bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EGAT: Extended Graph Attention Network for Pedestrian Trajectory Prediction
Authors: Kong Wei , Liu Yun , Li Hui , Wang Chuanxu
Published: October 2021

To improve foresight and make correct judgment in advance, pedestrian trajectory prediction has a wide range of application values in autonomous driving, robot interaction, and safety monitoring. However, most of the existing methods only focus on the interaction of local pedestrians according to distance, ignoring the influence of far pedestrians; the range of network input (receptive field) is small. In this paper, an extended graph attention network (EGAT) is proposed to increase receptive field, which focuses not only on local pedestrians, but also on those who are far away, to further strengthen pedestrian interaction. In the temporal domain, TSG‐LSTM (TS‐LSTM and TG‐LSTM) and P‐LSTM are proposed based on LSTM to enhance information transmission by residual connection. Compared with state‐of‐the‐art methods, the model EGAT achieves excellent performance on both ETH and UCY public datasets and generates more reliable trajectories.
Use of Intuitionistic Fuzzy Numbers in Survey Sampling Analysis with Application in Electronic Data Interchange
Authors: Rasheed Farah , Kousar Sajida , Shabbir Javid , Kausar Nasreen , Pamucar Dragan , Gaba Yaé Ulrich
Published: October 2021

The validity of survey sampling depends on how precise the data is. The validity reduces when questionnaire contains linguistic variables and respondent has to answer in zero or one. The ambiguity in the respondent’s mind can be minimized by getting a response in an intuitionistic fuzzy sense. In this study, we proposed intuitionistic fuzzy aggregative investment benefit rate to select the best manufacturing facility location, where respondents expressed both membership function and nonmembership function for linguistic variables, with some hesitancy level, and give significant improvement over the fuzzy assessment method. The proposed methodology is also verified at different hesitancy levels and recommended to use a small hesitancy level. Real‐life example of the use of electronic data interchange (EDI) in Pakistan’s different fields, such as business, commerce, transport, airlines, warehousing, and logistic and delivery industry, is used to support the proposed methodology. Thus, an intuitionistic fuzzy rate reduces the cost, time, and effort of survey sampling instead of taking and analyzing responses from large samples.
Exploiting Canonical TGFβ Signaling in Cancer Treatment
Authors: Liu Qi , Chen Genwen , Moore Jade , Guix Ines , Placantonakis Dimitris , Barcellos-Hoff Mary Helen
Published: October 2021

TGFβ is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays critical roles to define cancer cell phenotypes, construct the tumor microenvironment, and suppress antitumor immune responses. As such, TGFβ is a lynchpin for integrating cancer cell intrinsic pathways and communication among host cells in the tumor and beyond that together affect responses to genotoxic, targeted, and immune therapy. Despite decades of preclinical and clinical studies, evidence of clinical benefit from targeting TGFβ in cancer remains elusive. Here, we review the mechanisms by which TGFβ acts to oppose successful cancer therapy, the reported prognostic and predictive value of TGFβ biomarkers, and the potential impact of inhibiting TGFβ in precision oncology. Paradoxically, the diverse mechanisms by which TGFβ impedes therapeutic response are a principal barrier to implementing TGFβ inhibitors because it is unclear which TGFβ mechanism is functional in which patient. Companion diagnostic tools and specific biomarkers of TGFβ targeted biology will be the key to exploiting TGFβ biology for patient benefit.
GAS6/AXL Inhibition Enhances Ovarian Cancer Sensitivity to Chemotherapy and PARP Inhibition through Increased DNA Damage and Enhanced Replication Stress
Authors: Mullen Mary M. , Lomonosova Elena , Toboni Michael D. , Oplt Alyssa , Cybulla Emily , Blachut Barbara , Zhao Peinan , Noia Hollie , Wilke Daniel , Rankin Erinn B. , Kuroki Lindsay M. , Hagemann Andrea R. , Hagemann Ian S. , McCourt Carolyn K. , Thaker Premal H. , Mutch David G. , Powell Matthew A. , Mosammaparast Nima , Vindigni Alessandro , Fuh Katherine C.
Published: October 2021

Over 80% of women with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) develop tumor resistance to chemotherapy and die of their disease. There are currently no FDA-approved agents to improve sensitivity to first-line platinum- and taxane-based chemotherapy or to PARP inhibitors. Here, we tested the hypothesis that expression of growth arrest–specific 6 (GAS6), the ligand of receptor tyrosine kinase AXL, is associated with chemotherapy response and that sequestration of GAS6 with AVB-S6–500 (AVB-500) could improve tumor response to chemotherapy and PARP inhibitors. We found that GAS6 levels in patient tumor and serum samples collected before chemotherapy correlated with ovarian cancer chemoresponse and patient survival. Compared with chemotherapy alone, AVB-500 plus carboplatin and/or paclitaxel led to decreased ovarian cancer-cell survival in vitro and tumor burden in vivo. Cells treated with AVB-500 plus carboplatin had more DNA damage, slower DNA replication fork progression, and fewer RAD51 foci than cells treated with carboplatin alone, indicating AVB-500 impaired homologous recombination (HR). Finally, treatment with the PARP inhibitor olaparib plus AVB-500 led to decreased ovarian cancer-cell survival in vitro and less tumor burden in vivo. Importantly, this effect was seen in HR-proficient and HR-deficient ovarian cancer cells. Collectively, our findings suggest that GAS6 levels could be used to predict response to carboplatin and AVB-500 could be used to treat platinum-resistant, HR-proficient HGSOC.

Implications:

GAS6/AXL is a novel target to sensitize ovarian cancers to carboplatin and olaparib. Additionally, GAS6 levels can be associated with response to carboplatin treatment.
The E3 Ligase MIB1 Promotes Proteasomal Degradation of NRF2 and Sensitizes Lung Cancer Cells to Ferroptosis
Authors: Wang Haiyun , Huang Qiuling , Xia Jianhong , Cheng Shan , Pei Duanqing , Zhang Xiaofei , Shu Xiaodong
Published: October 2021

Dysregulation of Notch signaling has been implicated in cellular transformation and tumorigenesis in a variety of cancers while potential roles of MIB1, an E3 ubiquitin ligase required for efficient Notch activation, remains to be investigated. We analyzed MIB1 expression levels in tumor samples and performed gain-of-function and loss-of-function studies in cell lines to investigate potential roles of MIB1 in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cell migration, and cell survival. We found that overexpression of MIB1 is detected in a subset of lung squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma samples and negative correlation is observed between MIB1 expression and overall patient survival. Ectopic expression of MIB1 in A549 cells induces EMT and stimulates cell migration via a Notch-dependent pathway. Meanwhile, MIB1 stimulates the degradation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) in a Notch-independent manner and disrupts the antioxidant capacity of cells, rendering them more sensitive to inducers of ferroptosis. On the other hand, MIB1 knockout induces accumulation of NRF2 and resistance to ferroptosis. Collectively, these results indicate that MIB1 may function as a positive regulator of ferroptosis through targeted degradation of the master antioxidant transcription factor NRF2.

Implications:

This study identifies a MIB1-induced proteasomal degradation pathway for NRF2 and reveals elevated ferroptosis sensitivity in MIB1-overexpressing cells which may provide novel insights into the treatment of MIB1-overexpressing cancers.
Ecdysoneless Protein Regulates Viral and Cellular mRNA Splicing to Promote Cervical Oncogenesis
Authors: Mirza Sameer , Kalluchi Achyuth , Raza Mohsin , Saleem Irfana , Mohapatra Bhopal , Pal Dhananjaya , Ouellette Michel M. , Qiu Fang , Yu Lulu , Lobanov Alexei , Zheng Zhi-Ming , Zhang Ying , Alsaleem Mansour A. , Rakha Emad A. , Band Hamid , Rowley M. Jordan , Band Vimla
Published: October 2021

High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV), exemplified by HPV16/18, are causally linked to human cancers of the anogenital tract, skin, and upper aerodigestive tract. Previously, we identified Ecdysoneless (ECD) protein, the human homolog of the Drosophila ecdysoneless gene, as a novel HPV16 E6–interacting protein. Here, we show that ECD, through its C-terminal region, selectively binds to high-risk but not to low-risk HPV E6 proteins. We demonstrate that ECD is overexpressed in cervical and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines as well as in tumor tissues. Using The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset, we show that ECD mRNA overexpression predicts shorter survival in patients with cervical and HNSCC. We demonstrate that ECD knockdown in cervical cancer cell lines led to impaired oncogenic behavior, and ECD co-overexpression with E7 immortalized primary human keratinocytes. RNA-sequencing analyses of SiHa cells upon ECD knockdown showed to aberrations in E6/E7 RNA splicing, as well as RNA splicing of several HPV oncogenesis–linked cellular genes, including splicing of components of mRNA splicing machinery itself. Taken together, our results support a novel role of ECD in viral and cellular mRNA splicing to support HPV-driven oncogenesis.

Implications:

This study links ECD overexpression to poor prognosis and shorter survival in HNSCC and cervical cancers and identifies a critical role of ECD in cervical oncogenesis through regulation of viral and cellular mRNA splicing.
Prevalence of Depressive Disorders and Associated Factors among Adult Population of Dubai 2019
Authors: Abdullatif Mona , Farooq Sobya , Altheeb Ayesha , Rishmawi Fidaa , Jaradat Hana , AlAbady Kadhim
Published: October 2021

Background: Globally, depressive disorders are one of the leading causes of ill mental health and disability affecting about 1 in 4 people at some point in their lives. Population-level data on depressive disorders in the region are sparse yet essential for health sectors. This is the first population estimate for the prevalence of depressive disorders and associated factors in Dubai. Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of depressive disorders and the associated factors among adults aged ≥18 years in the Emirate of Dubai 2019. Method: This is a complex-design cross-sectional population survey targeting Dubai residents aged ≥18 years. This study was part of the Dubai Household Survey 2019 (DHHS-2019). The total number of participants was 2,244, with a response rate of 91.6%. The design was a 2-stage stratified cluster sample. Trained investigators conducted computer-assisted face-to-face interviews using the World Health Survey questionnaire and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) screening. Analysis was design-based adjusting for weight, primary sampling unit, and stratum. Results: The overall prevalence of depressive disorders was 2.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6%–3.4%). Screening revealed 1.9% (95% CI: 1.2%–2.9%) of participants were positive for depressive disorders, with no prior diagnosis constituting approximately 74% of the depressed. Factors associated with depression were adjusted using logistic regression and revealed significantly higher odds of depressive disorders among the following: unmarried (single, divorced, and widowed) comparing to married (odds ratio [OR]: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.2–6.3) and smokers than nonsmokers (OR: 3.3, 95% CI: 1.4–8.0). Employment was found to be a protective factor and reduced the odds of having depressive disorders by 80% comparing to unemployed (OR: 0.2, 95% CI: 0.1–0.7). Moreover, those suffering from health conditions had higher odds for having depressive disorders, such as chest pain (OR: 20.2, 95% CI: 5.5–74.8), history of tuberculosis (TB) (OR: 12.6, 95% CI: 2.1–76.8), and history of stroke (OR: 22.5, 95% CI: 6.8–74.2). Conclusion: The prevalence of depressive disorders was relatively low in Dubai compared to most countries. However, approximately 74% of individuals with depression were undiagnosed, indicating the need for screening programs. The odds of having depressive disorders were significantly higher among unmarried, unemployed, smokers, and those with a history of TB and stroke.
Efficacy of Mitomycin C Combined with Direct Vision Internal Urethrotomy for Urethral Strictures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Xu Chunru , Zhu Zhenpeng , Lin Lanruo , Lv Tongde , Cai Tianyu , Lin Jian
Published: October 2021

Background: The high recurrence of a urethral stricture after direct vision internal urethrotomy (DVIU) has been a problem for years. Mitomycin C (MMC) is an excellent antifibrosis antigen that has been used in many fields, but its effect on a urethral stricture remains controversial. The purpose of this review was to investigate the effectiveness of MMC in reducing the recurrence rate of a urethral stricture after the first urethrotomy. Methods: Common databases were searched for publications prior to November 30, 2020. Randomized controlled and cohort trials were all included. Recurrence and success rates after the first urethrotomy of the posterior urethra were the main outcomes. Revman 5.3 was used for statistical analysis. Two evaluation systems, the Cochrane risk of bias tool and the Newcastle Ottawa Scale, were used to examine the risk of bias for RCTs and all studies. The quality of evidence was assessed by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation standard. Results: Sixteen trials were included, the reporting quality of which was generally poor, and the evidence level was very low to moderate. The addition of MMC could significantly reduce the recurrence rate of urethral strictures (risk ratio [RR] = 0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.26, 0.67; p = 0.0002; 9 trials; 550 participants). The results of the subgroup analysis suggested that the effect of MMC combined with DVIU was significant in short (≤2 cm) anterior urethral strictures (RR = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.20, 0.78; p = 0.008), >12-month follow-up (RR = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.26, 0.76; p = 0.003). It also increased the success rate of the first urethrotomy procedure for posterior urethral contracture (RR = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.65, 0.84; p < 0.00001; 7 trials; 342 participants). Low-dose local injection of MMC was the most commonly used method. Conclusion: MMC combined with DVIU is a promising way to reduce the long-term recurrence rate of a short-segment anterior urethral stricture. It also increases the success rate of the first urethrotomy of the posterior urethra. However, more high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed.
MR Spectroscopy Shows Long Propylene Glycol Half-Life in Neonatal Brain
Authors: van de Lagemaat Monique , van de Pol Laura A. , Zonnenberg Inge A. , Witjes Bregje C.M. , Pouwels Petra J.W.
Published: October 2021

Introduction: Neonatal propylene glycol (PG) clearance is low with long plasma half-life. We hypothesized that neonatal brain PG clearance is diminished and may be related to perinatal asphyxia, infection, or stroke, via different blood-brain barrier permeability. This study aimed to estimate cerebral PG half-life with a clearance model including PG measured with MR spectroscopy (MRS) in neonates that received phenobarbital as the only PG source and to evaluate whether PG clearance was related to intracerebral pathology, for example, perinatal asphyxia, infection, or stroke. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 45 neonates receiving any dose of phenobarbital underwent MRS (short echo time single-voxel MRS at 1.5 T). Cumulative phenobarbital/PG doses were calculated. MRS indications were perinatal asphyxia (n = 22), infection (n = 4), stroke (n = 10), metabolic disease (n = 4), and others (n = 5). Results: Medians (interquartile range) included gestational age 39.4 (3.1) weeks, birth weight 3,146 (1,340) g, and cumulative PG dose 700 (1,120) mg/kg. First-order kinetics with mono-exponential decay showed cerebral PG half-life of 40.7 h and volume of distribution of 1.6 L/kg. Zero-order kinetics showed a rate constant of 0.048 mM/h and a volume of distribution of 2.3 L/kg, but the fit had larger residuals than the first-order model. There were no differences in ΔPG (i.e., PG estimated with clearance model minus PG observed with MRS) in infants with perinatal asphyxia, infection, or stroke. Discussion/Conclusion: This study showed a long cerebral PG half-life of 40.7 h in neonates, unrelated to perinatal asphyxia, infection, or stroke. These findings should increase awareness of possible toxic PG concentrations in neonatal brain due to intravenous PG-containing drugs.
The Gene Signature of Activated M-CSF-Primed Human Monocyte-Derived Macrophages Is IL-10-Dependent
Authors: Cuevas Víctor D. , Simón-Fuentes Miriam , Orta-Zavalza Emmanuel , Samaniego Rafael , Sánchez-Mateos Paloma , Escribese María , Cimas Francisco J. , Bustos Matilde , Pérez-Diego Mario , Ocaña Alberto , Domínguez-Soto Ángeles , Vega Miguel A. , Corbí Ángel L.
Published: October 2021

During inflammatory responses, monocytes are recruited into inflamed tissues, where they become monocyte-derived macrophages and acquire pro-inflammatory and tissue-damaging effects in response to the surrounding environment. In fact, monocyte-derived macrophage subsets are major pathogenic cells in inflammatory pathologies. Strikingly, the transcriptome of pathogenic monocyte-derived macrophage subsets resembles the gene profile of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF)-primed monocyte-derived human macrophages (M-MØ). As M-MØ display a characteristic cytokine profile after activation (IL10high TNFlow IL23low IL6low), we sought to determine the transcriptional signature of M-MØ upon exposure to pathogenic stimuli. Activation of M-MØ led to the acquisition of a distinctive transcriptional profile characterized by the induction of a group of genes (Gene set 1) highly expressed by pathogenic monocyte-derived macrophages in COVID-19 and whose presence in tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) correlates with the expression of macrophage-specific markers (CD163, SPI1) and IL10. Indeed, Gene set 1 expression was primarily dependent on ERK/p38 and STAT3 activation, and transcriptional analysis and neutralization experiments revealed that IL-10 is not only required for the expression of a subset of genes within Gene set 1 but also significantly contributes to the idiosyncratic gene signature of activated M-MØ. Our results indicate that activation of M-CSF-dependent monocyte-derived macrophages induces a distinctive gene expression profile, which is partially dependent on IL-10, and identifies a gene set potentially helpful for macrophage-centered therapeutic strategies.
Preoperative Conization May Have a Positive Impact on Survival in Early-Stage Cervical Cancer: A Propensity-Matched Study
Authors: Li Jinjin , Gong Xue , Li Pujun , Ouyang Xiping , Chang Xiaoxia , Tang Junying
Published: October 2021

Introduction: A recent prospective randomized study demonstrated that minimally invasive surgery (MIS) was inferior to open surgery in disease survival in early-stage cervical cancer. Our aim was to investigate whether there were survival benefits of preoperative conization prior to MIS for early-stage cervical cancer. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients who eventually underwent definitive MIS with stage IA2 to IB1 (no >2 cm) squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and adenosquamous carcinoma. Preoperatively, the patients were separated into 2 groups: one managed with conization and the other undergoing biopsy without conization. Propensity scoring weight and matching were used to reduce the influence of possible allocation biases. The Cox regression model was used for univariate and multivariate analyses of disease recurrence and survival. Results: 227 patients were contained in this study (99 patients in the conization group and 128 patients in the nonconization group). The 5-year DFS of the conization group was statistically better than that of the nonconization group (98.4% vs. 91.8%, p = 0.011). By univariate analysis, conization (HR = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.01–0.87, p = 0.03) and histologic cell type (p = 0.01) were considered as risk factors for recurrence. Multivariate analysis further confirmed conization (HR = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.01–0.51, p = 0.01) and histologic cell type (p < 0.01) correlated with DFS. After propensity score matching (1:1), 84 patients were included in the conization and nonconization groups, respectively, with 5-year DFS still higher in the conization group (98.3% vs. 92.9%, p = 0.037). The results after univariate and multivariate analyses were consistent with those prior to propensity score matching. Conclusion: Preoperative conization in conjunction with MIS seemed to be a safe and feasible approach, with results that may have implications for the reduction of recurrence. Histologic cell type also impacted survival. Therefore, more future prospective studies are warranted.
Mucosal Healing in Crohn’s Disease: Bull’s Eye or Bust? The “Relative” Con Position
Authors: Mosli Mahmoud , Alameel Turki , Sharara Ala I.
Published: October 2021

Background: Crohn’s disease is a progressive inflammatory bowel disease. Persistent untreated inflammation can cumulatively result in bowel damage in the form of strictures, fistulas, and fibrosis, which can ultimately result in the need for major abdominal surgery. Mucosal healing has emerged as an attractive, yet ambitious goal in the hope of preventing long-term complications. Summary: Clinical remission is an inadequate measure of disease activity. Noninvasive markers such as fecal calprotectin, CRP, or small bowel ultrasound are useful adjunct tools. However, endoscopic assessment remains the cornerstone in building a treatment plan. Achieving complete mucosal healing has proved to be an elusive goal even in the ideal setting of a clinical trial. Key Messages: Aiming for complete mucosal healing in all patients may result in overuse of medications, higher costs, and potential side effects of aggressive immunosuppressive treatment. More practical goals such as relative or partial healing, for example, 50% improvement in inflammation and reduction in size of ulcers, ought to be considered, particularly in difficult-to-treat populations.
O Peru entre dois generais: San Martín e Bolívar no imaginário nacional peruano até o Primeiro Centenário (1821-1921)
Authors: Scarelli Rafael Dias
Published: October 2021

Na Guerra de Independência peruana atuaram dois dos principais líderes militares sul-americanos do momento: os generais Simón Bolívar e José de San Martín. Enquanto San Martín proclamou a independência em 28 de julho de 1821, coube ao exército de Bolívar alcançar a vitória final contra as forças espanholas apenas três anos depois. Este artigo se propõe a examinar o lugar reservado a esses dois heróis nas narrativas construídas sobre a emancipação peruana ao longo do primeiro século da história republicana do país, partindo da análise de obras artísticas – especialmente, pinturas e esculturas – resultantes de encomendas oficiais.
Anna Akhmátova e as dedicatórias poéticas de Marina Tsvetáieva
Authors: Nogueira André , Francisco Junior Mario Ramos
Published: October 2021

Neste trabalho tradutório com o ciclo de poemas Para Akhmátova, de Marina Tsvetáieva, somos levados, de uma reflexão acerca do gênero de homenagem poética, passando por poemas escolhidos de Anna Akhmátova, até chegar a um exercício de “tradução comparada”. Nosso objetivo aqui será situar os poemas de Tsvetáieva em um contexto maior de dedicatórias, endereçadas a Akhmátova entre os anos de 1910-1920, e buscar pontos de relação que ajudem a entender o papel dessas obras na construção por Akhmátova de sua auto-imagem poética. Para tanto traçaremos um percurso associativo, no qual se apresentarão alguns trechos de nossas traduções de ambas as autoras.
Por que ler os russos?
Authors: Urso Graziela Schneider
Published: October 2021

No Brasil, cada vez mais, há várias traduções de uma mesma obra russa, o que só amplifica as possibilidades de leituras. Como afirma Paz (1971), "Cada tradução é, até certo ponto, uma invenção e, como tal, constitui um texto único." Quanto mais traduções, mais leituras possíveis. No momento, existem pelo menos dez editoras que trazem constantes traduções diretas de textos russos e uma que edita unicamente literatura russa, além de contarmos com um número significativo de tradutoras e tradutores literários do russo, herdeiros diretos ou indiretos do legado de Boris Schnaiderman. Para além de Dostoiévski e Tolstói, atualmente temos publicações de nomes tão diversos como Aleksêievitch, Bulgákov, Búnin, Chalámov, Dobýtchin, Kharms, Koroliênko, Leskov, Tolstáia, Tsvetáieva, entre outros, sem contar inúmeros outros autores presentes nas antologias de contos e textos críticos. Este texto visa apresentar um breve panorama da literatura russa em tradução direta no Brasil, desde as primeiras publicações, na década de 1930 do século XX, até os dias atuais.
Cell‐Free Mitochondrial DNA as a Potential Biomarker for Astronauts' Health
Authors: Bisserier Malik , Shanmughapriya Santhanam , Rai Amit Kumar , Gonzalez Carolina , Brojakowska Agnieszka , Garikipati Venkata Naga Srikanth , Madesh Muniswamy , Mills Paul J. , Walsh Kenneth , Arakelyan Arsen , Kishore Raj , Hadri Lahouaria , Goukassian David A.
Published: October 2021

Background

Space travel–associated stressors such as microgravity or radiation exposure have been reported in astronauts after short‐ and long‐duration missions aboard the International Space Station. Despite risk mitigation strategies, adverse health effects remain a concern. Thus, there is a need to develop new diagnostic tools to facilitate early detection of physiological stress.

Methods and Results

We measured the levels of circulating cell‐free mitochondrial DNA in blood plasma of 14 astronauts 10 days before launch, the day of landing, and 3 days after return. Our results revealed a significant increase of cell‐free mitochondrial DNA in the plasma on the day of landing and 3 days after return with vast ~2 to 355‐fold interastronaut variability. In addition, gene expression analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells revealed a significant increase in markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that cell‐free mitochondrial DNA abundance might be a biomarker of stress or immune response related to microgravity, radiation, and other environmental factors during space flight.
Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion for Stroke Prevention in Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Collado Fareed Moses S. , Lama von Buchwald Claudia M. , Anderson Christina K. , Madan Nidhi , Suradi Hussam S. , Huang Henry D. , Jneid Hani , Kavinsky Clifford J.
Published: October 2021

The majority of embolic strokes in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation are caused by thrombi in the left atrial appendage. It is projected that strokes related to atrial fibrillation will markedly increase in the future unless effective mitigation strategies are implemented. Systemic anticoagulation has been known to be highly effective in reducing stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation. However, bleeding complications and nonadherence are barriers to effective anticoagulation therapy. Surgical and percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion devices are nonpharmacologic strategies to mitigate the challenges of drug therapy. We present a contemporary review of left atrial appendage occlusion for stroke prevention in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. A thorough review of the history of surgical and percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion devices, recent trials, and US Food and Drug Administration milestones of current left atrial appendage occlusion devices are discussed.
Disability Among Young Adults With Congenital Heart Defects: Congenital Heart Survey to Recognize Outcomes, Needs, and Well‐Being 2016–2019
Authors: Downing Karrie F. , Oster Matthew E. , Klewer Scott E. , Rose Charles E. , Nembhard Wendy N. , Andrews Jennifer G. , Farr Sherry L.
Published: October 2021

Background

Disabilities have implications for health, well‐being, and health care, yet limited information is available on the percentage of adults with congenital heart defects (CHD) living with disabilities. We evaluated the prevalence of disability and associated characteristics among the 2016–2019 CH STRONG (Congenital Heart Survey to Recognize Outcomes, Needs, and Well‐Being) population‐based sample of 19‐ to 38‐year‐olds with CHD from 3 US locations.

Methods and Results

Prevalence of disability types (hearing, vision, cognition, mobility, self‐care, living independently) were compared with similarly aged adults from the general population as estimated by the American Community Survey and standardized to the CH STRONG eligible population to reduce nonresponse bias and confounding. Health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) was measured via Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Global Health Scale T‐scores standardized to US 18‐ to 34‐year‐olds. Separate multivariable regression models assessed associations between disability and HRQOL. Of 1478 participants, 40% reported disabilities, with cognition most prevalent (29%). Of those reporting disability, 45% ever received disability benefits and 46% were unemployed. Prevalence of disability types were 5 to 8 times higher in adults with CHD than the general population. Those with ≥1 disability had greater odds of being female, and of having non‐Hispanic Black maternal race and ethnicity, severe CHD, recent cardiac care, and noncardiac congenital anomalies. On average, adults with CHD and cognition, mobility, and self‐care disabilities had impaired mental HRQOL and those with any disability type had impaired physical HRQOL.

Conclusions

Two of 5 adults with CHD may have disabilities, which are associated with impaired HRQOL. These results may inform healthcare needs and services for this growing population.
Genetic Profile of Endotoxemia Reveals an Association With Thromboembolism and Stroke
Authors: Leskelä Jaakko , Toppila Iiro , Härma Mari‐Anne , Palviainen Teemu , Salminen Aino , Sandholm Niina , Pietiäinen Milla , Kopra Elisa , Pais de Barros Jean‐Paul ,   FinnGen, Lassenius Mariann I. , Kumar Anmol , Harjutsalo Valma , Roslund Kajsa , Forsblom Carol , Loukola Anu , Havulinna Aki S. , Lagrost Laurent , Salomaa Veikko , Groop Per‐Henrik , Perola Markus , Kaprio Jaakko , Lehto Markku , Pussinen Pirkko J.
Published: October 2021

Background

Translocation of lipopolysaccharide from gram‐negative bacteria into the systemic circulation results in endotoxemia. In addition to acute infections, endotoxemia is detected in cardiometabolic disorders, such as cardiovascular diseases and obesity.

Methods and Results

We performed a genome‐wide association study of serum lipopolysaccharide activity in 11 296 individuals from 6 different Finnish study cohorts. Endotoxemia was measured by limulus amebocyte lysate assay in the whole population and by 2 other techniques (Endolisa and high‐performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry) in subpopulations. The associations of the composed genetic risk score of endotoxemia and thrombosis‐related clinical end points for 195 170 participants were analyzed in FinnGen. Lipopolysaccharide activity had a genome‐wide significant association with 741 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms in 5 independent loci, which were mainly located at genes affecting the contact activation of the coagulation cascade and lipoprotein metabolism and explained 1.5% to 9.2% of the variability in lipopolysaccharide activity levels. The closest genes included
KNG1
,
KLKB1
,
F12
,
SLC34A1
,
YPEL4
,
CLP1
,
ZDHHC5
,
SERPING1
,
CBX5
, and
LIPC
. The genetic risk score of endotoxemia was associated with deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, pulmonary heart disease, and venous thromboembolism.

Conclusions

The biological activity of lipopolysaccharide in the circulation (ie, endotoxemia) has a small but highly significant genetic component. Endotoxemia is associated with genetic variation in the contact activation pathway, vasoactivity, and lipoprotein metabolism, which play important roles in host defense, lipopolysaccharide neutralization, and thrombosis, and thereby thromboembolism and stroke.
Limitations of Bin and Bulk Microphysics in Reproducing the Observed Spatial Structure of Light Precipitation
Authors: Witte Mikael K. , Morrison Hugh , Davis Anthony B. , Teixeira Joao
Published: October 2021

Coarse-gridded atmospheric models often account for subgrid-scale variability by specifying probability distribution functions (PDFs) of process rate inputs such as cloud and rainwater mixing ratios (qc and qr, respectively). PDF parameters can be obtained from numerous sources: in situ observations, ground- or space-based remote sensing, or fine-scale modeling such as large-eddy simulation (LES). LES is appealing to constrain PDFs because it generates large sample sizes, can simulate a variety of cloud regimes/case studies, and is not subject to the ambiguities of observations. However, despite the appeal of using model output for parameterization development, it has not been demonstrated that LES satisfactorily reproduces the observed spatial structure of microphysical fields. In this study, the structure of observed and modeled microphysical fields are compared by applying bifractal analysis, an approach that quantifies variability across spatial scales, to simulations of a drizzling stratocumulus field that span a range of domain sizes, drop concentrations (a proxy for mesoscale organization), and microphysics schemes (bulk and bin). Simulated qc closely matches observed estimates of bifractal parameters that measure smoothness and intermittency. There are major discrepancies between observed and simulated qr properties, though, with bulk simulated qr consistently displaying the bifractal properties of observed clouds (smooth, minimally intermittent) rather than rain while bin simulations produce qr that is appropriately intermittent but too smooth. These results suggest fundamental limitations of bulk and bin schemes to realistically represent higher-order statistics of the observed rain structure.
Higher Temperature Enhances Spatiotemporal Concentration of Rainfall
Authors: Long Kaihao , Wang Dagang , Wang Guiling , Zhu Jinxin , Wang Shuo , Xie Shuishi
Published: October 2021

The relationship between extreme precipitation intensity and temperature has been comprehensively studied over different regions worldwide. However, the effect of temperature on the spatiotemporal organization of precipitation, which can have a significant impact on precipitation intensity, has not been adequately studied or understood. In this study, we propose a novel approach to quantifying the spatial and temporal concentration of precipitation at the event level and study how the concentration varies with temperature. The results based on rain gauge data from 843 stations in the Ganzhou county, a humid region in south China, show that rain events tend to be more concentrated both temporally and spatially at higher temperature, and this increase in concentration qualitatively holds for events of different precipitation amounts and durations. The effects of temperature on precipitation organization in space and in time differ at high temperatures. The temporal concentration increases with temperature up to a threshold (approximately 24°C) beyond which it plateaus, whereas the spatial concentration keeps rising with temperature. More concentrated precipitation, in addition to a projected increase of extreme precipitation, would intensify flooding in a warming world, causing more detrimental effects.
Communicating a Scientific Story
Authors: Jacob M.
Published: October 2021

Public health organizations typically try to raise literacy or counter misinformation with fact sheets and other data-centric messages. Yet research shows that disseminating more information does not necessarily combat myths. Storytelling offers the oral health community another option for engaging audiences and complementing the facts. The early–20th century research into fluoride is one example of an interesting story. Data and stories can complement each other. Using the elements of storytelling to report or summarize research findings could make such findings more relevant to health policy makers, whose decisions are often driven by values and evidence. Although the scientific literature has not produced a definitive template for instilling stories in a study manuscript, I provide several techniques and caveats for oral health researchers to consider.
Deep learning based real-time tourist spots detection and recognition mechanism
Authors: Chen Yen-Chiu , Yu Kun-Ming , Kao Tzu-Hsiang , Hsieh Hao-Lun
Published: October 2021

More and more information on tourist spots is being represented as pictures rather than text. Consequently, tourists who are interested in a specific attraction shown in pictures may have no idea how to perform a text search to get more information about the interesting tourist spots. In the view of this problem and to enhance the competitiveness of the tourism market, this research proposes an innovative tourist spot identification mechanism, which is based on deep learning-based object detection technology, for real-time detection and identification of tourist spots by taking pictures on location or retrieving images from the Internet. This research establishes a tourist spot recognition system, which is a You Only Look Once version 3 model built in Tensorflow AI framework, and is used to identify tourist attractions by taking pictures with a smartphone's camera. To verify the possibility, a set of tourist spots in Hsinchu City, Taiwan is taken as an example. Currently, the tourist spot recognition system of this research can identify 28 tourist spots in Hsinchu. In addition to the attraction recognition feature, tourists can further use this tourist spot recognition system to obtain more information about 77 tourist spots from the Hsinchu City Government Information Open Data Platform, and then make dynamic travel itinerary planning and Google MAP navigation. Compared with other deep learning models using Faster region-convolutional neural networks or Single-Shot Multibox Detector algorithms for the same data set, the recognition time by the models using You Only Look Once version 3, Faster region-convolutional neural networks, and Single-Shot Multibox Detector algorithms are respectively 4.5, 5, and 9 s, and the mean average precision for each when IoU = 0.6 is 88.63%, 85%, and 43.19%, respectively. The performance experimental results of this research show the model using the You Only Look Once version 3 algorithm is more efficient and precise than the models using the Faster region-convolutional neural networks or the Single-Shot Multibox Detector algorithms, where You Only Look Once version 3 and Single-Shot Multibox Detector are one-stage learning architectures with efficient features, and Faster region-convolutional neural networks is a two-stage learning architecture with precise features.
Enacting efficient care within a context of rationalisation
Authors: Orupabo Julia
Published: October 2021

Scholars have described how care cannot be completely commodified or withdrawn because it is a disposition anchored in the commitment to the needs of others. This article advances the literature on care ethics and inequality by examining how care workers resist and negotiate the rationalisation of care work. Building on ethnographic fieldwork on auxiliary nurses in Norwegian nursing homes, the study shows that despite care workers facing increasingly rationalised forms of control, they continue to act out of the caring self, which centres on the desire to give meaningful care. However, by addressing how power differences and ethnic stratification between workers influence their strategies of coping and resistance, the findings also illustrate how the most vulnerable care workers respond to rationalisation by providing efficient care – that is, careless care – to their patients. Drawing from alternative perspectives on care work as ambivalent work, the study’s main theoretical contribution is to offer insight into how precarious work contexts may pose a threat to the caring self, especially when inequalities exist between care workers.
Prominence–Salience Combinations and Self-Esteem: Do Magnitude and Congruity Matter?
Authors: Markowski Kelly L. , Serpe Richard T.
Published: October 2021

Identity theory research shows that prominence, or identity importance, positively predicts salience or likely identity enactment. Sometimes the association is strong, indicating close matches in magnitude, whereas other times, it is weak, indicating mismatches in magnitude. We build on this work by exploring prominence–salience combinations, paying attention to how congruity and magnitude relate to role-specific self-esteem. We test two competing arguments: cognitive consistency—matches are good, mismatches are bad—and uncertainty reduction—high and low scores are clearly defined and good, medium scores are ambiguous and bad. Using data from 1,899 participants with parent (or no children) and spousal (or single) identities, results favor uncertainty reduction: matching medium prominence–salience scores are worse for self-esteem than other matching scores and often even mismatching scores. This work is important because it considers the felt and lived components of identity, advancing understanding of how identity experiences relate to well-being.
Motivational factors promoting knowledge sharing in the non-profit sector in Thailand
Authors: Le Quang Ngoc , Tuamsuk Kulthida
Published: October 2021

This study aims to investigate how organizational design – especially culture, employee intentions, intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors, and processes – promotes knowledge sharing in the non-profit context. The research used a quantitative analysis with data from a sample of 213 non-profit organizations. The sample organizations were from diverse sectors operating actively in Thailand. The descriptive statistical technique and analysis of factor loading value were utilized to present the surveyed data. Based on the study findings of the descriptive statistics data, it was noted that motivational factors such as availability, value, and enjoyment in helping the colleagues via sharing the knowledge were remarkably associated with organizational knowledge sharing. Furthermore, the results revealed that sub-factors of knowledge sharing culture, intentions, and processes were more extraordinary for enhancing knowledge management activities. On the other hand, extrinsic motivational factors – mainly, expected organizational rewards such as bonus, salary, job security, and promotion opportunities – were not significantly promoted knowledge sharing. This study supports the non-profit organization's leaders and managers finding ways to boost motivational factors to promote knowledge sharing. Moreover, the study provides empirical insight into the knowledge management-non-profit organizations research domain, which links knowledge sharing and organizational design in the non-profit environment.
Peritumoral portal enhancement during transarterial chemoembolization: a potential prognostic factor for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Nyman Sofi Sennefelt , Creusen Angeliki Dimopoulou , Johnsson Ulf , Rorsman Fredrik , Vessby Johan , Barbier Charlotte Ebeling
Published: October 2021

Background

Tumor response and survival varies in patients treated with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and may be associated with several factors.

Purpose

To evaluate safety and efficacy of TACE in patients with intermediate stage HCC and to identify factors related to tumor response and survival.

Material and Methods

Consecutive patients with HCC treated with TACE between September 2008 and September 2018 were retrospectively reviewed.

Results

In 87 patients (71 men; mean age = 68 ± 9 years), 327 TACE treatments were performed (mean = 3/patient; range = 1–12). Mean and median overall survival were 32 and 19 months, respectively. Survival rates at 30 days, one, three, and five years were 99%, 71%, 19%, and 8%, respectively. Objective response (OR) was seen in 84% and disease control (DC) was seen in 92% of the patients. Patients in whom peritumoral portal lipiodol enhancement (PPLE) was seen during TACE had better OR (97 vs. 73%; P = 0.007) and DC (100 vs. 85%; P = 0.024), and a reduced risk of death (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.52; 95% confidence interval = 0.32–0.86) compared to those without PPLE. Severe adverse events were rare (15%) and occurred more often in patients with a larger tumor size.

Conclusions

TACE was effective and safe in patients with intermediate stage HCC. Patients with PPLE during TACE had better tumor response and longer survival than those without PPLE. Severe adverse events occurred more often in patients with larger tumors.
Regional Differences in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Signal Intensity After Surgical Treatment
Authors: Kiapour Ata M. , Flannery Sean W. , Murray Martha M. , Miller Patricia E. ,   BEAR Trial Team, Proffen Benedikt L. , Sant Nicholas , Portilla Gabriela , Sanborn Ryan , Freiberger Christina , Henderson Rachael , Barnett Samuel , Ecklund Kirsten , Yen Yi-Meng , Kramer Dennis E. , Micheli Lyle J. , Fleming Braden C.
Published: October 2021

Background:

Magnetic resonance–based measurements of signal intensity have been used to track healing of surgically treated anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs). However, it is unknown how the signal intensity values in different regions of the ligament or graft change during healing.

Hypotheses:

(1) Normalized signal intensity of the healing graft or repaired ACL is heterogeneous; (2) temporal changes in normalized signal intensity values differ among the tibial, middle, and femoral regions; and (3) there are no differences in regional normalized signal intensity values 2 years postoperatively among grafts, repaired ACLs, and contralateral native ACLs.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

Magnetic resonance imaging scans were analyzed from patients in a trial comparing ACL reconstruction (n = 35) with bridge-enhanced ACL repair (n = 65). The ACLs were segmented from images acquired at 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively and were partitioned into 3 sections along the longitudinal axis (femoral, middle, and tibial). Linear mixed modeling was used to compare location-specific differences in normalized ligament signal intensity among time points (6, 12, and 24 months) and groups (ACL reconstruction, repair, and contralateral native ACL).

Results:

For grafts, the middle region had a higher mean normalized signal intensity when compared with the femoral region at all time points ( P < .01) but compared with the tibial region only at 6 months ( P < .01). For repaired ACLs, the middle region had a higher mean normalized signal intensity versus the femoral region at all time points ( P < .01) but versus the tibial region only at 6 and 12 months ( P < .04). From 6 to 24 months, the grafts showed the greatest reduction in normalized signal intensity in the femoral and middle regions (vs tibial regions; P < .01), while there were no regional differences in repaired ACLs. At 2 years after surgery, repaired ACLs had a lower normalized signal intensity in the tibial region as compared with reconstructed grafts and contralateral native ACLs ( P < .01).

Conclusion:

The results suggest that graft remodeling is location specific. Repaired ACLs were more homogeneous, with lower or comparable normalized signal intensity values at 2 years as compared with the contralateral native ACL and reconstructed grafts.