bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of biospecimens for α‐synuclein seed amplification assays in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and network meta‐analysis
Authors: Zheng Yuanchu , Li Siming , Yang Chen , Yu Zhenwei , Jiang Ying , Feng Tao
Published: August 2023

Background and purpose

Alpha‐synuclein seed amplification assays (α‐syn SAAs) are promising diagnostic methods for Parkinson's disease (PD) and other synucleinopathies. However, there is limited consensus regarding the diagnostic and differential diagnostic performance of α‐syn SAAs on biofluids and peripheral tissues.

Methods

A comprehensive research was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane Library. Meta‐analysis was performed using a random‐effects model. A network meta‐analysis based on an ANOVA model was conducted to compare the relative accuracy of α‐syn SAAs with different specimens.

Results

The pooled sensitivity and specificity of α‐syn SAAs in distinguishing PD from healthy controls or non‐neurodegenerative neurological controls were 0.91 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89‐0.92) and 0.95 (95% CI 0.94‐0.96) for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); 0.91 (95% CI 0.86–0.94) and 0.92 (95% CI 0.87‐0.95) for skin; 0.80 (95% CI 0.66‐0.89) and 0.87 (95% CI 0.69‐0.96) for submandibular gland; 0.44 (95% CI 0.30–0.59) and 0.92 (95% CI 0.79–0.98) for gastrointestinal tract; 0.79 (95% CI 0.70–0.86) and 0.88 (95% CI 0.77–0.95) for saliva; and 0.51 (95% CI 0.39‐0.62) and 0.91 (95% CI 0.84‐0.96) for olfactory mucosa (OM). The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.91 (95% CI 0.89–0.93) and 0.50 (95% CI 0.44–0.55) for CSF, 0.92 (95% CI 0.83–0.97) and 0.22 (95% CI 0.06–0.48) for skin, and 0.55 (95% CI 0.42–0.68) and 0.50 (95% CI 0.35–0.65) for OM in distinguishing PD from multiple system atrophy. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.92 (95% CI 0.89–0.94) and 0.84 (95% CI 0.73–0.91) for CSF, 0.92 (95% CI 0.83–0.97) and 0.88 (95% CI 0.64–0.99) for skin and 0.63 (95% CI 0.52‐0.73) and 0.86 (95% CI 0.64‐0.97) for OM in distinguishing PD from progressive supranuclear palsy. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.94 (95% CI 0.90–0.97) and 0.95 (95% CI 0.77–1.00) for CSF and 0.94 (95% CI 0.84–0.99) and 0.86 (95% CI 0.42–1.00) for skin in distinguishing PD from corticobasal degeneration.

Conclusions

α‐Synuclein SAAs of CSF, skin, saliva, submandibular gland, gastrointestinal tract and OM are promising diagnostic assays for PD, with CSF and skin α‐syn SAAs demonstrating higher diagnostic performance.
Next activity prediction of ongoing business processes based on deep learning
Authors: Sun Xiaoxiao , Yang Siqing , Ying Yuke , Yu Dongjin
Published: August 2023

Next activity prediction of business processes (BPs) provides valid execution information of ongoing (i.e., unfinished) process instances, which enables process executors to rationally allocate resources and detect process deviations in advance. Current researches on next activity prediction, however, concentrate mostly on model construction without in‐depth analysis of historical event logs. In this article, we are dedicated to proposing an approach to forecast the next activity effectively in BPs. After in‐depth analysis of historical event logs, three types of candidate activity attributes are defined and calculated as additional input for the prediction based on three essential elements, that is, frequent activity patterns, trace similarity and position information. Furthermore, we construct an effective hybrid prediction model combining the popular convolutional neural network (CNN) and bidirectional long short‐term memory (Bi‐LSTM) with self‐attention mechanism. Specifically, CNN is used to extract the temporal features before importing into Bi‐LSTM for accurate prediction, and self‐attention mechanism is applied to strengthen features that have decisive effects on the prediction results. Comparison experiments on four real‐life datasets demonstrate that our hybrid model with selected attributes achieves better performance on next activity prediction than single models, and improves the prediction accuracy by 2.98%, 6.05%, 2.70% and 5.26% on Helpdesk, Sepsis, BPIC2013 Incidents and BPIC2012O datasets than the state‐of‐the‐art methods, respectively.
Synthesis and characterization of geopolymer from “In Natura” red mud and glass waste
Authors: Fagundes Júnia Toledo , Santana Vanessa Pereira , Ferreira Gabriella Andrade , Brigolini Guilherme Jorge
Published: August 2023

The use of red mud in the geopolymer production is an attractive method for managing this waste. However, the processing steps usually applied, such as drying and grinding, can significantly increase the material processing costs, and consequently increase the cost of the final product. In this study, geopolymers were developed using red mud “in natura” (non‐processed slurry) and glass waste powder. Parameters including SiO2/Al2O3 ratio (4, 5, and 6), NaOH solution (6, 8, and 10 M) and curing duration (10, 28, and 56 days), were examined to understand the extent and degree of geopolymerization. Compressive strength tests were performed along with the analysis of their microstructural characteristics using quantitative x‐ray diffraction (QXRD) analysis based on Rietveld's refinement method, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermal analysis (TG and DTA). As a result, higher SiO2/Al2O3 ratios and NaOH solution concentrations generally lead to greater compressive strength, which ranges from 9.7 to 43.1 MPa. Microstructural and compositional analyses demonstrated that the final products consist of an amorphous geopolymer binder, crystalline phases originating from raw RM and a neoformed phase, Garronite. This study showed that the RM without any processing step displays a high potential in the geopolymer production.
Differential associations between television viewing, computer use, and adiposity by age, gender, and race/ethnicity in United States youth: A cross‐sectionalNHANESanalysis
Authors: Zink Jennifer , Liu Benmei , Yang Chih‐Hsiang , Herrick Kirsten A. , Berrigan David
Published: August 2023

Background

Time spent on screens and adiposity change rapidly from childhood to adolescence, with differences by gender and race/ethnicity.

Objective

Apply time‐varying effect models (TVEMs) to a nationally representative sample of youth to identify the age ranges when the cross‐sectional associations between television viewing, computer use, and adiposity are significant.

Methods

Data from 8 to 15‐year‐olds (n = 3593) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011–2018) were extracted. TVEMs estimated the associations between television viewing, computer use, and fat mass index as dynamic functions of the participants' age, stratified by gender and race/ethnicity.

Results

TVEMs revealed age‐specific statistically significant associations that differed by gender and race/ethnicity. Notably, computer use was related to higher adiposity in non‐Hispanic White females aged 9.3–11.4 years (slope β‐range: 0.1–0.2) and in non‐Hispanic Black females older than 14.8 years (β‐range: 0.1–0.5). In males, these age windows were 13.5–15.0 years (non‐Hispanic White, β‐range: 0.1–0.2), 11.4–13.0 years (non‐Hispanic Black, β‐range: 0.1–0.14), and older than 13.0 years (Hispanic, β‐range: 0.1–0.4).

Conclusions

More research during the specific age ranges in the demographic subgroups identified here could increase our understanding of tailored interventions in youth.
Implementing the DSM‐5 parent/guardian‐rated level 1 cross‐cutting symptom measure child 6−17 in a community mental health clinic
Authors: Corbel Hervé , Kinchen Elizabeth
Published: August 2023

Problem

Despite their relevance to assessment and clinical decision‐making in behavioral health, measurement tools are still rarely used in clinical settings. With an increase in undiagnosed and untreated mental health problems in children and adolescents, a southeastern US Community Health System was the ideal setting for the implementation of a behavioral health assessment tool.

Methods

This quality improvement project was conducted to address the question: “Among mental health clinicians at the Community Health System, will the use of the DSM‐5 parent/guardian‐rated level 1 cross‐cutting symptom measure 6−17 (CCSM) improve diagnosis and treatment choices of children with mental health conditions, over a 4‐week period?” A convenience sample was recruited from among behavioral health counselors working at various out‐patient clinics and school‐based counseling sites in the Community Health System. After nurse‐led training on use of the CCSM, including a PowerPoint intervention and individual coaching sessions, the five clinical participants were encouraged to use the CCSM screening tool on their patients presenting for mental health assessment. Knowledge of the tool was assessed using a pre‐ and post‐training survey. Completed screening tools were collected from participants over the 4‐week duration of the project.

Findings

A chart audit comparing the project period with the previous year showed an increase in diagnosis and treatment in 6−17 year‐old patients at the outpatient clinic.

Conclusions

This project demonstrated the usefulness of the CCSM for behavioral health assessment in the child/adolescent population at the Community Health System and supported use of the intervention in other clinics.
COVID outcome in pemphigus: Does rituximab make pemphigus patients susceptible to more severe COVID‐19?
Authors: Aryanian Zeinab , Balighi Kamran , Sajad Baseerat , Esmaeli Nafiseh , Daneshpazhooh Maryam , Mazloumi Tootoonchi Nasim , Beigmohammadi Fereshteh , Mohseni Afshar Zeinab , Hatami Parvaneh
Published: August 2023

Background

The COVID‐19 pandemic has raised some concerns regarding the management of chronic skin diseases, especially in patients on immunosuppressive therapy including patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV). Literature review reveals conflicting results about the effect of monoclonal antibodies such as rituximab on clinical outcome of COVID‐19.

Objectives

To assess the reciprocal interaction of COVID‐19 and pemphigus and the effect of rituximab on prognosis of COVID‐19 in patients.

Methods

We set up a retrospective study on adult patients with a confirmed diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris and a history of COVID‐19 with or without symptoms during 2020.

Results

Thirty‐six adults with pemphigus vulgaris and SARS‐CoV‐2 infection were included. The SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was confirmed with positive RT‐PCR test results in 31 cases (86.1%) and suspected in the 5 others (13.9%). Gender, total dose of rituximab, number of rituximab cycles, and involvement of head and neck were not associated to duration of COVID‐19 symptoms (p values: 0.32, 0.23, 0.84, and 0.51, respectively), severity of disease (hospitalization) (p values: 0.46, 0.39, 0.23, and 0.72, respectively), or the percentage of lung involvement on CT scan (p values: 0.07, 0.36, 0.38, and 0.09, respectively). Regarding the impact of COVID‐19 on pemphigus, the majority of patients did not experience any changes in their pemphigus regarding clinical phenotype (100%) or severity (83.3%), but PV was worsened in 6 (16.9%) patients which was controlled with increasing the prednisolone dosage.

Conclusion

Rituximab appears to be safe with no increased risk of severe form of COVID‐19 in patients with pemphigus vulgaris.
Elevated translationally controlled tumour protein promotes oral cancer progression and poor outcome
Authors: Sharma Dipti , Pawar Sagar N. , Sulkshane Prasad , Waghole Rohit , Yasser Mohd , Pawar Sushil S. , Kannan Sadhana , Chaudhary Nazia , Kalwar Anjali , Patil Rahul , Nair Sudhir , Dalal Sorab N. , Teni Tanuja
Published: August 2023

Background

Translationally controlled tumour protein (TCTP) is a multifunctional protein elevated in multiple cancers. However, studies on its role in oral carcinogenesis and prognosis are rare. We recently reported the role of its interacting partner, MCL1, in oral cancer progression and outcome. Hence, the present study aimed to assess TCTP expression in oral tumorigenesis and its association with patient outcomes alone and in combination with MCL1.

Methods

TCTP expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting in oral tissues and cells, respectively. Cell viability post siRNA/dihydroartemisinin treatment was analysed by tetrazolium salt assay. Cell survival, invasion and tumorigenic potential post TCTP knockdown were assessed by clonogenic, Matrigel and soft‐agar assays, respectively. The association of TCTP with patient outcome was analysed by Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression.

Results

TCTP was significantly overexpressed in oral premalignant lesions (p < 0.0001), oral tumours (p < 0.0001) and oral dysplastic and cancer cells versus normal oral mucosa and also in recurrent (p < 0.05) versus non‐recurrent oral tumours. Further, elevated TCTP was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with poor recurrence free survival (RFS) and poor overall survival (OS; hazard ratio = 2.29; p < 0.05). Intriguingly, the high co‐expression of TCTP and MCL1 further reduced the RFS (p < 0.05) and OS (p < 0.05; hazard‐ratio = 3.49; p < 0.05). Additionally, TCTP knockdown decreased survival (p < 0.05), invasion (p < 0.01) and in vitro tumorigenic potential (p < 0.0001). Dihydroartemisinin treatment reduced TCTP levels and viability of oral cancer cells.

Conclusion

Our studies demonstrate an oncogenic role of TCTP in oral cancer progression and poor outcome. Thus, TCTP may be a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target in oral cancers.
Impact of chronic kidney disease on everyday life: A descriptive qualitative study
Authors: Yapa Harith Eranga , Chambers Shirley , Purtell Louise , Bonner Ann
Published: August 2023

Background

Living with chronic kidney disease is stressful as the disease and its treatments impact on everyday physical, psychological, and social activities. As this disease has a long trajectory, it is important to understand everyday life experiences of those at different points along this trajectory.

Objectives

To explore the impact of chronic kidney disease and its treatment on everyday life.

Design

Descriptive qualitative design

Participants

Twenty‐five adults with chronic kidney disease across various grades were purposively recruited.

Approach

Data were collected using semistructured interviews. Deductive content analysis informed by the revised Wilson and Cleary model was used to analyse data.

Findings

There were four themes. Theme 1, experiencing deterioration of kidney function, reflected the physical and psychological problems experienced by participants. Theme 2, changes that happened to me and my family, explained the subsequent limitations in their physical, social and role functioning. Theme 3, responding to a new normal, identified adjustments needed in everyday life to cope with the disease and its treatments. The final theme, thinking ahead and making a decision, captured the future plans and decisions needed while living with chronic kidney disease.

Conclusions

People with chronic kidney disease experience complex challenges such as greater symptom burden and functional limitations across the disease grades which impact on their everyday life. Nurses' recognition of these challenges is crucial for identifying and addressing unmet needs. Early individualised interventions, such as routine symptom assessment and management strategies that improve the wellbeing of people are needed.
Using the consensus group method to select the best screening tools for autism and intellectual disability for use with Nigerian adolescents
Authors: Nwokolo Eziafakaku Uchechukwu , Murphy Glynis H. , Mensink Anne‐Marie , Moonen Xavier , Langdon Peter E.
Published: August 2023

Diagnosing autism or ID using a gold‐standard tool can be time‐consuming, costly, and requires training, which is generally limited in Nigeria, and the rest of Africa. Screening, on the other hand, can be quick and effective, with minimal training depending on the tool (Iragorri & Spackman, Public Health Reviews, 2018;39(1):17), thus making the availability of short screeners a necessity in Nigeria, and the rest of Africa. We identified four screening tools through a previously completed systematic review (Nwokolo et al., Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2022;1–23.), two (SCQ and AQ‐10) for autism and two (SCIL and CAIDS‐Q) for ID, which appeared appropriate for validation for use within African nations. The Nominal Group Technique was used with a purposive group of professionals, parents, and laypersons to select and adapt the existing screening tools for autism and ID for use with older children and adolescents in Nigeria. The group examined the screening tools for cultural relevance, face and content validity. Following the discussions, items were either (1) accepted in the original form or (2) more culturally appropriate examples chosen if at least 75% of participants agreed. The group selected the SCQ for autism and the SCIL for ID. The minimum agreement on all autism and ID measures items was 84%, and this indicated the measures had face and content validity for use within Nigeria. Following the recommendations and consensus of the group, the SCQ and the SCIL 14–17 were agreed on as measures to be validated with the Nigerian adolescents, with only a small number of adjustments needed to allow for different use of language, customs and environment in the Nigerian context.
Chinese expert consensus on the construction of the fluoroless cardiac electrophysiology laboratory and related techniques
Authors: Jiang Chenyang , Ma Changsheng , Chen Songwen , Chen Shiquan , Jiang Chenxi , Jiang Ruhong , Ju Weizhu , Long Deyong , Li Ding , Li Jia , Liu Qiang , Ma Wei , Pu Xiaobo , Wang Rui , Wang Yuegang , Yi Fu , Zou Cao , Zhang Jidong , Zhang Xi , Zhao Yujie , Zei Paul C. , Biase Luigi Di , Chang Dong , Cai Heng , Chen Lianghua , Chen Minglong , Fu Guosheng , Fu Hua , Fan Jie , Gui Chun , Jiang Tingbo , Liu Shaowen , Li Xuebin , Li Yigang , Shu Maoqin , Wang Yan , Xu Jian , Xie Ruiqin , Xia Yunlong , Xue Yumei , Yang Pingzhen , Yuan Yiqiang , Zhong Jingquan , Zhu Wenqing
Published: August 2023

Transcatheter radiofrequency ablation has been widely introduced for the treatment of tachyarrhythmias. The demand for catheter ablation continues to grow rapidly as the level of recommendation for catheter ablation. Traditional catheter ablation is performed under the guidance of X‐rays. X‐rays can help display the heart contour and catheter position, but the radiobiological effects caused by ionizing radiation and the occupational injuries worn caused by medical staff wearing heavy protective equipment cannot be ignored. Three‐dimensional mapping system and intracardiac echocardiography can provide detailed anatomical and electrical information during cardiac electrophysiological study and ablation procedure, and can also greatly reduce or avoid the use of X‐rays. In recent years, fluoroless catheter ablation technique has been well demonstrated for most arrhythmic diseases. Several centers have reported performing procedures in a purposefully designed fluoroless electrophysiology catheterization laboratory (EP Lab) without fixed digital subtraction angiography equipment. In view of the lack of relevant standardized configurations and operating procedures, this expert task force has written this consensus statement in combination with relevant research and experience from China and abroad, with the aim of providing guidance for hospitals (institutions) and physicians intending to build a fluoroless cardiac EP Lab, implement relevant technologies, promote the standardized construction of the fluoroless cardiac EP Lab.
Atrial paced rhythm and heart rate‐dependent worsening of left atrial and ventricular function
Authors: Corbo Maria Delia , Terlizzi Vito di , Barone Roberta , Pellegrino Pierluigi , Goffredo Giovanni , Pugliese Rosanna , Correale Michele , Ieva Riccardo , Di Biase Matteo , Brunetti Natale Daniele , Iacoviello Massimo
Published: August 2023

Background and aim of the study

The response to the increase in heart rate (HR) could be characterized by failure in both left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) functions. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the increase in paced HR and the changes in LV and LA functions, assessed by two‐dimensional speckle tracking analysis.

Methods

In a group of patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) or pacemaker, the atrial paced rhythm was progressively increased from 60 to 70, from 70 to 80, and from 80 to 90 beats per minute (bpm). For each paced HR, using two‐dimensional speckle tracking analysis, LA reservoir (LAr), LA conduit (LAc), LA contraction (LAct), and LV global longitudinal strain (LV‐GLS) were evaluated every 10 bpm.

Results

Of the 45 patients enrolled, a significant reduction in LAr was observed at higher HR. However, when the patients were dichotomized according to the HR‐related response of LV‐GLS, the worsening of LAr was observed in those with LV‐GLS worsening and not in those without (maximum LAR absolute changes −2.7 ± 7.2% vs. +2.7 ± 7.2%, respectively, p .028). Moreover, the worsening of LA and LV strain measures was associated with an increase in the estimated filling pressures.

Conclusions

In patients with atrial paced rhythm, the increase in HR could be associated with worsening of LA and LV functions, as assessed by two‐dimensional speckle tracking analyses. These results offer new data on HR‐related atrioventricular function and could be useful for guiding the optimal HR responsiveness of the implanted devices.
A survey on conventional and learning‐based methods for multi‐view stereo
Authors: Stathopoulou Elisavet Konstantina , Remondino Fabio
Published: August 2023

3D reconstruction of scenes using multiple images, relying on robust correspondence search and depth estimation, has been thoroughly studied for the two‐view and multi‐view scenarios in recent years. Multi‐view stereo (MVS) algorithms aim to generate a rich, dense 3D model of the scene in the form of a dense point cloud or a triangulated mesh. In a typical MVS pipeline, the robust estimations for the camera poses along with the sparse points obtained from structure from motion (SfM) are used as input. During this process, the depth of generally every pixel of the scene is to be calculated. Several methods, either conventional or, more recently, learning‐based have been developed for solving the correspondence search problem. A vast amount of research exists in the literature using local, global or semi‐global stereomatching approaches, with the PatchMatch algorithm being among the most popular and efficient conventional ones in the last decade. Yet, and despite the widespread evolution of the algorithms, yielding complete, accurate and aesthetically pleasing 3D representations of a scene remains an open issue in real‐world and large‐scale photogrammetric applications. This work aims to provide a concrete survey on the most widely used MVS methods, investigating underlying concepts and challenges. To this end, the theoretical background and relative literature are discussed for both conventional and learning‐based approaches, with a particular focus on close‐range 3D reconstruction applications.
The Dworkin–Williams debate: Liberty, conceptual integrity, and tragic conflict in politics
Authors: Queloz Matthieu
Published: August 2023

Bernard Williams articulated his later political philosophy notably in response to Ronald Dworkin, who, striving for coherence or integrity among our political concepts, sought to immunize the concepts of liberty and equality against conflict. Williams, doubtful that we either could or should eliminate the conflict, resisted the pursuit of conceptual integrity. Here, I reconstruct this Dworkin–Williams debate with an eye to drawing out ideas of ongoing philosophical and political importance. The debate not only exemplifies Williams's political realism and its connection to his critique of the morality system. It also illustrates the virtues and hazards of contemporary efforts to ameliorate or engineer our concepts; it indicates what political philosophy might look to in appraising political concepts; it adverts to the different needs these concepts have to meet if they are to sustain a politics of pluralism, deal with polarization, and secure the consent of those who end up on the losing side of political decisions; and it presents us with two starkly contrasting conceptions of politics itself, of the place of political values within it, and of our prospects of reducing the uncomfortably conflictual character of those values through philosophy.
Strategies to improve the success of fixed‐time artificial insemination in the ewe
Authors: Weaver Alice C. , Kelly Jennifer M. , Swinbourne Alyce M. , Kleemann David O. , Walker Simon K.
Published: August 2023

During the sheep breeding season, ovulatory follicles vary widely in age at pessary removal impacting both the timing of oestrus and pregnancy rates following artificial insemination (AI). Ovulatory follicles that emerge between days 7 to 9 of the pessary period are associated with higher fertility whilst those that emerge earlier or later are associated with lower fertility. In this study, two strategies to improve the success of AI by controlling the development of the ovulatory follicle were examined. In the first, ewes were treated with PGF2α at either −12 and/or +6 days (experiment 1) or −27 days (experiment 2) relative to pessary insertion to control the time of emergence of the ovulatory follicle. In the second, ewes were treated with eCG (400 IU per ewe) at either 0 h, −6 h or −12 h relative to pessary removal (experiment 3) to improve the development of young ovulatory follicles. PGF2α administered on day −27 increased the percentage of pregnant ewes by 17.8% and the number of foetuses per 100 ewes inseminated by 33.9%. PGF2α treatment at other times had either no effect or reduced fertility. During the breeding season, treatment with eCG at −12 h improved the synchrony of oestrus, reduced the size of the ovulatory follicle but did not improve pregnancy rate compared with other treatments. Treatment had no effect during the non‐breeding season, supporting earlier findings that the quality of young ovulatory follicles differs during the year. In conclusion, PGF2α treatment 27 days before pessary insertion provides a new and cheap strategy to improve the success of fixed‐time AI programs.
A methodology to estimate postdisaster unmet housing needs using limited data: Application to the 2017 California wildfires
Authors: Costa Rodrigo , Baker Jack W.
Published: August 2023

In the United States, assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) plays an essential role in supporting the postdisaster recovery of states with unmet housing needs. HUD requires data on unmet needs to appropriate recovery funds. Ground truth data are not available for months after a disaster, however, so HUD uses a simplified approach to estimate unmet housing needs. State authorities argue that HUD's simplified approach underestimates the state's needs. This article presents a methodology to estimate postdisaster unmet housing needs that is accurate and relies only on data obtained shortly after a disaster. Data on the number of damaged buildings are combined with models for expected repair costs. Statistical models for aid distributed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) are then developed and used to forecast funding provided by those agencies. With these forecasts, the unmet need to be funded by HUD is estimated. The approach can be used for multiple states and hazard types. As validation, the proposed methodology is used to estimate the unmet housing needs following disasters that struck California in 2017. California authorities suggest that HUD's methodology underestimated the state's needs by a factor of 20. Conversely, the proposed methodology can replicate the estimates by the state authorities and provide accounts of losses, the amount of funding from FEMA and SBA, and the total unmet housing needs without requiring data unavailable shortly after a disaster. Thus, the proposed methodology can help improve HUD's funding appropriation without delays.
Quantitative risk assessment of China's first liquid hydrogen refueling station
Authors: Yuan Wenhao , Li Jingfeng , Yangyiming Rong , Peng Jianbin , Xie Junlong , Chen Jianye
Published: August 2023

Hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) are among the most important infrastructures for fuel cell vehicles. However, the safety issue of HRSs has become a key constraint to the wide application and development of hydrogen energy. This article presents a quantitative risk assessment of the first liquid HRS (LHRS) in China and conducts a comprehensive assessment in terms of both individual (IR) and societal risks (SRs). The results showed that both the IRs and SRs related to the LHRS exceeded the risk acceptance criteria. The rupture of the flexible hose of the dispenser and the leak from the compressor are the main contributors to these risks. On the other hand, implementing appropriate mitigation measures on the level of the LHRS dispenser and compressor, including the addition of breakaway couplings in the flexible hose of the dispenser, the installation of hydrogen detection sensors, the arrangement of automatic and manual emergency shutdown buttons, and the elevation of the compressor, is capable of reducing the risk of the LHRS to be within the risk acceptance criteria.
Suspected systemic gas embolism associated with lung tissue perforation caused by a previously inserted chest drain in a dog
Authors: Asorey Iago , Corletto Federico
Published: August 2023

Objective

To report a case of systemic gas embolism associated with removal of a chest drain perforating a lung lobe in a dog undergoing sternotomy under general anesthesia and intermittent positive pressure ventilation.

Case Summary

An 8‐year‐old Cocker Spaniel underwent an exploratory thoracotomy via median sternotomy for surgical management of pyothorax that was treated conservatively for 7 days prior to referral following bilateral chest drain placement. The surgical procedure consisted of a subphrenic mediastinectomy and pericardiectomy. During surgery, it became apparent that the right drain was perforating the right middle lung lobe. Sudden desaturation and rapid hemodynamic deterioration occurred after the drain was removed. A systemic gas embolism was suspected on the basis of clinical signs and results of an arterial blood gas analysis, and immediate supportive treatment was started with an adequate response. Once the surgical procedure was completed, a clear “mill wheel” sound was audible on cardiac auscultation and point‐of‐care cardiac ultrasound confirmed the presence of gas bubbles in the cardiac chambers. The dog recovered from anesthesia and was managed in the intensive care unit where arterial blood gas analyses were nearly normal and the dog made a full recovery.

New or Unique Information Provided

In people, there are reports of fatal air embolism related to the use of chest drains. To our knowledge, this is the first case report in dogs of a systemic gas embolism during open‐chest surgery caused by a chest drain perforating a lung lobe. Immediate recognition and aggressive treatment of this life‐threatening condition should be provided in order to achieve a favorable outcome.
Evaluation of red blood cell distribution width, neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, and other hematologic parameters in canine acute pancreatitis
Authors: Johnson Meghan M. , Gicking John C. , Keys Deborah A.
Published: August 2023

Objective

To determine if RBC distribution width (RDW), neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and other hematological parameters are associated with increased odds of in‐hospital mortality, increased length of hospitalization (LOH), or disease severity as measured by the Canine Acute Pancreatitis Severity (CAPS) score in dogs with acute pancreatitis (AP).

Design

Retrospective, multicenter study from January 2016 to August 2020.

Setting

Four private emergency and specialty referral centers.

Animals

On initial case search, 118 client‐owned dogs were identified with a clinical diagnosis of AP. Out of these cases, 114 dogs met inclusion criteria, defined as sudden onset of ≥2 compatible clinic signs (lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, or abdominal pain), a specific canine pancreatic lipase concentration >400 μg/L, hospital admission, as well as CBC and serum biochemistry run within 48 hours of initial hospitalization. Disease severity was calculated and measured using the CAPS score, in addition to LOH and in‐hospital mortality.

Interventions

None.

Measurements and Main Results

Clinical endpoints were in‐hospital mortality, LOH, and disease severity, as evaluated by the CAPS score. Overall in‐hospital mortality was 36.8%. NLR was significantly associated with survival, with a higher percentage being associated with an increased likelihood of nonsurvival (odds ratio: 1.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.0–1.2;P = 0.006, adjustedP = 0.04). Increased NLR was found to be significantly associated with a longer LOH based on the unadjustedP‐value (P = 0.02) but was not statistically significant based on aP‐value adjusted for multiple comparisons (P = 0.12). No significant associations were noted when RDW, platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, WBC count, mean platelet volume, RDW‐to‐platelet ratio, or RDW‐to‐total serum calcium ratio was evaluated against outcome measures.

Conclusions

This study retrospectively evaluated the prognostic utility of several readily available hematological parameters in dogs hospitalized for AP. Dogs with an increased NLR may have a higher risk of in‐hospital mortality and increased LOH, although future prospective studies are necessary to confirm these findings.
Assessment of a standing position during abdominal point‐of‐care ultrasound on abdominal fluid score in dogs
Authors: Buckley Christy , Seitz Marc , Wills Robert W. , Lee Alison M.
Published: August 2023

Objective

To assess the use of a standing position during abdominal point‐of‐care ultrasound (POCUS) examination when evaluating dogs for peritoneal effusion.

Design

Randomized prospective study over 17 months.

Setting

Single‐center, university veterinary teaching hospital.

Animals

Thirty dogs presenting for acute abdominal disease. Eligibility included suspicion for free peritoneal effusion and the ability to stand.

Interventions

Dogs underwent standing abdominal POCUS, right lateral abdominal POCUS, and a full abdominal ultrasound. We originally had nothing listed. It now includes all three ultrasound evaluations that were performed for each patient.

Measurements and Main Results

Patients underwent both a right lateral and standing abdominal POCUS via a previously described abdominal focused assessment with sonography for trauma (A‐FASTrl and A‐FASTs, respectively) technique in a randomized and sequential order followed by a full abdominal ultrasound (AUS‐full). The A‐FASTs examination included a right flank location in addition to the following standard views: subxiphoid, left flank, urinary bladder, and umbilicus. Five‐second cine loops were obtained at each location for each examination and reviewed in the order they were obtained. Locations for both A‐FAST exams were interrogated in the same order every time. The cine loops were scored for the degree of peritoneal effusion based on a previously published abdominal fluid scoring system by a board‐certified radiologist, radiology resident, and radiology intern. The overall abdominal fluid score (AFS) was compared to a subjective full abdominal ultrasound score given by a board‐certified radiologist. Six dogs had no peritoneal effusion, 13 had a small volume (AFS 1 or 2), and 11 had a moderate to large volume (AFS 3 or 4). Excellent agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient) was found between the A‐FASTs and A‐FASTrl techniques (0.95, 0.93, 0.94), good agreement between A‐FASTs and AUS‐full (0.80, 0.77, 0.82), and good agreement between A‐FASTrl and AUS‐full (0.80, 0.82, 0.84). The interobserver agreement was good (0.87) for the A‐FASTs technique and excellent (0.91) for the A‐FASTrl technique. Mean observer agreement score was excellent (0.94) when evaluating A‐FASTrl to A‐FASTs, good (0.86) when evaluating A‐FASTs to AUS‐full, and good (0.87) when evaluating A‐FASTrl to AUS‐full.

Conclusion

Performing a standing abdominal POCUS examination may be a valid option for identifying and quantifying peritoneal effusion in situations when a more traditional right lateral approach cannot be performed.
Families of ϕ‐congruence subgroups of the modular group
Authors: Babei Angelica , Fiori Andrew , Franc Cameron
Published: August 2023

We introduce and study families of finite index subgroups of the modular group that generalize the congruence subgroups. Such groups, termed ϕ‐congruence subgroups, are obtained by reducing homomorphisms ϕ from the modular group into a linear algebraic group modulo integers. In particular, we examine two families of examples, arising on the one hand from a map into a quasi‐unipotent group, and on the other hand from maps into symplectic groups of degree four. In the quasi‐unipotent case, we also provide a detailed discussion of the corresponding modular forms, using the fact that the tower of curves in this case contains the tower of isogenies over the elliptic curve defined by the commutator subgroup of the modular group.
High-energy x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy Cr Kα measurement of bulk dysprosium
Authors: Zborowski C. , Vanleenhove A. , Hoflijk I. , Vaesen I. , Artyushkova K. , Conard T.
Published: August 2023

Dysprosium was analyzed using high-resolution high-energy x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES). The HAXPES spectra of dysprosium obtained using monochromatic Cr Kα radiation at 5414.8 eV include survey scan and high-resolution spectra of Dy 3s, Dy 3p3/2, Dy 3d5/2, Dy 4s, Dy 4p3/2, Dy 4d, and Dy 5p.
Copaiba oil improves pulmonary nitric oxide bioavailability in monocrotaline-treated rats
Authors: Campos-Carraro Cristina , Turck Patrick , de Lima-Seolin Bruna Gazzi , Teixeira Rayane Brinck , Zimmer Alexsandra , Araujo Alex Sander da Rosa , Belló-Klein Adriane
Published: August 2023

Oxidative stress is involved in increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy, characteristics of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Copaiba oil, an antioxidant compound, could attenuate PAH damage. This study’s aim was to determine the effects of copaiba oil on lung oxidative stress, PVR, and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) in the monocrotaline (MCT) model of PAH. Male Wistar rats (170 g, n = 7/group) were divided into four groups: control, MCT, copaiba oil, and MCT + copaiba oil (MCT-O). PAH was induced by MCT (60 mg/kg i.p.) and, after 1 week, the treatment with copaiba oil (400 mg/kg/day gavage) was started for 14 days. Echocardiographic and hemodynamic measurements were performed. RV was collected for morphometric evaluations and lungs and the pulmonary artery were used for biochemical analysis. Copaiba oil significantly reduced RV hypertrophy, PVR, mPAP, and antioxidant enzyme activities in the MCT-O group. Moreover, increased nitric oxide synthase and decreased NADPH oxidase activities were observed in the MCT-O group. In conclusion, copaiba oil was able to improve the balance between nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species in lungs and the pulmonary artery and to reduce PVR, which could explain a decrease in RV hypertrophy in this PAH model.
Analytical solutions of spherical structures with relativistic corrections
Authors: Bhatti M. Z. , Ijaz S. , Almutairi Bander , Khan A. S.
Published: August 2023

This paper analyzes the characteristic of a non-static sphere along with anisotropic fluid distribution in the background of modified $$f(\mathcal {G})$$

f
(
G
)

theory. Conformal Killing vector is a productive constraint for computing reliable results for modified field equations. The occurrence of conformal Killing vector indicates the existence of symmetries in spacetime and it permits us to choose the coordinates that reduce the number of independent variables. Subsequently, for different conformal Killing vector choices, we obtain several types of precise analytical solutions for both non-dissipative and dissipative systems. We compute the matching conditions in the context of $$f(\mathcal {G})$$

f
(
G
)

gravity. In addition to this, we apply specific constraints to the matching conditions in an attempt to determine the significant results. Further, we proceed our investigation by utilizing quasi-homologous condition and vanishing complexity factor condition. Finally, we summarize all the important results which may help to understand the properties of astrophysical objects.
Dust emissions and OH masers: evidence for tracing advanced stages of HMPOs
Authors: Edris Khaled A. , Darwish Mohamed S.
Published: August 2023

We conducted a study using the Green Bank Telescope to investigate the correlation between OH masers and mm emission in high mass star forming regions (HMSFRs) using archival data from the Bolocam Galactic Plane Survey (BGPS) at 1.1 mm. Our objective was to gain insights into the physical characteristics, dynamics, and evolutionary status of these regions. Among the 27 OH maser sources examined, we found that 23 of them exhibited associations with multiple peaks of millimeter emission within a 30$$'$$

′

radius. Notably, two high mass protostellar object candidates, namely IRAS 18089-1732 and IRAS 19035 + 0641, displayed consistent tracers. Interferometer observations further supported our findings. Compared to methanol masers, OH masers exhibited a lower level of consistency with mm sources, with a coincidence rate of 11$$\%$$
%
at offsets of 0.5 arcsec or less. At 3$$''$$

′
′

offset, 13 (48$$\%$$
%
) OH maser sources were found to be associated with mm continuum emission, with 11 previously classified as evolved HMSFRs. However, at larger offsets of 20$$''$$

′
′

, the association rate increased significantly to 63$$\%$$
%
, indicating a broader spatial distribution of OH masers. This variation in offsets could be attributed to the presence of OH masers from different layers of the circumstellar disk. Our results suggest that the association between OH masers and mm emission may serve as a tracer for advanced stages of high mass protostellar objects. Future high angular resolution observations are recommended to enhance our understanding of this association.
Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effects of the graphullerene-like 4-(Mg4C60) nanostructure: A Monte Carlo study
Authors: Saber N. , Zriouel S. , Mhirech A. , Kabouchi B. , Bahmad L. , Fadil Z.
Published: August 2023

This work presents a study of the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of mixed spins ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) in a Graphullerene-like nanostructure. Monte Carlo simulations (MCs) were conducted using the Metropolis algorithm in the Blume–Capel model. The ground state phase diagrams were established and illustrated for different physical parameters. Additionally, the corresponding magnetizations, susceptibilities, specific heat, Binder cumulant, magnetic and change entropies were examined versus temperature. The critical temperature was determined, and hysteresis cycles were presented for specific physical parameter values. The results suggest that the structure shows potential as a candidate for magnetic refrigeration.
Blockchain in Financial Services: Current Status, Adoption Challenges, and Future Vision
Authors: Miah Anisha , Rahouti Mohamed , Jagatheesaperumal Senthil Kumar , Ayyash Moussa , Xiong Kaiqi , Fernandez Fredery , Lekena Modupe
Published: August 2023

Blockchain is undoubtedly considered one of the most innovative technologies in financial services from the past decade. Interests in blockchain technology continue to grow on a daily basis, while many promising blockchain-enabled applications and services continue to draw financial interest in the industrial sector and the broader financial services communities. Blockchain technology has the potential to streamline lending services and banking, decrease counterparty risk, and reduce settlement times and issuance. It indeed enables authenticated documentation and anti-money laundering (AML)/Know Your Client (KYC) data, minimizing operational ventures and allowing real-time/online validation of financial documents. Furthermore, as blockchain matures, it increases the value of a diversified range of industries and institutes with a better return on investment. However, such organizations must continue to adopt rigorous approaches to enhance their financial services and regulate their policies. In this article, we discuss the current status of blockchain-enabled financial services and applications, in addition to the impacts, implications, and regulations of incorporating blockchain technology in the finance industry. We further tackle the adaptation model for blockchain technology in global banking and provide a vision for the next generation of financial services based on this emerging technology.
Algorithm 1038: KCC: A MATLAB Package for
k
-Means-based Consensus Clustering
Authors: Lin Hao , Liu Hongfu , Wu Junjie , Li Hong , Günnemann Stephan
Published: August 2023

Consensus clustering is gaining increasing attention for its high quality and robustness. In particular,
k
-means-based Consensus Clustering (KCC) converts the usual computationally expensive problem to a classic
k
-means clustering with generalized utility functions, bringing potentials for large-scale data clustering on different types of data. Despite KCC’s applicability and generalizability, implementing this method such as representing the binary dataset in the
k
-means heuristic is challenging and has seldom been discussed in prior work. To fill this gap, we present a MATLAB package, KCC, that completely implements the KCC framework and utilizes a sparse representation technique to achieve a low space complexity. Compared to alternative consensus clustering packages, the KCC package is of high flexibility, efficiency, and effectiveness. Extensive numerical experiments are also included to show its usability on real-world datasets.
TiO2 Nanoparticles for Methylene Blue Dye Degradation: Effect of Calcination Temperature
Authors: Gadge Ashwini S. , Janbandhu S. Y. , Sukhadeve G. K. , Kumar Rahul , Gajbhiye C. D. , Gedam R. S.
Published: August 2023

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles were prepared by a simple sol-gel process and calcined for 2 h at various temperatures between 300°C and 600 °C to examine the thermal, physical, morphological, optical, and photocatalytic properties of the material. TGA and DTA studies investigated the thermal properties of the synthesized materials. The crystallinity, phase transformation, and crystallite size of the samples were examined by XRD analysis which was further confirmed by Raman analysis. The BET and BJH methods were used to calculate the textural parameters of materials. The structural changes and modifications in the morphology of the sample with calcination temperatures were studied by FTIR and SEM analysis. The elemental composition employed during synthesis is confirmed by the EDS pattern. The average particle size and spherical shape were examined by the HR-TEM study. The elemental state was demonstrated by XPS spectra. The increase in the size of nanoparticles with calcination temperatures is also confirmed by UV–vis and PL studies. The photodegradation behavior of samples was tested for 10 ppm MB dye and improved efficiency was found to be 94.96% for the sample calcined at 400 °C for 2 h.
Multicompartmental analysis of the murine pulmonary immune response by spectral flow cytometry
Authors: Chang Mary Y. , Brune Jourdan E. , Black Michele , Altemeier William A. , Frevert Charles W.
Published: August 2023

We describe a novel combination of methodologies that incorporates dual in vivo compartmental analysis using intravascular and intratracheal CD45 labeling, a broad panel of antibodies for identifying lymphoid and nonlymphoid cells, and spectral flow cytometry that uses cellular autofluorescence to aid in resolving and identifying immune cell populations. This methodology allows precise localization of immune cells in the lavageable airways, nonlavageable airways, interstitial lung tissue, and marginated in the lung vasculature.