bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Possible Occurrence of Delayed Leukoencephalopathy Following Acute Ischemic Stroke With Large‐Vessel Occlusion
Authors: Sato Takeo , Matsushima Satoshi , Okumura Motohiro , Maku Takahiro , Kitagawa Tomomichi , Tanabe Maki , Takatsu Hiroki , Komatsu Teppei , Sakai Kenichiro , Sakuta Kenichi , Umehara Tadashi , Murakami Hidetomo , Mitsumura Hidetaka , Matsushima Masato , Iguchi Yasuyuki
Published: November 2023

Background

Typically detected at least 14 days after acute ischemic stroke onset, delayed leukoencephalopathy (DL) involves diffuse hyperintensities restricted to white matter on fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery accompanied mostly by partial diffusion‐weighted image hyperintensities. DL cases, which are rarely reported, have occurred after large‐vessel occlusion (LVO). Herein, we aim to elucidate the incidence and factors associated with DL.

Methods

Our study covers consecutive ischemic strokes involving: (1) onset‐to‐door time within 7 days and (2) available scans from at least a second magnetic resonance imaging procedure at least 14 days after onset. First, we examined the incidence of DL generally and whether LVO could be a risk factor for DL in ischemic strokes generally, and second, we examined the incidence and risk factors associated with DL in patients with LVO.

Results

We screened 1857 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke and selected 792 general patients—573 (72%) men, median age 67 years—and 183 patients with LVO—128 (70%) men, median age 67 years. DL was detected in 2.3% of the general patients and 9.2% of the patients with LVO ischemic stroke. LVO was strongly associated with DL (odds ratio [OR], 69.1 [95 CI, 9.06–526];
P
<0.001). Among patients with LVO, DL‐associated factors were age/10 years (OR, 1.76 [95% CI, 1.13–2.75];
P
=0.012), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol/10 mg/dL (OR, 0.863 [95% CI, 0.745–1.00];
P
=0.049), complete recanalization (OR, not calculable;
P
<0.001), and endovascular therapy (OR, 17.4 [95% CI, 4.44–68.5];
P
<0.001).

Conclusion

DL might not be rare following LVO. We speculate that certain risk factors and their combinations are key in the development of DL.
Improving Extraction of Chinese Open Relations Using Pre-trained Language Model and Knowledge Enhancement
Authors: Wen Chaojie , Jia Xudong , Chen Tao
Published: November 2023

Open Relation Extraction (ORE) is a task of extracting semantic relations from a text document. Current ORE systems have significantly improved their efficiency in obtaining Chinese relations, when compared with conventional systems which heavily depend on feature engineering or syntactic parsing. However, the ORE systems do not use robust neural networks such as pre-trained language models to take advantage of large-scale unstructured data effectively. In respons to this issue, a new system entitled Chinese Open Relation Extraction with Knowledge Enhancement (CORE-KE) is presented in this paper. The CORE-KE system employs a pre-trained language model (with the support of a Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) layer and a Masked Conditional Random Field (Masked CRF) layer) on unstructured data in order to improve Chinese open relation extraction. Entity descriptions in Wikidata and additional knowledge (in terms of triple facts) extracted from Chinese ORE datasets are used to fine-tune the pre-trained language model. In addition, syntactic features are further adopted in the training stage of the CORE-KE system for knowledge enhancement. Experimental results of the CORE-KE system on two large-scale datasets of open Chinese entities and relations demonstrate that the CORE-KE system is superior to other ORE systems. The F1-scores of the CORE-KE system on the two datasets have given a relative improvement of 20.1% and 1.3%, when compared with benchmark ORE systems, respectively. The source code is available at https://github.com/cjwen15/CORE-KE.
Building Expertise on FAIR Through Evolving Bring Your Own Data (BYOD) Workshops: Describing the Data, Software, and Management-focused Approaches and Their Evolution
Authors: Bernabé César H. , Thielemans Lieze , Kaliyaperumal Rajaram , Carta Claudio , Zhang Shuxin , van Gelder Celia W.G. , Benis Nirupama , da Silva Santos Luiz Olavo Bonino , Cornet Ronald , dos Santos Vieira Bruna , Lalout Nawel , Henriques Ines , Ballesteros Alberto Cámara , Burger Kees , Kersloot Martijn G. , Ehrhart Friederike , van Enckevort Esther , Evelo Chris T. , Gray Alasdair J. G. , Hanauer Marc , Hettne Kristina , de Ligt Joep , Pereira Arnaldo , Queralt-Rosinach Núria , Schultes Erik , Taruscio Domenica , Waagmeester Andra , Wilkinson Mark D. , Willighagen Egon L. , Jansen Mascha , Mons Barend , Roos Marco , Jacobsen Annika
Published: November 2023

Since 2014, “Bring Your Own Data” workshops (BYODs) have been organised to inform people about the process and benefits of making resources Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR, and the FAIRification process). The BYOD workshops’ content and format differ depending on their goal, context, and the background and needs of participants. Data-focused BYODs educate domain experts on how to make their data FAIR to find new answers to research questions. Management-focused BYODs promote the benefits of making data FAIR and instruct project managers and policy-makers on the characteristics of FAIRification projects. Software-focused BYODs gather software developers and experts on FAIR to implement or improve software resources that are used to support FAIRification. Overall, these BYODs intend to foster collaboration between different types of stakeholders involved in data management, curation, and reuse (e.g. domain experts, trainers, developers, data owners, data analysts, FAIR experts). The BYODs also serve as an opportunity to learn what kind of support for FAIRification is needed from different communities and to develop teaching materials based on practical examples and experience. In this paper, we detail the three different structures of the BYODs and describe examples of early BYODs related to plant breeding data, and rare disease registries and biobanks, which have shaped the structure of the workshops. We discuss the latest insights into making BYODs more productive by leveraging our almost ten years of training experience in these workshops, including successes and encountered challenges. Finally, we examine how the participants’ feedback has motivated the research on FAIR, including the development of workflows and software.
Description of Longidorus zhengi n. sp. (Nematoda: Longidoridae) from the rhizosphere of Quercus aliena in China
Authors: Gu Jianfeng , Ma Xinxin , Liu Yanchun , Cai Ruihang
Published: November 2023

Longidorus zhengi n. sp. was recovered in the rhizosphere of Quercus aliena in China. The new species is characterised by medium-length females (3.2-4.0 mm), lip region slightly offset, anteriorly flat and separated from the rest of the body by constriction, funnel-shaped amphidial pouches, a simple guiding ring located at 57.0-60.0 μm distance from the anterior end, stylet composed of a moderately long odontostyle (108.0-139.0 μm) and weakly developed odontophore (56.0-68.0 μm), 61.0-74.0 μm long pharyngeal bulb, well-developed offset cardia, and a short conical tail with widely rounded terminus. The species has four juvenile developmental stages (J1-J4) and no male was found. The matrix codes of the new species are: A45-B23-C5-D2-E1-F2-G1-H1-I1-J1-K5. The new species was molecularly characterised using ITS1 and 28S D2-D3 rRNA gene sequences. The phylogenetic analyses placed L. zhengi n. sp. with several species described from the mainland of China, which were clustered with L. litchi, L. diadecturus and L. juglans.
Variability in soil nematode communities across recovery patches in degraded Alpine meadows of the Yellow River source region
Authors: Chen Guorong , Hu Jing , Li Chengyi , She Yandi , Wu Yong , Li Xilai
Published: November 2023

Accurate measurements of soil nematode communities are important for an in-depth understanding of the ecological functions of soil nematodes. High throughput sequencing (HTS) has been reported extensively, but the concordance between HTS and morphological identification results is still lacking. To compare two methods, we selected bare patches (BP), short-term recovery patches (SP), middle-term recovery patches (MP) and long-term recovery patches (LP) of different restoration succession stages in three sample sites to survey the nematode characteristics. In addition to nematode community structure and community ecological function, common nematode genera in BP, SP, MP and LP were compared by two methods: HTS and morphological identification. The results show that the number of species identified in the morphological analysis was lower than using HTS. The soil nematode diversity in different recovery patches was LP > MP > SP > BP. The indices of Shannon-Wiener, Pielou, Simpson and species number of different recovery patches based on HTS reflected the biodiversity of nematode communities, which was consistent with the results of morphological identification. Of the common nematode genera, Coslenchus, Aphelenchus and Leptonchus showed a significant correlation by the two methods. Although both methods have limitations, the HTS provides a more effective means of observing soil nematode biodiversity levels for rapid insight across recovery patches in degraded alpine meadows of the Yellow River source region in our results.
Bioassay to characterise the effects of nematicidal compounds on Meloidogyne species
Authors: Oka Yuji
Published: November 2023

A bioassay was developed to characterise the effects of nematicidal compounds and tested using low concentrations (0.125 and 0.25 mg l−1) of three nematicides: fluensulfone, fluopyram and fluazaindolizine. Germinating lettuce seeds with ca 2-3 mm roots were planted in a 5.5-cm-diam. Petri dish on agar containing the nematicides. Second-stage juveniles (J2) of Meloidogyne javanica and M. incognita were introduced to the agar plate immediately after planting. Alternatively, lettuce seeds were planted 48 h after introducing J2 to the plate. The number of J2 attracted to a root tip and J2 mobility were recorded 19 h after inoculation or planting, and infection rate and root length were recorded 5 days after planting. The three nematicides showed different effects on J2 of the Meloidogyne species. Fluensulfone did not inhibit infection by either species if the lettuce was planted immediately after inoculation, but their infection rates, and especially those of M. incognita, were reduced when lettuce seeds were planted 2 days later. Fluopyram reduced infection with M. javanica J2 at higher rates (>83.3%) than for M. incognita J2 (<58.4%) compared to the control, even without 48 h exposure before planting. Fluazaindolizine reduced M. incognita infection at high rates (>83.3%), although the J2 were attracted to the lettuce roots. Root lengths also showed differences in infection severity. This assay distinguished the effects of the three nematicides on the two Meloidogyne species and can also serve to screen compounds that inhibit nematode infection without killing Meloidogyne J2.
Shame in the Philosophical Narrative of the Pour-Soi: On Sartre’s Being and Nothingness
Authors: Falcato Ana
Published: November 2023

This paper discusses the relevance and the conceptual role, within Sartre’s Being and Nothingness, of a fleeting impression of shame that reverts the threat of solipsism looming over any project of transcendental philosophy. In reading Sartre’s masterpiece, I underscore two methodological points that tend to be bypassed in standard interpretations and lengthy discussions of the book. On the one hand, I safeguard the strictly descriptive core of Sartre’s presentation of the impression of shame and what it reveals about the formal structures of the (pre-reflective) cogito, as Sartre understands it. On the other hand, my analysis explores the different phases of the (conceptual) narrative of the For-Itself, which Sartre inherits from the Idealist tradition in modern philosophy and applies to the concreteness of a phenomenological description of the main stages of one’s experience of the outside world.
Rethinking the Gay Chinese Migrant through the Prism of Migration Aspirations
Authors: 吴 艾榮 , 陈 才
Published: November 2023

On the basis of data gathered by two independent ethnographic studies of gay Chinese migrants in France and Belgium, this paper aims to identify the role of intersecting and parallel aspirations which shape their migration trajectories toward Western countries. These aspirations include motivations to respond to or appropriate traditional family configurations, imaginaries that characterize the countries of destination, the desire to fulfill same-sex sexual and relationship goals, as well as class, educational, national, and ethnic affiliations. Using concepts of intersectionality and super-diversity, this paper further argues that the simultaneous and overlapping nature of these motivations deserves to be discussed as a subset of current Chinese diasporas.
Blending Soviet and Dutch Culture: Communist Family Life in the Netherlands 1945–1965
Authors: Weesjes Elke
Published: November 2023

This article examines the postwar cultural sphere of the Dutch communist movement. Drawing on a series of interviews with 27 Dutch cradle communists born between 1935 and 1955, communist archives, and a wide range of other sources, it explores respondents’ cultural upbringing and family leisure time in the period 1945–1965. It challenges the notion that Dutch communists all lived in a closed sectarian milieu or ideological bubble and instead argues that Dutch communists had a close yet complex relationship with the ‘bourgeois’ (non-communist) world.
Protest Resonances across the Global South: Democratic Deficit, Inequality and Indignity
Authors: Brooks Heidi
Published: November 2023

During the first two decades of the 21st century, protest has emerged as part of a normalised repertoire of political participation employed by citizens world-over. In the Global South, protests have seen both scale and impact, centring on a range of short- and long-term grievances, and making calls for political and economic change. This article conducts a cross-regional comparative analysis of contentious action in the Global South, drawing out some of the thematic and substantive parallels that might help us better understand the drivers of protest since the 2000s. Drawing on a range of protest data, media sources and secondary analysis, it focuses in particular on protest in Africa, Latin America and Asia. Making use of the wealth of existing protest literature, the article moves beyond a national or regional analysis to highlight the ways in which protest drivers and underpinnings in various locations of the South may resonate with the region’s broader wave of post-2000 protest. The article posits that the drivers of protest can be linked to three overarching themes: democratic deficit and (ine)quality of representation; neoliberalism and expanding inequality; and concerns of citizenship, dignity and inclusion. Underpinning these identifiable themes is the prevalence of experiences of popular exclusion. The article also foregrounds calls for ‘dignity’ as central to understanding the demands and drivers of protest. It is hoped that this initial survey will contribute to further attempts to understand contentious action through an increasingly global lens.
Teaching Social Justice Activism through Radical Community-Based Learning
Authors: Russell Vincent
Published: November 2023

Given the numerous crises facing the world, this essay argues that educators need to turn to the radical tradition to teach students social justice activism. Reflecting on my experience teaching social justice activism, the essay describes a pedagogical approach called radical community-based learning (cbl), wherein faculty and students partner with grassroots social movements, groups, and/or organizations to engage in political activism for social justice. Radical cbl promotes place-based consciousness and place-based activism so that students gain experience making material differences in their local communities. Through radical cbl, students learn theories and skills for community organizing, and faculty see themselves as inextricably linked with the communities in which they work and live. The essay offers an overview of radical cbl and provides resources for teaching social justice activism through radical cbl.
Is There a Cosmic Covenant?
Authors: Otto Randall E.
Published: November 2023

The idea of a cosmic covenant originated within Roman Catholicism in the mid-twentieth century. Jean Daniélou used it first as the order God gave in nature by which he is known to those outside of Israel. Though this supports interreligious dialogue, it confuses covenant with providence and may diminish the centrality of Christ to salvation. Mary Daly later took up the phrase and attached to it ideas of a sisterhood of universal harmony in which all distinctions are dissolved in being, intuited similarly to dialogical personalism. Robert Murray then grounded the idea in traces of a divinely willed order in nature and society unearthed from vestiges of ritual expression thought to remain in the Old Testament. In each of these usages, the idea of cosmic covenant falls short of what covenant entails, a relationship established between rational entities, ultimately by God with human beings, to establish loving obedience among those made in his image.
A new species of the genus Wushenia Zettel, 1990 from China (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Cheloninae)
Authors: ZHAO QINGYAN , LUO WENJUAN , FANG SHUQIAN , ACHTERBERG KEENS VAN , PENG YANQIONG , ZHU WENJI , GAO ZHENGHAN , AIZEZI AYIZUOHERE , YAO JUNLI
Published: November 2023

Wushenia Zettel, 1990 is a rare genus (with the type species Wushenia nana Zettel) first collected in Wushe (Taiwan) in 1983. Here we describe a second species, Wushenia yekunzengi Yao & Luo sp. nov., from Gaoligong Mountain Nature Reserve, Yunnan and Emei Mountain, Sichuan, China. A key to species of the genus Wushenia is presented. In addition, Wushenia australiensis Kittel & Austin, 2013 is excluded from the genus Wushenia Zettel.
The Nazeris fauna in Xizang, China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Paederinae)
Authors: GAO ZHUO-QUN , DA WA , HU JIA-YAO
Published: November 2023

Nine species of Nazeris Fauvel are reported from Xizang, China. Seven of them are described as new: N. mirabilis sp. n., N. dinggyensis sp. n., N. jifuensis sp. n., N. wenxuani sp. n., N. gladius sp. n., N. gyirongensis sp. n. and N. yadongensis sp. n. An identification key to the Nazeris species in Xizang and a map showing their distribution are provided.
Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy with Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogy–Principal Component Analysis for Classifying Cotton Fiber Maturity Phenotypes of Cotton Population Composed of Various Genotypes
Authors: Liu Yongliang , Kim Hee-Jin
Published: November 2023

Maturity is a major fiber trait that affects the processing and performance of cotton fiber. Rapid and accurate identification of fiber maturity phenotypes and genotypes is of importance to breeders. Previous studies showed that either conventional fiber measurements or attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR) analysis discriminated the immature fiber ( im) phenotype from the wild type (WT) mature fiber phenotype in a segregating F2population from a cross between two upland cotton lines differing in fiber maturity. However, both conventional fiber property measurement methods and FT-IR analyses with current algorithms could not detect the subtle differences among the WT fibers composed of two different genotypes, WT homozygosity (WT-homo) and WT heterozygosity (WT-hetero). This research explored the FT-IR method, in combination with soft independent modeling of class analogy of principal component analysis (SIMCA–PCA), for the discrimination of WT fiber phenotypes consisting of two different genotypes (WT-homo and WT-hetero). The new approach enabled the detection of IR spectral intensity differences between WT-homo and WT-hetero fibers. Successful classification originated from a distinctive spectral difference in the low-wavenumber region (<700 cm–1) between WT-hetero fibers and WT-homo fibers. This observation emphasized that ATR FT-IR with a SIMCA–PCA approach would be a sensitive tool for classifying the WT fibers demonstrating minor phenotypic differences. The improved sensitivity of the infrared method may provide a way of dissecting genotype–phenotype interactions of cotton fibers rapidly and efficiently.
The Impact of Public Investment on Private Investment in Botswana: A Disaggregated Approach
Authors: Maluleke Glenda , Odhiambo NM , Nyasha Sheilla
Published: November 2023

The study examined the crowding in or out effect of public investment on private investment in Botswana from 1980 to 2018 using the autoregressive distributed lag bounds testing approach. The findings of the study indicate that infrastructure public investment negatively affects private investment while non-infrastructure public investment has a positive impact on private investment in the short run. The study concluded that infrastructure public investment crowd out private investment while non-infrastructure public investment crowds in private investment only in the short run. The recommendation emanating from the study is that the government should spend more on non-infrastructure public investment in order to crowd in private investment, especially in the short run, and introduce more initiatives to promote the role of the private sector in growing the economy.
Review of microbial fuel cell from a techno-economic perspective
Authors: Khan Saad Saleem , Amjad Mohsin , Shareef Hussain , Larkin Stephen
Published: November 2023

This review presents a techno-economic analysis of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) in the domain of generating sustainable energy and treating wastewater with the aim of attracting investors through research and development for residential and commercial applications. The operation principles and various MFC types, along with their advantages and disadvantages, are thoroughly considered. The efficiency of various MFC types is considered to present appropriate options for commercial applications. However, large-scale integrations face substantial financial limitations owing to the reluctance of investors. This review explores the cost-benefit balance associated with the operation of an MFC system. For encouraging investors, different cost variables, such as the initial investment, operating costs, potential electricity generation, and waste treatment capacity, are thoroughly considered. These variables are placed on the spectrum of a cost-benefit analysis to vitalize the economic feasibility of the MFC technology in various scenarios, considering an order of financial variables. MFC development at an optimized cost is the pivotal pre-requisite to secure a competitive advantage over conventional sources of energy with carbon emissions. Thus, this study is expected to prompt decision-makers to adopt the MFC technology at the commercial level.
Optimal virtual tube planning and control for swarm robotics
Authors: Mao Pengda , Fu Rao , Quan Quan
Published: November 2023

This paper presents a novel method for efficiently solving a trajectory planning problem for swarm robotics in cluttered environments. Recent research has demonstrated high success rates in real-time local trajectory planning for swarm robotics in cluttered environments, but optimizing trajectories for each robot is still computationally expensive, with a computational complexity from [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] is the number of parameters in the parameterized trajectory, [Formula: see text] is precision, and [Formula: see text] is the number of iterations with respect to [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, the swarm is difficult to move as a group. To address this issue, we define and then construct the optimal virtual tube, which includes infinite optimal trajectories. Under certain conditions, any optimal trajectory in the optimal virtual tube can be expressed as a convex combination of a finite number of optimal trajectories, with a computational complexity of [Formula: see text]. Afterward, a hierarchical approach including a planning method of the optimal virtual tube with minimizing energy and distributed model predictive control is proposed. In simulations and experiments, the proposed approach is validated and its effectiveness over other methods is demonstrated through comparison.
Modelling and performance analysis of a curvature-adjustable multiple-axis flexure hinge based on Bézier curve
Authors: Wang Xuewen , Yu Yang , Xu Zhenbang , Xu Anpeng , Qin Chao
Published: November 2023

In order to solve the uniqueness of the compliance equations and each notch profile, a curvature-adjustable multiple-axis flexure hinge with complex notch profiles is designed and investigated based on Bézier curve in this paper. The hinge can evolve into multiple-axis flexure hinges with single and hybrid, symmetric and asymmetric notch profiles composed of the ellipse, circle, hyperbola and parabola. In addition, analytical compliance equations in six degrees of freedom based on the Castigliano’s Second Theorem are proposed. Then, a simplified notch profile classification method based on a binary quadratic implicit equation is proposed. Moreover, analytical compliance equations are validated by finite element analysis. The maximum relative error between the finite element analysis and the analytical results is 6.07%. Finally, the compliance, precision of rotation and stress are investigated based on structural parameters. The results show that the change in the rotation centre does not significantly affect the axial and bending compliance for the flexure hinge with a specific single and flush Bézier curve notch profile. Moreover, the flexure hinge with a notch profile consisting of ellipse and hyperbola has the highest rotational precision. The proposed curvature-adjustable multiple-axis flexure hinge can provide more compliance options for the design of compliant mechanisms.
‘Inclusivity for who’?: An analysis of ‘race’ and female fandom at the 2022 UEFA European Women's Championships
Authors: Leslie-Walker Anika , Taylor Katie , Jones Russell Esther
Published: November 2023

This article explores the experiences and identities of minority ethnic women at the UEFA Women's Euros (UWE) held in England in 2022. It does so at a time when women sports fans have become more visible in the historically male-dominated environs of football fandom, particularly in the United Kingdom (UK), and when questions of ‘race’, ethnicity and gender are longstanding, contested elements of British culture and society. Through a Black feminist thought methodology allied to critical race theory principles, the study contributes an essential intersectional account of minority ethnic women's sports fandom experiences at a major international event. The findings confirm that the growth of women's football in the UK, motivated minority ethnic women to attend the UWE. However, the current visibility and inclusivity of professional women's football demonstrates a lack of diversity and cultural sensitivity, which often inhibits minority ethnic women from presenting their identities to further engage with and support the game's growth.
‘Best run club in the world': Manchester City fans and the legitimation of sportswashing?
Authors: Kearns Colm , Sinclair Gary , Black Jack , Doidge Mark , Fletcher Thomas , Kilvington Daniel , Liston Katie , Lynn Theo , Santos Guto Leoni
Published: November 2023

The term sportswashing has been discussed and analysed within academic circles, as well as the mainstream media. However, the majority of existing research has focused on one-off event-based sportswashing strategies (such as autocratic states hosting major international sports events) rather than longer term investment-based strategies (such as state actors purchasing sports clubs and teams). Furthermore, little has been written about the impact of this latter strategy on the existing fanbase of the purchased team and on their relationship with sportswashing and the discourses surrounding it. This paper addresses this lacuna through analysis of a popular Manchester City online fan forum, which illustrates the manner in which this community of dedicated City fans have legitimated the actions of the club's ownership regime, the Abu Dhabi United Group – a private equity group operated by Abu Dhabi royalty and UAE politicians. The discursive strategies of the City fans are discussed, in addition to the wider significance of these strategies on the issue of sportswashing and its coverage by the media.
Soft Tissue Aneurysmal Bone Cyst in the Sartorius Muscle of a 13-Year-Old Boy Mimicking Myositis Ossificans: Case Report
Authors: Pena-Burgos Eva Manuela , Serra del Carpio Gabriela , Bernabéu Daniel , Cordero García Jose Manuel , Ortiz-Cruz Eduardo Jose , Pozo-Kreilinger Jose Juan
Published: November 2023

Introduction

A soft tissue aneurysmal bone cyst is an extremely rare tumor. The objective of the article is to present the clinical, radiological, and histopathological features of a very unusual neoplasm of soft tissues.

Case report

A 13-year-old male patient presented a painful, mobile, and rapidly growing mass on the posteromedial aspect of his left knee. Imaging studies revealed a mass that arose from the medial surface of the distal sartorius muscle, with extension to the subcutaneous fat tissue. It was a well-circumscribed solid tumor with a peripheral rim calcification on plain film, computerized tomography, and ultrasound (zonal phenomenon). On magnetic resonance imaging, a heterogenous mass on T1-weighted images (WI) and T2-WI was seen, with a peripheral hypointense rim in both sequences. An outstanding edema on T2-WI extending to the soft tissue and muscles of the medial compartment of the knee was detected. The mass was resected, and the “tumoral mimickers” histopathological and molecular (next-generation sequencing) diagnoses confirmed a soft tissue aneurysmal bone cyst. A follow-up showed that the patient was free of disease 12 months after surgery.

Conclusion

Soft tissue aneurysmal bone cyst is a rare tumor. Appropriate clinical and radiological correlation should be performed to differentiate it from other tumor mimickers.
Risk Factors for Hypocoagulability After Cardiac Surgery: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Li Xuejie , Wang Ruiyu , Sun Dawei , Yao Yuanyuan , Wang Tingting , Luo Ge , Liu Mingxia , Xu Jingpin , Cheng Zhenzhen , Gao Qi , Wang Ying , Wu Chaomin , Xu Guangxin , Lv Tao , Zou Jingcheng , Yan Min
Published: November 2023

Hemostatic disturbances after cardiac surgery can lead to excessive postoperative bleeding. Thromboelastography (TEG) was employed to evaluate perioperative coagulative alterations in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), investigating the correlation between factors concomitant with cardiac surgery and modifications in coagulation. Coagulation index as determined by TEG correlated significantly with postoperative bleeding at 24-72 h after cardiac surgery ( P < .001). Among patients with a normal preoperative coagulation index, those with postoperative hypocoagulability showed significantly lower nadir temperature ( P  =  .003), larger infused fluid volume ( P  =  .003), and longer CPB duration ( P  =  .033) than those with normal coagulation index. Multivariate logistic regression showed that nadir intraoperative temperature was an independent predictor of postoperative hypocoagulability (adjusted OR: 0.772, 95% CI: 0.624-0.954, P  =  .017). Multivariate linear regression demonstrated linear associations of nadir intraoperative temperature ( P  =  .017) and infused fluid volume ( P  =  .005) with change in coagulation index as a result of cardiac surgery. Patients are susceptible to hypocoagulability after cardiac surgery, which can lead to increased postoperative bleeding. Ensuring appropriate temperature and fluid volume during cardiac surgery involving CPB may reduce risk of postoperative hypocoagulability and bleeding.
Surgical management of feline biliary tract disease: decision-making and techniques
Authors: Low Daniel , Williams John
Published: November 2023

Practical relevance:

Diseases of the hepatobiliary system are not uncommon in first-opinion practice. The anatomy of the feline hepatobiliary tract differs from that of dogs and may predispose cats to inflammatory hepatobiliary disease. Case management can be challenging, and the prognosis is variable and dependent on the underlying disease process.

Clinical challenges:

Biliary tract disease in the cat has non-specific clinical signs that overlap with those of diseases of other body systems. Diagnostic tests of the hepatobiliary system are widely available, but interpretation of results can be challenging. Deciding on medical or surgical management can also be challenging; for example, various degrees of cholestasis may be seen with different diseases and disease severities, and will influence the decision to manage the patient medically or surgically. Surgery is indicated in cases of bile peritonitis, severe cholestasis, focal neoplasia or disease that is refractory to medical management. Intensive perioperative and postoperative management, with 24 h hospitalisation facilities, is essential.

Audience:

This review article is written for the small animal general/primary care practitioner, with an emphasis on decision-making in the surgical management of feline hepatobiliary disease.

Evidence base:

Evidence available in the published literature is reviewed and presented, and the inherent limitations are discussed.
Numerical and experimental study of a segmentally prefabricated orthotropic steel–ultra-high-performance concrete composite deck for long-span cable-stayed bridges
Authors: Tan Xingyu , Fang Zhi , Zhu Qimu , Liao Yuan , Tang Shoufeng , Zhang Fa
Published: November 2023

Utilizing the high strengths, toughness, and durability of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC), a segmentally prefabricated orthotropic steel–UHPC composite deck (POSUCD) system has been developed for long-span cable-stayed bridges. The deck system combines an orthotropic steel deck (OSD) with a reinforced UHPC layer using notched perfobond strips (NPBLs). The UHPC layer is prefabricated onto the OSD of the girder segment in the factory to form the POSUCD. After the precast UHPC layer is cured, the girder segments are transported to the bridge site and assembled. The precast UHPC layers are then connected via transverse wet joints before tensioning stay cables. Against the background of the Danjiangkou Reservoir Bridge with a main span of 760 m, finite element (FE) analysis was conducted to examine the stress state and flexural tests were carried out on local full-scale models to verify the feasibility of POSUCD. The results show that the prefabricated UHPC layer reduces the maximum static compressive stress of the steel deck in the girder system by 21%, and the stress ranges at fatigue-prone details of the steel deck are decreased by 28%–90% compared to traditional OSDs with asphalt overlay. Since the prefabricated UHPC layer helps withstand dead axial load in the main girder, the high compressive strengths of UHPC can be utilized more effectively than in deck systems with UHPC only used as a cast-in-situ overlay to resist vehicular wheel loads. The transverse wet joint interfaces were identified as the weakest aspect of the POSUCD, whether under tension or compression; however, their nominal flexural strengths along the longitudinal direction meet the required design standards. The shear resistance of NPBLs was also well confirmed by the minimal interfacial slip on the specimen when it reached the ultimate capacity under positive bending moment.
Alignment and antagonism in flux: A diachronic sentiment analysis of attitudes towards the Chinese mainland in the Hong Kong press
Authors: Gao Qingyu , Feng Dezheng (William)
Published: November 2023

Despite extensive discussions about Hong Kong’s sentiments towards the Chinese mainland since the sovereignty transfer in 1997, there has been a lack of large-scale empirical analysis of attitude change in the mainstream media, which both reflect and shape sentiments in society. To address this gap, the present study employs an optimised semantic-based automatic sentiment analysis method to examine a corpus of news about China from 1997 to 2020 in three leading Chinese-language newspapers in Hong Kong, namely Apple Daily, Ming Pao, and Oriental Daily News. The analysis reveals that although the Hong Kong press had a positive emotional tone towards China in general, the overall sentiment was becoming increasingly negative. Meanwhile, the alignment and antagonism towards China have both increased, providing empirical evidence for attitudinal polarisation in the Hong Kong press. Specifically, Apple Daily’s depictions of China became increasingly negative, though with some positive turns before 2008, whereas Oriental Daily News consistently expressed favourable sentiments. Ming Pao maintained an impartial stance towards China through an increased but balanced representation of positive and negative sentiments, with its subjectivity and sentiment intensity growing to an industry-standard level. By explicating the cross-newspaper and cross-period variations, the results provide new insights into the complexity of sentiments towards China in the Hong Kong press, and media attitudes in general in terms of the “us” and “them” positionings.
International student mobility to China: The effects of government scholarship and Confucius Institute
Authors: Lien Donald , Miao Liqin
Published: November 2023

Government scholarship plays an active role in attracting foreign students and promoting higher education exports. As a culture and education platform, Confucius Institute is also likely to affect the number of foreign students in China. Using the data from 188 countries over the 2003-2018 period, we find globally both attract more international students to China. In addition, government scholarship has stronger impacts on degree-seeking students whereas Confucius Institute affects non-degree-seeking students more. At the continental level, government scholarship remains effective, particularly for degree-seeking students. Confucius Institute, however, display opposing impacts for different continents. As the number of the Institute increases in a country, there will be more foreign students if the continent is of higher income, geographically more distant from China, or culturally less exposed to China; and vice versa. Globally and for most continents, we observe Confucius Institute affects the positive effect of Chinese government scholarship. The results offer policy implications for government scholarship allocation decisions.
Shifting Social Support: Mexican-American Women’s Navigation of Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Postpartum Periods During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Neumann Pamela , Berndt Virginia K. , Grajeda Ashley D.
Published: November 2023

This article analyzes how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum experiences of Mexican-American women living at the U.S.–Mexico border, with an emphasis on participants’ perceptions of different forms of social support: material, emotional, and informational. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 22 Mexican-American women in Laredo, Texas, we show how pandemic-related changes reduced participants’ extensive social support networks to their immediate family members, with male partners frequently expected to make up for the loss of other relational support. These shifts in social support entrenched gendered caregiving roles and placed additional burdens on the women in this study postpartum. Furthermore, changes in healthcare protocols and access to critical healthcare information altered participants’ sense of preparedness and agency with regard to the birthing process and breastfeeding. Altogether, our study contributes novel insights into how Mexican-American women at the U.S.–Mexico border experienced the compounded loss of social support during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum periods in the context of COVID-19, which may lead to negative long-term health consequences among this population.
Characteristics, primary treatment, and survival of MDS/MPN with neutrophilia: a population-based study
Authors: Klein Saskia K. , Huls Gerwin A. , Visser Otto , Kluin-Nelemans Hanneke C. , Dinmohamed Avinash G.
Published: November 2023

Myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPN) with neutrophilia, until recently called atypical chronic myeloid leukemia (aCML), being part of the MDS/MPN is a very rare disease with poor prognosis. Although emerging data reveal its cytogenetic and molecular profile, integrated survival and treatment data remain scarce. We analyzed a cohort of 347 adult patients diagnosed with MDS/MPN with neutrophilia, registered in the Netherlands Cancer Registry between 2001 and 2019. Our demographic baseline data align with other cohorts. We observed cytogenetic aberrations exclusively in patients aged >65 years, with trisomy 8 being the most common abnormality. We identified 16 distinct molecular mutations, with some patients (16/101) harboring up to 3 different mutations; ASXL1 being the most frequent one (22%). In a multivariable Cox regression analysis, only age, hemoglobin level and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (alloHSCT) were associated with overall survival (aged >65 years; hazard ratio [HR] 1.85; P = .001 and alloHSCT HR, 0.51; P = .039). Because no other treatment modality seemed to affect survival and might cause toxicity, we propose that all patients eligible for alloHSCT should, whenever possible, receive an allogeneic transplant. It is imperative that we strive to improve outcomes for patients who are not eligible for alloHSCT. Tackling this challenge requires international collaborative efforts to conduct prospective intervention studies.
PP121, a dual inhibitor of tyrosine and phosphoinositide kinases, relieves airway hyperresponsiveness, mucus hypersecretion and inflammation in a murine asthma model
Authors: Li Wei , Xue Lu , Peng Changsi , Zhao Ping , Peng Yongbo , Chen Weiwei , Wang Wenyi , Shen Jinhua
Published: November 2023

Background

Tyrosine kinase and phosphoinositide kinase pathways play important roles in asthma formation. As a dual tyrosine and phosphoinositide kinase inhibitor, PP121 has shown anticancer efficacy in multiple tumors. However, the study of PP121 in pulmonary diseases is still limited. Herein, we investigated the therapeutic activities of PP121 in asthma treatment.

Methods

Tension measurements and patch clamp recordings were made to investigate the anticontractile characteristics of PP121 in vitro. Then, an asthma mouse model was established to further explore the therapeutic characteristics of PP121 via measurement of respiratory system resistance, histological analysis and western blotting.

Results

We discovered that PP121 could relax precontracted mouse tracheal rings (mTRs) by blocking certain ion channels, including L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (L-VDCCs), nonselective cation channels (NSCCs), transient receptor potential channels (TRPCs), Na+/Ca2+ exchangers (NCXs) and K+ channels, and accelerating calcium mobilization. Furthermore, PP121 relieved asthmatic pathological features, including airway hyperresponsiveness, systematic inflammation and mucus secretion, via downregulation of inflammatory factors, mucins and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/Akt signaling pathway in asthmatic mice.

Conclusion

In summary, PP121 exerts dual anti-contractile and anti-inflammatory effects in asthma treatment, which suggests that PP121 might be a promising therapeutic compound and shed new light on asthma therapy.
Ab initio protein structure prediction: the necessary presence of external force field as it is delivered by Hsp40 chaperone
Authors: Roterman Irena , Stapor Katarzyna , Konieczny Leszek
Published: November 2023

Background

The aqueous environment directs the protein folding process towards the generation of micelle-type structures, which results in the exposure of hydrophilic residues on the surface (polarity) and the concentration of hydrophobic residues in the center (hydrophobic core). Obtaining a structure without a hydrophobic core requires a different type of external force field than those generated by a water. The examples are membrane proteins, where the distribution of hydrophobicity is opposite to that of water-soluble proteins. Apart from these two extreme examples, the process of protein folding can be directed by chaperones, resulting in a structure devoid of a hydrophobic core.

Results

The current work presents such example: DnaJ Hsp40 in complex with alkaline phosphatase PhoA-U (PDB ID—6PSI)—the client molecule. The availability of WT form of the folding protein—alkaline phosphatase (PDB ID—1EW8) enables a comparative analysis of the structures: at the stage of interaction with the chaperone and the final, folded structure of this biologically active protein. The fuzzy oil drop model in its modified FOD-M version was used in this analysis, taking into account the influence of an external force field, in this case coming from a chaperone.

Conclusions

The FOD-M model identifies the external force field introduced by chaperon influencing the folding proces. The identified specific external force field can be applied in Ab Initio protein structure prediction as the environmental conditioning the folding proces.