bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiresistant Bacterial Pathogens Causing Bacterial Pneumonia and Analyses of Potential Risk Factors from Northeast Ethiopia
Authors: Dessie Tewodros , Jemal Mohabaw , Maru Minwuyelet , Tiruneh Moges
Published: March 2021

Background. Pneumonia is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries, mostly caused by different species of bacterial pathogens. Hence, patient management needs awareness of the pathogens and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). This study was aimed to assess the type of bacterial isolates and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among pneumonia suspected patients at Dessie Referral Hospital, Northeast Ethiopia. Potential risk factors were also assessed to apply preventive measures accordingly. Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional study design was employed among pneumonia suspected patients from February to April 2020 at Dessie Referral Hospital. Sociodemographic characteristics and associated risk factors were collected using a pretested questionnaire, and clinical data were extracted by reviewing medical records. Sputum specimens were collected and inoculated into chocolate agar, blood agar, mannitol salt agar, and MacConkey agar which are then incubated at 35°C or 37°C for 24–48 hours. Bacterial species were identified based on Gram stain, colony characteristics, and biochemical techniques. The data were entered in to Epi-Info version 7.1.5 and analyzed with SPSS software version 20.pvalue <0.05 at 95% CI was considered as statistically significant. Results. A total of 406 sputum specimens were collected and cultured, among which 157 (38.7%) were positive for different bacterial pathogens. The predominant pathogens were Klebsiella pneumoniae (28.0%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (24.8%), Staphylococcus aureus (18.5%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14.0%). Majority of the isolates exhibited resistance to ampicillin with 81.5% followed by penicillin with 75.9% and amoxicillin-clavulanate with 61.2%. Multivariable logistic regression showed a significant association of culture positivity with older age (AOR = 2.43, CI: 1.12–5.28,pvalue = 0.025), cigarette smoking (AOR = 4.67, CI: 2.39–9.20,pvalue <0.001), and alcohol use (AOR = 5.58, CI: 3.14–9.92,pvalue <0.001). Resistance to ampicillin and penicillin was associated with repeated prescription and use. Conclusions. This study found high prevalence of bacterial pneumonia in the study area, and high rate of bacterial resistance was observed in ampicillin, penicillin, and amoxicillin-clavulanate. Repeated prescriptions and use of antimicrobials were significantly independent factors of bacterial resistance. Therefore, patient management needs identification of bacteria by routine culture with antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
Resting-State Network Plasticity Induced by Music Therapy after Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Martínez-Molina Noelia , Siponkoski Sini-Tuuli , Kuusela Linda , Laitinen Sari , Holma Milla , Ahlfors Mirja , Jordan-Kilkki Päivi , Ala-Kauhaluoma Katja , Melkas Susanna , Pekkola Johanna , Rodríguez-Fornells Antoni , Laine Matti , Ylinen Aarne , Rantanen Pekka , Koskinen Sanna , Cowley Benjamin Ultan , Särkämö Teppo
Published: March 2021

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is characterized by a complex pattern of abnormalities in resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) and network dysfunction, which can potentially be ameliorated by rehabilitation. In our previous randomized controlled trial, we found that a 3-month neurological music therapy intervention enhanced executive function (EF) and increased grey matter volume in the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) in patients with moderate-to-severe TBI (N=40). Extending this study, we performed longitudinal rsFC analyses of resting-state fMRI data using a ROI-to-ROI approach assessing within-network and between-network rsFC in the frontoparietal (FPN), dorsal attention (DAN), default mode (DMN), and salience (SAL) networks, which all have been associated with cognitive impairment after TBI. We also performed a seed-based connectivity analysis between the right IFG and whole-brain rsFC. The results showed that neurological music therapy increased the coupling between the FPN and DAN as well as between these networks and primary sensory networks. By contrast, the DMN was less connected with sensory networks after the intervention. Similarly, there was a shift towards a less connected state within the FPN and SAL networks, which are typically hyperconnected following TBI. Improvements in EF were correlated with rsFC within the FPN and between the DMN and sensorimotor networks. Finally, in the seed-based connectivity analysis, the right IFG showed increased rsFC with the right inferior parietal and left frontoparietal (Rolandic operculum) regions. Together, these results indicate that the rehabilitative effects of neurological music therapy after TBI are underpinned by a pattern of within- and between-network connectivity changes in cognitive networks as well as increased connectivity between frontal and parietal regions associated with music processing.
Theoretical Analysis on Distribution Pattern of Plastic Zone in Surrounding Rock of High‐Gas‐Coal Roadway
Authors: Yuan Chao , Cao Liming , Fan Lei , Guo Jianqiang
Published: March 2021

The formation and expansion of the plastic zone is always accompanied by the deformation and failure of the roadway‐surrounding rock. Based on elastoplastic theory, this paper considers the gas pressure parameters and uses the Mohr–Coulomb strength criterion to derive the implicit equation of the plastic zone boundary in the rock surrounding gas‐coal roadways. The distribution characteristics of the plastic zone of gas‐coal roadway‐surrounding rock are studied, and the sensitivity to the gas pressure, cohesion, internal friction angle, and support strength of the roadway free face on the plastic zone of the surrounding rock is analyzed. The research results show that the plastic zone of the surrounding rock has four distribution patterns: circular, elliptical, rounded rectangle, and butterfly. Additionally, the lateral pressure coefficient, gas pressure, cohesion, and internal friction angle are found to jointly determine the distribution and range of the plastic zone. However, the support strength of the roadway free face does not change the distribution of the plastic zone but only affects its range. The circular and elliptical plastic zones are less sensitive to gas pressure, cohesion, and internal friction angle, whereas butterfly‐shaped plastic zones are highly sensitive to these factors. The main manifestation of this sensitivity is that the four butterfly leaves degenerate rapidly with any decrease in the gas pressure or increase in the cohesion and internal friction angle. Larger butterfly leaves are prone to faster degeneration. The research results presented in this paper have important theoretical guiding significance and engineering application value for the design of high‐gas‐coal roadway support and gas drilling.
Direct Effect and Spillover Effect of ICT on Electricity Consumption in China: Evidence from a Spatial Panel Analysis
Authors: Xu Jianjun , Yang Xiaowei
Published: March 2021

The extensive use of information and communication technologies (ICT) has facilitated people’s lives and promoted the improvement of productivity. In the meantime, ICT has a profound effect on the efficiency of electricity utilization and the demand for electricity. The existing studies consider the direct effect of ICT on electricity consumption (EC) but neglect the spillover effect of ICT on EC and their action channels. Under the assumption of cross-section dependence, this paper introduces spatial modeling techniques to confirm the positive direct effect and negative spillover effect of ICT on EC. The positive direct effects and negative spillover effects of information technology on EC are similar to those of the communication technology, and the absolute value of the former is also greater than the latter. Additionally, the results of meditation effect modeling also confirm that there exists an incomplete mediating effect in the process of the ICT affecting EC through the channels of economic growth and the adjustment of the industrial structure. This study provides freshly empirical evidence for people to better understand the role of ICT in EC and opens fresh insights for policymakers to make corresponding policy adjustments.
The Influence of Outward Foreign Direct Investment on Enterprise Technological Innovation
Authors: Wang Chenggang , Liu Tiansen , Wang Jinliang
Published: March 2021

As the scale of China’s outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) continues to expand, more and more scholars have begun to discuss the influence of OFDI on enterprise technological innovation. In order to be able to deeply explore the impact of enterprises’ OFDI activities on enterprise technological innovation, this paper combines relevant enterprise data from 2015 to 2017 and uses the new method to test the “technological innovation effect” produced by the OFDI of Chinese enterprises. Finally, this paper concluded that the development of OFDI activities of enterprises can promote the improvement of the level of technological innovation of enterprises, and this promotion has a lag effect. R&D-type OFDI activities play a vital role in promoting the ability of technological innovation of enterprises. Compared with low-income host countries, investment in high-income host countries has a greater effect on promoting the ability of technological innovation of enterprises.
How Does the Periodic Groundwater Table Fluctuation Impact on Chlorinated Vapor Intrusion?
Authors: Zhang Honghong , Ye Yu , Yang Xin
Published: March 2021

Periodic groundwater table fluctuations are found frequently in natural aquifers due to sea tides or seasonal recharge. However, their impact on the transport of volatile organic compounds in the vadose zone released from a groundwater contaminant source (i.e., vapor intrusion) has not been well known. A 2D numerical model was developed to explore vapor intrusion processes in the sandy vadose zone, subject to a fluctuating groundwater table with a range of fluctuation amplitudes and periods. A carcinogenic compound, Trichloroethylene (TCE), was chosen as the groundwater contaminant of interest in the current study and assumed to transport into the dwelling through a crack at the corner of the basement. Results showed that the resistant effect caused by high soil moisture contents in the thin capillary fringe is weakened by periodic groundwater table fluctuations, resulting in a higher concentration of gaseous TCE at the building foundation crack, in comparison with that under a static groundwater table. The increase of the gaseous TCE concentration was induced by the enhancement of diffusion and advection due to groundwater table fluctuations. Sensitivity analyses indicated that a higher amplitude and frequency of fluctuations lead to a higher TCE concentration at the crack under the dynamic equilibrium condition. Specifically, compared with the static groundwater table condition, the TCE concentration at the crack increased by one order of magnitude under the condition of groundwater table fluctuations with an amplitude of 0.2 m and a period of one day. The results obtained could provide insights into the importance of the amplitude and frequency of groundwater table fluctuations on vapor intrusion.
A Numerical Scheme Based on the Chebyshev Functions to Find Approximate Solutions of the Coupled Nonlinear Sine-Gordon Equations with Fractional Variable Orders
Authors: Derakhshan MohammadHossein
Published: March 2021

In this article, a numerical method based on the shifted Chebyshev functions for the numerical approximation of the coupled nonlinear variable-order fractional sine-Gordon equations is shown. The variable-order fractional derivative is considered in the sense of Caputo-Prabhakar. To solve the problem, first, we obtain the operational matrix of the Caputo-Prabhakar fractional derivative of shifted Chebyshev polynomials. Then, this matrix and collocation method are used to reduce the solution of the nonlinear coupled variable-order fractional sine-Gordon equations to a system of algebraic equations which is technically simpler for handling. Convergence and error analysis are examined. Finally, some examples are given to test the proposed numerical method to illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method.
Smoking Cessation in Lower Socioeconomic Groups: Adaptation and Pilot Test of a Rolling Group Intervention
Authors: Landais Lorraine L. , van Wijk Els C. , Harting J.
Published: March 2021

Background. Socioeconomic inequalities in smoking rates persist and tend to increase, as evidence‐based smoking cessation programs are insufficiently accessible and appropriate for lower socioeconomic status (SES) smokers to achieve long‐term abstinence. Our study is aimed at systematically adapting and pilot testing a smoking cessation intervention for this specific target group. Methods. First, we conducted a needs assessment, including a literature review and interviews with lower SES smokers and professional stakeholders. Next, we selected candidate interventions for adaptation and decided which components needed to be adopted, adapted, or newly developed. We used Intervention Mapping to select effective methods and practical strategies and to build a coherent smoking cessation program. Finally, we pilot tested the adapted intervention to assess its potential effectiveness and its acceptability for lower SES smokers. Results. The core of the adapted rolling group intervention was the evidence‐based combination of behavioral support and pharmacotherapy. The intervention offered both group and individual support. It was open to smokers, smokers who had quit, and quitters who had relapsed. The professional‐led group meetings had a fixed structure. Themes addressed included quitting‐related coping skills and health‐related and poverty‐related issues. Methods applied were role modeling, practical learning, reinforcement, and positive feedback. In the pilot test, half of the 22 lower SES smokers successfully quit smoking. The intervention allowed them to “quit at their own pace” and to continue despite a possible relapse. Participants appraised the opportunities for social comparison and role modeling and the encouraging atmosphere. The trainers were appreciated for their competencies and personal feedback. Conclusions. Our adapted rolling group intervention for lower SES smokers was potentially effective as well as feasible, suitable, and acceptable for the target group. Further research should determine the intervention’s effectiveness. Our detailed report about the adaptation process and resulting intervention may help reveal the mechanisms through which such interventions might operate effectively.
Procedural Modeling-Based BIM Approach for Railway Design
Authors: Biancardo S. A. , Intignano M. , Viscione N. , Guerra De Oliveira S. , Tibaut A.
Published: March 2021

Building information modeling (BIM) is a powerful methodological approach for designers that has revolutionized the field of architecture and construction for some years now, minimizing errors and making the entire design, construction, and management process more efficient. The first results have been so encouraging that many countries, from Europe to the United States to Asian countries, have adopted specific regulations to promote its development and use. BIM models are based on the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) standard, i.e., an object-based file format with a data model developed by building SMART to facilitate interoperability. Objects are characterized by properties, such as geometry, material, cost, and all related construction process information, such as scheduling or the maintenance process. The 3D modeling of these objects geometric information is parametric, in order to make the design more flexible. This research work offers an insight into the possibilities offered by different BIM-based tools for parametric modeling applied in the railway sector whereby an example of a railway section model is presented. Indeed, the focus will be on the creation of parametric objects representing railway components, as existing BIM object libraries lack them in the IFC2 × 3 standard format.
A Novel Nonenzymatic Hydrogen Peroxide Sensor Based on Magnetic Core-Shell Fe3O4@C/Au Nanoparticle Nanocomposite
Authors: Ni Xiao , Tian Mingwei , Sun Jun , Chen Xiaojun
Published: March 2021

Fe3O4@C/Au nanoparticle (AuNP) nanocomposites were prepared through electrostatic adsorption of AuNPs onto PDDA-functionalized core/shell Fe3O4@C magnetic nanospheres, which had been synthesized by a facile solvothermal method. The morphology and composition of the nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), etc. Moreover, highly electrocatalytic activity to the reduction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was also exhibited on the Fe3O4@C/AuNP-modified indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode. The effect of solution pH and the modification amount of Fe3O4@C/AuNPs on the performance of electrocatalytic H2O2 reduction was investigated. Under the optimal conditions, the catalytic current showed a linear relationship with the increase of H2O2 concentration in the range of 0.007–15 mM and a detection limit of 5 μM. The H2O2 sensor showed high selectivity for H2O2 detection, which could effectively resist the interference of ascorbic acid (AA), uric acid (UA), and citric acid (CA). Finally, the H2O2 sensor was used in the real fetal bovine serum to detect H2O2 and obtained satisfactory results with the recovery values ranging from 95.14 to 103.6%.
Clinical Considerations in Initial Evaluation and Treatment of Hardhead Catfish Spine Puncture Wounds
Authors: Gordon Hannah , Cousins Benjamin J. , Newberry Mark A. , Farcy David A.
Published: March 2021

A 17-year-old male presented to our ED complaining of pain and swelling at the base of the first metacarpal after attempting to remove a catfish from his fishing line 12 hours prior to arrival. Radiographic images demonstrated a foreign body (FB), which was detectable by ultrasound. Hand surgery was consulted and took the patient to the operating room for exploration and removal of two serrated radiopaque catfish spines that were deeply embedded in the left thumb. Conclusion. Penetrating injury from hardhead catfish (Ariopsis felis) spines can cause hidden FB, envenomation, infection, and secondary damage to nearby structures. Imaging should be done for these patients to ensure they obtain timely and complete extraction of the venomous structures. Surgery should be consulted for operative management to avoid damage on removal of the catfish spine remnants.
Analgesic and Antipyretic Activities of Ethyl Acetate Fraction Tablet of Andrographis paniculata in Animal Models
Authors: Ilmi Hilkatul , Pamungkas Irfan Rayi , Tumewu Lidya , Hafid Achmad Fuad , Widyawaruyanti Aty
Published: March 2021

Objectives. To determine the analgesic and antipyretic activities of a tablet derived from Andrographis paniculata ethyl acetate fraction (AS201-01) in animal models. Methods. The tablet derived from AS201-01 contains an equivalent of 35 mg andrographolide per tablet. Analgesic activity was determined using an acetic acid-induced writhing test on adult male mice. A writhe was recorded by a stopwatch and was defined as the stretching of the abdomen and/or stretching of at least one hind limb. For the determination of antipyretic activity, pyrexia was induced by subcutaneous injection of 15% w/v Brewer’s yeast into adult male rats. Rectal temperature was monitored at 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours after treatment. Results. The results showed that the AS201-01 tablet had analgesic and antipyretic activity. In the acetic acid-induced writhing model, AS201-01 tablet exhibited significant analgesic effect with a 66.73% reduction in writhing response at a dose of 50 mg andrographolide/kg body weight compared to the negative control group. The tablet also showed a significant antipyretic effect. The maximum antipyretic effect was observed after the third hour of administration of the AS201-01 tablet at a dose of 100 mg andrographolide/kg body weight. Conclusion. Tablet of Andrographis paniculata ethyl acetate fraction (AS201-01) exhibited analgesic and antipyretic activities.
A Rare Case of Histiocytic Sarcoma Secondary to Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor in the Stomach: Transdifferentiation or Synchronicity?
Authors: Tong Jiankun , Luo Jean , Saldinger Pierre F. , Rodgers William H.
Published: March 2021

Histiocytic sarcoma is a rare malignant histiocytic neoplasm composed of cells with morphologic and immunophenotypic features of mature tissue histiocytes. It occurs anywhere in the body and behaves aggressively. However, its etiology is unknown. Here, we report a 68-year-old female who developed histiocytic sarcoma following chemotherapy with imatinib (Gleevec) for gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Possible mechanisms of transdifferentiation from gastrointestinal stromal tumor to histiocytic sarcoma are discussed based on the features of our case and other two similar cases in the literature.
Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) in the Field of Diabetology
Authors: Vandemergel X.
Published: March 2021

Ultrasound is increasingly used in daily clinical practice to improve the efficiency of the clinical examination. In this article, we reviewed its various possible uses in the field of diabetology. The ultrasonic evaluation of the carotid arteries (plaques and intima media thickness) allows improving the assessment of the cardiovascular risk. Steatosis can be detected relatively easily on liver ultrasound. Ultrasound also allows a more sensitive detection of lipohypertrophy resulting in glycemic fluctuations and thus increasing the risk of hypoglycemia than the clinical examination. Finally, muscle ultrasound appears to be a promising tool to assess the nutritional status and its consequences (e.g., falls).
Endovascular Bail Out for a Failed Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in High Surgical Risk Patient
Authors: Peluttiero Ilaria , Robaldo Alessandro , Leotta Luigi , Novali Claudio
Published: March 2021

The endovascular treatment for acute type A dissection (ATAD) represents an alternative and emerging option in selected high surgical risk patients. We report a successful total endovascular ATAD repair occurred intraoperatively during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) placement in 82 years old female, not fit for surgery in emergency setting. The presentation, the diagnostic evaluation, and the technique are discussed. This case would support the feasibility and efficacy of the stent graft technology to treat ATADs after evaluation of clinical, anatomical, and radiological parameters.
Dilation of Brain Veins and Perivascular Infiltration by Glioblastoma Cells in an In Vivo Assay of Early Tumor Angiogenesis
Authors: D’Alessandris Quintino Giorgio , Pacioni Simone , Stumpo Vittorio , Buccarelli Mariachiara , Lauretti Liverana , Giordano Martina , Di Bonaventura Rina , Martini Maurizio , Larocca Luigi M. , Giannetti Stefano , Montano Nicola , Falchetti Maria Laura , Ricci-Vitiani Lucia , Pallini Roberto
Published: March 2021

The cranial window (CW) technique provides a simple and low‐cost method to assess tumor angiogenesis in the brain. The CW combined with histology using selective markers for tumor and endothelial cells can allow a sensitive monitoring of novel antiangiogenesis therapies in preclinical models. The CW was established in cyclosporine immunosuppressed rats that were stereotactically grafted with fluorescent U87MG glioblastoma cells. One to 3 weeks after grafting, brain vasculature was visualized in vivo and assessed by immunofluorescence microscopy using antibodies against endothelial and smooth‐muscle cells and blood brain barrier. At 1‐2 weeks after grafting, the CW reliably detected the hypertrophy of venous‐venous anastomoses and cortical veins. These structures increased highly significantly their pregrafting diameter. Arterialized veins and hemorrhages were seen by three weeks after grafting. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed significant branching and dilation of microvessels, particularly those surrounded by tumor cells. Mechanistically, these changes lead to loss of vascular resistance, increased venous outflow, and opening of venous‐venous anastomoses on the cortical surface. Data from the present study, namely, the hypertrophy of cortical venous‐venous anastomoses, microvessel branching, and dilation of the microvessels surrounded by tumor cells, indicate the power of this in vivo model for the sensitive monitoring of early tumor angiogenesis.
Educación contable, cuarentena y medios digitales: retos, oportunidades, tensiones y experiencias desde Colombia
Authors: Vera-Colina Mary A. , Melgarejo Zuray , Niño Galeano Claudia
Published: March 2021

Se presenta un análisis interpretativo-narrativo de las experiencias reportadas por profesores y auxiliares de docencia de cursos contables en la Universidad Nacional de Colombia, con el propósito de comprender los retos, oportunidades y tensiones que se presentan durante los primeros meses de la pandemia COVID-19, en un contexto de cambio a docencia online. Los resultados muestran un comportamiento compatible con las etapas del duelo de Bowlby (1980) que avanzan hacia una reorganización de sus comportamientos. Se espera que la investigación contribuya a la identificación de prácticas académicas que faciliten el enfrentamiento de imprevistos que demanden cambios inmediatos desde esfuerzos individuales e institucionales.
Ritmo, tradução e tripartição: Procurando um ponto de encontro entre Meschonnic e Peirce
Authors: Krasnoschecoff Andrêi
Published: March 2021

No presente texto exploramos a possibilidade de encontrar um ponto em comum entre a crítica de Meschonnic (2006, 2010) sobre o ato de traduzir, mais especificamente a noção de ritmo, historicidade e subjetividade, e a forma como Peirce entende o funcionamento da linguagem, no caso, a tripartição do signo - ícone, índice e símbolo - e as três qualidades de pensamento - primeiridade, secundidade e terceiridade. Também utilizamos Haroldo de Campos (2011, 2018) em possíveis pontos em comum com Meschonnic na tentativa de melhor entender as ideias do pensador francês. Usamos versos de O Corvo de Edgar Allan Poe com o objetivo de trabalhar e exemplificar a ideia de ritmo, sempre voltando os olhos para a possibilidade de existência de um ponto em comum entre Peirce e Meschonnic.
A Queda da Casa de Usher, espacialidade gótica e a adaptação cinematográfica de Jess Franco
Authors: Viana Adriane Augusta
Published: March 2021

Este artigo apresenta resultados parciais de uma pesquisa de mestrado em andamento, cujo objetivo consiste em analisar, à luz da questão da espacialidade gótica, a adaptação fílmica do conto A Queda da Casa de Usher de Edgar Allan Poe na versão cinematográfica de Neurosis – The Fall of the House of Usher (1987) do diretor espanhol Jess Franco. Como arcabouço teórico, utilizamos os estudos de Linda Hutcheon (2013) e Robert Stam (2006, 2009) em teoria da adaptação; Aparecido Donizete Rossi (2008), Fred Botting (2005) e David Punter (2012) quanto ao gótico e Gérard Genette (1982) e Julia Kristeva (2005 [1966]) em relação à intertextualidade, bem como a fortuna crítica da obra de Poe, do conto em questão e do filme aqui contemplado.
Impact of Poststenting Fractional Flow Reserve on Long-Term Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Diletti Roberto , Masdjedi Kaneshka , Daemen Joost , van Zandvoort Laurens J.C. , Neleman Tara , Wilschut Jeroen , Den Dekker Wijnand K. , van Bommel Rutger J. , Lemmert Miguel , Kardys Isabella , Cummins Paul , de Jaegere Peter , Zijlstra Felix , Van Mieghem Nicolas M.
Published: March 2021

Background:

Fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided treatment has been demonstrated to improve percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) results. However, little is known on the long-term impact of low post-PCI FFR.

Methods:

This is a large prospective all comers study evaluating the impact of post-PCI FFR on clinical outcomes. All patients undergoing successful PCI were eligible for enrollment. FFR measurements were performed immediately after PCI when the operator considered the angiographic result acceptable and final. No further action was undertaken based on the post-PCI result. Suboptimal post-PCI FFR was defined as FFR<0.90. The primary end point was major adverse cardiac events, a composite of cardiac death, any myocardial infarction, or any revascularization at 2-year follow-up. Secondary end points were target vessel revascularizations and stent thrombosis and the separate components of the primary end point.

Results:

A total of 1000 patients were enrolled. Post-PCI FFR was successfully measured in 1165 vessels from 959 patients. A poststenting FFR<0.90 was observed in 440 vessels (37.8%). A total of 399 patients had at least 1 vessel with FFR<0.90 post-PCI. At 2-year follow-up, a patient level analysis showed no association between post-PCI FFR and major adverse cardiac event (hazard ratio [HR], 1.08 [95% CI, 0.73–1.60],
P
=0.707), cardiac death (HR, 1.55 [95% CI, 0.72–3.36],
P
=0.261), any myocardial infarction (HR, 1.53 [95% CI, 0.78–3.02],
P
=0.217). A vessel level analysis showed a higher rate of target vessel revascularization (HR, 1.91 [95% CI, 1.06–3.44],
P
=0.030) and a tendency toward higher rate of stent thrombosis (HR, 2.89 [95% CI, 0.88–9.48],
P
=0.081) with final post-PCI FFR<0.90.

Conclusions:

Suboptimal post-PCI FFR has only a moderate impact on major adverse cardiac event but coronary arteries with a post-PCI FFR<0.90 have a higher rate of target vessel revascularization.
Angiographic Patency of Coronary Artery Bypass Conduits: A Network Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Trials
Authors: Gaudino Mario , Hameed Irbaz , Robinson N. Bryce , Ruan Yongle , Rahouma Mohamed , Naik Ajita , Weidenmann Viola , Demetres Michelle , Y. Tam Derrick , Hare David L. , Girardi Leonard N. , Biondi‐Zoccai Giuseppe , E. Fremes Stephen
Published: March 2021

Background

Several randomized trials have compared the patency of coronary artery bypass conduits. All of the published studies, however, have performed pairwise comparisons and a comprehensive evaluation of the patency rates of all conduits has yet to be published. We set out to investigate the angiographic patency rates of all conduits used in coronary bypass surgery by performing a network meta‐analysis of the current available randomized evidence.

Methods and Results

A systematic literature search was conducted for randomized controlled trials comparing the angiographic patency rate of the conventionally harvested saphenous vein, the no‐touch saphenous vein, the radial artery (RA), the right internal thoracic artery, or the gastroepiploic artery. The primary outcome was graft occlusion. A total of 4160 studies were retrieved of which 14 were included with 3651 grafts analyzed. The weighted mean angiographic follow‐up was 5.1 years. Compared with the conventionally harvested saphenous vein, both the RA (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.54; 95% CI, 0.35–0.82) and the no‐touch saphenous vein (IRR 0.55; 95% CI, 0.39–0.78) were associated with lower graft occlusion. The RA ranked as the best conduit (rank score for RA 0.87 versus 0.85 for no‐touch saphenous vein, 0.23 for right internal thoracic artery, 0.29 for gastroepiploic artery, and 0.25 for the conventionally harvested saphenous vein).

Conclusions

Compared with the conventionally harvested saphenous vein, only the RA and no‐touch saphenous vein grafts are associated with significantly lower graft occlusion rates. The RA ranks as the best conduit.

Registration

URL:
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero
; Unique identifier: CRD42020164492.
The Way, Virtue, and Practical Skills in the Analects
Authors: Yao Xinzhong
Published: March 2021

This article is intended to investigate how the concept of the Way (dao
) is applied in the Analects of Confucius both as a universal norm and as a practical application in association with other concepts, virtue (de
) on the one hand, and ability or skill (neng
) or method (fang
) on the other. Through a synthetic reconstruction of these concepts, it will come to the conclusion that the Way, virtue, and practical skills are the three central and mutually interpreted themes in the ethical discourse as presented in the Analects.
Confucius’s View of Courage
Authors: Jiang Xinyan
Published: March 2021

This article discusses Confucius’s view of courage in comparison with Aristotle’s and Neo-Confucians’. It proposes the following arguments: (i) Confucius’s conception of courage is much broader than Aristotle’s, since it does not confine courage to the category of martial virtue and moral excellence that presupposes a noble motive; (ii) both Confucius’s and Aristotle’s conceptions of courage hold that courage is concerned with the fear of external threats but not the strength in self-improvement as Neo-Confucians have proposed; and (iii) Confucius’s conception of courage is more relevant and significant than Aristotle’s and Neo-Confucians’ to contemporary life.
Definitions in the Upper Part of the Moist Canons
Authors: Lucas Thierry
Published: March 2021

The purpose of this article is to evaluate the Moist Canons from the point of view of logic, as a system of definitions. We concentrate more specifically on the formal organization of the upper part of the Moist Canons. This method leads us to a globally positive evaluation of the system of definitions but also to the less expected conclusion that a few very basic concepts are undefined and form the background of the Moist concrete, realist, and pragmatic philosophical system: ran, to be so; de, to obtain; ming, illumination; zuo, to initiate; and wei, to act.
Xunzi’s Sanhuo (Three Types Of Cognitive Delusions)
Authors: Chong Chaehyun
Published: March 2021

This article explicates Xunzi’s three types of cognitive delusions in Xunzi’s Zhengming Pian. The followings are my conclusions: first, general names such as “a white horse,” “a horse,” “a thief,” and “a man” are thought of as proper nouns because the classic Chinese theory of language concerned pragmatics rather than semantics. Second, classic Chinese epistemology does not address conceptual (logical) knowledge or knowledge based on argumentation distinguished from the art of description.Third, Gongsun Long believes in an extreme form of one-name-one-thingism. Fourth, Neo-Moists’ theory of inference is based on intensional contexts. Fifth, Hui Shi’s position presupposes the art of knowing objects before any verbal expression and suggests the arbitrariness in the expressions of known objects. Sixth, Xunzi’s logic and semantics are extensional.
A Generative Ontological Unity of Heart-Mind and Nature in the Four Books
Authors: Cheng Chung-Ying
Published: March 2021

Traditional scholarship seems not to pay sufficient attention to the fact that Daxue
has established a system of ethical and political philosophy on the basis of the idea of xin
(heart-mind) whereas the Zhongyong
has argued for the participation of the human person in the creativities of heaven and earth based on the onto-generative nature (xing ) of the human person. How to explain this fact and interrelate and integrate these two systems become both a historical challenge and a theoretical issue in the understanding of the Confucian philosophy of humanity as we find in the Lunyu
.
The Way of Harmony in the Four Books
Authors: Yao Xinzhong
Published: March 2021

This article is to examine the way of harmony that is initiated in the Analects of Confucius, and further elaborated in the other three of the Four Books. It will argue that the Confucian harmony is a philosophy defining the relation between the self and the other and among the elements of the unity, that it is a way of living and behaving that leads to modesty and flexibility, and that it is a moral process starting from the self and reaching the Middle Way. It concludes that the way of harmony is not only theoretically important for Confucian philosophy but also practically significant for Chinese culture because it later became central to the doctrinal foundation on which all philosophical schools operated.
Sagehood and Supererogation in the Analects
Authors: Connolly Timothy
Published: March 2021

The Confucian ethical tradition emphasizes unceasing progress toward the goal of sagehood, and so it is generally opposed to the idea of supererogation, as this implies that we may be satisfied with attaining some sub-sagely level of morality. The one possible exception to this anti-supererogationist stance, however, turns out to be Confucius himself, who in the Analects appears to downplay sagehood and instead focus on the goal of junzi. Yet given that Confucius stresses ceaseless cultivation as much as anyone else in the tradition, this leaves us with a puzzle about the sage’s status in the Analects. Is sagehood supererogatory?
Theory of Non-Emotion in the Zhuangzi and its Connection to Wei-Jin Poetry
Authors: Lenehan Katia
Published: March 2021

Zhuangzi purports to follow a particular method of viewing human emotion and suggests freeing oneself from worldly emotions—this is called “doctrine of non-emotion” (wuqing shuo
). This article attempts to show that the idea of non-emotion in Zhuangzi does not in any way conflict with the expression of emotion in poetry, and moreover, it provides a foundation for the poet to express his emotions naturally and freely. We will use the Chinese poetry of the Wei-Jin Period—a period that is strongly influenced by the philosophy of Zhuangzi, yet at the same time emphasizes the expression of the poet’s emotion in poetry—as an example to show how fruitful it indeed is when Zhuangzi’s philosophy becomes applied to Chinese poetry.
God’s Knowledge and Ours: Kant and Mou Zongsan on Intellectual Intuition
Authors: Bunnin Nicholas
Published: March 2021

This article examines Mou Zongsan’s claim that “if it is true that human beings cannot have intellectual intuition, then the whole of Chinese philosophy must collapse completely, and the thousands years of effort must be in vain. It is just an illusion.” I argue that Mou’s commitment to establishing and justifying a “moral metaphysics” was his main motivation for rejecting Kant’s denial of the possibility of humans having intellectual intuition. I consider the implications of Mou’s response to Kant for the future of Chinese philosophy, for the interpretation of crucial aspects of Kant’s own critical thought and for organizing the perspicuous comparison of Chinese and European philosophy.
Chinese Philosophy in Post-Soviet Russia
Authors: Lomanov Alexander
Published: March 2021

This article introduces the main developments in studies on Chinese philosophy in Russia since the 1990s.At the backstage of upsurge of interest in cultural studies scholars tended to approach the Chinese philosophy from the angle of compatibility of modernization with continuity of tradition. Attention to the links between philosophy and civilization of China has made the impact to the work on encyclopedic-type reference books in Chinese philosophy. Along with studies in philosophy of Contemporary Confucianism scholars has debated on general problems of Confucian influences upon the development of China. The concluding section attempts to sum up the results and to outline forthcoming tasks of Russian studies in Chinese philosophy.
Fathoming the Changes: The Evolution of Some Technical Terms and Interpretive Strategies in Yijing Exegesis
Authors: Smith Richard J.
Published: March 2021

This essay maps the changing contours of Yijing
(Classic of Changes, aka Changes) exegesis, focusing in particular on certain specialized terms that deal with the related problems of “knowing fate” (zhiming
) and “establishing fate” (liming ). Among the concepts to be discussed (listed alphabetically in pinyin transliteration) are hui
, ji
, jiu
, li
, li
, lin
, wang
, heng
, wujiu
, xiong
, yong
, yuan
, and zhen
.
From Interpretation to Construction: Guo Xiang’s Ontological Individualism
Authors: Shen Vincent
Published: March 2021

Guo Xiang’s ontological individualism represents a case of philosophical construction based on his interpretation of the Zhuangzi. His concept of the self-transformation of the individual who is selfborn, with self-nature and without dependence on others supports the idea of individual autonomy. Nevertheless, each individual’s act for self-interest still benefits other individuals in a non-teleological mutual accommodation. The path from duhua (self-transformation) of each individual on the level of existence, to the xiangyin (mutual accommodation) among individuals on the level of action consequence, to the ideal of xuanming (ultimate concordance), is the path on which the world is to proceed.
Ren 仁 as a Heavy Concept in the Analects
Authors: Fung Yiu-Ming
Published: March 2021

In this article, I shall try to argue that some existing interpretations of the Analects cannot provide a satisfactory understanding of the concept of ren, on the one hand, and the relation between ren and li, on the other. Ren is not a thin concept such as right and wrong, good and bad, because it is not a non-substantive concept whose descriptive content has to be identified by a specific criterion which is not included in the concept itself. It is also not or not merely a thick concept such as courage, cruelty, truthfulness, and kindliness. In comparison with a thick concept, ren like courage, but unlike right, has substantive content. Nevertheless, unlike courage and other thick concepts, ren is not only about the ideal quality of a virtuous agent and the moral property of the agent’s actions; it is also about the internal capacity of the agent and the principle believed by the agent for making moral actions. Since the meaning of the term is not only related to the external behavior but also related to the internal mind and the relevant principle, here, I call ren a ‘‘heavy’’ concept. It is ‘‘heavy’’ in the sense that it is not a concept of observable or substantive entity, but a theoretical construct which is used to explain the complicated relational property of morality, that is emerged from the internal realm and exhibited in the external realm of an agent.
Farming on the Front Lines
Authors: Krone Adrienne
Published: March 2021

The Jewish community farming movement began in 2004 with the founding of Adamah and it now comprises over twenty farming organizations bound together by a shared sense that the best way to face the climate crisis is by drawing on the well of Jewish tradition. These Jewish farmers put environmental ethics into practice as they face the realities of our time. The multispecies theorist Donna Haraway refers to this era as the Chthulucene, which she describes as “a kind of timeplace for learning to stay with the trouble of living and dying in response-ability on a damaged earth.” In this article, I draw on Haraway’s work and on my ethnographic fieldwork conducted at Jewish community farming organizations all over North America to describe the ways in which Jewish farmers are “staying with the trouble” in this era.
Ne bis in idem, nulla poena sine lege and Domestic Prosecutions of International Crimes in the Aftermath of a Trial at the International Criminal Court
Authors: Anderson Keilin , Sinclair-Blakemore Adaena
Published: March 2021

The outcome of an icc trial – be it a conviction or acquittal – receives significant attention. However, what happens to a defendant in the aftermath of the proceeding garners little discussion. This article seeks to fill this gap in the literature by analysing how the ne bis in idem and nulla poena sine lege principles, enshrined in Articles 20(2) and 23 of the Rome Statute, protect defendants from subsequent prosecutions and punishments by states and regional courts following their trials at the icc. We argue that these provisions do not provide adequate protection. Further, we argue that given the icc’s limited power to enforce compliance with these provisions as well as the primary role that states enjoy in the enforcement of international criminal law, the most appropriate way to address this issue is through the inclusion of robust protections in domestic legislation and the constituent instruments of regional courts.
Establishing a Family in the Nile Delta
Authors: Lamblin Célia
Published: March 2021

In Egypt, the economic costs incurred by spouses to pay for a marriage are huge, going far beyond the parties’ regular income. Migration often appears to be the only possible way to amass the capital required to pay the expenses associated with their establishment as a couple and to support the household. This article is based on data collected in the course of several ethnographic surveys carried out between 2014 and 2017 in a village in the Nile Delta, and deals with the issue of establishing a family in the context of migration for men who have left for France, and for women who remain in the village. It presents the marriage of migrants in the village as an instrument which both guarantees the homecoming of the men who have emigrated and enables the upward social mobility of women without however challenging the patriarchal organisation of Egyptian society.
Faire famille dans le Delta du Nil
Authors: Lamblin Célia
Published: March 2021

En Égypte, les coûts économiques engagés par les futurs époux pour le paiement du mariage sont colossaux, dépassant largement les revenus réguliers des contractants. La migration apparaît souvent comme une voie possible pour accumuler les capitaux économiques nécessaires au paiement des frais consécutifs à la mise en couple et à l’ entretien du ménage. Cet article s’ appuie sur des données récoltées lors de plusieurs enquêtes ethnographiques réalisées entre 2014 et 2017 dans un village du Delta du Nil. Cette contribution aborde la question du « faire famille » en situation migratoire pour des hommes partis en France, mais également pour des femmes restées au village. Elle présente le mariage des migrants au village comme un instrument qui assure à la fois le retour des hommes émigrés et permet l’ ascension sociale des femmes sans pour autant remettre en cause l’ organisation patriarcale de la société égyptienne.
Origen, Plato and the Afterlife
Authors: Edwards Mark
Published: March 2021

This paper argues that at First Principles 2.3.6 Origen is responding to Gnostics who used a particular reading of Plato’s myths about the afterlife to justify their own belief that the elect will go after death into an incorporeal state. It examines (1) the use of the terms idea and phantasia in commentary on Plato’s Phaedo; (2) the evidence for Origen’s knowledge of such commentary; (3) the evidence which allegedly shows that Origen himself believed in an incorporeal paradise; and (4) the evidence that Gnostics in the third century drew on Platonic eschatology.
Taiwan–Myanmar Relations within the Framework of the New Southbound Policy
Authors: Kironska Kristina
Published: March 2021

This article combines the study of Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy with a case study of Taiwan–Myanmar relations from a perspective of political relations, economic cooperation, and Taiwan’s (un)recognisability in Myanmar—i.e. Taiwan’s soft power in Myanmar. The first part of the paper introduces the policy and compares it with the previous ones, and sheds light on Taiwan’s motivation to engage with Myanmar. It considers the ongoing trade war between the United States and China, due to which investment relocation from China is expected to sharply increase. The second part of the paper provides an insight into the relationship between Taiwan and Myanmar after Myanmar’s state-led political transformation from military rule and economic liberalisation since approximately 2010. It explains the main aspects and determinants of the relationship between two countries that share a neighbouring potential hegemon which they both wish to balance against.