bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Palliative Care for Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Godfrey Sarah , Peng Yilong , Lorusso Nicholas , Sulistio Melanie , Mentz Robert J. , Pandey Ambarish , Warraich Haider
Published: October 2023

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has become the leading form of heart failure worldwide, particularly among elderly patient populations. HFpEF is associated with significant morbidity and mortality that may benefit from incorporation of palliative care (PC). Patients with HFpEF have similarly high mortality rates to patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. PC trials for heart failure have shown improvement in quality of life, quality of death, and health care utilization, although most trials defined heart failure clinically without differentiating between HFpEF and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. As such, the timing and role of PC for HFpEF care remains uncertain, and PC referral rates for HFpEF are very low despite potential improvements in important patient-centered outcomes. Specific barriers to referral include limited data, prognostic uncertainty, provider misconceptions about PC, inadequate specialty PC workforce, complexities of treating multimorbidity, and limited home care options for patients with heart failure. While there are many barriers to integration of PC into HFpEF care, there are multiple potential benefits to patients with HFpEF throughout their disease course. As this population continues to grow, targeted efforts to study and implement PC interventions are needed to improve patient quality of life and death.
Particulate Air Pollution and Blood Pressure: Signaling by the Arachidonate Metabolism
Authors: Wang Teng , Han Yiqun , Chen Xi , Chen Wu , Li Haonan , Wang Yanwen , Qiu Xinghua , Gong Jicheng , Li Weiju , Zhu Tong
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND:

Short-term exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) can raise blood pressure, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We explored whether arachidonate metabolites serve as biological intermediates in PM-associated prohypertensive changes.

METHODS:

This panel study recruited 110 adults aged 50 to 65 years living in Beijing, China. The participants’ blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and cardiac and endothelial function were measured up to 7 times. The serum concentrations of arachidonate metabolites were quantified by targeted lipidomics. Ambient concentrations of fine PM (PM
2.5
), black carbon, and accumulation mode particles were continuously monitored at a station and their associations with the health indicators were evaluated.

RESULTS:

Interquartile range increases in 25 to 96-hour-lag exposure to PM
2.5
, black carbon, and accumulation mode particles were associated with significant increases in systolic blood pressure (brachial: 0.8–3.2 mm Hg; central: 0.7–2.8 mm Hg) and diastolic blood pressure (brachial, 0.5–1.5 mm Hg; central, 0.5–1.6 mm Hg). At least 1 pollutant was associated with increases in augmentation pressure and heart rate and decreases in reactive hyperemia index and ejection time. The serum concentrations of arachidonate were significantly increased by 3.3% to 14.6% in association with PM exposure, which mediated 9% of the PM-associated increases in blood pressure. The levels of eicosanoids from the cytochrome P450, cyclooxygenase, and lipoxygenase pathways changed with PM exposure, and those from the cytochrome pathway significantly mediated the association between PM exposure and blood pressure.

CONCLUSIONS:

Short-term exposure to particulate air pollution was associated with a prohypertensive change in adults, which was in part mediated by alteration of arachidonate metabolism.
From California’s Extreme Drought to Major Flooding: Evaluating and Synthesizing Experimental Seasonal and Subseasonal Forecasts of Landfalling Atmospheric Rivers and Extreme Precipitation during Winter 2022/23
Authors: DeFlorio Michael J. , Sengupta Agniv , Castellano Christopher M. , Wang Jiabao , Zhang Zhenhai , Gershunov Alexander , Guirguis Kristen , Luna Niño Rosa , Clemesha Rachel E. S. , Pan Ming , Xiao Mu , Kawzenuk Brian , Gibson Peter B. , Scheftic William , Broxton Patrick D. , Switanek Matthew B. , Yuan Jing , Dettinger Michael D. , Hecht Chad W. , Cayan Daniel R. , Cornuelle Bruce D. , Miller Arthur J. , Kalansky Julie , Delle Monache Luca , Ralph F. Martin , Waliser Duane E. , Robertson Andrew W. , Zeng Xubin , DeWitt David G. , Jones Jeanine , Anderson Michael L.
Published: October 2023

California experienced a historic run of nine consecutive landfalling atmospheric rivers (ARs) in three weeks’ time during winter 2022/23. Following three years of drought from 2020 to 2022, intense landfalling ARs across California in December 2022–January 2023 were responsible for bringing reservoirs back to historical averages and producing damaging floods and debris flows. In recent years, the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes and collaborating institutions have developed and routinely provided to end users peer-reviewed experimental seasonal (1–6 month lead time) and subseasonal (2–6 week lead time) prediction tools for western U.S. ARs, circulation regimes, and precipitation. Here, we evaluate the performance of experimental seasonal precipitation forecasts for winter 2022/23, along with experimental subseasonal AR activity and circulation forecasts during the December 2022 regime shift from dry conditions to persistent troughing and record AR-driven wetness over the western United States. Experimental seasonal precipitation forecasts were too dry across Southern California (likely due to their overreliance on La Niña), and the observed above-normal precipitation across Northern and Central California was underpredicted. However, experimental subseasonal forecasts skillfully captured the regime shift from dry to wet conditions in late December 2022 at 2–3 week lead time. During this time, an active MJO shift from phases 4 and 5 to 6 and 7 occurred, which historically tilts the odds toward increased AR activity over California. New experimental seasonal and subseasonal synthesis forecast products, designed to aggregate information across institutions and methods, are introduced in the context of this historic winter to provide situational awareness guidance to western U.S. water managers.
Global Snow Seasonality Regimes from Satellite Records of Snow Cover
Authors: Johnston Jeremy , Jacobs Jennifer M. , Cho Eunsang
Published: October 2023

Snow cover provides distinct seasonal controls on the exchange of energy between Earth’s surface and atmosphere, and on hydrologic cycling, and holds considerable importance to communities and ecosystems worldwide. In this work, we tackle a comprehensive review of existing snow classification approaches and the development of new globally applicable snow cover–based rules for delineating snow seasonality classes. Snow classification rules are defined using machine learning approaches, which are then applied to the 22-yr record of snow cover (2000–22) from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on a 0.01° global grid. For the MODIS period of record, we find the global land surface can be effectively partitioned into five snow seasonality classes: no snow, ephemeral, transitional, seasonal, and perennial snow regimes which on average cover extents of approximately 76 (52% of global land areas), 19 (13%), 16 (11%), 18 (13%), and 16 million km2 (11%), respectively. Using the multidecadal dataset, we explore changes within snow regimes and find significant increases in the areal extent of no snow (approximately +70 000 km2 yr−1) as well as apparent losses in perennial (−3600 km2 yr−1) and seasonal snow regime coverage (−38 000 km2 yr−1). The resulting classification maps have strong agreement with in situ snow depth observations and present similar patterns to existing snow and climate classifications with notable discrepancies in cold arid regions. The framework’s ability to accurately capture variations in snow persistence, snow accumulation, and melt cycling is shown, providing a reference to the current state of global snow seasonality.

Significance Statement

Following a review of existing snow classification approaches, this study focuses on improving our understanding of snow-cover variability on Earth by using satellite-based observations of snow-covered area to derive a new snow classification. Satellite observations provide the best means of measuring snow cover at a global scale, helping to identify regions where its influence on energy, water, and climate is changing. The results are compared to existing climate and snow summaries, ground observations of snow depth, and include trends in snow cover over recent decades (2000–22). The resulting datasets are also made available to the broader scientific community.
Comparing Synoptic Conditions and Environmental Characteristics for Fronts with and without Prefrontal Convection Initiation and Heavy Rain over Coastal South China
Authors: Zeng Zhilin , Huang Lingdong , Schultz David M. , Garcia-Carreras Luis , Wang Donghai
Published: October 2023

To understand why convection initiation and heavy rain sometimes occur ahead of fronts over South China in the presummer rainy season but sometimes do not, a climatology of 137 fronts is constructed, in which 34% of the fronts exhibit no prefrontal convection initiation (NoPCI), 31% of the fronts exhibit prefrontal convection initiation (PCI), and 35% of the fronts exhibit prefrontal convection initiation and heavy rain (PCI+HR). An anticyclonically curved upper-level jet streak and midtropospheric QG forcing produce synoptic-scale descent for the prefrontal region in NoPCI events, whereas the right-entrance region of a straight upper-level jet streak and forcing for ascent dominate the prefrontal region in PCI and PCI+HR events. Whether prefrontal convection and heavy rain occur is also related to the character of low-level flows. NoPCI features anticyclonic southerly winds, with an environment having low dewpoint throughout the troposphere, unfavorable for convection initiation. However, synoptic circulation of PCI and PCI+HR events favors a broad prefrontal surface low, which determines the greater cyclonic character of airflows in PCI+HR events, in contrast with that of the PCI events. Convective available potential energy is useful in distinguishing NoPCI and PCI events, and the three events have statistically significant differences in precipitable water. Moreover, larger magnitudes of precipitable water and bulk wind shear in PCI+HR events are conducive for prefrontal convection to produce heavy rain compared to those of PCI events. These results indicate the importance of the upper-level forcing on the prefrontal convection initiation, and heavy rain is sensitive to the changes in prefrontal airflow and moisture.

Significance Statement

Convection and heavy rain sometimes occur a few hundred kilometers ahead of fronts in the warm air over South China in early summer. To understand atmospheric conditions favoring or inhibiting convection and heavy rain ahead of fronts, we examine 46 fronts without prefrontal convection, 43 fronts with prefrontal convection, and 48 fronts with prefrontal convection and heavy rain. These scenarios have similarities in environmental behaviors but different large-scale conditions that favor or inhibit ascent in the prefrontal area. Specifically, prefrontal heavy rain tends to occur in a very moist environment with a prefrontal surface low. These findings help researchers and operational forecasters better discriminate the subtle conditions that favor or inhibit prefrontal convection and heavy rain over South China.
Reexamining the Estimation of Tropical Cyclone Radius of Maximum Wind from Outer Size with an Extensive Synthetic Aperture Radar Dataset
Authors: Avenas Arthur , Mouche Alexis , Tandeo Pierre , Piolle Jean-Francois , Chavas Dan , Fablet Ronan , Knaff John , Chapron Bertrand
Published: October 2023

The radius of maximum wind Rmax, an important parameter in tropical cyclone (TC) ocean surface wind structure, is currently resolved by only a few sensors so that, in most cases, it is estimated subjectively or via crude statistical models. Recently, a semiempirical model relying on an outer wind radius, intensity, and latitude was fit to best-track data. In this study we revise this semiempirical model and discuss its physical basis. While intensity and latitude are taken from best-track data, Rmax observations from high-resolution (3 km) spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and wind radii from an intercalibrated dataset of medium-resolution radiometers and scatterometers are considered to revise the model coefficients. The new version of the model is then applied to the period 2010–20 and yields Rmax reanalyses and trends that are more accurate than best-track data. SAR measurements corroborate that fundamental conservation principles constrain the radial wind structure on average, endorsing the physical basis of the model. Observations highlight that departures from the average conservation situation are mainly explained by wind profile shape variations, confirming the model’s physical basis, which further shows that radial inflow, boundary layer depth, and drag coefficient also play roles. Physical understanding will benefit from improved observations of the near-core region from accumulated SAR observations and future missions. In the meantime, the revised model offers an efficient tool to provide guidance on Rmax when a radiometer or scatterometer observation is available, for either operations or reanalysis purposes.
Disaggregating Health Official Statistics by Integrating Data From Multiple Sources
Authors: Erciulescu Andreea L.
Published: October 2023

Disaggregated statistics help improve the description of the society. However, survey estimates are subject to larger uncertainty at finer levels than at higher levels, and often not even available at fine levels. The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is considered the nation’s premier system collecting health data from individuals in the US using telephone surveys. Among the BRFSS official statistics, state-level estimates are available for two related health prevalence quantities: the prevalence of having a personal doctor and the prevalence of having health insurance coverage. No county-level BRFSS estimates are released for these quantities. In addition, county-level estimates for the prevalence of having health insurance coverage are also available from the US. Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE) program. This article addresses the disaggregation of the state-level prevalence of having a personal doctor to the county level, by using the state-level relationship between the two BRFSS prevalence variables and the county-level bridge between the BRFSS and the SAHIE prevalence of having health insurance coverage. Using 2018 public-use data, county-level model estimates are produced for both prevalence variables and on both BRFSS and SAHIE scales, improving the usability of the BRFSS public-use data.

AMS Subject Classification: 62D05, 62H10, 62J05, 62P99
Retinal changes in generalized anxiety disorder patients
Authors: Baykara Sema , Kazğan Aslı , Yıldırım Hakan , Tabara Muhammed Fatih , Kaşıkcı Halim Ömer , Danacı Keleş Denizhan
Published: October 2023

Objective

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a method that allows high-resolution cross-sectional imaging of biological tissues. It was suggested that changes in the cranial structure or functions would be reflected in the retina. OCT has been an important method in the diagnosis and follow-up of diseases via morphometric or quantitative retinal measurements. Free radicals, inflammatory processes, and neurotransmission disorders play a role in the etiology of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The study aimed to demonstrate the retinal changes in GAD patients due to neurodegeneration based on the comparison of the OCT data of the GAD patients and controls, and the differences between OCT findings of GAD patients and those of controls.

Methods

The study group included 21 GAD patients. The control group included 21 individuals without any known psychiatric or organic disease, including eye diseases.

Results

There was a statistically significant difference between the macular volumes (MV) of the GAD and control groups, the macular volume was lower in the GAD group. There were positive correlations between BDI scores and MV, GCLT, RNFLT-i, RNFLT-n, between BAE scores and (RNFLT-n), and between the CGI severity scale scores and MV, RNFLT-n, and RNFLT-t.

Conclusion

OCT analysis of the GAD patients demonstrated that MV values were lower when compared to the control group. Patients with GAD should be screened for these retinal changes. OCT, a simple, non-invasive, and relatively inexpensive method could be employed as a supplementary method in the follow-up of GAD patients.
Imbalanced Sex Ratios and Marital Transitions in Mexico
Authors: South Scott J. , Trent Katherine , Han Soojin
Published: October 2023

Migration from Mexico to the United States results in numerical imbalances between men and women in the communities left behind, but little is known about how these imbalanced sex ratios in Mexican communities affect family formation behavior. Using two waves of data from the Mexican Family Life Survey (MxFLS) and 2000 Mexican census data, we examine how the sex composition of the municipality population is associated with the likelihood that Mexican women and men marry. Consistent with demographic-opportunity theory, but not sociocultural theory, results from logistic regression analyses show that men’s probability of marrying is positively associated with the numerical availability of eligible women in the municipality population. Consistent with the argument that many Mexican migrant men, but not migrant women, remain eligible partners for those who remain in Mexico, the sex composition of the municipal population is significantly associated with men’s but not women’s likelihood of marrying.
Social Spheres of Protection and Threat: The Experiences of Black Men Married to White Women
Authors: Woolley Michael E. , Greif Geoffrey L. , Stubbs Victoria
Published: October 2023

The number of interracial marriages in the United States has increased to one-in-six among recently married couples. Therefore, researchers and clinicians need the knowledge and skills to effectively serve such families. The current qualitative study, part of a larger mixed-methods project, reports on findings from interviews with 10 Black men married to White women. A central theme emerged related to experiences of these Black men of safety, threats, and feeling the need to provide protection for his family across different social spheres related to their interracial relationship. This theme emerged across six social spheres: the Couple, their Children, the men’s Extended Family, In-laws, Friends, and the larger Macrosystem. These six spheres were experienced as protected, threatening, or mixed in terms of safety related to race issues. Direct quotes are provided to illustrate these six spheres and their levels of protection. Implications for clinical practice with interracial couples are offered.
Fabrication and properties of sustainable material from epoxidized natural rubber/poly(vinyl alcohol)/graphene composites
Authors: Riyajan Sa-Ad
Published: October 2023

This work reported the production of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR)/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/graphene (rGO) composite by latex mixing method. The particle size of rGO was about 740 nm and negative charge value (−29 mV). After the incorporation of the rGO into the 80/20 ENR/PVA blend, the color turns into black. The toluene resistance was also improved owing to its chemical interaction between the ENR/PVA blend and rGO. The swelling ratio of the ENR/PVA blend was 7/7 g/g while the swelling ratio of the ENR/PVA blend containing 1% w/w rGO was 3/3 g/g. The lowest moisture content and moisture absorption were found when using 1 g/g rGO. The maximum moisture and moisture absorption were found at ENR/PVA blend without rGO. After incorporation of rGO in the composite, the mechanical strength was enhanced jumping to the enforcement filler. The maximum tensile strength of ENR/PVA/1rGO was 17 MPa. The composite exhibits good thermal stability and the retention tensile strength of ENR/PVA/1rGO composite was about 80% at 24 h. After use, it easily decomposed in nature and the percentage of biodegradation was about 60%–75%.
Potential of thermoresponsive hydrogel as an alternative therapy for rat knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Kung Yi , Chien Wei-Chun , Shen Hsin-Hsin , Chen Sen-Lu , Yu Wei-Lin , Wang Yu-Chi , Chen Wen-Shiang , Wu Chueh-Hung
Published: October 2023

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that is highly prevalent and primarily affects the joints. The knee is the most commonly affected site, impacting the lives of over 300 million individuals worldwide. This study presents a potential solution to address the unmet need for a minimally invasive technique in the treatment of osteoarthritis: a biocompatible, injectable, and thermoresponsive hydrogel. In comparison to commercially available products such as lyophilized platelets, dextrose, and triamcinolone, the thermoresponsive hydrogel exhibits significantly superior performance in dynamic behaviors, including print area, stability, and step cycle, when tested on rats with knee osteoarthritis. However, it demonstrates similar treatment efficacy to these products in static behaviors, as observed through histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis. Therefore, the thermoresponsive hydrogel holds promise as an effective alternative therapy for osteoarthritis. Moreover, by blending the hydrogel with drugs, controlled and sustained release can be achieved, thereby facilitating the long-term management of osteoarthritis symptoms.
How Do Physicians Frame Medical Information in Talks With Their Patients? An Inductive Microanalysis
Authors: Menichetti Julia , Gulbrandsen Pål , Landmark Anne Marie , Lie Hanne C. , Gerwing Jennifer
Published: October 2023

During medical consultations, physicians need to share a substantial amount of information with their patients. How this information is framed can be crucial for patient understanding and outcomes, but little is known about the details of how physicians frame information in practice. Using an inductive microanalysis approach in the study of videotaped medical interactions, we aimed to identify the information frames (i.e., higher-level ways of organizing and structuring information to reach a particular purpose) and the information-framing devices (i.e., any dialogic mechanism used to present information in a particular way that shapes how the patient might perceive and interpret it) physicians use spontaneously and intuitively while sharing information with their patients. We identified 66 different information-framing devices acting within nine information frames conveying: (1) Do we agree that we share this knowledge?, (2) I don’t like where I (or where you are) am going with this, (3) This may be tricky to understand, (4) You may need to think, (5) This is important, (6) This is not important, (7) This comes from me as a doctor, (8) This comes from me as a person, and (9) This is directed to you as a unique person. The kaleidoscope of information-framing devices described in this study reveals the near impossibility for neutrality and objectivity in the information-sharing practice of medical care. It also represents an inductively derived starting point for further research into aspects of physicians’ information-sharing praxis.
Confidence in US Elections After the Big Lie
Authors: Bowler Shaun , Donovan Todd
Published: October 2023

This paper examines how individual-level partisanship and state-level factors affect perceptions of electoral integrity in the United States. We find that evaluations of the integrity of the 2020 US presidential election national outcome were only modestly conditioned by the quality of election administration in a person’s state. Perceptions of electoral legitimacy were much more substantially conditioned by motivated reasoning associated with a person’s partisanship, the partisan context Republicans resided in, and Republican partisans’ residence in a swing-state where final results from 2020 were delayed due to late-counted ballots. Overall, estimated effects of the quality of election administration on confidence in elections are null or modest. Partisan factors associated with Donald Trump’s “Big Lie” about the 2020 US presidential election were the strongest forces predicting lack of confidence in US elections and perceptions that election officials were altering results. These factors were not evident in 2016. We discuss how these findings may reflect a fundamental alteration of attitudes among Republican voters and elites about the legitimacy of democratic elections in the US, rather than reflecting cyclical variation in partisan confidence associated with which party won the past election.
High precision control of direct-drive permanent magnet linear motor with adaptive friction compensation
Authors: Ge Wenqing , Xu Haoli , Tan Cao , Yu Peng , Li Dengtong
Published: October 2023

To improve the control precision and stability of Direct-Drive Permanent Magnet Linear Motor (DPMLM) with frictional nonlinearity and uncertain disturbances at a low speed, an adaptive robust integral sign error control algorithm based on friction compensation of dual nonlinear observer is proposed in this study. An improved LuGre friction model is established to describe the friction phenomena of the system. The dual nonlinear observer is designed to observe the internal frictional state of the model. A parameter adaptive law is designed to perform parameter estimation of structured uncertainty. Robust integral of the sign of the error (RISE) term is designed to overcome the frictional nonlinear disturbances. The friction nonlinearity and parameter uncertainty are compensated by feedforward compensation. The bounded stability of the proposed controller is proved by Lyapunov stability theory. As suggested by the experimental results, RMSE index decreased by 10.8% and the control precision was improved effectively by the proposed control algorithm at a low speed.
Optimization on compressive strength of sandwich plates with internal arborescent microstructure
Authors: Wirowski Artur , Kowalczyk Izabela
Published: October 2023

The subject of this work is the optimization of a topology for sandwich plates with an internal arborescent microstructure. Here, we propose a parametric approach to the optimization using visual programming methods in the Dynamo Sandbox environment. An internal structure of the sandwich plate was optimized in terms of minimizing the weight of the entire structure in relation to the compressive strength. Several variable parameters in the optimization process were applied: lengths of individual tree levels, their cross-sections and locations of nodes. To validate obtained results of the optimization process, a 3D model of the plate was printed and tested on compressive strength. The results were also analysed and compared with other authors’ research.
Orgasm as women’s work? Rethinking pleasure, ‘sex’ and the power dynamics of orgasm through the embodied experiences of orgasmic meditation practitioners
Authors: Pilcher Katy
Published: October 2023

Drawing upon interviews with 33 practitioners of ‘orgasmic meditation’ in the UK and US, I question the extent to which the practice of orgasmic meditation might facilitate ways to uncouple orgasm from negative gendered constructions. I explore how the practice in some cases enables people to establish clear bodily boundaries and encourages women to centre their own pleasure, as well as opening up space to rethink what constitutes a ‘sexual’ practice. Theorised through a queer feminist perspective, I argue that tensions remain with orgasm as a form of women’s work, with an onus upon women to police bodily boundaries, and with moments where boundaries are broken.
Religion and nationalism revisited: Insights from southeastern and central eastern Europe
Authors: Triandafyllidou Anna
Published: October 2023

This paper explores the dynamics behind the rise of religious nationalism in Central Eastern and Southeastern Europe with distinct populist, nativist, and authoritarian overtones. The paper explores the relationship between nationalism and religion today and the broader transformation challenges both within the region and more globally that can shape this relationship. It then looks closer into the historical experiences in the region with regard to the relationship between state and church as well as nationalism and religion, critically analysing how these relations have evolved during nation-state formation in the 19th and early 20th century, under Communism, and in the last three decades. Analysing critically the relevant literature, the paper discusses the entanglements between state and religious institutions as well as between national identity and faith, and how these are mobilised today. The paper argues for the need to consider both internal and external factors in the evolution of the relationship between nationalism and religion in Central Eastern and Southeastern Europe and more broadly.
Planning as an instituting process. Overcoming Agamben’s despair using Esposito’s political ontology
Authors: Li Destri Nicosia Giulia , Saija Laura
Published: October 2023

In the face of the growing interest in Agamben’s work by planning scholars, this article suggests reframing such an interest by examining the theoretical controversy between Agamben and another Italian philosopher, Roberto Esposito, with special attention to their common roots within the philosophical realm of political ontology. Their different conceptualizations of biopolitics and norms can lead to opposite conceptualizations of the relationship between people and institutions leading to very different planning theoretical possibilities. Like Agamben, Esposito’s theory helps recognise the intrinsic violence of planning discourses. However, unlike Agamben, Esposito provides a constructive way out of it through the disentanglement of the exclusionary level of norms from the potentially inclusive affirmative biopolitics (not politics over life but politics of life) of what he calls the instituting thought. Esposito’s conceptualization of institutions can further support the ongoing new-institutionalist developments of planning scholarship, showing a way to conceptualize the planning relevance of civic organizing, insurgent practices, and social uprisings without undermining the primacy of institutions in planning.
Comparison of Educational and Academic Quality of Laparoscopic Distal Pancreatectomy Videos on WebSurg® and YouTube® Platforms
Authors: Dincer Hilmi Anil , Cennet Ömer , Dogrul Ahmet Bulent
Published: October 2023

Background

The aim of this study was to compare the educational and academic quality of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) videos on YouTube® and WebSurg® platforms.

Material and Methods

YouTube and WebSurg platforms were searched with the keyword “laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy”. According to the exclusion criteria, 12 videos were found on WebSurg. To ensure a 1:1 ratio, the first 12 videos that met the criteria on YouTube were also analyzed. Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria were used to evaluate the reliability of the videos. The non-educational quality of the videos was calculated using the Global Quality Score (GQS), the educational and academic quality of videos was calculated using Laparoscopic Distal Pancreatectomy-specific score (LDP-SS) and Laparoscopic Surgery Video Educational Guidelines scoring system (LAP-VEGaS).

Results

The mean JAMA score was 1.58 on YouTube and 2.83 on WebSurg ( P < .001). The median GQS was 2 on YouTube and 5 on WebSurg ( P < .001). The median LAP-VEGaS score was 8 on YouTube and 14.5 on WebSurg ( P < .001). The median LDP-SS score was 6 on YouTube and 9.5 on WebSurg ( P = .001). According to the LAP-VEGaS, eleven (91.7%) of the WebSurg videos had a high score of 11 or more ( P = .04). According to Spearman correlation analysis, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between LDP-SS and JAMA, GQS and LAP-VEGaS ( r: .589, P = .002; r: .648, P = .001; r: .848, P < .001 respectively).

Conclusions

The WebSurg is superior to the YouTube in terms of educational and academic value, quality, accuracy, reliability and usability in scientific meetings for LDP videos.
Adapting Participatory Workshops to a Virtual Setting: Co-Design With Muslim Women of a Faith-Based Intervention to Encourage Cancer Screening Uptake
Authors: Kotzur Marie , Amiri Rana , Gatting Lauren , Robb Kathryn A. , Ling Jonathan , Mooney John D. , Christie-de Jong Floor
Published: October 2023

Early diagnosis of cancer through screening can reduce deaths and treatment burden if the people invited participate. Yet inequalities in screening participation remain: ethnic minority groups in particular experience barriers to cancer screening that need to be addressed in order to contribute to improving equality in health outcomes. Community-centred, participatory approaches can ensure that cancer screening interventions are culturally appropriate to the communities they are intended to serve. Virtual participatory research faces unique challenges in building the rapport required for successful collaboration between participants and researchers. This article describes the successful adaption of face-to-face participatory methods to co-designing, online, an intervention using faith-based messages to reduce cancer screening barriers. Based on the World Café method, we conducted four two-hour workshops by video call with a group of 10 Muslim women (29–65 years) from Glasgow, UK. Activities included (i) plenary and small-group discussions, (ii) graphic recording, and (iii) expert presentations. The workshops covered four topics: Islam and health, screening barriers, faith-based messages for screening barriers, and delivering a faith-based intervention. Anonymous feedback questionnaires evaluating each workshop showed the women found the workshops interesting, informative, and helpful. They reported being glad they had participated. Our findings highlight the importance of interactive discussion and low participant burden to optimise online co-design. The workshops created a faith-based cancer screening intervention engaging and accessible to Muslim women.
Giroctocogene fitelparvovec gene therapy for severe hemophilia A: 104-week analysis of the phase 1/2 Alta study
Authors: Leavitt Andrew D. , Konkle Barbara A. , Stine Kimo C. , Visweshwar Nathan , Harrington Thomas J. , Giermasz Adam , Arkin Steven , Fang Annie , Plonski Frank , Yver Anne , Ganne Florence , Agathon Delphine , Resa Maria de los Angeles , Tseng Li-Jung , Di Russo Gregory , Cockroft Bettina M. , Cao Liching , Rupon Jeremy
Published: October 2023

Patients with hemophilia A require exogenous factor VIII (FVIII) or nonfactor hemostatic agents to prevent spontaneous bleeding events. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector–based gene therapy is under clinical investigation to enable endogenous FVIII production. Giroctocogene fitelparvovec is a recombinant AAV serotype 6 vector containing the coding sequence for the B-domain–deleted human F8 gene. In the ongoing phase 1/2, dose-ranging Alta study, 4 sequential cohorts of male participants with severe hemophilia A received a single IV dose of giroctocogene fitelparvovec. The primary end points are safety and changes in circulating FVIII activity. Interim results up to 214 weeks after treatment for all participants are presented. Eleven participants were dosed. Increases in alanine and aspartate aminotransferases were the most common treatment-related adverse events (AEs), which resolved with corticosteroid administration. Two treatment-related serious AEs (hypotension and pyrexia) were reported in 1 participant within 6 hours of infusion and resolved within 24 hours after infusion. At the highest dose level (3 × 1013 vg/kg; n = 5), the mean circulating FVIII activity level at week 52 was 42.6% (range, 7.8%-122.3%), and at week 104 it was 25.4% (range, 0.9%-71.6%) based on a chromogenic assay. No liver masses, thrombotic events, or confirmed inhibitors were detected in any participant. These interim 104-week data suggest that giroctocogene fitelparvovec is generally well tolerated with appropriate clinical management and has the potential to provide clinically meaningful FVIII activity levels, as indicated by the low rate of bleeding events in the highest dose cohort. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03061201.
Tissue-infiltrating alloreactive T cells require Id3 to deflect PD-1–mediated immune suppression during GVHD
Authors: Wang Ying , He Shan , Calendo Gennaro , Bui Tien , Tian Yuanyuan , Lee Che Young , Zhou Yan , Zhao Xin , Abraham Ciril , Mo Wenbin , Chen Mimi , Sanders-Braggs Ruqayyah , Madzo Jozef , Issa Jean-Pierre , Hexner Elizabeth O. , Wiest David L. , Reshef Ran , Xue Hai-Hui , Zhang Yi
Published: October 2023

Persisting alloreactive donor T cells in target tissues are a determinant of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), but the transcriptional regulators that control the persistence and function of tissue-infiltrating T cells remain elusive. We demonstrate here that Id3, a DNA-binding inhibitor, is critical for sustaining T-cell responses in GVHD target tissues in mice, including the liver and intestine. Id3 loss results in aberrantly expressed PD-1 in polyfunctional T helper 1 (Th1) cells, decreased tissue-infiltrating PD-1+ polyfunctional Th1 cell numbers, impaired maintenance of liver TCF-1+ progenitor-like T cells, and inhibition of GVHD. PD-1 blockade restores the capacity of Id3-ablated donor T cells to mediate GVHD. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that Id3 loss leads to significantly decreased CD28- and PI3K/AKT-signaling activity in tissue-infiltrating polyfunctional Th1 cells, an indicator of active PD-1/PD-L1 effects. Id3 is also required for protecting CD8+ T cells from the PD-1 pathway–mediated suppression during GVHD. Genome-wide RNA-sequencing analysis reveals that Id3 represses transcription factors (e.g., Nfatc2, Fos, Jun, Ets1, and Prdm1) that are critical for PD-1 transcription, exuberant effector differentiation, and interferon responses and dysfunction of activated T cells. Id3 achieves these effects by restraining the chromatin accessibility for these transcription factors. Id3 ablation in donor T cells preserved their graft vs tumor effects in mice undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Furthermore, CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of ID3 in human CD19–directed chimeric antigen receptor T cells retained their antitumor activity in NOD/SCID/IL2Rg−/− mice early after administration. These findings identify that ID3 is an important target to reduce GVHD, and the gene-editing program of ID3 may have broad implications in T-cell–based immunotherapy.
Comparative analyses of dynamic transcriptome profiles highlight key response genes and dominant isoforms for muscle development and growth in chicken
Authors: Wang Zhang , Tian Weihua , Wang Dandan , Guo Yulong , Cheng Zhimin , Zhang Yanyan , Li Xinyan , Zhi Yihao , Li Donghua , Li Zhuanjian , Jiang Ruirui , Li Guoxi , Tian Yadong , Kang Xiangtao , Li Hong , Dunn Ian C. , Liu Xiaojun
Published: October 2023

Background

Modern breeding strategies have resulted in significant differences in muscle mass between indigenous chicken and specialized broiler. However, the molecular regulatory mechanisms that underlie these differences remain elusive. The aim of this study was to identify key genes and regulatory mechanisms underlying differences in breast muscle development between indigenous chicken and specialized broiler.

Results

Two time-series RNA-sequencing profiles of breast muscles were generated from commercial Arbor Acres (AA) broiler (fast-growing) and Chinese indigenous Lushi blue-shelled-egg (LS) chicken (slow-growing) at embryonic days 10, 14, and 18, and post-hatching day 1 and weeks 1, 3, and 5. Principal component analysis of the transcriptome profiles showed that the top four principal components accounted for more than 80% of the total variance in each breed. The developmental axes between the AA and LS chicken overlapped at the embryonic stages but gradually separated at the adult stages. Integrative investigation of differentially-expressed transcripts contained in the top four principal components identified 44 genes that formed a molecular network associated with differences in breast muscle mass between the two breeds. In addition, alternative splicing analysis revealed that genes with multiple isoforms always had one dominant transcript that exhibited a significantly higher expression level than the others. Among the 44 genes, the TNFRSF6B gene, a mediator of signal transduction pathways and cell proliferation, harbored two alternative splicing isoforms, TNFRSF6B-X1 and TNFRSF6B-X2. TNFRSF6B-X1 was the dominant isoform in both breeds before the age of one week. A switching event of the dominant isoform occurred at one week of age, resulting in TNFRSF6B-X2 being the dominant isoform in AA broiler, whereas TNFRSF6B-X1 remained the dominant isoform in LS chicken. Gain-of-function assays demonstrated that both isoforms promoted the proliferation of chicken primary myoblasts, but only TNFRSF6B-X2 augmented the differentiation and intracellular protein content of chicken primary myoblasts.

Conclusions

For the first time, we identified several key genes and dominant isoforms that may be responsible for differences in muscle mass between slow-growing indigenous chicken and fast-growing commercial broiler. These findings provide new insights into the regulatory mechanisms underlying breast muscle development in chicken.
Antimicrobial resistance pattern of anaerobic bacteria causing lower respiratory tract infections
Authors: Shariff Malini , Ramengmawi Elizabeth
Published: October 2023

Background

Anaerobes are normal flora of the human body. However, they can cause serious infections in humans. Anaerobic bacteria are known to cause respiratory infections like pneumonia and acute exacerbation of chronic lower airway infections. These are often missed due to the complexity of their isolation and identification. Hence, this study aimed to study anaerobes causing respiratory tract infections and determine their antibiotic susceptibility.

Materials & methods

Clinical specimens such as bronchial aspirates and pleural aspirates collected from patients with respiratory diseases attending Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute were processed, the anaerobes isolated were identified, and their susceptibilities to various groups of antimicrobials were studied using standard microbiological methods.

Results

Three hundred and fourteen patients were included in the study, 154 males and 160 females. Of these 314 patients, 148 (47%) yielded anaerobes in their clinical samples. Seventy patients had more than one type of anaerobic organism. Hence, 235 isolates were recovered belonging to as many as 17 genera. The MIC of seven antibiotics on 154 isolates was tested. The isolates belonged mostly to the genera Bacteroides, Prevotella, Veillonella, and Actinomyces. Variable resistance was observed to most classes of antibiotics by many genera.

Conclusions

Metronidazole is commonly used against anaerobes, but the study showed that the isolates were 20–30% resistant to the antibiotic. Starting this as an empirical therapy might lead to treatment failure.
Multiply robust estimator for the difference in survival functions using pseudo-observations
Authors: Wang Ce , Wei Kecheng , Huang Chen , Yu Yongfu , Qin Guoyou
Published: October 2023

Background

When estimating the causal effect on survival outcomes in observational studies, it is necessary to adjust confounding factors due to unbalanced covariates between treatment and control groups. There is no study on multiple robust method for estimating the difference in survival functions. In this study, we propose a multiply robust (MR) estimator, allowing multiple propensity score models and outcome regression models, to provide multiple protection.

Method

Based on the previous MR estimator (Han 2014) and pseudo-observation approach, we proposed a new MR estimator for estimating the difference in survival functions. The proposed MR estimator based on the pseudo-observation approach has several advantages. First, the proposed estimator has a small bias when any PS and OR models were correctly specified. Second, the proposed estimator considers the advantage pf the pseudo-observation approach, which avoids proportional hazards assumption. A Monte Carlo simulation study was performed to evaluate the performance of the proposed estimator. And the proposed estimator was used to estimate the effect of chemotherapy on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in real data.

Results

The simulation studies showed that the bias of the proposed estimator was small, and the coverage rate was close to 95% when any model for propensity score or outcome regression is correctly specified regardless of whether the proportional hazard assumption holds, finite sample size and censoring rate. And the simulation results also showed that even though the propensity score models are misspecified, the bias of the proposed estimator was still small when there is a correct model in candidate outcome regression models. And we applied the proposed estimator in real data, finding that chemotherapy could improve the prognosis of TNBC.

Conclusions

The proposed estimator, allowing multiple propensity score and outcome regression models, provides multiple protection for estimating the difference in survival functions.

The proposed estimator provided a new choice when researchers have a "difficult time" choosing only one model for their studies.