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TABLE DES MATIERES I. Introduction II. Contexte et besoin d'accompagnement lors de l'entrevue sur les faits III. Les accompagnateurs et accompagnatrices, des temoins contraignables? A. Les declarations anterieures incompatibles: une [...], CET ARTICLE SE penche sur la question de l'accompagnement des personnes victimes lorsqu'elles sont appelees a participer a une entrevue portant sur les faits relies a leurs plaintes avec des membres de la police. L'article critique le recours a l'entretien sur les faits sans option d'accompagnement de la personne victime. Pour ce faire, il commence par etablir la necessite de l'accompagnement en offrant une mise en contexte portant principalement sur l'accompagnement des personnes victimes d'agressions sexuelles et de crimes policiers. Ensuite, la recherche aborde divers enjeux invoques a l'encontre de l'accompagnement, incluant les regles de preuve quant aux declarations anterieures incompatibles, le droit a une defense pleine et entiere et l'impact de l'enregistrement video sur la personne victime. A cette occasion, l'article offre diverses solutions pour reconcilier l'accompagnement des personnes victimes et les droits de la personne accusee dans le contexte d'agressions sexuelles. Pour se faire, l'auteure s'appuie principalement sur la jurisprudence de la Cour supreme du Canada, les articles 276 et 278.92 du Code criminel et l'etat des connaissances scientifiques portant sur les declarations incompatibles, le contact entre la police et les personnes victimes d'agressions sexuelles ainsi que sur les effets d'un traumatisme sur la memoire. Enfin, l'article se termine par une discussion faisant etat de certains autres obstacles tels que les modalites d'accompagnement et l'influence d'une tierce partie sur la personne victime. Cette discussion, ainsi que l'ensemble de l'article, rappellent l'importance de favoriser l'autonomie et la dignite des personnes victimes dans toutes decisions concernant leur participation au processus de judiciarisation des plaintes. THIS ARTICLE EXPLORES the issue of providing support for victims when they are called upon to be interviewed by members of the police force on matters relating to their allegations. The article criticizes the use of fact-finding interviews without providing the option of support to the victim. It begins by establishing the need for support by presenting it mainly within the context of support for victims of sexual assault and police crimes. The research then addresses various issues raised against providing support, including the rules of evidence regarding prior inconsistent statements, the right to full answer and defence, and the impact of video recording on the victim. In that vein, the article offers various solutions reconciling the support of victims and the rights of the accused in the context of sexual assault. To do so, the author draws mainly on Supreme Court of Canada case law, sections 276 and 278.92 of the Criminal Code, and the state of scientific knowledge regarding inconsistent statements, contact between police and people who were victims of sexual assault, and the effects of trauma on memory. Finally, the article concludes with a discussion on other obstacles, such as the rules of support and the influence of a third party on the victim. This discussion, along with this whole article, serves as a reminder of the importance of fostering the autonomy and dignity of victims in all decisions concerning their participation in the judicial complaints process.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggested that abiotic airborne exposures may be associated with changes in body composition. However, more evidence is needed to identify key pollutants linked to adverse health effects and their underlying biomolecular mechanisms, particularly in sensitive older adults. OBJECTIVES: Our research aimed to systematically assess the relationship between abiotic airborne exposures and changes in body composition among healthy older adults, as well as the potential mediating mechanisms through the serum lipidome. METHODS: From September 2018 to January 2019, we conducted a monthly survey among 76 healthy adults (60-69 years old) in the China Biomarkers of Air Pollutant Exposure (BAPE) study, measuring their personal exposures to 632 abiotic airborne pollutions using MicroPEM and the Fresh Air wristband, 18 body composition indicators from the InBody 770 device, and lipidomics from venous blood samples. We used an exposome-wide association study (ExWAS) and deletion/substitution/addition (DSA) model to unravel complex associations between exposure to contaminant mixtures and body composition, a Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model to assess the overall effect of key exposures on body composition, and mediation analysis to identify lipid intermediators. RESULTS: The ExWAS and DSA model identified that 2,4,5-T methyl ester (2,4,5-TME), 9,10-Anthracenedione (ATQ), 4b,8-dimethyl-2-isopropyl-phenanthrene, and 4b,5,6,7,8,8a,9,10-octahydro-(DMIP) were associated with increased body fat mass (BFM), fat mass indicators (FMI), percent body fat (PBF), and visceral fat area (VFA) in healthy older adults [Bonferroni-Hochberg false discovery rate ([FDR.sub.BH]) < 0.05]. The BKMR model demonstrated a positive correlation between contaminants (anthracene, ATQ, copaene, di-epi-a-cedrene, and DMIP) with VFA. Mediation analysis revealed that phosphatidylcholine [PC, PC(16:1e/18:1), PC(16:2e/18:0)] and sphingolipid [SM, SM(d18:2/24.1)] mediated a significant portion, ranging from 12.27% to 26.03% (p-value DISCUSSION: Based on the evidence from multiple model results, ATQ and DMIP were statistically significantly associated with the increased VFA levels of healthy older adults, potentially regulated through lipid intermediators. These findings may have important implications for identifying potentially harmful environmental chemicals and developing targeted strategies for the control and prevention of chronic diseases in the future, particularly as the global population is rapidly aging. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13865, Introduction The global population is currently undergoing a notable aging trend, primarily driven by declining fertility rates and increased life expectancy. (1) This demographic shift is evident as the number [...]

BACKGROUND: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals widely detected in humans and the environment. Exposure to perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) or perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) was previously shown to cause dark-phase hyperactivity in larval zebrafish. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to elucidate the mechanism by which PFOS or PFHxS exposure caused hyperactivity in larval zebrafish. METHODS: Swimming behavior was assessed in 5-d postfertilization (dpf) larvae following developmental (1-4 dpf) or acute (5 dpf) exposure to 0.43-7.86 [micro]M PFOS, 7.87-120 [micro]M PFHxS, or 0.4% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). After developmental exposure and chemical washout at 4 dpf, behavior was also assessed at 5-8 dpf. RNA sequencing was used to identify differences in global gene expression to perform transcriptomic benchmark concentration--response ([BMC.sub.T]) modeling, and predict upstream regulators in PFOS- or PFHxS-exposed larvae. CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing was used to knockdown peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (ppars) pparaa/ab, pparda/db, or pparg at day 0. Knockdown crispants were exposed to 7.86 [micro]M PFOS or 0.4% DMSO from 1-4 dpf and behavior was assessed at 5 dpf. Coexposure with the ppard antagonist GSK3787 and PFOS was also performed. RESULTS: Transient dark-phase hyperactivity occurred following developmental or acute exposure to PFOS or PFHxS, relative to the DMSO control. In contrast, visual startle response (VSR) hyperactivity only occurred following developmental exposure and was irreversible up to 8 dpf. Similar global transcriptomic profiles, [BMC.sub.T] estimates, and enriched functions were observed in PFOS- and PFHxS-exposed larvae, and ppars were identified as putative upstream regulators. Knockdown of pparda/db, but not pparaa/ab or pparg, blunted PFOS-dependent VSR hyperactivity to control levels. This finding was confirmed via antagonism of ppard in PFOS-exposed larvae. DISCUSSION: This work identifies a novel adverse outcome pathway for VSR hyperactivity in larval zebrafish. We demonstrate that developmental, but not acute, exposure to PFOS triggered persistent VSR hyperactivity that required ppard function. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13667, Introduction Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse class of synthetic chemicals containing >14,000 unique structures used in industrial manufacturing (US EPA PFASSTRUCTv3, last checked December 2023 (1)). PFAS [...]

The Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting Model (HWRF) was the flagship hurricane model at NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Prediction for 16 years and a state-of-the-art tool for tropical cyclone (TC) intensity prediction at the National Weather Service and across the globe. HWRF was a joint development between NOAA research and operations, specifically the Environmental Modeling Center and the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Significant support also came from the National Hurricane Center, Developmental Testbed Center, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, universities, cooperative institutes, and the TC community. In the North Atlantic basin, where most improvement efforts focused, HWRF intensity forecast errors decreased by 45%-50% at many lead times between 2007 and 2022. These large improvements resulted from increases in horizontal and vertical resolution, as well as advances in model physics and data assimilation. HWRF intensity forecasts performed particularly well over the Gulf of Mexico in recent years, providing useful guidance for a large number of impactful landfalling hurricanes. Such advances were made possible not only by significant gains in computing but also through substantial investment from the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: HWRF is considered one of the most important and successful ocean-coupled, regional numerical weather prediction models. This work documents HWRF forecast performance for TCs in the North Atlantic since its operational inception (2007-22). Track, intensity, and storm size (wind radii) forecasts all showed significant error reductions and skill improvements, including 45%-50% lower intensity errors. HWRF intensity forecasts showed marked improvement for rapid intensification events, especially in the Gulf of Mexico, where numerous impactful TCs made landfall throughout HWRF's lifetime. HWRF's impressive performance led to its expanded use as guidance for official TC forecasts and as a research tool across the TC community. These successes paved the way for NOAA's next-generation hurricane model, the Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System. KEYWORDS: Extreme events; Hurricanes/ typhoons; Tropical cyclones; Short-range prediction; Model evaluation/ performance; Numerical weather prediction/ forecasting, 1. Introduction (the rise of dynamical hurricane models at NOAA) Tropical cyclone (TC) forecast errors have markedly decreased over the past two decades, largely due to improved numerical weather prediction [...]

This paper provides an introduction to a new tool that is designed to provide operationally useful vulnerability information to National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecasting Offices (WFOs). The Brief Vulnerability Overview Tool (BVOT) is a shapefile containing local known, spatially specific, and weather-hazard-related vulnerabilities in a format that is easily integrated into the existing forecasting, warning, and decision support responsibilities and tasks of NWS WFO meteorologists. The methods for gathering vulnerability data and then building a BVOT for a WFO leverage and strengthen the relationships that NWS WFOs already have with their local emergency managers (EMs) and core partners to work together to identify operationally useful, local vulnerability knowledge. The BVOT is populated with discrete, known vulnerabilities to provide NWS meteorologists spatial situational awareness of those people, places, and things of greatest concern to their core partners. Crucially, the BVOT is a subsample of all potential vulnerabilities; its primary purpose is to make meteorologists aware of those weather-hazard-specific vulnerabilities that, as we posed to them, "keep them awake at night." Here, we describe the development of the BVOT as a social science-informed operational tool; how the BVOT methods have evolved and how it can be integrated into the culture of the NWS as a tool for building and maintaining relationships with partners; and how the BVOT is designed to be used and its impact on operational decision-making as observed in NOAA's Hazardous Weather Testbed. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Operational meteorologists in the National Weather Service often rely on everyday knowledge of vulnerabilities to shape their messaging to communities threatened by hazardous weather. This study seeks to test methods that will permit meteorologists to work with local communities and emergency managers to collect knowledge about local vulnerabilities so that they can be formally shared and integrated into everyday operations. The results of this research provide an illustrative pathway demonstrating how social science-informed research can be used to improve meteorological operations. Future work should investigate how other findings from social science can be translated into real, operational impacts. KEYWORDS: Social science; Operational forecasting; Communication/ decision-making; Decision support; Vulnerability, 1. BVOT: An inductive approach to actionable vulnerability decision support The mission of the U.S. NWS is to "provide weather, water, and climate data, forecasts, warnings, and impact-based decision support [...]

BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence suggests that domestic water hardness is linked to health outcomes, but its association to all-cause and cause-specific cancers warrants investigation. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of domestic hard water with all-cause and cause-specific cancers. METHODS: In the prospective cohort study, a total of 447,996 participants from UK Biobank who were free of cancer at baseline were included and followed up for 16 y. All-cause and 22 common cause-specific cancer diagnoses were ascertained using hospital inpatient records and self-reported data until 30 November 2022. Domestic water hardness, measured by CaC[O.sub.3] concentrations, was obtained from the local water supply companies across England, Scotland, and Wales in 2005. Data were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard models, with adjustments for known measured confounders, including demographic, socioeconomic, clinical, biochemical, lifestyle, and environmental factors. RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 13.6 y (range: 12.7-14.4 y), 58,028 all-cause cancer events were documented. A U-shaped relationship between domestic water hardness and all-cause cancers was observed (p for nonlinearity 60-120 mg/L), 0.88 (95% CI: 0.84, 0.91) for those exposed to hard water (>120-180 mg/L) and 1.06 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.08) for those exposed to very hard water (>180 mg/L). Additionally, domestic water hardness was associated with 11 of 22 cause-specific cancers, including cancers of the esophagus, stomach, colorectal tract, lung, breast, prostate, and bladder, as well as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, malignant melanoma, and hematological malignancies. Moreover, we observed a positive linear relationship between water hardness and bladder cancer. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that domestic water hardness was associated with all-cause and multiple cause-specific cancers. Findings from the UK Biobank support a potentially beneficial association between hard water and the incidence of all-cause cancer. However, very hard water may increase the risk of all-cause cancer. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13606, Introduction Cancer is a leading cause of mortality worldwide in 2020, nearly 10 million deaths were due to cancer, accounting for approximately one-sixth of all deaths. (1-3) It is projected [...]

BACKGROUND: Maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy (MSDP) is associated with numerous adverse health outcomes in infants and children with potential lifelong consequences. Negative effects of MSDP on placental DNA methylation (DNAm), placental structure, and function are well established. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to develop biomarkers of MSDP using DNAm measured in placentas (N =96), collected as part of the Vitamin C to Decrease the Effects of Smoking in Pregnancy on Infant Lung Function double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial conducted between 2012 and 2016. We also aimed to develop a digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the top ranking cytosine--guanine dinucleotide (CpG) so that large numbers of samples can be screened for exposure at low cost. METHODS: We compared the ability of four machine learning methods [logistic least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, logistic elastic net regression, random forest, and gradient boosting machine] to classify MSDP based on placental DNAm signatures. We developed separate models using the complete EPIC array dataset and on the subset of probes also found on the 450K array so that models exist for both platforms. For comparison, we developed a model using CpGs previously associated with MSDP in placenta. For each final model, we used model coefficients and normalized beta values to calculate placental smoking index (PSI) scores for each sample. Final models were validated in two external datasets: the Extremely Low Gestational Age Newborn observational study, N = 426; and the Rhode Island Children's Health Study, N = 237. RESULTS: Logistic LASSO regression demonstrated the highest performance in cross-validation testing with the lowest number of input CpGs. Accuracy was greatest in external datasets when using models developed for the same platform. PSI scores in smokers only (n = 72) were moderately correlated with maternal plasma cotinine levels. One CpG (cg27402634), with the largest coefficient in two models, was measured accurately by digital PCR compared with measurement by EPIC array ([R.sup.2] = 0.98). DISCUSSION: To our knowledge, we have developed the first placental DNAm-based biomarkers of MSDP with broad utility to studies of prenatal disease origins. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13838, Introduction Maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy (MSDP) is associated with increased risk of low birth weight, prematurity, and perinatal mortality. (1-4) MSDP is also associated with greater risk of cardiovascular, [...]

BACKGROUND: Evidence linking gaseous air pollution to late-life brain health is mixed. OBJECTIVE: We explored associations between exposure to gaseous pollutants and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers among Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study participants, with attention to the influence of exposure estimation method and confounding by site. METHODS: We considered data from 1,665 eligible ARIC participants recruited from four US sites in the period 1987-1989 with valid brain MRI data from Visit 5 (2011-2013). We estimated 10-y (2001-2010) mean carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (N[O.sub.2]), nitrogen oxides (N[O.sub.x]), and 8-and 24-h ozone ([O.sub.3]) concentrations at participant addresses, using multiple exposure estimation methods. We estimated site-specific associations between pollutant exposures and brain MRI outcomes (total and regional volumes; presence of microhemorrhages, infarcts, lacunes, and severe white matter hyperintensities), using adjusted linear and logistic regression models. We compared meta-analytically combined site-specific associations to analyses that did not account for site. RESULTS: Within-site exposure distributions varied across exposure estimation methods. Meta-analytic associations were generally not statistically significant regardless of exposure, outcome, or exposure estimation method; point estimates often suggested associations between higher N[O.sub.2] and N[O.sub.x] and smaller temporal lobe, deep gray, hippocampal, frontal lobe, and Alzheimer disease signature region of interest volumes and between higher CO and smaller temporal and frontal lobe volumes. Analyses that did not account for study site more often yielded significant associations and sometimes different direction of associations. DISCUSSION: Patterns of local variation in estimated air pollution concentrations differ by estimation method. Although we did not find strong evidence supporting impact of gaseous pollutants on brain changes detectable by MRI, point estimates suggested associations between higher exposure to CO, N[O.sub.x], and N[O.sub.2] and smaller regional brain volumes. Analyses of air pollution and dementia-related outcomes that do not adjust for location likely underestimate uncertainty and may be susceptible to confounding bias. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13906, Introduction Growing evidence links air pollution to late-life cognitive health. Currently, the strongest evidence supports an effect of particulate matter (PM) air pollution. (1) In comparison with PM, fewer studies [...]

BACKGROUND: Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic and widespread environmental oxidative stressor that causes a myriad of health problems, including osteoporosis and bone damage. Although nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and its Cap 'n' Collar and basic region Leucine Zipper (CNC-bZIP) family member nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 1 (NRF1) coordinate various stress responses by regulating the transcription of a variety of antioxidant and cytoprotective genes, they play distinct roles in bone metabolism and remodeling. However, the precise roles of both transcription factors in bone loss induced by prolonged Cd exposure remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying Cd-induced bone loss, focusing mainly on the roles of NRF2 and NRF1 in osteoclastogenesis provoked by Cd. METHODS: Male wild-type (WT), global Nrf2-knockout (Nrf[2.sup.-/-]) and myeloid-specific Nrf2 knockout [Nrf2(M)-KO] mice were administered Cd (50 or 100 ppm) via drinking water for 8 or 16 wk, followed by micro-computed tomography, histological analyses, and plasma biochemical testing. Osteoclastogenesis was evaluated using bone marrow-derived osteoclast progenitor cells (BM-OPCs) and RAW 264.7 cells in the presence of Cd (10 or 20 nM) with a combination of genetic and chemical modulations targeting NRF2 and NRF1. RESULTS: Compared with relevant control mice, global Nrf[2.sup.-/-] or Nrf2(M)-KO mice showed exacerbated bone loss and augmented osteoclast activity following exposure to 100ppm Cd in drinking water for up to 16 wk. In vitro osteoclastogenic analyses suggested that Nrf2-deficient BM-OPCs and RAW 264.7 cells responded more robustly to low levels of Cd (up to 20 nM) with regard to osteoclast differentiation compared with WT cells. Further mechanistic studies supported a compensatory up-regulation of long isoform of NRF1 (L-NRF1) and subsequent induction of nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic, calcineurin dependent 1 (NFATc1) as the key molecular events in the Nrf2 deficiency-worsened and Cd-provoked osteoclastogenesis. L-Nrf1 silenced (via lentiviral means) Nrf2-knockdown (KD) RAW cells exposed to Cd showed dramatically different NFATc1 and subsequent osteoclastogenesis outcomes compared with the cells of Nrf2-KD alone exposed to Cd, suggesting a mitigating effect of the Nrf1 silencing. In addition, suppression of reactive oxygen species by exogenous antioxidants N-acetyl-L-cysteine (2mM) and mitoquinone mesylate (MitoQ; 0.2 [micro]M) mitigated the L-NRF1-associated effects on NFATc1-driven osteoclastogenesis outcomes in Cd-exposed Nrf2-KD cells. CONCLUSIONS: This in vivo and in vitro study supported the authors' hypothesis that Cd exposure caused bone loss, in which NRF2 and L-NRF1 responded to Cd and osteoclastogenic stimuli in a cooperative, but contradictive, manner to coordinate Nfatc1 expression, osteoclastogenesis and thus bone homeostasis. Our study suggests a novel strategy targeting NRF2 and L-NRF1 to prevent and treat the bone toxicity of Cd. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13849, Introduction Cadmium (Cd), a nonessential heavy metal, is considered as one of the most toxic environmental and occupational hazards. (1) Human long-term exposure to Cd, which occurs mainly from consumption [...]

BACKGROUND: The potential health benefits of exposure to vegetation, or greenness, are well documented, but there are few nationwide studies in Brazil, a country facing challenges related to land-use planning, deforestation, and environmental health risks. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we investigated the association between greenness and hospitalizations for cardiorespiratory diseases in Brazil. METHODS: We accessed hospital admissions data from 967,771 postal codes (a total of 26,724,624 admissions) covering Brazil for the period between 2008 and 2018. We used Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) to measure greenness at the postal-code level. First, we applied a quasi-Poisson regression model to estimate the association between greenness and hospitalizations for circulatory and respiratory diseases, adjusted for air pollution, weather variables, and area-level socioeconomic status. We stratified the analyzes by sex, age group, health outcome, and Brazilian regions. In the second stage, we performed a meta-analysis to estimate pooled effects across the Brazilian regions. RESULTS: The national meta-analysis for the whole population, incorporating both urban and nonurban areas, showed that higher levels of greenness were associated with a lower risk of hospitalizations for circulatory diseases. An interquartile range (IQR = 0:18) increase in average NDVI was associated with a 17% (95% confidence interval: 8%, 27%) lower risk of cardiovascular admissions. In contrast, there was no association found between greenness and respiratory admissions. When specifically examining urban areas, the results remained consistent with the overall findings. However, the analyses of nonurban areas revealed divergent results, suggesting that higher levels of greenness in rural regions are associated with a lower risk of hospital admissions for both circulatory and respiratory diseases. DISCUSSION: The findings emphasize the importance of prioritizing the preservation and creation of green spaces in urban areas as a means of promoting cardiovascular health in Brazil. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13442, Introduction Cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. (1) In Brazil, these diseases are responsible for a significant number of hospital admissions and deaths. [...]

Extreme heat contributes to 8000-12 000 excess U.S. deaths per year. Partly due to increasing summer temperatures and a renewed focus on environmental justice, local governments started new initiatives to manage and adapt to extreme heat. For example, Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, appointed Jane Gilbert as the world's first Chief Heat Officer. This manuscript summarizes Miami-Dade County's preliminary efforts to build local evidence, engage the community, and rapidly respond to extreme heat. The manuscript's goal is to expedite the translation of existing tools into mainstream extreme heat, health, and equity planning. The study generated local evidence to identify the places and periods of time with elevated heat-related illness using a statistical vulnerability and time series analysis, respectively. The places with the highest severe heat-related illness rates had hotter land surface temperatures and/or higher proportions of people who were outdoor workers, Indigenous, living in poverty or mobile homes, and households with children. "Everyday" summer conditions instead of rare heatwaves increase the risk of a heat-related death. The Chief Heat Officer convened workshops that engaged 298 unique community members on six cross-sectoral heat topics. Key recommendations included increasing multisectoral heat monitoring and risk communication, building more affordable housing, preserving and expanding greenspace, and creating heat resilience hubs. The activities culminated in a Heat Action Plan, which was completed in less than two years from the receipt of project funding. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Extreme heat is a contributing factor to more U.S. deaths per year than any other weather hazard. This manuscript summarizes the world's first Chief Heat Officer's efforts to build local heat and health evidence. The places with the highest heat-related illness rates had hotter surface temperatures and/or higher proportions of people who were outdoor workers, Indigenous, and living in poverty or mobile homes. On hot and humid days, 7.8% (603 deaths) of the summer deaths per year were associated with the concurrent and preceding day's heat exposures. In response, Miami-Dade County is targeting heat interventions, lowering heat advisory thresholds, and considering new heat safety laws. KEYWORDS: Adaptation; Health; Heat islands; Societal impacts; Vulnerability, 1. Introduction Over 2002-20, an increasing proportion of jurisdictions considered extreme heat in their planning activities (Bernard and McGeehin 2004; Meerow and Keith 2021). In Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States [...]

BACKGROUND: Manganese (Mn) plays a significant role in both human health and global industries. Epidemiological studies of exposed populations demonstrate a dose-dependent association between Mn and neuromotor effects ranging from subclinical effects to a clinically defined syndrome. However, little is known about the relationship between early life Mn biomarkers and adolescent postural balance. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the associations between childhood and adolescent Mn biomarkers and adolescent postural balance in participants from the longitudinal Marietta Communities Actively Researching Exposures Study (CARES) cohort. METHODS: Participants were recruited into CARES when they were 7-9 y old, and reenrolled at 13-18 years of age. At both time points, participants provided samples of blood, hair, and toenails that were analyzed for blood Mn and lead (Pb), serum cotinine, hair Mn, and toenail Mn. In adolescence, participants completed a postural balance assessment. Greater sway indicates postural instability (harmful effect), whereas lesser sway indicates postural stability (beneficial effect). Multivariable linear regression models were conducted to investigate the associations between childhood and adolescent Mn biomarkers and adolescent postural balance adjusted for age, sex, height--weight ratio, parent/caregiver intelligence quotient, socioeconomic status, blood Pb, and serum cotinine. RESULTS: CARES participants who completed the adolescent postural balance assessment (n=123) were 98% White and 54% female and had a mean age of 16 y (range: 13-18 y). In both childhood and adolescence, higher Mn biomarker concentrations were significantly associated with greater adolescent sway measures. Supplemental analyses revealed sex-specific associations; higher childhood Mn biomarker concentrations were significantly associated with greater sway in females compared with males. DISCUSSION: This study found childhood and adolescent Mn biomarkers were associated with subclinical neuromotor effects in adolescence. This study demonstrates postural balance as a sensitive measure to assess the association between Mn biomarkers and neuromotor function. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13381, Introduction Manganese (Mn) is an element that exists ubiquitously in the environment, often in combination with other elements. (1) Mn plays a significant role in both human health and global [...]

BACKGROUND: More frequent and intense exposure to extreme heat conditions poses a serious threat to public health. However, evidence on the association between heat and specific diagnoses of morbidity is still limited. We aimed to comprehensively assess the short-term association between cause-specific hospital admissions and high temperature, including the added effect of temperature variability and heat waves and the effect modification by humidity and air pollution. METHODS: We used data on cause-specific hospital admissions, weather (i.e., temperature and relative humidity), and air pollution [i.e., fine particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter [less than or equal to]2.5 [micro]m ([PM.sub.2.5]), fine particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter [less than or equal to]10 [micro]m ([PM.sub.10]), N[O.sub.2], and ozone ([O.sub.3])] for 48 provinces in mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2019. The statistical analysis was performed for the summer season (June-September) and consisted of two steps. We first applied quasi-Poisson generalized linear regression models in combination with distributed lag nonlinear models (DLNM) to estimate province-specific temperature--morbidity associations, which were then pooled through multilevel univariate/multivariate random-effect meta-analysis. RESULTS: High temperature had a generalized impact on cause-specific hospitalizations, while the added effect of temperature variability [i.e., diurnal temperature range (DTR)] and heat waves was limited to a reduced number of diagnoses. The strongest impact of heat was observed for metabolic disorders and obesity [relative risk (RR) = 1.978; 95% empirical confidence interval (eCI): 1.772, 2.208], followed by renal failure (1.777; 95% eCI: 1.629, 1.939), urinary tract infection (1.746; 95% eCI: 1.578, 1.933), sepsis (1.543; 95% eCI: 1.387, 1.718), urolithiasis (1.490; 95% eCI: 1.338, 1.658), and poisoning by drugs and nonmedicinal substances (1.470; 95% eCI: 1.298, 1.665). We also found differences by sex (depending on the diagnosis of hospitalization) and age (very young children and the elderly were more at risk). Humidity played a role in the association of heat with hospitalizations from acute bronchitis and bronchiolitis and diseases of the muscular system and connective tissue, which were higher in dry days. Moreover, heat-related effects were exacerbated on high pollution days for metabolic disorders and obesity ([PM.sub.2.5]) and diabetes ([PM.sub.10], [O.sub.3]). DISCUSSION: Short-term exposure to heat was found to be associated with new diagnoses (e.g., metabolic diseases and obesity, blood diseases, acute bronchitis and bronchiolitis, muscular and connective tissue diseases, poisoning by drugs and nonmedicinal substances, complications of surgical and medical care, and symptoms, signs, and ill-defined conditions) and previously identified diagnoses of hospital admissions. The characterization of the vulnerability to heat can help improve clinical and public health practices to reduce the health risks posed by a warming planet. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13254, Introduction Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of exposure to extreme heat conditions, which poses a serious threat to public health globally. (1) In some high-income regions such [...]

Food security is a key pillar of environmental security yet remains one of the world's greatest challenges. Its obverse, food insecurity, negatively impacts health and well-being, drives mass migration, and undermines national security and global sustainable development. Ensuring food security is a delicate balance of myriad concerns within the atmospheric and Earth sciences, agronomy and agriculture engineering, social sciences, economics, monitoring, and policymaking. A Food Security Presidential Session at the American Meteorological Society's (AMS) 2022 Annual Meeting brought together experts across disciplines to tackle issues at the nexus of weather, climate, and food security. The starkest takeaway was the realization that, despite its importance and clear roles for the atmospheric and climate sciences, food security has not been a focus for the AMS community. The aim of this paper is to build on the perspectives shared by this expert panel and to identify overlapping issues and key points of intersection between the food-security community and AMS. We examine 1) the interactions between weather, climate, and the food system and how they influence food security; 2) the time and spatial scales of food security decision support that match weather and climate phenomena; 3) the role of both providers and users of information as well as decision-makers in improving research to operations for food security; and 4) the opportunities for the AMS community to address food security. We conclude that, moving forward, the AMS community is well-positioned to scale up its engagement across the global food system to address existing scientific needs and technology gaps to improve global food security. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: We examine how members of the AMS community can help ensure global food security, whether they are engaged in the physical and social sciences or the realms of policy and society. Inspired by the messages of panelists at a Presidential Forum on Food Security at the 2022 AMS Annual Meeting, we gather their perspectives and those of experts working in the various relevant fields and find that there are roles for everyone across the AMS--from providing forecasts of the hydrometeorological variables used in food security outlooks to converting data to knowledge and engaging with stakeholders and decision-makers. We make concrete suggestions to ensure the AMS and its members are fully engaged in feeding the world. KEYWORDS: Drought; Climate change; Agriculture; Policy; Resilience; Societal impacts, Food security exists "when all people at all times, have the physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for [...]

Operational agencies face significant challenges related to the verification and evaluation of weather forecasts. These challenges were investigated in a series of online workshops and polls engaging operational personnel from six countries. Five key themes emerged: inadequate verification approaches for both existing and emerging products; incomplete and uncertain observations; difficulties in accurately capturing users' real-world experiences using simplified metrics; poor communication and understanding of forecasts and complex verification information; and institutional factors such as limited resources, evolving meteorologist roles, and concerns over reputational damage. We identify nearly 50 operationally relevant scientific questions and suggest calls to action. Addressing these needs includes designing forecast systems with verification as a central consideration, enhancing the availability of observations, and developing and adopting community software systems. Additionally, we propose the establishment of an international community comprising environmental and social science researchers, statisticians, verification practitioners, and users to provide sustained support for this collective endeavor. KEYWORDS: Uncertainty; Forecast verification/skill; Numerical weather prediction/ forecasting; Operational forecasting; Communications/ decision-making, 1. Introduction Weather prediction (Fig. 1) is a continuously evolving enterprise. The rapid expansion of various types of data (including satellite and other kinds), coupled with increasing computer capabilities, advances [...]

If a fresh brain is cut in half, two blue spots can be observed in the brainstem: the locus coeruleus (LC), or "sky-blue place." This bilateral nucleus was first described [...]

Controversy encompasses content that draws diverse perspectives, along with positive and negative feedback on a specific event, resulting in the formation of distinct user communities. we explore the explainability of controversy through the lens of SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) method, aiming to provide a fair assessment of the individual contributions of different text features of tweets to controversy detection. We conduct an analysis of topic discussions on Twitter from a community perspective, investigating the role of text in accurately classifying tweets into their respective communities. To achieve this, we introduce a SHAP-based pipeline designed to quantify the influence of impactful text features on the predictions of three tweet classifiers. Text content alone offers interesting controversy detection accuracy. It can contain predictive features for controversy detection. For instance, negative connotations, pejorative tendencies and positive qualifying adjectives tend to impact the controversy model detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The studied materials highlighted the extent of the relationships in areas of the Iberian inland, also connected to the Mediterranean world, during the iron age. • The ceramic characterisation showed only a main production, with two body fabrics, but both used to produce all ceramic types, either traditional or ceremonial, manufactured in local workshops. • The material knowledge of these inland communities provided them the suitable ability to understand the fashions and industrial uses of the coastal circuits to replicate the characteristic elements of the social elites of that time with adequate mastery. The archaeological site called El Pueyo de Marcuello (Huesca, Spain) is an Iron Age urban settlement, geographically situated in inland Iberia, and dated of the second half of the first millennium BCE. The nature and manufacture of their archaeological remains allow identifying this site as a contact point for relevant exchanges, with remarkable connections with Central and Western Mediterranean cultures. These cultural influences and exchanges were investigated through the characterisation of the ceramic objects found during the archaeological excavations. More than forty fragments were studied, including some of the most peculiar ceramic types, and analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The petrographic observations of the thin-sections highlighted two ceramic fabrics, with a similar matrix and mineralogy, but the second one using sparite crystals of crushed calcite as intentionally added temper. The statistical treatment of the chemical data supported the identification of two main compositional subgroups; both included very similar low-calcareous clay bodies. All these data allowed for highlighting a main production, with two body fabrics, but both used to produce all ceramic types, either traditional or ceremonial. These objects could have been largely manufactured in local workshops. The materials from El Pueyo de Marcuello highlighted the extent of the relationships in areas of the Iberian inland, also connected to the rhythms of Mediterranean world, during the Iron Age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decades, tremendous technological advances have emerged in human motion analysis (HMA). How has technology for analysing human motion evolved over the past decades, and what clinical applications has it enabled? The literature on HMA has been extensively reviewed, focusing on three main approaches: Fully-Instrumented Gait Analysis (FGA), Wearable Sensor Analysis (WSA), and Deep-Learning Video Analysis (DVA), considering both technical and clinical aspects. FGA techniques relying on data collected using stereophotogrammetric systems, force plates, and electromyographic sensors have been dramatically improved providing highly accurate estimates of the biomechanics of motion. WSA techniques have been developed with the advances in data collection at home and in community settings. DVA techniques have emerged through artificial intelligence, which has marked the last decade. Some authors have considered WSA and DVA techniques as alternatives to "traditional" HMA techniques. They have suggested that WSA and DVA techniques are destined to replace FGA. We argue that FGA, WSA, and DVA complement each other and hence should be accounted as "synergistic" in the context of modern HMA and its clinical applications. We point out that DVA techniques are especially attractive as screening techniques, WSA methods enable data collection in the home and community for extensive periods of time, and FGA does maintain superior accuracy and should be the preferred technique when a complete and highly accurate biomechanical data is required. Accordingly, we envision that future clinical applications of HMA would favour screening patients using DVA in the outpatient setting. If deemed clinically appropriate, then WSA would be used to collect data in the home and community to derive relevant information. If accurate kinetic data is needed, then patients should be referred to specialized centres where an FGA system is available, together with medical imaging and thorough clinical assessments. • Gait analysis by stereophotogrammetry provides highly accurate biomechanics of motion. • Wearable sensors enable ecological data collection at home and in community setting. • Deep-learning video analysis can perform motion capture without instruments on subjects. • Several authors suggest more modern technologies shall replace traditional gait analysis. • We argue that these three technologies complement each other and shall be "synergistic". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfonylurea herbicides (SUHs) are widely used in agriculture because of their low dosage, low cost, and high selectivity. However, due to improper use and lack of effective management, their residues pose a threat to the human health through environment and food pollution. Therefore, there is a need for simple, quick, economical, and effective methods to analyze SUHs in plant-derived foods, crops, and environmental samples. The present article presents a comprehensive review of the pretreatment and analytical technologies used for SUHs in various sample matrices, focusing on the developments since 2010. The main pretreatment methods include liquid–liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction, QuEChERS, and different microextraction methods, whereas analytical methods mainly include liquid chromatography coupled with different detectors, capillary electrophoresis, among others. In addition, the present study also compared the advantages and disadvantages of the methods and the future development is prospected. Highlight: Progress in pretreatment and analytical methods of sulfonylurea herbicides are summarized. Pros and cons of the pretreatment and determination methods have been given. Novel materials in solid-phase extraction and solid-phase microextraction are depicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A robust method for analysing acrylamide in plantain and cassava snacks was developed using SPME and GC‐FID. Optimised via Box–Benkhen design, the method met European standards with a calibration curve R2 > 99%, detection limit 63 μg kg−1, and quantification limit 212 μg kg−1. Precision was <17.76% as per Horwitz equation. Acrylamide levels in fried ripe plantain were 894.40 ± 56.35 μg kg−1 and in cassava snacks 59.42 ± 2.46 μg kg−1. This validated method offers an efficient means for acrylamide control in thermally processed foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the absence of a gold-standard diagnostic modality for cellulitis, sterile inflammatory disorders may be misdiagnosed as cellulitis. Objective: To determine the utility of skin biopsy and tissue culture for the diagnosis and management of patients admitted with a diagnosis of presumed cellulitis. Design: Pilot single-blind parallel group randomized controlled clinical trial in 56 patients with a primary diagnosis of presumed cellulitis. In the intervention group only, skin biopsy and tissue culture results were made available to the primary care team to guide diagnosis and management. Length of hospital stay and antibiotic use were evaluated as outcome measures. Results: Length of stay showed the greatest opportunity for further study as a primary outcome (intervention: 4, IQR (2–6) vs. control: 5 IQR (3–8) days; p = 0.124). Limitations: The COVID-19 pandemic placed limitations on participant enrollment and study duration; in addition, data was collected from a single medical center. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that length of stay and anti-pseudomonal antibiotic de-escalation are endpoints that may be influenced by biopsy and tissue culture results in presumed cellulitis patients; these outcomes warrant further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the history of Mongolian art, the beginning of modern painting is considered in connection with the "First Exhibition of Young Artists" in 1968. Although social-realist paintings developed at the beginning of the 20th century in line with the policies of the party and government, the colors and patterns of some artists' paintings were expressed with new thinking. In Mongolia, the development of modern art has been rapidly developing in recent years in the fields of Cubism, Impressionism, Surrealism, Abstract, and Expressionism, and dozens of works have been created. During this period, the artists and artists of our country kept pace with the global changes and innovations in the field of art studies, created new types of works of modern art, and continued to learn and develop new methods of theory and practice. Since 1990, Mongolia has transitioned from a centrally planned economic system to a market economic system, and individual ideals and freedom have increased not only in the industrial sector but also in the field of painting, and the direction of modern painting has begun to develop rapidly since then. In line with this, in addition to the public access to modern artworks, the need to read, understand, and explain their meaning and content has increased. Moreover, since 1990, the award for the best works of the year of the "Mongolian Art Gallery" has been won by works created in the genre of modern art, which indicates that this genre of art has taken a significant place in the history of Mongolian visual arts. Although modern paintings are being created in large numbers, there is a lack of research that evaluates and analyzes them from the point of view of art studies. In the works of some researchers, the subject of Mongolian modern painting became secondary research and was limited to mention, which is the reason for us to selectively study this topic. The purpose of the research is to analyze the development and classification of modern art of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, which are stored in art galleries. This study aims to create a trend of modernism or monalism that reflects Mongolian traditional thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Facial cutaneous sporotrichosis presents with diverse clinical manifestations, often leading to misdiagnosis. Objective: This study aims to present the clinical characteristics of five misdiagnosed cases of facial cutaneous sporotrichosis, aiming to enhance understanding of this disease and prevent misdiagnosis and mistreatment. Methods: Clinical data, histopathology, and fungal culture results of these five cases were comprehensively analyzed. Results: Among these five patients, three presented with lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis, while two had the fixed cutaneous type. Due to misdiagnosis, initial treatments were ineffective for all patients. Upon histopathological examination and fungal culture confirming sporotrichosis, treatment with itraconazole for 3 months led to complete resolution of lesions. While one patient experienced a relapse due to noncompliance with the prescribed medication. Conclusion: Facial sporotrichosis, with its diverse clinical manifestations and obscure trauma history, is prone to misdiagnosis. Timely and thorough examinations are crucial for precise diagnosis and management. Itraconazole treatment demonstrated notable efficacy, and patient compliance is also essential for favorable outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study conducts a stylo-linguistic analysis of Niyi Osundare's poem "The Rainsong," examining the language, form, and structure used to convey meaning and impact. Through a detailed analysis of graphological, phonological, syntactic, and lexico-semantic features, the study reveals the poet's deliberate choices in crafting a powerful and impactful work of poetry. It highlights the use of repetition, personification, imagery, and defamiliarization to create a sense of urgency, hope, and optimism, demonstrating how the poet's use of language and form shapes our understanding of the world. Employing Halliday's Systemic Functional Language as its theoretical underpinning and adopting the methodology of close reading and text analysis, this study contributes to the field of literary analysis. It demonstrates the value of stylolinguistic analysis in uncovering the intricacies of poetic language and informing teaching and learning practices to better appreciate the complexities of poetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study presents an exploration of how interpersonal relationships are created in a speech text. It investigated former President Muhammadu Buhari's Independence Day speech using mood structural analysis. The analysis aimed to explore the power of using mood structure in addressing Nigerians about the President's programs and policies during the 61st Independence Anniversary. The study adopted Halliday's systemic functional grammatical framework. The data were broken into clauses and mood structures. The analysis revealed that there were twelve declarative and four imperative sentences, respectively. The findings showed that the former President employed more declarative sentences than other forms of mood to demonstrate his close connection with his audience. He deliberately used fewer imperative sentences and other mood forms to indicate the power dynamics with his audience. The mood structural analysis of former President Buhari's Independence speech was characterized by well-selected linguistic structures aimed at conveying the policies and programs of his administration over time. It also illustrates how linguistic structures build interpersonal relationships in a speech text. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, food authentication has acquired significant importance due to the increase in the incidence of fraud and counterfeiting. Alcoholic beverages are among the food products most susceptible to these kinds of illicit practices due to their high commercial value. In the EU alone, there are 47 categories of spirit drinks and approximately 250 geographical indications (GIs). The production and labeling of GIs are strictly regulated, and developing analytical procedures that can ensure compliance with the legislation is essential to guarantee the typicality of these products. The aim of this review is to summarize the most relevant analytical techniques used for the authentication and quality control of two well-renowned GIs: "Grappa" and wine brandy. It considers the last decade of advancements for both conventional targeted chromatographic techniques and less common methods mainly based on spectrometry coupled with chemometrics for quick and non-destructive discrimination of samples. Novel approaches and future perspectives are also highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steel bridge designers and erectors primarily rely on approximate methods, such as 1D line girder analyses and 2D grid analyses. For curved or skewed bridges, this can give erroneous indications of the structure's true behaviour. Refined methods of analysis, such as 3D shell modelling, aim to bring a significant change in the practice of bridge engineering. By moving the industry away from simplistic design assumptions, refined analysis methods lead to more accurate, less conservative results, which in turn brings true benefits such as improved structural safety and increased economy. In this paper, several case studies on curved plate girder and tub girder bridges are presented, which cover the full bridge life cycle, from erection of the steel structure and placement of the concrete deck, down to live load analyses using influence surfaces and load rating. The case studies will be modelled with mBrace3D, a dedicated FEA software for curved steel bridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuing effects of climate change require farmers and growers to have greater understanding of how these changes affect crop production. However, while climatic data is generally available to help provide much of that understanding, it can often be in a form not easy to digest. The proposed Combined Location Online Weather Data (CLOWD) framework is an easy-to-use online platform for analysing recent and historical weather data of any location within Australia at the click of a map. CLOWD requires no programming skills and operates in any HTML5 web browser on PC and mobile devices. It enables comparison between current and previous growing seasons over a range of environmental parameters, and can create a plain-English PDF report for offline use, using natural language generation (NLG). This paper details the platform, the design decisions taken and outlines how farmers and growers can use CLOWD to better understand current growing conditions. Prototypes of CLOWD are now online for PCs and smartphones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last 30 years, there are many publications in the literature due to global warming and climate change impacts exhibiting non-stationary behaviors in hydro-meteorology time series records especially in the forms of increasing or decreasing trends. The conventional trend analyzes cover the entire recording time with a single straight-line trend and slope. These methods do not provide information about up and down partial moving trends evolution at shorter durations along the entire record length. This paper proposes a dynamic methodology for identifying such evolutionary finite duration moving trend method (MTM) identifications and interpretations. The purpose of choosing MTM was to investigate the dynamic partial trend evolution over the recording period so that dry (decreasing trend) and wet (increasing trend) segments could be objectively identified and these trends could assist in water resources management in the study area. The moving trend analysis is like the classical moving average methodology with one important digression that instead of arithmetic averages and their horizontal line representations, a series of finite duration successive increasing and decreasing trends are identified over a given hydro-meteorology time series record. In general, partial moving trends of 10-year, 20-year, 30-year and 40-year occur above or below the overall trend and thus provide practical insight into the dynamic trend pattern with important implications. The moving trend methodology is applied to annual records of Danube River discharges, New Jersey state wise temperatures and precipitation time series from the City of Istanbul. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly contagious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which has historically resulted in numerous fatalities. The analysis of TB is conducted through mathematical models featuring differential equations that describe the dynamics of epidemic spread, as well as its control and prevention. This paper presents the SEIR + D model of TB. According to this model, the total population is divided into five compartments: susceptible, exposed, infected, recovered, and deceased. This paper evaluates the rates (such as transmission rate, incubation rate, etc.) at which individuals transition from one compartment to another under various scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze the types and causes of complications following orbital fracture reconstruction and enhance clinicians' capacity to manage or prevent such complications. Methods: We conducted a retrospective case series analysis, retrospectively collecting and analyzing clinical data of patients with orbital fractures who received surgical treatment at the Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanchang University from May 2012 to May 2022. Descriptive statistics were employed to document common postoperative complications, and we recorded complications persisting after a minimum 6-month follow-up period. Results: Among the 227 patients who underwent orbital fracture surgery, they were followed up for 6 to 36 months, and complications occurred in 15 cases, resulting in an incidence rate of 6.61%. These complications included implant material infections and rejections (4 cases), persistent diplopia (3 cases), intraorbital hematomas (2 cases), epiphora (2 cases), lower eyelid eversion or retraction (2 cases), and skin scars (2 cases). The primary cause of postoperative infection was chronic inflammation in the paranasal sinuses or closed cavities within the fracture area. Postoperative complications in orbital fractures were associated with various factors, including the timing of surgery, surgical approach, repair materials, surgical skills, and auxiliary techniques. Conclusion: Standardizing surgical techniques and implementing precise auxiliary technologies may reduce the incidence of complications and enhance the operation's success rate. Precis: This study systematically analyzed the complications and underlying causes of orbital fracture surgery. By mitigating these factors, it aims to decrease or manage surgical complications, thereby enhancing patients' treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collective intentional actions are intentional actions of more than one individual. These actions come in many forms. Some are pursued spontaneously by strangers in face-to-face situations, others are performed by highly coordinated groups of individuals that know each other very well, others are actions in which the participating individuals, widely spread in space and time, act in organized ways. Current accounts of collective intentional action have privileged one or other kind of case, leaving out the study of other cases. This paper seeks to remedy this situation by offering a methodological framework that allows to study, both conceptually and empirically, all the variety of cases of collective intentional actions. It first presents the standard accounts of collective intentional action and argues that they fail in capturing all the cases that arguably count as cases of this kind. It then puts forward a multidimensional and paradigmatic (MAP) methodology for the study of collective intentional actions. It is shown how this methodology offers a unified, overarching, characterization of collective intentional actions. In conclusion, the paper compares the different methodologies and shows how the MAP methodology can inform the interdisciplinary study of collective intentional action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Heart rate variability (HRV) is an important non-invasive marker for the assessment of an organism's autonomic physiological regulatory pathways. Lower HRV has been shown to correlate with increased mortality. HRV is influenced by various factors or diseases. The aim of this narrative review is to describe the current state of knowledge on factors influencing HRV and their significance for interpretation. Methods: The narrative review only included reviews, meta-analyses, and cohort studies which were published until 2021. HRV confounders were grouped into four categories (non-influenceable physiological factors, diseases, influenceable lifestyle factors and external factors). Results: The review found that HRV was decreased not only in non-influenceable physiological factors (e.g., age, gender, ethnicity) but also in connection with various number of acute and chronic diseases (e.g., psychiatric diseases, myocardial infarction, heart failure), influenceable lifestyle factors (e.g., alcohol abuse, overweight, physical activity), and external factors (e.g., heat, noise, shift work, harmful- and hazardous substances). Conclusion: In order to improve the quality of HRV studies and to ensure accurate interpretation, it is recommended that confounders be taken into account in future diagnostic measurements or measurements in the workplace (e.g., as part of health promotion measures) in order to counteract data bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractMany commercial modular/pre-cast types of construction do not satisfy seismic ductility requirements and are not aligned with Relevant Good Practice (RGP) in the nuclear regulated sector. Steel-Concrete (SC) composite construction offers potential benefits to significantly reduce the construction period of the site works and allows mechanical attachments and cable trays/pipes to be welded directly to the steel face. However, due to SC’s relative novelty within the nuclear industry, further research is required to determine the advantages and disadvantages when compared to traditional construction forms. This paper investigates the performance of SC construction, including the bespoke Steel Bricks product, against a large commercial aircraft impact threat relevant to nuclear facilities. The research employs state-of-the-art finite element modelling to generate the aircraft impact threat and to apply the associated impact forces and pressures to the structures. The objective of the research is to complete a performance comparison of the SC and Steel Bricks against a traditional RC structure to determine potential benefits. In addition, sensitivity analysis is employed on the SC and Steel Bricks options to provide further information for future assessment and design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present SCAMP – Social Configuration Affordances for Museum Play – an analytical framework we develop and use to highlight the relationship between designed affordances at interactive museum exhibits and different social playful behaviors they trigger and support. We do this through a selective case study analysis of Rainbow Agents, an interactive museum exhibit designed to support play across multiple social configurations. This variety of configurations is valuable for museum settings, as it helps museum visitors engage with each other according to their preferences and also enables the emergence of modes of collaboration and competition novel for learners in such contexts. Our SCAMP analysis of Rainbow Agents sheds light on design features which successfully support different forms of productive social play – including short and long episodes of competitive, collaborative and parallel play, spanning play, teaching, and receiving interpersonal interactions. In particular, we pay attention to behaviors representing a variety of mentoring and learning opportunities – in line with and extending the vision and goals of educational games' and science museum exhibits' designers and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presented and discussed here is the implementation of a software solution that provides prompt X‐ray diffraction data analysis during fast dynamic compression experiments conducted within the dynamic diamond anvil cell technique. It includes efficient data collection, streaming of data and metadata to a high‐performance cluster (HPC), fast azimuthal data integration on the cluster, and tools for controlling the data processing steps and visualizing the data using the DIOPTAS software package. This data processing pipeline is invaluable for a great number of studies. The potential of the pipeline is illustrated with two examples of data collected on ammonia–water mixtures and multiphase mineral assemblies under high pressure. The pipeline is designed to be generic in nature and could be readily adapted to provide rapid feedback for many other X‐ray diffraction techniques, e.g. large‐volume press studies, in situ stress/strain studies, phase transformation studies, chemical reactions studied with high‐resolution diffraction etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to compare simplified pressure insoles integrating different sensor numbers and to identify a promising range of sensor numbers for accurate center of pressure (CoP) measurement. Twelve participants wore a 99-sensor Pedar-X insole (100 Hz) during walking, jogging, and running. Eight simplified layouts were simulated, integrating 3–17 sensors. Concordance correlation coefficients (CCC) and root mean square errors (RMSE) between the original and simplified layouts were calculated for time-series mediolateral (ML) and anteroposterior (AP) CoP. Differences between layouts and between gait types were assessed via ANOVA and Friedman test. Concordance between the original and simplified layouts varied across layouts and gaits (CCC: 0.43–0.98; χ (7) 2 ≥ 34.94, p < 0.001). RMSEML and RMSEAP [mm], respectively, were smaller in jogging (5 ± 2, 15 ± 9) than in walking (8 ± 2, 22 ± 4) and running (7 ± 4, 20 ± 7) ( η p 2 : 0.70–0.83, p < 0.05). Only layouts with 11+ sensors achieved CCC ≥ 0.80 in all tests across gaits. The 13-sensor layout achieved CCC ≥ 0.95 with 95% confidence, representing the most promising compromise between sensor number and CoP accuracy. Future research may refine sensor placement, suggesting the use of 11–13 sensors. For coaches, therapists, and applied sports scientists, caution is recommended when using insoles with nine or fewer sensors. Consulting task-specific validation results for the intended products is advisable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. The diffusion of microplastics in the food supply chain is prompting public concern as their impact on human health is still largely unknown. The aim of this study was to qualitatively and quantitatively characterize microplastics in skim-milk powder samples (n = 16) from different European countries (n = 8) through Fourier-transform infrared microspectroscopy in attenuated total reflectance mode analysis. The present study highlights that the use of hot alkaline digestion has enabled the efficacious identification of microplastics in skim-milk powders used for cheesemaking across European countries. The adopted protocol allowed detection of 29 different types of polymeric matrices for a total of 536 plastic particles. The most abundant microplastics were polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate. Microplastics were found in skim-milk powders in 3 different shapes (fiber, sphere, and irregular fragments) and 6 different colors (black, blue, brown, fuchsia, green, and gray). Results demonstrate the presence of microplastics in all skim-milk powder samples, suggesting a general contamination. Results of the present study will help to evaluate the impact of microplastics intake on human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides an overview of anorectal manometry (ARM), a diagnostic test used to assess anorectal function. It discusses when and how to perform the test, as well as its usefulness in evaluating conditions such as constipation and fecal incontinence. The article also covers the equipment needed for ARM, the training required for those performing the test, and the protocols for patient preparation and test procedures. Additionally, it outlines the analysis of ARM results and the interpretation of findings. This document provides information on how to interpret anorectal manometry and the rectal balloon expulsion test. It discusses the different sensations and measurements involved in these tests and their significance in diagnosing and guiding therapy for anorectal disorders. The document also mentions the London Classification, which categorizes anorectal disorders based on major findings, minor findings, and inconclusive findings. It emphasizes the clinical utility of these tests in understanding the underlying causes of anorectal symptoms and customizing treatment plans. [Extracted from the article]

A series (thirty) of marble sculptures from the Archaeological Museum of Kavala, in North Greece, coming from Amphipolis and the greater area of East Macedonia, have been examined and analyzed in order to determine the provenance of their marble. A detailed in-situ examination with optical techniques was carried out, followed by sampling and laboratory analyses with the techniques of Stable Isotope Analysis (IRMS) for carbon and oxygen, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (EPR), selective petrography and optical microscopy. In addition, the results from a new quarry near Kavala (Chalkero) that was field-examined and analyzed isotopically are presented for the first time. The results from the sculptures show that the dominant origin of the marble for a lot of them is Thasos, both the dolomitic marble quarries at Vathy and Saliara and the calcitic ones from Aliki or Cape Fanari. A very interesting find was that the source of the marble for several sculptures of the Hellenistic and Roman periods was the Chalkero quarry. Paros marble is used for five sculptures, Penteli and Asia Minor are also represented among the thirty sculptures examined. The marble provenance results have largely contributed to the archaeological/art historical interpretation regarding workshops and sculptors and facilitated the dating of some sculptures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus fruits (CF) are highly consumed worldwide, fresh, processed, or prepared as juices and pies. To illustrate the high economic importance of CF, the global production of these commodities in 2021 was around 98 million tons. CF's composition is considered an excellent source of phenolic compounds (PC) as they have a large amount and variety. Since ancient times, PC has been highlighted to promote several benefits related to oxidative stress disorders, such as chronic diseases and cancer. Recent studies suggest that consuming citrus fruits can prevent some of these diseases. However, due to the complexity of citrus matrices, extracting compounds of interest from these types of samples, and identifying and quantifying them effectively, is not a simple task. In this context, several extractive and analytical proposals have been used. This review discusses current research involving CF, focusing mainly on PC extraction and analysis methods, regarding advantages and disadvantages from the perspective of Green Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid quantification of toxins in food and beverage products has become a significant issue in overcoming and preventing many life-threatening diseases. Aflatoxin-contaminated food is one of the reasons for primary liver cancer and induces some tumors and cancer types. Advancements in biosensors technology have brought out different analysis methods. Therefore, the sensing performance has been improved for agricultural and beverage industries or food control processes. Nanomaterials are widely used for the enhancement of sensing performance. The enzymes, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP), antibodies, and aptamers can be used as biorecognition elements. The transducer part of the biosensor can be selected, such as optical, electrochemical, and mass-based. This review explains the classification of major types of aflatoxins, the importance of nanomaterials, electrochemical, optical biosensors, and QCM and their applications for the determination of aflatoxins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Posterior left atrial wall isolation (PWI) plus traditional pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) has been proposed as a promising intervention to decrease atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence. We aim to investigate the efficacy and safety of adding PWI to the traditional PVI in patients with AF. Methods: A systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted using synthesizing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) retrieved by systematically searching PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and Cochrane through June 14, 2023. We used Stata version 17 to pool dichotomous data using risk ratio (RR) and continuous data using mean difference (MD), with a 95% confidence interval (CI) (PROSPERO ID: CRD42023446227). Results: We included 11 RCTs with a total number of 1534 patients. Combined ablation with PWI + PVI was not associated with any significant difference over PVI only regarding the recurrence of clinical AF (RR: 0.86 with 95% CI [0.70–1.06]), all atrial arrhythmia (RR: 0.93 with 95% CI [0.82–1.07]), nonatrial fibrillation arrhythmia (RR: 1.22 with 95% CI [0.97–1.53]), early AF (RR: 0.89 with 95% CI [0.62–1.27]), and antiarrhythmic drugs at discharge (RR: 0.83 with 95% CI [0.67–1.04]). However, it was associated with increased total ablation duration (minutes) (MD: 12.58 with 95% CI [6.80–18.37]) and total procedure duration (minutes) (MD: 16.77 with 95% CI [9.63–23.91]), without any significant difference regarding adverse events (RR: 1.05 with 95% CI [0.63–1.74]). Conclusion: While the pooled data from PWI + PVI using point‐by‐point radiofrequency did not suggest a benefit in the recurrence of various atrial arrhythmias compared to PVI alone, PWI+PVI using direct posterior wall ablation, especially with cryoballoon, demonstrated a significant reduction in recurrence of AF/atrial arrhythmias. Also, PWI + PVI significantly increased the ablation and total procedure durations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruits provide nutrients for growing seeds. Seeds are important organs for the distribution of plants, while leaves are very essential in the manufacture of food for the plant. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to evaluate the proximate analysis, ascorbic acid, phytochemical and some heavy metals composition of Lagenaria breviflora (Wild colocynth) fruit, seed, leaf from a bushy uncultivated area in Henshaw Town, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.using standard analytical methods. The result of the proximate composition was shown to be 10% ash, 0.26% protein, 1.5% fat, 43.3% fibre, 88% moisture 44.94% carbohydrate in the fruit sample result revealed 22.5% ash, 1.50% protein, 12.5% fat, 16.60% fibre 42% moisture, 47.15% carbohydrate in the leaf sample. The seed sample was found to contained 5.5% ash, 1.69% protein, 16.25% fat, 40% fibre, 84% moisture and 36.56% carbohydrate. The ascorbic acid contents were found to be 85.88% in the fruit, 65.12% in the seed and 66.88% in the leaf samples. Result of the phytochemicals determination revealed the presence of alkaloid, flavonoid, tannin and phytate in the fruit, leaf and seed. The results show alkaloid content to be 0.026% in the fruit, 0.044% in the seed and 0.018% in the 0.240% in the leaf. Percent tannin content was 2.1% in the fruit, 1.9% in the seed and 2.0% in the leaf. Phytate was also found to be 0.9% in the fruit, 1.9% in the seed and 2.0% in the leaf. Phytate was also found to be 0.9% in the fruit, 0.5% in the seed, and 0.9% in the leaf. The heavy metals analysis of the samples indicated that cadmium and lead were not detected in the three samples, the fruit contained 0.0053 mg/kg of chromium, 0.006 mg/kg of iron, the seed contained 0.0012mg/kg of Chromium, 0.0037mg/kg iron. The leaf was found to contain 0.0021 mg/kg of chromium, 0.0110 mg/kg of iron. These values were within the permissible limits of WHO. Fruit, seed and leaf have good nutritional status from the high carbohydrate, fibre, moisture and ascorbic acid content, and are suitable for consumption as food, especially the fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarises the equivalent pier method for estimating the settlement of a pile group or a piled raft. Such an approach is very useful for preliminary estimates of settlement, and also for checking on the results of more refined analysis methods. Some suggestions for assessing the properties of the equivalent pier and the supporting soil are provided. A series of finite element analyses are presented in chart form for the settlement of a pier within a two-layer soil system. The accuracy of these analyses has been checked via comparison with some published closed form solutions for a uniform soil mass. Examples of the application of the equivalent pier method are presented for some published case histories to demonstrate that the method is capable of providing adequate preliminary settlement estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time stance detection can be used in a wide range of applications like debate analysis, sentiment analysis, system feedback, etc. This study focuses on stance detection in political speeches, discerning whether the speaker is in favor, against, neutral, or lacking any stance on a given topic. The problem with this type of speeches dwells in the modification of the existing methods of stance detection to allow for the fine distinctions of Hinglish, a language mixture blending Hindi and English, as conveyed in human-edited texts. The proposed method utilizes the Bidirectional Auto-Regressive Transformers Multi-Genre Natural Language Inference (BART-large-MNLI) model with zero-Shot, few-Shot and N-Shot learning approaches. The proposed model is compared with the existing models of stance detection on Hinglish texts. For the pre-trained BART-based models, a limited number of labeled examples are utilized to determine the labels of test instances. For the other models, the train-test split method is adopted to get accurate results. The results indicate that the model surpasses the previous models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]