bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Downstaging and Resection of Initially Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor and Anti-PD-1 Antibody Combinations
Authors: Zhu Xiao-Dong , Huang Cheng , Shen Ying-Hao , Ji Yuan , Ge Ning-Ling , Qu Xu-Dong , Chen Lingli , Shi Wen-Kai , Li Mei-Ling , Zhu Jin-Jin , Tan Chang-Jun , Tang Zhao-You , Zhou Jian , Fan Jia , Sun Hui-Chuan
Published: March 2021

Background: Combined therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and anti-PD-1 antibodies has shown high tumor response rates for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, using this treatment strategy to convert initially unresectable HCC to resectable HCC was not reported. Methods: Consecutive patients with unresectable HCC who received first-line therapy with combined TKI/anti-PD-1 antibodies were analyzed. Tumor response and resectability were evaluated via imaging every 2 months (±2 weeks) using RECIST v1.1. Resectability criteria were (1) R0 resection could be achieved with sufficient remnant liver volume and function; (2) intrahepatic lesions were evaluated as partial responses or stable disease for at least 2 months; (3) no severe or persistent adverse effects occurred; and (4) hepatectomy was not contraindicated. Results: Sixty-three consecutive patients were enrolled. Of them, 10 (15.9%) underwent R0 resection in 3.2 months (range: 2.4–8.3 months) after the initiation of combination therapy. At baseline, these 10 patients had a median largest tumor diameter of 9.3 cm, 7 had Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C (vascular invasion) disease, 2 had stage B, and 1 had stage A. Before surgery, 6 patients were evaluated as a partial response, 3 stable disease, and 1 partial response in the intrahepatic lesion but a new metastatic lesion in the right adrenal gland. Six patients (60%) achieved a pathological complete response. One patient died from immune-related adverse effects 2.4 months after hepatectomy. After a median follow-up of 11.2 months (range: 7.8–15.9 months) for other 9 patients, 8 survived without disease recurrence, and 1 experienced tumor recurrence. Conclusions: Combination of TKI/anti-PD-1 antibodies is a feasible conversion therapy for patients with unresectable HCC to become resectable. This study represents the largest patient cohort on downstaging role of combinational systemic therapy on TKI and PD-1 antibody for HCC.
Clinical Features of the 60 Years and Older Patients Infected with 2019 Novel Coronavirus: Can We Predict Mortality Earlier?
Authors: Genc Yavuz Burcu , Colak Sahin , Guven Ramazan , Altundag İbrahim , Seyhan Avni Uygar , Gunay Inanc Rumeysa
Published: March 2021

Introduction: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19), which has affected over 100 countries in a short while, progresses more mortally in elderly patients with comorbidities. In this study, we examined the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of the patients aged 60 and over who had been infected with COVID-19. Methods: The data of the patients admitted to the hospital within 1 month from May 8, 2020 onwards and hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia were obtained from the hospital medical records, and the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory parameters of the patients during the admission to the emergency department were examined. Patients were divided into 2 groups regarding the criteria of having in-hospital mortality (mortality group) and being discharged with full recovery (survivor group). The factors, which could have an impact on the mortality, were investigated using a univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: This retrospective study included 113 patients aged 60 years and older, with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia. The mean age of the patients was 70.7 ± 7.9, and 64.6% (n = 73) of them were male. The mortality rate was 19.4% (n = 22). Among the comorbid illnesses, only renal failure was significant in the mortality group (p = 0.04). A CURB-65score ≥3 or pneumonia severity index (PSI) class ≥4 manifested a remarkable discrimination ability to predict 30-day mortality (p < 0.001). When the laboratory parameters were considered, the value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was significant in predicting mortality in univariate and multivariate analysis (odds ratio [OR] = 1.11; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.03–1.21; p = 0.006, and OR = 1.51; 95% CI, 1.11–2.39; p = 0.044, respectively). Conclusion: In our study, NLR was determined to be an independent marker to predict in-hospital mortality among patients with COVID-19. PSI and CURB-65 revealed a considerably precise prognostic accuracy for the patients with COVID-19 in our study as well. Moreover, thanks to that NLR results in a very short time, it can enable the clinician to predict mortality before the scoring systems are calculated and hasten the management of the patients in the chaotic environment of the emergency room.
SIP Policy: Theoretical and Conceptual Facts of Software Rejuvenation in Convoluted System
Authors: Cholli Nagaraj G , N Srinivasan G
Published: March 2021

A software aging in convoluted system refers to the situation where software degrades with span of time. This phenomenon, which may eventually lead to system performance degradation or crash/hang failure, is the result of depletion of operating system resources, data deception and numerical error assembly. A technique called software rejuvenation has been incorporated, which essentially involves periodic aborting an application or a system, flushing its intramural state and re-starting it. A main issue in rejuvenation is to discover ideal time to initiate software rejuvenation. Software rejuvenation is a proactive technique that allows preventing the occurrence of software failing. A novel approach called Smart interval and payload (SIP) policy is introduced to overcome all the hurdles in the present scenario based on Software Rejuvenation approaches. SIP policy accepts time from user and optimizes the rejuvenation time whenever workload is variable; otherwise the system is rejuvenated at its rejuvenation point. SIP policy avoids software failure and it helps to achieve high availability of convoluted system.
Testing Software Rejuvenation Policy for Time and Load Balancing Scheme in Complex System Using Deterministic-NDST Approach
Authors: Cholli Nagaraj G , Shiekh Khalid Amin , Srinivasan G N
Published: March 2021

Software rejuvenation has become a new horizon for increasing the system reliability and availability in a long run. One of the concept in software rejuvenation policy involves rebooting the system by suspending the disk and capturing the images of processes currently running in the system. In our rejuvenation policy we make use an intelligent time and load algorithm for deciding the optimal rejuvenation period. Since at any given time there can be n number of processes running in the system with different physical memory utilizations and variable workloads running, it becomes very vital to thoroughly test the system with highly chaotic and disruptive workloads. For this we use some non-traditional form of testing which we call non deterministic system testing (NDST) to test different features and conditions of system
Environmental Adaptation of Robot Morphology and Control Through Real-World Evolution
Authors: Nygaard T. F. , Martin C. P. , Howard D. , Torresen J. , Glette K.
Published: March 2021

Robots operating in the real world will experience a range of different environments and tasks. It is essential for the robot to have the ability to adapt to its surroundings to work efficiently in changing conditions. Evolutionary robotics aims to solve this by optimizing both the control and body (morphology) of a robot, allowing adaptation to internal, as well as external factors. Most work in this field has been done in physics simulators, which are relatively simple and not able to replicate the richness of interactions found in the real world. Solutions that rely on the complex interplay among control, body, and environment are therefore rarely found. In this article, we rely solely on real-world evaluations and apply evolutionary search to yield combinations of morphology and control for our mechanically self-reconfiguring quadruped robot. We evolve solutions on two distinct physical surfaces and analyze the results in terms of both control and morphology. We then transition to two previously unseen surfaces to demonstrate the generality of our method. We find that the evolutionary search finds high-performing and diverse morphology-controller configurations by adapting both control and body to the different properties of the physical environments. We additionally find that morphology and control vary with statistical significance between the environments. Moreover, we observe that our method allows for morphology and control parameters to transfer to previously unseen terrains, demonstrating the generality of our approach.
(No) Sympathy for the Devil?
Authors: Steiger Peter
Published: March 2021

As a successor and strong supporter of Origen, though not an uncritical one, Didymus the Blind has long been presented as advocating controversial theological views, notably the apokatastasis. Along with Origen and Evagrius, Didymus’ views on this were condemned by the Fifth Ecumenical Council in 553 CE. In order to better understand Didymus’ theology, it is important to consider his notion of spiritual conflict and its ramifications for the friends and enemies of God. The purpose of this paper is to examine Didymus’ theology of enmity with God, in particular his interpretation of key biblical passages that indicate certain characters as enemies of God, namely Satan, the demons, and Judas Iscariot. The paper will address such questions as should Christians have any sympathy for Satan and the demons? Was Judas’ betrayal merely the selling out of Jesus based on greed, or was there a deeper betrayal of the teacher-student relationship? How do God’s enemies contrast with Didymus’ understanding of the friends of God? In addition to considering Didymus’ exegesis of these characters, the paper will examine his treatment of the New Testament command to love one’s enemies. Didymus’ doctrinal and exegetical texts will both be considered to establish his theology of spiritual conflict. Finally, these considerations will be contextualized within Didymus’ own theological milieu, where the blind scholar seems to be aware of mounting criticism of his theology, perhaps by his own students, and even possibly the conflicts swirling around several of his prominent former students (Evagrius, Jerome and Rufinus).
Surviving in semi-arid environments: functional coordination and trade-offs in shrubs from Argentina
Authors: Delbón Natalia , Castello Lucía V. , Rios-Villamil Alejandro , Cosa María T. , Stiefkens Laura
Published: March 2021

Human action has led to an increase in aridification, making water a progressively scarcer resource. In angiosperms, different species resolve this challenge in diverse ways, mainly through modifications of the xylem network, which is responsible for water efficiency and safety. Xerophytes generally show similar characteristics, but exceptions are rather frequent. One possible explanation for this lack of similarity among cohabiting species is that trade-offs and/or functional coordination between their organs occur and shape alternative survival strategies. Studying species that inhabit a common area can help to identify key traits that determine those diverse strategies and to predict which species might tolerate further environmental change.

We here examined the morpho-anatomical wood and bark traits of a group of species that live in a seasonally dry environment in Argentina. In a previous study, we described the leaf traits of these species and we thus aim to complement our findings and outline their strategies to manage water deficits. Our results show that there are different degrees of xeromorphism within this group. Clear xeromorphic traits, such as high vessel frequency and small diameter, were found in most species. However, some presented traits that were appropriate for mesic environments. An overview of leaf and wood traits indicates that the absence of a typical xeric characteristic in the wood might be compensated by the presence of a xeric leaf trait, and vice versa. Collectively, these trait combinations allow these species to survive in dry conditions and could influence their tolerance to increasing aridity.
First report of the genus Rhicnogryllus Chopard, 1925 (Orthoptera: Trigonidiidae; Trigonidiinae) in China with description of a new species
Authors: HE ZHIXIN , MA GE , ZHANG TAO , MA LIBIN
Published: March 2021

A new species, Rhicnogryllus nanlingensis sp. n., was reported from Guangdong, China. This was the first time of Rhicnogryllus was recorded from China. Description and illustrations for the new species were provided.
Diagnosis of the new genus Agnathia (Pycnogonida, Callipallenidae) and description of two new species from southern Australia
Authors: STAPLES D.A.
Published: March 2021

A new genus of Callipallenidae, Agnathia, is established to accommodate two new species of pycnogonid from southern Australia; A. aria and A. chuki. Both new species are represented by adult and sub-adult forms. Gravid females and ovigerous and larvigerous males are represented. Postembryonic growth stages are recorded and briefly discussed. The presence of six-segmented ovigers in males of one species, as opposed to the usual ten segments in both sexes, is recorded. Genera that share morphological relationships are discussed and a key to these genera is provided. The genera Bradypallene, Pycnopallene and Safropallene are reassessed and reassigned to family incertae sedis.
Main Factors Predicting Nonresponders to Autologous Cell Therapy for Critical Limb Ischemia in Patients With Diabetic Foot
Authors: Dubský Michal , Fejfarová Vladimíra , Bem Robert , Jirkovská Alexandra , Nemcová Andrea , Sutoris Karol , Husáková Jitka , Skibová Jelena , Jude Edward B.
Published: March 2021

Autologous cell therapy (ACT) is a new treatment for patients with no-option critical limb ischemia (NO-CLI). We evaluated the factors involved in the nonresponse to ACT in patients with CLI and diabetic foot. Diabetic patients (n = 72) with NO-CLI treated using ACT in our foot clinic over a period of 8 years were divided into responders (n = 57) and nonresponders (n = 15). Nonresponder was defined as an insufficient increase in transcutaneous oxygen pressure by <5 mm Hg, 3 months after ACT. Patient demographics, diabetes duration and treatment, and comorbidities as well as a cellular response to ACT, limb-related factors, and the presence of inherited thrombotic disorders were compared between the 2 groups. The main independent predictors for an impaired response to ACT were heterozygote Leiden mutation (OR 10.5; 95% CI, 1.72-4) and homozygote methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR 677) mutation (OR 3.36; 95% CI, 1.0-14.3) in stepwise logistic regression. Univariate analysis showed that lower mean protein C levels ( P = .041) were present in nonresponders compared with responders. In conclusion, the significant predictors of an impaired response to ACT in diabetic patients with NO-CLI were inherited thrombotic disorders.
Fourier Transform Infrared Imaging Analysis of Interactions Between Polypropylene Grafted with Maleic Anhydride and Silica Spheres Using Two-Trace Two-Dimensional Correlation Mapping
Authors: Shinzawa Hideyuki , Sugahara Aki , Hagihara Hideaki , Mizukado Junji , Watanabe Ryota
Published: March 2021

A technique for analyzing infrared imaging data based on two-trace two-dimensional (2T2D) correlation analysis is presented to extract pertinent information underlying spectroscopic imaging data. In 2T2D correlation mapping, each spectrum in hyperspectral data is individually compared with a reference spectrum to generate 2T2D asynchronous correlation intensity at the x- and y-coordinates on a 2T2D correlation map. Asynchronous correlation intensity develops only when the signal contribution from a certain species becomes even more significant in the sample spectrum compared with the reference spectrum. This feature can be advantageously utilized to examine molecular interaction or an intermediate form of the component present in a system of interest. 2T2D correlation mapping is examined using Fourier transform infrared imaging data of polymer composites based on polypropylene grafted with maleic anhydride melt-mixed with silica spheres. Infrared images derived by using conventional visualization based on a single wavenumber (i.e., 1713 cm−1) are dominated with the overwhelming infrared absorbance induced by the normal maleic anhydride species, making the identification of subtle but pertinent changes in the composite system difficult. A 2T2D correlation map derived from the maleic anhydride/silica spheres composite developed a significant asynchronous correlation intensity between the infrared bands at 1695 and 1713 cm−1 around a specific region on the map where the maleic anhydride and silica spheres coexist. On the other hand, such a correlation pattern becomes less acute when the silica spheres is modified with the octadecyldimethyl group to prevent the hydrogen bonding with the maleic anhydride. It thus revealed that the silanol groups on the surface of the silica spheres substantially interact with the maleic anhydride via the development of the hydrogen bonding.
Exploring a Model to Develop Critical Reflective Thought Among Elementary School Math Preservice Teachers
Authors: Broza Orit , Lifshitz Ariel , Atzmon Shirly
Published: March 2021

This study focuses on the challenge of promoting significant mathematical discourse among preservice teachers. The study was conducted as part of an academic course that accompanies their practical training. Twenty-three math preservice teachers’ learning process was examined as a result of using an analytic model designed for discourse protocols’ analysis. Findings revealed that an active and dynamic process occurred, modifying teacher practice and developing critical reflective thinking among preservice teachers. The change occurred in two “ripples of influence”: (1) improving discourse to one promoting learning by demonstrating hypothetical scenarios and (2) perception of the role of teachers and class management.
Reading Persuasive Texts Affects Preservice Teachers’ Beliefs About Cultural Diversity in the Classroom
Authors: Dignath Charlotte , Fink Jonathan , Kunter Mareike
Published: March 2021

Research has suggested that teachers’ beliefs toward culturally diverse classrooms are affected during teacher education. Text reading, as one of the major learning activities in initial teacher education, is supposed to affect teachers’ educational concepts and beliefs. We conducted two experiments to test the impact of reading a positively or negatively oriented persuasive text about diversity on preservice teachers’ belief change. In Study 1 ( N = 42), we found that belief change varied significantly as a function of the direction of the text condition, and that the reading of the texts led to a significantly stronger belief change if the text was in alignment with participants’ prior beliefs. Study 2 ( N = 57) revealed a middle-sized but non-significant moderator effect for prior knowledge ( p = .08, [Formula: see text] = .06), suggesting that participants with more prior knowledge were less likely to be persuaded by the text. The results provide new insights into factors that may affect the development of preservice teachers’ diversity beliefs.
Global Gandhi
Authors: Juergensmeyer Mark
Published: March 2021

Gandhi is regarded as something of a global saint, and his non-violent methods of satyagraha have been employed around the world—these alone would make him a figure relevant to the global age. But what is even more significant about his thinking is the applicability of satyagraha in situations of a diverse multicultural milieu. The satyagraha methodology of conflict resolution assumes that although there is a truth to be found in conflicting perspectives, there is no one side that is necessarily correct, there is no moral standard. Gandhi’s approach to conflict requires an engagement of contending sides to see what elements of their positions are truthful and to build a new syncretic view of truth based on this engagement. It is an approach to moral consensus and conflict resolution that is particularly relevant to the multicultural situation of globalised societies in the contemporary world.
Gandhi’s Satyagraha and its Legacy in the Americas and Africa
Authors: Bissio Beatriz
Published: March 2021

The article addresses the impact of Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas in the US, Latin America and Africa, especially on important political figures. The influence of Gandhi’s ideas in Latin America started very early in the twentieth century. By 1930 and perhaps even earlier, important Latin American intellectuals began to refer to Gandhi, one of whom was José Carlos Mariátegui. Gandhi’s non-violent struggle also had a great impact in America, particularly in the 1950s and the 1960s, the years of peak resistance against the Jim Crow laws––a collection of state and local statutes that legalised racial segregation which had existed for about 100 years from the post-Civil War era until 1965. In the twenty-first century, the Satyagraha philosophy motivated those who were involved in the struggle for human rights, the defenders of indigenous peoples and those fighting against globalisation. We can include among them the Argentinian Nobel Peace Prize awardee Adolfo Pérez Esquivel whose work in the defence of human rights and non-violent resistance forcefully showed the influence of Gandhi and his powerful legacy.
Evaluating and ranking the digital content generation components for marketing the libraries and information centres’ goods and services using fuzzy TOPSIS technique
Authors: Naseri Zahra , Noroozi Chakoli Abdolreza , Malekolkalami Mila
Published: March 2021

Since content audiences, including libraries and information centres, are increasingly geared to digital environments and virtual networks, the production and delivery of high-quality digital content are becoming continuously important. So far, several components have been introduced by researchers for evaluating the quality of digital content generation. However, due to the uncertainty of the importance rate and value of each of these components, it has not yet been possible to use them effectively to evaluate the content produced. This study aimed to rank the components of content generation to allow accurate evaluation of them for users as well as content providers and distributors including libraries and marketers. The ranked content can motivate digital content producers and distributors to better evaluate the quality of digital content, better attract customers and make more effective decisions about the quality of digital content use based on their specific goals. Initially, 42 of the most important components were identified from the literature. Then, the next steps were taken to rank these components, and based on three rounds of Delphi interviews, the experts’ views on the importance rate of each of the components were obtained, analysed and ranked. Since in this ranking, the importance of a wide range of components should be highlighted towards each other, the fuzzy TOPSIS technique was emphasised for analysing the views of 16 experts in the field of content generation in Iran. This ranking indicated that components such as ‘findable and access’, ‘non-disturbing and helpful’, ‘clear’ and ‘remarkable’ are the main pillars of content generation and are of the utmost importance. The results can be used as an effective tool to improve the quality of content. Moreover, it increases audience engagement in digital environments and social networks, and encourages them to make more use of the digital content of libraries.
A discriminative method for global query expansion and term reweighting using co-occurrence graphs
Authors: Aklouche Billel , Bounhas Ibrahim , Slimani Yahya
Published: March 2021

This article presents a new query expansion (QE) method aiming to tackle term mismatch in information retrieval (IR). Previous research showed that selecting good expansion terms which do not hurt retrieval effectiveness remains an open and challenging research question. Our method investigates how global statistics of term co-occurrence can be used effectively to enhance expansion term selection and reweighting. Indeed, we build a co-occurrence graph using a context window approach over the entire collection, thus adopting a global QE approach. Then, we employ a semantic similarity measure inspired by the Okapi BM25 model, which allows to evaluate the discriminative power of words and to select relevant expansion terms based on their similarity to the query as a whole. The proposed method includes a reweighting step where selected terms are assigned weights according to their relevance to the query. What’s more, our method does not require matrix factorisation or complex text mining processes. It only requires simple co-occurrence statistics about terms, which reduces complexity and insures scalability. Finally, it has two free parameters that may be tuned to adapt the model to the context of a given collection and control co-occurrence normalisation. Extensive experiments on four standard datasets of English (TREC Robust04 and Washington Post) and French (CLEF2000 and CLEF2003) show that our method improves both retrieval effectiveness and robustness in terms of various evaluation metrics and outperforms competitive state-of-the-art baselines with significantly better results. We also investigate the impact of varying the number of expansion terms on retrieval results.
The effect of the food environment on fresh produce served in family child care homes
Authors: Fortin-Miller Sara A. , Grantham Catherine E. , Campbell Janis E. , Salvatore Alicia L. , Hoffman Leah A. , Sisson Susan B.
Published: March 2021

Background:

Higher produce consumption in childhood decreases risks of short- and long-term malnutrition, obesity, and disease. Children in early care programs, including family child care homes (FCCHs), receive 50–67% of daily nutrition while in care. Procuring nutritious foods requires grocer access, which is absent in food deserts (FDs).

Aim:

To determine if FCCH food environment (FE) impacted distance to grocers and amount of fresh produce served.

Methods:

Using a cross-sectional design, Modified Retail Food Environment Index scores determined census tract FD status. FCCH and grocer addresses were geocoded and distance to the nearest grocers was calculated. Fresh produce was observed during two lunches.

Results:

FE did not influence distance to grocers or fresh produce served. Non-desert FCCHs tended to serve fresh produce more frequently. The amount of fresh produce served was overall low.

Conclusion:

Further studies are warranted to inform policies aimed to reduce provider barriers regarding service of fresh produce.
Reduced relationship desire is associated with better life satisfaction for singles in Germany: An analysis of pairfam data
Authors: Kislev Elyakim
Published: March 2021

This research estimates the extent to which life satisfaction of singles is influenced by their desire to be single. Regression analyses on data from the Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics (pairfam) studies are used to investigate this question, paying particular attention to longitudinal differences between never-married and divorced/separated men and women. Panel data analyses between different waves of the pairfam data indicate that decreases in desires for a relationship are significantly associated with greater life satisfaction. These patterns hold for all but one of the demographic groups investigated (divorced/separated men). The results are used to suggest how many singles may be able to maintain high levels of life satisfaction in the face of social stigmata.
Bedside angiography of distal perfusion catheter for veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Authors: Shah Aakash , Arons Danielle , Pasrija Chetan , Kon Zachary N , Ghoreishi Mehrdad
Published: March 2021

Background:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ipsilateral lower extremity (ILE) outcomes of patients who underwent bedside angiography via the distal perfusion catheter while on femoral veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO).

Methods:

This is a retrospective analysis of all patients placed on VA ECMO at a single center from January 2017 to December 2019 who underwent bedside angiography via the distal perfusion catheter.

Results:

Twenty-four patients underwent bedside angiography via the distal perfusion catheter after being placed on VA ECMO. A vasodilator was directly administered in three patients for suspected spasm. One patient had distal thrombus and underwent thrombectomy and fasciotomy. One patient had a dislodged catheter and underwent thrombectomy, fasciotomy, and replacement of the catheter. One patient had severe ILE ischemia, however was not intervened upon due to critical acuity. Finally, one patient had inadvertent placement in the saphenous vein and had a new catheter placed in the SFA. No patients underwent amputation. Ultimately, 21 patients (87.5%) had no ILE compromise at the end their ECMO course. Survival to decannulation was 66.7% ( n = 16).

Conclusions:

Bedside angiography of the distal perfusion catheter is feasible and can be a useful adjunct in informing the need for further intervention to the ILE.

Classifications:

extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, ischemia
Prediction of MDMA response in healthy humans: a pooled analysis of placebo-controlled studies
Authors: Studerus Erich , Vizeli Patrick , Harder Samuel , Ley Laura , Liechti Matthias E
Published: March 2021

Background:

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “ecstasy”) is used both recreationally and therapeutically. Little is known about the factors influencing inter- and intra-individual differences in the acute response to MDMA. Effects of other psychoactive substances have been shown to be critically influenced by personality traits and mood state before intake.

Methods:

We pooled data from 10 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over studies performed in the same laboratory in 194 healthy subjects receiving doses of 75 or 125mg of MDMA. We investigated the influence of drug dose, body weight, sex, age, drug pre-experience, genetics, personality and mental state before drug intake on the acute physiological and psychological response to MDMA.

Results:

In univariable analyses, the MDMA plasma concentration was the strongest predictor for most outcome variables. When adjusting for dose per body weight, we found that (a) a higher activity of the enzyme CYP2D6 predicted lower MDMA plasma concentration, (b) a higher score in the personality trait “openness to experience” predicted more perceived “closeness”, a stronger decrease in “general inactivation”, and higher scores in the 5D-ASC (5 Dimensions of Altered States of Consciousness Questionnaire) scales “oceanic boundlessness” and “visionary restructuralization”, and (c) subjects with high “neuroticism” or trait anxiety were more likely to have unpleasant and/or anxious reactions.

Conclusions:

Although MDMA plasma concentration was the strongest predictor, several personality traits and mood state variables additionally explained variance in the response to MDMA. The results confirm that both pharmacological and non-pharmacological variables influence the response to MDMA. These findings may be relevant for the therapeutic use of MDMA.
Scale Evaluation and Eligibility Determination of a Field-Test Version of the Assessment, Evaluation, and Programming System–Third Edition
Authors: Toland Michael D. , Grisham Jennifer , Waddell Misti , Crawford Rebecca , Dueber David M.
Published: March 2021

Rasch and classification analyses on a field-test version of the third edition of the Assessment, Evaluation, and Programming System (AEPS-3), a curriculum-based assessment used to assess young children birth to age 6 years, were conducted. First, an evaluation of the psychometric properties of data from each developmental area of an AEPS-3 field-test version was conducted. Next, cutoff scores at 6-month age intervals were created and then the validity of the cutoff scores was evaluated. Results using Rasch modeling indicated acceptable model fit statistics with reasonable reliability estimates within each developmental area. Classification results showed cutoff scores accurately classified a high percentage of eligible children. Findings suggest that scores from a field-test version of the AEPS-3 are reliable within developmental areas. To the extent allowed by state criteria, early childhood interventionists could possibly use a new field-test version of the AEPS-3 to determine or corroborate eligibility for special education services.
Examining the Effect of the Training Program by Using the Health Belief Model in Performing Self-Care Behaviors of Rural Patients Having High Blood Pressure
Authors: Afshari Maryam , Gholamaliee Behzad , Kangavari Mehdi , Partoi Naser , Afshari Masomeh , Nazari Mohsen
Published: March 2021

Background

High blood pressure effects on patients’ life. One of the problems in controlling blood pressure is lack of self-care. As a primary form of care, self-care is under patients’ control and the patient's belief plays an important role in self-care behaviors. Using the Health Belief Model, this study aimed to determine the effect of educational program on self-care behaviors of rural patients afflicted with hypertension in Toyserkan city.

Methods

This study was a quasi-experimental research. It studied 100 hypertensive patients in four health centers in rural areas in Toyserkan city in 2019. The samples were simple random sampling among those people referred to the four health centers. Participants in the intervention group attended three training sessions, but the control group did not take part in any training program. The assessment was conducted in both groups before and after the intervention through personal interviews with patients. The questionnaire including the Health Belief Model and self-care behavior constructs was administered.

Results

Perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, self-efficacy and self-care behavior constructs did not have significant statistical differences in terms of mean scores before intervention between the two groups, but after intervention, there were statistically significant differences between the two groups. Examining the model factor in predicting self-care in the intervention group showed that the perceived severity and self-efficacy constructs had the highest predictive power.

Conclusion

The results showed that planning and intervention based on HBM, as the models that were used in education and health promotion could be effective in achieving better performance and attitude of patients suffering from hypertension and their self-care. Also, special mention is needed to health care providers to improve self-care training in patients with high blood pressure.
Patients with Metastatic Lung Cancer and Oncologists’ Views on Achievement of Treatment Goals and Making the Right Treatment Decision: A Prospective Multicenter Study
Authors: Mieras Adinda , Becker-Commissaris Annemarie , Klop Hanna T. , Pasman H. Roeline W. , de Jong Denise , Pronk Lemke , Onwuteaka-Philipsen Bregje D.
Published: March 2021

Background

Previous studies have investigated patients’ treatment goals before starting a treatment for metastatic lung cancer. Data on the evaluation of treatment goals are lacking.

Aim

To determine if patients with metastatic lung cancer and their oncologists perceive the treatment goals they defined at the start of systemic treatment as achieved after treatment and if in hindsight they believe it was the right decision to start systemic therapy.

Design and Participants

A prospective multicenter study in 6 hospitals across the Netherlands between 2016 and 2018. Following systemic treatment, 146 patients with metastatic lung cancer and 23 oncologists completed a questionnaire on the achievement of their treatment goals and whether they made the right treatment decision. Additional interviews with 15 patients and 5 oncologists were conducted.

Results

According to patients and oncologists, treatment goals were achieved in 30% and 37% for ‘quality of life,’ 49% and 41% for ‘life prolongation,’ 26% and 44% for ‘decrease in tumor size,’ and 44% for ‘cure’, respectively. Most patients and oncologists, in hindsight, felt they had made the right decision to start treatment even if they had not achieved their goals (72% and 93%). This was related to the feeling that they had to do ‘something.’

Conclusions

Before deciding on treatment, the treatment options, including their benefits and side effects, and the goals patients have should be discussed. It is key that these discussions include not only systemic treatment but also palliative care as effective options for doing ‘something.’
Performance Comparison of Supply–Demand Matching Policies for On-Demand Mobility Services
Authors: Chebance Zacharie , Markov Iliya , Guglielmetti Rafael , Laumanns Marco
Published: March 2021

In the context of on-demand mobility services, we compare the performance of three matching policies of increasing sophistication on scenarios based on real data from the city of Chicago in the United States. The comparative study examines the influence of prebooking and ridesharing on the gap between the different policies. We find that more sophisticated approaches can improve the acceptance ratio and the service-level key performance indicators at the expense of longer computation times. Prebooking appears to consistently give an edge to more sophisticated policies by providing advance information and thus the flexibility to make better plans. The effect of ridesharing is less straightforward to isolate. But, again, prebooking helps more sophisticated approaches reduce excess ride time, a direct consequence of ridesharing.
Machine Learning Approach for Predicting Lane-Change Maneuvers using the SHRP2 Naturalistic Driving Study Data
Authors: Das Anik , Ahmed Mohamed M.
Published: March 2021

Accurate lane-change prediction information in real time is essential to safely operate Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) on the roadways, especially at the early stage of AVs deployment, where there will be an interaction between AVs and human-driven vehicles. This study proposed reliable lane-change prediction models considering features from vehicle kinematics, machine vision, driver, and roadway geometric characteristics using the trajectory-level SHRP2 Naturalistic Driving Study and Roadway Information Database. Several machine learning algorithms were trained, validated, tested, and comparatively analyzed including, Classification And Regression Trees (CART), Random Forest (RF), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Adaptive Boosting (AdaBoost), Support Vector Machine (SVM), K Nearest Neighbor (KNN), and Naïve Bayes (NB) based on six different sets of features. In each feature set, relevant features were extracted through a wrapper-based algorithm named Boruta. The results showed that the XGBoost model outperformed all other models in relation to its highest overall prediction accuracy (97%) and F1-score (95.5%) considering all features. However, the highest overall prediction accuracy of 97.3% and F1-score of 95.9% were observed in the XGBoost model based on vehicle kinematics features. Moreover, it was found that XGBoost was the only model that achieved a reliable and balanced prediction performance across all six feature sets. Furthermore, a simplified XGBoost model was developed for each feature set considering the practical implementation of the model. The proposed prediction model could help in trajectory planning for AVs and could be used to develop more reliable advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in a cooperative connected and automated vehicle environment.
Emission Implications of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles Through an Empirical Exploration of Engine Starts
Authors: Chaitanya Karanam Vaishnavi , Tal Gil
Published: March 2021

This paper aims to characterize the engine start activity profiles and emission potential of various plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) models by examining the characteristics associated with engine starts, identifying the travel conditions that trigger engine starts, and determining the frequency of different types of engine starts. The study analyzed on-road vehicle data from six PHEV models: Toyota Prius Plug-in, Ford C-Max Energi, Ford C-Max Fusion, Toyota Prius Prime, Chrysler Pacifica, and Chevrolet Volt. An analysis on travel conditions before engine starts revealed that low state-of-charge is the dominant engine start trigger for PHEVs with high all-electric range whereas high vehicle power requirement is the most critical trigger for PHEVs with low all-electric range. For PHEVs with mid-range capabilities, several vehicle specifications, ranging from peak electric motor power to curb weight, could be engine start determinants. A strong inverse correlation exists between battery capacity and the annual frequency of engine starts but this relationship does not hold for cold and high-power cold starts. Both the low and the high battery capacity PHEVs logged fewer cold starts than the mid-sized battery vehicles, indicating that there could be a fundamental tradeoff between engine start emissions and fuel displacement for PHEVs to a certain degree. Despite this tradeoff, all PHEV models in the study logged fewer cold starts than comparable conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, performing the same trips. Ultimately, long-range PHEVs with high battery capacity are found to be ideal for both curbing start emissions and reducing fuel use.
Treatment of Acute Achilles Tendon Ruptures: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Complication Rates With Best- and Worst-Case Analyses for Rerupture Rates
Authors: Seow Dexter , Yasui Youichi , Calder James D.F. , Kennedy John G. , Pearce Christopher J.
Published: March 2021

Background:

An acute Achilles tendon rupture (AATR) is a common injury. The controversy that has surrounded the optimal treatment options for AATRs warrants an updated meta-analysis that is comprehensive, accounts for loss to follow-up, and utilizes the now greater number of available studies for data pooling.

Purpose:

To meta-analyze the rates of all complications after the treatment of AATRs with a “best-case scenario” and “worst-case scenario” analysis for rerupture rates that assumes that all patients lost to follow-up did not or did experience a rerupture, respectively.

Study Design:

Systematic review and meta-analysis; Level of evidence, 1.

Methods:

Two authors performed a systematic review of the PubMed and Embase databases according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines on February 17, 2020. The included studies were assessed in terms of the level of evidence, quality of evidence, and quality of the literature. A meta-analysis by fixed-effects models was performed if heterogeneity was low ( I2 < 25%) and by random-effects models if heterogeneity was moderate to high ( I2≥ 25%).

Results:

Surgical treatment was significantly favored over nonsurgical treatment for reruptures. Nonsurgical treatment was significantly favored over surgical treatment for complications other than reruptures, notably infections. Minimally invasive surgery was significantly favored over open repair for complications other than reruptures (no difference for reruptures), in particular for minor complications.

Conclusion:

This meta-analysis demonstrated that surgical treatment was superior to nonsurgical treatment in terms of reruptures. However, the number needed to treat analysis produced nonmeaningful values for all treatment options, except for surgical versus nonsurgical treatment and minimally invasive surgery versus open repair. No single treatment option was revealed to be profoundly favorable with respect to every complication. The results of this meta-analysis can guide clinicians and patients in their treatment decisions that should be made jointly and on a case-by-case basis.
The evolution in the surgical management of Peyronie’s disease
Authors: Colombo Fulvio , Franceschelli Alessandro , Gentile Giorgio , Droghetti Matteo , Fiorillo Alessandro , Palmisano Franco
Published: March 2021

Peyronie’s disease (PD) is due to a fibrotic alteration of the tunica albuginea of the penis. It is responsible of penile pain, angulation, and possible erectile dysfunction (ED). Despite almost three centuries have passed since the first description of the disease, etiology still remains uncertain. This fact has led to the lack of a truly effective medical therapy and to date the surgical treatment, although not yet standardized, is the only one that offers acceptable outcomes in terms of function and overall patient’s satisfaction. Since the beginning of the surgical experience in this field, two different currents of thought have developed: the first, involved the proposal of a number of different plication techniques, applied on the healthy side of the penis, opposite to the sick side, with the sole purpose of correcting the curvature; on the other side, efforts have focused on treating the “focus” of the disease, thus developing the so called “plaque surgery.” If with the passing of the decades neither of the two “philosophical” currents has prevailed, this probably depends on the fact that is still not clear which is the lesser of evils: the frequent onset of ED which may follows the plaque surgery or rather the penis shortening that inevitably occurs if any technique of plication has been applied. Our contribution aims to offer an historical retrospective of the surgical treatment of this disease as well as to discuss the latest international guidelines on this topic. The reader will also find some notes about our personal experience in this field.
Golden calf: Deleuze’s Nietzsche in the time of Trump
Authors: Sharpe Matthew
Published: March 2021

This paper examines how Gilles Deleuze addresses, and fail to address, the darker strata in Nietzsche’s work which has enabled his work to be claimed by almost every far-right European political movement since the 1890s to the Alt-Right today. Part I argues that four rhetorical strategies are present which serve to domesticate Nietzsche’s ideas concerning class and caste, race and sexuality, and his opposition to forms of liberalism, democracy, feminism and socialism: avoiding directly political subjects which Nietzsche returned to; catachrestic use of political words to describe ostensibly supra- or non-political data; denials of Nietzsche’s rightist positions, followed by justifications which, upon analysis, do not support the denials but ‘change the subject’; openly erroneous misrepresentations of divisive subjects, led by Nietzsche on war. Part II looks at how these sophistical strategies are played out in two key passages in Nietzsche and Philosophy, concerning the second ‘selection’ in the eternal recurrence, with its ‘annihilation of all parasitical and degenerate elements’. Closing remarks address the situation today, and the paradoxes and limitations of Left Nietzscheanism in the academy.
Embedding Sustainability in Interdisciplinary Pedagogy for Planning and Design Studios
Authors: Moosavi Sareh , Bush Judy
Published: March 2021

Sustainability literacy should be embedded in built environment higher education. We explored the contribution of interdisciplinary studios to students’ sustainability literacy. We ran a studio with Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture students, focused on a coastal brownfield renewal in Victoria, Australia. Studio activities and assessments were designed based on constructivist and experiential learning principles. Students’ learning experiences were evaluated through surveys and focus group interviews, and analyzed against an integrated framework. Results show that simulating real-world situations, game-based and role-playing activities, and applying sustainability principles to a complex site encourage creativity, shared control, and negotiation, which foster experiential sustainability learning.