bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Academic Faculty Demonstrate Weak Agreement in Evaluating Orthopaedic Surgery Residents
Authors: Bradley Taylor R. , Jacobs Cale A. , Muchow Ryan D. 
Published: November 2023

Background:
As objective metrics fade, subjective elements of orthopaedic surgery applicants carry increasing importance during recruitment. Academic orthopaedic surgeons believe they can select for high-performing orthopaedic residents. However, can they agree? The purpose of this study was (1) to analyze an academic orthopaedic surgery department to determine whether they agree on which residents performed best during residency and; (2) to correlate preresidency and intraresidency factors with postresidency evaluations of resident performance.

Methods:
With Institutional Review Board [IRB] approval, an orthopaedic surgery department completed surveys to evaluate residency performance for 10 years of graduated residents (2012-2022). Faculty determined (1) Post-Residency Class Rank (PRCR)—ranked from the highest (1) to lowest performing resident (5) relative to their class based on faculty perspective of performance—and (2) Rank List Score (RLS)—ranked based off the 5-point AOA SLOR used during recruitment interviews. RLS assessed how likely the department would have graduates in the program again based on residency performance. Free marginal Cohen's kappa statistics assessed faculty inter-rater agreement. Preresidency metrics (United States Medical Licensing Exam [USMLE] 1 and 2 scores, research publications, etc) were correlated with Orthopaedic In-Training Exam (OITE) scores, research productivity, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) scores, and faculty-derived rankings. Linear regressions with forward variable entry (p < 0.05) were used to determine factors associated with excellent resident performance.

Results:
Eighteen of 25 faculty members (72%) provided survey responses evaluating 46 residents. Faculty agreed 37% and 38% of the time for PRCR (kappa 0.26) and RLS (kappa 0.23), respectively. Step 2 score was the only preresidency factor significantly associated with PRCR (p = 0.03, r2 = 0.15) and RLS (p = 0.02, r2 = 0.3). The only intraresidency factor significantly correlated with PRCR (p = 0.002, r2 = 0.50) and RLS (p = 0.01, r2 = 0.39) was PGY-4 OITE score.

Conclusions:
An academic orthopaedic surgery department is able to come to a consensus on evaluations of residency performance relative to peers in the same year of training (PRCR) and an objective standard (RLS). Step 2 and Post-Graduate Year (PGY)-4 OITE scores were the only preresidency and intraresidency factors with significant association to higher postresidency, faculty-derived performance scores.

Level of Evidence:
III.
Experimental Research on the Proppant Settling and Transport Characteristics of Silica Gel-Based Fracturing Fluid
Authors: Xu Hang , Zhou Fujian , Wu Hao , Yang Sasa , Li Yuan , Wang Yang , Bai Hao , Yao Erdong , Xu Hualei 
Published: November 2023

Summary
Hydraulic fracturing is an effective stimulation method to establish high-conductivity channels in tight reservoirs, and the effectiveness of man-made fractures largely depends on the proppant-carrying capacity of the fracturing fluids used. As a novel completion fluid, silica gel-based fracturing fluids have shown desirable stimulation effect in application cases, but a comprehensive evaluation of their proppant settling and transport behaviors in the laboratory remains lacking. In this paper, a silica gel-based fracturing fluid was prepared first, and then the rheological properties, including shear thinning, recovery behavior, and viscoelasticity of the fluid system, were measured. Afterward, the settling velocity of single-particle proppant and the settling rate of multiparticle proppant under various experimental conditions were investigated in the static fluid system; in addition, the dynamic proppant-carrying performance was evaluated using a visualized rough fracture model to study different factors on the dune distribution inside the fractures. Lastly, the proppant-carrying mechanism of silica gel-based fracturing fluid was revealed in three aspects. The rheological test result showed that the shear viscosity of silica gel-based fracturing fluid increased as the SiO2 concentration increased. Furthermore, all tested fluid samples exhibited an elastic modulus that is consistently greater than the viscous modulus, indicating that the silica gel-based fracturing fluid system has a dominant elastic response behavior. In the single-particle static settling test, there was a significant increase in the settling velocities as the particle diameter increased and as the temperature increased. Meanwhile, the settling rate of multiparticles showed a decreasing trend with the increase in mesh size, while the proppant settling rate gradually increased as the proppant concentration rose. The results of dynamic proppant-carrying experiments demonstrate that a higher pumping rate leads to an extended migration distance for proppant, resulting in formed sand dunes with reduced height within fractures. Conversely, an increase in proppant concentration and a reduction in mesh size tend to form higher sand dunes. The proppant-carrying mechanisms of the silica gel-based fracturing fluid relate to the self-polymerization and syneresis of silica gel, the noticeable elasticity characteristics, and the structural encapsulation effect formed between silica gel and proppant. A better understanding of the proppant settling and transport behaviors of silica gel-based fracturing fluid can be helpful in optimizing the hydraulic fracturing design and promoting field application.
An efficient collocation algorithm for third order non-linear Emden–Fowler equation with multi-singularity
Authors: Alam Mohammad Prawesh , Khan Arshad 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

The study presents a novel algorithm for solving third order non-linear equations (Emden-Fowler type) with multi-singularity, which can be applied to various physical models. The algorithm uses a quintic trigonometric B-spline collocation method and a quasilinearization technique to avoid the non-linearity term in the equation. The study establishes a comprehensive error analysis for the proposed algorithm and proves that it has O(h4) convergence. The algorithm’s ability to handle singular behavior at the point ς = 0 and its faster rate of convergence exhibits a promising approach to solve such problems. The study also validates the theoretical results through numerical experiments and shows that the proposed algorithm has a faster rate of convergence in comparison to the new cubic B-spline collocation method [1] and uniform Haar wavelet resolution technique [2]. Moreover, the new method has an edge (in terms of accuracy) over other existing methods, when applied to the problems [3–6].
2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 65L80; 65M99; 65N35; 34B16; 65L05; 65L10; 65N55.
Low blood S-methyl-5-thioadenosine is associated with postoperative delayed neurocognitive recovery
Authors: Zhang Lei , Mao Haoli , Zhou Ren , Zhu Jiao , Wang Hao , Miao Zhengjie , Chen Xiao , Yan Jia , Jiang Hong 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Background
Elderly individuals display metabolite alterations that may contribute to development of cognitive impairment following surgery and exposure to anesthesia. However, these relationships remain largely unexplored. We assessed altered metabolites following anesthesia/surgery in both mouse models and human patients to identify blood biomarkers of delayed neurocognitive recovery (dNCR).
Methods
We used metabolomics to evaluate metabolite levels in the brains of mice following exposure to anesthesia. We also clinically evaluated 67 elderly patients who had neck and maxillofacial tumor resection under general anesthesia. Presence of dNCR was assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Preoperative and postoperative plasma metabolites were determined by widely targeted metabolomics.
Results
The brains of mice with anesthesia/surgery-induced cognitive dysfunction showed decreased S-methyl-5-thioadenosine (MTA) levels and activated MTA phosphorylase (MTAP). Mouse models also showed that preoperative administration of MTA could prevent inflammation and cognitive decline. In clinical patients, we detected lower preoperative serum MTA levels (adjusted OR: 0.094; 95% CI: 0.014–0.477; P = 0.008, per ng/mL) in those who developed dNCR following anesthesia/surgery. Further, anesthesia/surgery decreased serum MTA levels compared to preoperative levels (adjusted OR: 0.057; 95% CI: 0.005–0.376; P = 0.008, per ng/mL). Both low preoperative and postoperative blood MTA levels were associated with increased risk of postoperative dNCR.
Conclusions
These results suggest that anesthesia/surgery induces cognitive decline through pathways involving inflammation and methionine synthesis and that MTA could be a perioperative predictor of dNCR as well as a potential therapeutic target.
Trial registration:
This prospective observational cohort study was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (No. NCT05105451; May 28, 2021; Hong Jiang). The study was performed in 2021 to 2022 at the Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in Shanghai, China. Ethics approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital (SH9H-2021-T120).
Evaluation of Geodiversity Capabilities for Ground Protection (Case Study: Nourabad Mamasani Watershed, Fars Province, Iran)
Authors: Nasiri Abouzar , Sahfiei Najmeh , Assadi Mohammad Ali Zanganeh , Zandi Rahman 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Geodiversity refers to geographical diversity of geological materials, forms, and processes that comprise the planet Earth. Geodiversity is a fundamental concept for determining the importance of non-living natural resources. Accordingly, development of geodiversity-related studies, particularly in Iran with its rich geology and geomorphology, can open a new window toward exploring natural potentials of different areas around the country. Indeed, the geodiversity and, even more importantly, geomorphodiversity have been acknowledged as effective potentials for tourism, and may comprise building blocks of tourism in Zagros Mountain Chain in Iran. With its karstic landforms, Fars Province possesses numerous geomorphodiversity capabilities. Accordingly, the present research aims at investigating the geodiversity of the Mamasani Watershed in western Fars Province, where a range of unique geological features like waterfalls, caves, tight lapies, karstic valleys, natural arches, etc. are hosted. In order to evaluate geodiversity potentials of the study area, we used geodiversity index (GDI), per-area roughness density (PRD), Simpson’s evenness index (SIEI), Shannon’s evenness index (SHEI), Shannon’s diversity index (SHDI), Simpson’s diversity index (SIDI), roughness density, modified Simpson’s diversity index (MSIDI), and modified Simpson’s evenness index (MSIEI). Results of GDI, PRD, SHDI, SIEI, SIDI, SHEI, MSIDI, and MSIEI in Unit 1 (i.e., Tang-e-Buan) were found to be maximal (i.e., equal to 12.7, 0.031, 1.56, 0.76, 0.87, 0.84, 1.5, and 0.93, respectively). Unit 3 in the western part of the watershed finished second while Units 2 and 4 were ranked 3rd and 4th, respectively.
Ectopic Pregnancy and Genital Tuberculosis: An Insight into The Determinants of Ectopic Pregnancy Among Patients Admitted in Obstetrics &amp; Gynecology Department of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, Bangladesh
Authors: Siddique Sharmina , Chowdhury Promit Barua , Tabassum Mimma , Hossain Sorif , Islam Md. Momin , Kamal Kazi Tamara Binta , Mahmood Hassan Rushekh , Akter Mst. Jesmin , Chowdhury Tamanna , Joarder Mita , ALAM SALEHA 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Bangladesh demonstrates a higher susceptibility to maternal mortality, particularly concerning the incidence of adverse events that occur during pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is also a pregnancy-related condition which accounts for 10% of pregnancy-related deaths during the first trimester. Therefore, in our study, we investigated the factors including genital TB associated with ectopic pregnancy in Bangladesh. All eligible women who are admitted to the indoor department of Obstetrics and Gynecology with diagnosed cases of rupture ectopic pregnancy and who give written informed consent are enrolled consecutively. Data are collected using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire, face-to-face interview, clinical examination, and recording of the investigation reports. We collected a total of 226 samples using a purposive sampling procedure from Dhaka Medical College, Bangladesh. Frequency table, factor analysis and clustering methods are used to describe the characteristics that are common to ectopic pregnant patients. Only 3.54% of women had a previous history of ectopic pregnancy and nearly 5% of women tested positive for TB when using Endometrial sampling for TBPCR. Over half of the women are from lower-income families (61.06%) with secondary schooling (69.03%). Around 7.08% and 11.5% of patients were previously affected by TB and contact with TB patients, respectively. 19.47% of women had a previous history of MR, among them 16.74% had spontaneous abortions, 11.06% used the D &C method, and 9.73% utilized induced abortion methods. The mean of white blood cell count, lymphocyte size, and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate is 10637.17, 17%, and 25.20, respectively. Age of respondents, occupation, Education, Contraceptive history, Previous history of MR, induced abortion, duration of marital life, type of delivery system, age of last child, and menstrual hygiene showed significant association with clusters of ectopic pregnant patients. The healthcare providers’ ability to both diagnose and counsel patients at risk for recurrent ectopic pregnancy can be optimized by awareness of the clinical features of this condition It is important to motivate women to seek care from a formal government or private institution and not from home, and women should seek care from a professional provider, and practice modern family planning to reduce the risk of ectopic pregnancy. The findings from this study can contribute to government collaboration to lead and scaling up the research for the greater impact on reproductive health and can give insight to policymakers to focus on reducing ectopic pregnancy as well as maternal mortality.
Experimental evolution at ecological scale allows linking viral genotypes to specific host strains
Authors: Anton Josefa , Ramos-Barbero Maria Dolores , Aldeguer-Riquelme Borja , Viver Tomeu , Villamor Judith , Carrillo-Bautista Miryam , López-Pascual Cristina , Konstantinidis Konstantinos , Martinez-Garcia Manuel , Santos Fernando , Rossello-Mora Ramon 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Viruses shape microbial ecosystems through the control of population diversity and cell abundances. Identifying and monitoring the dynamics of specific virus-host pairs in nature is hampered by the limitations of community approaches such metagenomics, which does not always provide strain-level resolution, and culture analyses, which eliminate the ecological background. Here, we have explored the interaction of a specific “autochthonous” host strain and its viruses within a natural community. Bacterium Salinibacter ruber strain M8 was spiked into its environment of isolation, a natural crystallizer pond from a coastal saltern. The viral and cellular communities within the pond were monitored for one month using culture, metagenomics and microscopy. Metagenome sequencing indicated that the M8 abundance decreased dramatically after being added to the pond, likely due to forces other than viral predation. However, the presence of M8 selected for two species of the new viral genus Phoenicisalinivirus, for which 120 strains were isolated. During this experiment, an assemblage of closely related viral genomic variants was replaced by a single population with the ability to infect M8, a scenario which was compatible with a genome-wide sweep likely driven by a genomic region putatively coding for a tail fiber protein responsible for M8 specificity. Our results indicate that very low abundance viral genotypes provide a viral seed bank that allows for a highly specialized virus-host response in the framework of complex ecological backgrounds.
Glucose control during pregnancy in patients with type 1 diabetes correlates with fetal hemodynamics: a prospective longitudinal study.
Authors: Šimják Patrik , Anderlová Kateřina , Smetanová Dagmar , Mráz Miloš , Kršek Michal , Haluzík Martin 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Background
Maternal diabetes adversely affects fetal cardiovascular system development. Previous studies have reported that the fetuses of mothers with diabetes exhibit both structural and functional changes; nevertheless, prior studies have not examined the association between glucose control and fetal cardiac morphology and performance. Thus the objective was to determine the association between fetal cardiac morphology and function and maternal glucose control in type 1 diabetes and to compare the differences in measured cardiac parameters between the fetuses of mothers with diabetes and healthy controls.
Methods
In this prospective, longitudinal case-control study — including 62 pregnant women with type 1 diabetes mellitus and 30 healthy pregnant women — fetal cardiac assessment using B-mode, M-mode, and spectral pulsed-wave Doppler was performed in the second and third trimesters. In women with T1DM, glycated hemoglobin and data obtained from glucose sensors — including the percentage of time in, below, and above the range (TIR, TBR, and TAR, respectively), and coefficient of variation (CV) — were analyzed across three time periods: the last menstrual period to 13 (V1), 14–22 (V2), and 23–32 weeks (V3) of gestation. Fetal cardiac indices were compared between groups, and the correlation between glucose control and fetal cardiac indices was assessed.
Results
At 28–32 weeks, the fetuses of women with T1DM exhibited increased left ventricular end-diastolic length, relative interventricular septum thickness, right ventricular cardiac output, and pulmonary valve peak systolic velocity compared with healthy controls. At 18–22 weeks, pulmonary and aortic valve diameters, left and right ventricular stroke volumes, and left cardiac output inversely correlated with the CV and glycated hemoglobin levels at V1 and V2. Furthermore, at 28–32 weeks, pulmonary and aortic valve diameters, left ventricular stroke volume, cardiac output, and right/left atrioventricular valve ratio inversely correlated with the TBR at V1, V2, and V3. Moreover, diastolic functional parameters correlated with the TAR and glycated hemoglobin levels, particularly after the first trimester.
Conclusion
In women with T1DM, maternal hyperglycemia during pregnancy correlates with fetal diastolic function, whereas glucose variability and hypoglycemia inversely correlate with fetal left ventricular systolic function in the second and third trimesters.
Dementia risk factors in Chilean adults are distinctively associated with social determinants of health. Cross sectional study
Authors: Mariman Juan José , Vergara Rodrigo C. , Martin Consuelo San , Zapata Victor , Arteaga Oscar , Delano Paul H , Delgado Carolina 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Background
In Latin America, dementia cases are projected to double by 2050. For effective prevention in this region, it is crucial to comprehend the distribution of dementia risk factors within the local population and to assess their association with social determinants of health (SDH).
Methods
3379 dementia-free subjects ≥ 45 years old from the 2016–2017 Chilean National Health Survey were analyzed stratified in four groups by sex and age, searching for clusters using six continuous variables that had been related with dementia risk (years of education, systolic blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), units of alcohol consumption, physical activity, and depressive symptoms).
Results
There were three clusters of individuals who shared similar risk factors in each sex/age group, with a total of five different clusters. A cluster with high cardiometabolic risk was present in all sex/age groups, characterized by high systolic blood pressure (HSBP) in men midlife and by HSBP associated with BMI (HSBP/HBMI) in women and in men later-life. A depressive cluster and a physically inactive cluster were present in 3⁄4 of the sex/age groups. Additionally, there was a cluster that was relatively healthy but had a risk of excessive alcohol consumption in men later-life and a low risk one in women-midlife. The HSBP/HBMI and depressive clusters presented a high proportion of multiple dementia risk factors. Lower levels of education (and lower family income) were associated with the HSBP and HSBP/HBMI cluster; in contrast, higher levels of education were associated with clusters with lower risk.
Conclusion
In Chile, subpopulations with more disadvantages SDH have high prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors. Subpopulations with depression and those with high cardiometabolic risk have higher accumulation of dementia risk factors. These results highlight that tailored programs improving healthcare accessibility for those with more disadvantages SDH, and multidisciplinary interventions for high-risk populations are needed for effective dementia prevention.
Atypical chest CT scan findings have higher mortality and ICU admission among older adults with COVID-19
Authors: Hasanzadeh Mehdi , Zandieh Zhale , Niksolat Maryam , Nabi Somaye , Zanjari Nasibeh , Delbari Ahmad , Yarandi Razieh Bidhendi , Jasemi Seyed Vahid 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Introduction
: The global impact of the coronavirus pandemic has been particularly devastating among vulnerable populations, with a notably higher mortality rate observed among older adults. During this health crisis, chest computed tomography (CT) scans have emerged as a crucial diagnostic tool for identifying and assessing the severity of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This study explored the significance of chest CT scan findings in predicting mortality and admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) among older patients affected by COVID-19.
Materials and Methods
Conducted as a cross-sectional investigation, this study analyzed demographic characteristics such as age and gender, severity indicators (ICU admission, hospitalization outside the ICU) and outcomes (death or recovery) in a cohort of 411 COVID-19 patients aged 60 and above. Chest CT scan findings, categorized as normal, indeterminate, or abnormal, were scrutinized using SPSS ver. 24 software, with outcome analyses conducted through Chi-Square tests.
Results
Among the enrolled older patients, 52.3% were female, and 47.7% were male, with a mean age of 73.5 ± 8.75 years. The mortality rate reached 24.8%, and the ICU admission rate was 19%. Notably, 76.1% of subjects exhibited typical chest CT scan findings indicative of COVID-19, while 15.6% were classified as indeterminate and 8.3% as atypical. Mortality rates were 21.4% for typical findings, 28.1% for indeterminate results, and 50% for atypical findings. Furthermore, mortality among ICU-admitted patients stood at 78.2%. The incidence of atypical CT scan findings in ICU cases was 15.4%, compared to 6.6% in non-ICU cases.
Conclusion
The presence of atypical chest CT scan findings emerged as a significant predictor of heightened mortality and ICU admission among older individuals affected by COVID-19. This underscores the poor prognostic value associated with atypical findings in this demographic, emphasizing the importance of considering such indicators in the clinical management of older patients with COVID-19.