bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Benefits and Limitations of Contingent Faculty Unionization: A Comparison of a Union and Non-Union Institution
Authors: Klainot-Hess Elizabeth
Published: December 2022

While union membership has declined over the last several decades, there has been a recent surge in union organizing among contingent faculty—non-tenure-track faculty who tend to experience low wages and job insecurity. Based on interviews with 100 contingent faculty at two large public research universities—one where contingent faculty are unionized, and one where they are not—this article demonstrates that contingent faculty at the unionized institution experience higher job satisfaction, greater job security, and higher wages than those at the non-unionized university, but that the union still faces some limitations in improving contingent faculty jobs.
A Technology Watch/Competitive Intelligence–based Decision-Support System optimised with Genetic Algorithms
Authors: Lopez-Pujalte Cristina , Tena-Mateos María J , Muñoz-Cañavate Antonio
Published: December 2022

To survive and prosper in a highly competitive environment where uncertainty and ambiguity are the norm, today’s firms are faced with the need for new information management methods and tools. Two of the most prominent strategies that take information and its treatment as a value-generating element in firms’ decision-making are Technology Watch and Competitive Intelligence. In addition, one of the fundamental components that a system based on these strategies must have is an efficient method of Information Retrieval. The present study describes a Competitive Intelligence–based decision-support system that uses a Genetic Algorithm. The system contributes to improving information retrieval through search optimisation, thus enhancing the performance of this knowledge-generating tool for organisations.
Opinion: Time for strategic knowledge management
Authors: Sayyadi Mostafa , Provitera Michael J
Published: December 2022

Real growth in organizations occurs when organizations succeed in developing an inter-KNOWLEDGE approach. This inter-KNOWLEDGE approach means that the knowledge acquired and refined in one unit is effectively used in another unit and ultimately leads to growth. This approach, which requires designing and drawing a map of strategic areas of knowledge in organizations, is the missing link of strategic knowledge management in organizations.
Null-Prep as a systematic interlanguage phenomenon: Evidence from relative clauses, interrogatives, and sluicing constructions
Authors: Perpiñán Sílvia , Cardinaletti Anna
Published: December 2022

This study attempts to explain a systematic phenomenon that has been described in interlanguage grammars crosslinguistically: Null-Prep, which consists of omitting the obligatory preposition in certain movement constructions. We propose that Null-Prep is not related to lack of knowledge of wh-movement, as previously assumed, but to structural complexity; indeed, we consider Null-Prep a movement-derived structure. With evidence from prepositional relative clauses, wh-interrogatives, and sluicing constructions in first language (L1) and second language (L2) Spanish (English and Arabic L1s), we predict the potential appearance of the Null-Prep with a two-way complexity hierarchy that takes into account the syntactic position displaced, as well as its derivational complexity, in such a way that we calculate Null-Prep to occur more often in Relative Clauses, followed by Sluicing, and finally by Questions. This scalar phenomenon uniformly applies to all participants, native and L2 learners, emphasizing its universal nature.
Supervised learning and reinforcement learning of feedback models for reactive behaviors: Tactile feedback testbed
Authors: Sutanto Giovanni , Rombach Katharina , Chebotar Yevgen , Su Zhe , Schaal Stefan , Sukhatme Gaurav S. , Meier Franziska
Published: December 2022

Robots need to be able to adapt to unexpected changes in the environment such that they can autonomously succeed in their tasks. However, hand-designing feedback models for adaptation is tedious, if at all possible, making data-driven methods a promising alternative. In this paper, we introduce a full framework for learning feedback models for reactive motion planning. Our pipeline starts by segmenting demonstrations of a complete task into motion primitives via a semi-automated segmentation algorithm. Then, given additional demonstrations of successful adaptation behaviors, we learn initial feedback models through learning-from-demonstrations. In the final phase, a sample-efficient reinforcement learning algorithm fine-tunes these feedback models for novel task settings through few real system interactions. We evaluate our approach on a real anthropomorphic robot in learning a tactile feedback task.
PET/MR versus PET/CT for locoregional staging of oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer
Authors: Flygare Lennart , Erdogan Secil Telli , Söderkvist Karin
Published: December 2022

Background

The value of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) for TN staging in head and neck cancer (HNC) has been proven in numerous studies. A few studies have investigated the value of FDG-PET/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the staging of HNC; the combined results indicate potential for FDG-PET/MRI, but the scientific evidence remains weak.

Purpose

To compare performance of FDG-PET/CT and FDG-PET/MRI for locoregional staging in patients with oropharyngeal carcinomas.

Material and Methods

Two radiologists independently of each other retrospectively reviewed primary pre-therapeutic FDG-PET/CT and FDG-PET/MRI examinations from 40 individuals with oropharyngeal carcinomas. TN stage and primary tumor size were noted. The results were compared between observers and modalities and against TN stage set at a multidisciplinary conference.

Results

For nodal staging, PET/MRI had slightly higher specificity and accuracy than PET/CT for the most experienced observer. Both methods demonstrated excellent sensitivity (≥ 0.97 and 1.00, respectively), as well as high negative predictive values (≥ 0.95 and 1.00, respectively). No significant differences were found for tumor staging or measurement of maximum tumor diameter. There was a weak agreement (κ = 0.35–0.49) between PET/CT and PET/MRI for T and N stages for both observers. Inter-observer agreement was higher for PET/MRI than for PET/CT, both for tumor staging (κ = 0.57 vs. 0.35) and nodal staging (κ = 0.69 vs. 0.55). The agreement between observers was comparable to the agreement between methods.

Conclusion

PET/MRI may be a viable alternative to PET/CT for locoregional staging (TN staging) and assessment of maximal tumor diameter in oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer.
Improving Care Coordination Between Veterans Health Administration Primary Care Teams and Community Home Health Aide Providers: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Franzosa Emily , Judon Kimberly M. , Gottesman Eve M. , Koufacos Nicholas S. , Runels Tessa , Augustine Matthew , Van Houtven Courtney H. , Boockvar Kenneth S.
Published: December 2022

Effective coordination between medical and long-term services is essential to high-quality primary care for older adults, but can be challenging. Our study assessed coordination and communication through semi-structured interviews with Veterans Health Administration (VHA) primary care clinicians ( n = 9); VHA-contracted home health agencies ( n = 6); and home health aides ( n = 8) caring for veterans at an urban VHA medical center. Participants reported (1) establishing home health services is complex, requiring collaboration between many individuals and systems; (2) communication between medical teams and agencies is often reactive; (3) formal communication channels between medical teams and agencies are lacking; (4) aides are an important source of patient information; and (5) aides report important information, but rarely receive it. Removing structural communication barriers; incentivizing reporting channels and information sharing between aides, agencies, and primary care teams; and integrating aides into interdisciplinary teams may improve coordination of medical and long-term care.
Policy, Empirical Analysis, and Equity: Challenges for Research
Authors: McGahey Richard
Published: December 2022

Regional economic development research must engage with empirical questions and policy evaluations and America's underlying anti-urban bias, which shapes American cities and policy. Standard mathematical microeconomic-founded models are a limited guide to analysis and interpretation; empirical work should consider other disciplines in addition to diverse economic perspectives. Underlying structural factors may be difficult to analyze but need attention, including federal and state hostility to cities, fragmented metropolitan forms that maldistribute urban economic output, and structural racism's impact on economies, housing, and labor markets. Doing strong empirical work while de-emphasizing theory building seems the best way to proceed.
Effect of elevated tool temperatures on the properties of high-strength aluminum alloys during tailor quench forming (TQF)
Authors: Rigas Nikolaos , Jäckisch Manuel , Merklein Marion
Published: December 2022

High-strength aluminum alloys have a great lightweight potential due to their high specific strength-to-weight ratio. However, industrial use of this material is limited due to the low formability at room temperature. In recent years, the so-called hot forming quench (HFQ®) process has proven, to be an effective forming method for manufacturing high-strength aluminum alloys. During deep drawing, the high cooling rate generates the potential for a subsequent aging operation and thereby the formation of strength-increasing precipitations. As a result, complex-shaped components with high strength can be produced. In the future, tailored components with both ductile and high-strength areas are increasingly needed to fulfill the growing lightweight and safety requirements of the government. One method to influence the mechanical properties is the use of a tailor quench forming (TQF) process. In this regard, a simultaneous component production and adjustment of the final mechanical properties is possible. However, it has not been investigated so far, how the tool temperature and the subsequent aging parameters influence the thermal interactions and thus the mechanical characteristics of the parts. In addition, the crash performance of these components has not been investigated. For this reason, a high-strength aluminum alloy is quenched under different thermal conditions and is then artificially aged. To determine the resulting thermo-mechanical properties, temperature analysis, hardness tests and tensile tests, as well as high-speed tests have been performed.
Experimental and numerical analysis of a novel 3D re-entrant auxetic structure
Authors: Lotfi Majid , Masoumi Abolfazl
Published: December 2022

The energy absorption performance during collisions and crushing is one of the critical parameters in the design of vehicle structures. Therefore, researchers are continually trying to improve the energy-absorbing properties of the crash box to reduce the force transmitted to the occupant during an accident. In this research, a novel three-dimensional re-entrant auxetic structure has been proposed to improve energy-absorbing performances. Criteria for evaluating energy absorption including the initial peak crushing force, energy absorption, mean crushing force, crushing force efficiency, and specific energy absorption, were obtained through numerical and experimental methods. The structure showed auxetic behavior in two transverse directions during compressive loading and absorbed more energy. The force-displacement curve showed low initial peak crushing force, and the structure collapsed uniformly during compressive loading. The effects of the angle of the diagonal strut with the vertical axis, the thickness of the struts, and the ratio of horizontal strut length to diagonal strut length on the energy absorption properties of the structure were studied, too.
Exoskeleton design utilizing foot-strike energy for enhancing the climbing ability of the wearer
Authors: Ma Jianfeng , Sun Decheng
Published: December 2022

In this paper, a passive exoskeleton is developed to strengthen the motion ability of the knee joint bearing four times the body weight during climbing mountains or stairs. With the novel design, an inverted cam mechanism is designed to transform foot-strike energy to joint positive work of the knee joint, a type-selection mechanism for spring steel bars, and further their application model based on the linear elastic theory of metal materials are established, and to attach the exoskeleton assistance torque to the energy consumption characteristics of the knee joint, the moment-arm variation and the cam profile of the inverted cam mechanism are investigated. In addition, this paper proposes the potential link between the utilization of foot-strike energy and discrete power assistance for the knee joint, which creates simplifying conditions for exoskeleton designs with clutch mechanisms. Finally, to verify the effectiveness of the exoskeleton design, two exoskeleton prototypes were used for respiratory metabolism tests, in which 75% of the test results obtained an average power-assistant efficiency of 14.15%.
Assessing threatening uncertainties: Counterterrorism and everyday practices of preemptive policing in Ghana
Authors: Mynster Christensen Maya
Published: December 2022

The preemptive turn in counterterrorism has turned future uncertainties into key objects of contemporary security governance. From an empirically grounded perspective, this article contributes with novel insight into the everyday practices of preemptive politics. Focusing on Ghana as a unique case through which to trace how the mobilization of affect accelerates the transnational proliferation of counterterrorism measures and the commodification of future uncertainty, it shows how the global War on Terror has shaped the emergence of counterterrorism in a context characterized by the absence of terrorist attacks on home soil. Exploring how preemption animates outreach activities, simulation exercises, and nighttime patrols, it shows how police officers attempt to make uncertain futures tangible and actionable through practices of imagination and performance. Aimed at assessing terrorist threats that have not (yet) materialized, the article argues that preemptive policing practices cause a conflation of ordinary crime and extraordinary terror that inflates already existing uncertainties and subverts the institutional security logics of preemption.
Effect of Sustaining a Perinatal Loss: Mothers’ Mental Health and Marital Satisfaction
Authors: Akhtar Mubeen , Khalid Basma
Published: December 2022

The occurrence of perinatal losses is an unfortunate, yet common degeneracy that implements perturbing taxation on the mental, emotional, and marital health of mothers considering the grief they impose. This study is a quantitative venture that utilizes psychometrically sound measures such as the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale (KMSS), the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF), and calibrated excerpts from the Perinatal Grief Scale (PGS). By addressing mothers (n = 53) who had recently undergone pregnancy losses, infant deaths, or during-birth child demises—significant links were established among the facets taken into consideration. Findings revealed that both mental health (r = −.48, p < .01) and marital satisfaction (r = −.34, p < .05) significantly deteriorated as an aftermath of the grief inculcated by sustaining the loss. Dimensions of mental health, in the form of emotional, social, and psychological well-being, all followed suit and underwent plunges mediated by the instigated bereavement. Further differences in both mental health and marital satisfaction were evident among participants who had children other than the ones lost to demise, and those who did not. Findings are helpful for mental health practitioners, family counselors, and gynecologists when dealing with such clients.
Overview of School-Based Telehealth Network Grant Program Services Delivered to Students in Rural Schools
Authors: Ward Marcia M. , Bhagianadh Divya , Ullrich Fred , Merchant Kimberly A. S. , Mena Carlos
Published: December 2022

Telehealth can expand and enhance access to school-based health care, but its use has been relatively limited. Recognizing that school-based health care is still not reaching many students, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funded the School Based Telehealth Network Grant Program to expand telehealth in rural school-based settings to help to increase the availability and use of these services. The 19 grantees delivered telehealth to over 200 schools across 17 states, choosing which services they would deliver and how. Looking across the services, these fell into three categories – primary/urgent care, behavioral health, and other more specialized services. The majority of grantees offered multiple telehealth services with the combination of behavioral health and primary/urgent care the most common. The current study adds to the literature by elucidating that telehealth in schools can address multiple clinical conditions through separate services even though doing so involves using various combinations of clinicians providing different services.
Long-term Outcomes and Predictors of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension After Pulmonary Endarterectomy
Authors: Sun Shuai , Li Ji-Feng , Liu Lin , Miao Ran , Yang Su-Qiao , Kuang Tu-Guang , Gong Juan-Ni , Gu Song , Liu Yan , Yang Yuan-Hua
Published: December 2022

Background

Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is the preferred treatment for CTEPH patients which can significantly improve symptoms and pulmonary hemodynamics. Therefore, this retrospective study evaluated the long-term outcomes after pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) and analyze the predictors of long-term outcomes for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).

Methods

From 2002–2020, 76 CTEPH patients successfully discharged after PEA in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital were followed-up by scheduled clinical visits or telephone interviews. The follow-up time lasted for 18 years and median time was 7.29 years.

Results

The survival rate at 1,3,5,10,15 years postoperatively was 100.00%, 97.10%, 95.40%, 89.80% and 82.90%, respectively. Multivariate logistics regression analysis showed that postoperative mPAP (hazard ratio: 1.144; 95%confidence interval: 1.018–1.285; P = 0.023) was associated with a higher risk of late death, right atrium right and left diameters (hazard ratio: 1.113; 95%confidence interval, 1.006–1.231; P = 0.038) were associated with a higher risk of major adverse events.

Conclusion

Pulmonary endarterectomy is an effective way to treat CTEPH. Long-term outcome is excellent for patients who undergoing pulmonary endarterectomy who survived from peri-operation time. Postoperative mPAP is a significant prognostic factor for long-term death and right atrium right and left diameters is a significant prognostic factor for major adverse events. That shows patients with high postoperative mPAP and right atrium right and left diameter should be followed up closely.
Integration of acoustic compliance and noise mitigation in path planning for drones in human–robot collaborative environments
Authors: Adlakha Revant , Liu Wansong , Chowdhury Souma , Zheng Minghui , Nouh Mostafa
Published: December 2022

This work presents a framework aimed at mitigating adverse effects of high-amplitude drone noise ranging from hearing loss to reduced productivity in human–robot collaborative environments by infusing acoustic awareness in a path planning algorithm without imposing any additional design layers or hardware to an operational drone. Following a detailed outline of the proposed approach, it is shown that a significant reduction of noise levels perceived by human workers at noise-sensitive locations is realized via a path planner which generates optimal paths ranging from quietest to shortest paths. The approach is then augmented with a path-correction mechanism which accounts for noise exposure duration to ensure the aforementioned optimal paths are compliant with a given industrial/environmental standard. The correction mechanism enforces an adjustment of subsets of the planned paths inside quiet zones designated around noise-sensitive locations. The presented concepts were verified using numerical simulations conducted for a 2-dimensional rasterized obstacle field followed by a statistical design of experiments. The proposed framework is highly versatile and integrable with widely used industrial path planners, rendering it a highly valuable tool for noisy collaborative workplaces.
Investigating wave transmission and reflection phenomena in pantographic lattices using a second-gradient continuum model
Authors: Yildizdag M Erden , Ciallella Alessandro , D’Ovidio Gino
Published: December 2022

In this study, linear plane wave propagation in pantographic lattices is investigated using a two-dimensional (2D) second-gradient continuum model. Primarily, we aim to investigate wave transmission and reflection phenomena occurring when a pantographic lattice is attached to a material modeled by classical first-gradient theory. From a practical point of view, this would be a possible application for pantographic lattices due to their promising mechanical behavior. From a theoretical point of view, this investigation let us to elucidate wave propagation between second- and first-gradient continua. The adapted second-gradient model is first linearized, and the dispersion relations are obtained. Boundary and jump conditions at the discontinuity surface are identified accordingly. It is shown how elastic constants may affect the wave propagation between the two continua and can be tuned to control such wave propagation phenomena.
It’s Not Just a Game: Virtual Edgework and Subjective Well-Being in E-Sports
Authors: Raggiotto Francesco , Scarpi Daniele
Published: December 2022

The authors investigate subjective well-being in the context of e-sports (competitive video games). They adopt the theoretical lenses of virtual edgework theory, a recent adaptation of edgework theory from physical to digital contexts. Sports have long been used as a tool to improve subjective well-being. The research question is whether e-sports lead to well-being, as their physical sport counterparts do, and through what psychological mechanisms. The authors answer through a conceptual model of moderated mediation tested on hundreds of e-sports players. They also address the role of privacy concerns, as e-sports pose several potential threats to players’ privacy that could hinder players’ achievement of well-being. Findings suggest that virtual edgework provides a useful theoretical perspective for understanding consumers’ behavior in digital environments. They also show that e-sports can lead to well-being by achieving feelings of self-enhancement under the positive moderation of perceived control over the digital environment and the negative moderation of privacy concerns.
Allograft corneal ring segment for keratoconus management: Istanbul nomogram clinical results
Authors: Haciagaoglu Sezer , Tanriverdi Cafer , Keskin Fatma Feyza Nur , Tran Khoa D , Kilic Aylin
Published: December 2022

Purpose

To evaluate the clinical feasibility and visual outcomes of allograft corneal ring segment implantation for the treatment of keratoconus.

Methods

This case series, included forty-four eyes of 32 patients with a 6-month follow-up. All cases were treated according to the Istanbul nomogram. In the Istanbul Nomogram, corneal tunnels of 4 × 7.5 mm diameters are created at depth of 200 μm and implanted with sterile allograft corneal rings (KeraNaturalTM, Lions VisionGift, Portland, OR, USA) at the cone location. Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), spherical equivalent (SE) and keratometric values were compared preoperatively versus postoperatively.

Results

There was significant improvement in UDVA, CDVA, SE and topographic keratometric values. The mean preoperative CDVA (Snellen, decimal) increased from 0.29 ± 0.20, to 0.56 ± 0.26 (P < 0.001), at the last visit. There was no statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative thinnest pachymetry values (P = 0.509). No major complications or adverse event were observed during and after the operation.

Conclusions

The results of this pilot study show that sterile allograft corneal ring segments may be safe, effective and enhance the visual performance of keratoconus patients. Larger clinical studies are needed to demonstrate the effectiveness and safety with long term follow-up.
Lens-Iris diaphragm retropulsion syndrome: Risk factors and management. A prospective study
Authors: Hallali Gabriel , Aubert Tristan , Souied Eric H , Glacet-Bernard Agnès
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The lens-iris diaphragm retropulsion syndrome (LIDRS) corresponds to an acute deepening of the anterior chamber during phacoemulsification. LIDRS is painful for the patient and sometimes causes intraoperative complications. This study was designed to assess the preoperative risk factors of LIDRS and its outcome.

Setting

Monocentric study in the university department of ophthalmology, Intercommunal Hospital Center, Creteil, France.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Methods

Preoperative parameters of consecutive patients who underwent cataract surgery were recorded. LIDRS occurrence was evaluated during surgery and classified into 3 stages. Except for the first patient, a simple and rapid maneuver to separate the iris from the capsule was performed in all patients with LIDRS.

Results

LIDRS occurred in 101 out of 205 included eyes: mild in 73.2%, marked in 16.8%, and severe in 9.9%. LIDRS patients were younger, and had a longer axial length and a thinner lens than the control group (p < 0.01 for all). Univariate logistic regression showed that the main predictive factors of LIDRS were long axial length and decreased lens thickness. LIDRS occurred in 83% (5/6) of eyes with prior vitrectomy. Complications occurred (zonular dehiscence, lens or IOL dislocation), especially in vitrectomized eyes. The maneuver separating the iris from the capsule allowed almost all eyes to restore normal chamber depth and prevent complications.

Conclusions

Myopia and prior vitrectomy were the main risk factors of LIDRS. The maneuver separating the iris from the capsule allowed almost all eyes to resolve LIDRS. Analysis of preoperative factors can help the surgeon identify patients at risk and prevent patient pain and intraoperative complications associated with LIDRS.
On lower-dimensional models of thin film flow, Part C: Derivation of a Reynolds type of equation for fluids with temperature and pressure dependent viscosity
Authors: Almqvist Andreas , Burtseva Evgeniya , Rajagopal Kumbakonam , Wall Peter
Published: December 2022

This paper constitutes the third part of a series of works on lower-dimensional models in lubrication. In Part A, it was shown that implicit constitutive theory must be used in the modelling of incompressible fluids with pressure-dependent viscosity and that it is not possible to obtain a lower-dimensional model for the pressure just by letting the film thickness go to zero, as in the proof of the classical Reynolds equation. In Part B, a new method for deriving lower-dimensional models of thin-film flow of fluids with pressure-dependent viscosity was presented. Here, in Part C, we also incorporate the energy equation so as to include fluids with both temperature and pressure dependent viscosity. By asymptotic analysis of this system, as the film thickness goes to zero, we derive a simplified model of the flow. We also carry out an asymptotic analysis of the boundary condition, in the case where the normal stress is specified on one part of the boundary and the velocity on the remaining part.
Investigation of stress and tribological properties of dental composite materials using FEM
Authors: Gupta Aman , Mohan Ishaan , Jude Rodrigues Rohan , Suryawanshi Abhijeeth , Behera Niranjana
Published: December 2022

Performance of dental materials is influenced by the abrasion and wear qualities of the materials in contact. Despite major advancements in dental materials over the previous few decades, restorative materials, particularly composite resins, continue to wear out. Wear resistance is directly influenced by several composite resin composition and structure characteristics. The focus of this research is to explore the tribological properties of two commercially available dental composite materials using ANSYS software (Tetric N-Ceram and Z350 Dentin Shade). In the experiment, a simple tribo-system that complies with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) G99 is utilised, consisting of a cylinder-shaped pin that can be deformed, rotating around a disc under wet conditions. A comparison of Z350 dentin shade and Tetric n Ceram simulations for the same load and simulation time revealed that the former material had greater wear resistance. Simulation results showed that as the stress on the pin increases, wear for both materials increases, which is supported by experiment data from the pin-on-disc tribometer setup.
Lacanian Psychoanalysis, Addiction and Enjoyment
Authors: Palm Fredrik
Published: December 2022

This article discusses how decentered understandings of addiction might benefit from ongoing debates in Lacanian psychoanalysis. Departing from recent critiques in critical addiction studies, it claims that psychoanalysis offers a framework that both challenges abstract, essentialist ontologies and recognises addiction as a valid phenomenon. Crucial to this framework is a notion of freedom linked to the symbolic break with bodily enjoyment, which, according to Lacan, lies at the origin of the constitution of subjectivity and which neither presupposes the existence of a conscious will nor rejects freedom as a mere product of abstract bio-political governmentality. The article explores how, in Lacanian psychoanalysis, addiction is seen as a way of denying this freedom through the realisation of an enjoyment independent of the symbolic order. Moreover, the article argues that its definition of addiction allows for both a decentered understanding of addiction and a critical challenging of current societal processes of addictification.
Heart failure describing the underlying cause of death: a misconception, lack of information on the true underlying causes, or both?
Authors: Sulo Gerhard , Lycke Ellingsen Christian , Sulo Enxhela , Naghavi Mohsen , Vollset Stein Emil
Published: December 2022

Aim:

The underlying cause of death represents the most important information on death certificates. Often, conditions that cannot represent a true underlying cause of death are listed as such. This phenomenon affects the quality of vital statistics and results of studies using cause-specific mortality as endpoints. We aimed at exploring the magnitude and factors associated with the use of heart failure to describe the underlying cause of death.

Methods:

In this cross-sectional, register based study we linked data from the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry and the Norwegian Patient Registry. We used logistic regression models to analyse the association between external factors and heart failure listed as the underlying cause of death.

Results:

Heart failure was listed as the underlying cause of death in 3.6% of all deaths. The odds of heart failure increased: (a) by 35% for 5-year increment in age; (b) by 78% for deaths occurring at nursing homes (compared with in-hospital deaths); and (c) by 602% for deaths not followed by an autopsy (compared with those followed by an autopsy). Deceased with a previous hospitalisation with heart failure as the discharge diagnosis had 514% higher odds of having heart failure listed as their underlying cause of death. Of the deceased with heart failure listed as the underlying cause of death, 9.4% did not have any, and 69.2% had only irrelevant additional information for assessing the true underlying cause of death in their death certificates.

Conclusions:

Heart failure listed as the underlying cause of death was associated with age, place of death, autopsy and previous hospitalisations – all factors that should not influence coding procedures. Better completion of death certificates in accordance with the World Health Organization rules will help reduce the use of heart failure to describe the underlying cause of death.
The ‘Powerbite’ and surgical rapid expansion
Authors: Johnson Ellen Louise , Power Gavin
Published: December 2022

Adults presenting with transverse maxillomandibular discrepancies in Class III skeletal patterns, asymmetries and anterior open bite can be challenging to treatment plan and manage. Therefore, they often necessitate a multidisciplinary approach, with surgical input from the oral and maxillofacial team. It can be difficult to assess how much the maxilla needs to be expanded after surgery in these patients, as the upper and lower teeth cannot be brought into occlusion. We aim to discuss the use of a device we have come to call the ‘Powerbite’, which is used intra-orally to assess the expansion of the maxilla after surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion (SARPE) and establish when expansion is sufficient to accommodate the mandibular arch. This device is not novel, last described in 1986 in the Journal of Orthodontics.
Evaluation of the enamel nano-topography influenced by different techniques of interproximal reduction: An atomic force microscopic study
Authors: Butrus Dina Jawhar , Chawshli Omar Fawzi
Published: December 2022

Introduction:

Interproximal enamel reduction is a part of the orthodontic treatment as a method of space generation in addition to other vast indications. Some studies found that different techniques might impose changes to the enamel surface that alter its topography, which in turn might influence its integrity and susceptibility to caries. Polishing, however, after this procedure is thought to be helpful to reduce these adverse effects.

Aim:

To evaluate the nano-topography of the enamel surfaces after interproximal reduction (IPR) and determine its influence on enamel surface roughness and examine the need for polishing to minimise these influences, when combined with topical fluoride application.

Methods:

A total of 60 proximal surfaces of 40 extracted maxillary premolars (10 premolars left unprepared as the control group) were reduced with different stripping instruments (discs, burs and manual strip system). The surface roughness of enamel was analysed with an atomic force microscope to determine the results quantitatively as well as qualitatively on the nanoscopic scale. One of each proximal surface was followed by polishing and fluoride varnish after the reduction.

Results:

The results showed that surface roughness was increased in all groups without polishing. The greatest mean roughness was recorded for the disc group (212 ±125.7), followed by the bur group (172 ±93.1) and manual strips (153.8±106.7). The difference between the groups, however, was not significant for both mean roughness ( P = 0.656) and height ( P = 0.737). The parameters were decreased after polishing in all groups but the difference between methods was not significant for both parameters ( P = 0.946 and P = 0.849); however, the mean height was reduced to nearly half the reading in the bur and manual strip method. The disc group only showed a statistically significant decrease in surface roughness with polishing ( P < 0.05). All other results were not significant.

Conclusion:

All methods of interproximal reduction do not influence enamel surface nanotopography significantly with and without polishing. Polishing resulted in significant reduction of surface roughness only in the disc group.
Results From La Vida Buena (The Good Life): A Quasi-Experimental Intervention of a Community Health Worker–Led Family-Based Childhood Obesity Program for Latino Children 5–8 Years of Age on the U.S.-Mexico Border
Authors: Tucker Kathryn , Ingram Maia , Doubleday Kevin , Piper Rosie , Sander Alicia , Flores Roxana , Martinez Diana , Carvajal Scott
Published: December 2022

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of the 8-week, community health worker (CHW)–led La Vida Buena childhood obesity program among Latino children 5 to 8 years old in a rural county along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Methods

This quasi-experimental study used a community-based participatory research approach to compare the effectiveness of the La Vida Buena (The Good Life) curriculum as compared with a single educational session. We took anthropomorphic measures and administered parent-reported nutrition and physical activity surveys at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. The study took place between 2017 and 2020 in Santa Cruz County, Arizona.

Results

Change in body mass index (BMI) z-score was negligible for both groups. The parent-reported behavior indicated a shift toward healthier family behaviors and environment in the intervention group.

Implications for Practice

This study adds to the growing literature of CHW-led childhood obesity interventions. The engagement of the CHWs in all aspects of the intervention helped to facilitate important behavior changes. Future interventions should emphasize health and wellness rather than BMI z-score and include community, socioeconomic, and systems-level interventions to promote healthy environments.
The role of autophagy in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: from mechanisms to therapies
Authors: Yue Yue-Liang , Zhang Meng-Yu , Liu Jian-Yu , Fang Li-Jun , Qu Yi-Qing
Published: December 2022

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an interstitial pulmonary disease with an extremely poor prognosis. Autophagy is a fundamental intracellular process involved in maintaining cellular homeostasis and regulating cell survival. Autophagy deficiency has been shown to play an important role in the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. This review focused on the six steps of autophagy, as well as the interplay between autophagy and other seven pulmonary fibrosis related mechanisms, which include extracellular matrix deposition, myofibroblast differentiation, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, pulmonary epithelial cell dysfunction, apoptosis, TGF-β1 pathway, and the renin-angiotensin system. In addition, this review also summarized autophagy-related signaling pathways such as mTOR, MAPK, JAK2/STAT3 signaling, p65, and Keap1/Nrf2 signaling during the development of IPF. Furthermore, this review also illustrated the commonly used autophagy detection methods, the currently approved antifibrotic drugs pirfenidone and nintedanib, and several prospective compounds targeting autophagy for the treatment of IPF.
Lung mass in patient with congestive heart failure – Now you see it, now you don’t !
Authors: Yeh Kuan Yau , Ahmad Asyif Fairus , Alaga Arvindran
Published: December 2022

Phantom tumour, vanishing tumour, and pseudotumour of the lung are terms used to describe the tumour appearance on a chest radiograph of a decompensated heart failure patient, which typically disappears after appropriate treatment of their underlying condition. It is a loculated pleural effusion in the fissures that gives rise to the tumour appearance on the chest radiograph of a patient with heart failure. Its existence might mislead the diagnosis, resulting in unnecessary invasive diagnostic investigations done on the patient. We present a case of a 64 year-old male with multiple co-morbidities presenting with dyspnea, loss of weight, and loss of appetite. A chest radiograph showed homogenous opacity over the right lower zone with cardiomegaly, raising the suspicion of a lung mass apart from heart failure. It disappeared after appropriate diuretic treatment. The computed tomography (CT) thorax, which was planned by the primary team, subsequently showed no lung mass. Hence, a high index of suspicion of phantom tumour is important when a lung mass is noted on a chest radiograph of a patient clinically presented with heart failure. This is because exposure to ionising radiation from CT is completely avoidable with just appropriate treatment of fluid overload. However, CT is still the best modality for assisting physicians in a doubtful case.
Comparison of Oil Sorption Capacity of Nonwoven Sorbents
Authors: Jiang Peilin , Lou Lihua , Ramkumar Seshadri
Published: December 2022

Oil sorption capacity is one of the essential parameters to evaluate the practical performances of oil sorbent products. This study aims to compare the dynamic oil sorption capacity of industrial nonwoven sorbents, which were fabricated through the carding process, spun-bond technology, and composite processes. The oil sorbents were produced by polypropylene fibers or cotton fibers with different surface wettability. The study showed that raw cotton layers exhibited a higher oil sorption capacity than the other three samples: eight-layer thermal-bonded melt-blown polypropylene fiber nonwoven, polypropylene fibers on top and bottom with raw cotton layers in the middle, and polypropylene fiber melt-blown nonwovens. Comparatively, eight-layer thermal-bonded melt-blown polypropylene fiber nonwoven had the lowest oil sorption capacity. Moreover, the hydrophilic property can significantly enhance the water pick-up capacity of sorbents on both dynamic and static systems but reduce the maximum oil sorption ability. Overall, the major factors determining a nonwoven fabric’s oil absorption performance are its fiber type, surface wettability, and hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity. Specifically, raw cotton, polypropylene fibers, or polypropylene fiber/cotton composite oil sorbents with low hydrophobicity and high hydrophobicity will contribute to high oil absorption ability. The advantage of raw cotton over polypropylene fibers is 3–7 times higher in oil absorption capability, environmentally friendliness, and sustainability, attributed to their hydrophobic ingredients, including pectin and waxes. From a structure angle, products with a loose structure and good mechanical properties ensure a balance between service life and oil absorption performance.
Selected memory T cells infused post–haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation persist and hyperexpand
Authors: van Beek Jasper J. P. , Puccio Simone , Di Vito Clara , De Paoli Federica , Zaghi Elisa , Calvi Michela , Scarpa Alice , Peano Clelia , Basso Gianluca , Cibella Javier , De Philippis Chiara , Sarina Barbara , Timofeeva Inna , Capizzuto Rossana , Mannina Daniele , Mineri Rossana , Mariotti Jacopo , Crocchiolo Roberto , Santoro Armando , Castagna Luca , Bramanti Stefania , Mavilio Domenico , Lugli Enrico
Published: December 2022

Haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) with post-transplant cyclophosphamide is a curative treatment for many hematological malignancies, yet a majority of patients still suffers from recurrent infections. Post-transplant infusion of memory T-cells could potentially enhance immunological protection without increasing the risk of eliciting acute graft-versus-host disease, which is mainly induced by naïve T-cells. Here, we performed longitudinal analysis of the lymphocyte compartment in 19 patients who underwent haplo-HSCT previously enrolled in a phase II prospective clinical trial (www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT04687982), in which they received post-transplant CD45RA-depleted donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI). T-cell receptor sequencing analysis showed that, surprisingly, CD45RA-depleted DLI do not increase T-cell clonal diversity, but lead to prominent expansion of a selected number of infused memory T-cell clones, suggesting recruitment of these cells in the immune response. Pathogen-specific memory T-cells, including cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific cells, were engrafted and were able to persist for at least 1 month. Deep immunophenotyping revealed strong polyfunctional effector CMV-specific T-cell responses in the majority of patients, with their expansion correlating with the frequency of CMV-specific cells in the donor. These findings provide a rationale behind the suggested improved protection against viral infections in patients receiving CD45RA-depleted DLI.
Compromised antigen binding and signaling interfere with bispecific CD19 and CD79a chimeric antigen receptor function
Authors: Leung Isabel , Templeton Megan L. , Lo Yun , Rajan Anusha , Stull Sylvia M. , Garrison Sarah M. , Salter Alexander I. , Smythe Kimberly S. , Correnti Colin E. , Srivastava Shivani , Yeung Cecilia C. S. , Riddell Stanley R.
Published: December 2022

Therapy with CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells has transformed the treatment of advanced B-cell malignancies. However, loss of or low antigen expression can enable tumor escape and limit the duration of responses achieved with CAR T-cell therapy. Engineering bispecific CAR T cells that target 2 tumor antigens could overcome antigen-negative escape. We found that CD79a and b, which are heterodimeric components of the B-cell receptor, were expressed on 84.3% of lymphoma cases using immunohistochemistry, and 87.3% of CD79ab-positive tumors also coexpressed CD19. We generated 3 bispecific permutations: tandem, bicistronic, and pooled products of CD79a-CD19 or CD79b-CD19 CAR T cells and showed that bispecific CAR T cells prevented the outgrowth of antigen-negative cells in a CD19-loss lymphoma xenograft model. However, tandem and bicistronic CAR T cells were less effective than monospecific CD19 or CD79a CAR T cells for the treatment of tumors that only expressed CD19 or CD79, respectively. When compared with monospecific CAR T cells, T cells expressing a tandem CAR exhibited reduced binding of each target antigen, and T cells expressing a bicistronic CAR vector exhibited reduced phosphorylation of downstream CAR signaling molecules. Our study showed that despite added specificity, tandem and bicistronic CAR T cells exhibit different defects that impair recognition of tumor cells expressing a single antigen. Our data provide support for targeting multiple B-cell antigens to improve efficacy and identify areas for improvement in bispecific receptor designs.
PACAP signaling is not involved in GTN- and levcromakalim-induced hypersensitivity in mouse models of migraine
Authors: Guo Song , Ernstsen Charlotte , Hay-Schmidt Anders , Kristensen David Møbjerg , Ashina Messoud , Olesen Jes , Christensen Sarah Louise
Published: December 2022

Background

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonizing drugs represents the most important advance in migraine therapy for decades. However, these new drugs are only effective in 50–60% of patients. Recent studies have shown that the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP38) pathway is independent from the CGRP signaling pathway. Here, we investigate PACAP38 signaling pathways in relation to glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), levcromakalim and sumatriptan.

Methods

In vivo mouse models of PACAP38-, GTN-, and levcromakalim-induced migraine were applied using tactile sensitivity to von Frey filaments as measuring readout. Signaling pathways involved in the three models were dissected using PACAP-inhibiting antibodies (mAbs) and sumatriptan.

Results

We showed that PACAP mAbs block PACAP38 induced hypersensitivity, but not via signaling pathways involved in GTN and levcromakalim. Also, sumatriptan has no effect on PACAP38-induced hypersensitivity relevant to migraine. This is the first study testing the effect of a PACAP-inhibiting drug on GTN- and levcromakalim-induced hypersensitivity.

Conclusions

Based on the findings in our mouse model of migraine using migraine-inducing compounds and anti-migraine drugs, we suggest that PACAP acts via a distinct pathway. Using PACAP38 antagonism may be a novel therapeutic target of interest in a subgroup of migraine patients who do not respond to existing therapies.