bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interplay of Helicobacter pylori, fibroblasts, and cancer cells induces fibroblast activation and serpin E1 expression by cancer cells to promote gastric tumorigenesis
Authors: Chen Xueshu , Chen Wei , Zhao Yan , Wang Qinrong , Wang Wenling , Xiang Yining , Yuan Hang , Xie Yuan , Zhou Jianjiang
Published: July 2022

Background

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) can disrupt the tight junctions between gastric epithelial cells and penetrate the intercellular spaces acting on epithelial cells, normal fibroblasts (NFs), and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), but their interaction in gastric cancer tumorigenesis and progression remains unclear.

Methods

Primary CAFs and NFs were isolated from paired gastric cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues and identified by immunofluorescence staining and western blot analysis for FSP-1, α-SMA, FAP, and vimentin expression. RNA-sequencing was used to compare the transcriptomes between CAFs and NFs. The expressions of FAP, lumican, and α-SMA, human cytokine array, and Transwell assay were used to assess the transformation of NFs to CAFs. CCK-8 assay, colony formation, flow cytometry, Transwell assay, and nude mouse xenograft model were used to determine the effects of Serpin E1 on cell proliferation and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Finally, Serpin E1 and/or FAP expression was measured in H. pylori-infected gerbil gastric mucosa and human gastric cancer tissues.

Results

Gastric CAFs are inflammatory CAFs with α-SMAlowFAPhighlumicanhigh. The interplay of H. pylori, fibroblasts, and cancer cells promotes the transition of NFs to CAFs by inducing cytokine release, especially Serpin E1. Long-term H. pylori infection and CAFs induce Serpin E1 expression in gerbil gastric tissues and human gastric cancer cells. Serpin E1 overexpression enhances the growth, migration, invasion of gastric cancer cells in vitro, and xenograft tumor growth in nude mice via inducing angiogenesis. Serpin E1 and FAP were highly expressed in cancer cells and CAFs of gastric cancer tissues, respectively, and a good correlation was observed between their expression. Higher Serpin E1 expression is negatively associated with the overall survival of patients with gastric cancer.

Conclusions

The interplay of H. pylori, fibroblasts, and cancer cells induced Serpin E1 expression to promote the activation of NFs to CAFs and gastric carcinogenesis. Targeting Serpin E1 will provide a promising therapeutic strategy for gastric cancer by disrupting the interaction between H. pylori, CAFs, and gastric cancer cells.
They built this city—construction workers injured in Delhi, India: cross-sectional analysis of First Information Reports of the Delhi Police 2016–2018
Authors: Edwards Phil , Yadav Sajjan , Bartlett Jonathan , Porter John
Published: July 2022

Background

Construction workers are 3–4 times more likely than other workers to die from accidents at work—however, in the developing world, the risks associated with construction work may be 6 times greater. India does not publish occupational injury statistics, and so little is known about construction workers injured. We aimed to use Indian police records to describe the epidemiology of construction site injuries in Delhi and to thus generate knowledge that may help to control the burden of injuries to construction workers in India and in other developing countries.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional analysis of accident records maintained by the Delhi Police. We included all construction workers reported to have been killed or injured in construction site accidents in Delhi during the period 2016–2018. We used multivariable logistic regression models to investigate associations between injury severity (fatal vs. non-fatal injury) and exposure variables whilst adjusting for a priori risk factors. We also estimated the number of Delhi construction workers in total and by trade to generate estimates of worker injury rates per 100,000 workers per year.

Results

There were 929 construction site accidents within the study period, in which 1,217 workers and children were reported to have sustained injuries: 356 (29%) were fatal and 861 (71%) were non-fatal. One-eighth of injuries were sustained by females. Most occurred in the Rainy season; most were sustained during the construction of buildings. The most frequent causes were the collapse of an old building, the collapse of a new building under construction, and electric shocks. Electricians were more likely than unskilled workers to suffer a fatal injury (adjOR 2.5; 95% CI: 0.87–6.97), and there were more electrical shocks than electricians injured. The odds of a fatal injury were statistically significantly lower in Central districts than in the less developed, peripheral districts.

Conclusions

Construction site injuries are an unintended health impact of urbanisation. Women undertake manual work alongside men on construction sites in Delhi, and many suffer injuries as a consequence: an eighth of the injuries were sustained by females. Children accompanying their working parents on construction sites are also at risk. Two main hazards to construction workers in Delhi were building collapses and electrical shocks. Electricians were over twice as likely as unskilled workers to suffer a fatal injury, and electrical work would appear to be undertaken by a multitude of occupations. As the global urban population increases over the coming decades, so too will the burden of injuries to construction workers. The introduction and enforcement of occupational safety, health, and working conditions laws in India and in other rapidly developing countries will be necessary to help to control this injury burden to construction workers.
Voluntary, temporary out-of-home firearm storage: a survey of law enforcement agencies in two states
Authors: Betz Marian E. , Brandspigel Sara , Barnard Leslie M. , Johnson Rachel L. , Knoepke Christopher E. , Peterson Ryan A. , Rivara Frederick P. , Rowhani-Rahbar Ali
Published: July 2022

Background

Temporary, voluntary storage of firearms away from the home during times of risk is a recommended strategy for suicide prevention. Law enforcement agencies (LEAs) are often suggested as storage sites, and online maps in Colorado and Washington display LEAs willing to consider storage. Questions remain about the experiences and views of LEAs, including barriers to providing storage.

Methods

 LEAs in Colorado and Washington were invited to complete a survey via mail or online from June to July 2021; invitations were sent by email and mail, with telephone calls to non-responders. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, with testing between states and other subgroups using Fisher’s exact tests.

Results

Overall, 168 LEAs in Colorado (n = 91) or Washington (n = 77) participated (40% participation rate). Of those, 53% provided temporary, voluntary storage upon request by community members at the time of the survey. More LEAs said they had ever provided storage when the requester was under a court order (74% overall). Over half (60%) of responding LEAs had received at least one storage request in the prior 12 months. Many (41%) said they had declined to return a firearm after temporary storage due to safety concerns. Most LEAs supported engagement in suicide prevention (89%) and provision of community services (77%), but they simultaneously preferred being a storage option of last resort (73%). Factors negatively influencing storage provision included liability and funding concerns.

Conclusions

In Colorado and Washington, half of LEAs currently offer temporary, voluntary firearm storage upon request. While LEAs support suicide prevention and community engagement, broader provision of storage and participation in online maps may be limited by logistic, liability, and financial concerns. Addressing these barriers may facilitate broader suicide prevention efforts.
Safe enough? Rethinking the concept of cultural safety in healthcare and training
Authors: Rousseau Cécile , Gomez-Carrillo Ana , Cénat Jude Mary
Published: July 2022

Refining the cultural safety concept to include an acknowledgement of both the discomfort inherent in training and care and the time needed to overcome multiple layers of oppression may partially buffer the feelings of failure or fraud that often arise from unrealistic expectations regarding equity, diversity and inclusion policies.
SOX2 transcription factor binding and function
Authors: Hagey Daniel W. , Bergsland Maria , Muhr Jonas
Published: July 2022

The transcription factor SOX2 is a vital regulator of stem cell activity in various developing and adult tissues. Mounting evidence has demonstrated the importance of SOX2 in regulating the induction and maintenance of stemness as well as in controlling cell proliferation, lineage decisions and differentiation. Recent studies have revealed that the ability of SOX2 to regulate these stem cell features involves its function as a pioneer factor, with the capacity to target nucleosomal DNA, modulate chromatin accessibility and prepare silent genes for subsequent activation. Moreover, although SOX2 binds to similar DNA motifs in different stem cells, its multifaceted and cell type-specific functions are reliant on context-dependent features. These cell type-specific properties include variations in partner factor availability and SOX2 protein expression levels. In this Primer, we discuss recent findings that have increased our understanding of how SOX2 executes its versatile functions as a master regulator of stem cell activities.
Technological Determinants of Financial Constraints
Authors: Starmans Jan
Published: July 2022

This paper studies the investor’s investment decision in a standard financial contracting model. The investor chooses among entrepreneurs with heterogeneous production technologies who generate different probability distributions of cash flow under effort. I provide a complete characterization of optimal contracts, agency rents, and the investor’s investment decision. Differences in entrepreneurs’ production technologies imply differences in optimal contracts and agency rents across equally productive entrepreneurs, which biases and potentially distorts the investor’s investment decision. The results provide a complete characterization of entrepreneurs’ financial constraints in the presence of heterogeneous production technologies and uncover a fundamental link between production technologies, financial contracts, and financial constraints.

This paper was accepted by Gustavo Manso, finance.

Funding: This work was supported by the Swedish House of Finance.
Multichannel Delivery in Healthcare: The Impact of Telemedicine Centers in Southern India
Authors: Delana Kraig , Deo Sarang , Ramdas Kamalini , Subburaman Ganesh-Babu B. , Ravilla Thulasiraj
Published: July 2022

Telemedicine is increasingly used across the developing world to expand access to healthcare, to improve outcomes, and to reduce costs. One common model is that of telemedicine centers, which are small primary care facilities run by midlevel (nonphysician) providers who conduct a preliminary examination and then facilitate a telemedicine visit with a remote physician in real time. However, the impact of this channel of care delivery—particularly on existing physical healthcare-delivery channels—has not been thoroughly examined. We use data from one of the largest tele-ophthalmology implementations in the world to examine this issue. Using a quasi-experimental difference-in-differences approach, we find that opening a nearby telemedicine center generates a 31% increase in the overall network visit rate from the population within 10 km of the new center, 62% of which is driven by new patients, suggesting a substantial increase in access. The rate of eyeglasses prescriptions to correct for simple refractive errors increases by 18.5%, whereas the rate of cataract surgery to replace the natural lens in a patient’s eye with an artificial lens remains unchanged. The increase in access and treatment rates does not significantly impact the direct costs incurred by patients, but reduces their indirect costs (measured as travel distance) by 30% (12 km). Finally, we find significant spatial heterogeneity in these effects, which vary with the distance of patients to facilities. These results have important implications for the design of telemedicine networks and the portfolio of healthcare services provided through them.

This paper was accepted by Stefan Scholtes, healthcare management.

Supplemental Material: The data files and online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4488 .
Rising Above vs. Falling Below: When and Why Status Change Affects Interpersonal Helping in Workgroups
Authors: Doyle Sarah P. , Lount Robert B.
Published: July 2022

The current research sheds new light on how and why status hierarchies impact interpersonal helping by examining people’s reactions to recently experienced status change. Specifically, we incorporate findings from research on the self-serving attributional bias to theorize about how the direction of status change (i.e., a gain or a loss) can shape the extent to which people accept or deflect personal responsibility for their change in status, which we argue will then impact other-concern and, thus, their willingness to help. Further, we identify status change legitimacy as a key contingency that will strengthen or weaken the psychological and behavioral effects of status change. Among firefighter teams (Study 1), participants in the laboratory (Studies 2 and 3), and student teams (Study 4), we show that (1) status change impacts interpersonal helping through its impact on changes in other-concern and (2) status change legitimacy moderates the effect of status change on both other-concern and interpersonal helping. Additionally, we document an asymmetry with regards to the effects of status change on both other-concern and helping behavior (i.e., with the negative impact of a status loss being stronger than the positive impact of a status gain). Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Summer parasite update 2022
Authors: Wright Ian
Published: July 2022

The rapidly changing distribution of parasites affecting pets and the vectors that transmit them continues — this summer parasite update reveals what 2022 has brought so far, and suggests ways for controlling such parasitic incursions.
Short-wave infrared polarimetric image reconstruction using a deep convolutional neural network based on a high-frequency correlation
Authors: Liang Jian , Sun Yuanyuan , Ren Liyong , Liang Rongguang
Published: July 2022

Imaging in visible and short-wave infrared (SWIR) wavebands is essential in most remote sensing applications. However, compared to visible imaging cameras, SWIR cameras typically have lower spatial resolution, which limits the detailed information shown in SWIR images. We propose a method to reconstruct high-resolution polarization SWIR images with the help of color images using the deep learning method. The training dataset is constructed from color images, and the trained model is well suited for SWIR image reconstruction. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed method in enhancing the quality of the polarized SWIR images with much better spatial resolution. Some buried spatial and polarized information may be recovered in the reconstructed SWIR images.
Classical entanglement of twisted random light propagating through atmospheric turbulence [Invited]
Authors: Ponomarenko Sergey A.
Published: July 2022

We examine the impact of the atmospheric turbulence on a recently discovered type of classical entanglement of partially coherent beams endowed with a twist phase. We derive a compact analytical expression for the Schmidt number of a bi-orthogonal decomposition of the Wigner function of a twisted Gaussian Schell-model (TGSM) beam propagating through the turbulent atmosphere. We elucidate conditions for a TGSM source to generate a strongly classically entangled paraxial field over a desired propagation distance in the turbulent atmosphere. Our results will find applications to free-space optical communications and motivate further research into classical entanglement with random light.
Vector spherical wave function truncation in the invariant imbedding T-matrix method
Authors: Zhang Yuheng , Ding Jiachen , Yang Ping , Panetta R. Lee
Published: July 2022

Both the computational costs and the accuracy of the invariant-imbedding T-matrix method escalate with increasing the truncation number N at which the expansions of the electromagnetic fields in terms of vector spherical harmonics are truncated. Thus, it becomes important in calculation of the single-scattering optical properties to choose N just large enough to satisfy an appropriate convergence criterion; this N we call the optimal truncation number. We present a new convergence criterion that is based on the scattering phase function rather than on the scattering cross section. For a selection of homogeneous particles that have been used in previous single-scattering studies, we consider how the optimal N may be related to the size parameter, the index of refraction, and particle shape. We investigate a functional form for this relation that generalizes previous formulae involving only size parameter, a form that shows some success in summarizing our computational results. Our results indicate clearly the sensitivity of optimal truncation number to the index of refraction, as well as the difficulty of cleanly separating this dependence from the dependence on particle shape.
Continuous-variable quantum key distribution with low-complexity information reconciliation
Authors: Wang Xiangyu , Wang Hongjie , Zhou Chao , Chen Ziyang , Yu Song , Guo Hong
Published: July 2022

Information reconciliation is an essential step of continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD) because its efficiency affects both the maximum transmission distance and the final secret key rate of the whole system. Slice reconciliation can achieve high secret key rates for the CV-QKD systems under high signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). However, it suffers from the high designing cost of the error-correcting codes in the multi-level coding and multi-stage decoding step. To reconcile one set of data with fixed SNR, multiple error-correcting codes with different code rates need to be designed. If the channel environment changed, the code rates need to change along to maintain high reconciliation efficiency, making it complicated and costly. In this paper, we introduce polar codes into slice reconciliation and proposed a scheme that is simply constructed, effectively performed, and well adapted to the systems with wide-range and variational SNRs. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme offers reconciliation efficiency over 95% for the systems with SNRs range from 1 to 10, which can support the systems with high secret key rates. The decrease of complexity and the increase of secret key rate have great significance for a practical CV-QKD system.
Attention-aided partial bidirectional RNN-based nonlinear equalizer in coherent optical systems
Authors: Liu Yifan , Sanchez Victor , Freire Pedro J. , Prilepsky Jaroslaw E. , Koshkouei Mahyar J. , Higgins Matthew D.
Published: July 2022

We leverage the attention mechanism to investigate and comprehend the contribution of each input symbol of the input sequence and their hidden representations for predicting the received symbol in the bidirectional recurrent neural network (BRNN)-based nonlinear equalizer. In this paper, we propose an attention-aided novel design of a partial BRNN-based nonlinear equalizer, and evaluate with both LSTM and GRU units in a single-channel DP-64QAM 30Gbaud coherent optical communication systems of 20 × 50 km standard single-mode fiber (SSMF) spans. Our approach maintains the Q-factor performance of the baseline equalizer with a significant complexity reduction of ∼56.16% in the number of real multiplications required to equalize per symbol (RMpS). In comparison of the performance under similar complexity, our approach outperforms the baseline by ∼0.2dB to ∼0.25dB at the optimal transmit power, and ∼0.3dB to ∼0.45dB towards the more nonlinear region.
Sensitive impulsive stimulated Brillouin spectroscopy by an adaptive noise-suppression Matrix Pencil
Authors: Li Jiarui , Zhang Hongyuan , Lu Minjian , Wei Haoyun , Li Yan
Published: July 2022

Impulsive stimulated Brillouin spectroscopy (ISBS) plays a critical role in investigating mechanical properties thanks to its fast measurement rate. However, traditional Fourier transform-based data processing cannot decipher measured data sensitively because of its incompetence in dealing with low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) signals caused by a short exposure time and weak signals in a multi-peak spectrum. Here, we propose an adaptive noise-suppression Matrix Pencil method for heterodyne ISBS as an alternative spectral analysis technique, speeding up the measurement regardless of the low SNR and enhancing the sensitivity of multi-component viscoelastic identification. The algorithm maintains accuracy of 0.005% for methanol sound speed even when the SNR drops 33 dB and the exposure time is reduced to 0.4 ms. Moreover, it proves to extract a weak component that accounts for 6% from a polymer mixture, which is inaccessible for the traditional method. With its outstanding ability to sensitively decipher weak signals without spectral a priori information and regardless of low SNRs or concentrations, this method offers a fresh perspective for ISBS on fast viscoelasticity measurements and multi-component identifications.
Dual-wavelength-pumping of mid-infrared Tm:YLF laser at 2.3 µm: demonstration of pump seeding and recycling processes
Authors: Dupont Hippolyte , Guillemot Lauren , Loiko Pavel , Braud Alain , Doualan Jean-Louis , Camy Patrice , Georges Patrick , Druon Frédéric
Published: July 2022

Upconversion pumping of thulium lasers emitting around 2.3 µm (the 3H4 → 3H5 transition) has recently attracted a lot of attention as it is compatible with the mature Yb-laser technology. To explore this possibility, we built a mid-infrared Tm:LiYF4 laser pumped by an Yb:CaF2 laser at 1.05 µm delivering an output power of 110 mW at 2.31 µm for a maximum incident pump power of 2.0 W. A strong absorption issue appeared in the Tm laser: the slope efficiency vs. the incident pump power was 7.6% while that vs. the absorbed pump power reached 29%. To overcome this issue, a dual-wavelength pumping at 0.78 µm and 1.05 µm was explored (combining both the direct and upconversion pumping schemes). The reciprocal interplay between the two pumps was studied to evaluate their benefits in terms of the pump absorption and laser efficiency. We observed an interesting decrease of the laser threshold for upconversion pumping when adding a small fraction of the direct pump revealing a seeding effect for the excited-state absorption from the metastable 3F4 level. A recycling process of this manifold by excited-state absorption in the 3F4 → 3F2,3 loop was also observed. The pump absorption seeding is a viable route for the development of low-threshold upconversion pumped thulium lasers.
Improved reference-frame-independent quantum key distribution
Authors: Zhu Jian-Rong , Wang Rong , Zhang Chun-Mei
Published: July 2022

Reference-frame-independent quantum key distribution (RFI-QKD) can generate secure keys between two remote peers with an unknown and slowly drifted reference frame. It adopts a statistical quantity C independent of the rotation of the reference frame to estimate the eavesdropper’s knowledge. However, in practical scenarios, the estimation of C should be completed with data collected in a short period of time, since the variation of the reference frame during the run will smear its correlations. In this paper, we propose to improve the performance of RFI-QKD with a new, to the best of our knowledge, statistical quantity R, which is less sensitive to statistical fluctuations and more robust to the variation of the reference frame, and obtain an analytical bound to estimate the eavesdropper’s knowledge. Simulation results show that the performance of RFI-QKD in the non-asymptotic case can be significantly promoted, which is very promising in practical QKD systems. Furthermore, we apply the new statistical quantity R to the RFI measurement-device-independent QKD (RFI-MDI-QKD) protocol and demonstrate that significant improvement can also be obtained in RFI-MDI-QKD.
Silicon optical phased array with a 180-degree field of view for 2D optical beam steering
Authors: Liu Yong , Hu Hao
Published: July 2022

Optical phased arrays (OPAs), the optical counterpart of phased arrays at radio frequencies, can electronically steer an optical beam without any moving parts. To achieve a 180° field of view (FOV), the array emitters should be spaced a half-wavelength apart or less. However, a conventional OPA based on a waveguide grating array suffers from strong cross talk between adjacent waveguides when the pitch is a half-wavelength or less. Here, we theoretically describe and experimentally demonstrate a two-dimensional aliasing-free beam steering regime for an integrated OPA with the entire 180° FOV. We achieve this by using a half-wavelength-pitch waveguide array combined with a trapezoidal slab grating as a single emitter. Our OPA also features a low sidelobe level of

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, breaking the trade-off between FOV and beam quality. The chip-based OPA with a large beam steering range and high beam quality provides a promising route for a compact, solid-state, cost-effective, and high-performance light detection and ranging system, enabling a wide range of classical and quantum applications.
The Gr64 cluster of gustatory receptors promotes survival and proteostasis of epithelial cells in Drosophila
Authors: Baumgartner Michael E. , Mastrogiannopoulos Alex , Kucinski Iwo , Langton Paul F. , Piddini Eugenia
Published: July 2022

Gustatory Receptor 64 (Gr64) genes are a cluster of 6 neuronally expressed receptors involved in sweet taste sensation in Drosophila melanogaster. Gr64s modulate calcium signalling and excitatory responses to several different sugars. Here, we discover an unexpected nonneuronal function of Gr64 receptors and show that they promote proteostasis in epithelial cells affected by proteotoxic stress. Using heterozygous mutations in ribosome proteins (Rp), which have recently been shown to induce proteotoxic stress and protein aggregates in cells, we show that Rp/+ cells in Drosophila imaginal discs up-regulate expression of the entire Gr64 cluster and depend on these receptors for survival. We further show that loss of Gr64 in Rp/+ cells exacerbates stress pathway activation and proteotoxic stress by negatively affecting autophagy and proteasome function. This work identifies a noncanonical role in proteostasis maintenance for a family of gustatory receptors known for their function in neuronal sensation.
Pooling strategies in V1 can account for the functional and structural diversity across species
Authors: Boutin Victor , Franciosini Angelo , Chavane Frédéric , Perrinet Laurent U.
Published: July 2022

Neurons in the primary visual cortex are selective to orientation with various degrees of selectivity to the spatial phase, from high selectivity in simple cells to low selectivity in complex cells. Various computational models have suggested a possible link between the presence of phase invariant cells and the existence of orientation maps in higher mammals’ V1. These models, however, do not explain the emergence of complex cells in animals that do not show orientation maps. In this study, we build a theoretical model based on a convolutional network called Sparse Deep Predictive Coding (SDPC) and show that a single computational mechanism, pooling, allows the SDPC model to account for the emergence in V1 of complex cells with or without that of orientation maps, as observed in distinct species of mammals. In particular, we observed that pooling in the feature space is directly related to the orientation map formation while pooling in the retinotopic space is responsible for the emergence of a complex cells population. Introducing different forms of pooling in a predictive model of early visual processing as implemented in SDPC can therefore be viewed as a theoretical framework that explains the diversity of structural and functional phenomena observed in V1.
Asymmetric and adaptive reward coding via normalized reinforcement learning
Authors: Louie Kenway
Published: July 2022

Learning is widely modeled in psychology, neuroscience, and computer science by prediction error-guided reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms. While standard RL assumes linear reward functions, reward-related neural activity is a saturating, nonlinear function of reward; however, the computational and behavioral implications of nonlinear RL are unknown. Here, we show that nonlinear RL incorporating the canonical divisive normalization computation introduces an intrinsic and tunable asymmetry in prediction error coding. At the behavioral level, this asymmetry explains empirical variability in risk preferences typically attributed to asymmetric learning rates. At the neural level, diversity in asymmetries provides a computational mechanism for recently proposed theories of distributional RL, allowing the brain to learn the full probability distribution of future rewards. This behavioral and computational flexibility argues for an incorporation of biologically valid value functions in computational models of learning and decision-making.
A realistic arteriovenous dialysis graft model for hemodynamic simulations
Authors: Quicken Sjeng , Mees Barend , Zonnebeld Niek , Tordoir Jan , Huberts Wouter , Delhaas Tammo
Published: July 2022

Objective

The hemodynamic benefit of novel arteriovenous graft (AVG) designs is typically assessed using computational models that assume highly idealized graft configurations and/or simplified boundary conditions representing the peripheral vasculature. The objective of this study is to evaluate whether idealized AVG models are suitable for hemodynamic evaluation of new graft designs, or whether more realistic models are required.

Methods

An idealized and a realistic, clinical imaging based, parametrized AVG geometry were created. Furthermore, two physiological boundary condition models were developed to represent the peripheral vasculature. We assessed how graft geometry (idealized or realistic) and applied boundary condition models of the peripheral vasculature (physiological or distal zero-flow) impacted hemodynamic metrics related to AVG dysfunction.

Results

Anastomotic regions exposed to high WSS (>7, ≤40 Pa), very high WSS (>40 Pa) and highly oscillatory WSS were larger in the simulations using the realistic AVG geometry. The magnitude of velocity perturbations in the venous segment was up to 1.7 times larger in the realistic AVG geometry compared to the idealized one. When applying a (non-physiological zero-flow) boundary condition that neglected blood flow to and from the peripheral vasculature, we observed large regions exposed to highly oscillatory WSS. These regions could not be observed when using either of the newly developed distal boundary condition models.

Conclusion

Hemodynamic metrics related to AVG dysfunction are highly dependent on the geometry and the distal boundary condition model used. Consequently, the hemodynamic benefit of a novel graft design can be misrepresented when using idealized AVG modelling setups.
The effects of active rehabilitation on symptoms associated with tau pathology: An umbrella review. Implications for chronic traumatic encephalopathy symptom management
Authors: Hearn Rachael , Selfe James , Cordero Maria I. , Dobbin Nick
Published: July 2022

Objective

This review sought to address an evidence gap and lay a foundation for future Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) management studies by evaluating and appraising the literature which reports the effect that active rehabilitation has on other tauopathies, a group of conditions with hyperphosphorylation and aggregation of tau protein that can lead to neurodegeneration.

Design

Umbrella review.

Data source

Meta-analyses and systematic reviews were identified using CINAHL, Medline, Cochrane, Web of Science, PubMed, and SPORTDiscus.

Eligibility

Systematic review or meta-analyses that examine the effect active rehabilitation has on outcome measures of symptoms associated with CTE. Studies with men and women diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Lewy Body dementia, Frontotemporal degeneration/dementia or Corticobasal degeneration. All types of active rehabilitation were included. Control group was usual care, no intervention, or light-intensity physical activity.

Results

Twelve reviews were included. A large pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) was observed for balance (SMD = 0.88, P<0.001) and motor function (SMD = 0.83, P<0.001). A moderate pooled SMD was observed for cognitive function (SMD = 0.66, P<0.116). A small pooled SMD was observed for mobility (SMD = 0.45, P = 0.002). A trivial pooled SMD was observed for gait speed/velocity (SMD = 0.11, P = 0.372). No findings for mood/behavioral symptoms. All pooled effects demonstrated substantial to considerable heterogeneity (74.3% to 91.9%, P<0.001).

Conclusions

A positive effect of active rehabilitation was observed in patients with tau pathologies suffering from motor, vestibular and cognitive impairments supporting the use of active rehabilitation for CTE management; however, the findings need to be considered with caution given the limited research in some of the tau pathologies, large between-study heterogeneity and wide 95% prediction intervals.
Adolescent’s time use and skills development: Do cognitive and non-cognitive skills differ?
Authors: Hoorani Bareerah Hafeez , Krishnakumar Jaya , Anand Paul
Published: July 2022

This study looks at the association of adolescent’s time use on the acquisition of cognitive and non-cognitive (psychological and social) skills, thus contributing to the literature on parental investment and skills development. Specifically, using data relating to adolescent’s time spent on school, study, sleep, and play, we investigate how these relate to cognitive and non-cognitive skills of older Indian children. For cognitive skills we use Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), which is a well-accepted measure of verbal intelligence. For non-cognitive skills, we construct a self-esteem variable using pride and shame questions; and a resilience variable using questions pertaining to whether an adolescent can get external help for coping with problems. Our results suggest that time use in all four types of activity has a positive association in the development of cognitive skills but competing associations when it comes to non-cognitive skills. We conclude that parental inputs into skills development, such as guidance about adolescent’s time-use, are likely to have a differential association depending on the kind of skills being developed.
Landscape use and co-occurrence pattern of snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and its prey species in the fragile ecosystem of Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh
Authors: Sharief Amira , Kumar Vineet , Singh Hemant , Mukherjee Tanoy , Dutta Ritam , Joshi Bheem Dutt , Bhattacharjee Saurav , Ramesh Chinnasamy , Chandra Kailash , Thakur Mukesh , Sharma Lalit Kumar
Published: July 2022

The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) plays a vital role in maintaining the integrity of the high mountain ecosystem by regulating prey populations and maintaining plant community structure. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the role of the snow leopard and its interaction with prey species. Further, elucidating landscape use and co-occurrence of snow leopard and its prey species can be used to assess the differential use of habitat, allowing them to coexist. We used camera trapping and sign survey to study the interactions of snow leopard and its prey species (Siberian Ibex-Capra sibricaand Blue sheep-Pseudois nayaur) in the Spiti valley Himachal Pradesh. Using the occupancy modelling, we examined whether these prey and predator species occur together more or less frequently than would be expected by chance. To understand this, we have used ten covariates considering the ecology of the studied species. Our results suggest habitat covariates, such as LULC16 (barren area), LULC10 (grassland), ASP (aspect), SLP (slope) and DW (distance to water), are important drivers of habitat use for the snow leopard as well as its prey species. Furthermore, we found that the snow leopard detection probability was high if the site was used by its prey species, i.e., ibex and blue sheep. Whereas, in the case of the prey species, the probability of detection was low when the predator (snow leopard) was present and detected. Besides this, our results suggested that both species were less likely to detect together than expected if they were independent (Snow leopard—Ibex, Delta = 0.29, and snow leopard—blue sheep, Delta = 0.28, both the values are <1, i.e., avoidance). Moreover, despite the predation pressure, the differential anti-predation habitat selection and restriction of temporal activities by the prey species when snow leopard is present allows them to co-exist. Therefore, considering the strong link between the habitat use by the snow leopard and its prey species, it is imperative to generate quantitative long-term data on predator-prey densities and the population dynamics of its prey species in the landscape.
Insights on the differentiation of stillbirths and early neonatal deaths: A study from the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) network
Authors: Quincer Elizabeth , Philipsborn Rebecca , Morof Diane , Salzberg Navit T. , Vitorino Pio , Ajanovic Sara , Onyango Dickens , Ogbuanu Ikechukwu , Assefa Nega , Sow Samba O. , Mutevedzi Portia , El Arifeen Shams , Tippet Barr Beth A. , Scott J. Anthony G. , Mandomando Inacio , Kotloff Karen L. , Jambai Amara , Akelo Victor , Cain Carrie Jo , Chowdhury Atique Iqbal , Gure Tadesse , Igunza Kitiezo Aggrey , Islam Farzana , Keita Adama Mamby , Madrid Lola , Mahtab Sana , Mehta Ashka , Mitei Paul K. , Ntuli Constance , Ojulong Julius , Rahman Afruna , Samura Solomon , Sidibe Diakaridia , Thwala Bukiwe Nana , Varo Rosauro , Madhi Shabir A. , Bassat Quique , Gurley Emily S. , Blau Dianna M. , Whitney Cynthia G.
Published: July 2022

Introduction

The high burden of stillbirths and neonatal deaths is driving global initiatives to improve birth outcomes. Discerning stillbirths from neonatal deaths can be difficult in some settings, yet this distinction is critical for understanding causes of perinatal deaths and improving resuscitation practices for live born babies.

Methods

We evaluated data from the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) network to compare the accuracy of determining stillbirths versus neonatal deaths from different data sources and to evaluate evidence of resuscitation at delivery in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. CHAMPS works to identify causes of stillbirth and death in children <5 years of age in Bangladesh and 6 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Using CHAMPS data, we compared the final classification of a case as a stillbirth or neonatal death as certified by the CHAMPS Determining Cause of Death (DeCoDe) panel to both the initial report of the case by the family member or healthcare worker at CHAMPS enrollment and the birth outcome as stillbirth or livebirth documented in the maternal health record.

Results

Of 1967 deaths ultimately classified as stillbirth, only 28 (1.4%) were initially reported as livebirths. Of 845 cases classified as very early neonatal death, 33 (4%) were initially reported as stillbirth. Of 367 cases with post-mortem examination showing delivery weight >1000g and no maceration, the maternal clinical record documented that resuscitation was not performed in 161 cases (44%), performed in 14 (3%), and unknown or data missing for 192 (52%).

Conclusion

This analysis found that CHAMPS cases assigned as stillbirth or neonatal death after DeCoDe expert panel review were generally consistent with the initial report of the case as a stillbirth or neonatal death. Our findings suggest that more frequent use of resuscitation at delivery and improvements in documentation around events at birth could help improve perinatal outcomes.
Factors associated with comorbidity of diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections among children under five years in Ghana
Authors: Afrifa-Anane Grace Frempong , Kyei-Arthur Frank , Agyekum Martin Wiredu , Afrifa-Anane Ernest Kwabena
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Globally, childhood mortality is an important public health concern. In Ghana, both diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are among the top five causes of morbidity and mortality among children under five years old (CU5). Yet, there is a paucity of studies on the comorbidity of diarrhoea and ARIs in CU5 in Ghana.

Aim

This study sought to examine factors associated with comorbidity of diarrhoea and ARIs among CU5 in Ghana.

Methods

The Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) 2014 was used for this study. A total of 932 CU5 who had at least one morbidity were included in the study. Binary logistic regression was used to predict the factors associated with comorbidity among CU5.

Results

The prevalence of comorbidity of diarrhoea and ARI among CU5 was 11%. Factors including unimproved source of water, unimproved main floor material, age of child, and initiation of breastmilk were significantly associated with comorbidity of diarrhea and ARI. Improved source of water (AOR = 0.42; 95% CI = 0.22–0.78; p = 0.01) reduces the likelihood of having comorbidity than unimproved source of water. Children aged 36–47 months were less likely (AOR = 0.36; 95% CI = 0.14–0.93; p = 0.04) to have comorbidity than those aged 48–59 months. Also, improved floor materials (AOR = 0.45; 95% CI = 0.22–0.95; p = 0.03) reduces the likelihood of having comorbidity than unimproved floor materials. Children breastfed within the first day of birth were more likely (AOR = 1.66; 95% CI = 1.01–0.2.72; p = 0.04) to have comorbidity than those breastfed immediately after birth.

Conclusion

Policymakers and health practitioners should consider risk factors such as age of child, initiation of breastfeeding, unimproved floor material, and unimproved water supply in the design of interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with comorbidity of diarrhoea and ARI among CU5.
Artificial intelligence in medical education curriculum: An e-Delphi study for competencies
Authors: Çalışkan S. Ayhan , Demir Kadir , Karaca Ozan
Published: July 2022

Background

Artificial intelligence (AI) has affected our day-to-day in a great extent. Healthcare industry is one of the mainstream fields among those and produced a noticeable change in treatment and education. Medical students must comprehend well why AI technologies mediate and frame their decisions on medical issues. Formalizing of instruction on AI concepts can facilitate learners to grasp AI outcomes in association with their sensory perceptions and thinking in the dynamic and ambiguous reality of daily medical practice. The purpose of this study is to provide consensus on the competencies required by medical graduates to be ready for artificial intelligence technologies and possible applications in medicine and reporting the results.

Materials and methods

A three-round e-Delphi survey was conducted between February 2020 and November 2020. The Delphi panel accorporated experts from different backgrounds; (i) healthcare professionals/ academicians; (ii) computer and data science professionals/ academics; (iii) law and ethics professionals/ academics; and (iv) medical students. Round 1 in the Delphi survey began with exploratory open-ended questions. Responses received in the first round evaluated and refined to a 27-item questionnaire which then sent to the experts to be rated using a 7-point Likert type scale (1: Strongly Disagree—7: Strongly Agree). Similar to the second round, the participants repeated their assessments in the third round by using the second-round analysis. The agreement level and strength of the consensus was decided based on third phase results. Median scores was used to calculate the agreement level and the interquartile range (IQR) was used for determining the strength of the consensus.

Results

Among 128 invitees, a total of 94 agreed to become members of the expert panel. Of them 75 (79.8%) completed the Round 1 questionnaire, 69/75 (92.0%) completed the Round 2 and 60/69 (87.0%) responded to the Round 3. There was a strong agreement on the 23 items and weak agreement on the 4 items.

Conclusions

This study has provided a consensus list of the competencies required by the medical graduates to be ready for AI implications that would bring new perspectives to medical education curricula. The unique feature of the current research is providing a guiding role in integrating AI into curriculum processes, syllabus content and training of medical students.
Queering consumption: The discursive construction of sexual identity among gay fashion consumers in Hong Kong
Authors: Li Eric P. H. , Chow Maffeo Ennead , Liu Wing Sun , Lam Magnum Man-Lok , Prasad Ajnesh
Published: July 2022

The purpose of this study is to investigate how sexual identity is constructed among gay fashion consumers in Hong Kong through myriad consumption practices. We employed ethnographic research methods and conducted thirteen in-depth interviews with gay male consumers in Hong Kong to examine the relationship between identity and lifestyle consumption, as well as symbolic consumption and tribal behaviour, within a ‘gay’ community. The findings captured four stages of gay consumers’ identity construction, which began with (1) negotiating one’s sexual identity and changing their perception of gay identity, (2) tremendous identity change, (3) consumption behaviour change and eventually (4) full acceptance of one’s sexual identity. The construction and the expression of sexual identity among gay men in Hong Kong were found to be associated with Confucian-oriented social structures and various marketplace ideologies. This study contributes to the existing discussion of gay consumption literatures by offering a non-western context where the discursive construction of sexual identity – and the negotiations involved in its representation – reflects the multitude of tensions between Chinese culture, on the one hand, and ideas of modernity and cosmopolitanism, on the other.
Histories and new directions: Soap opera/serial narrative research
Authors: Atay Ahmet , Gorton Kristyn
Published: July 2022

This is an introduction to the Special Issue, inspired by the Histories and New Directions: Soap Opera and Serial Narrative Research conference at the University of York in July 2017. The event was conceptualized and organized by the editors of this Special Issue to gather media and cultural studies scholars, and generate a scholarly dialogue on the historical issues, current status and future directions of serial narratives and soap opera as a genre. The introduction outlines the seven articles in this issue, all of which revisit and expand on previous soap opera scholarship and its enduring appeal to audiences and fans. In asking questions about the aesthetics, audiences and industries of soap operas, the articles in this Special Issue highlight some of the key issues in soap storytelling and fandom such as community, pleasure and gender. Some of the articles also consider the impact of COVID-19 on the production and reception of soap operas.