.