bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diagnosing and monitoring the characteristics of Acanthamoeba keratitis using slit scanning and laser scanning in vivo confocal microscopy
Authors: Curro‐Tafili K. , Verbraak F. D. , de Vries R. , van Nispen R. M. A. , Ghyczy E. A. E. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractIntroductionAcanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is a serious and potentially blinding ocular infection caused by the free‐living amoeba, Acanthamoeba. In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) is a non‐invasive device which has been proven of great use to diagnose Acanthamoeba infections immediately. The aim of this review was to establish different patterns and signs of AK that appear on the IVCM both before and after treatment.MethodsA systematic review of the literature from 1974 until September 2021 was performed using Embase and PubMed, following The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.ResultsTwenty different signs of AK were observed using IVCM. The included studies used vastly different criteria to diagnose infections, ranging from just 1 to 13 of the signs, demonstrating the current lack of a standardised diagnosis of this infection using the IVCM. The appearance of double wall cysts, trophozoites, signet rings, target signs and clusters were shown to be pathognomonic to AK infections. Bright spots located in the corneal epithelium were demonstrated as non‐reliable predictors of AK. The presence of cysts in clusters and single file can predict the need for corneal transplantation. The morphological changes in cysts using the IVCM following treatment were described as breaking down to hollow forms and occasionally surrounded by black cavities. Using this information, a visual guideline for identifying AK signs in diagnosis and follow‐up using IVCM was created.ConclusionIncreased awareness of the different signs and patterns of AK that appear on the IVCM is crucial in order to correctly identify an infection and increase the potential of this device. Our guidelines presented here can be used, but further studies are needed in order to determine the relationship and aetiology of these signs and cellular changes on the IVCM both before and after anti‐amoeba treatment.
Measuring civil service politicization with career data: Backstage and frontstage political experience of top civil servants in the German ministerial administration
Authors: Veit Sylvia , Vedder Stefanie 
Published: November 2023

AbstractBased on an understanding of politicization as an increase in the relevance of political criteria in the selection and deselection of civil servants, this article proposes an innovative approach to measure civil service politicization with individual‐level career data. For this purpose, two core types of political experience in civil servants' careers are distinguished: frontstage political experience as elected politician and backstage political experience in non‐elected offices close to politics. For each core type, two subtypes are defined. The empirical measurement of the four different types of political experience is illustrated by the analysis of an original dataset of more than 2100 top civil service appointments in Germany in the time period 1949–2017. Findings reveal a significant increase in backstage political experience. The approach developed for this article can be applied to explore various facets of politicization not only in longitudinal perspective but also in comparative studies.
Far‐red light inhibits lateral bud growth mainly through enhancing apical dominance independently of strigolactone synthesis in tomato
Authors: Song Xuewei , Gu Xiaohua , Chen Shangyu , Qi Zhenyu , Yu Jingquan , Zhou Yanhong , Xia Xiaojian 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThe ratio of red light to far‐red light (R:FR) is perceived by light receptors and consequently regulates plant architecture. Regulation of shoot branching by R:FR ratio involves plant hormones. However, the roles of strigolactone (SL), the key shoot branching hormone and the interplay of different hormones in the light regulation of shoot branching in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) are elusive. Here, we found that defects in SL synthesis genes CAROTENOID CLEAVAGE DIOXYGENASE 7 (CCD7) and CCD8 in tomato resulted in more lateral bud growth but failed to reverse the FR inhibition of lateral bud growth, which was associated with increased auxin synthesis and decreased synthesis of cytokinin (CK) and brassinosteroid (BR). Treatment of auxin also inhibited shoot branching in ccd mutants. However, CK released the FR inhibition of lateral bud growth in ccd mutants, concomitant with the upregulation of BR synthesis genes. Furthermore, plants that overexpressed BR synthesis gene showed more lateral bud growth and the shoot branching was less sensitive to the low R:FR ratio. The results indicate that SL synthesis is dispensable for light regulation of shoot branching in tomato. Auxin mediates the response to R:FR ratio to regulate shoot branching by suppressing CK and BR synthesis.
Influence of production situation on the incidence of brown spot of rice (Oryza sativa) caused byBipolaris oryzaein the Philippines
Authors: Macasero John Bethany M. , Castilla Nancy P. , Pangga Ireneo B. , Marquez Leonardo V. , Martin Edwin C. , Duque Ulysses G. , Laborte Alice G. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractBrown spot, caused byBipolaris oryzae, is becoming more prevalent and important in the Philippines but risk assessment is limited. Surveys of 2186 farmers' fields were conducted in the major rice‐growing areas in the country from 2015 to 2018 to analyse the components of production situation (PS) that contribute to the area under the progress curve of brown spot incidence (aBS). Based on lasso regression, the components of PS that influence aBS, in decreasing order, are ecosystem (irrigated vs. rainfed), crop establishment method (direct seeding vs. transplanting), variety type (hybrid vs. inbred), rate of phosphorus fertilizer, rate of potassium fertilizer, application of organic fertilizer (with vs. without organic fertilizer) and frequency of fungicide application. Pairwise comparisons showed that aBS is positively associated with direct‐seeded rice, rainfed ecosystem, hybrid rice, moderate to high P and K rates and spraying of fungicide. Correspondence analysis and chi‐squared tests showed that the class with highest aBS is closely associated with the production situation characterized by rainfed ecosystem, direct‐seeded rice, fungicide application, moderate nitrogen and moderate to high phosphorus and potassium rates; and weather pattern (temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, rainfall and wind speed) that occurs during the wet season. These results confirm previous studies showing that increased adoption of water‐saving technologies and direct seeding for adaptation and mitigation to climate change and reduction of agricultural labour, will most probably favour brown spot. Strategies to manage the disease under these production situations should be implemented in government programmes and considered in future research agendas.
Realizability and tameness of fusion systems
Authors: Broto Carles , Møller Jesper M. , Oliver Bob , Ruiz Albert 
Published: November 2023

AbstractA saturated fusion system over a finite ‐group is a category whose objects are the subgroups of and whose morphisms are injective homomorphisms between the subgroups satisfying certain axioms. A fusion system over is realized by a finite group if is a Sylow ‐subgroup of and morphisms in the category are those induced by conjugation in . One recurrent question in this subject is to find criteria as to whether a given saturated fusion system is realizable or not. One main result in this paper is that a saturated fusion system is realizable if all of its components (in the sense of Aschbacher) are realizable. Another result is that all realizable fusion systems are tame: a finer condition on realizable fusion systems that involves describing automorphisms of a fusion system in terms of those of some group that realizes it. Stated in this way, these results depend on the classification of finite simple groups, but we also give more precise formulations whose proof is independent of the classification.
Numerical Assessment of a Rich-Quench-Lean Staging Strategy for Clean and Efficient Combustion of Partially Decomposed Ammonia in the Constant Pressure Sequential Combustion System
Authors: Heggset Tarjei , Meyer Ole H. H. , Tay-Wo-Chong Luis , Ciani Andrea , Gruber Andrea 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
In a future energy system prospective, predictably dominated by (often) remote and (always) unsteady, nondispatchable renewable power generation from solar and wind resources, hydrogen (H2) and ammonia (NH3) have emerged as logistically convenient, chemically simple and carbon-free chemicals for energy transport and storage. Moreover, the reliability of supply of a specific fuel feedstock will remain unpredictable in the upcoming energy transition period. Therefore, the ability of gas turbine combustion systems to seamlessly switch between very disparate types of fuels must be ensured, aiming at intrinsically fuel-flexible combustion systems, i.e., capable of operating cleanly and efficiently with novel carbon-free energy vectors like H2 and NH3 as well as conventional fossil fuels, e.g., natural gas or fuel oils (back-up feedstock). In this context, a convenient feature of Ansaldo's constant pressure sequential combustion (CPSC) system, resulting in a fundamental advantage compared to alternative approaches, is the possibility of controlling the amount of fuel independently fed to the two combustion stages, depending on the fuel reactivity and combustion characteristics. The fuel-staging strategy implemented in the CPSC system, due to the intrinsic characteristics of the auto-ignition stabilized reheat flame, has already been proven able of handling fuels with large hydrogen fractions without significant penalties in efficiency and emissions of pollutants. However, ammonia combustion is governed by widely different thermo-chemical processes compared to hydrogen, requiring a considerably different approach to mitigate crucial issues with extremely low flame reactivity (blow-out) and formation of significant amounts of undesired pollutants and greenhouse gases (NOx and N2O). In this work, we present a fuel-flexible operational concept for the CPSC system and, based on unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (uRANS) and large eddy simulation (LES) performed in conjunction with detailed chemical kinetics, we explore for the first time full-load operation of the CPSC architecture in a Rich-Quench-Lean (RQL) strategy applied to combustion of partially-decomposed ammonia. Results from the numerical simulations confirm the main features of ammonia-firing in RQL operation already observed from previous work on different combustion systems and suggests that the CPSC architecture has excellent potential to operate in RQL-mode with low NOx and N2O emissions and good combustion efficiency.
Study on Thermo-Hydraulic Performance and Correlation Development of the Interrupted Flying-Wing Fins
Authors: Qi Xin , Wang Ling , Qing Teng , Yang Peng , Liu Yingwen 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
This paper focuses on investigating and analyzing the effects of geometric parameters on the performance of interrupted flying-wing fins (IFWF). The incorporation of interruptions in the flying-wing fins (FWF) effectively enhances heat transfer efficiency, and increases flow resistance. Moreover, when the number of interruptions exceeds 3, the comprehensive performance of the heat exchanger is diminished. Numerical simulations are employed to thoroughly investigate the effects of geometric parameters individually, within the Reynolds number range of 600–1600, and correlations for the j and f-factor of the IFWF are proposed using the responses surface method. The parametric study of the contribution ratio on the j-factor, f-factor, and JF-factor is obtained by the Taguchi method, including 18 cases with different combinations of key parameters. At a Reynolds number of 1000, it becomes evident that parameter A exerts the most substantial influence on the j-factor, f-factor, and JF-factor. Consequently, in the design of IFWF, prioritizing amplitude A is imperative.
Acute splenic sequestration in HbSS: observations from the Jamaican birth cohort
Authors: Serjeant Graham , Mason Karlene , Hambleton Ian , Serjeant Beryl 
Published: November 2023

ObjectiveTo document the prevalence, clinical features, haematology and outcome of acute splenic sequestration (ASS) in homozygous sickle cell disease (HbSS).Study designA cohort study from birth.SettingThe Medical Research Council Laboratories at the University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica.Patients311 cases of HbSS detected during the screening of 100 000 deliveries at the main government maternity hospital between 1973 and 1981.InterventionsLong-term follow-up and free patient care focusing on ASS.Main outcome measureAcute splenic sequestration.ResultsThere were 183 episodes of ASS in 105 patients representing 35% of the cohort. The median age for first event was 1.07 years. During ASS, median values for haemoglobin fell by 32 g/dL, reticulocytes increased by 8% and total nucleated cells increased by 10.5%. ASS recurred in 47 (45%) patients. Conservative therapy in 133 episodes of 85 patients was associated with five deaths and splenectomy in 20 patients with 50 episodes had no deaths. Symptoms were generally non-specific but acute chest syndrome occurred in 17, and blood cultures revealed coagulase negative staphylococci in 5. The ASS case fatality rate was 3.6% and may be higher if autopsy evidence of ASS is included. There was no seasonal pattern but higher levels of fetal haemoglobin predicted patients less prone to ASS and its later occurrence.ConclusionsASS remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in HbSS in developing societies. ASS appears to be a non-specific response to many possible risk factors including coagulase negative staphylococci.
Strategic combination of cultivated oral mucosal epithelial transplantation and postoperative limbal-rigid contact lens-wear for end-stage ocular surface disease: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Aziza Yulia , Imai Kojiro , Itoi Motohiro , Yoshioka Hokoru , Komai Seitaro , Kitazawa Koji , Sitompul Ratna , Ueta Mayumi , Fukuoka Hideki , Inatomi Tsutomu , Kinoshita Shigeru , Sotozono Chie 
Published: November 2023

PurposeTo provide the long-term outcome of patients with end-stage severe ocular surface disease (OSD) consecutively treated with cultivated oral mucosal epithelial transplantation (COMET) followed by limbal-rigid contact lens (CL)-wear therapy.DesignRetrospective cohort.MethodsIn 23 eyes of 18 patients with severe OSD who underwent COMET surgery between 2002 and 2019 and who were followed with limbal-rigid CL-wear therapy for at least 1 year postoperative, patient demographics, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, logMAR), Ocular Surface Grading Scores (OSGS), surgical indication and adverse events were reviewed. Primary and secondary outcomes were BCVA and OSGS changes at baseline and final examination, respectively.ResultsThis study involved 16 patients with Stevens-Johnson syndrome and 2 patients with mucous membrane pemphigoid (mean age: 59±15 years). The indications for COMET were as follows: corneal reconstruction for vision improvement (10 eyes (43.5%)), corneal reconstruction for persistent epithelial defect (4 eyes (17.4%)) and conjunctival (fornix) reconstruction for symblepharon release (9 eyes (39.1%)). The mean duration of CL-wear postsurgery was 6.4±3.9 years (range: 1.4 to 13.3 years). The mean BCVA at baseline and at final follow-up was logMAR 1.9±0.5 and 1.3±0.7, respectively (p<0.05). Compared with those at baseline, the OSGSs for symblepharon and upper and lower fornix shortening showed significant improvement at each follow-up time point post treatment initiation. No serious intraoperative or postoperative adverse events were observed.ConclusionIn patients afflicted with severe OSD, COMET combined with limbal-rigid CL-wear therapy postsurgery was found effective for vision improvement and ocular surface stabilisation.
Comparison of ultrasound-guided and traditional localisation in intraspinal anesthesia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Yinzhou , Peng Mingling , Wei Junying , Huang Jieling , Ma WuHua , Li Yuhui 
Published: November 2023

ObjectivesThe optimal puncture technique for neuraxial anaesthesia in different populations is unclear. We sought to obtain data from randomised controlled trials comparing the impact of ultrasound-guided technology and traditional positioning technology on the success rate of neuraxial anaesthesia.DesignSystematic review and network meta-analysis using study populations, interventions, intervention comparisons, outcome measures and study types.Data sourcesPubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of science were searched until 31 September 2022.Eligibility criteriaWe included randomised controlled trials comparing three types of neuraxial anaesthesia: ultrasound-assisted, ultrasound real-time guidance and conventional positioning to describe which neuraxial anaesthesia modality is best for patients and to recommend the appropriate one for different populations.Data extraction and synthesisFive independent reviewers retrieved, screened and edited included studies using standardised methods. Assess risk of bias using the Cochrane Collaboration and Evidence Project tools. Network meta-analysis was performed using STATA V.15 statistical software.ResultsTwenty-two studies containing three different interventions were included. The SUCRA values of first-pass success rates for the three neuraxial anaesthesia methods were real-time guidance (82.8%), ultrasound-assisted (67.1%) and traditional positioning (0.1%). Both ultrasound techniques improved first-pass success rates compared with traditional localization, but there was no significant difference between the two. Subgroup analysis showed that the use of real-time ultrasound guidance for neuraxial anaesthesia in pregnant and patients with obesity improved first-pass success rates. Ultrasound-assisted technology can improve first-attempt success rates in older patients with abnormal lumbar spine anatomy.ConclusionCompared with conventional positioning, ultrasound guidance technology can improve the first-pass success rate of neuraxial anaesthesia, but there is no significant difference between ultrasound-assisted and real-time guidance technology. The results of subgroup analysis tell us that the most suitable neuraxial anaesthesia method is different for different groups of people.PROSPERO registration numberPROSPERO number: CRD42022376041.
Latent profile analysis of nurses’ perceived professional benefits in China: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Sun Changli , Jiang Hu , Yao Qingfang , Wang Xianwei , Wen Xueke , Liu Hanmei 
Published: November 2023

ObjectiveTo identify profiles of nurses’ perceived professional benefits as well as their predictors.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingThe study was carried out online in China.MethodsFrom 6 July to 27 July 2022, a total of 1309 registered nurses participated in the survey by convenient sampling. We collected the Nurses’ Perceived Professional Benefits Questionnaire and demographic data. Using latent profile analysis (LPA), subgroups of nurses’ perceived professional benefits were identified. Moreover, univariate and multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to find the factors that were linked with the profiles.ResultsThe survey was validly completed by 1309 nurses, with a 92.9% effective return rate. The findings of the LPA demonstrated three unique profiles: low-perceived professional benefits (11.8%), moderate-perceived professional benefits (57.1%) and high-perceived professional benefits (31.1%). There was a correlation between marital status, the number of night shifts per month and leadership role.ConclusionsAccording to our research, registered nurses have three unique professional benefit profiles. In order to sustain the nursing workforce, despite the fact that nurses get a high level of professional benefits, interventions are necessary to increase nurses’ perception of their professional value.
Real-world impact of the fixed-dose combination on improving treatment outcomes of drug-susceptible tuberculosis: a comparative study using multiyear national tuberculosis patient data
Authors: Ki Min Seo , Jeong Dawoon , Kang Hee-Yeon , Choi Hongjo , Sohn Hojoon , Kang Young Ae 
Published: November 2023

BackgroundThe fixed-dose combination (FDC) for first-line antituberculosis (TB) treatment has long been a standard practice worldwide; however, there is limited evidence on whether the use of FDC improves long-term treatment outcomes in the real-world setting.MethodsWe identified 32 239 newly diagnosed patients with drug-susceptible (DS) TB in 2015 and 2016 who had been prescribed FDC or non-FDC TB treatment from a multiyear (2013–2018) national TB cohort database that linked the Korean National Tuberculosis Surveillance System, the National Health Insurance Database and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) with a propensity score was used to control for differences in patient characteristics between 5926 patients with TB treated with FDC and 26 313 patients with non-FDC. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess for the factors influencing treatment outcomes between the two groups.ResultsAfter IPTW, new patients with DS-TB treated with FDC had higher treatment completion rate (83.9% vs 78.9%, p<0.01) and lower death rates (8.2% vs 9.8%, p<0.01) with similar TB recurrence rate (2.3% vs 2.4%) compared with those treated with non-FDC. In multivariable analyses, FDC use had higher odds treatment completion (adjusted OR 1.45; 95% CI 1.34 to 1.56). Patients with TB with younger age (relative to 70+ age) and higher income level had higher odds for treatment completion. Use of FDC did not influence TB recurrence after treatment completion (adjusted HR 0.94; 95% CI 0.77 to 1.16). The acquired drug resistance rate was similar between the two groups (drug-resistant TB in FDC 4.7% vs non-FDC 5.3%; p=0.80).ConclusionIn Korea, prescription of FDC to treat newly diagnosed patients with DS TB improved patient’s treatment completion. Use of FDC did not increase the risks of TB recurrence or development of drug resistance.