bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance Investigation of Ethiopian Local Drinking Alcohol Distillation System Using Solar Dish Concentrator
Authors: Getachew Seyoum , Bekele Addisu , Pandey Vivek
Published: April 2022

In Ethiopia, in addition to the large quantity of biomass consumption per year for daily cooking, production of the traditional local “Areke” consumes large amounts of fire wood which further accelerates deforestation. This study introduces solar-based technology for distillation of the local “Areke” using an indirect heating system. A solar parabolic dish collector with an aperture diameter of 0.9 m and an improved truncated cone cavity absorber were installed. The heat transfer process is governed by the principle of natural circulation, boiling, and condensation between a receiver and a distillation column. The experiment was conducted in Debre Birhan city at 20°C ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure of 0.722 atm. The surface temperature of the truncated cone cavity absorber attained a maximum temperature of 300.3°C, and the thermal efficiency attained by the collector was 54.6%. The production efficiency of the solar thermal local alcohol “Areke” distillation system was found to increase by 1.67% compared to the traditional firewood distillation system.
Deubiquitination of TNKS1 Regulates Wnt/β-Catenin to Affect the Expression of USP25 to Promote the Progression of Glioma
Authors: Tang Bin , Luo Hai , Xie Shenhao , Pan Chengbing , Fu Jun
Published: April 2022

Objective. To explore the regulatory effect of ubiquitin specific protease 25 (USP25) on glioma cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and its underlying mechanism. Methods. The USP25-overexpressed and USP25-knockdown glioma cells were established on U251 and U87 cells, respectively. Glioma cell proliferation ability was evaluated by CCK-8 assay. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle were determined utilizing flow cytometry. The Transwell assay measured cell invasion with wound healing used for cell migration detection. Western blotting established key protein expression levels in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The coimmunoprecipitation was used to check Thankyrase 1 (TNKS1) ubiquitination levels. Results. TNKS1 expression levels were found to be considerably repressed in USP25-knockdown glioma cells and elevated in USP25-overexpressed glioma cells, accompanied by Wnt/β-catenin pathway key protein downregulation and upregulation, respectively. Glioma cell invasion, migration, and proliferation activity were dramatically inhibited in USP25-knockdown glioma cells and promoted in USP25-overexpressed glioma cells. TNKS1 ubiquitination level was knowingly increased in USP25-knockdown glioma cells and reduced in USP25-overexpressed glioma cells, suggesting TNKS1 ubiquitination levels were negatively regulated by USP25. Conclusion. USP25 facilitated glioma cell invasion, migration, and proliferation by regulating Wnt/β-catenin through the deubiquitination on TNKS1.
Hyperfractionation versus Conventional Fractionation of Preoperative Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy with Oral Capecitabine in Locally Advanced Mid-Low Rectal Cancer: A Propensity Score Matching Study
Authors: Shi Chen , Zhang Yangzi , Li Yongheng , Geng Jianhao , Zhu Xianggao , Wang Hongzhi , Cai Yong , Wang Weihu
Published: April 2022

Purpose. In theory, the hyperfractionated radiotherapy can enhance biological effect dose against tumor and alleviate normal tissue toxicity. This study is to assess the efficacy and safety of preoperative hyperfractionated intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with oral capecitabine in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Methods. We retrospectively screened patients with LARC from January 2015 to June 2016. Patients that received hyperfractionated IMRT or conventional fractionated IMRT were eligible in the hyperfractionation (HF) group or conventional fractionation (CF) group, respectively. The primary outcome was the complete response rate. Secondary outcomes included toxicity, postoperative complications, anus-reservation operation rate, local recurrence and distant metastases rate, overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and disease-free survival (DFS). Results. 335 patients were included in the analysis. The complete response rate for the hyperfractionated and conventional fractionated IMRT was 20.41% vs. 23.47% (

P
=
0.583

). The anus-reservation operation rate was 68.37% vs. 65.31% (

P
=
0.649

). There were no cases of grade 4 toxicity during radiotherapy; the rate of grade 3 toxicity and postoperative complications was both comparable between groups. However, in the CF group, more patients had a second operation due to complications (0.0% vs. 5.68%,

P
=
0.011

). The cumulative local regional recurrence and distant metastases rates of the HF group and CF group were 5.10% vs. 9.18% (

P
=
0.267

) and 22.45% vs. 24.49% (

P
=
0.736

), respectively. The 5-year OS, CSS, and DFS in the HF group and CF group were 86.45% vs. 73.30% (

P
=
0.503

), 87.34% vs. 75.23% (

P
=
0.634

), and 70.80% vs. 68.11% (

P
=
0.891

), respectively. Conclusions. The preoperative hyperfractionated IMRT with oral capecitabine, with an acceptable toxicity and favorable response and survival, could reduce the rate of secondary surgery.
A Real-Time Medical Ventilation on Heart Failure Analysis Based on Sleep Apnea Snore and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Liu Xin , Zhao Yingxin
Published: April 2022

An issue with cardiac ventilation can result in death at any moment throughout a person’s life. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) has historically been influenced by medical ventilation on heart failure; nevertheless, the sleep snore analysis is the best model to diagnose. The problems with ventilation are caused by problems with air pressure and blood circulation in the heart valves, where the pathological measures are continually detecting ventilation issues. Understanding the pathophysiology of OSA will have a direct impact on clinical treatment choices as well as the design of clinical studies. Treatments could be tailored to each patient's unique needs based on the fundamental reason to their OSA. Through the OSA treatment, patients could feel better, and understanding OSA symptoms and also outcomes will improve patient’s health; as a result, the study reveals that most of the population are likely to benefit from specific OSA treatment approaches. For achieving the benefits of OSA treatment the classification accuracy is needed to be improved. So, in this research work, an LeNet-100 CNN-based deep learning technology is used to get information and apply the classification approaches. We obtained the heart failure dataset from the Kaggle website for conducting a meta-analysis. An accuracy of 93.25%, sensitivity of 97.29%, recall of 96.34%, and F measure of 95.34% had been attained. This approach outperforms the technology and is comparable to the present heart failure meta-analysis..
Carbon Monoxide Activates PERK-Regulated Autophagy to Induce Immunometabolic Reprogramming and Boost Antitumor T-cell Function
Authors: Chakraborty Paramita , Parikh Rasesh Y. , Choi Seungho , Tran Danh , Gooz Monika , Hedley Zachariah T. , Kim Do-Sung , Pytel Dariusz , Kang Inhong , Nadig Satish N. , Beeson Gyda C. , Ball Lauren , Mehrotra Meenal , Wang Hongjun , Berto Stefano , Palanisamy Viswanathan , Li Hong , Chatterjee Shilpak , Rodriguez Paulo C. , Maldonado Eduardo N. , Diehl J. Alan , Gangaraju Vamsi K. , Mehrotra Shikhar
Published: April 2022

Mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) share structural and functional networks and activate well-orchestrated signaling processes to shape cells’ fate and function. While persistent ER stress (ERS) response leads to mitochondrial collapse, moderate ERS promotes mitochondrial function. Strategies to boost antitumor T-cell function by targeting ER–mitochondria cross-talk have not yet been exploited. Here, we used carbon monoxide (CO), a short-lived gaseous molecule, to test whether engaging moderate ERS conditions can improve mitochondrial and antitumor functions in T cells. In melanoma antigen-specific T cells, CO-induced transient activation of ERS sensor protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) significantly increased antitumor T-cell function. Furthermore, CO-induced PERK activation temporarily halted protein translation and induced protective autophagy, including mitophagy. The use of LC3-GFP enabled differentiation between the cells that prepare themselves to undergo active autophagy (LC3-GFPpos) and those that fail to enter the process (LC3-GFPneg). LC3-GFPpos T cells showed strong antitumor potential, whereas LC3-GFPneg cells exhibited a T regulatory–like phenotype, harbored dysfunctional mitochondria, and accumulated abnormal metabolite content. These anomalous ratios of metabolites rendered the cells with a hypermethylated state and distinct epigenetic profile, limiting their antitumor activity. Overall, this study shows that ERS-activated autophagy pathways modify the mitochondrial function and epigenetically reprogram T cells toward a superior antitumor phenotype to achieve robust tumor control.

Significance:

Transient activation of ER stress with carbon monoxide drives mitochondrial biogenesis and protective autophagy that elicits superior antitumor T-cell function, revealing an approach to improving adoptive cell efficacy therapy.
YM155 Induces DNA Damage and Cell Death in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Cells by Inhibiting DNA Topoisomerase IIα at the ATP-Binding Site
Authors: Mackay Ryan P. , Weinberger Paul M. , Copland John A. , Mahdavian Elahe , Xu Qinqin
Published: April 2022

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is among the most aggressive of human cancers, and currently there are few effective treatments for most patients. YM155, first identified as a survivin inhibitor, was highlighted in a high-throughput screen performed by the National Cancer Institute, killing ATC cells in vitro and in vivo. However, there was no association between survivin expression and response to YM155 in clinical trials, and YM155 has been mostly abandoned for development despite favorable pharmacokinetic and toxicity profiles. Currently, alternative mechanisms are being explored for YM155 by a number of groups. In this study, ATC patient samples show overexpression of topoisomerase Top2α compared with benign thyroid samples and to differentiated thyroid cancers. ATC cell lines that overexpress Top2α are more sensitive to YM155. We created a YM155-resistant cell line, which shows decreased expression of Top2α and is resensitized with Top2α overexpression. Molecular modeling predicts binding for YM155 in the Top2α ATP-binding site and identifies key amino acids for YM155–Top2α interaction. A Top2α mutant abrogates the effect of YM155, confirming the contribution of Top2α to YM155 mechanism of action. Our results suggest a novel mechanism of action for YM155 and may represent a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of ATC.
Impact of Pre-Stroke Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment on Stroke Outcome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yu Huanqing , Ding Shufang , Wei Wei , Guo Feng , Li Zhongnan , Yuan Quan , Zhao Xin
Published: April 2022

Background and Objective: Pre-stroke dementia (PSD) and pre-stroke mild cognitive impairment (PSMCI) are important risk factors for stroke. The present meta-analysis aimed to investigate the impact of PSD or PSMCI on stroke outcomes. Methods: Electronic databases (PubMed, EMbase, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and TRIP) were screened for eligible studies published prior to March 31, 2021. Risk ratios (RR) and mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using random or fixed effect models were used to calculate pooled estimates. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Results: Fifteen studies were included in our meta-analysis. Pooled data from ten studies involving 3,107 PSD and 20,645 non-PSD subjects showed a higher risk of mortality in PSD patients (RR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.40–2.91; I2 = 89%). Risk of recurrent stroke risk was observed more in patients with PSD compared to non-PSD patients (RR = 2.02; 95% CI: 1.40–2.91; I2 = 0%). Three studies involving 300 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 1,025 normal cognition subjects showed a significant increased risk of mortality in stroke patients with MCI (RR = 2.43; 95% CI: 1.81–3.27; I2 = 20%). However, elevated stroke severity was not observed in PSMCI patients. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis shows an increased risk of mortality in stroke patients with a history of PSD and PSMCI. Proper clinical management and increased attention are therefore required for the prevention and management of stroke in patients with cognitive deficits.
Biomarkers in the Occurrence and Development of Pterygium
Authors: He Siying , Wu Zhaoxia
Published: April 2022

Pterygium is a kind of common conjunctival degeneration. The pathogenesis of pterygium is complex, and various biomarkers provide new targets for treatment and prognosis. Currently, the most common treatment for pterygium is surgical excision, but it is invasive risk and has a high recurrence rate. Since the development of sequencing, gene chip technology, and proteomics technologies has been rapid, research on the internal mechanism of disease has been facilitated. This review focuses on recent advances in the discovery of biomarkers from the fields of genetics, proteomics, and epigenetics and their likely functional mechanisms and clinical applications in pterygium.
Poor Treatment Outcomes with Second-Line Chemotherapy in Advanced Synovial Sarcoma
Authors: Kojima Yuki , Shimoi Tatsunori , Seo Takuji , Yazaki Shu , Okuya Toshihiro , Ohtake Yohei , Okuma Hitomi S. , Shimomura Akihiko , Nishikawa Tadaaki , Tanioka Maki , Sudo Kazuki , Noguchi Emi , Tamura Kenji , Yoshida Akihiko , Iwata Shintaro , Kobayashi Eisuke , Kawai Akira , Fujiwara Yasuhiro , Yonemori Kan
Published: April 2022

Introduction: Synovial sarcoma (SS) predominantly affects adolescents and young adults. Doxorubicin with or without ifosfamide therapy is the standard first-line treatment for unresectable or metastatic SS. However, there is no standard second-line chemotherapy regimen. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the outcomes of second-line chemotherapy for patients with SS. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of 61 patients with unresectable or metastatic SS who had received first-line chemotherapy at our institution between 1997 and 2017. Patients who received second-line chemotherapy were included in the analysis. Outcomes of the chemotherapy were evaluated. Results: Among the 61 patients treated with first-line chemotherapy, we identified 32 patients who received second-line chemotherapy. Most patients (62.5%) were under 40 years of age. Regarding second-line chemotherapy regimens, 6 (18.8%) patients were treated with doxorubicin with/without ifosfamide, 6 (18.8%) with ifosfamide and etoposide, 4 (12.5%) with docetaxel and gemcitabine, 5 (15.6%) with pazopanib, 2 (6.2%) with trabectedin, and 1 (3.1%) with eribulin. The overall response rate according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors for all patients was 9.4%. Eleven patients (34.3%) achieved disease-control for >6 months. The median follow-up duration was 15.2 months. The 1-year progression-free and overall survival rates were 33.1% and 67.1%, respectively. Conclusion: Our exploratory study revealed that the response rate of second-line chemotherapy regimens for patients with SS was 9.4%. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop more active therapeutic regimens for SSs.
Internal Carotid Artery Tortuosity: Impact on Mechanical Thrombectomy
Authors: Koge Junpei , Tanaka Kanta , Yoshimoto Takeshi , Shiozawa Masayuki , Kushi Yuji , Ohta Tsuyoshi , Satow Tetsu , Kataoka Hiroharu , Ihara Masafumi , Koga Masatoshi , Isobe Noriko , Toyoda Kazunori
Published: April 2022

Background:

Although tortuosity of the internal carotid artery (ICA) can pose a significant challenge when performing mechanical thrombectomy, few studies have examined the impact of ICA tortuosity on mechanical thrombectomy outcomes.

Methods:

In a registry-based hospital cohort, consecutive patients with anterior circulation stroke in whom mechanical thrombectomy was attempted were divided into 2 groups: those with tortuosity in the extracranial or cavernous ICA (tortuous group) and those without (nontortuous group). The extracranial ICA tortuosity was defined as the presence of coiling or kinking. The cavernous ICA tortuosity was defined by the posterior deflection of the posterior genu or the shape resembling Simmons-type catheter. Outcomes included first pass effect (FPE; extended Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score 2c/3 after first pass), favorable outcome (3-month modified Rankin Scale score of 0–2), and intracranial hemorrhage.

Results:

Of 370 patients, 124 were in the tortuous group (extracranial ICA tortuosity, 35; cavernous ICA tortuosity, 70; tortuosity at both sites, 19). The tortuous group showed a higher proportion of women and atrial fibrillation than the nontortuous group. FPE was less frequently achieved in the tortuous group than the nontortuous group (21% versus 39%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.26–0.77]). ICA tortuosity was independently associated with the longer time from puncture to extended Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction ≥2b reperfusion (β=23.19 [95% CI, 13.44–32.94]). Favorable outcome was similar between groups (46% versus 48%;
P
=0.87). Frequencies of any intracranial hemorrhage (54% versus 42%; adjusted odds ratio, 1.61 [95% CI, 1.02–2.53]) and parenchymal hematoma (11% versus 6%; adjusted odds ratio, 2.41 [95% CI, 1.04–5.58]) were higher in the tortuous group. In the tortuous group, the FPE rate was similar in patients who underwent combined stent retriever and contact aspiration thrombectomy and in those who underwent either procedure alone (22% versus 19%;
P
=0.80). However, in the nontortuous group, the FPE rate was significantly higher in patients who underwent combined stent retriever and contact aspiration (52% versus 35%;
P
=0.02).

Conclusions:

ICA tortuosity was independently associated with reduced likelihood of FPE and increased risk of postmechanical thrombectomy intracranial hemorrhage.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT02251665.
An analysis of the vitamin D overtesting in a tertiary healthcare centre
Authors: Aralica Merica , Šupak Smolčić Vesna , Turk Wensveen Tamara , Hrabrić Vlah Snježana , Selar Mihael , Bilić Zulle Lidija
Published: April 2022

Vitamin D testing is excessively used in clinical practice, despite of the clinical guidelines statements against population screening for vitamin D deficiency. This study aimed to assess an annual number of performed 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) tests that were unsupported by the national guidelines for prevention, detection and therapy of vitamin D deficiency in adults and to calculate associated financial burden for the publicly funded healthcare.
A representative sample of requested 25(OH)D tests in 2018 (N = 474) was formed after selection and randomisation of data set (N = 5298) collected from the laboratory information system database of the Clinical Department for Laboratory Diagnostics, the Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka. Records were classified in two groups depending on associated medical condition(s) according to the national guidelines. An annual cost of the total and group specific vitamin D testing was calculated on the base of a single test price reimbursed by the Croatian Healthcare Insurance Fund (CHIF).
Medical conditions with high-risk for vitamin D deficiency were detected in 43% (206/474) of vitamin D requests (group 1). Conditions not associated with vitamin D deficiency were detected in 57% (268/474) requests (group 2). A total cost of 25(OH)D testing for the CHIF was 58,729.50 EUR (25,523.79 EUR in the group 1 and 33,205.71 EUR in the group 2).
More than half of all 25(OH)D tests performed in the clinical laboratory represent avoidable cost for the public healthcare. Prevention of population screening by vitamin D testing is needed.
Verification policies in Croatian medical biochemistry laboratories
Authors: Milevoj Kopčinović Lara , Vukasović Ines , Miletić Manuela , Hrabrić Vlah Snježana , Siter Kuprešanin Marija , Lovrić Mila , Miloš Marija , Kocijančić Marija , Čičak Helena , Ćelap Ivana , Bokulić Adriana , Juričić Gordana
Published: April 2022

The aim of this study was to screen practices used in verification procedures for methods/analysers among medical biochemistry laboratories (MBLs) in Croatia. We hypothesized that these procedures differ widely from laboratory to laboratory and wanted to gather specific data on steps used in the verification workflow. In order to obtain data, an online survey was conducted. The survey, divided in two sections, contained 29 questions and statements addressing general characteristics and specific steps of the verification workflow of each individual MBL. The survey was disseminated among managers of all MBLs in Croatia. A total of 108/196 (55%) laboratories participated in the survey. Forty nine MBLs were excluded from the second part of the survey: 14 have not implemented verification procedures, and 35 MBLs due to the absence of answers. The most relevant results of the second part of the survey showed that: 18/59 (0.31) of the responding MBLs have difficulties when defining acceptance criteria, 27/59 (0.46) used the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute protocol for precision estimation; the majority of MBLs used a median of 20 samples for method/analyser comparisons and estimated bias using internal quality control samples; reference intervals provided by external sources are mainly adopted; 60% of MBLs do not include linearity verification in their protocol and do not use the national document for the estimation of measurement uncertainty. Heterogeneous verification protocols are routinely utilized across Croatian MBLs which clearly confirms that a national document might help in the harmonization of verification procedures.
The Influence of Alternative Development Finance on the World Bank’s Safeguards Regime
Authors: Greenstein Gus
Published: April 2022

What shapes social-environmental regulations in the World Bank? To date, scholars have emphasized the influence of nongovernmental organization activism, donor power, and various elements of the Bank’s internal culture and incentive system. This article documents a new and important source of influence: outside financing options for borrower countries. I demonstrate this influence through an in-depth study of the World Bank’s Safeguards Review and Update, a four-year policy-making process that concluded in 2016. As alternative sources of finance carrying less stringent safeguard requirements than those of the World Bank proliferated in years preceding the Safeguards Review, borrowers gained negotiating power over Bank policy, enabling them to successfully push for more regulatory autonomy. These findings suggest that understanding the future of social-environmental standards in development finance institutions will require greater attention to new sources of finance and the power shifts they may entail.
PADA: Example-based Prompt Learning for on-the-fly Adaptation to
Unseen Domains
Authors: Ben-David Eyal , Oved Nadav , Reichart Roi
Published: April 2022

Natural Language Processing algorithms have made incredible progress, but they still struggle when applied to out-of-distribution examples. We address a challenging and underexplored version of this domain adaptation problem, where an algorithm is trained on several source domains, and then applied to examples from unseen domains that are unknown at training time. Particularly, no examples, labeled or unlabeled, or any other knowledge about the target domain are available to the algorithm at training time. We present PADA: An example-based autoregressive Prompt learning algorithm for on-the-fly Any-Domain Adaptation, based on the T5 language model. Given a test example, PADA first generates a unique prompt for it and then, conditioned on this prompt, labels the example with respect to the NLP prediction task. PADA is trained to generate a prompt that is a token sequence of unrestricted length, consisting of Domain Related Features (DRFs) that characterize each of the source domains. Intuitively, the generated prompt is a unique signature that maps the test example to a semantic space spanned by the source domains. In experiments with 3 tasks (text classification and sequence tagging), for a total of 14 multi-source adaptation scenarios, PADA substantially outperforms strong baselines.1
“Taking Precedence over the Torah”: Vows and Oaths, Abstinence and Celibacy in Naḥmanides’s Oeuvre
Authors: Yisraeli Oded
Published: April 2022

This article explores the ascetic tendencies of Naḥmanides (R. Moses ben Naḥman, ca. 1194–1270) as reflected in his oeuvre as a whole, including his halakhic, kabbalistic, exegetical, and philosophical output. A close examination of Naḥmanides’s kabbalistic commentary to a talmudic sugiya concerning the differences between oaths and vows uncovers the austere and ascetic ethos in his teaching and its central place in his religious world. This perspective is linked to the nature of human beings and the human soul, the relationship between body and psyche, the meaning of life and the overcoming of death, and the status of the Torah and the connection between observance of the commandments and the voluntary hasidic ethos.
Root growth potential and seedling growth of kamagong (Diospyros blancoi A. DC.) influenced by root pruning
Authors: Yabes Milbrenne D. , Alfonso Gerryc P. , Carandang Vida Q.
Published: April 2022

Quality seedlings are vital to the success of any reforestation project. This can be attained and improved by employing nursery management practices like root pruning. This study was carried out to determine the effect of root pruning on root growth potential and growth of kamagong seedlings. Three-month-old seedlings were obtained from the Learning Laboratory for Forestry and Agroforestry, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines – Los Baños, where treatments non-root pruned and root pruned were applied to seedlings repotted in larger polybags. After 80 days, root pruning did not significantly affect height and root collar diameter growth. Shoot dry mass, root collar diameter, root length, total tree dry mass, sturdiness quotient, seedling mortality were consistent in between treatments. Non-root pruned seedlings yielded significantly higher root volume and root dry mass while root pruned seedlings have significantly higher shoot height, root: shoot ratio, and seedling quality index. Attainment of moderate Root Growth Potential (RGP) based on root length and root volume was influenced by root pruning. Expressions of RGP were positively and significantly correlated to root dry mass, sturdiness quotient and seedling quality index. In conclusion, root pruning of this critically endangered species increases its quality as planting stock.
Opium Detoxification Places in Guangzhou (1839–1952)
Authors: Paulès Xavier
Published: April 2022

This article deals with the various kinds of official agencies devoted to the treatment of opium smokers in Guangzhou between 1839 and 1952. Their role in the anti-opium campaigns varied greatly, the general trend being: when the local authorities committed themselves to the immediate or rapid suppression of opium, detoxification places were either of secondary importance (1839–1840, 1950–1952) or even absent (1912–1913). On the other hand, when the authorities decided to use gradual methods to combat drug addiction (1906–1911, 1936–1937), they played a much greater role. As to their internal organization, a process of medicalization was clearly underway, and they became genuine “clinics” from the early twentieth century on. Therapies inspired by Western medicine rapidly replaced traditional Chinese remedies. The opium clinics of the 1930s testify to the affirmation of a new political ideology targeting the mobilization of the population and the enhancement of its physical and moral standards (in the same line as the New Life movement).
8. Development and Stability
Authors: Comim Flavio
Published: April 2022

Flavio Comim starts this chapter with a conceptual discussion about the stability dimension of the common good, exploring its links with similar constructs, such as sustainability and resilience. He then examines the normative character of stability, echoing Anand and Sen’s critique of the use of the sustainability concept, with the main point being examining both positive and negative aspects of stability. Third, he investigates measurement possibilities for this dimension, such as the issue of intertemporal rates of discount and the use of RBM (Results Based Management) to link common objectives to a single framework. Finally, he puts forward a tentative classification of stability indicators according to their usefulness in empirical common good nexus models.
9. Do We Need a Common Good Approach to Development?
Authors: Alford Helen
Published: April 2022

In this chapter Helen Alford revises the strengths and limits of current development trends, arguing that the integration of the different dimensions of development is today one of the biggest challenges. This is clearly acknowledged by the SDGs, but not resolved. She argues that a common good approach to development precisely addresses the dynamic integration of development goals and that this changes the way we think about development itself. She then goes on to describe possible implications of such an approach for business and finance.
CMIP6 Intermodel Spread in Interhemispheric Asymmetry of Tropical Climate Response to Greenhouse Warming: Extratropical Ocean Effects
Authors: Geng Yu-Fan , Xie Shang-Ping , Zheng Xiao-Tong , Long Shang-Min , Kang Sarah M. , Lin Xiaopei , Song Zi-Han
Published: April 2022

Tropical climate response to greenhouse warming is to first order symmetric about the equator but climate models disagree on the degree of latitudinal asymmetry of the tropical change. Intermodel spread in equatorial asymmetry of tropical climate response is investigated by using 37 models from phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). In the simple simulation with CO2 increase at 1% per year but without aerosol forcing, this study finds that intermodel spread in tropical asymmetry is tied to that in the extratropical surface heat flux change related to the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) and Southern Ocean sea ice concentration (SIC). AMOC or Southern Ocean SIC change alters net energy flux at the top of the atmosphere and sea surface in one hemisphere and may induce interhemispheric atmospheric energy transport. The negative feedback of the shallow meridional overturning circulation in the tropics and the positive low cloud feedback in the subtropics are also identified. Our results suggest that reducing the intermodel spread in extratropical change can improve the reliability of tropical climate projections.
Radiographic and Clinical Predictors of Therapeutic Pelvic Angiography
Authors: Filiberto Dina M , Toth Chase , Afzal Muhammad O , Byerly Saskya , Lenart Emily K , Kerwin Andrew J , Croce Martin A , Magnotti Louis J
Published: April 2022

Background

Pelvic fractures are often complicated by hemorrhage contributing to morbidity and mortality. Management of these patients is multifaceted and computed tomography (CT) imaging plays an integral diagnostic role. The purpose of this study was to identify radiographic and clinical predictors of therapeutic angiography in patients with blunt pelvic fractures.

Methods

All patients with blunt pelvic fractures who underwent angiography following admission CT scan were identified over a 6-year period. A radiologist reviewed the CT scans to identify potential predictors of pelvic hemorrhage. Patients were stratified by intervention [therapeutic angiography (TA) vs non-therapeutic angiography (NTA)] and compared. Multivariable logistic regression (MLR) was performed to determine independent predictors of TA. Youden’s index was used to identify the optimal value of selected predictors identified on MLR.

Results

177 patients were identified: 42% underwent TA and 58% underwent NTA. Patients undergoing TA were more likely to have a higher injury burden and greater resuscitative transfusion requirements, display both a brighter blush density on arterial phase CT and a larger % change in arterial to venous phase blush density. The optimal arterial blush density was determined to be 250 HU. MLR identified pre-angiography transfusion requirements (OR 1.175; 95% CI 1.054-1.311, P = .0189) and arterial blush density (OR 1.011; 95% CI 1.005-1.016, P < .0001) as independent predictors of therapeutic angiography.

Conclusion

CT imaging remains vital in assessing patients with pelvic fractures and associated hemorrhage following blunt trauma. For patients requiring multiple resuscitative transfusions with CT findings of an arterial blush measuring ≥250 HU, early angiography should be the preferred approach.
Evelyn Underhill: an Anglican “Spiritual Ecumenist”
Authors: Wrigley-Carr Robyn
Published: April 2022

Evelyn Underhill (1875–1925) was an Anglican “Spiritual Ecumenist” who viewed prayer as central to Church unity. As Secretary of the Spiritual Entente, a prayer movement in the early 1920s, Underhill wrote a leaflet outlining its four aims. First, the Entente was to include members of any nationality, class, or form of Christian faith, yet loyal to their own Church affiliation. Second, the objective was to hasten the coming of God’s Kingdom by promoting spiritual unity between Christians. Third, prayer and work were central to achieving this goal. Fourth, “spiritual understanding” rather than critique was key to unity. Underhill’s four convictions were “lived” throughout her life and repeatedly emphasized in her retreat talks and letters. Underhill’s “Spiritual Ecumenism” is part of her spiritual legacy. She provided spiritual understanding and generous hospitality to Christians from all parts of the Church while also staying true to her Anglican identity.
Advisory Governance Policy, Shareholder Voice, and Board Responsiveness: The Case of Majority Vote in Director Elections
Authors: Shropshire Christine , Bundy Jonathan , Albader Latifa A.
Published: April 2022

This study investigates how adoption of advisory governance policy encourages firms to become more responsive to their shareholders over time. Although shareholder activism is costly and often viewed as unable to drive meaningful change, we identify increasing shareholder voice as an underlying mechanism to explain how advisory policy adoption ultimately reshapes board–shareholder relations. Drawing on signaling theory and behavioral views of board–shareholder dynamics, we test our predictions following the broad shift in corporate board voting policies from plurality to majority vote standards. While prior research shows that majority vote adoption has little to no direct impact on director elections, empirical results from 2,390 firm-year observations provide support for our hypotheses that adoption of this advisory electoral standard signals a willingness to hear shareholder concerns, leading to increased shareholder activism and, in turn, board responsiveness to shareholder proposals. Overall, our results help explain why some firms continue to fight the purely advisory policy and why an era of shareholder empowerment followed the majority vote campaign.
Trailblazing: A Historical Overview of the Advocacy Work of Four Legendary Black Golf Professionals
Authors: Skelton Lucas
Published: April 2022

African-American trailblazers are crucial in the game of golf as unlike some of the other mainstream sports, such as football, baseball, and basketball, the sport of golf has been historically entrenched in patriarchy and white privilege. The article analyzes the pioneering efforts and trailblazing endeavors of four legendary black golfers in this regard—Ted Rhodes, Charlie Sifford, Lee Elder, and Tiger Woods. Each of these black trailblazers has taken varied approaches in fighting for racial inclusivity in golf, from more implicit and non-confrontational tactics to more radical and militant ones. The article focuses on the racial discrimination experienced by each trailblazer, the strategies each took to fight injustice and racial inequality and advocate for equal participation in golf, and their successes and failures of breaking down barriers for future black players. Consideration in the article is also given to the phenomenon of trailblazing and how golf needs African-American trailblazers such as Tiger Woods to transition the exclusive sport to a game that is more easily accessible by all races and genders.
Effectiveness of a Telerehabilitative Home Exercise Program on Elder Adults’ Physical Performance, Depression and Fear of Falling
Authors: Tekin Fatih , Cetisli-Korkmaz Nilufer
Published: April 2022

Our aim in this study was to analyze the effects of a home exercise program of calisthenic exercises delivered through telerehabilitation on physical performance, depression, and risk of falling in elder adults. Our participants were elder adults aged 65 and over, divided into exercise and control groups. We initiated a 4-week telerehabilitation calisthenic exercise program in the exercise group following initial assessments, while our control group received no formal exercise training. Both groups were evaluated online before and after this 4-week period with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Modified Falls Efficacy Scale (MFES), and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). In total, 255 elder adults participated, with 132 (males = 72, females = 60) allocated to calisthenic exercise and 123 (males = 66, females = 57) allocated to the control group. While the groups did not differ significantly on any of our parameters before the exercise, there were statistically significant post-exercise group differences in GDS ( p ≤ .001) and MFES ( p ≤ .001) scores related to remarkable physical improvements achieved in the calisthenic exercise group. The exercise group showed significant increases in their scores on the SPPB Balance Test ( p = .049), SPPB Chair Test ( p = .009), and SPPB Total ( p = .002) while there was no significant increase in any of these scores among control group participants ( p > .05). Thus, calisthenic exercises performed via telerehabilitation significantly improved elder adults’ physical performance, fear of falling, and depression. Telerehabilitation is a useful remote means of assessing, inducing, and following-up exercise training, particularly during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Dispositional Mindfulness May Have Protected Athletes from Psychological Distress During COVID-19 in Australia
Authors: O’Connor Edward J. , Crozier Alyson J , Murphy Alistair , Immink Maarten A
Published: April 2022

Promoting athlete wellbeing has become a priority in elite sport, and the COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated the need for a comprehensive understanding of risk and protective factors. Existing sport research has not yet considered whether specific cognitive factors such as dispositional mindfulness and executive function may protect athletes against psychological distress. In a sample of high-performance Australian football athletes ( n = 27), we administered measures of dispositional mindfulness (MAAS), executive function (AOSPAN; eStroop), and psychological distress (APSQ) at pre-season, coinciding with the initial (2020) COVID-19-related sport shutdown in Australia. Measures of executive function and psychological distress were re-administered at the end of the COVID-19 affected competitive season in 2020. Athletes reported significantly elevated psychological distress relative to previous estimates of distress among high-performance athletes established in prior studies. Executive functions, including working memory and inhibitory control were not significantly associated with psychological distress or dispositional mindfulness at either timepoint. However, baseline mindfulness was associated with reduced distress at both pre-season (r = −0.48, p = .03) and end of season (r = −0.56, p = .004), suggesting that dispositional mindfulness may have afforded protective buffering against symptoms of distress. Correlation data alone does not establish a directional connection from mindfulness to reduced distress, and future research is required to elucidate this association and/or establish the mechanism/s by which dispositional mindfulness may protect against psychological distress in this population.
Immaturity of Oculomotor Capabilities During a Reading Task in Children Born Prematurely: An Eye Tracker Study
Authors: Bucci Maria Pia , Caldani Simona , Boutillier Béatrice , Frérot Alice , Farnoux Caroline , Virlouvet Anne-Laure , Rideau-Batista-Novais Aline , Trousson Clémence , Biran Valerie
Published: April 2022

To our knowledge, there are no studies recording the reading eye movements of children born prematurely. We examined the oculomotor patterns during reading of 23 children born prematurely ( M age = 7.8, SD = 0.2 years) to compare them with those from two groups of children born at full-term who were matched for chronological age or reading age, respectively. We found the oculomotor reading pattern in children who were preterm to be similar to that of children who were full-term and matched for reading age; this shared pattern was characterized by longer duration of fixations, frequent prosaccades of smaller amplitude and several backward saccades. In contrast, when these two groups were compared to full-term children matched for chronological age, the latter group showed significantly shorter duration of fixations, less frequent saccades and larger amplitude prosaccades. Thus, the oculomotor pattern we observed in 7-year-old children who were either preterm or reading-delayed, relative to their age-matched peers, reflected delayed development of brain areas involved in reading-related eye movements.
Tales from a Shared Journey of Teaching and Researching Translanguaging
Authors: Tian Zhongfeng , Robinson Elizabeth , McConnell Jessica
Published: April 2022

From 2017 to 2019, the first two authors, Zhongfeng and Elizabeth, and a team of researchers set off on a journey through four iterative cycles of infusing translanguaging into an undergraduate Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages certificate program at a United States urban institution. Their goal was to learn how to prepare future teachers to teach for justice through translanguaging. In this paper the third author, Jessica, joined the team to conduct a critical narrative analysis of this journey. Our collaborative process enabled us to move beyond simply telling our stories toward critically analyzing the power structures and discourses present within them. Our co-constructed narrative highlights key implications for research and practice, and the critical meta-awareness that emerged for us. Lessons learned include openness to change, collaboration, purpose and direction, preparation, and evaluating progress. The authors hope that by sharing these components others may be more likely to succeed in their own journeys with teaching and researching translanguaging.
Contributing Factors to Chinese English Learners’ Perceptions of Different English Accents
Authors: Huang Yan , Hashim Azirah
Published: April 2022

This mixed-methods study investigated Chinese tertiary-level students’ perceptions of different English accents existing in mainland China. Also examined were their perception changes and factors that contributed to their perception changes. An electronic questionnaire survey was employed to investigate the general trend and the possible correlations and differences in the participants’ perceptions of different English accents. Follow-up interviews and diary studies were conducted to examine the participants’ perception changes and the contributing factors. The main findings show that the participants were inclined to accord privileged status to Inner Circle English accents, whereas their perceptions of Outer Circle and Expanding Circle English accents tended to remain unfavourable. Their perceptions were found to be under the substantial influence of the ongoing exonormative English education, English language assessment system and employment requirements. We also found that the explicit instruction of the development of English and the frequent cross-cultural communication were likely to engender changes in the participants’ language beliefs and perceptions of different English accent varieties.
The effect of the heat transfer mechanism on the psychophysical assessment of moisture sensation in fabrics
Authors: Zhang Zhaohua , Sun Cenwenjie , Zhang Xianghui
Published: April 2022

Perceived moisture in fabrics is a crucial factor affecting wearing comfort. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of the conductive, evaporative and mechanical cues on moisture sensation. Thirteen participants assessed fabric wetness perception in both hot and neutral environments, and the difference threshold and the sensory magnitude of moisture were determined. Three types of knitted fabric were covered with or without an impermeable polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film and were used to simulate either the water evaporation or not. The results showed that the influence of conduction on moisture sensitivity was greater than that of evaporation, as proved by the 0.1 units of increase in the Webber fraction by conduction, compared with only 0.03 units of increase by evaporation. In addition, the relationship between the moisture sensation and the stimulus intensity demonstrated a psychophysical power function. The exponents of the power functions were found to be between 0.15 and 0.45, depending on the stimulus conditions, and the cold-wet stimulus triggered significantly greater moisture sensation than the warm-wet stimulus. Fabrics restrained from evaporation by PVC film resulted in a greater moisture sensation as the supplied water was held as free liquid, which either increased cooling cues in the cold-wet stimulus or increased mechanical cues in the warm-wet stimulus. The results suggest that factors such as clothing fitness, fabric property and environmental conditions might interactively affect human moisture sensation, and future researches are necessary to understand how these initial results would relate to an overall garment.
A Grounded Theory on School Nursing Experiences With Major Pandemic Diseases
Authors: Um Youn-Joo , Choi Yun-Jung
Published: April 2022

This study was conducted to develop a substantive theory on school nurses’ experiences responding to infectious diseases by applying the grounded theory method to explore their experiences and derive related concepts. Study participants were 20 school nurses with experiences coping with infectious diseases while working in schools. The research question of this study was “What kind of experience did the school nurses have in response to infectious diseases?” The analysis included open, axis, and selective coding. We derived 164 concepts, 45 subcategories, and 17 categories. Further, paradigm, situation, and school infectious disease response control tower models were derived. The results of this study can serve as bottom-up policy data to understand the current situation surrounding school infectious disease management through the experiences of school nurses.