Complete Series Research Articles

Analisis Perjalanan Rama pada Relief Ramayana Candi Prambanan untuk Konsep Naratif Animasi dengan Pendekatan Hero’s Journey

The Analysis of Rama’s Journey on the Ramayana Reliefs of Prambanan Temple for Animated Narrative Concept Using the Approach of Hero’s Journey . Reliefs of the Ramayana story can be found on the walls of the Shiva temple and the Brahma temple in Prambanan temple. The scene of each relief panel is well arranged so that a complete series of stories about Rama’s journey to save his wife Sinta is formed. The Ramayana relief of Prambanan temple is a narrative relief consisting of 76 scenes. The purpose of this research is to find the stages of the Ramayana storyline which is found in the Ramayana relief at Prambanan temple using the Hero’s Journey story structure. The research used qualitative research methods. Data were collected by observation, interviews, documents review, and literature studies. The collected data were analyzed, presented, discussed, and formed into conclusions as a result of the research.

Nonlinear Frequency Response Analysis of Distributed Parameter Systems with One Spatial Coordinate

AbstractThe objective of this paper is to investigate possible strategies for applying nonlinear frequency response (NFR) analysis based on the concept of higher‐order frequency response functions to distributed parameter systems. Three approaches are presented and compared: one based on applying the existing procedure directly to the partial differential model, and two based on approximation of the distributed parameter system with a series of lumped parameter segments. One of them treats the complete series of segments integrally, while the other treats it segment by segment, so it uses only the model of a single segment. A simple example, an isothermal plug‐flow reactor with a simple reaction mechanism, is used as a case study. Pros and cons for all three approaches are given.

ПРИСКОРЕНИЙ ЕКСПЕРИМЕНТАЛЬНИЙ МЕТОД ВСТАНОВЛЕННЯ ФУНКЦІОНАЛЬНОЇ ЗАЛЕЖНОСТІ МІЖ ПУСКОВИМ МОМЕНТОМ АСИ- НХРОННОГО ДВИГУНА ТА НАПРУГОЮ СТАТОРНОГО КОЛА

The features of obtaining the experimental dependence of the starting torque of an induction motor on the supply voltage of the stator have been studied. It is shown that when determining this dependence, the motor operates in short-circuit mode, which leads to rapid overheating of its windings. An accelerated experimental method for determining the functional dependence of the starting torque on the supply voltage has been proposed and justified. This approach allows for a complete series of measurements of the starting torque at different values of stator circuit voltage within a time frame that does not exceed the heating period of the windings from the initial to the rated temperature. A design for the experimental setup has been developed. Mathematical models describing the thermal behavior of the stator windings and the mechanical movement of the analog part of the starting torque measurement channel have been developed, confirming the validity of the proposed method for determining the functional dependence of the starting torque of an induction motor on the stator circuit voltage.

Male reproductive system of the deep-sea acorn worm Quatuoralisia malakhovi (Hemichordata, Enteropneusta, Torquaratoridae) from the Bering Sea

BackgroundThe deep-sea acorn worm Quatuoralisia malakhovi belongs to the phylum Hemichordata, class Enteropneusta, family Torquaratoridae, which was described in 2005. Owing to their epibenthic lifestyle and deep-sea habitat features, torquaratorids differ anatomically from shallow-water acorn worms; however, their morphology and fine structure are poorly studied. We have the opportunity to make three complete detailed series of histological sections of Q. malakhovi and to study the microscopic anatomy, histology and fine structure of the reproductive system of this acorn worm using scanning and transmission electron microscopy.ResultsThe sexes of Q. malakhovi are separate and indistinguishable externally. The lobed testes occupy the dorsal side of the genital wings and distinctly bulge into the peribranchial cavity by their mature lobes. The central part of the testis is always submerged into the genital wing and opens via a single gonad pore. The monociliary muscle cells stretch along the external wall of the testis and surround the gonad pore, probably taking part in the contraction of the testis lobes for spawning. The germinative epithelium of the testis contains spermatogenic cells at different stages of development and interstitial cells. Yolk cells are not found. Interstitial cells embrace the spermatogonia and spermatogenic columns, providing horizontal compartmentalization of the germinative epithelium, and contain numerous phagosomes with remnants of degenerating spermatogenic cells. The testis wall contains haemal lacunae, which are usually located on the side opposite the gonad pore. We describe the fine structure of spermatogonia, spermatocytes clustered in spermatogenic columns, spermatids, and spermatozoa. Spermatozoa are of the ectaquasperm type and consist of an acorn-shaped head and a flagellum 18–25 µm long. The sperm head includes a beak-shaped acrosomal part, a spherical nucleus and a midpiece containing a ring of 5 or rarely 6 mitochondria.ConclusionsThe male reproductive system and sperm structure of Q. malakhovi, a representative of the family Torquaratoridae, have a number of differences from shallow-water acorn worms; however, the spermatogenesis and sperm structure of Q. malakhovi generally follow the pattern of the other three enteropneust families, and the phylogenetic significance of these deviations should be the subject of further research.

Museum-archived myctophids reveal decadal trends in microplastic and microfiber ingestion

Global plastic production has surged since the 1960s, resulting in the pervasive presence of microplastics in the environment, yet there is a substantial gap in understanding historical trends of plastic pollution in wildlife. Recent discoveries of significant microplastic contamination in fishes have sparked considerable contemporary advancements in analytical methods and hold the potential to fill gaps in historical trends. We measured the presence of microplastics in museum-archived myctophids (Stenobrachius leucopsarus, Diaphus theta, and Tarletonbeania crenularis) collected from 1962 to 2016, to determine if trends in contamination levels over time correspond with the rise in plastics production. Seventy particles were extracted from 57 of the 240 individuals (23.8 % average occurrence across the time series) consisting of primarily blue and black microfibers. Anthropogenically modified cellulose was the dominant material (87 %) identified through μFTIR analysis, with polypropylene and polyethylene particles occurring secondarily. Although the complete time series across a broad geographical range of the North Pacific did not reveal a significant temporal trend, myctophids collected in proximity to the U.S. west coast showed a trend towards increasing incidence of microplastic and microfiber ingestion over time (p ≤ 0.05). Using historical samples of species with higher ingestion levels and consistent collection locations would improve the reliability of future investigations.

Influence of Selective Deoxyfluorination on the Molecular Structure of Type-2 N-Acetyllactosamine.

N-Acetyllactosamine is a common saccharide motif found in various biologically active glycans. This motif usually works as a backbone for additional modifications and thus significantly influences glycan conformational behavior and biological activity. In this work, we have investigated the type-2 N-acetyllactosamine scaffold using the complete series of its monodeoxyfluorinated analogs. These glycomimetics have been studied by molecular mechanics, quantum mechanics, X-ray crystallography, and various NMR techniques, which have provided a comprehensive and complete insight into the role of individual hydroxyl groups in the conformational behavior and lipophilicity of N-acetyllactosamine.

A New Mineral Calcioveatchite, SrCaB11O16(OH)5·H2O, and the Veatchite–Calcioveatchite Isomorphous Series

The new mineral calcioveatchite, ideally SrCaB11O16(OH)5·H2O, is a Ca-Sr-ordered analogue of veatchite. It was found at the Nepskoe potassium salt deposit, Irkutsk Oblast, Siberia, Russia in halite-sylvite and sylvite-carnallite rocks, with boracite, hilgardite, kurgantaite, hydroboracite, volkovskite, veatchite, anhydrite, magnesite, and quartz. Calcioveatchite forms prismatic or tabular crystals up to 1 × 1.5 × 3 mm3 and crystal clusters up to 3 mm across. It is transparent and colourless with vitreous lustre. Calcioveatchite is brittle, cleavage is perfect on {010}, the Mohs’ hardness is ca 2, Dmeas is 2.58(1), and Dcalc is 2.567 g cm−3. Calcioveatchite is optically biaxial (+), α = 1.543(2), β = 1.550(5), γ = 1.626(2), 2Vmeas = 30(10)°, and 2Vcalc = 35°. The average chemical composition (wt.%, electron microprobe, H2O calculated by stoichiometry) is: CaO 7.05, SrO 20.70, B2O3 61.96, H2O 10.22, and total 99.93. The empirical formula, calculated based on 22 O apfu = O16(OH)5(H2O) pfu, is Sr1.23Ca0.78B10.99O16(OH)5·H2O. Calcioveatchite is monoclinic, space group P21, a = 6.7030(3), b = 20.6438(9), c = 6.6056(3) Å, β = 119.153(7)°, V = 798.26(8) Å3, and Z = 2. Polytype: 1M. The strongest reflections of the powder XRD pattern [d,Å(I,%)(hkl)] are: 10.35(100)(020), 5.633(12)(110), 5.092(10)(120), 3.447(14)(060), 3.362(13)(101, 051), 3.309(38)(–102), 2.862(10)(012), and 2.585(19)(080). The crystal structure was solved based on single-crystal XRD data, R1 = 0.0420. Calcioveatchite (calcioveatchite-1M) is an isostructural analogue of veatchite-1M with the 11-fold cation polyhedron occupied mainly by Sr [Sr0.902(8)Ca0.098(8)] whereas the 10-fold polyhedron is Ca dominant [Ca0.686(7)Sr0.314(7)]. The chemical composition of veatchite from five localities in Russia (Nepskoe), Kazakhstan (Shoktybay and Chelkar in the North Caspian Region), and the USA (Tick Canyon and Billie Mine in California) was studied, and it is shown to exist in nature as a continuous, almost complete isomorphous series which extends from Ca-free veatchite, Sr2B11O16(OH)5·H2O, to calcioveatchite with the composition Sr1.14Ca0.87B10.99O16(OH)5·H2O.

Effectiveness and impact of monovalent rotavirus vaccination in Afghanistan: a test-negative case–control analysis

Afghanistan introduced monovalent rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix) into its national immunisation schedule in January, 2018. While post-licensure studies have shown substantial declines in rotavirus gastroenteritis cases and deaths globally, there is little evidence of rotavirus vaccine effectiveness and impact from low-income countries in Asia. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Rotarix vaccine and the impact of Rotarix vaccine on rotavirus gastroenteritis hospitalisations (ie, hospital admissions) among children younger than 5 years in Afghanistan. We used a test-negative case-control design embedded in an active sentinel surveillance platform to evaluate vaccine effectiveness. Children born on or after Jan 1, 2018, who had documentation of their rotavirus vaccination status and who were admitted for acute gastroenteritis at one of four sentinel hospitals from May, 2018 to December, 2021 were eligible to be included. We used an unconditional logistic regression model to estimate vaccine effectiveness and 95% CIs for a complete series of doses compared with no rotavirus vaccine doses among patients admitted with acute gastroenteritis. Vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation was calculated as (1 - [odds of being vaccinated in cases] / [odds of being vaccinated in controls]) × 100%. We compared pre-vaccine (2013-15) and post-vaccine (2019-21) surveillance data from two sites to calculate vaccine impact. The vaccine effectiveness analysis included 1172 cases and 2173 controls. Approximately 2108 (63·0%) of 3345 cases and controls were male, 1237 (37·0%) were female, and 2171 (65·0%) were aged 6-11 months. Two doses of Rotarix were 45% (95% CI 22-62) effective against rotavirus hospitalisation in children aged 6-59 months, adjusting for age, severity, admission year, and rotavirus season. Rotavirus positivity decreased from 51% pre-vaccine to 39% post-vaccine, resulting in a 39% adjusted reduction in rotavirus positivity among children younger than 5 years admitted with acute gastroenteritis. Rotarix showed moderate effectiveness in preventing rotavirus gastroenteritis hospitalisations, consistent with findings in other low-income countries. These findings support the continued administration of the rotavirus vaccine in Afghanistan. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. For the Dari translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

PEMBERIAN SAYUR PEPAYA MUDA TERHADAP KELANCARAN ASI PADA IBU NIFAS

Midwifery care is a complete series of care by midwives covering the entire maternity period, from antenatal to intranatal to neonatal and postnatal including family planning contraceptive counseling. The administration of lactagogue, a substance known to help increase breast milk secretion and production, which is naturally found in papaya, is a widely adopted strategy to overcome the problem of low, or even worse, lack of breast milk production (BMP) in breastfeeding mothers. This study aims to provide comprehensive information on, from antenatal to intranatal to neonatal and postnatal by including family planning. The methods used are interviews, observations and implementation. The subject was Mrs. S who was given boiled young papaya to increase BMP during postpartum care at Hj. Hospital. Bunda Halimah Batam in 2024. The results of the examination given to Mrs. S did not show any significant problems during the antenatal and intranatal periods (which were spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD)), the weight of the newborn was within the normal range, postpartum care to increase BMP was also reported to be no problem, and the subject decided to become a contraceptive acceptor. In conclusion, which can be done independently, during antenatal, intranatal, neonatal, postnatal, and family planning counseling, no significant problems were found. As a suggestion, midwives are encouraged to implement standardized ones starting from antenatal care to contraceptive follow-up that can help monitor and anticipate possible problems or complications early on

Power quality validation in micro off-grid daily load using modular differential, LSTM deep, and probability statistics models processing NWP-data

Load corrections with respect to power quality (PQ) after the first pre-estimate of Renewable Energy (RE) power consumption must ensure system-tolerant performance without malfunctions. First, acceptable daily load sequences for the attached equipment are combined and determined according to the RE potential and charge states in accommodation to user needs and normal operation. The main motivation is a consequent day-to-day verification of algorithmically scheduled power consumption tasks in the proposed two-stage optimisation according to the system resources and user needs. Statistical artificial intelligence (AI) is employed, as local atmospheric turbulences with terrain obstacles and unexpected user activity result in various operational states in real microsystems. A new unconventional neurocomputing strategy, called Differential Learning (DfL), was applied in the modelling and prediction of the high dynamical PQ parameters in an experimental RE based system according to input-output training data, without an exact specification of its behaviour. The DfL models were compared with recent deep and machine learning techniques. Prediction models were formed after an initial detection of adequate daily training intervals. The AI models are finally tested to process the complete 24-hour forecast series of related input variables used in learning, to estimate the PQ target output at the corresponding times.

Crystal Chemistry of Synthetic Mg(Si1−xGex)O3 Pyroxenes: A Single-Crystal X-ray Diffraction Study

Germanate-pyroxenes often are used as model systems to study the stability and phase relationships of analog silicate systems. Based on such analyses, it is assumed that silicates and germanates behave ideally in terms of mixing. A systematic study was performed to monitor in detail the changes introduced by a Si4+ through Ge4+ replacement in the important rock-forming pyroxene enstatite MgSiO3. Well-shaped, idiomorphic singe crystals of a MgSi1−xGexO3 pyroxene solid solution were grown at ambient pressure from a high-temperature flux-assisted synthesis. Structural analysis using single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods revealed orthorhombic symmetry, Pbca, Z = 8, for the complete solid-solution series. Long-term storage over a period of 8 years at ambient conditions or annealing at 525 °C over a period of 10 weeks did not change the symmetry of the proposed thermodynamically stable monoclinic polymorph. Within the solid-solution series, lattice parameters increased almost linearly with increasing Si4+ by Ge4+ substitution. The main changes occurred on the tetrahedral sites, which showed an almost linear increase in individual and average bond lengths but also in distortion parameters. The refined site occupancy of Si4+ and Ge4+ showed a distinct preference of Ge4+ for the TB site. The altered topology and kinking state in the tetrahedral chains also imposed significant changes to the bonding topology and geometry of the neighboring M1 and M2 sites.

Wave runup and total water level observations from time series imagery at several sites with varying nearshore morphologies

Coastal imaging systems have been developed to measure wave runup and total water level (TWL) at the shoreline, which is a key metric for assessing coastal flooding and erosion. However, extracting quantitative measurements from coastal images has typically been done through the laborious task of hand-digitization of wave runup timestacks. Timestacks are images created by sampling a cross-shore array of pixels from an image through time as waves propagate towards and run up a beach. We utilize over 7000 hand-digitized timestacks from six diverse locations to train and validate machine learning models to automate the process of TWL extraction. Using these data, we evaluate two deep learning model architectures for the task of runup detection. One is based on a fully convolutional architecture trained from scratch, and the other is a transformer-based architecture trained using transfer learning. The deep learning models provide a probability of each pixel being either wet or dry. When contoured at the 50% level (equal chance of being wet or dry), the deep learning models more accurately identified TWL maxima than minima at all sites. This resulted in accurate predictions of 2% exceedance runup, but under predictions of significant swash and over predictions of wave setup. Improved agreement with the complete TWL time series was obtained through post-processing by utilizing the wet/dry probability of each pixel to weight the contouring toward lower dryness probabilities for runup minima (maxima agreed well with observations without tuning). Overall, a transformer-based model using transfer learning provided the best agreement with wave runup statistics, including a) the 2% exceedance runup, b) significant swash, and c) wave setup at the shoreline. For a random subset of images, the model was found to be within the uncertainty range of hand-digitization. The relative success of the transfer learning model suggests that fine-tuning a large model has advantages compared to training a smaller model from scratch. Models provide per-pixel probabilistic estimates in less than 10 s per timestack on a single computational unit, versus the more than 5 min required for hand-digitization. The model is therefore well-suited for near real-time applications, allowing for the development of early warning systems for difficult to forecast events. Real-time wave runup and total water level observations can also be incorporated into coastal hazards forecasts for data assimilation and continual model validation and improvement.

Complete presentation and Hilbert series of the mixed braid monoid $MB_{1,3}$

Complete presentation and Hilbert series of the mixed braid monoid $MB_{1,3}$

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant genomic variation associations with immune evasion in Northern California: A retrospective cohort study.

The possibility of association between SARS-CoV-2 genomic variation and immune evasion is not known among persons with Omicron variant SARS-CoV-2 infection. In a retrospective cohort, using Poisson regression adjusting for sociodemographic variables and month of infection, we examined associations between individual non-lineage defining mutations and SARS-CoV-2 immunity status, defined as a) no prior recorded infection, b) not vaccinated but with at least one prior recorded infection, c) complete primary series vaccination, and/or d) primary series vaccination and ≥ 1 booster. We identified all non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), insertions and deletions in SARS-CoV-2 genomes with ≥5% allelic frequency and population frequency of ≥5% and ≤95%. We also examined correlations between the presence of SNPs with each other, with subvariants, and over time. Seventy-nine mutations met inclusion criteria. Among 15,566 persons infected with Omicron SARS-CoV-2, 1,825 (12%) were unvaccinated with no prior recorded infection, 360 (2%) were unvaccinated with a recorded prior infection, 13,381 (86%) had a complete primary series vaccination, and 9,172 (58%) had at least one booster. After examining correlation between SNPs, 79 individual non-lineage defining mutations were organized into 38 groups. After correction for multiple testing, no individual SNPs or SNP groups were significantly associated with immunity status levels. Genomic variation identified within SARS-CoV-2 Omicron specimens was not significantly associated with immunity status, suggesting that contribution of non-lineage defining SNPs to immune evasion is minimal. Larger-scale surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 genomes linked with clinical data can help provide information to inform future vaccine development.

COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Studies against Symptomatic and Severe Outcomes during the Omicron Period in Four Countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Vaccine effectiveness (VE) studies provide real-world evidence to monitor vaccine performance and inform policy. The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean supported a regional study to assess the VE of COVID-19 vaccines against different clinical outcomes in four countries between June 2021 and August 2023. Health worker cohort studies were conducted in 2707 health workers in Egypt and Pakistan, of whom 171 experienced symptomatic laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Test-negative design case-control studies were conducted in Iran and Jordan in 4017 severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) patients (2347 controls and 1670 cases) during the Omicron variant dominant period. VE estimates were calculated for each study and pooled by study design for several vaccine types (BBIBP-CorV, AZD1222, BNT162b2, and mRNA-1273, among others). Among health workers, VE against symptomatic infection of a complete primary series could only be computed compared to partial vaccination, suggesting a benefit of providing an additional dose of mRNA vaccines (VE: 88.9%, 95%CI: 15.3-98.6%), while results were inconclusive for other vaccine products. Among SARI patients, VE against hospitalization of a complete primary series with any vaccine compared to non-vaccinated was 20.9% (95%CI: 4.5-34.5%). Effectiveness estimates for individual vaccines, booster doses, and secondary outcomes (intensive care unit admission and death) were inconclusive. Future VE studies will need to address challenges in both design and analysis when conducted late during a pandemic and will be able to utilize the strengthened capacities in countries.

Broken expectations: Population decline of a key grouper species within a 30-year-old no-take MPA in the Southwestern Atlantic

Understanding the impacts of human actions on marine species and developing mitigation strategies are crucial conservation challenges. Many fish species, especially marine top predators, are already highly depleted and rely on population monitoring and conservation strategies for their maintenance. In this context, Marine Protected Areas can help recover target species and provide crucial information about population trends when human activities are restricted or managed. Here, we used the longest and most complete temporal series of reef fish data in the Southwestern Atlantic, comprising 16 years of underwater visual census sampling. We evaluated temporal trends in the density and biomass of the dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus), both inside and outside a no-take and no-entry Marine Reserve. Our findings reveal a consistent decline in density and biomass inside and outside the MPA over time, reaching alarmingly low densities and experiencing a steeper biomass decline in the last five years. Our results contradict global expectations of positive population recovery trends within MPAs. We highlight the adverse impacts of human activities on the dusky grouper population, including illegal fishing and habitat degradation. Additionally, we address the limited understanding of species' life stages, underscoring that their occurrence outside protected boundaries may render the entire population vulnerable to human pressures. Thus, to guarantee population recovery, stakeholders and researchers must take immediate action to increase knowledge of all life stages and improve ongoing strategies.

The Improved SBAS-InSAR Technique Reveals Three-Dimensional Glacier Collapse: A Case Study in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Many debris-covered glaciers are widely distributed on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Glaciers are important freshwater resources and cause disasters such as glacier collapse and landslides. Therefore, it is of great significance to monitor the movement characteristics of large active glaciers and analyze the process of mass migration, which may cause serious threats and damage to roads and people living in surrounding areas. In this study, we chose a glacier with strong activity in Lulang County, Tibet, as the study area. The complete 4-year time series deformation of the glacier was estimated by using an improved small-baseline subset InSAR (SBAS-InSAR) technique based on the ascending and descending Sentinel-1 datasets. Then, the three-dimensional time series deformation field of the glacier was obtained by using the 3D decomposition technique. Furthermore, the three-dimensional movement of the glacier and its material migration process were analyzed. The results showed that the velocities of the Lulang glacier in horizontal and vertical directions were up to 8.0 m/year and 0.45 m/year, and these were basically consistent with the movement rate calculated from the historical optical images. Debris on both sides of the slope accumulated in the channel after slipping, and the material loss of the three provenances reached 6–9 × 103 m3/year, while the volume of the glacier also decreased by about 76 × 103 m3/year due to snow melting and evaporation. The correlation between the precipitation, temperature, and surface velocity suggests that glacier velocity has a clear association with them, and the activity of glaciers is linked to climate change. Therefore, in the context of global warming, the glacier movement speed will gradually increase with the annual increase in temperature, resulting in debris flow disasters in the future summer high-temperature period.

Two-stage corrective operation for the treatment of pes cavovarus in patients with spina bifida.

Pes cavovarus has an estimated incidence of 8%-17% in patients with spina bifida (SB). The majority of the current literature on surgical treatment of cavovarus feet in children and adolescents includes a variety of diagnoses. There are currently no case series describing a treatment algorithm for deformity correction in this specific patient population. The authors of this study present the results of a retrospective case series performed to assess the radiographic outcomes of two-stage corrective surgery in patients with SB. To assess the radiographic outcomes of a staged operation consisting of radical plantar release followed by osteotomy for pes cavovarus in patients with SB. Retrospective chart review was performed on patients with SB with a diagnosis of pes cavovarus at a freestanding children's hospital who underwent surgical correction of the deformity. Patients were excluded for lack of two-stage corrective operation, nonambulatory status, lack of at least six months follow-up, and age > 18 years at the time of surgery. This resulted in a cohort of 19 patients. Radiographic analysis was performed on 11 feet that had a complete series of preoperative and postoperative weightbearing X-rays. Preoperative and postoperative radiographic outcome measurements were compared using a two-sample t-test. Significant changes between the preoperative and postoperative measurements were seen in Meary's angle, the anteroposterior talo-first metatarsal (AP TMT1) angle, and the talonavicular coverage. Mean values of Meary's angle were 17.9 ± 13.1 preoperatively and 4.7 ± 10.3 postoperatively (P = 0.016). Mean AP TMT1 angle was 20.6 ± 15.1 preoperatively and 9.3 ± 5.5 postoperatively (P = 0.011). Mean talonavicular coverage values were -10.3 ± 9.6 preoperatively and -3.8 ± 10.1 postoperatively (P = 0.025). The two-stage corrective procedure demonstrated efficacy in correcting cavovarus deformity in patients with SB. Providers should strongly consider employing the staged surgical algorithm presented in this manuscript for management of these patients.

COVID-19 Booster Vaccination Status and Long COVID in the United States: A Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Study.

Early studies have found that the initial COVID-19 vaccination series was protective against severe symptoms and long COVID. However, few studies have explored the association of booster doses on severe disease outcomes and long COVID. This cross-sectional analysis used data from the 2022 US National Health Interview Survey data to investigate how vaccination status correlates with COVID-19 infection severity and long COVID among previously infected individuals. Participants were categorized into three groups: those who had received at least one booster, those with only the initial complete vaccination series, and those with either an incomplete series or no vaccinations. Out of 9521 survey respondents who reported a past positive COVID-19 test, 51.2% experienced moderate/severe infections, and 17.6% experienced long COVID. Multivariable regression models revealed that receiving at least one booster shot was associated with lower odds of experiencing moderate/severe symptoms (aOR = 0.78, p < 0.001) compared to those unvaccinated or with an incomplete series. Additionally, having at least one booster reduced long COVID odds by 24% (aOR = 0.76, p = 0.003). Completing only the primary vaccine series did not significantly decrease the likelihood of severe illness or long COVID. These findings support the continued promotion of booster vaccinations to mitigate long COVID risks in vulnerable populations.

Using Sentinel-2 Imagery to Measure Spatiotemporal Changes and Recovery across Three Adjacent Grasslands with Different Fire Histories

As a result of the advocacy of Indigenous communities and increasing evidence of the ecological importance of fire, California has invested in the restoration of intentional burning (the practice of deliberately lighting low-severity fires) in an effort to reduce the occurrence and severity of wildfires. Recognizing the growing need to monitor the impacts of these smaller, low-severity fires, we leveraged Sentinel-2 imagery to reveal important inter- and intra-annual variation in grasslands before and after fires. Specifically, we explored three methodological approaches: (1) the complete time series of the normalized burn ratio (NBR), (2) annual summary metrics (mean, fifth percentile, and amplitude of NBR), and (3) maps depicting spatial patterns in these annual NBR metrics before and after fire. We also used a classification of pre-fire vegetation to stratify these analyses by three dominant vegetation cover types (grasses, shrubs, and trees). We applied these methods to a unique study area in which three adjacent grasslands had diverging fire histories and showed how grassland recovery from a low-severity intentional burn and a high-severity wildfire differed both from each other and from a reference site with no recent fire. On the low-severity intentional burn site, our results showed that the annual NBR metrics recovered to pre-fire values within one year, and that regular intentional burning on the site was promoting greater annual growth of both grass and shrub species, even in the third growing season following a burn. In the case of the high-severity wildfire, our metrics indicated that this grassland had not returned to its pre-fire phenological signals in at least three years after the fire, indicating that it may be undergoing a longer recovery or an ecological shift. These proposed methods address a growing need to study the effects of small, intentional burns in low-biomass ecosystems such as grasslands, which are an essential part of mitigating wildfires.