bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Integrating cover crops and organic amendments to mitigate the limitations of tillage on soil health and cotton productivity
Authors: Ankomah Godfred , Amissah Solomon , Hollifield Stephanie , Habteselassie Mussie Y. , Franklin Dorcas H. , Snider John L. , Kemerait Robert C. , Roberts Philip M. , Sintim Henry Y. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractVarious tillage systems have limitations on soil health, such as the degradation of soil structure and organic matter under conventional tillage (CT) systems, as well as short‐term soil compaction in conservation tillage systems. A 3‐year field experiment was established to evaluate the integration of cover crop (CC) and organic amendments (OAs) into CT and strip tillage (ST) systems, and their impact on soil properties and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) productivity. The CC was cereal rye (Secale cereale), and the combined application of animal manure and biochar constituted the OA. In the third year, differences in soil compaction between the CT and ST systems were observed when the measurements were made after tillage. Moreover, integrating CC and OA under the CT and ST systems increased the soil depth to compaction zones. Soil compaction was observed at 27.5‐cm depth under CT, at 30‐cm depth under CT integrated with CC and OA, at 10‐cm depth under ST, and at 15‐cm depth under ST integrated with CC and OA, using 2 MPa as the threshold. In general, the integration of CC and OA tended to increase soil respiration, organic matter, and available nutrients, but the effects were not consistent across years and soil depth. Despite differences in the various soil health properties, the management systems had minimum impact on cotton productivity and fiber quality, indicating the ST was effective in preparing the seedbed. Moreover, the differences in soil properties were not at yield‐limiting levels within 3 years of the study.
A new subcarrier‐index modulation schemes for downlink NOMA systems
Authors: Chihaoui Issa , Ammari Mohamed Lassaad 
Published: July 2024

SummaryIn this paper, we propose two downlink multiple access architectures for networks where human‐type communication users (HTCUs) and machine‐type communication devices (MTCDs) coexist. The proposed schemes combine non‐orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), and index modulation (OFDM‐IM) concepts. In the first scheme, the base station (BS) transmits bits of HTCUs using modulated symbols and bits of MTCDs by the subcarrier activation pattern (SAP). This approach called IM‐NOMA with null subcarriers (IM‐NOMA‐NS) ensures that inactive subcarriers are always null, which improves the system bit error rate (BER) performance. To improve the spectral efficiency (SE), we propose a second approach, termed IM‐NOMA with dual‐mode modulation (IM‐NOMA‐DM), in which the HTCUs' bits are transmitted using two‐dimensional modulation and the MTCDs' bits are transmitted using one‐dimensional modulation and the SAP. For each proposed system, a near‐optimal low‐complexity detector, based on the energy‐detection (ED) and the log‐likelihood ratio (LLR) criterion, is provided to mitigate the detection burden of the optimal maximum‐likelihood (ML) detector. The BER performances and SE of the proposed schemes are investigated. The average BERs of IM‐NOMA‐NS and IM‐NOMA‐DM are derived in closed‐form expressions corroborated by the simulation results. We have proved numerically that the proposed schemes achieve a good trade‐off between BER performance, SE, and the number of supported users, making them more suitable for Internet of Things (IoT) applications.
Gas migration at the granite–bentonite interface under semirigid boundary conditions in the context of high‐level radioactive waste disposal
Authors: Liu Jiangfeng , Wang Zhipeng , Guo Jingna , Jivkov Andrey , Sedighi Majid , Shao Jianfu 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe corrosion of waste canisters in the deep geological disposal facilities (GDFs) for high‐level radioactive waste (HLRW) can generate gas, which escapes from the engineered barrier system through the interfaces between the bentonite buffer blocks and the host rock and those between the bentonite blocks. In this study, a series of water infiltration and gas breakthrough experiments were conducted on granite and on granite–bentonite specimens with smooth and grooved interfaces. On this basis, this study presents new insights and a quantitative assessment of the impact of the interface between clay and host rock on gas transport. As the results show, the water permeability values from water infiltration tests on granite and granite–bentonite samples (10−19–10−20 m2) are found to be slightly higher than that of bentonite. The gas permeability of the mock‐up samples with smooth interfaces is one order of magnitude larger than that of the mock‐up with grooved interfaces. The gas results of breakthrough pressures for the granite and the granite–bentonite mock‐up samples are significantly lower than that of bentonite. The results highlight the potential existence of preferential gas migration channels between the rock and bentonite buffer that require further considerations in safety assessment.
Family resemblance in color‐patch size is not affected by stress experience in a cichlid fish
Authors: Ziegelbecker Angelika , Sefc Kristina M. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractAnimal body coloration is often linked to social dominance and mating success. This is because it can carry information on an animal's body condition and competitive ability by reflecting the genetic quality of individuals or by responding to their current or past living conditions. The present study investigates genetic and environmental effects on a conspicuous color pattern of the cichlid fish Tropheus sp. black “Ikola,” in which the size of a carotenoid‐based yellow area on the body co‐varies with social dominance. To examine environmental plasticity of the color pattern, we tested for effects of early‐life stress, induced by reduced feeding of juveniles prior to color pattern formation, as well as effects of a stress treatment administered to fully colored adult fish. None of the stress treatments affected the color pattern as quantified by the width of the yellow bar. However, offspring bar width was correlated to parental values in mid‐parent‐mid‐offspring regression analyses, and animal models estimated significant additive genetic effects on bar width, indicating heritability of the trait. Depending on the random effects structure of the animal models (i.e., whether including or excluding maternal and brood effects), narrow‐sense heritability estimates for bar width ranged between 0.2 and 0.8, with the strongest statistical support for the highest estimate. In each of the alternative models, a large proportion of the total variance in bar width was explained by the included random effects, suggesting that bar width is strongly determined by genetic factors or shared maternal and brood environments, with limited scope for environmental influences later in life.
Three‐dimensional bone morphology is a risk factor for medial postmeniscectomy syndrome: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Grammens Jonas , Van Haver Annemieke , Danckaers Femke , Vuylsteke Kristien , Sijbers Jan , Mahluf Lotem , Angele Peter , Kon Elizaveta , Verdonk Peter ,   MEFISTO WP1 Group
Published: July 2024

AbstractPurposeThe study aims to identify differences in tibiofemoral joint morphology between responders (R group, no pain) to arthroscopic partial medial meniscectomy (APMM) versus medial postmeniscectomy syndrome patients (MPMS group, recurrent pain at 2 years postmeniscectomy) in a clinically neutrally aligned patient population. The second aim was to build a morphology‐based predictive algorithm for response to treatment (RTT) in APMM.MethodsTwo patient groups were identified from a large multicentre database of meniscectomy patients at 2 years of follow‐up: the R group included 120 patients with a KOOS pain score > 75, and the MPMS group included 120 patients with a KOOS pain score ≤ 75. Statistical shape models (SSMs) of distal femur, proximal tibia and tibiofemoral joint were used to compare knee morphology. Finally, a predictive model was developed to predict RTT, with the SSM‐derived morphologic variables as predictors.ResultsNo differences were found between the R and MPMS groups for patient age, sex, height, weight or cartilage status. Knees in the MPMS group were significantly smaller, had a wider femoral notch and a smaller medial femoral condyle. A morphology‐based predictive model was able to predict MPMS at 2 years follow‐up with a sensitivity of 74.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 74.4%–75.4%) and a specificity of 81.0% (95% CI: 80.6%–81.5%).ConclusionA smaller tibiofemoral joint, a wider intercondylar notch and smaller medial femoral condyle were observed shape variations related to medial postmeniscectomy syndrome. These promising results are a first step towards a knee morphology‐based clinical decision support tool for meniscus treatment.Study DesignCase–control study.Level of EvidenceLevel IIIb.
Psychological distress following multi‐gene panel testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer risk
Authors: Carlsson Lindsay , Bedard Philippe L. , Kim Raymond H. , Metcalfe Kelly 
Published: July 2024

AbstractAdvances in our understanding of the genetic landscape of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) have led to the clinical adoption of multi‐gene panel testing. Panel testing introduces new sources of genetic uncertainty secondary to the inclusion of moderate‐ and low‐penetrance genes, as well as the increased likelihood of identifying a variant of uncertain significance (VUS). This cross‐sectional study explored the post‐test psychological functioning of women who underwent multi‐gene panel testing for HBOC susceptibility genes. Two hundred and ninety‐five women who underwent panel testing within the previous 2 years completed a study questionnaire to measure levels of cancer‐related and genetic testing‐related distress using the Impact of Events Scale (IES) and the Multidimensional Impact of Cancer Risk Assessment (MICRA), respectively. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the relationship between genetic test results and levels of psychological distress captured by the IES and MICRA. In this cohort, a pathogenic variant (PV) was identified in 41 (14%) of participants, and 77 (26%) participants were found to have a VUS. In the multi‐variate model, higher mean levels of genetic testing‐related distress were observed in individuals with a PV (p < 0.001) or a VUS (p = 0.007) compared to those with a negative result. Furthermore, participants with a PV in a moderate‐penetrance gene were found to have higher levels of genetic testing‐related distress compared to those with a PV in a high‐risk gene (p = 0.03). Overall, participants were highly satisfied with their genetic testing experience, with 92% of individuals reporting they would recommend testing to others. Our findings highlight differences in psychological outcomes based on both variant pathogenicity and gene penetrance, which contribute to our understanding of the impact of panel testing and sources of both cancer‐related and genetic testing‐related distress secondary to testing.
A hypertrophic distal fascicle of the anterior tibiofibular ligament is associated with a high rate of osteochondral lesions of the talus
Authors: Butler James J. , Randall Grace W. , Dalmau‐Pastor Miki , Lin Charles C. , Schoof Lauren , Kennedy John G. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this retrospective review was to determine the prevalence of osteochondral lesions (OCLs) of the lateral talar dome in patients with anterior ankle impingement with an associated hypertrophic distal fascicle of the anterior tibio‐fibular ligament.MethodsRetrospective chart review identified 40 patients who underwent anterior ankle arthroscopy for the management of anterior ankle impingement. Clinical outcomes assessed included pre‐ and postoperative foot and ankle outcome score (FAOS), visual analogue scale (VAS), complications, failures, secondary surgical procedures, return‐to‐work data and return‐to‐sport data.ResultsThirty‐two patients with a mean follow‐up time of 29.3 ± 10.4 months were included. The hypertrophic distal fascicle of the anterior tibio‐fibular ligament was hypertrophic in 29 patients (90.6%), with a mean thickness of 2.5 ± 0.4 mm on MRI. There were 22 OCLs of the lateral talar dome (75.9%) with an associated hypertrophic distal fascicle of the anterior tibio‐fibular ligament visualized during arthroscopy. The international cartilage repair society gradings of the lesions included 3 (13.6%) grade I lesions, 15 (68.1%) grade II lesions, 3 (13.6%) grade III lesions, and 1 (4.6%) grade IV lesion. There was a statistically significant improvement in mean FAOS and VAS scores from preoperative to postoperative (p < 0.001). No cases of syndesmotic instability were observed following resection of hypertrophic distal fascicle of the anterior tibio‐fibular ligament.ConclusionThis retrospective case series demonstrated that a hypertrophic distal fascicle of the anterior tibio‐fibular ligament was associated with an OCL of the lateral talar dome identified during arthroscopic evaluation. In addition, preoperative MRI demonstrated poor sensitivity for the detection of these OCLs. Heightened awareness is warranted for potential lateral talar dome OCLs in patients presenting with anterolateral ankle impingement with a hypertrophic ATiFLdf identified on preoperative MRI in the absence of an associated OCLs.Level of EvidenceLevel IV, Retrospective case series.
Application of a machine learning and optimization method to predict patellofemoral instability risk factors in children and adolescents
Authors: Kwak Yoon Hae , Ko Yu Jin , Kwon Hyunjae , Koh Yong‐Gon , Aldosari Amaal M. , Nam Ji‐Hoon , Kang Kyoung‐Tak 
Published: July 2024

AbstractPurposeConservative treatment remains the standard approach for first‐time patellar dislocations. While risk factors for patellofemoral instability, a common paediatric injury, are well‐established in adults, data concerning the progression of paediatric recurrent patellar dislocation remain scarce. A reproducible method was developed to quantitatively assess the patellofemoral morphology and anatomic risk factors in paediatric patients using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and machine learning analysis.MethodsData were analyzed from a retrospective review (2005–2022) of paediatric patients diagnosed with acute lateral patellar dislocation (54 patients) who underwent MRI and were compared with an age‐based control group (54 patients). Patellofemoral, tibial, tibiofemoral and patellar height parameters were measured. Differences between groups were analyzed with respect to MRI parameters. The potential diagnostic utility of the parameters was assessed via machine learning and genetic algorithm analyses.ResultsSignificant differences were observed between the two groups in six patellofemoral morphological parameters. Regarding patellar height morphological parameters, all methods exhibited significant between‐group differences. Among the tibia and tibiofemoral morphological parameters, only the tibial tubercle–trochlear groove distance exhibited significant differences between the two groups. No sex‐related differences were present. Significant variations were observed in patellar height parameters, particularly in the Koshino–Sugimoto (KS) index, which had the highest area under the curve (AUC: 0.87). Using genetic algorithms and logistic regression, our model excelled with seven key independent variables.ConclusionKS index and Wiberg index had the strongest association with lateral patellar dislocation. An optimized logistic regression model achieved an AUC of 0.934. Such performance is considered clinically relevant, indicating the model's effectiveness for the intended application.Level of EvidenceLevel Ⅲ.
Intercostal nerve electrodiagnostic testing in rib fractures
Authors: Gambardella Kristen , Ashy Cody , Daley Dane , Eriksson Evert , Sherrier Matthew 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIntroduction/AimsIntercostal nerve injury can occur after rib fractures, resulting in denervation of the abdominal musculature. Loss of innervation to the rectus abdominis and intercostal muscles can cause pain, atrophy, and eventual eventration, which may be an underrecognized and thus undertreated complication of rib fractures. We investigated the clinical utility of intercostal nerve electrodiagnostic testing following rib fractures to diagnose and localize nerve injury at levels T7 and below.MethodsFive patients with displaced bicortical rib fractures involving the 7th–11th ribs and clinical eventration of the ipsilateral abdominal wall underwent intercostal nerve conduction studies (NCS) and needle electromyography (EMG) on the affected side. EMG of the rectus abdominis and intercostal muscles was performed with ultrasound guidance, and ultrasound measurements of rectus abdominis thickness were obtained to assess for atrophy.ResultsAverage patient age was 59.4 years and average body mass index (BMI) was 31.5 kg/m2. Intercostal NCS and EMG were able to reliably diagnose and localize intercostal nerve damage after rib fractures. Ultrasound demonstrated an average rectus abdominis transverse cross‐sectional thickness of 0.534 cm on the affected side, compared with 1.024 cm on the non‐affected side.DiscussionIntercostal electrodiagnostic studies can diagnose and localize intercostal nerve damage after displaced rib fractures. Musculoskeletal ultrasound can be used to diagnose and quantify rectus abdominis atrophy and to accurately and safely guide needle EMG to the intercostal and rectus abdominis muscles.
Outcomes and Predictors of Success Following Multilevel Surgery in Positional and Nonpositional Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Noh Hae E. , Rha Min‐Seok , Jeong Yeonsu , Kim Chang‐Hoon , Cho Hyung‐Ju 
Published: July 2024

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the surgical outcomes and identify predictors of surgical success in patients with positional and non‐positional obstructive sleep apnea following multilevel airway surgery.Study DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingSinge‐tertiary medical center.MethodsThis study included 158 patients with obstructive sleep apnea who underwent multilevel airway surgery. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to position dependency: “positional patients” group (n = 100), and “nonpositional patients” group (n = 58). The characteristics and surgical outcomes of the 2 groups were compared.ResultsThe nonpositional group included younger and more obese patients in comparison to the positional group. Moreover, the nonpositional group had more severe disease than the positional group. Both groups showed overall improvement after surgery, and the surgical success rate did not differ significantly between the 2 groups (nonpositional, 41.4% vs positional, 48.0%; P = .424). Notably, 69.0% of patients belonging to the non‐positional group converted to positional group postoperatively. Logistic regression analysis revealed that larger tonsil size, female sex, and higher mean O2 saturation were associated with higher success rate in the positional group, whereas larger tonsil size was associated with surgical success in the nonpositional group.ConclusionBoth nonpositional and positional groups showed improvements following multilevel airway surgery, and surgery induced a transition from nonpositional to positional group. Given that the factors related to surgical success differed between the two groups, surgeons should consider position dependency and these distinct factors during decision‐making.
Outcomes and Complications of Pediatric Eustachian Tube Dilation Surgery
Authors: Mukerji Shraddha , Rosas Herrera Ana Maria , Rochat Ryan , Hosek Katherine , Liu Yi‐Chun Carol 
Published: July 2024

AbstractObjectiveTo determine whether balloon dilation of Eustachian tube (BDET) improves postoperative audiology and quality of life scores in children with chronic Eustachian tube dysfunction.Study DesignRetrospective study.SettingTertiary care pediatric center.MethodsEligible participants were patients 8 years or older, with a history of 2 prior tubes placement. Group 1—patients completed pre‐and post‐Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Quality of Life Survey (ETDQ‐7) survey scores, Group 2—patients had available pre‐ and postdilation tympanogram data (TD), and Group 3—patients had both ETDQ‐7 survey and TD. The average time for the first and subsequent follow‐ups was 3.8 and 12.9 months, respectively.ResultsA total of 43 patients (85 ears) underwent BDET. The mean age was 13.3 years (8‐18 years). Twenty‐four patients were male (55.8%) and over 80% were Caucasian. The average mean ETDQ‐7 score before and after dilation was 3.9 and 2.5, respectively. Ninety‐three percent experienced improvement of their postoperative ETDQ‐7 scores and 53% had normal postdilation ETDQ‐7 score (P < .0001). Thirty‐seven ears in Group 2 (60.7%) had improvement in postdilation TD. A greater proportion of ears showed improvement of 62.3% with a 95% confidence interval (CI) [50.1%‐74.5%] compared to 37.7% without improvement, 95% CI [25.5%‐49.87%]. Ears with type A or B TD were more likely to show improvement than ears with type C, perforated, or with tubes (P < .0001). Eighteen out of 30 ears in Group 3 (60%) experienced an improvement in both ETDQ‐7 and tympanogram.ConclusionBDET is a safe, efficacious alternative to tubes in selected pediatric patients.
Impact of Clinical Practice Guidelines on Pediatric Tonsillectomy for Tonsillitis
Authors: Wang Avivah J. , Cheng Jeffrey 
Published: July 2024

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the impact of the release of updated American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO‐HNSF) Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) for Tonsillectomy in Children in 2019 on adherence to evidence‐based practice.MethodsPatients between ages 1 and 18 who had tonsillectomies and encounters for throat infection (tonsillitis or pharyngitis) between of February 5, 2015 and February 4, 2023 were identified by International Classification of Diseases and Current Procedural Terminology codes, excluding those with obstructive sleep‐disordered breathing. Retrospective chart review was performed to determine adherence to evidence‐based practice.ResultsThere was a significant increase in adherence to evidence‐based practice post‐CPG release compared to pre‐CPG (85.4% vs 73.1%, P = .0088). There was an observed trend for improved adherence to evidence‐based practice for pediatric tonsillectomy for recurrent infection for most of the post‐CPG period. There were fewer tonsillectomies performed post‐CPG, despite more total encounters for throat infection.DiscussionThe publication of the updated AAO‐HNSF CPG corresponded with improved adherence to evidence‐based practice for tonsillectomy in children for recurrent infection and an observed decrease in overall rate of tonsillectomy. This suggests the CPG may be an effective quality improvement tool for reducing variation and unnecessary patient morbidity or harm.Implications for PracticeThese findings suggest that the updated AAO‐HNSF CPG for Tonsillectomy in Children may have effectively impacted practice patterns, and further work should be done to expand their reach to other specialties and settings. Consideration should also be given to further understand any balancing factors associated with reduced tonsillectomies for recurrent infections including quality of life impact on children managed expectantly.