bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Imaging evaluation of para-aortic lymph nodes in cervical cancer
Authors: Zhu Minying , Zhuo Qingchan , Liu Wenci , Guan Chengnong , Zuo Yufang
Published: June 2023

Background

In recent years, much literature has reported the diagnostic value of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET)-CT in para-aortic lymph node metastasis of cervical cancer.

Purpose

To compare and analyze the para-aortic lymph node presentations found in cervical cancer on different images in order to determine the best precise imaging method for identifying metastatic lymph nodes.

Material and Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, and other databases were searched for the non-invasive detection of metastatic lymph nodes for a comprehensive comparison.

Results

Positive lymph nodes on CT are significantly related to the following factors: short axis ≥10 mm; and round or central necrosis. Positive lymph nodes on MRI are significantly related to the following factors: short axis ≥8 mm; inhomogeneous signal intensity; morphology: round, irregular edge, extracapsular invasion, central necrosis, loss of lymph node structure, burrs, or lobes; and ADC value decreases, combined with local actuality. On PET-CT examination, when the short axis of the lymph node is >5 mm, the SUV is >2.5, or the FDG uptake is greater than that of the surrounding tissue, it is a metastatic lymph node.

Conclusion

In conclusion, different imaging techniques show metastatic lymph nodes in different ways. Combining the patient's medical history with the symptoms of the aforementioned lymph nodes, together with one or more imaging techniques, is important to diagnose para-aortic lymph nodes in cervical cancer.
The Logic of “War on Deforestation”: A Military Response to Climate Change in the Colombian Amazon
Authors: Corredor-Garcia Juan , López Vega Fernando
Published: June 2023

The renewed global efforts to contain climate change have meant a gateway for some Latin American countries to declare new military actions. The “war on deforestation,” announced in 2021 by Iván Duque, the former president of Colombia, is a paradigmatic example. Through Operation Artemis ( Operación Artemisa), the Colombian armed forces were assigned to protect the forests against threats from armed non-state actors (ANSAs) predominantly located in the country’s Amazon rainforests. We argue that this war was a rhetorical and political model of the Duque government that sought, based on the re-elaboration of the counterinsurgent categories shared with the United States for half a century, to implement in the Amazon the first state military strategy to reach global agreements against climate change. Why does a state wage war in the name of protecting forests? We argue that in this novel rhetorical, military, and criminal framework, the war on deforestation encouraged the renewal of the war on drugs and the transformation of the internal enemy. Drawing on analyses of presidential policies passed since 1970 and, more recently, green crime law, this article showcases a new chapter on the state’s goal of achieving territorial control through green militarization.
Rethinking social reproduction analysis and indirectly productive labour focusing on value, the body and intimacy
Authors: Csányi Gergely
Published: June 2023

I argue that the social reproduction discourse from the 1970s onwards, or the so-called domestic labour debate, has been about two things: value on the one hand, and the body and intimacy on the other. While there is a highly visible stake in how domestic labour is understood from the viewpoint of value, which is still debated today, the contribution of the discourse to understanding the body and intimacy in capitalism is more hidden and less discussed. In this paper, I review the discourse on social reproduction from the perspective of value, with a particular focus on recent contributions, Jared Sacks’ and Alessandra Mezzadri’s works. Then, I will discuss the discourse of social reproduction from the perspective of the body and intimacy and finally link this aspect to the lessons around value.
Navigating the river: Experiences of women academic leaders in Vietnam
Authors: Phuong Jane , Rowe Pia , Lawless Ann
Published: June 2023

Gender inequities in leadership positions in academia persist globally. However, there are significant variations depending on country contexts, and devising strategies to overcome these will require a thorough understanding of the country-specific barriers. While the underrepresentation of women in senior leadership positions has become a burgeoning field of inquiry in recent years, few studies have been conducted to investigate this problem in Vietnam. This qualitative research uses photo elicitation interviews and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to bridge this gap. It examines six Vietnamese women’s lived experiences as academic leaders and argues that by analysing the metaphors they use, we can extend our understanding of the issues academic women face. In Vietnam, the metaphor of a river that constantly changes represents the careers of women in academia. The study highlights the need to equalise and progressively introduce developmental opportunities to set Vietnamese women up for success in academic leadership.

JEL Classification:

i2i23
Study on estimation method of soot loading under dynamic working state
Authors: Qiu Tao , Ma Xuejian , Lei Yan , Fu Jun , Wang Xiulei , Cheng Milan
Published: June 2023

Accurately obtaining the soot loading in the Diesel particulate filter (DPF) is important for DPF, and current online real-time estimation methods only go up to about 2 g/L. In this paper, the DPF structure is simplified into a gas-capacity combined with gas-resistance, and the theoretical analysis of the simplified structure is carried out through the equivalent circuit analysis method. The time constant [Formula: see text] corresponding to the DPF during the dynamic working state of the diesel engine is solved, and further analysis reveals that it is related to the incoming flow temperature T and the soot loading [Formula: see text]. On this basis, a method for estimating the soot loading [Formula: see text] based on the time constant [Formula: see text] is proposed. Subsequently, experiments on engine load characteristics at different speed working states were carried out, and the dynamic process of DPF was analyzed at different soot loading [Formula: see text]. It was found that the time constant [Formula: see text] can be characterized by the difference in temperature stabilization time between the inlet and outlet; The smaller the incoming temperature T, the more significant the relationship between the soot loading [Formula: see text] and the time constant [Formula: see text]; The proposed estimation method allows for the identification of soot loading down to 1 g/L.
An investigation of the effects of volute A/R distribution on radial turbine performance
Authors: Li Chao , Chen Hua , Wang Yu , Wei Yi , Wu Guitao
Published: June 2023

In order to meet the higher design requirements of radial turbines, it is necessary to clearly understand the impact of different design parameters on turbine performance. The A/R distribution is one of the most important design parameters for the radial turbine volute, but there are few studies on it. To clarify the effect of A/R distribution on turbine efficiency and blade excitation force, a detailed comparative study is carried out. An experimentally validated numerical method is used, and steady and unsteady CFD simulations are conducted in this study. The results show that the volute A/R distribution has a significant effect on the turbine efficiency, while a linear distribution can provide a more uniform inlet condition and thus improve the rotor efficiency. The flow parameters fluctuated significantly at the volute tongue. Although the efficiency is not sensitive to this fluctuation, it directly affects the excitation force on the rotor blades. The volute with S-shaped A/R distribution produces the smallest excitation force due to the smallest fluctuation. Two new A/R distributions are presented which combine the advantages of linear and S-shaped or convex A/R distributions with high efficiency and low excitation force. It is suggested that the A/R should be close to the linear distribution and decreases rapidly before the tongue.
A Newborn With Severe and Refractory Hypoglycemia
Authors: Roychaudhuri Sriya , Abdallateef Nahla , Vijayashankar Sakethram Saravu , Tan Jason , Metzger Daniel , Kieran Emily
Published: June 2023

Hypoglycemia is a common entity encountered in the neonatal population with identified risk factors. Severe symptomatic hypoglycemia in a term baby without any specific risk factors is rare. The management includes identifying the underlying etiology which involves a “critical sample” and its interpretation. Hyperinsulinism (HI) detected during assessment is often transient and may be prolonged and difficult to treat. It is challenging to differentiate transient from persistent HI but becomes essential when effective medical or definitive surgical treatment has to be considered in especially refractory cases. The crucial task of maintaining normoglycemia demands continuous monitoring and proactive planned management as literature shows adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in babies with even short-lasting transient HI due to hypoglycemic events that can be severe. This translates into these newborns being subjected to multiple noxious stimuli and distinct reactions to pain. Our approach to a newborn with congenital HI involved complex medical strategies with continuous glucose monitoring with an in situ subcutaneously placed detector before definitive surgical management at 8 months of life.
Use of Cardioprotective Antidiabetic Medications in Adults With and Without Cardiovascular Disease, 2015 to March 2020
Authors: Sherrill Christina H. , Hwang Andrew Y.
Published: June 2023

Background:

Certain glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1) agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2-inhibitors) can reduce cardiovascular risk in individuals with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, these medications can be expensive, potentially limiting their use. Objectives: The primary objective was to characterize the use of cardioprotective GLP-1 agonists and SGLT2-inhibitors among adults with diabetes with and without CVD. The secondary objective was to investigate the association of socioeconomic factors and health care utilization with the use of these medications.

Methods:

Adults aged ≥20 years old with self-reported diabetes, A1c ≥6.5%, or fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL were identified using the 2015 to March 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The primary outcome was the use of cardioprotective GLP-1 agonists or SGLT2-inhibitors compared in individuals with and without CVD. Secondary analyses included identification of socioeconomic factors and health care utilization associated with the use of cardioprotective antidiabetic medications, stratified by CVD status. Weighted analyses were conducted to account for the complex survey design.

Results:

Use of cardioprotective antidiabetic medications was higher in adults with CVD compared to those without CVD (7.8% vs. 4.6%, P = 0.02), which was driven by the use of cardioprotective SGLT2-inhibitors (4.6% versus 1.9%, P = 0.002). Lower income level and less frequent health care visits within the past year were associated with lower likelihood of using these medications.

Conclusion and Relevance:

Despite preferential use in individuals with diabetes and CVD, the prevalence of cardioprotective antidiabetic medication use remains relatively low. Disparities in use appear to exist based on income level and health care utilization.
LncRNA NEAT1 Promotes Vascular Endothelial Cell Dysfunction via miR-218-5p/GAB2 and Serves as a Diagnostic Biomarker for Deep Vein Thrombosis
Authors: Wang Shuping , Wang Fei , Ren Juan , Yang Hongyu
Published: June 2023

Objective

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common peripheral disease. This study aimed to elucidate the diagnostic biomarker of lncRNA nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) in the DVT, and explore possible mechanisms in Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Methods

101 patients with lower extremity DVT and 82 healthy controls were enrolled. RT-qPCR was designed to resolve the mRNA levels of NEAT1, miR-218-5p, and GAB2. ROC was applied for the diagnosis of DVT. Systemic inflammation (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and adhesion factor (SELP, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1) were examined by the ELISA. And cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis were conducted by the CCK-8, Transwell, flow cytometry assay. The targeting relationship was validated by Dual luciferase reporter and RIP analysis.

Results

NEAT1 and GAB2 were upregulated in patients with DVT, while miR-218-5p was decreased ( P < .01). Serum NEAT1 can identify DVT patients from healthy individuals. NEAT1 was positively correalted with fibrinolysis factors, coagulation factors, and vasoconstrictors. NEAT1 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and promoted apoptosis as well as inflammation and adhesion factors secretion of HUVECs ( P < .05), but all were impaired by overexpression of miR-218-5p ( P < .05). NEAT1 promoted GAB2 expression in DVT by acting as a sponge for miR-218-5p.

Conclusion

Elevated NEAT1 is a possible DVT diagnostic biomarker, and is implicated in vascular endothelial cell dysfunction via miR-218-5p/GAB2 axis.
“Unconscious or for Other Reasons Incapable of Resisting”: (Un)Protected Sexual Assault Under Norwegian Criminal Law
Authors: Houge Anette Bringedal , Laugerud Solveig
Published: June 2023

According to Norwegian legislation, “sexual activity with a person who is unconscious or for other reasons incapable of resisting the act” constitutes sexual assault. Our task in this article is to identify the kind of sexual harms that are (un)protected by this paragraph and to discuss the boundaries of rape that are set by legal practice. We do so through a systematic analysis of all verdicts on incapacity and sexual assault at appellate court levels through 2019 and 2020. The analysis strengthens our concern for victims’ right to equality before the law and for the quality of courts’ legal veridiction and interpretation of both law and sexual assault.
Unusual stroke-like symptoms with oxaliplatin use
Authors: Soliman Abram , Habibi Shaghayegh , Dasanu Constantin A.
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Oxaliplatin has become the mainstay of treatment for many cancers, but its use can be accompanied by unusual side effects.

Case report

We describe herein a 74-year-old patient with pancreatic cancer who developed severe motor weakness affecting lower extremities after starting treatment with oxaliplatin on three separate occasions. Our patient also experienced slurred speech, with decreased ability to phonate and word-finding difficulty. Brain imaging studies did not suggest recent brain ischemia, and the symptoms resolved within 15–20 h.

Management and outcome

Oxaliplatin had to be discontinued due to suboptimal tolerance and a short-lived clinical response. After discontinuation of oxaliplatin, she did not experience any more similar symptoms. A score of 9 on the Naranjo nomogram supported a definite causality relationship between oxaliplatin and the observed neurologic toxicity.

Discussion

Rare reports of stroke-like events have previously been described with oxaliplatin. While the exact mechanism of these phenomena is not known, alterations in neuronal sodium channels might be involved. Clinicians, pharmacists, and patients need to be aware of these rare but important side effects of oxaliplatin. Nonetheless, work-up for a cerebrovascular accident is still warranted as hypercoagulability related to malignancy can also predispose the patients to strokes.
Effects of nanocellulose combined with high pressure on the textural, structural, and gel properties of Nemipterus virgatus sausage
Authors: He Hong , Wu Wanying , Dong Qingfei , An Fengping , Huang Qun , Song Hongbo
Published: June 2023

This study aimed to improve the gel quality of golden threadfin bream ( Nemipterus virgatus) sausage by adding sugarcane nanocellulose (SNC) and using high pressure combined with a two-stage heat treatment. The gel strength, textural properties, protein secondary structure, water states, and microstructure were analyzed and compared. The results indicated that the heat treatment was beneficial to stabilizing the protein gel structure, increasing the gel strength and textural quality, and reducing the cooking loss. High-pressure treatment resulted in a decrease of α-helix and an increase of β-sheet in the protein, forming a dense gel structure, which enhanced the gel strength and the percentage of bound water. The superior hydrophilicity of nanocellulose and its cross-linking with protein increased the percentage of bound water in the gel, which improved the water-holding capacity and mechanical properties. Therefore, the best gel quality was obtained by adding nanocellulose and treating it with high pressure combined with two-stage heating.
A Case of Abdominal Perforation in a COVID+ Patient Treated With Tocilizumab and Corticosteroids
Authors: Chaudhry Bilal , Alekseyev Kirill , Didenko Lidiya , Chaudhry Maaria
Published: June 2023

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first identified in Wuhan province in China in late 2019. Around 15% of patients that develop severe acute respiratory syndrome from COVID-19 also develop severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Since the pandemic’s start, various treatments including remdesivir, dexamethasone, baricitinib, convalescent plasma, and tocilizumab have been approved by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). We present a case of a 62-year-old male hospitalized due to COVID-19 pneumonia and was initially treated with methylprednisolone and remdesivir, and later with tocilizumab. Soon after, he developed an abdominal perforation which was surgically treated. In terms of abdominal perforation, proposed mechanisms including the pathogenesis due to the presence of specific angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptors located throughout the gastrointestinal tract, glucocorticoid steroid inflammatory suppression, in addition to the documented adverse effects from tocilizumab which has been previously reported. In summary, tocilizumab may increase the risk of abdominal perforation, especially when used in combination with steroids to treat COVID-19 because steroids may suppress clinical exam findings for abdominal perforation.
Measures to ensure safety during telerehabilitation of people with stroke: A scoping review
Authors: Gutierrez-Arias Ruvistay , González-Mondaca Camila , Marinkovic-Riffo Vinka , Ortiz-Puebla Marietta , Paillán-Reyes Fernanda , Seron Pamela
Published: June 2023

Background

Measures used to prevent adverse events during the implementation of exercise sessions delivered via telerehabilitation can be varied, ranging from simple telephone monitoring to synchronous therapist-led sessions. However, this information is scattered in the literature, as evidence synthesis studies have only addressed the safety, satisfaction, and effectiveness aspects of exercise delivered via telerehabilitation.

Aims

This scoping review aims to describe that measures are used to ensure safety during exercise sessions delivered to people with stroke through telerehabilitation, as reported by authors of primary studies. Secondarily, it describes the designs most frequently used to notify the effects of telerehabilitation and evidence level, the characteristics of the participants and type of stroke, and the characteristics of telerehabilitation.

Summary of review

A scoping review was conducted according to the Joana Briggs Institute (JBI) recommendations. A systematic search of MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CENTRAL, and CINHAL was conducted from inception to August 2022, and a review of systematic review references on the topic. We included primary studies that enrolled adults with stroke who underwent exercise delivered via telerehabilitation. Two independent reviewers performed study selection and data extraction, and disagreements were resolved by consensus or a third reviewer. A qualitative analysis of the information was performed. One hundred seven primary studies (3991 participants) published between 2002 and 2022 were included. Most studies were case series (43%) and rated with an Oxford level of evidence of “4” (55.3%). Regarding randomized clinical trials, half included 53 or more participants (IQR 26.75 to 81). Most studies applied the exercises via asynchronous telerehabilitation (55.1%), of which only ten reported measures to avoid adverse events. Some of the measures included assessing the location where exercises are to be performed, only using a seated position, and using live warning systems that prevent or stop exercises when they are risky.

Conclusions

Reporting of measures implemented to prevent adverse events during exercise delivery via asynchronous telerehabilitation is scarce. Future primary studies should always consider reporting adverse events related to exercise delivery via telerehabilitation and strategies implemented to decrease the incidence of these unwanted safety events.

Registration number

INPLASY202290104.
Increasing longevity, NDC implementation in Italy and Sweden, and all that
Authors: Gronchi Sandro , Nisticò Sergio , Bevilacqua Mirko
Published: June 2023

The aim of the paper is twofold. First, it addresses the delicate issue of divisor obsolescence within Non-financial Defined Contribution (NDC) pension schemes. It suggests a method to measure the impact of this obsolescence, referring to the Swedish mechanism of diversifying divisors by birth cohort. Given the serious impact of divisor obsolescence on the fairness and sustainability of NDC systems, the paper also proposes possible solutions to limit this impact. The second aim is to analyze the shortcomings of the Italian system in the light of the challenge to NDC architecture resulting from the obsolescence of divisors. The first anomaly is the current mechanism of periodical revision of the divisors, which prevents Italian workers from planning their retirement on the basis of definite and unchanging information. The second is the extremely wide retirement age range due to the existence of seniority pensions: this needs to be replaced by a small retirement age range with a sufficiently high and rigorous lower bound. Finally, the paper focuses on the need for all NDC systems to compute new divisors based on a much lower frontloading rate, as has recently been done in Norway. It finally suggests that the severe reductions in the replacement rates implied by a lower ‘frontloading’ can be avoided by either removing the survivors benefit from the old-age scheme or by giving workers the option to choose it ‘at their own expense’, as in the second pillar.
The evolving relationship of entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation: A topic modeling perspective
Authors: Singh Surabhi , Singh Shiwangi , Dhir Sanjay
Published: June 2023

Entrepreneurship is considered as a strong pillar for economic growth. In today's competitive era, technology and innovation facilitate firms’ competitiveness and long-term survival. Therefore, the research on the interconnection of entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation (ETI) is growing and requires consolidation. This study presents a state-of-the-art review on ETI and presents a research agenda. Based on the topic modeling and semantic network analysis, this study classifies entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation articles into eight different topics and identifies the relationships among them. The study identifies 1407 articles collected through Scopus database. Eight salient research themes emerge: types of innovation (Topic 1), small venture performance (Topic 2), role of gender in digital entrepreneurship (Topic 3), entrepreneurial ecosystem (Topic 4), technological ventures (Topic 5), venture sustainability and growth (Topic 6), technology transfer (Topic 7), and government policies (Topic 8). The theoretical implications highlighting future research avenues are discussed in this study. Additionally, utilizing the semantic network, this study proposes a sequential mediation model. It provides a graphic representation of the interconnectivity between keywords from the identified topics, revealing deeper insights that may not be immediately apparent through traditional review methods. Further, this paper presents a range of insights for researchers and practitioners.
Language and technological inclusion among immigrant low-income Latina mothers: A feminist action research intervention
Authors: Cedeño Diana
Published: June 2023

Although Latinx families comprise the largest growing population in the United States, research has not examined how the lack of social inclusion (e.g., multidimensional term comprising economic, political, and cultural dimensions, among others) influences the lives of low-income Latina mothers. Social inclusion, which is a term born as a counterpart to social exclusion, has been overlooked as an alternative construct that allows the development of personal agency. Contrary to social exclusion paradigms which often focus on deficits, social inclusion focuses on recognizing inherit strengths among vulnerable families. The first purpose of this research is to explore social inclusion (a strength perspective) as a much-needed alternative to social exclusion (deficit view). The second is to describe the experiences of low social inclusion among low-income urban Latina mothers via two interviews, a focus group, recollection of artifacts from participants, and reflective journaling, which were documented within a context of a feminist action research intervention. Participants consisted of 12 low-income Latina mothers ( N  =  12) who participated in a financial literacy intervention.

Findings

Via thematic analysis, findings confirmed two new dimensions of low social inclusion not found in traditional literature: low language and technological inclusion.

Applications

Recommendations for social work practitioners and future research include developing culturally relevant interventions among minoritized communities and families, for instance, by promoting bilingual curricula and implementing technology in current interventions, which can have significant positive effects on the social inclusion of vulnerable communities.
Bending the pipes: Regaining attention through reinvention and renewal
Authors: Plotnikova Anna , Pandza Krsto , Whittington Richard
Published: June 2023

Organizations’ attention structures are traditionally perceived as stable “pipes and prisms” representing organizational communication and procedural channels. Changes in attention structures are typically attributed to top-down interventions. In this study, we extend the “dynamic Attention Based View” by demonstrating first that attention structures are plastic and second that they can be “bent” through bottom-up adaptations of communication channels previously designed from the top. Using a single case study of the large telecommunication corporation Ericsson, we show how mid-level organizational actors manifest distinct forms of agency in reacting to adverse changes in attention structures: projective agency and iterational agency. Organizational actors regain influence over the strategy-making process through two corresponding practices: reinvention (the projective agency of adding new channels) and renewal (the iterational agency of restoring old channels).
Power surge: How a multistakeholder coalition promotes equity in computer science education policy
Authors: Flapan Julie , Knudson Joel , Handjojo Candice , Sunde Ashley , Hadad Roxana
Published: June 2023

The Computer Science (CS) for All national movement is increasingly relying on state-level change to broaden participation in computing. To foster an environment in which all students have opportunities to thrive in CS education, policy action is necessary to help create the learning conditions for success. CS education in California has grown substantially in the last decade, yet opportunity gaps remain for young women and Black, Latinx, and Native American students. Early grassroots efforts to advance equity in computing evolved into the Computer Science for California coalition of K–16 educators, industry leaders, and other equity advocates to promote the growth of equity-minded teaching and learning opportunities in K–12 CS education. New policies at the state level reflect an increasing commitment among Sacramento policymakers to expand CS education. Yet troubling disparities in CS access and success continue to exist between traditionally advantaged students and their historically underserved peers. By drawing on interviews with 20 individuals involved in CS education policy, this study illuminates the contributing factors to recent policy successes and considerations for achieving further progress. Interviewees described the importance of tapping into the values of influential decision makers, educating policymakers about the benefits of CS education, and identifying the problems and solutions that require policy attention. To build the capacity of key policy actors in making informed decisions, this research demonstrates the continued value of providing useful information, developing relationships with policymakers, and creating resources that are easy to consume and understand. The interviews also suggest that attention to funding, disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, equity, and ongoing stakeholder support will shape prospects for CS education policy success moving forward.
Percutaneous transorbital transvenous embolization of a cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistula via the superior orbital fissure—technical video
Authors: Naylor Ryan M , Graepel Stephen , Brinjikji Waleed , Cloft Harry , Lanzino Giuseppe
Published: June 2023

Carotid-cavernous dural arteriovenous fistulas causing debilitating ocular symptoms and/or retrograde cortical venous drainage necessitate curative treatment, which is achieved by disrupting the proximal draining vein. Transvenous embolization of carotid-cavernous dural arteriovenous fistulas can be achieved through the superior or inferior petrosal sinuses, facial veins, or superior ophthalmic veins. 1 , 2 However, if these approaches are not feasible, various percutaneous approaches have been described that use the skull base foramina to provide direct access to the cavernous sinus. 3 , 4 Here we present the case of a 54-year-old male with carotid-cavernous dural arteriovenous fistulas with cortical venous drainage causing diplopia that was cured using a percutaneous transorbital approach. We discuss the alternative endovascular strategies for treating carotid-cavernous dural arteriovenous fistulas and why they were not chosen, the technical nuances of the transorbital approach as well as the pearls and pitfalls of this seldom used technique. A comprehensive understanding of the many approaches for treating carotid-cavernous dural arteriovenous fistulas is important for neurointerventionalists.
Liquid embolic agents for middle meningeal artery embolization in chronic subdural hematoma: Institutional experience with systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Sioutas Georgios S , Vivanco-Suarez Juan , Shekhtman Oleg , Matache Irina-Mihaela , Salem Mohamed M , Burkhardt Jan-Karl , Srinivasan Visish M , Jankowitz Brian T
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is associated with high recurrence rates. Middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) has emerged as a promising treatment option. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of MMAE for CSDH using liquid embolic agents and compare them with particles.

Methods

We systematically reviewed all studies describing MMAE for CSDH with liquid embolic agents, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Additionally, we included a cohort of patients from our institution using liquid and particle embolic agents. Data were analyzed using random-effects proportions and comparisons meta-analysis, and statistical heterogeneity was assessed.

Results

A total of 18 studies with 507 cases of MMAE with liquid embolic agents (including our institutional experience) were included in the analysis. The success rate was 99% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 98–⁠100%), all complications rate was 1% (95% CI: 0–⁠5%), major complications rate was 0% (95% CI: 0–⁠0%), and mortality rate was 1% (95% CI: 0–⁠6%). The rate of hematoma size reduction was 97% (95% CI: 73–⁠100%), complete resolution 64% (95% CI: 33–⁠87%), radiographic recurrence 3% (95% CI: 1–⁠7%), and reoperation 3% (95% CI: 1–⁠7%). No significant differences in outcomes were found between liquid and particle embolic agents. Sensitivity analyses revealed that liquid embolic agents were associated with lower reoperation rates in upfront MMAE (risk ratio 0.13, 95% CI: 0.02–⁠0.95).

Conclusion

MMAE with liquid embolic agents is safe and effective for the treatment of CSDH. Outcomes are comparable to particles, but liquids were associated with a decreased risk of reoperation in upfront MMAE. However, further studies are needed to support our findings.
‘An Atmosphere of Waffle and Woolliness’: British Developmental Aid and Economic Transformation in Czechoslovakia
Authors: Šmigol Ondřej
Published: June 2023

Discussions of the Thatcherite foreign policy often centre exclusively on the Cold War and especially on the relationship with the USSR. Therefore, the British relationship with smaller communist states is often unexplored, even though it is where British influence was most prominent. The brand of political and economic thinking espoused by British Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher found avid disciples in the newly democratic Czechoslovakia in the 1990s. A group of influential Czechoslovak politicians and officials led by Finance Minister, and later Czech Prime Minister, Václav Klaus sought to transform the Czechoslovak communist economy into a free market one that roughly followed Thatcherite lines. This was not only because they felt an ideological closeness to Thatcher but also because Britain was one of the few countries at the time that had experienced a large-scale privatisation of industries. Therefore, the reformers saw it as a model. The Prime Minister reciprocated these warm feelings. She authorised the sending of a team of British experts to Czechoslovakia, with the goal of aiding its economic reform programme. British advisers greatly contributed to privatisation and other schemes, especially on the practical side.
Money can’t buy happiness: A randomized controlled trial of a digital mental health app with versus without financial incentives
Authors: Chang Cheryl , Palermo Emma , Deswert Sky , Brown Alyssa , Nuske Heather J
Published: June 2023

Mental health disorders are prevalent among college students and increasing in frequency and severity. However, there is a significant gap between those who need treatment and those who engage in treatment. Given the documented efficacy of financial incentives for promoting health behavior change and engagement in treatment, financial incentives may help, along with nonfinancial behavioral incentives such as motivational messaging, gamification, and loss aversion techniques. We compared brief (28-day) use of two versions of a behavioral economics-inspired digital mental health app, NeuroFlow: (1) the full app including financial incentives and nonfinancial behavioral incentives (treatment group) and (2) a version of the app with nonfinancial behavioral incentives only (control group). In our intent-to-treat analyses, in order to examine the primary outcome of app engagement, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (treatment vs. control) was conducted, and to examine the secondary outcomes (depression, anxiety, emotion dysregulation, and wellbeing), a two-way repeated measures ANOVAs (treatment vs. control × baseline vs. post-trial) were conducted. We found that there were no differences between treatment groups on app engagement or the change in the mental health/wellness outcome measures. There was a main effect of timepoint on symptoms of anxiety and emotion dysregulation, such that there were significantly lower self-reported symptoms at post-trial relative to baseline. Our results suggest that financial incentives in digital mental health apps over and above nonfinancial behavioral incentives do not have an impact on app engagement or mental health/wellness outcomes.
Health Code as ‘access infrastructure’: Innovative practices and concerns of mediated governance
Authors: Zou Yu , Di Jing
Published: June 2023

This study explores the Health Code (Chinese: 健康码), a digital contact tracing application used in Mainland China during the COVID-19 pandemic, and examines the process and impact of its entry into users’ lives and gradual infrastructuralisation within the field of internet infrastructure research. Results show that techno-nationalism was the basis for the inception, implementation, and development of the Health Code. Furthermore, the Health Code has gradually transformed from an early digital health credential into a type of ‘access infrastructure’ by linking physical, information, and communication infrastructure. As access infrastructure, the relationship between the Health Code and users was a tense one, with users actively engaging in ‘micro-help’ on social media platforms and performing ‘soft-resistance’ on psychological and operational levels. Concurrently, the Health Code was embedded into users’ usage habits and social culture, becoming a shared memory and potential digital infrastructure for the future.
To Separate or to Include: A Qualitative Study of Placement Decisions for Students With Special Education Needs in China
Authors: Deng (邓猛) Meng , Ma (马滢) Ying , Xie (谢正立) Zhengli
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to explore the perspectives of students with special education needs (SEN) and of relevant stakeholders on how they make decisions when choosing educational placements.

Design/Approach/Methods

Eight students with SEN (four with intellectual disabilities and four with physical disabilities) who had transferred between special and regular education schools and their stakeholders, including parents, school principals, classroom teachers, and students without SEN, participated in the interviews.

Findings

Findings revealed that students with SEN were torn between the two forms of conflict placement. Different educational placements implied different educational methods and effects, and educational effects contributed to placement choices in return. Placement decisions largely relied on SEN students’ abilities, stakeholders’ attitudes, and school policies, with SEN students’ abilities being the most dominant factor, implying a model based on personal ability instead of rights and support.

Originality/Value

The Chinese government should formulate and implement policies to bring about more systematic changes in the education system and ensure adequate resources and professional support for students with SEN.
Reflective-Formative Hierarchical Component Model for Characteristic-Adoption Model
Authors: Fong Stany Wee Lian , Ismail Hishamuddin bin , Kian Tan Pei
Published: June 2023

The innovation characteristic studies are deemed to be significant as consumers’ behavior are influenced by how they perceive these product characteristics. As the innovation characteristics continue to grow, these characteristics are observed to be cognitively centric in nature with significant overlapping in meanings and terms. To overcome this gap, this study intends to develop a cognitive-affective-balanced higher-order adoption model upon key constructs in the innovation adoption and diffusion literature. Five broad higher-order constructs namely information, compatibility, relative advantage, perceived risk, and brand trust are concluded and categorized into cognitive, affective, and conative components based on the “think-feel-do” process of Hierarchy-of-Effects model. Contrary to the diffusion literature, this study has empirically proven brand trust (β = .3638) to be the most influential characteristic to adoption intention compared to relative advantage (β = .2144), compatibility (β = .2142), and perceived risk (β = −.1669). The empirical support of brand trust as the affective-mediator contributes to justifying the significance of emotional-based characteristic to the adoption of innovation.
Impacts of Price and Quality Perceptions on Individuals’ Intention to Participate in Marathon Events: Mediating Role of Perceived Value
Authors: Wang Fong-Jia , Hsiao Chia-Huei , Shih Wei-Hsuan , Chiu Weisheng
Published: June 2023

This study examines the relationships among perceived price, quality, and value and their impact on the intent to participate in marathon events. An online questionnaire survey was administered to individuals who had participated in a marathon within the past ten years. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. A total of 609 valid responses were collected. The results showed that both perceptions of price and quality of marathon events are significant predictors of intention to participate in marathon events. Moreover, participants’ perceived value mediated the impacts of perceived price and quality on behavioral intention. The findings offer key implications, including ways to promote active participation in marathon events. In addition, the findings emphasize the need to account for and fully understand perceived price and quality when designing marketing strategies aimed at attracting marathon participants.
The National Bias of India’s First-Past-The-Post System
Authors: Pani Narendar , Banerjee Debosree , Thomas Paul
Published: June 2023

The relationship between the local and the national in Indian politics has taken a variety of forms, from secessionist tendencies to agitational politics around specific issues. The course of this relationship is typically explored through electoral performance, primarily whether a party wins sufficient seats to form the government. There is much less attention paid to the relationship between votes and seats. This has led to some questions not getting the attention they deserve, particularly whether the first-past-the-post electoral system that India uses is entirely neutral in the dynamic between the local and the national. This article addresses this question by developing a model that captures the effects of the share of the votes of national parties, as well as the concentration of national and local votes, on the performance of national and local parties. The empirical evaluation of this system points to an overall national bias, which is eroded over time by the emergence of regionally dominant local parties.
Hindu Nationalism and Right-wing Ecology: RSS, Modi and Motherland Post-2014
Authors: Sharma Mukul
Published: June 2023

This article analyses the environmental politics of Hindu nationalism in India after 2014, which is deeply enmeshed with aggressive nationalism. Taking as its case study articles, newspaper reports and visuals published in the Organiser, a leading magazine of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), it focuses on four ubiquitous environmental themes—imagination of a great Hindu motherland; icons of mother embodied in river and animal; climate change and renewable energy and the idealization of Prime Minister Modi as an environmental saviour—that are visible in its pages. Through these themes, India is projected as a great ancient ecological Hindu nation while hatred and violence are directed against ‘polluted’ Muslims. The ascendancy of Hindu nationalists to power since 2014 has indeed resulted in radical changes which have signalled multiple governmental ‘green’ initiatives and brought climate change and renewable energy to the centre stage. However, and as this article illustrates, these are couched in an optic of purity and pollution, as well as caste and religion, on the one hand, and mobilization of corporations and mega ‘clean’ industrial projects, on the other, which are propagated in the name of people, development and environment.
Retracted: A Scrutiny of Omens in the Chronicles of Novgorod
Authors: Mishchuk Anastasiia V. , Rudenko Yuliia , Dei Maryna O. , Skliar Iryna S. , Kovalchuk Natalia
Published: June 2023

The spate of the descriptions of omens in medieval literature, including chronicles, seems to be poorly researched. The purpose of this article is to trace the omens that were looked for in medieval times, how people reacted to them, and how these are recorded in the Ukrainian chronicles. Fragments of the Chronicle of Novgorod describing various celestial omens are analysed here. This may fill a gap in historical research since the omens recorded in these chronicles have not been adequately researched so far.
Book review: J. Daniel Elam, Impossible and Necessary: Anticolonialism, Reading, and Critique
Authors: Das Kalyan Kumar
Published: June 2023

J. Daniel Elam, Impossible and Necessary: Anticolonialism, Reading, and Critique (Hyderabad: Orient BlackSwan), 2021, 192 pp., ₹895.
Immune profiling after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Shahid Sanam , Ceglia Nicholas , Le Luduec Jean-Benoît , McPherson Andrew , Spitzer Barbara , Kontopoulos Theodota , Bojilova Viktoria , Panjwani M. Kazim , Roshal Mikhail , Shah Sohrab P. , Abdel-Wahab Omar , Greenbaum Benjamin , Hsu Katharine C.
Published: June 2023

Although allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (allo-HCT) is curative for high-risk pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML), disease relapse remains the primary cause of posttransplant mortality. To identify pressures imposed by allo-HCT on AML cells that escape the graft-versus-leukemia effect, we evaluated immune signatures at diagnosis and posttransplant relapse in bone marrow samples from 4 pediatric patients using a multimodal single-cell proteogenomic approach. Downregulation of major histocompatibility complex class II expression was most profound in progenitor-like blasts and accompanied by correlative changes in transcriptional regulation. Dysfunction of activated natural killer cells and CD8+ T-cell subsets at relapse was evidenced by the loss of response to interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor α signaling via NF-κB, and interleukin-2/STAT5 signaling. Clonotype analysis of posttransplant relapse samples revealed an expansion of dysfunctional T cells and enrichment of T-regulatory and T-helper cells. Using novel computational methods, our results illustrate a diverse immune-related transcriptional signature in posttransplant relapses not previously reported in pediatric AML.