bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advances in the Era of Direct-Acting Antivirals for Hepatitis C in Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Chen Li-Shu , Lee Shou-Wu , Yang Sheng-Shun , Tsai Hsin-Ju , Lee Teng-Yu
Published: November 2021

Background: In patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the advances in direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for chronic hepatitis C remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of DAA therapy, when compared to interferon (IFN) therapy. Methods: In this hospital-based study, all HCC patients in Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B or C, who received pegylated IFN or DAA, were retrospectively screened from 2009 to 2020. Patients without viremia, without HCC, or with HCC in BCLC stage 0, A, or D prior to antiviral therapy were excluded. Rates of and odds ratio (OR) for sustained virological response (SVR) achievement were analyzed. Results: Nineteen and 78 patients were recruited into the IFN and DAA groups, respectively. The median age was significantly older in the DAA group (DAA vs. IFN: 69.5 [25–75% IQR: 62.8–77.3] vs. 64.0 [25–75% IQR: 61.0–68.0]; p < 0.05). The SVR rates were higher in the DAA group as per protocol (DAA vs. IFN: 94.5% vs. 76.5%; p < 0.05) and in BCLC stage B (DAA vs. IFN: 95.2% vs. 76.5%; p < 0.05). All patients in BCLC stage C received DAA therapy, with the SVR rate being 90.9%. In multivariable regression analysis, the 4-week virological response (OR 5.6, 95% CI: 1.3–25.4) and HCC within the up-to-7 criteria (OR 3.7, 95% CI: 1.1–12.9) were independent factors associated with SVR (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: Compared to IFN therapy, more elderly patients with unresectable HCCs were able to receive DAA therapy, while achieving a significantly higher SVR rate.
Relative Brain Size and Cognitive Equivalence in Fishes
Authors: Triki Zegni , Aellen Mélisande , van Schaik Carel P. , Bshary Redouan
Published: November 2021

Scientists have long struggled to establish how larger brains translate into higher cognitive performance across species. While absolute brain size often yields high predictive power of performance, its positive correlation with body size warrants some level of correction. It is expected that larger brains are needed to control larger bodies without any changes in cognitive performance. Potentially, the mean value of intraspecific brain-body slopes provides the best available estimate for an interspecific correction factor. For example, in primates, including humans, an increase in body size translates into an increase in brain size without changes in cognitive performance. Here, we provide the first evaluation of this hypothesis for another clade, teleost fishes. First, we obtained a mean intraspecific brain-body regression slope of 0.46 (albeit with a relatively large range of 0.26–0.79) from a dataset of 51 species, with at least 10 wild adult specimens per species. This mean intraspecific slope value (0.46) is similar to that of the encephalisation quotient reported for teleosts (0.5), which can be used to predict mean cognitive performance in fishes. Importantly, such a mean value (0.46) is much higher than in endothermic vertebrate species (≤0.3). Second, we used wild-caught adult cleaner fish Labroides dimidiatus as a case study to test whether variation in individual cognitive performance can be explained by body size. We first obtained the brain-body regression slope for this species from two different datasets, which gave slope values of 0.58 (MRI scan data) and 0.47 (dissection data). Then, we used another dataset involving 69 adult cleaners different from those tested for their brain-body slope. We found that cognitive performance from four different tasks that estimated their learning, numerical, and inhibitory control abilities was not significantly associated with body size. These results suggest that the intraspecific brain-body slope captures cognitive equivalence for this species. That is, individuals that are on the brain-body regression line are cognitively equal. While rather preliminary, our results suggest that fish and mammalian brain organisations are fundamentally different, resulting in different intra- and interspecific slopes of cognitive equivalence.
miR-142-3p Regulates Tumor Cell Autophagy and Promotes Colon Cancer Progression by Targeting TP53INP2
Authors: Zheng Jiujian , Cheng Chuan , Xu Jie , Gao Peng , Wang Jianping , Chen Lifei
Published: November 2021

Objectives: Colon cancer (CC) is the third largest cancer worldwide. Investigation of the molecular mechanism of CC progression helps to explore novel therapeutic targets. We attempted to understand the modulatory mechanism of miR-142-3p in CC cell autophagy and CC progression, which will lay a theoretical groundwork for seeking potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for CC. Methods: Through bioinformatics methods, miRNA expression data were subjected to differential analysis for identification of target miRNA. Downstream target mRNAs were predicted, and gene set enrichment analysis was completed. qRT-PCR assessed gene expression in cells. Cell counting kit-8, cell doubling time calculation, colony formation, and flow cytometry were used to assess cellular biological functions. Dual-luciferase assay was used for targeting relationship validation of the target miRNA and mRNA. Western blot was performed to evaluate expression of proteins related to HEDGEHOG signaling pathway and autophagy. Results: miR-142-3p was markedly highly expressed in CC, and high miR-142-3p expression in CC patients was implicated with relatively poor prognosis. Overexpressing miR-142-3p facilitated proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of CC cells, whereas silencing it produced an opposite result. miR-142-3p targeted and decreased TP53INP2 level. TP53INP2 overexpression suppressed the HEDGEHOG signaling pathway and induced the activation of CC cell autophagy. Rescue experiments revealed that influence of the miR-142-3p inhibitor on CC cell proliferation and apoptosis could be reversed by silencing TP53INP2. Conclusion: miR-142-3p hampered tumor cell autophagy and promoted CC progression via targeting TP53INP2, which will offer a fresh research orientation for the diagnosis of CC.
Splenic Micronodular T-Cell/Histiocyte-Rich Large B-Cell Lymphoma: The Corticosteroid Pretreatment Hypothesis
Authors: Samueli Benzion , Nalbandyan Karen , Benharroch Daniel , Levi Itai
Published: November 2021

Splenic micronodular T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma (THRLBCL) is derived from diffuse large B-cell lymphoma N.O.S., perhaps with some affinity with nodal THRLBCL. Of note, in contrast with the latter, the only lymph nodes involved in association with the splenic micronodular pattern of the disease are the splenic hilar lymph nodes. The possibility that corticosteroids, when prescribed prior to splenectomy, cause histopathological and functional modulations, apoptosis, necrosis, tissue shrinkage, which may obscure the diagnostic morphological features of this variant lymphoma and cause an underdiagnosis of this condition. The indications for glucocorticoid therapy are either related to the lymphoma itself, or else to other comorbidities, like asthma and autoimmune disorders. We propose that patients with the splenic subset of the disease are likely to have been prescribed corticosteroids prior to histopathologic examination of the involved spleen, causing disparate morphologies. However, a reviewer might accidentally dismiss the corticosteroid pretreatment which is thus overlooked. Apoptosis, induced by corticosteroids, is hypothesized as the major mechanism initiating the histopathological and functional changes in the splenic micronodular variant of the lymphoma.
Blood Affairs: Racial Blood Group Research and Nation Building in Greece, 1920s–1940s
Authors: Lefkaditou Ageliki
Published: November 2021

This paper examines the transnational exchanges associated with the emergence of racial blood group studies in Greece. It explores the overlap between anthropological and medical perspectives as well as the concurrences and tensions between national and transnational concerns. By following the work of the main Greek physical anthropologist of the interwar period, the paper asks how politics interpenetrates into this case study in a scientifically consequential way and conversely how innovation in research allows anthropologists to intervene with politically timely questions. It showcases how wartime mobilities generated anthropological data that weaved and strengthened the fabric of the Greek national narrative.
The Word “Woman” in Pre-Modern Arabic Lexicons
Authors: Paraskeva Tsampika
Published: November 2021

In all languages, lexicons constitute a valuable source of information on femininities and women. This assertion is enhanced in the case of pre-modern Arabic lexicography, due to the diversity of its contents. However, the picture of women in lexicons has always received more attention in the field of lexicography in Western languages than in Arabic. This paper aims to fill a minor part of this noteworthy gap, by shedding light on all semantical, lexical, and orthographic elements which concern the word “woman” (imraʾa/al-marʾa) in pre-modern Arabic lexicons, more specifically, under the root m-r-ʾ.
The Outcomes of Fifth-Grade Emergent Bi/Multilinguals’ Introduction to a Visual Metalanguage When Constructing Scientific Explanations in Hong Kong
Authors: Williams Melanie , Tang Kok-Sing
Published: November 2021

The visual mode provides emergent bi/multilinguals an essential resource to construct scientific explanations. Yet, while a metalanguage is used to describe the written mode of scientific language such as, claim, evidence, reason; there is little research that makes students aware of the metalanguage of a visual mode. We propose an introduction to the visual metalanguage will ensure emergent bi/multilinguals better access to the visual mode. This study employs an instrumental case study to examine the introduction of visual metalanguage to a fifth-grade science class. Two cameras record ten emergent bi/multilinguals as they construct scientific explanations in nine lessons. We use a framework informed by social semiotics to analyse the meanings made. The data revealed that an awareness of the visual metalanguage led to an enhanced commitment to illustrate the explanation of the phenomenon, illuminated key concepts and provided more context to the audience. In addition, teacher questioning became more focused.
Auld Lang Syne
Authors: Grant Morag Josephine
Published: November 2021

In Auld Lang Syne: A Song and its Culture, M. J. Grant explores the history of this iconic song, demonstrating how its association with ideas of fellowship, friendship and sociality has enabled it to become so significant for such a wide range of individuals and communities around the world.

This engaging study traces different stages in the journey of Auld Lang Syne, from the precursors to the song made famous by Robert Burns to the traditions and rituals that emerged around the song in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, including its use as a song of parting, and as a song of New Year. Grant’s painstaking study investigates the origins of these varied traditions, and their impact on the transmission of the song right up to the present day.

Grant uses Auld Lang Syne to explore the importance of songs and singing for group identity, arguing that it is the active practice of singing the song in group contexts that has made it so significant for so many. The book offers fascinating insights into the ways that Auld Lang Syne has been received, reused and remixed around the world, concluding with a chapter on more recent versions of the song back in Scotland.

This highly original and accessible work will be of great interest to non-expert readers as well as scholars and students of musicology, cultural and social history, social anthropology and Scottish studies. The book contains a wealth of illustrations and includes links to many more, including manuscript sources. Audio examples are included for many of the musical examples. Grant’s extensive bibliography will moreover ease future referencing of the many sources consulted.
1. Elements of a Theory of Song
Authors: Grant Morag Josephine
Published: November 2021

Are songs, as one dictionary definition suggests, a “mere trifle”? Or do they, in fact, play a highly significant role in human society? This chapter discusses the social functions of songs and singing, drawing on research into the songs folk sing, and why. In particular, it builds on Ernst Klusen’s concept of “group song”, which indicates the special bonds that emerge between social groups and “their” songs. Through continued reuse, groups songs can become one of the ties that hold these groups together. The chapter also introduces the concepts of implied significance and inherited significance to explain how songs can become associated with certain groups, practices, or rituals, including where this is not immediately clear from the basic material of the songs (such as the words or the tune). The chapter closes with a consideration of the particular challenges faced when tracing the complex history of Auld Lang Syne, and introduces further terms and abbreviations used in the book.
2. Auld Lang Syne
Authors: Grant Morag Josephine
Published: November 2021

The song Auld Lang Syne as we know it today first appeared in print in the late eighteenth century. It is closely associated with poet and songwriter Robert Burns, whose life, work and legacy are briefly summarised here. This chapter, however, primarily traces the prehistory of the modern song, which has been traced back as far as the fifteenth century. The focus here is particularly on the period from the late seventeenth century, when various songs on the sentiments “Should auld acquaintaince be forgot” and “Auld lang syne” were in circulation. These songs were generally sung to a different tune than the most familiar tune of Auld Lang Syne: that older tune is, however, related to, but not identical with, the tune to which Burns’s version was originally set. The emergence and influence of collections of “national song” such as those in which Burns’s song first appeared are discussed alongside other aspects of the song culture of eighteenth-century Britain. The chapter situates all of these developments in the political, social and cultural context of Scotland and Britain in the eighteenth century—a time of immense change in all these areas—and concludes with a discussion of possible links between the eighteenth-century songs on “Auld lang syne” and the Jacobite movement.
6. The Song of Parting
Authors: Grant Morag Josephine
Published: November 2021

Building on the previous chapter, this chapter focuses more specifically on the emerging tradition of using Auld Lang Syne as a song of parting rather than reunion. It begins by looking at other songs of parting in the Scottish tradition, before looking more closely at early evidence for Auld Lang Syne’s use in such contexts. Some of the earliest recorded incidences relate to military practices, with Auld Lang Syne being used during the ceremony at which company colours were replaced; it was also often played as troop ships were leaving harbour. This is just one example of how, by the mid-nineteenth century, Auld Lang Syne was increasingly regarded as an important British and not just Scottish patriotic song, often closely linked to God Save the King/Queen and Rule Britannia. The song’s significance in the project of Empire, and the role of imperialism in the spread of the song, is subsequently explored further. The chapter concludes by looking at further types of evidence indicating the increasing use of the song as a song of parting in both Britain and North America, culled from newspaper, literary and other sources. It concludes with a discussion of one of the first ever recordings of the song, made in 1898 when a group of Cambridge anthropologists set off for the Torres Straits.
8. The Song of New Year
Authors: Grant Morag Josephine
Published: November 2021

In many parts of the world, but particularly in North America, Auld Lang Syne is now the quintessential song of New Year. But where did this tradition come from, and how was it established? It is often assumed that broadcast media were key here: this chapter demonstrates, however, that the singing of Auld Lang Syne at New Year was established in many quarters before this. This conclusion is reached through an analysis of primary sources, especially newspaper reports, on public New Year’s Eve traditions in Scotland, among the Scottish diaspora in London, and in the USA, in the later nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
10. A Song Abroad
Authors: Grant Morag Josephine
Published: November 2021

What happens when a song “migrates”? This chapter continues to explore the complex web of associations and tangents that has emerged as the song has travelled around the world, beginning in the late nineteenth but focusing in the main on the twentieth century. It begins by looking at a song composed using the familiar tune of Auld Lang Syne by one of the most prolific Zulu composers and musicians of the twentieth century, before exploring translations and foreign-language versions of song into Danish, Japanese and Jèrriais amongst others. Quotations from and paraphrases on the song in new songs published in the earlier twentieth century are discussed, as are a number of early recordings of Auld Lang Syne itself. The chapter discusses how clocks and bells have played a role in the song’s transmission and reinterpretation, and how its use in films can be used to trace the developing associations of the song, in particular with regard to its use at the New Year. Several poignant instances of the use of the song and its elements in the First and Second World Wars are also discussed. As divergent from one another and from their source as these practices are, the chapter argues that there is a striking commonality among many of the global practices discussed here that link them back quite directly to the song’s original eighteenth-century meanings.
Evaluation of Soil Moisture in CMIP6 Simulations
Authors: Qiao Liang , Zuo Zhiyan , Xiao Dong
Published: November 2021

This study employs multiple reanalysis datasets to evaluate the global shallow and deep soil moisture in Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 (CMIP6) simulations. The multimodel ensemble mean produces generally reasonable simulations for overall climatology, wet and dry centers, and annual peaks in the melt season at mid- to high latitudes and the rainy season at low latitudes. The simulation capability for shallow soil moisture depends on the relationship between soil moisture and the difference between precipitation and evaporation (P − E). Although most models produce effective simulations in regions where soil moisture is significantly related to the P − E (e.g., Europe, low-latitude Asia, and the Southern Hemisphere), considerable discrepancies between simulated conditions and reanalysis data occur at high elevations and latitudes (e.g., Siberia and the Tibetan Plateau), where cold-season processes play a driving role in soil moisture variability. These discrepancies reflect the lack of information concerning the thaw of snow and frozen ground in the reanalyzed data and the inability of models to simulate these processes. The models also perform poorly in areas of extreme aridity. On a global scale, the majority of models provide consistent and capable simulations owing to the minimal variability in deep soil moisture and limited observational information in reanalysis data. Models with higher spatial resolution do not exhibit closer agreement with the reanalysis data, indicating that spatial resolution is not the first limiting factor for CMIP6 soil moisture simulations.
Climate Modeling in Low Precision: Effects of Both Deterministic and Stochastic Rounding
Authors: Paxton E. Adam , Chantry Matthew , Klöwer Milan , Saffin Leo , Palmer Tim
Published: November 2021

Motivated by recent advances in operational weather forecasting, we study the efficacy of low-precision arithmetic for climate simulations. We develop a framework to measure rounding error in a climate model, which provides a stress test for a low-precision version of the model, and we apply our method to a variety of models including the Lorenz system, a shallow water approximation for flow over a ridge, and a coarse-resolution spectral global atmospheric model with simplified parameterizations (SPEEDY). Although double precision [52 significant bits (sbits)] is standard across operational climate models, in our experiments we find that single precision (23 sbits) is more than enough and that as low as half precision (10 sbits) is often sufficient. For example, SPEEDY can be run with 12 sbits across the code with negligible rounding error, and with 10 sbits if minor errors are accepted, amounting to less than 0.1 mm (6 h)−1 for average gridpoint precipitation, for example. Our test is based on the Wasserstein metric and this provides stringent nonparametric bounds on rounding error accounting for annual means as well as extreme weather events. In addition, by testing models using both round-to-nearest (RN) and stochastic rounding (SR) we find that SR can mitigate rounding error across a range of applications, and thus our results also provide some evidence that SR could be relevant to next-generation climate models. Further research is needed to test if our results can be generalized to higher resolutions and alternative numerical schemes. However, the results open a promising avenue toward the use of low-precision hardware for improved climate modeling.

Significance Statement

Weather and climate models provide vital information for decision-making, and will become ever more important in the future with a changed climate and more extreme weather. A central limitation to improved models are computational resources, which is why some weather forecasters have recently shifted from conventional 64-bit to more efficient 32-bit computations, which can provide equally accurate forecasts. Climate models, however, still compute in 64 bits, and adapting to lower precision requires a detailed analysis of rounding errors. We develop methods to quantify rounding error in a climate model, and find similar precision acceptable across weather and climate models, with even 16 bits often sufficient for an accurate climate. This opens a promising avenue for computational efficiency gains in climate modeling.
Risk Factors for Gastrointestinal Leak after Perforated Peptic Ulcer Disease Operative Repair
Authors: Lund Sarah , Chauhan Kiran Kaur , Zietlow John , Stephens Daniel , Zietlow Scott , Strajina Veljko , Turay David , Zielinski Martin
Published: November 2021

Background

There are limited studies regarding the impact of post-operative leak on perforated peptic ulcer disease (PPUD) and conflicting results regarding routine drain placement in operative repair of PPUD. This study aims to identify risk factors for gastrointestinal leak after operative repair of PPUD to better guide intra-operative decisions about drain placement.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study at a tertiary care center from 2008 to 2019, identifying 175 patients who underwent operative repair of PPUD.

Results

Patients who developed a leak (17%) were compared to patients who did not. Both hypoalbuminemia (albumin < 3.5 g/dL) ( P = .03) and duodenal ulcers ( P < .01) were identified as significant risk factors for leak. No significant difference was found between leak and no leak groups for AAST disease severity grade, repair technique, or pre-operative use of tobacco, alcohol, or steroids. Post-operative leaks were associated with prolonged hospital stay (29 days compared to 10, P < .01), increased complication rates (77% compared to 48%, P < .01), and increased re-operation rates (73% compared to 26%, <0.01). No difference was identified in patient characteristics or operative leak rates between patients who had drains placed at the index operation and those that did not.

Discussion

Leak after operative PPUD repair is associated with significant post-operative morbidity. Hypoalbuminemia and duodenal perforations are significant risk factors for post-operative leaks.
Book review: Kanti Bajpai, India Versus China: Why They Are Not Friends
Authors: Menon Shivshankar
Published: November 2021

Kanti Bajpai, India Versus China: Why They Are Not Friends (New Delhi, India: Juggernaut, 2021), pp. 284, ₹599, ISBN 9391165087.
Book review: Jingyan Fu and Artie W. Ng, Sustainable Energy and Green Finance for a Low Carbon Economy: Perspectives from Greater Bay Area of China
Authors: Zhao Ang
Published: November 2021

Jingyan Fu and Artie W. Ng, Sustainable Energy and Green Finance for a Low Carbon Economy: Perspectives from Greater Bay Area of China (Springer, 2020), pp. 285. ISBN 978-3-030-35410-7.
Identity threats and ideas of superiority as drivers of religious violence? Evidence from a survey experiment in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Authors: Basedau Matthias , Gobien Simone , Hoffmann Lisa
Published: November 2021

Religion has become increasingly contentious in recent years. Faith-based discrimination, hostility and violence seem to have increased worldwide. But how can faith lead to conflict? In this article, we test the impact of two important dimensions of religion that have been neglected in previous research: the belief in ‘one true religion’ and perceptions of threats by other religious groups. Putting these two potential drivers to the test, we conducted a representative survey experiment with 972 respondents in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Results show that one of the tested dimensions, perceptions of threats by others, increases the support to use violence to defend one’s own group. This is particularly the case for religiously intolerant respondents with characteristics such as pre-existing threat perceptions, unfavorable views on intermarriage, or belief in the superiority of their own faith. In contrast, we find relatively weak evidence that the prime of ‘one true religion’ increases the readiness to use violence. Our findings have important implications for policy: We conclude that appeals by leaders to threats by others and intolerance toward other faiths can contribute to more conflict. Political and religious leaders should refrain from capitalizing on such notions and should promote tolerance towards other faiths instead.
Haemocyte variations in 35 species of grasshoppers and locusts
Authors: Zhang Keshi , Zhang Xiaomin
Published: November 2021

Introduction:

Grasshoppers and locusts are widely distributed worldwide, causing significant losses in agriculture. The origin and functions of their haemocytes are not entirely understood.

Objectives:

Insect haemocytes arbitrate cellular defence and participate in humoral defences. Due to their importance, the haemocytes of 35 species of grasshoppers and locusts from China were morphologically examined in this study. We aim to highlight a simple method for the morphological examination of insect haemocytes.

Methods:

The haemocytes were observed, counted and compared under a light microscope after Wright-Giemsa staining.

Results:

High complexity in form and shape were observed in the haemocytes. These include prohaemocytes, plasmatocytes, granulocytes, vermicytes, podocytes and megakaryocytes. No clear relationship was seen between the haemocyte type and their phylogenetic relationship among the three families examined. The high abundance of plasmatocytes and granulocytes suggests their importance in the immunity of grasshoppers and locusts. The minor haemocyte populations including prohaemocytes, vermicytes and podocytes may not be always present in individuals.

Conclusion:

All examined species shared similarities in their haemocyte types. Wright-Giemsa staining is a simple and efficient method for evaluating haemocytes.
Using Evidence in Policies Addressing Rural NEETs: Common Patterns and Differences in Various EU Countries
Authors: Petrescu Claudia , Ellena Adriano Mauro , Fernandes-Jesus Maria , Marta Elena
Published: November 2021

Using the policy narrative framework, this article examines the pathways through which the development of policies (related to rural/small towns young NEETs in various EU countries) are based on evidence. To do this, we consider the Youth Guarantee (YG), an EU program (2014–2020) developed in several member countries with the aim of socioprofessional inclusion of NEETs (young people aged 15–24 that are not in employment, education, or training). It examines how evidence is used for national policy-making and is taken into account by stakeholders. This study involves documentary analysis of YG in three European countries: namely, Romania, Italy, and Portugal. In addition, it involves 27 interviews with policy-makers and NGO leaders. The results show a predominantly statistical use of data exclusively managed by public institutions. Therefore, we emphasize the importance of consulting evidence from academia and NGOs to improve this policy.
Quantitative Storytelling: Science, Narratives, and Uncertainty in Nexus Innovations
Authors: Di Felice Louisa Jane , Cabello Violeta , Ripa Maddalena , Madrid-Lopez Cristina
Published: November 2021

Innovations are central instruments of sustainability policies. They project future visions onto technological solutions and enable win-win framings of complex sustainability issues. Yet, they also create new problems by interconnecting different resources such as water, food, and energy, what is known as the “WEF nexus.” In this paper, we apply a new approach called Quantitative Storytelling (QST) to the assessment of four innovations with a strong nexus component in EU policy: biofuels, shale gas, electric vehicles, and alternative water resources. Recognizing irreducible pluralism and uncertainties, QST inspects the relationships between the narratives used to frame sustainability issues and the evidence on those issues. Our experiences outlined two rationales for implementing QST. First, QST can be used to question dominant narratives that promote certain innovations despite evidence against their effectiveness. Second, QST can offer avenues for pluralistic processes of co-creation of alternative narratives and imaginaries. We reflect on the implementation of QST and on the role played by different uncertainties throughout these processes. Our experiences suggest that while the role of nexus assessments using both numbers and narratives may not be instrumental in directly inducing policy change, they are valuable means to open discussions on innovations outside of dominant nexus imaginaries.
Life after debt: The governmentalities of debt relief
Authors: Roche Zach
Published: November 2021

To avoid a ‘tsunami’ of repossessions in the years following the global financial crisis, Ireland reformed its system of debt relief in 2013. For the first time Ireland was to have a state-of-the-art system to help debtors discharge their unpayable liabilities, at odds with the punitive Victorian system of bankruptcy which preceded it. While these changes were touted as ground-breaking and innovative, I demonstrate through original qualitative research with debtors, and the Insolvency Service of Ireland's (ISI's) operators that little has changed. When disaster strikes and debtors fall behind on payments, they are encouraged to undergo a process of soul searching and self-criticism involving reflection on their behaviour and finances. This article explores how this governmentalisation of debt and its relief creates responsible financial subjects fit for the market, simultaneously ensuring the stability of the fragile Irish credit system. The insolvency practitioners who run the service advise that only by confessing their wrongdoing (i.e. irresponsible spending), and making lasting change can they become worthy of debt relief.
Education governance and the role of the headteacher: The new policy problem in Scottish education
Authors: Forde Christine , Torrance Deirdre , Mitchell Alison , McMahon Margery , Harvie Julie
Published: November 2021

As part of the current Review of Education Governance in Scotland, the Headteachers’ Charter is perceived as a central policy solution. The Charter changes the responsibilities of the headteacher by altering the relationship between headteacher and local authority, and thereby bringing about changes to the governance of education. If these changes are perceived as the solution, what is the perceived policy problem? This article examines policy documents to explore the policy problem using Bacchi's (2012a) ‘what's the problem represented to be’ (WPR) approach, which uses a framework of six questions to analyse policy texts. The article begins with a brief overview of the policy programme, the ‘Empowerment Agenda’. The article discusses Bacchi's WPR analysis framework and then presents the findings, using this framework. The article ends with a discussion of the impact of the reform of educational governance including the Headteachers’ Charter on the role of the headteacher.
The Perfect Storm: A Subcultural Analysis of the QAnon Movement
Authors: Conner Christopher T. , MacMurray Nicholas
Published: November 2021

In this study, we examine the social phenomenon known as ‘QAnon’. While QAnon is typically thought of as an exclusively online cultural phenomenon, and thus easily dismissed, it has played a significant role in promoting physical acts of violence—including multiple murders and the attack on the United States Capital on 6 January 2021. Utilizing a qualitative analysis of 300 hours of QAnon-related content, we argue that the widespread beliefs held by QAnon supporters were only possible due to the confluence of feelings of distrust in government and other public officials, purveyors of QAnon that profited in the movement’s success, and a populist digital media environment in which extremist ideas are housed and promoted. We conclude by asking if this is a phenomenon created by greater connectivity, or if this is a byproduct of late-stage capitalism in which social relations continue to be atomized.
Predictors of Listening-Related Fatigue Across the Adult Life Span
Authors: McGarrigle Ronan , Knight Sarah , Hornsby Benjamin W. Y. , Mattys Sven
Published: November 2021

Listening-related fatigue is a potentially serious negative consequence of an aging auditory and cognitive system. However, the impact of age on listening-related fatigue and the factors underpinning any such effect remain unexplored. Using data from a large sample of adults ( N = 281), we conducted a conditional process analysis to examine potential mediators and moderators of age-related changes in listening-related fatigue. Mediation analyses revealed opposing effects of age on listening-related fatigue: Older adults with greater perceived hearing impairment tended to report increased listening-related fatigue. However, aging was otherwise associated with decreased listening-related fatigue via reductions in both mood disturbance and sensory-processing sensitivity. Results suggested that the effect of auditory attention ability on listening-related fatigue was moderated by sensory-processing sensitivity; for individuals with high sensory-processing sensitivity, better auditory attention ability was associated with increased fatigue. These findings shed light on the perceptual, cognitive, and psychological factors underlying age-related changes in listening-related fatigue.
Psychologising meritocracy: A historical account of its many guises
Authors: Trevisan Francesca , Rusconi Patrice , Hanna Paul , Hegarty Peter
Published: November 2021

Measured by psychologists, conceived in critical terms, popularised as satire, and exploited by politicians, meritocracy is a dilemmatic concept that has changed its meanings throughout history. Social psychologists have conceptualised and operationalised meritocracy both as an ideology that justifies inequality and as a justice principle based on equity. These two conceptualisations express opposing ideas about the merit of meritocracy and are both freighted ideologically. We document how this dilemma of meritocracy’s merit developed from meritocracy’s inception as a critical concept among UK sociologists in the 1950s to its operationalisation by U.S. and Canadian social psychologists at the end of the 20th century. We highlight the ways in which meritocracy was originally utilised, in part, to critique the measurement of merit via IQ tests, but ironically became a construct that, through its psychologisation, also required measurement. Through the operationalisation of meritocracy, social psychologists obscured the possibility of critiquing meritocracy and missed the opportunity to offer alternatives to a system that has been legitimised by their own work. A social psychology of meritocracy should take into consideration the ideological debate around its meaning and value and the implications of its measurement and study.
Sulforaphane suppresses autophagy during the malignant progression of gastric carcinoma via activating miR-4521/PIK3R3 pathway
Authors: Peng Zi-tan , Gu Pei
Published: November 2021

Objective

Sulforaphane, which exerts an effective anti-cancer ability, is a phytochemical converted from cruciferous plants. Here, we aimed to identify whether sulforaphane could suppress autophagy during the malignant progression of gastric carcinoma and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Methods

SGC7901 cells were transfected with miR-4521 mimics, inhibitor, and pcDNA3.1- PIK3R3, and treated with sulforaphane or autophagy inhibitor. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and miR-4521 or PIK3R3 expression were detected.

Results

MiR-4521 over-expression suppressed LC3-II/I ratio and Beclin-1 expression but induced p62 expression in SGC7901 cells. MiR-4521 also reduced gastric carcinoma cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis in vitro. In the mechanical observation, we identified that miR-4521 directly targeted PIK3R3 to repress its expression, and PIK3R3 up-regulation partly antagonized miR-4521-mediated autophagy, proliferation, and apoptosis in gastric carcinoma cells. In addition, sulforaphane exerted effective anti-cancer functions by repressing autophagy and growth in tumor cells at a concentration-dependent way. MiR-4521 inhibition or PIK3R3 over-expression weakened the anti-cancer functions of sulforaphane in gastric carcinoma cells.

Conclusion

Consequently, miR-4521 suppressed autophagy during the malignant progression of gastric carcinoma by targeting PIK3R3. Thus, miR-4521 may be applied as a therapeutic target for sulforaphane in gastric carcinoma.
Meckel’s Diverticulum, A Unique Presentation in the Neonate
Authors: Thomas Joseph J. , Thomas Matthew J. , Hulka Frieda , Sindel Bruce
Published: November 2021

Meckel’s diverticulum (MD) is the most prevalent gastrointestinal congenital malformation, occurring in 2% to 4% of all live births. Typical symptoms of MD include intestinal bleeding and bowel obstruction, but MD can also present with many atypical symptoms of varying severity, posing a diagnostic challenge with severe complications if left untreated. Neonates presenting with symptomatic MD are uncommon. In this report, we describe a neonatal case of MD in which the patient presented with atypical symptoms including distended abdomen and constipation mimick necrotizing enterocolitis. This case emphasizes the importance of clinically correlating a provisional diagnosis while maintaining a broad differential, including uncommon conditions in this age group such as MD.
Nonlinear dynamic behaviors and PID control of viscoelastic dielectric elastomer balloons
Authors: Xing Zhencai , Yong Huadong
Published: November 2021

As a type of intelligent electroactive polymer, dielectric elastomer (DE) exhibits viscoelastic properties. It’s worth pointing out that the relaxation time has great significance for studying the mechanical behavior of viscoelastic polymer. In this paper, a generalized Maxwell model is used to describe the viscoelastic property of dielectric elastomer balloon. Meanwhile, a theoretical model with multiple relaxation times is used and the natural frequency of small amplitude oscillation is derived. Subsequently, the model is validated by comparing with experimental results. The model with double relaxation times can describe the deformation of the dielectric elastomer balloon effectively. Then the effect of relaxation time and shear modulus on the dynamic response of DE balloon is studied. Furthermore, the dielectric elastomer balloons in practical application exhibit the strong nonlinearity and the viscoelastic dissipation. Therefore, it is important to precisely control the dynamic response. The proportional-integral-differential (PID) controller in the form of nonlinear combination is adopted to control the above nonlinear dynamic systems actively. The results indicate that it is feasible to achieve desired control effect.
Valproic Acid After Neurosurgery Induces Elevated Risk of Liver Injury: A Prospective Nested Case-Control Study
Authors: Guo Jinlin , Ma Jiuhong , Wang Shan , Li Xingang , Ji Hongming , Li Yuanping , Peng Fangchen , Sun Yiqi
Published: November 2021

Background

Valproic acid (VPA) has been widely used to prevent epileptic seizures after neurosurgery in China. We have found that the incidence of liver injury (LI) in patients using VPA after neurosurgery is higher than that in other patients.

Objective

The objective of this study was to investigate the risk factors of LI in patients using VPA after neurosurgery.

Methods

A nested case-control study was conducted in patients using VPA after neurosurgery between September 2019 and March 2021. Cases of LI were matched to controls by age and body mass index (BMI). Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate matched odds ratios representing the odds of LI. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to analyze the optimal cutoff condition.

Results

A total of 248 people (62 LI and 186 control) were enrolled. Among patients with vs without LI, the matched odds ratio for trough concentration of VPA was significant (matched odds ratio [OR], 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.19). The course of treatment (OR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.02-1.33), Glasgow score (OR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.10-0.67), gene polymorphisms of CYP2C19 (OR: 2.09, 95% CI: 1.03-146.93), and UGT1A6 (OR: 34.61, 95% CI: 1.19-1003.23) were all related to the outcome. The optimal cutoff of the course of treatment was 10 days, while the trough concentration of VPA was determined to be 66.16 mg/L.

Conclusion

Length of treatment, VPA trough concentration, and Glasgow score were associated with LI in patients after neurosurgery. A gene test may be necessary for people who are prescribed VPA for a long time.
The Dangers of Minimizing Obstetric Violence
Authors: Chadwick Rachelle
Published: November 2021

This commentary is a response to the article by Lappaman and Swartz, “How gentle must violence against women be in order not to be violent?” in which the term “obstetric violence” is critiqued. The authors argue that the term is harmful and does violence (to health care workers and even birthers themselves) and is not helpful to efforts to improve or reform maternity care. They suggest that we abandon the term and use less inflammatory descriptions (i.e., such as “mistreatment”) instead. While recognizing the inevitable risks involved in naming and writing about obstetric violence, I argue that these risks are necessary in the interests of struggling against unjust systems. I unpack the authors' critique and argue that it ultimately works to minimize experiences of obstetric violence, silence the voices of those that have been speaking out on this issue for a very long time, and casts doubt on the legitimacy of a concept that has only recently received global recognition (after a long and transnational struggle). These harms and dangers are not necessarily the direct intentions of the authors but are embedded in wider structures of power that are often incredulous, disbelieving, and dismissive in the face of testimonies and evidence of gendered and racialized pain/violence.
Tolerability of palbociclib in younger and older patients with advanced breast cancer
Authors: Dennison Taylor , Heiling Hillary , Deal Allison , Brunk Kelly , Kemper Ryan , Crona Daniel J , Faso Aimee
Published: November 2021

Introduction

Palbociclib is a small-molecule cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor used to treat hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 negative advanced breast cancer. Patient-specific factors impacting dose reductions or discontinuations are unknown.

Methods

The primary objective was to evaluate the association of age (<60 vs. ≥60 years) with palbociclib dose reductions or discontinuations secondary to neutropenia. This single-center, retrospective chart review included hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 negative advanced breast cancer patients ≥18 years treated with palbociclib between April 2015 and May 2020. Patients <60 years at the time of palbociclib initiation were in the younger group and patients ≥60 years were in the older group.

Results

Among the 107 patients included, younger patients were less likely than older patients to have a palbociclib starting dose <125 mg (0% vs. 11.9%, p = 0.02). Differences in palbociclib dose reductions or treatment discontinuations secondary to neutropenia were not detected (35.4% vs. 42.4%, p = 0.55). Neither the total number of palbociclib dose reductions (none: 54.2% vs. 49.1%, one: 33.3% vs. 42.4%, two: 12.5% vs. 8.5%, p = 0.61), nor the final dose of palbociclib (125 mg: 54.2% vs. 40.7%, 100 mg: 29.2% vs. 27.1%, 75 mg: 16.7% vs. 32.2%, p = 0.17) differed between younger and older patients.

Conclusions

Age (<60 vs. ≥60 years) was not associated with the rate of palbociclib dose reductions or discontinuations secondary to neutropenia. Older (≥60 years) patients were more likely to start palbociclib at lower doses which may impact neutropenia and non-neutropenic intolerance.
Impact resistance and energy absorption ability of bio-mimetic thin-walled structures with hollow columns under impact loading
Authors: Du Jianxun , Hao Peng , Liu Kai , Li Lin’an , Liu Mabao
Published: November 2021

With the increasing damage of lives and properties caused by impact accidents, thin-walled tubes have been widely employed to make energy-absorbing structures in the field of automotive engineering due to their lightweight and energy absorption ability. In this work, we proposed three kinds of thin-walled bio-mimetic tubes inspired by horsetail plants and investigated the energy absorption abilities of the above structures with hollow columns under impact loading by means of the finite-element method. The effect of three factors, including column diameter, wall thickness, and impact angle, on the energy absorption characteristics of the bio-mimetic structure, is discussed. The primary outcome of this research is a design method for the use of thin-walled multi-cell tubes for an energy absorption device where impact loading is expected. It was also found that the energy absorption performances of the hexagonal structures are better than that of the triangular and quadrilateral ones. Moreover, the results revealed that the absorbed energy by thin-walled bio-mimetic structures shows more dependence on the impact angle than on the wall thickness of the tube.