bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on the Mechanism of Action of Different Acupuncture Regimens on Premature Ovarian Failure Model Rats
Authors: Yuan Yonghao , Xia Qingchang , Cui Wenzhe , Cao Wen , Zhou Ziyang , Peng Jian , Huang Hailiang , Song Zhifei , Xie Shuying , Geng Runjie , Li Ran , Yu Xiaohua , Zhang Jing
Published: July 2022

Objective. To study the mechanism of acupuncture on premature ovarian failure (POF) through the apoptosis pathway mediated by Bcl-2/Bax. Methods. POF rats were successfully obtained by cyclophosphamide. They were divided into five groups. After that, acupuncture was performed. The blank group and model group were not treated. The routine acupuncture group was acupuncture at Guanyuan, Sanyinjiao, Zhongji, and Guilai four points. The Neck-seven-acupuncture group was selected from Fengchi, Fengfu, Tianzhu, and Wangu four acupoints; the three-viscera simultaneous treatment group selected Guanyuan, Shenshu, Sanyinjiao, Taichong, and Baihui five points; and the data mining group selected Guanyuan and Sanyinjiao two points for 14 days of treatment. During the treatment, some rats were shed one after another due to the side effects of bone marrow suppression caused by mold-making. After treatment, serum estradiol (E2), follicle forming hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were detected by radioimmunoassay, Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were analyzed by Western blot method, and Bcl-2 and Bax RNA were analyzed by PCR method. Results. Bcl-2 increased and Bax decreased in rats with premature ovarian failure treated with acupuncture. It shows that acupuncture can affect the secretion of ovarian-related hormones and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins, which is more significant in the conventional acupuncture point group. Conclusion. Acupuncture can inhibit the apoptosis of granulosa cells in ovarian tissue of rats with premature ovarian failure and improve ovarian function. The mechanism of its effect is to promote Bcl-2 gene expression and protein synthesis and inhibit Bax gene expression and protein synthesis. The conventional treatment group works best. This provides an experimental basis for the clinical use of acupuncture to intervene in the treatment of premature ovarian failure.
Does High-Speed Rail Promote Agglomeration in China?
Authors: Lin Shanlang , Gan Tian
Published: July 2022

This paper constructs the agglomeration model of crossregional labor flow and market accessibility based on the new economic geography model. Using panel data in 2000-2013, this paper examines the impact of high-speed railways on industrial agglomeration. The results show that high-speed railway significantly promotes the spatial agglomeration of industrial firms. The high-speed railway promotes industrial agglomeration by promoting crossregional mobility of industrial labor and improving market accessibility. We also construct the instrument variable based on HSR construction cost and apply the TSLS model to solve the potential endogenous problems. At the same time, PSM results also get the net effect caused by the repair of a high-speed railway, which verifies the robustness of the results.
Nested Transformers for Hyperspectral Image Classification
Authors: Zhang Zitong , Ma Qiaoyu , Zhou Heng , Gong Na
Published: July 2022

Substantial deep learning methods have been utilized for hyperspectral image (HSI) classification recently. Vision Transformer (ViT) is skilled in modeling the overall structure of images and has been introduced to HSI classification task. However, the fixed patch division operation in ViT may lead to insufficient feature extraction, especially the features of the edges between patches will be ignored. To address this problem, we devise a workflow for HSI classification based on the Nested Transformers (NesT). The NesT employs the block aggregation module to extract edge information between patches, which realizes cross-block communication of nonlocal information and optimizes global information extraction. In this paper, the NesT is used for HSI classification for the first time. The experiments are carried out on four widely used hyperspectral datasets: Indian Pines, Salinas, Tea Farm, and Xiongan New Area (Matiwan Village). The obtained results reveal that the NesT can provide competitive results compared to conventional machine learning and deep learning methods and achieve top accuracy on four datasets, which proves the superiority of the NesT in HSI classification with limited training samples.
Clinical Diagnosis, Treatment, and Laboratory Detection of 50 Cases of Pulmonary Cryptococcosis
Authors: Wang Tiantian , Liu Mulin , Zhang Fenghua
Published: July 2022

Objective. This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical diagnosis, treatment process, and laboratory test data of patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis to improve the understanding and diagnosis and treatment ability of the disease. Methods. Patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis diagnosed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from October 2003 to July 2021 were selected, and their medical records were consulted. The general data, clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations, imaging characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment methods were studied. The software SPSS 22 was used for statistical analysis. Results. A total of 50 patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis were included in the study. The ratio of male to female was 1 : 1. The average age was

53.56
±
11.99

years with a range of 27-82 years. Grouping the patients by age, with 10 years as an age group, we found that 40-60 years was the high-incidence age group. Two patients (4%) had a history of bird contact, and 18 patients (36%) had at least one underlying conditions. Hypertension and cough were the most common underlying condition and clinical manifestation, respectively. The main admission diagnoses were lung shadow (19/50, 38%) and chest/lung mass (15/50, 30%). In the imaging findings, the most common type of lesions was nodule/nodule shadow (29/69, 42.03%). Lesion distribution in the lower lobe, single lobe, and right lung was more frequent than that in the upper lobe, multilobes, and left lung, respectively. Burr sign (12/43, 27.91%) was the most common concomitant sign. Pulmonary ventilatory defect was found in 7 cases. Laboratory test results were largely nonspecific. The pathological examination showed granuloma, with 47 cases (94%) confirmed by postoperative biopsy. Two cases (4%) were confirmed by serology. One case (2%) was diagnosed with Cryptococcus smear. 43 cases (86%) were treated with simple surgical resection, 6 cases (12%) were treated with antifungal drugs, and 1 case (2%) was transferred to another hospital for suspicion of pulmonary tuberculosis. Conclusions. Pulmonary cryptococcosis is more common in the middle-aged and elderly, and the clinical specificity is low. It can occur in people with normal or impaired immune function. The main clinical and imaging manifestation is cough and pulmonary nodules, which are very easy 5to be misdiagnosed. Surgical resection is the primary treatment.
Feature Extraction Approach for Speaker Verification to Support Healthcare System Using Blockchain Security for Data Privacy
Authors: Upadhyay Shrikant , Kumar Mohit , Kumar Ashwani , Karnati Ramesh , Mahommad Gouse Baig , Althubiti Sara A. , Alenezi Fayadh , Polat Kemal
Published: July 2022

Speech is one form of biometric that combines both physiological and behavioral features. It is beneficial for remote-access transactions over telecommunication networks. Presently, this task is the most challenging one for researchers. People’s mental status in the form of emotions is quite complex, and its complexity depends upon internal behavior. Emotion and facial behavior are essential characteristics through which human internal thought can be predicted. Speech is one of the mechanisms through which human’s various internal reflections can be expected and extracted by focusing on the vocal track, the flow of voice, voice frequency, etc. Human voice specimens of different ages can be emotions that can be predicted through a deep learning approach using feature removal behavior prediction that will help build a step intelligent healthcare system strong and provide data to various doctors of medical institutes and hospitals to understand the physiological behavior of humans. Healthcare is a clinical area with data concentrated where many details are accessed, generated, and circulated periodically. Healthcare systems with many existing approaches like tracing and tracking continuously disclose the system’s constraints in controlling patient data privacy and security. In the healthcare system, majority of the work involves swapping or using decisively confidential and personal data. A key issue is the modeling of approaches that guarantee the value of health-related data while protecting privacy and observing high behavioral standards. This will encourage large-scale perception, especially as healthcare information collection is expected to continue far off this current ongoing pandemic. So, the research section is looking for a privacy-preserving, secure, and sustainable system by using a technology called Blockchain. Data related to healthcare and distribution among institutions is a very challenging task. Storage of facts in the centralized form is a targeted choice for cyber hackers and initiates an accordant sight of patients’ facts which will cause a problem in sharing information over a network. So, this research paper’s approach based on Blockchain for sharing sufferer data in a secured manner is presented. Finally, the proposed model for extracting optimum value in error rate and accuracy was analyzed using different feature removal approaches to determine which feature removal performs better with different voice specimen variations. The proposed method increases the rate of correct evidence collection and minimizes the loss and authentication issues and using feature extraction based on text validation increases the sustainability of the healthcare system.
Prediction Model of Postoperative Severe Hypocalcemia in Patients with Secondary Hyperparathyroidism Based on Logistic Regression and XGBoost Algorithm
Authors: Ding Chao , Guo Yuwen , Mo Qinqin , Ma Jin
Published: July 2022

Objective. A predictive model was established based on logistic regression and XGBoost algorithm to investigate the factors related to postoperative hypocalcemia in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). Methods. A total of 60 SHPT patients who underwent parathyroidectomy (PTX) in our hospital were retrospectively enrolled. All patients were randomly divided into a training set (

n
=
42

) and a test set (

n
=
18

). The clinical data of the patients were analyzed, including gender, age, dialysis time, body mass, and several preoperative biochemical indicators. The multivariate logistic regression and XGBoost algorithm models were used to analyze the independent risk factors for severe postoperative hypocalcemia (SH). The forecasting efficiency of the two prediction models is analyzed. Results. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that body mass (

OR
=
1.203

,

P
=
0.032

), age (

OR
=
1.214

,

P
=
0.035

), preoperative PTH (

OR
=
1.026

,

P
=
0.043

), preoperative Ca (

OR
=
1.062

,

P
=
0.025

), and preoperative ALP (

OR
=
1.031

,

P
=
0.027

) were positively correlated with postoperative SH. The top three important features of XGBoost algorithm prediction model were preoperative Ca, preoperative PTH, and preoperative ALP. The area under the curve of the logistic regression and XGBoost algorithm model in the test set was 0.734 (95% CI: 0.595~0.872) and 0.827 (95% CI: 0.722~0.932), respectively. Conclusion. The predictive models based on the logistic regression and XGBoost algorithm model can predict the occurrence of postoperative SH.
Analysis of Microvascular Abnormalities in Obesity: A Comparative Study with Healthy Subjects Using Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography and Adaptive Optics
Authors: Rolland Maud , Mohammedi Kamel , Korobelnik Jean-François , Cadart Olivier , Delyfer Marie Noëlle , Cherifi Blandine , Rougier Marie-Benedicte
Published: July 2022

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze retinal microvasculature in obese subjects as compared to a normal-weight population. Methods: In this case-control observational study, swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) and adaptive optics (AO) were performed in eyes of nondiabetic, nonhypertensive, obese patients and in healthy controls. AO was used to calculate the wall-to-lumen ratio (WLR). The foveal avascular zone (FAZ), the macular vessel density, and the macular perfusion density of the superficial and deep capillary plexuses were analyzed in 6 × 6 mm macular OCTA cubes. SS-OCTA was also used to measure the choroidal thickness, the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and the vascular density of the retinal peripapillary capillary plexus. Results: The obese group included 45 eyes (24 patients), and the control group included 46 eyes (23 subjects). The central macular density and perfusion density were significantly lower in obese patients compared to controls, in the deep retinal layer (0.28 [0.01–0.69] vs. 1.24 [0.82–1.66], p = 0.006 and 0.006 [0.001–0.015] vs. 0.025 [0.016–0.034], p = 0.01), respectively, after adjustment for systolic blood pressure. No differences were found in macular vascular density in other areas, FAZ (circularity, area, perimeter), choroidal thickness, RNFL. WLR was increased in obese patients (0.252 [0.246–0.259] vs. 0.239 [0.231–0.245] in controls, p = 0.016). Conclusion: Obesity was associated with retinal microvascular changes regardless of the presence of diabetes and hypertension. Our findings suggest the presence of infraclinical microvascular changes directly associated with obesity, which can be identified noninvasively through retinal imaging.
Association between the Rostral Anterior Cingulate Cortex and Anterior Insula in the Salience Network on Response to Antidepressants in Major Depressive Disorder as Revealed by Isolated Effective Coherence
Authors: Minami Shota , Kato Masaki , Ikeda Shunichiro , Yoshimura Masafumi , Ueda Satsuki , Koshikawa Yosuke , Takekita Yoshiteru , Kinoshita Toshihiko , Nishida Keiichiro
Published: July 2022

Introduction: Functional connectivity is attracting increasing attention for understanding the pathophysiology of depression and predicting the therapeutic efficacy of antidepressants. In this study, we evaluated effective connectivity using isolated effective coherence (iCoh), an effective functional connectivity analysis method developed from low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) and estimated its practical usefulness for predicting the reaction to antidepressants in theta and alpha band iCoh values. Methods: We enrolled 25 participants from a depression treatment randomized study (the GUNDAM study) in which electroencephalography was performed before treatment. We conducted iCoh between the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) and anterior insula (AI), which are associated with the salience network. The patients were divided into responder and nonresponder groups at 4 weeks after the start of treatment, and iCoh values were compared between the two groups. Additionally, the sensitivity and specificity of iCoh were calculated using the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: The Mann-Whitney U test showed significantly weaker connectivity flow from the rACC to the left AI in the alpha band in the responder group. The ROC curve for the connectivity flow from the rACC to the left AI in the alpha band showed 82% sensitivity and 86% specificity. Discussion/Conclusion: These findings suggest the pathological importance of effective connectivity flow from the rACC to the left AI in the alpha and theta bands and suggest its usefulness as a biomarker to distinguish responders to antidepressants.
Cerebellar Hypoperfusion in Two Patients with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome with Novel NIPBL Variants
Authors: Obara Koji , Abe Erika , Mamiya Shigeo , Toyoshima Itaru
Published: July 2022

Introduction: Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a rare congenital malformation characterized by distinctive facial features, short stature, and limb defects. In addition, half of the patients with CdLS exhibit repetitive self-injurious behaviors (SIBs) related to intellectual disability with autistic traits. CdLS is caused by pathogenic variants of genes encoding the cohesin complex pathway, with 70% of these variants identified in the nipped-B-like (NIPBL) gene. Case Presentation: We report 2 patients with CdLS who exhibited repetitive SIBs. Patient 1, a 40-year-old male, carried a novel heterozygous duplication variant, c.1458dup, p.(Glu487*), in exon 9 of the NIPBL gene. Patient 2, a 49-year-old female, carried a novel heterozygous insertion variant, c.1751_1752ins[A;1652_1751], p.(Asp584Glufs*8), in exon 10 of the NIPBL gene. These variants were predicted to confer loss of function to the protein because of a premature stop codon. In both patients, single-photon emission computed tomography using N-isopropyl-p-[123I] iodoamphetamine (IMP-SPECT) revealed diffuse hypoperfusion in the cerebellum. Discussion: This report identified 2 novel pathogenic variants in the NIPBL gene and the relationship between SIBs and cerebellar hypoperfusion in patients with CdLS. The cerebellar hypoperfusion might have been caused by the dysfunction of the cohesin complex via the downregulation of the NIPBL gene products. Further studies should be conducted to elucidate the contribution of the NIPBL gene to the development of the cerebello-cerebral cortical circuits associated with behavioral disorders.
Optimizing Perioperative Renal Replacement Therapy for Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgical Procedures Requiring Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Authors: Stevens Jacob S. , Hastie Jonathan M. , Spellman Jessica , Mittel Aaron , Beck James , Mullin Dana A. , Fung Kenmond , Argenziano Michael , Takayama Hiroo , Radhakrishnan Jai
Published: July 2022

Coronary artery disease is highly prevalent in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and cardiovascular complications remain the most common cause of death in this patient population. Accordingly, many cardiac surgical procedures requiring cardiopulmonary bypass support are performed on these patients each year, with morbidity and mortality rates far exceeding patients without ESRD. Anuric patients lack the normal renal homeostatic functions which typically allow for physiologic protection from challenges during the operation, such as volume overload, hyperkalemia, and acidemia. Careful preoperative planning and coordination to provide pre-, intra-, and postoperative renal replacement therapies for such patients are imperative. Many different strategies have been reported in the literature. Zero-balance ultrafiltration is a newer strategy which utilizes convective ultrafiltration much like pre-filter continuous renal replacement therapy and utilizes pre-existing connections on the cardiopulmonary bypass pump performed by the perfusion team. This allows for control of potassium concentration throughout the operation with existing personnel and minimal additional equipment. Here, we describe the unique challenges caring for patients receiving renal replacement therapy undergoing cardiac surgical procedures requiring cardiopulmonary bypass.
Oral Examination versus Simulation-Based Assessment in Assessing Patient Care Competencies for Emergency Medicine Residents
Authors: Bamadhaf Wail
Published: July 2022

Background: Assessment is essential for any accreditation process in the medical field. If a candidate passes a high-stakes assessment, they can work independently. While oral examinations are common, given the complexity of clinical competencies, such an approach may not be the most effective assessment method. A form of performance-based assessment, such as a simulation, may be beneficial in this context. Objectives: This study aims to determine whether the results of oral examinations match those of simulation-based assessments when both modalities are used to evaluate residents’ performance in scenarios featuring similar content. It also seeks to determine whether oral examinations under- or overestimate residents’ competencies concerning patient care when compared to their simulation performance. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, single-centre study. Emergency medicine residents underwent an oral examination and completed a simulation-based assessment. Standardized scenarios were used to assess the residents’ emergency medicine competencies. A global rating scale was used to rate participants’ performance in each assessment modality. Results: There was a moderate positive correlation between oral examination and simulation-based assessment results (r = 0.699, p < 0.05, n = 28). A paired t test indicates that the oral examination overestimates residents’ competency compared to the simulation-based assessment; the mean difference is 0.26 (confidence interval: 0.041–0.493). Conclusions: Emergency medicine residents whose knowledge was assessed at the “know-how” level of Miller’s pyramid in the oral examination were not necessarily able to move up to the level of “show-how” by demonstrating the ability to apply their knowledge in the simulation-based assessment. The findings of this study confirm that simulation-based assessments should be an essential aspect of high-stakes examinations intended to determine residents’ different clinical competencies.
Editorial
Authors: Forster Aldaísa Cassanho , Freire Filho José Rodrigues
Published: July 2022

O Brasil vem empreendendo esforços para garantir a implementação da Educação Interprofissional em Saúde (EIP) em seus processos de reorientação da formação e do trabalho em saúde. Muitos deles são resultados do acúmulo histórico das políticas públicas do país, mas também representam desdobramentos de recentes chamadas realizadas por organismos internacionais de saúde. Sobre isso, a partir do ano de 2017, motivado pela agenda proposta pela Organização Pan-Americana de Saúde / Organização Mundial da Saúde (OPAS/OMS)(1), o Ministério da Saúde do Brasil priorizou a inclusão da pauta da EIP em suas políticas e programas de Educação em Saúde. De forma imediata, promoveuarticulações com o Ministério da Educação, Instituições de Ensino Superior....
Management of Atrial Fibrillation Across the Spectrum of Heart Failure With Preserved and Reduced Ejection Fraction
Authors: Reddy Yogesh N.V. , Borlaug Barry A. , Gersh Bernard J.
Published: July 2022

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia among patients with heart failure (HF), and HF is the most common cause of death for patients presenting with clinical AF. AF is frequently associated with pathological atrial myocardial dysfunction and remodeling, a triad that has been called atrial myopathy. AF can be the cause or consequence of clinical HF, and the directionality varies between individual patients and across the spectrum of HF. Although initial trials suggested no advantage for a systematic rhythm control strategy in HF with reduced ejection fraction, recent data suggest that select patients may benefit from attempts to maintain sinus rhythm with catheter ablation. Preliminary data also show a close relationship among AF, left atrial myopathy, mitral regurgitation, and HF with preserved ejection, with potential clinical benefits to catheter ablation therapy. The modern management of AF in HF also requires consideration of the degree of atrial myopathy and chronicity of AF, in addition to the pathogenesis and phenotype of the underlying left ventricular HF. In this review, we summarize the contemporary management of AF and provide practical guidance and areas in need of future investigation.
Measuring Stroke Quality: Methodological Considerations in Selecting, Defining, and Analyzing Quality Measures
Authors: Yu Amy Y.X. , Bravata Dawn M. , Norrving Bo , Reeves Mathew J. , Liu Liping , Kilkenny Monique F.
Published: July 2022

Knowledge about stroke and its management is growing rapidly and stroke systems of care must adapt to deliver evidence-based care. Quality improvement initiatives are essential for translating knowledge from clinical trials and recommendations in guidelines into routine clinical practice. This review focuses on issues central to the measurement of the quality of stroke care, including selection and definition of quality measures, identification of the eligible patient cohorts, optimization of data quality, and considerations for data analysis and interpretation.
Bambusaecoccus maolanensis, a new soft scale genus and species from China (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae)
Authors: MENG SHITAO , XING JICHUN
Published: July 2022

A new genus of soft scale insect from Guizhou Province, China, Bambusaecoccus Meng & Xing gen. n., with Bambusaecoccus maolanensis Meng & Xing sp. n. (Hemiptera: Coccidae: Paralecaniini) as type species, is described and illustrated. The species was collected from bamboo, Bambusa (Dendrocalamopsis) sp. (Poaceae: Bambusoideae), under carton shelters built by the ant Crematogaster subnuda nigrosubnuda Özdikmen 2010 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Type specimens of the new species are deposited at the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (GUGC).
New species of the Hypoxys triangularis group and the first contribution on the morphology of the internal genitalia of Hypoxys Amyot & Serville, 1843 (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Edessinae)
Authors: DE PAIVA CUNHA EDUARDO VICTOR , FERNANDES JOSÉ ANTÔNIO MARIN
Published: July 2022

Hypoxys is the second most diverse genus of Edessinae, but it still has many new species to be described. The taxon was divided into four species groups, among these the H. triangularis group currently has the fewest number of species. This group is formed by H. triangularis (Dallas, 1851), H. capito (Breddin, 1904) and H. subrastratus (Bergroth, 1891). In this study, we describe five new species: H. myrtacivorus sp. n.; H. striatus sp. n.; H. saltensis sp. n.; H. curvatus sp. n. and H. ocanensis sp. n. Additional diagnostic characteristics were added to the H. triangularis group and described species. Internal genitalia of both sexes of Hypoxys species are presented for the first time. Diagnoses for the new species, distributional map and identification key are provided.
A new species and new record of Chinoperla Zwick, 1980 (Plecoptera: Perlidae) from Yunnan Province, China
Authors: YAN YANHUA , WANG JIE , WANG MINGJU , Li WEIHAI
Published: July 2022

Two species of the genus Chinoperla Zwick, 1980 are reported with color images from Yunnan Province of southwestern China, including one described as new to science: C. longispina Yan & Li, sp. nov., and a new provincial record: C. gorohovi Sivec & Stark, 2010.
A review of the Odontura (Orthoptera, Phaneropterinae) from Italy, Malta, Algeria and Tunisia
Authors: CASSAR LOUIS F , MASSA BRUNO
Published: July 2022

Taxa belonging to the genus Odontura have been studied since the former half of the 19th century. Species of the group are distributed across the western Mediterranean Basin and the central Mediterranean area, including the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearics, Sardinia, the countries of the Maghreb that border the Basin, Sicily and Malta. The present work examines a sizeable series of specimens of the genus Odontura, collected in Italy, Malta, Algeria and Tunisia, including type material of some of the species, and establishes synonymisations and a newly described species. Odontura borrei (described on a female from Constantine, Algeria) is synonymized with Odontura algerica (described on both sexes from Algeria), while Odontura arcuata (described on both sexes from west Sicily) is synonymized with Odontura stenoxypha (described on a female from Sicily), a sub-endemic to Sicily and Malta. Records of the latter from Sardinia belong to Odontura calaritana, while the female recorded from Majorca, previously identified as O. stenoxypha, remains unidentified. On the basis of a wide-ranging assessment of preserved specimens (from museums and private collections) and living material, this contribution describes a new species, Odontura martae sp. nov., from the island of Lampedusa (Italy) and Tunisia, and addresses patterns of geographical distribution in the context of biogeographical processes and associated dynamics.
A Moist Available Potential Energy Budget for an Axisymmetric Tropical Cyclone
Authors: Harris Bethan L. , Tailleux Rémi , Holloway Christopher E. , Vidale Pier Luigi
Published: July 2022

The main energy source for the intensification of a tropical cyclone (TC) is widely accepted to be the transfer of energy from the ocean to the atmosphere via surface fluxes. The pathway through which these surface fluxes lead to an increase in the kinetic energy of the cyclone has typically been interpreted either in terms of total potential energy or dry available potential energy (APE), or through the entropy-based heat engine viewpoint. Here, we use the local theory of APE to construct a budget of moist APE for an idealized axisymmetric simulation of a tropical cyclone. This is the first full budget of local moist APE budget for an atmospheric model. In the local moist APE framework, latent surface heat fluxes are the dominant generator of moist APE, which is then converted into kinetic energy via buoyancy fluxes. In the core region of the TC, the inward transport of APE by the secondary circulation is more important than its local production. The APE viewpoint describes spatially and temporally varying efficiencies; these may be useful in understanding how changes in efficiency influence TC development, and have a maximum that can be linked to the Carnot efficiency featuring in potential intensity theory.
Uncovering the Intrinsic Intensity–Size Relationship of Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Sun Jie , Cai Ming , Liu Guosheng , Yan Ruikai , Zhang Da-Lin
Published: July 2022

The central theme of this study is to explore if and how the intensity of a tropical cyclone (TC) is related to its size. This subject has puzzled atmospheric scientists since the work of Deppermann, but the existence of this relationship still remains elusive. The improved understanding of the intensity–size relationship of TCs will help coastal communities to prepare for the maximum potential damage as both the intensity and size have important impacts on wind damages, storm surges, and flooding. This study considers 33 years (1988–2020) of TC records of maximum surface winds and radii of maximum and gale-force winds over the North Atlantic basin derived from the Extended Best Track Dataset. Analysis of these TC records reveals a robust positive correlation between loss of Earth and relative angular momentum. This finding together with the inspiration from the seminal work of Emanuel and his collaborators leads us to combine absolute angular momentum and its frictional loss as a radially invariant quantity, referred to as “effective absolute angular momentum” (eAAM), for radial profiles of TC surface winds. It is demonstrated that the eAAM model can reproduce the observed complex intensity–size relationship of TCs, which can be further reduced to a quasi-linear one after factoring out the angular momentum loss and the radius of maximum surface winds. The findings of this study would not only advance our understanding of the complex TC intensity–size relation, but also allow for operational assessments of TC severity and potential damage just using its outer wind information.
Measuring Vertical Velocities with ADCPs in Low-Energy Ocean
Authors: Comby Caroline , Barrillon Stéphanie , Fuda Jean-Luc , Doglioli Andrea M. , Tzortzis Roxane , Grégori Gérald , Thyssen Melilotus , Petrenko Anne A.
Published: July 2022

Vertical velocities knowledge is essential to study fine-scale dynamics in the surface layers of the ocean and to understand their impact on biological production mechanisms. However, these vertical velocities have long been neglected, simply parameterized, or considered as not measurable, due mainly to their order of magnitude (less than mm s−1 up to cm s−1), generally much lower than the one of the horizontal velocities (cm s−1 to dm s−1), hence the challenge of their in situ measurement. In this paper, we present an upgraded method for direct in situ measurement of vertical velocities using data from different acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) associated with CTD probes, and we perform a comparative analysis of the results obtained by this method. The analyzed data were collected during the FUMSECK cruise, from three ADCPs: two Workhorse (conventional ADCPs), one lowered on a carousel and the other deployed in free-fall mode, and one Sentinel V (a new-generation ADCP with four classical beams and a fifth vertical beam), also lowered on a carousel. Our analyses provide profiles of vertical velocities on the order of mm s−1, as expected, with standard deviations of a few mm s−1. While the fifth beam of the Sentinel V exhibits a better accuracy than conventional ADCPs, the free-fall technique provides a more accurate measurement compared to the carousel technique. Finally, this innovative study opens up the possibility to perform simple and direct in situ measurements of vertical velocities, coupling the free-fall technique with a five-beam ADCP.
Using Stochastically Perturbed Parameterizations to Represent Model Uncertainty. Part I: Implementation and Parameter Sensitivity
Authors: McTaggart-Cowan Ron , Separovic Leo , Aider Rabah , Charron Martin , Desgagné Michel , Houtekamer Pieter L. , Paquin-Ricard Danahé , Vaillancourt Paul A. , Zadra Ayrton
Published: July 2022

Accurately representing model-based sources of uncertainty is essential for the development of reliable ensemble prediction systems for NWP applications. Uncertainties in discretizations, algorithmic approximations, and diabatic and unresolved processes combine to influence forecast skill in a flow-dependent way. An emerging approach designed to provide a process-level representation of these potential error sources, stochastically perturbed parameterizations (SPP), is introduced into the Canadian operational Global Ensemble Prediction System. This implementation extends the SPP technique beyond its typical application to free parameters in the physics suite by sampling uncertainty both within the dynamical core and at the formulation level using “error models” when multiple physical closures are available. Because SPP perturbs components within the model, internal consistency is ensured and conservation properties are not affected. The full SPP scheme is shown to increase ensemble spread to keep pace with error growth on a global scale. The sensitivity of the ensemble to each independently perturbed “element” is then assessed, with those responsible for the bulk of the response analyzed in more detail. Perturbations to surface exchange coefficients and the turbulent mixing length have a leading impact on near-surface statistics. Aloft, a tropically focused error model representing uncertainty in the advection scheme is found to initiate growing perturbations on the subtropical jet that lead to forecast improvements at higher latitudes. The results of Part I suggest that SPP has the potential to serve as a reliable representation of model uncertainty for ensemble NWP applications.

Significance Statement

Ensemble systems account for the negative impact that uncertainties in prediction models have on forecasts. Here, uncertain model parameters and algorithms are subjected to perturbations representing impact on forecast errors. By initiating error growth within the model calculations, the equally skillful members of the ensemble remain physically realistic and self-consistent, which is not guaranteed by other depictions of model error. This “stochastically perturbed parameterization” technique (SPP) comprises many small error sources, each analyzed in isolation. Each source is related to a limited set of processes, making it possible to determine how the individual perturbations affect the forecast. We conclude that SPP in the Canadian Global Ensemble Forecasting System produces realistic estimates of the impact of model uncertainties on forecast skill.
Assessment of an In-Sourced Patient Assistance Program at a Health System in West Virginia
Authors: Parmiter Calvin , Cecere David , Czyzewski Staci , Gibson Michelle
Published: July 2022

Background: Lack of insurance coverage in conjunction with the high cost of prescription drugs plays a large role in patient’s obtaining and properly taking their medications. Many drug manufacturers provide assistance opportunities for indigent patients lacking the financial means to obtain the medication. It is hypothesized that providing a dedicated insourced team to coordinate this process can successfully increase medication access for indigent patient populations. Methods: Patients with little or no means for payment whom the patient assistance team was contacted to obtain a medication were included. Information collected included the medication requested, the drug manufacturer, the cost of the medication, the dose required, the number of doses approved, and whether the request was approved or denied. This data was analyzed for approval rate, most common medications requested, total cost of medications provided, as well as which system hospitals are utilizing the program most frequently. Results: In total, 153 patients were assessed to obtain medication assistance through the program. With an overall approval rate of 59.5%, 91 patients were provided medication through this program. 58% of patients received insurance approval and were therefore denied no-cost drug. The program was able to obtain 283 fills of no-cost medications for patients with a total value of $2 060 633.83. Conclusion: A dedicated patient assistance program is effective in obtaining financial assistance for patients to obtain high-cost medications for which they otherwise could not provide payment. With the continued expansion of biologic medication development, the necessity for programs to aid indigent populations increases exponentially.
Union brokerage and the gender gap in the labor market: A cross-national comparative study of associational networks and gendered labor force participation in OECD countries
Authors: Lee Cheol-Sung , Goh Taekyeong
Published: July 2022

This article explores the role of union-centered brokerage in promoting women’s labor force participation in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries for the last three decades. Using two measures of brokerage, a union’s core brokerage role, and its general brokerage role, we attempted to capture the processes by which union activists mobilize and extend women’s rights in associational fields. Then, we tested our key argument that union-centered brokerage plays the most effective role among the different brokerage types in channeling women’s interests by transforming them into wider class-linked or cross-class concerns. Cross-national and comparative case studies demonstrate that union-led brokerage promotes greater presence of women in the economy. Our findings revealed that, when controlling for economic, regional, and cultural factors, both types of brokerage roles impact women’s participation in the labor market and their participation compared to that of men. The overall findings underscore the importance of creating and utilizing solidarity structures through effective channeling mechanisms in civic associational fields between labor-based organizations and other reform-oriented civic groups in achieving egalitarian socioeconomic goals.
A strike in the time of COVID-19 pandemic: The 2020 health workers’ dispute in Hong Kong
Authors: Taylor Bill WK , Chan Ming Yui Issac
Published: July 2022

A short health workers’ strike held in early 2020 in Hong Kong at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrates the importance of democratic framing of social movement unionism. A trade union was established during a period of massive civil unrest against the local government in 2019 and then proceeded to organise a strike within 2 months of formation to pressure both their employer and the government to enhance citizen and health workers’ safety as the pandemic entered Hong Kong. The paper explains the organisation, progress and reaction to the strike by different stakeholders. The case exemplifies mobilisation through strong democratic trade unionism and provides an example of social movement framing that combined membership and societal interests. The strike represents the last instance of successful independent union mobilisation in Hong Kong as governance shifted from laisse-faire industrial relations that favoured the local capitalist elite to state authoritarianism focussed on obedience to the national political elite.
Teachers of Color & Self-Efficacy in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL): Strengthening Equity-Based Approaches to SEL
Authors: White Terrenda , Bristol Travis , Britton Tolani
Published: July 2022

This article examines teacher self-efficacy in social and emotional learning (SEL), particularly by teachers of color, and the conditions that shaped their efficacy beliefs. Data are drawn from surveys with two teacher groups, one comprised of teachers of color and a comparative group that was predominantly white. Surveys were followed by interviews and observations with teachers in each group. Findings showed that teachers of color reported stronger efficacy beliefs in SEL and described practices that centered racial justice. Differences in efficacy are attributed to a social justice learning community that provided efficacy-forming experiences for teachers of color to enact equity-based SEL practices.
3D Printing in the Mathematics Classroom: Results from a Pilot Study with Advanced Middle School Students
Authors: Szymanski Antonia , Paganelli Andrea , Tassell Janet
Published: July 2022

This mixed-methods study focused on advanced student engagement, mathematics competence, and the influence of teachers in classrooms that used 3D printing to teach mathematics. Quantitative methods were used to understand changes in student perceptions of competence, engagement, and feelings regarding group work. Qualitative methods were used to explore teacher self-efficacy in teaching using Prototype Problem Solving and 3D modeling. The results indicated positive changes in student disengagement. It also highlighted the influence of teachers in implementing new pedagogy in the classroom as significant differences were found between groups of students based on school. The teacher participants indicated that in addition to learning how to use 3D modeling and printing in their classrooms, using Prototype Problem Solving Activities and the professional development that they received in this program inspired them to provide more creative opportunities when teaching mathematics in a heterogeneous classroom.
Pathological aspects of cutaneous mast cell tumors with metastases in 49 dogs
Authors: Ribeiro Paula Reis , Bianchi Matheus Viezzer , Bandinelli Marcele Bettim , Rosa Rafael Biondo , Echenique Joanna Vargas Zillig , Serpa Stolf Alanna , Driemeier David , Sonne Luciana , Pavarini Saulo Petinatti
Published: July 2022

Cutaneous mast cell tumor (MCT) is one of the most frequent cutaneous neoplasms of dogs and may vary from well-differentiated to aggressive tumors with metastasis. The authors retrospectively described the gross and histologic aspects of metastatic MCT in 49 dogs. Primary MCT was most commonly identified in the inguinal region (14/35; 40%), and at necropsy multiple, cutaneous nodules were frequently reported (23/49; 47%). All primary MCT were classified as high-grade neoplasms, and metastases involved the lymph nodes (47/49; 96%), spleen (33/49; 67%), liver (29/49; 59%), bone marrow (20/49; 41%), kidneys (16/49; 33%), and heart (14/49; 29%), while the lungs were less commonly affected (9/49; 18%). The main gross findings included lymphadenomegaly in 47 cases; splenomegaly in 28 cases, with splenic nodules in 13 dogs; hepatomegaly in 28 cases, with white pinpoint foci in 9 cases; nodules on the capsular surface of the kidneys in 9 dogs; and epicardial nodules in 6 cases. Histologically, the lymph nodes were largely obliterated by neoplastic mast cells, while in the spleen, neoplastic cells were multifocally scattered (16/33; 48%), arranged in nodules (10/33; 30%), or obliterated the parenchyma (9/33; 27%). In the liver, the neoplastic cells mainly infiltrated the sinusoids (24/29; 83%), but were also arranged in random nodules (10/29; 34%). Interstitial and nodular metastases were observed in the kidneys and the heart. Grossly unapparent metastases were common in the heart (6/14; 43%), kidneys (4/16; 25%), and lungs (6/9). KIT III and KIT II staining patterns were observed in 29 and 20 cases, respectively.
Family Members’ Perceptions of Caregiver-Centered Communication with Hospice Interdisciplinary Teams: Relationship to Caregiver Wellbeing
Authors: Washington Karla T. , Demiris George , Pitzer Kyle A. , Tunink Carl , Benson Jacquelyn J. , Oliver Debra Parker
Published: July 2022

Objective

Investigators sought to determine how family caregivers’ psychological and physical wellbeing influenced their perceptions of communication with hospice providers.

Methods

Researchers conducted a secondary analysis of quantitative data generated during two multisite randomized clinical trials of supportive interventions for hospice family caregivers. Caregivers’ (N = 525) self-reported anxious symptoms, depressive symptoms, physical quality of life, and perceptions of communication with hospice providers were analyzed via a series of linear models that included demographic and contextual controls.

Results

Caregivers’ anxious symptoms, depressive symptoms, and physical quality of life were largely unrelated to caregivers’ perceptions of their communication with hospice providers when adjusted for demographic and contextual factors.

Conclusions

Variation in caregivers’ perceptions of their communication with hospice providers was not well explained by caregiver wellbeing. Additional research is needed to understand if and how caregivers’ perceptions of communication with hospice providers are related to factors not included in this secondary analysis. Provider-related variables may be particularly important to consider.
Self-Defense and Police Reporting of Intimate Partner Violent Victimization: A Comparison of White, Black, and Hispanic Women Victims
Authors: Powers Ráchael A. , Bleeker Kacy
Published: July 2022

Although the use of self-defense is common in incidents of intimate partner violence (IPV), correlates of self-protective behaviors in IPV are less known. Furthermore, while research has examined the unintended consequence of dual arrest as a result of using self-defense in IPV incidents, research has not examined whether self-defense is associated with the likelihood of reporting the victimization to the police. The purpose of this study is to first examine the racial differences in the use of self-defense in incidents of IPV. Second, this study examines the relationship between the use of physical self-defense and formal help-seeking (i.e., calling the police) and whether those relationships vary across race/ethnicity for White, Black, and Hispanic women. Using a large nationally representative sample of IPV incidents in the United States, this study found that incidents with Black female victims were more likely to feature physical self-defense compared to incidents with White female victims. Furthermore, incidents with Black female victims were more likely to be reported to the police. There was a positive relationship between physical self-defense and reporting to the police for Black women and an inverse relationship between physical self-defense and reporting to the police for Hispanic women.