bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of drugs and hepatitis C virus in used syringes from a needle exchange in Gothenburg, Sweden
Authors: Bergström Moa Andresen , Andersson Maria E. , Larsson Simon B.
Published: December 2023

People who inject drugs (PWID) are exposed to serious health risks such as lethal overdoses, addiction and infections. The patterns of drug use and the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection vary greatly between and even within countries. Data on drugs used for injection are important to inform PWID of risks and adapt healthcare. This study aimed to determine which substances are injected in Gothenburg, Sweden, and estimate the risk of HCV transmission. A total of 150 syringes handed in at the needle and syringe exchange program (NEP) in Gothenburg over a week in November 2021 were analysed for drug content using liquid chromatography coupled with high‐resolution mass spectrometry. Using a dose‐adjusted comparison, the main drug(s) injected was distinguished from the impurities in the syringes containing several drugs. HCV RNA was quantified by real‐time PCR in an additional set of 150 syringes. Drugs were detected in >99% of analysed syringes, and the most common drugs were amphetamine (81%), followed by buprenorphine (8.0%), heroin (6.7%) and alprazolam (4.6%). Less common findings were testosterone (2.7%), methylphenidate (2.0%), MDMA (0.7%), trenbolone (0.7%) and zopiclone (0.7%). Eleven syringes (7.3%) contained more than one drug. HCV RNA was detected in 13% of the syringes, and one in 10 contained enough to potentially transmit an infection. This study underlines the importance of access to NEPs for PWID to reduce the risks associated with drug injection.
Substandard and falsified ivermectin tablets obtained for self‐medication during the COVID‐19 pandemic as a source of potential harm
Authors: Vanhee Celine , Jacobs Bram , Kamugisha Angélique , Canfyn Michael , Van Der Meersch Hans , Ceyssens Bart , Deconinck Eric , Van Hoorde Koenraad , Willocx Marie
Published: December 2023

In 2019, a global viral pandemic, due to the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus, broke out. Soon after, the search for a vaccine and/or antiviral medicine began. One of the candidate antiviral medicines tested was ivermectin. Although several health authorities warned the public against the use of this medicine outside clinical trials, the drug was widely used at the end of 2020 and in 2021. Simultaneously, several reports started to emerge demonstrating serious adverse effects after self‐medicating with ivermectin. It stands to reason that the self‐administration of substandard or falsified (SF) medicines bearing harmful quality deficiencies have contributed to this phenomenon. In order to have a better view on the nature of these harmful quality deficiencies, SF ivermectin samples, intercepted in large quantities by the Belgian regulatory agencies during the period 2021–2022, were analyzed in our official medicines control laboratory. None of the samples (n = 19) were compliant to the quality criteria applicable to medicinal products. These SF products either suffered from a systematic underdosing of the active pharmaceutical ingredient or were severely contaminated with bacteria, two of which were contaminated with known pathogens that cause gastrointestinal illness upon oral intake. In addition to the direct risks of self‐medicating with such a product, the improper usage and dosage of ivermectin medication might also facilitate ivermectin tolerance or resistance in parasites. This may have detrimental consequences on a global scale, certainly as the number of newly developed active pharmaceutical ingredients that can safely be used to combat parasites is rather scarce.
Habitat traits and predation interact to drive abundance and body size patterns in associated fauna
Authors: Stelling‐Wood Talia P. , Poore Alistair G. B. , Hughes A. Randall , Everett Jason D. , Gribben Paul E.
Published: December 2023

Habitat‐forming organisms provide three‐dimensional structure that supports abundant and diverse communities. Variation in the morphological traits of habitat formers will therefore likely influence how they facilitate associated communities, either via food and habitat provisioning, or by altering predator–prey interactions. These mechanisms, however, are typically studied in isolation, and thus, we know little of how they interact to affect associated communities. In response to this, we used naturally occurring morphological variability in the algaSargassum vestitumto create habitat units of distinct morphotypes to test whether variation in the morphological traits (frond size and thallus size) ofS. vestitumor the interaction between these traits affects their value as habitat for associated communities in the presence and absence of predation. We found morphological traits did not interact, instead having independent effects on epifauna that were negligible in the absence of predation. However, when predators were present, habitat units with large fronds were found to host significantly lower epifaunal abundances than other morphotypes, suggesting that large frond alga provided low‐value refuge from predators. The presence of predators also influenced the size structure of epifaunal communities from habitat units of differing frond size, suggesting that the refuge value ofS. vestitumwas also related to epifauna body size. This suggests that habitat formers may chiefly structure associated communities by mediating size‐selective predation, and not through habitat provisioning. Furthermore, these results also highlight that habitat traits cannot be considered in isolation, for their interaction with biotic processes can have significant implications for associated communities.
Knowledge graph‐based multimodal neural networks for smart‐grid defect detection
Authors: Li Kaiyang , Wang Yaoying , Zhu Tianyou , Li Jiwei , Ren Junda , Chen Zhenyu
Published: December 2023

The application of artificial intelligence in smart grid operations, particularly for defect detection, has seen remarkable progress. However, effectively leveraging multi‐modal data sources to enhance defect detection performance remains challenging. This paper presents a novel Knowledge Graph‐based Multimodal Neural Network (KGMNN) approach for robust and efficient defect detection in smart grids. Our proposed method first leverages multiple heterogeneous data sources, such as structural data, temporal sensor readings, and maintenance records, creating a comprehensive representation of the grid system. The system is then modeled as a knowledge graph, with nodes representing various entities and edges signifying their interconnections and interactions. This paper introduces a novel neural network architecture that effectively leverages the knowledge graph structure. This architecture incorporates multi‐modal fusion techniques, enabling the model to process and integrate diverse data sources. It can recognize intricate patterns indicative of potential defects that are often undetectable in individual data modes. Experimental results on several real‐world smart grid datasets demonstrate that the KGMNN significantly outperforms state‐of‐the‐art techniques in terms of precision, recall, and computational efficiency. Furthermore, the KGMNN's ability to provide explainable predictions, aided by the inherent interpretability of the knowledge graph structure, is of significant practical value in the field. This research paves the way for a new generation of AI‐powered defect detection in smart grids, facilitating enhanced grid reliability and operational efficiency.
A review on technological and urban sustainability perspectives of advanced building‐integrated photovoltaics
Authors: Constantinou Stephanos , Al‐naemi Faris , Alrashidi Hameed , Mallick Tapas , Issa Walid
Published: December 2023

With the escalating urgency for sustainable energy alternatives, solar power in urban landscapes has gained prominence. Building‐integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems are pivotal in this shift, blending efficient energy generation with architectural aesthetics. This review casts a spotlight on BIPV technologies, with a special emphasis on the less‐explored semitransparent photovoltaics (PVs). These systems are not only energy generators but also natural light facilitators, setting them apart from their opaque PV counterparts. Advancements in both transparent and opaque PV, such as crystalline silicon, are discussed. However, the paper prioritizes semitransparent PV's unique benefits, including harmonious integration with building design and simultaneous energy and daylight management. An exhaustive examination of current literature and developments sketches BIPV's trajectory, highlighting applications, challenges, and technological strides. The narrative extols the aesthetic, financial, and efficiency merits of BIPV, particularly the semitransparent variants' blend of functionality and design. Performance optimization of BIPV systems is scrutinized across various environments and architectural styles. This meticulous discussion seeks to clarify the status quo, emerging research avenues, and future prospects of BIPV in fostering a greener energy transition. The review compares BIPV configurations with traditional solar PV systems, charting a path for enhanced energy production, cost efficiency, and aesthetic integration, with semitransparent PV as a key player. By exploring the interplay between architectural design, energy efficiency, and urban planning, this paper aims to solidify the groundwork for future research, reinforcing the sustainability narrative in urban energy infrastructure.
Effect of economic inequality on generosity: A social norm perspective
Authors: Li Shuxian , Fu Xinyuan , Zhang Mengyuan , Fu Ruoran , Zhang Mei , Kou Yu
Published: December 2023

Economic inequality has been found to reduce individuals' generosity in western contexts. However, whether this effect is cross‐culturally consistent and its internal mechanism remain unclear, as well as how to mitigate this impact. Hence, we explored whether and why economic inequality may erode generosity in a sample of Chinese adults from the social norm perspective and introduced the equal allocation norm to mitigate this effect. Four online studies were conducted: two were correlational (Study 1: n = 300; Study 2: n = 568) and two were experimental (Study 3: n = 289; Study 4: n = 500). Results showed that economic inequality predicted less generosity in the dictator game, and perceived unequal allocation norm accounted for this effect. Moreover, introducing the equal allocation norm could buffer this negative effect. Findings suggest economic inequality impairs generosity, and making the equal allocation norm more salient may guide people to act more generously.
An ex vivo model of interactions between extracellular vesicles and peripheral mononuclear blood cells in whole blood
Authors: Rodriguez Blanca V. , Wen Yi , Shirk Erin N. , Vazquez Samuel , Gololobova Olesia , Maxwell Amanda , Plunkard Jessica , Castell Natalie , Carlson Bess , Queen Suzanne E. , Izzi Jessica M. , Driedonks Tom A. P. , Witwer Kenneth W.
Published: December 2023

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) can be loaded with therapeutic cargo and engineered for retention by specific body sites; therefore, they have great potential for targeted delivery of biomolecules to treat diseases. However, the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of EVs in large animals remain relatively unknown, especially in primates. We recently reported that when cell culture‐derived EVs are administered intravenously to Macaca nemestrina (pig‐tailed macaques), they differentially associate with specific subsets of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). More than 60% of CD20+ B cells were observed to associate with EVs for up to 1 h post‐intravenous administration. To investigate these associations further, we developed an ex vivo model of whole blood collected from healthy pig‐tailed macaques. Using this ex vivo system, we found that labelled EVs preferentially associate with B cells in whole blood at levels similar to those detected in vivo. This study demonstrates that ex vivo blood can be used to study EV‐blood cell interactions.
Lidocaine inhibits migration of tenocytes by downregulating focal adhesion kinase and paxillin phosphorylation
Authors: Chang Hsiang‐Ning , Chen Chih‐Kuang , Yu Tung‐Yang , Pang Jong‐Hwei S. , Hsu Chih‐Chin , Lin Li‐Ping , Tsai Wen‐Chung
Published: December 2023

Lidocaine is the most frequently applied local infiltration anesthetic agent for treating tendinopathies. However, studies have discovered lidocaine to negatively affect tendon healing. In the current study, the molecular mechanisms and effects of lidocaine on tenocyte migration were evaluated. We treated tenocytes intrinsic to the Achilles tendons of Sprague–Dawley rats with lidocaine. The migration ability of cells was analyzed using electric cell‐substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) and scratch wound assay. We then used a microscope to evaluate the cell spread. We assessed filamentous actin (F‐actin) cytoskeleton formation through immunofluorescence staining. In addition, we used Western blot analysis to analyze the expression of phospho‐focal adhesion kinase (FAK), FAK, phospho‐paxillin, paxillin, and F‐actin. We discovered that lidocaine had an inhibitory effect on the migration of tenocytes in the scratch wound assay and on the ECIS chip. Lidocaine treatment suppressed cell spreading and changed the cell morphology and F‐actin distribution. Lidocaine reduced F‐actin formation in the tenocyte during cell spreading; furthermore, it inhibited phospho‐FAK, F‐actin, and phospho‐paxillin expression in the tenocytes. Our study revealed that lidocaine inhibits the spread and migration of tenocytes. The molecular mechanism potentially underlying this effect is downregulation of F‐actin, phospho‐FAK, and phospho‐paxillin expression when cells are treated with lidocaine.
Predicted effects of image acquisition and analysis conditions on DTMRI tractography–based muscle architecture estimates
Authors: Zhou Xingyu , Lockard Carly A. , Hooijmans Melissa T. , Damon Bruce M.
Published: December 2023

Purpose

To quantify the effects of the intrinsic signal pattern, image acquisition conditions, and data analysis conditions on diffusion‐tensor MRI (DTMRI) tractography–based muscle architecture estimates using a sampling–reconstruction assessment framework.

Methods

Numerical models of muscles were constructed with realistic architectural properties. DTMRI signals were computed at signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) of 24–96 and common voxel sizes. Fiber tracking was performed, and the results were compared with the known architectural properties.

Results

SNR exerted the most significant impact on the outcome. The outcome variables approached asymptotes at SNR ≈ 54. Large in‐plane voxel dimensions reduced the similarity between reconstructed fibers and the known architectural properties. Higher order polynomials helped reconstruct fibers with more complicated geometry but overfit noise for less complex geometries. The intrinsic fiber curvature also affected the robustness of polynomial smoothing to SNR. Other conditions, such as the fiber dimensionality, voxel aspect ratio, and slice thickness, did not affect the outcomes.

Conclusion

SNR ≥ 54 is recommended for accurate muscle architecture characterization using DTMRI. Averaged across all simulated conditions, the greatest percent errors under SNR = 54 were −5.6% and −4.0% for the pennation angle and fiber‐tract length estimates, respectively. For fiber tracts with intermediate intrinsic curvature, the greatest percent error for the curvature estimate was 9.8% for SNR = 54. Smaller in‐plane voxel size (≤1.5 mm) is preferred to minimize the estimation error in architectural properties. If necessary, slice thickness may be adjusted within typical ranges to achieve sufficient SNR when slices are aligned near the fiber direction. Third‐order polynomial fitting is appropriate for smoothing fiber tracts.
A‐Site Cation Replacement of Hydrazinium Lead Iodide Perovskites by Borane Ammonium Ions: A DFT Calculation
Authors: Ahmed Mohammad Tanvir , Islam Shariful , Ahmed Farid
Published: December 2023

Organometallic perovskites have become one of the most common multifunctional materials in optoelectronic research fields. This research studies density functional theory calculation on orthorhombic hydrazinium lead iodide (N2H5PbI3) perovskite by replacing A‐site cation with a borane ammonium (BH2NH3+) ion. The perovskite showed a significant structural deformation and an orthorhombic to triclinic phase transition due to A‐site ion replacement. The N2H5PbI3 perovskite has a band gap of 1.64 eV, suitable for the solar cell absorber layer. The band gap has increased to 2.12 eV after complete A‐site ion replacement. All structures showed a high absorption coefficient over 104 cm−1 in the low wavelength region and an increase in refractive index from 2.5 to 2.75 due to ion replacement. All the structures showed high optical conductivity of 1015 s−1 order in the blue wavelength region. These new perovskite structures hold the potential to provide a revolution in optoelectronic research.
Cell‐free DNA methylation‐based preeclampsia prediction: A journey to improve maternal health
Authors: Aerden Mio , De Borre Marie , Thienpont Bernard
Published: December 2023

Presymptomatic prediction of preeclampsia (PE) is crucial to enable early prophylactic treatment. Current screening tools are either complex or lack predictive value. We recently demonstrated that cell‐free DNA methylation can be leveraged to predict early‐onset PE in 57% at a 10% false positive rate. Importantly, this minimally invasive screening test can be implemented as an add‐on to current widespread noninvasive prenatal aneuploidy screening. Here, we highlight the pitfalls and promising prospects of this research.
Rational Regulation of the Defect Density in Platinum Nanocrystals for Highly Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Zhang Huimin , Li Kai , Guo Xiaoyan , Zhang Lipeng , Cao Dong , Cheng Daojian
Published: December 2023

Constructing structural defects is a promising way to enhance the catalytic activity toward the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, the relationship between defect density and HER activity has rarely been discussed. In this study, a series of Pt/WOxnanocrystals are fabricated with controlled morphologies and structural defect densities using a facile one‐step wet chemical method. Remarkably, compared with polygonal and star structures, the dendritic Pt/WOx(d‐Pt/WOx) exhibited a richer structural defect density, including stepped surfaces and atomic defects. Notably, thed‐Pt/WOxcatalyst required 4 and 16 mV to reach 10 mA cm−2, and its turnover frequency (TOF) values are 11.6 and 22.8 times higher than that of Pt/C under acidic and alkaline conditions, respectively. In addition,d‐Pt/WOx//IrO2displayed a mass activity of 5158 mA mgPt−1at 2.0 V in proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs), which is significantly higher than that of the commercial Pt/C//IrO2system. Further mechanistic studies suggested that thed‐Pt/WOxexhibited reduced number of antibonding bands and the lowest dz2‐band center, contributing to hydrogen adsorption and release in acidic solution. The highest dz2‐band center ofd‐Pt/WOxfacilitated the adsorption of hydrogen from water molecules and water dissociation in alkaline medium. This work emphasizes the key role of the defect density in improving the HER activity of electrocatalysts.
Alveoli‐Mimetic Synergistic Liquid and Solid Thermal Conductive Interface as a Novel Strategy for Designing High‐Performance Thermal Interface Materials
Authors: Zheng Sijia , Xue Haiyan , Liu Ying , Yu Xing , Cao Zhihai
Published: December 2023

Thermal interface materials (TIMs) are in desperate desire with the development of the modern electronic industry. An excellent TIM needs desired comprehensive properties including but not limited to high thermal conductivity, low Yong's modulus, lightweight, as well as low price. However, as is typically the case, those properties are naturally contradictory. To tackle such dilemmas, a strategy of construction high‐performance TIM inspired by alveoli is proposed. The material design includes the self‐alignment of graphite into 3D interconnected thermally conductive networks by polydimethylsiloxane beads (PBs) ‐the alveoli; and a small amount of liquid metal (LM) – capillary networks bridging the PBs and graphite network. Through the delicate structural regulation and the synergistic effect of the LM and solid graphite filler, superb thermal conductivity (9.98 ± 0.34 W m−1 K−1) can be achieved. The light emitting diode (LED) application and their performance in the central processing unit (CPU) heat dispersion manifest the TIM developed in the work has stable thermal conductivity for long‐term applications. The thermally conductive, soft, and lightweight composites are believed to be high‐performance silicone bases TIMs for advanced electronics.
Quantum (in)stability of maximally symmetric space-times
Authors: Ghosh Jewel K. , Kiritsis Elias , Nitti Francesco , Nourry Valentin
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Classical gravity coupled to a CFT4 (matter) is considered. The effect of the quantum dynamics of matter on gravity is studied around maximally symmetric spaces (flat, de Sitter and Anti de Sitter). The structure of the graviton propagator is modified and non-trivial poles appear due to matter quantum effects. The position and residues of such poles are mapped as a function of the relevant parameters, the central charge of the CFT4, the two R2 couplings of gravity as well as the curvature of the background space-time. The instabilities induced are determined. Such instabilities can be important in cosmology as they trigger the departure from de Sitter space and in some regions of parameters are more important than the well-known scalar instabilities. It is also determined when the presence of such instabilities is unreliable if the associated scales are larger than the “species” cutoff of the gravitational theory.
Three loop QCD corrections to the heavy-light form factors in the color-planar limit
Authors: Datta Sudeepan , Rana Narayan , Ravindran V. , Sarkar Ratan
Published: December 2023

Abstract

We present the analytic expressions for the color-planar contributions to the heavy-light form factors at three loops in perturbative QCD. These form factors play an important role in the precision predictions of various observables in top quark and flavour physics. We compute the master integrals using the method of differential equations. We perform the ultraviolet renormalization for all the appearing fields and parameters. The analytic results for the renormalized form factors are expressed in terms of generalized harmonic polylogarithms. We also study the Sudakov behaviour of these form factors in the asymptotic limit, which enables us to obtain the complete logarithmic three-loop and partial four-loop contributions.
Selbstbild von Kinderärzten als Lehrende an Universitätskliniken in Deutschland
Authors: von Kleist-Retzow Jürgen-Christoph , Oberste-Frielinghaus Max , Pudritz Yvonne , Epstein Nurith , Bosse Hans-Martin , Grigull Lorenz , Lutz Thomas , Steinweg Bernhard , Tutdibi Erol , Fischer Martin R.
Published: December 2023

Hintergrund

Die Lehre in der Kinderheilkunde ist hinsichtlich ihrer Qualität und ihres Gelingens wesentlich von den individuellen Einstellungen der Lehrenden zur Lehre, von ihren Kenntnissen und ihrem individuellen Engagement abhängig. Nicht zuletzt mit dem Ziel einer kontinuierlichen Verbesserung der Ausbildungsqualität sollten diese Einstellungen stärker wahrgenommen und reflektiert werden.

Fragestellung und Methodik

Diese Arbeit untersucht das Selbstbild von Kinderärzt:innen als Lehrende an 6 deutschen Universitätskliniken, ihre Einstellung zur Lehre und ihre Erwartungen an die Lehre. Hierfür wurde ein Fragebogen zur „teacher identity“ (TI) erstmalig aus dem Amerikanischen ins Deutsche übersetzt und eingesetzt. Der Fragebogen zur TI setzt sich aus 9 Subskalen zusammen: i) globale TI, ii) intrinsische Befriedigung durch Lehre, iii) Kenntnisse und Fertigkeiten, iv) Zugehörigkeit zu einer Gruppe von Lehrenden, v) Überzeugung, dass ein Mediziner immer ein Lehrender sein muss, vi) Verantwortlichkeit für Lehre, vii) Teilen klinischer Expertise, viii) Honorierung von Lehre und ix) Wünsche an die Lehre.

Ergebnisse und Diskussion

252 Kolleg:innen haben an der Befragung teilgenommen. Es zeigten sich einerseits ein hohes Maß an Identifizierung mit der Lehre, aber ebenso auch Bereiche mit gewünschtem Verbesserungspotenzial. Männer zeigten höhere TI-Werte als Frauen. Eine angestrebte oder bereits eingeschlagene universitär-klinische Laufbahn korrelierte ebenfalls mit höheren TI-Werten. Es fanden sich keine Unterschiede zwischen den teilnehmenden Kliniken. Zusätzlich belegen Daten zur Lehrleistung und zu absolvierten Fortbildungen im Bereich der Lehre ein hohes Maß an Engagement der Kinder- und Jugendärzte:innen in der studentischen Lehre.
Scaling law of deep-sea trinitrotoluene (TNT) explosion
Authors: Yue Junzheng , Wu Xianqian , Huang Chenguang
Published: December 2023

Understanding the dynamic characteristics of deep-sea explosions is essential to improve the survivability and combat capability of deep-sea equipment. In this paper, by considering the practical underwater conditions, we investigated the mechanical effects of the deep-sea 1-kg-trinitrotoluene (TNT) explosion with charge depths ranging from 1 to 10 km through numerical simulation and dimensional analysis. The shock wave overpressure, the positive overpressure pulse, the bubble pulse, and the energy distribution for various depth explosions were analyzed systematically. The simulation results showed that the charge depth was negligible for the peak overpressure of the shock wave. However, the positive overpressure pulse, the shock wave energy, the maximum bubble radius, the bubble energy, and the bubble period decrease significantly with increasing the charge depth. Then, the dimensional analysis for deep-sea TNT explosion was performed to reveal the key dimensionless parameters, from which the scaling laws of the shock wave overpressure and the overpressure pulse were obtained. By fitting the simulation results, the dimensionless equations were proposed, providing an effective method for predicting the peak overpressure and the positive overpressure pulse of shock wave for underwater TNT explosion over a wide range of water depths.
The blocking effect in Vietnamese
Authors: Doan Quy Ngoc Thi , Reuland Eric , Everaert Martin
Published: December 2023

This article explores a restriction on non-local binding in Vietnamese—the blocking effect—including a systematic comparison with its Mandarin Chinese counterpart. Our finding is that the blocking effect in Vietnamese appeared to be rather different from that in Mandarin but, in fact, employs essentially the same syntactic mechanism. While binding of Mandarin ziji is governed by a [+participant] feature, binding of the Vietnamese anaphor mình is governed by a [+author] feature. Together with the assumption of the presence of a silent performative frame, this derives that binding of Vietnamese mình yields what one may call an Author effect.
Source detection on graphs
Authors: Weber Tobias , Kaibel Volker , Sager Sebastian
Published: December 2023

Spreading processes on networks (graphs) have become ubiquitous in modern society with prominent examples such as infections, rumors, excitations, contaminations, or disturbances. Finding the source of such processes based on observations is important and difficult. We abstract the problem mathematically as an optimization problem on graphs. For the deterministic setting we make connections to the metric dimension of a graph and introduce the concept of spread resolving sets. For the stochastic setting we propose a new algorithm combining parameter estimation and experimental design. We discuss well-posedness of the algorithm and show encouraging numerical results on a benchmark library.
Operationalizing Primary Outcomes to Achieve Reach, Effectiveness, and Equity in Multilevel Interventions
Authors: Guastaferro Kate , Sheldrick R. Christopher , Strayhorn Jillian C. , Feinberg Emily
Published: December 2023

When intervention scientists plan a clinical trial of an intervention, they select an outcome metric that operationalizes their definition of intervention success. The outcome metric that is selected has important implications for which interventions are eventually supported for implementation at scale and, therefore, what health benefits (including how much benefit and for whom) are experienced in a population. Particularly when an intervention is to be implemented in a population that experiences a health disparity, the outcome metric that is selected can also have implications for equity. Some outcome metrics risk exacerbating an existing health disparity, while others may decrease disparities for some but have less effect for the larger population. In this study, we use a computer to simulate implementation of a hypothetical multilevel, multicomponent intervention to highlight the tradeoffs that can occur between outcome metrics that reflect different operationalizations of intervention success. In particular, we highlight tradeoffs between overall mean population benefit and the distribution of health benefits in the population, which has direct implications for equity. We suggest that simulations like the one we present can be useful in the planning of a clinical trial for a multilevel and/or multicomponent intervention, since simulated implementation at scale can illustrate potential consequences of candidate operationalization of intervention success, such that unintended consequences for equity can be avoided.
Binge Drug Injection in a Cohort of People Who Inject Drugs in Montreal: Characterizing the Substances and Social Contexts Involved
Authors: Minoyan Nanor , Høj Stine Bordier , Jutras-Aswad Didier , Larney Sarah , Martel-Laferrière Valérie , Sylvestre Marie-Pierre , Bruneau Julie
Published: December 2023

We describe binge drug injection in a longitudinal cohort study of people who inject drugs (PWID) in Montreal, Canada (eligibility: age ≥ 18, past-6-month injection drug use; follow-up: 3-monthly interviews). Bingeing was defined as injecting large quantities of drugs over a limited period, until participants ran out or were unable to continue, in the past 3 months. We recorded substances and circumstances typically involved in binge episodes. Eight hundred five participants (82% male, median age 41) provided 8158 observations (2011–2020). Thirty-six per cent reported bingeing throughout follow-up. Binges involved a diverse range of substances and social contexts. Cocaine was involved in a majority of recent binges (73% of visits). Injection of multiple drug classes (24% of visits) and use of non-injection drugs (63% of visits) were common, as were opioid injection (42%) and injecting alone (41%). Binge drug use may thus be an important yet overlooked trigger of overdose and other harms among PWID. This understudied high-risk behavior warrants further research and public health attention.
Advanced Immunolabeling Method for Optical Volumetric Imaging Reveals Dystrophic Neurites of Dopaminergic Neurons in Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Brain
Authors: Baek Soonbong , Jang Jaemyung , Jung Hyun Jin , Lee Hyeyoung , Choe Youngshik
Published: December 2023

Optical brain clearing combined with immunolabeling is valuable for analyzing molecular tissue structures, including complex synaptic connectivity. However, the presence of aberrant lipid deposition due to aging and brain disorders poses a challenge for achieving antibody penetration throughout the entire brain volume. Herein, we present an efficient brain-wide immunolabeling method, the immuno-active clearing technique (iACT). The treatment of brain tissues with a zwitterionic detergent, specifically SB3-12, significantly enhanced tissue permeability by effectively mitigating lipid barriers. Notably, Quadrol treatment further refines the methodology by effectively eliminating residual detergents from cleared brain tissues, subsequently amplifying volumetric fluorescence signals. Employing iACT, we uncover disrupted axonal projections within the mesolimbic dopaminergic (DA) circuits in 5xFAD mice. Subsequent characterization of DA neural circuits in 5xFAD mice revealed proximal axonal swelling and misrouting of distal axonal compartments in proximity to amyloid-beta plaques. Importantly, these structural anomalies in DA axons correlate with a marked reduction in DA release within the nucleus accumbens. Collectively, our findings highlight the efficacy of optical volumetric imaging with iACT in resolving intricate structural alterations in deep brain neural circuits. Furthermore, we unveil the compromised integrity of DA pathways, contributing to the underlying neuropathology of Alzheimer’s disease. The iACT technique thus holds significant promise as a valuable asset for advancing our understanding of complex neurodegenerative disorders and may pave the way for targeted therapeutic interventions.

Graphical Abstract

The axonal projection of DA neurons in the septum and the NAc showed dystrophic phenotypes such as growth cone-like enlargement of the axonal terminus and aggregated neurites. Brain-wide imaging of structural defects in the neural circuits was facilitated with brain clearing and antibody penetration assisted with SB3-12 and Quadrol pre-treatment. The whole volumetric imaging process could be completed in a week with the robust iACT method. Created with https://www.biorender.com/.
The multi-dimensional perspectives of taboos on gender roles of fisherfolk in the Global South
Authors: Oloko Ayodele , Harper Sarah , Fakoya Kafayat , Sumaila U. Rashid
Published: December 2023

In the Global South, small-scale fisheries may be highly influenced by taboos and traditional beliefs that are believed to maintain fishing pressure within sustainable limits, maintain ecosystem balance and mitigate risks associated with work at sea. However, despite their potentially significant role in mediating human-resource interactions, limited attention has been given to taboos in the context of small-scale fisheries. Among the socio-cultural taboos shaping participation in and benefits from fisheries activities, gender-specific taboos are particularly significant. Thus, this paper explores the role of gender taboos in sustainable and equitable small-scale fisheries management in the Global South. It also identifies and assesses the quality and scientific rigor of the key themes from the literature. A systematic literature review was conducted to assess the state of knowledge on taboos and small-scale fisheries and situate the role of gender-specific taboos within small-scale fisheries governance. Over 100 relevant publications were obtained and categorised using scanning and selection methods. The main emerging themes from the literature review included traditional ecological knowledge and taboos, conservation and management taboos, and gender taboos. The findings highlight the significance of taboos in shaping gender dynamics, livelihoods, and food security within small-scale fisheries; however, there remain many gaps in understanding the role of taboos in mediating fishing activities and in maintaining gender inequalities in the fisheries sector. Without this knowledge, gender inequalities could be further exacerbated where taboos are used as a management tool without considering the gender dimensions. This study, therefore, seeks to fill this gap by providing insights for fisheries managers and practitioners for managing fisheries in a way that considers these socio-cultural factors that shape access to, control over and the benefits derived from fisheries.
Plural Pasts
Authors: Assis Arthur Alfaix
Published: December 2023

What is history about? This Element shows that answers centred on the keyword 'past events' are incomplete, even if they are not simply wrong. Interweaving theoretical and historical perspectives, it provides an abstract overview of the thematic plurality that characterizes contemporary academic historiography. The reflection on different sorts of pasts that can be at focus in historical research and writing encompasses events as well as non-events, especially recursive social structures and cultural webs. Some consequences of such plurality for discussions concerning historical methodology, explanation, exemplification, and representation are also outlined. The basic message, reinforced throughout, is that the great relevance of non-event-centred approaches should prompt us to talk more about “histories” in the plural and less about “history” in the singular.
The Role of Advocates in the Conception of Advisory Opinion Requests
Authors: Wewerinke-Singh Margaretha , Viñuales Jorge E. , Aguon Julian
Published: December 2023

Law, like medicine, is a practiced discipline, and the practice of international law is no exception. There are different contexts in which that practice unfolds. Here, our focus is on: (1) a specific form of practice, that of “advocates,” understood widely to include counsel advising or representing a party in legal proceedings, diplomats supporting a policy directive, and civil society activists advocating for legal causes; (2) engaging in different forms of legal advocacy, which can be organized analytically under three headings: legal advice and representation, diplomacy, and campaigning; and (3) in a specific context, that of advisory opinions and, more specifically, in the conception of requests for advisory opinions. Such requests are subject to different requirements according to the institutional setting through which they are channeled, but the most prominent and complex setting is that of requests for advisory opinions by the UN General Assembly to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This is the setting we will refer to in our essay.
Three Goals of States as They Seek Advisory Opinions from ITLOS
Authors: Lando Massimo
Published: December 2023

In most international tribunals, states alone can submit requests for advisory opinions.1 This is also true of requests to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) sitting in plenary composition. The United Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)2 does not expressly confer advisory jurisdiction on ITLOS. In practice, the Tribunal's advisory jurisdiction is governed by Article 138 of its Rules of Procedure, under which international agreements can empower entities to request advisory opinions of the Tribunal. The process leading to the making of advisory requests to ITLOS includes the drafting of legal questions and is largely political.3 In this process, sponsoring states have three goals: first, get requests before ITLOS; second, ensure that requests are not thrown out on grounds of jurisdiction or discretion; third, mobilize the constituency having stakes in the requests. This essay explores each of these goals.
Clinical reasoning for performance of transesophageal echocardiography in veterans with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia
Authors: Woods Emily C. , Nakasone Trisha S. M. , Renault Cybele A.
Published: December 2023

This study examined physicians’ reasoning about obtaining transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in cases of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB). In 221 cases of SAB over 5 years, the most common reasons for not performing TEE were clinical response to antibiotics, negative TTE results, and the expectation that TEE would not change management.
Interesting and impressive: exploring design factors for product graphics interchange format to enhance engagement
Authors: Xiang Wei , Guo Tianhui , Gao Weiyue , Wang Xueyou , Lei Ziyue , Liu Xuanhui , Sun Lingyun
Published: December 2023

Product graphics interchange formats (GIFs) employ this format to show the features of the product and make up for the lack of physical experience online. These GIFs have been widely applied in domains such as e-shopping and social media, aiming to interest and impress viewers. Contrary to this wide application, most designers in this domain lack expertise and produce GIFs of varied quality. Moreover, the knowledge of techniques to enhance viewers’ engagement with product GIFs is also lacking. To bridge the gap, we conducted a series of studies. First, we collected and summarized seven design factors referring to existing literature and semi-structured interviews. Then, the impacts of these design factors were revealed through an online study with 106 product GIFs among 307 participants. The results showed that visual-related factors such as color contrast and moving intensity mainly impact viewers’ interest, while content-related factors such as scenario and style matching impact viewers’ impressions. The simplicity of GIFs also impressed viewers with a quick viewing mode. Finally, we conducted a workshop and verified that these results support large-scale production of product GIFs. Our studies might support the codesign methods of product GIFs and enhance their quality in design practice.
Dementia: A call for a paradigm shift in pre-registration nurse education
Authors: Tuffour Isaac , Ganga Griffin
Published: December 2023

Dementia is a progressive brain disorder that affects memory, thinking and behaviour. It is a major global public health concern, with an estimated 55 million people worldwide living with the condition. In the UK, there is an estimated 944,000 people with dementia. This number is expected to double by 2050. Dementia is a major cause of disability and dependency, and it places a significant burden on families and carers. The current level of dementia education in pre-registration nursing programmes in the UK is inadequate. There are no pre-registration nursing educational programmes that offer dementia as a speciality. This is a major concern, as nurses are the primary providers of care to people with dementia. This article argues that dementia should be established as a branch of pre-registration nursing education that leads to a Registered Nurse (RN) – Dementia. This could help to address the shortage of specialist dementia nurses in the country. This article provides an important suggestion for countries with a shortage of specialist dementia nurses to consider establishing a stand-alone pre-registration branch of dementia nurse education. This would result in a more specialised workforce with the skills and knowledge to provide high-quality care to people with dementia.
Con(s)ciencia antisistema en la poética de Lina Meruane
Authors: Requena Hidalgo Cora Lorena
Published: December 2023

El siguiente artículo propone una revisión de los presupuestos temáticos y estructurales utilizados en las novelas de Lina Meruane Las infantas (1998) y Fruta podrida (2007), desde una perspectiva socioliteraria basada en algunas ideas desarrolladas por Slavoj Žižek en sus distintos análisis sobre la violencia, la ideología y el poder. El objetivo principal de este trabajo es descubrir si, a modo de actualización, Fruta podrida supone una reformulación de las premisas antisistema que movilizan a los personajes en torno a puntos centrales en ambas novelas como las corporalidades, la marginalidad o el exceso escatológico, entre otros.
Transgression–regression cycles drive correlations in Ediacaran–Cambrian rock and fossil records
Authors: Segessenman Daniel C. , Peters Shanan E.
Published: December 2023

Strata of the Ediacaran Period (635–538.8 Ma) yield the oldest known fossils of complex, macroscopic organisms in the geologic record. These “Ediacaran-type” macrofossils (known as the Ediacaran biota) first appear in mid-Ediacaran strata, experience an apparent decline through the terminal Ediacaran, and directly precede the Cambrian (538.8–485.4 Ma) radiation of animals. Existing hypotheses for the origin and demise of the Ediacaran biota include: changing oceanic redox states, biotic replacement by succeeding Cambrian-type fauna, and mass extinction driven by environmental change. Few studies frame trends in Ediacaran and Cambrian macroevolution from the perspective of the sedimentary rock record, despite well-documented Phanerozoic covariation of macroevolutionary patterns and sedimentary rock quantity. Here we present a quantitative analysis of North American Ediacaran–Cambrian rock and fossil records from Macrostrat and the Paleobiology Database. Marine sedimentary rock quantity increases nearly monotonically and by more than a factor of five from the latest Ediacaran to the late Cambrian. Ediacaran–Cambrian fossil quantities exhibit a comparable trajectory and have strong (rs > 0.8) positive correlations with marine sedimentary area and volume flux at multiple temporal resolutions. Even so, Ediacaran fossil quantities are dramatically reduced in comparison to the Cambrian when normalized by the quantity of preserved marine rock. Although aspects of these results are consistent with the expectations of a simple fossil preservation–induced sampling bias, together they suggest that transgression–regression and a large expansion of marine shelf environments coincided with the diversification of animals during a dramatic transition that is starkly evident in both the sedimentary rock and fossil records.
Pain Asymbolia is Not Pain
Authors: Griffith Trevor , Kind Adrian
Published: December 2023

We challenge the standard interpretation of pain asymbolia (PA), a neuropsychiatric condition that causes unusual reactions to pain stimuli. The standard interpretation asserts that PA subjects experience pain but lack important features of the experience. However, we argue that the clinical evidence for PA does not support this interpretation and that the arguments put forward by the defenders of the standard interpretation end up making self-contradicting claims. Finally, we suggest that the best interpretation of the available evidence is to take a deflationist stance toward PA, at least until further evidence becomes available.
Logbooks and Antarctic sealing. Approaching early- and late-19th-century exploitation strategies and their archaeological footprint
Authors: Salerno Melisa A. , Cruz María Jimena
Published: December 2023

In the 19th century, sealing vessels visited the South Shetland Islands to exploit animal resources for the global skin and oil markets. The captains or mates of these vessels were responsible for keeping a logbook in which they recorded daily observations of weather conditions, hunting activities, etc. Despite the value of these documents as a source of information, archaeologists studying Antarctic sealing have not always relied on them. This paper examines the potential of logbooks for providing information that is relevant to the archaeological study of sealing in the South Shetland Islands. In particular, it discusses how documentary analysis of exploitation strategies can provide insight into the dynamics that influenced the configuration of sealers’ sites. To this end, we propose a methodology for investigating exploitation strategies, taking into account several archaeologically sensitive variables, including the number, location and duration of landings, as well as the activities carried out during these events. We have taken four logbooks dating from the early and late 19th century – specifically those of the Aurora (1820–1821), the Huron (1820–1822), the Thomas Hunt (1873–1874) and the Sarah W. Hunt (1887–1888) – as case studies to test the proposed methodology.