bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification and Evaluation of Reference Genes for Quantitative PCR Normalization in Alligator Weed Flea Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
Authors: Guo Yan-Qiong , Yang Yongchang , Chai Yanping , Gao Ling-Ling , Ma Ruiyan
Published: September 2021

Stably expressed reference genes are critical internal standards for the quantification of gene transcription levels using quantitative real-time PCR. Housekeeping genes are commonly used as reference genes but their expressions were variable depending on experimental conditions in many insect species studied. Here we report the identification and evaluation of 10 housekeeping genes in alligator weed flea beetle, Agasicles hygrophila Selman & Vogt (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a biocontrol agent of alligator weed. The 10 housekeeping genes are: beta-actin (Actin), ribosomal protein L13A (PRL13a), succinate dehydrogenase complex subunit A (SDHA), ribosomal protein S20 (RPS20), ribosomal protein S13 (RPS13), glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), TATA-box-binding protein (TBP), ribosomal protein L32 (RPL32), tubulin alpha-1 chain (TUBULIN), and elongation factor-1 alpha (ELF). Five programs, geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, ΔCt method, and RefFinder, were used to evaluate the expression stability of the 10 genes among various A. hygrophila body parts and with different nutrient types (starvation, diet types). The expression stability analysis showed that RPS32 and RPL13a were reliable reference genes for the study of gene transcription in different body parts; Actin and RPL13a were optimal reference genes for different nutrient types. The selections of reference genes were validated using a CarE gene (GeneBank No: KX353552). The results of this study provide useful bases for studies of gene expression in various aspects relating to A. hygrophila.
Effect of Incandescent Light on Collection of West Nile Virus Vectors Using CDC Miniature Light Traps in Northern Colorado
Authors: Boze Broox G V , Renfro Kelsey , Markowski Daniel , Lozano-Fuentes Saul
Published: September 2021

To evaluate whether the presence of clear incandescent light was attractive or refractive to host-seeking mosquitoes in northern Colorado, a Bayesian hierarchical model was created to measure differences in trap effectiveness based on presence or absence of phototactic cues. A total of eight CDC miniature light traps (with and without light) were set weekly across four locations in northern Colorado between Weeks 23 and 32 of year 2020. Culex mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) accounted for 81% of all collections in this study with two vectors of West Nile virus being represented. The probability of catching both Culex tarsalis Coquillett and Culex pipiens Linnaeus was reduced when traps were equipped with light, but the difference was not statistically significant for Culex tarsalis. The clear reduction in the number of Culex pipiens caught when these traps were equipped with light indicates negative phototactic behavior and underestimation with current surveillance strategies. Removal of light from these traps may aid our understanding of these species’ distribution within the environment, improve collection efficiency, and help guide implementation of targeted control measures used in public health mosquito control.
Implementing (Un)fair Procedures: Containing Favoritism When Unequal Outcomes are Inevitable
Authors: Schmidt Robert , Trautmann Stefan T
Published: September 2021

We study the selection of people when unequal payoffs are inevitable, but fair procedures are feasible, as in selecting one person from several candidates for a job. We show that allocators may be influenced by their similarity with a recipient, leading to favoritism in outcomes. We study four interventions to reduce favoritism and induce fair procedures, without restricting the allocator’s decisions: transparency of the allocation process; a private randomization device; allowing the allocator to delegate to a public randomization device; and allowing the allocator to avoid information about recipients. Making use of beliefs and fairness judgments, we show why some interventions work, while others do not (JEL D63, J16, J7, C92).
Interaction of human erythrocyte catalase with air–water interface in cryoEM
Authors: Chen Shaoxia , Li Jade , Vinothkumar Kutti R , Henderson Richard
Published: September 2021

One of the key goals in single-particle cryo-microscopy is to obtain a uniform distribution of particle orientations, so that the three-dimensional structure has isotropic resolution in Fourier space. A common problem arises from the interaction of protein molecules with the air–water interface that exists on both surfaces of the thin film of liquid that is formed prior to plunge-freezing into liquid ethane. Some proteins and other macromolecular complexes are disrupted by interaction with the air–water interface. Other proteins or macromolecules either become concentrated through their interaction with the interface or are excluded because they bind strongly to some other part of the grid or the filter paper used in blotting. In this paper, the interaction of human erythrocyte catalase with the air–water interface is investigated and minimized by the addition of certain detergents. Detergents can form an amphipathic monolayer at the air–water interface that creates a barrier and leaves the molecules free to adopt a variety of orientations, thus facilitating the 3D structure determination. These results suggest that further characterization and development of detergents for cryo-microscopy plunge-freezing would be useful.
Cannabinoids and Cancer Chemotherapy-Associated Adverse Effects
Authors: Ward Sara Jane , Lichtman Aron H , Piomelli Daniele , Parker Linda A
Published: September 2021

The use of cannabis is not unfamiliar to many cancer patients, as there is a long history of its use for cancer pain and/or pain, nausea, and cachexia induced by cancer treatment. To date, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved 2 cannabis-based pharmacotherapies for the treatment of cancer chemotherapy-associated adverse effects: dronabinol and nabilone. Over the proceeding decades, both research investigating and societal attitudes toward the potential utility of cannabinoids for a range of indications have progressed dramatically. The following monograph highlights recent preclinical research focusing on promising cannabinoid-based approaches for the treatment of the 2 most common adverse effects of cancer chemotherapy: chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Both plant-derived and synthetic approaches are discussed, as is the potential relative safety and effectiveness of these approaches in relation to current treatment options, including opioid analgesics.
The Management of Cancer Symptoms and Treatment-Induced Side Effects With Cannabis or Cannabinoids
Authors: Sexton Michelle , Garcia Jose M , Jatoi Aminah , Clark Carey S , Wallace Mark S
Published: September 2021

Cannabis and cannabinoids are increasingly being accessed and used by patients with advanced cancer for various symptoms and general quality of life. Specific symptoms of pain, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite and cachexia, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and medical trauma are among those that have prompted patients with cancer to use cannabis. This conference report from the National Cancer Institute’s “Cannabis, Cannabinoid and Cancer Research Symposium” on the topic of “Cancer Symptom/Treatment Side Effect Management” is an expert perspective of cannabis intervention for cancer and cancer treatment-related symptoms. The purpose of the symposium was to identify research gaps, describe the need for high-quality randomized prospective studies of medical cannabis for palliative care in patients with cancer, and evaluate the impact of medical cannabis on cancer survivors’ quality of life. Further, education of clinicians and affiliated health-care providers in guiding cancer patients in using cannabis for cancer care would benefit patients. Together, these steps will further aid in refining the use of cannabis and cannabinoids for symptom palliation and improve safety and efficacy for patients.
An Equivocal or Unequivocal Bar for Determining Consent to Jurisdiction
Authors: Kunoy Bjørn
Published: September 2021

The legal consequence of the principle of sovereign equality is the fact that the jurisdiction of international courts and tribunals in inter-State disputes is contingent on consent of the disputing States. Consent to jurisdiction may be expressed in different forms but requires in each instance the demonstration of unequivocal acceptance of consent. The case law is abundant on and under which circumstances consent can be considered present. Interestingly, the criteria that are set forward in the case law appear to present two different standards for determining whether consent to jurisdiction has been expressed. This arises unequivocally in the English and French texts of the relevant judicial decisions.
Tenure through Tyranny? Repression, Dissent, and Leader Removal in Africa and Latin America, 1990–2006
Authors: Davenport Christian , RezaeeDaryakenari Babak , Wood Reed M
Published: September 2021

With few exceptions, prior research on leadership survival focuses largely on state institutional characteristics or economic context. We shift this orientation by explicitly considering the important role contentious interactions between the incumbent regime and dissident actors play in determining the duration of leader tenure as well as the manner in which a leader is removed. Specifically, we focus on the severity of the incumbent leader's response to dissident challenges. We contend that the severity of this response represents a critical signal which informs the decisions of specific audiences that ultimately determine the incumbent's survival. To evaluate our argument, we employ detailed information on dissent–repression dynamics and leader survival for a leader-month sample of 69 African and Latin American states between 1990 and 2006. Our results suggest that incumbents are vulnerable to coup d’ état when government repression is perceived as weaker than would normally be expected for a given challenge. By contrast, removal via revolution becomes increasingly likely when repression dramatically exceeds the levels that would normally be warranted given the extant challenge.
Evidentiality in Abductive Reasoning: Experimental Support for a Modal Analysis of Evidentials
Authors: Smirnova Anastasia
Published: September 2021

This paper presents results from two experimental studies that address a theoretical debate in semantics about the meaning of evidentiality and its relation to epistemic modality (Faller 2002; 2011; Izvorski 1997; Koev 2017; Lee 2013; Matthewson et al. 2007; McCready & Ogata 2007; Murray 2010; Smirnova 2013). According to modal analyses, evidentiality, in addition to the information source, encodes that the proposition in the scope of the evidential is possibly/necessarily true. Non-modal analyses postulate that evidential sentences entail the proposition in their scope and have the same semantic strength as non-evidential sentences. The predictions of the two approaches are tested for Bulgarian. In Study 1, I hold knowledge source—inference—constant and vary the type of logical argument, deductive versus abductive (cf. Lassiter & Goodman 2015; Douven & Verbrugge 2010). I find that evidential choices are influenced by both the type of the argument and the perceived subjective strength of the argument. In Study 2, I show that evidential and non-evidential sentences are associated with different degrees of certainty, where certainty can be viewed as an operationalization of semantic strength. These results are predicted by modal analyses but not by the non-modal view.
The structural characteristics and climatic and human impacts of deciduous oak forests in China
Authors: Chen Guoping , Cai Qiong , Fang Wenjing , Feng Yuhao , Zhu Jiangling , Ji Chengjun , Tang Zhiyao , Fang Jingyun
Published: September 2021

Deciduous oak forest is one of the typical vegetation types in temperate and subtropical mountain zones in China. However, the patterns and determinants of the structural characteristics of these forests remain poorly understood. We investigated 682 oak forest plots across China to characterize the community structures of the oak forests and analyze the underlying factors controlling their spatial patterns. Across all plots, the overall mean values were 13.7 cm, 10.0 m, 1468 stems/ha and 24.3 m2/ha for the diameter at breast height (DBH), height, stem density and total basal area (TBA) of trees, respectively. The average species richness was 6 species/600 m2, 10 species/100 m2 and 4 species/1 m2 for the tree, shrub and herb layers, respectively. As latitude increased, the mean tree height, stem density, TBA, tree species richness and shrub species richness decreased, and the mean DBH did not show a significant trend, while species richness of herbs increased significantly. Climatic and anthropogenic variables could explain more variations in mean DBH, mean tree height, TBA, tree species richness, shrub species richness than those in stem density and herb species richness. Further analysis showed that precipitation-related climatic factors were major factors shaping the spatial patterns of community structures. Our findings provide a basis for recognizing the biogeographic patterns of oak forest structures and their responses to global change in China.
Life after violence in North India: Islamic relief organizations and transactional relationships in a plural humanitarian space
Authors: Larouche Catherine
Published: September 2021

Religious humanitarianism is often closely scrutinized, as it is either viewed as exerting a positive influence in post-conflict contexts—through peace-building and sense-making—or a negative one—through proselytism and division. This article contends that both these (negative and positive) perspectives on the role played by religious organizations overemphasize, to a certain extent, their transformative power in post-conflict contexts, at least in the short term. Based on ethnographic fieldwork with both Islamic and non-confessional humanitarian organizations supporting internally displaced people—victims of anti-Muslim violence in Muzaffarnagar, India—I suggest that the inherent plurality and competitive dimension of the humanitarian field leads to a form of transactional relationship between displaced people and organizations and tends to reduce the importance of ideological differences between organizations. Paying attention to this particularity of the humanitarian field and how displaced people deal with it can provide us with a better understanding of the actual influence of religious humanitarianism in post-conflict contexts.
How Does Multi-Level Governance Create Capacity to Address Refugee Needs, and with What Limitations? An Analysis of Municipal Responses to Syrian Refugees in Istanbul
Authors: Polat Rabia Karakaya , Lowndes Vivien
Published: September 2021

A multi-level governance (MLG) framework is used to investigate how municipalities in Turkey have coped with the arrival of 3.6 million Syrians amid limited resources, an ambiguous legal framework, and changing national policy priorities. Qualitative research in Istanbul, which hosts the largest number of refugees, shows how municipalities have generated capacity by working with actors at other governance levels and in non-governmental spaces, via formal and informal networks. MLG arrangements did not however imply the retreat of a powerful central state. Rather, they were decisively influenced by existing power relations and governing traditions, specifically a strong state, weak local government, and mistrust of civil society. The research illuminates the complex, and sometimes surprising, relationships between tiers and spheres of governance in shaping local responses to refugee needs. The research demonstrates the explanatory power of MLG in a highly centralized unitary state, outside of the democratic (and mostly federal) contexts where it is usually applied.
Rapidly growing sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation of the spleen
Authors: Sohail Amir Humza , Eze Anthony , Sohail Sachal , Hadi Yousaf Bashir , Haider Zishan , Maurer James
Published: September 2021

Sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation (SANT) of the spleen is a rare benign vascular lesion with unknown pathogenesis and no definitive pathognomonic radiological features. The majority of patients with SANT are asymptomatic, and the lesion is an incidental finding on cross-sectional imaging performed for unrelated reasons or during intra-abdominal surgery. However, in the symptomatic minority, abdominal pain is the most commonly reported symptom. SANT generally remains stable or has very slow growth, making it amenable to surveillance using serial cross-sectional imaging. Herein, we report the unusual case of SANT in a 30-year-old female with rapid growth from 6.0 × 5.6 × 4.4 cm to 8.0 × 6.6 × 7.2 cm over 21 months. Given the rapid growth, it was imperative to rule out malignancy. Thus, the patient underwent a laparoscopic total splenectomy. For SANT, splenectomy serves the dual purpose of diagnosis and definitive therapy.
Laparoscopic management of strangulated paracaecal hernia causing small bowel obstruction. Case report and review of the literature
Authors: Al-Ardah Mahmoud , Sisodia Heena , Rottenburg Hannah , Clarke Michael
Published: September 2021

Paracaecal hernia is a rare type of internal hernia usually presenting with a picture of small bowel obstruction. In this report we present a 68-year-old woman who was admitted with colicky lower abdominal pain, vomiting and abdominal distention. A computed tomography scan of her abdomen and pelvis demonstrated multiple dilated small bowel loops with a transition point in the right iliac fossa. After a trial of conservative treatment, the patient was taken to theatre where she underwent laparoscopic reduction of a strangulated paracaecal hernia. The patient had an uneventful post-operative recovery and was discharged home.

Despite being a rare cause for small intestinal obstruction, this should be part of the differential diagnosis especially in the absence of previous abdominal operations. Early recognition and prompt surgical treatment is the key to prevent complications. A laparoscopic approach is feasible if expertise is available.
Delayed mesh infection after inguinal hernia repair: a case report
Authors: Ito Homare , Matsumoto Kenji , Terauchi Toshiaki , Kimata Masaru , Lefor Alan Kawarai , Shinozaki Hiroharu
Published: September 2021

Delayed deep mesh infection is a rare complication and the precise mechanism of its development is unknown. We report a case of delayed deep mesh infection after inguinal hernia repair. A 65-year-old man was admitted for treatment of colon cancer. He had a history of bilateral hernioplasty repaired with mesh-plugs 6 years previously. Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomographic scan showed positive findings in the right inguinal region similar to cancer. He had no complaints or findings to suspect mesh infection. Postoperative computed tomography scan over time revealed a fluid collection with inflammation. Eleven years after hernia repair, the patient presented with inflammation in the right inguinal region and emergency operation was performed. An abscess cavity was found and the mesh-plug covered with granulation tissue was removed. The patient remains free of recurrence of inguinal hernia or inflammatory changes after 3 years of follow-up.
Surgical management of spinal tuberculosis with a two-stage posterior instrumentation with bridging: a case report
Authors: Konbaz Faisal Mohammedsaleh , Alassiri Suhail Saad , Al Eissa Sami Ibrahim , Abaalkhail Majed Salah , Khdary Hassan Nezar , Albuijan Abdulrahman Khalid
Published: September 2021

Tuberculosis (TB) affects millions of people every year. Spinal TB is a common extrapulmonary manifestation of the disease. Spinal TB can be devastating and carries an unfortunate outcome. Herein, we present an atypical spinal TB that was treated initially based on intraoperative cultures with posterior decompression and instrumentation of T11–L3 with directed antibiotic therapy. Recurrence of the lesion and failure of instrumentation necessitated further investigation and intervention 1 year later. Using a two-stage surgical procedure leaving the infected spine to heal first with directed anti-TB medications. The patient was managed using posterior instrumentation with bridging from T5 to the pelvis, spanning the destructed area and utilizing a bridging technique with multiple rod constructs across the infected spine. Here, we present the benefit of using the bridging technique to promote bone healing and achieve a solid fixation.
A delayed diagnosis of obturator hernia hoodwinked by previous laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair
Authors: Mercado Melanie , Diab Jason , Loi Ken
Published: September 2021

Obturator hernia is a rare and diagnostically challenging type of pelvic hernia with associated high morbidity and mortality. It is frequently seen in frail, elderly female multiparous patients with non-specific symptoms and signs that may be clouded by multiple gastrointestinal or musculoskeletal comorbidities. This report discusses the case of an 84-year-old woman with refractory groin pain and previous laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair that was misdiagnosed leading to a delayed diagnosis and mortality. Previous laparoscopic repair was a misleading factor that hoodwinked clinicians and surgeons until computed tomography (CT) imaging proved otherwise. In emaciated, elderly female patients presenting with non-specific abdominal or hip pain, early CT imaging can assist in diagnosis when signs or symptoms are unclear. Clinical vigilance and serial examination are important in elderly patients who are often under the care of geriatricians allowing early discovery and treatment of this hernia.
Solitary pleural tuberculoma diagnosed by thoracoscopic surgical resection
Authors: Sumiya Ryusuke , Nagasaka Satoshi , Ikeda Takeshi , Miyazaki Hideki
Published: September 2021

Tuberculoma is a manifestation of pleural tuberculosis. Although the clinical manifestation of tuberculoma has been widely reported, the pathogenesis of this condition still remains unclear. An abnormal shadow was detected on the chest radiograph of a 44-year-old man with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis. Computed tomography revealed a well-defined, elliptical 44 mm nodule located in the right posterior thoracic cavity. Thoracoscopic surgery was performed to rule out malignant tumors. Although loose adhesions were observed throughout the thoracic cavity, a nodule was found between the visceral pleura and parietal pleura. En bloc resection was performed, and the patient was pathologically diagnosed with tuberculoma. An acid-fast bacterium culture was negative, and the patient’s recovery was uneventful without chemotherapy. Surgical resection should be considered to rule out malignancy, because tuberculomas are difficult to distinguish from malignant pleural tumors.
Single-session laparoscopic cystectomy and nephroureterectomy: is it real and useful choice of treatment or fiction?
Authors: Baio Raffaele , Molisso Giovanni , Pane Alessandro , Di Mauro Umberto , Intilla Oliviero , Sanseverino Roberto
Published: September 2021

Patients with recurrent high grade and/or muscle-invasive bladder cancer and concomitant upper urinary tract disease, e.g. urothelial tumors or afunctional hydronephrotic kidneys, may be candidates for simultaneous laparoscopic cystectomy and nephroureterectomy. So, such patients, especially when affected by multiple comorbidities, can benefit from the avoidance of extended laparotomy. We report our experience with simultaneous laparoscopic radical cystectomy and right nephroureterectomy in a 67-year-old-male patient affected by recurrent polyfocal high grade bladder cancer and an associated right upper tract carcinoma. This laparoscopic approach was technically successful without the need for conversion to open surgery. More than a year after the surgery, the patient is still alive, showing no tumor relapse of at the established instrumental controls. This laparoscopic approach, performed in a single session, can be safe and feasible in selected cases as an alternative approach to the open surgery, offering good oncological and functional results.
A comparison of transhepatic versus transperitoneal cholecystostomy for acute calculous cholecystitis: a 5-year experience
Authors: Bennett Stephen , Shaida Nadeem , Godfrey Edmund , Safranek Peter , O’Neill J Robert
Published: September 2021

Percutaneous cholecystostomy is a treatment for acute calculous cholecystitis used in patients where surgery is high risk or challenging either to allow for surgical optimisation or as definitive treatment. In this case series we compare the outcomes of a transhepatic versus transperitoneal approach in patients undergoing percutaneous cholecystostomy for acute calculous cholecystitis. A retrospective review of patients from 2014 to 2019 was conducted and included demographics, percutaneous cholecystostomy route, complications and outcome. Fifty-one patients were included. Percutaneous cholecystostomy was placed transhepatically in 15 cases; transperitoneal in 30 cases; 6 cases had undetermined route. The transhepatic cohort had 43.5% fewer readmissions due to biliary sepsis, 32.5% fewer drain-related complications, and were less likely to require further treatment (32.5% reduction) compared to the transperitoneal cohort. In our experience, the transhepatic route is preferred due to fewer complications, fewer readmissions and a reduction in the need for further treatment.
Chylous ascites as a marker for intestinal viability in a small bowel obstruction: a case report
Authors: Morosin Tia , De Robles M Shella
Published: September 2021

Chylous ascites (CA) is the uncommon extravasation of triglyceride-rich fluid into the abdominal cavity as a result of the disruption of the abdominal lymphatic system. A patient who had previously undergone a subtotal colectomy presented with a closed-loop small bowel obstruction (SBO), underwent an emergency laparotomy with adhesiolysis and had intra-operative findings of milky intra-abdominal free fluid confirmed on analysis as CA. His post-operative period was complicated by a prolonged ileus, and following resolution, he was subsequently discharged home. Here, we present a case of a closed-loop SBO in which CA may be an indicator of intestinal viability.
Small lymphocytic lymphoma and lung malignancy coincidence in a male patient: a case report and literature review
Authors: Kakos Christos D , Geropoulos Georgios , Loufopoulos Ioannis , Martzivanou Eirini , Nicolae Robert , Khiroya Reena , Panagiotopoulos Nikolaos , Mitsos Sofoklis
Published: September 2021

Lung carcinoma management secondary to chronic lymphocytic leukemia could be quite challenging. We report a case of a 60-year-old male with several co-morbidities, who presented with shortness of breath and persistent cough. A chest imaging showed a right pleural effusion and complete white-out of the right chest cavity. A computed tomography scan revealed consolidation of the right upper lobe with a 6-cm lesion in hilum with complete occlusion of right lobe bronchus. The patient underwent a video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, drainage of pleural effusion and pleural and lung biopsy. Talc pleurodesis as well as a flexible bronchoscopy of the endobronchial lesion was performed. Histopathological examination showed a small B-cell lymphoma of the right pleura and an invasive non-small cell carcinoma of the right lung. Dual neoplasms are challenging in terms of diagnosing, and they usually require a multidisciplinary team for the right treatment strategy, including surgery and chemotherapy.
Case report of ureteric transection of lower moiety in high-speed road traffic collision
Authors: McCorgray Carol-Ann , Ragupathy Senthil , Beaumont Alexander , El Mokadem Ismail , Khadhouri Sinan , Athanasiadis Grigorios
Published: September 2021

Ureteric injuries from blunt trauma are rare in adults requiring prompt diagnosis and management. To our knowledge this is the second case report of a complete transection of the ureter due to blunt injury at the pelvi-ureteric junction in an adult. Following a high-speed road traffic collision, a 26-year-old female with bilateral duplex kidneys was admitted with complete transection of the lower moiety of her right collecting system confirmed on computed tomography Urogram. This was repaired successfully with a minimally invasive laparoscopic technique in keeping with European Association of Urology guidelines. A 3-month follow-up MAG 3 renogram indicated adequate drainage from the right kidney with no evidence of obstruction. This successful outcome demonstrates a laparoscopic repair is achievable and favourable, improving post-operative recovery and reduction of inpatient length of stay. We recommend that a laparoscopic approach should be attempted unless laparotomy is indicated for other injuries.
Colonic leiomyoma mimicking a liver tumor: an unusual diagnosis after en-block robotic resection
Authors: Dreifuss Nicolás H , Mangano Alberto , Aguiluz Gabriela , Mehta Vikas , Koppe Sean , Berkelhammer Charles , Giulianotti Pier C
Published: September 2021

Colonic leiomyomas are rare. Their clinical presentation ranges from asymptomatic polyps detected on endoscopy to large symptomatic abdominopelvic masses. Imaging findings are usually non-specific, and percutaneous biopsy might help with differential diagnosis. However, radical surgery with negative margins is ultimately needed to rule out malignancy. We describe an uncommon presentation of a colonic leiomyoma mimicking a right hepatic lobe tumor on preoperative imaging. The robotic approach allowed a precise abdominal exploration with confirmation of colonic and hepatic infiltration and subsequent oncological en-block resection. Surgeons operating on hepatic tumors close to the right colic flexure should be aware of this diagnosis.
Deriving Priors for Bayesian Prediction of Daily Response Propensity in Responsive Survey Design: Historical Data Analysis Versus Literature Review
Authors: West Brady T , Wagner James , Coffey Stephanie , Elliott Michael R
Published: September 2021

Responsive survey design (RSD) aims to increase the efficiency of survey data collection via live monitoring of paradata and the introduction of protocol changes when survey errors and increased costs seem imminent. Daily predictions of response propensity for all active sampled cases are among the most important quantities for live monitoring of data collection outcomes, making sound predictions of these propensities essential for the success of RSD. Because it relies on real-time updates of prior beliefs about key design quantities, such as predicted response propensities, RSD stands to benefit from Bayesian approaches. However, empirical evidence of the merits of these approaches is lacking in the literature, and the derivation of informative prior distributions is required for these approaches to be effective. In this paper, we evaluate the ability of two approaches to deriving prior distributions for the coefficients defining daily response propensity models to improve predictions of daily response propensity in a real data collection employing RSD. The first approach involves analyses of historical data from the same survey, and the second approach involves literature review. We find that Bayesian methods based on these two approaches result in higher-quality predictions of response propensity than more standard approaches ignoring prior information. This is especially true during the early-to-middle periods of data collection, when survey managers using RSD often consider interventions.
COVID-19-related travel restrictions temporarily reduced the demand for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis in France
Authors: Parize Perrine , Poujol Philippe , Conan Pierre Louis , Kuhmel Lucie , Lucet Cora , Jidar Kaoutar , Gominet Marie , Bourhy Hervé , Ficko Cécile
Published: September 2021

Due to travel restrictions, a dramatic decrease of rabies post-exposure demand was observed in 2020 in the Ile-de-France region. The recovery of international travels may lead to a rebound in rabies exposures. This risk need to be anticipated and prevention messages delivered to people travelling to rabies-enzootic countries.
A systematic approach to literature analysis: traveling through stories
Authors: Uenishi Ryusei , Ortega Claudio , Pérez Martinez Ángel , Rodríguez-Serra Michelle , Elías Paula
Published: September 2021

Travel literature has captured humanity’s imagination ever since the emergence of famous works such as The Wonders of The World by Marco Polo and The Journal of Christopher Columbus. Authors in this genre must process large and diverse volumes of data (visual, sensory, and written) obtained on their trips, before synthesizing it humanly in such a way as to move and communicate personally with the reader, without losing the factual nature of the story. This is the ultimate goal of the natural language processing (NLP) field: to process and generate human–machine interaction as naturally as possible. Hence, this article’s purpose is to analyze and describe a nonfictional literary text, which is a type of documentary text that contains objective, qualitative, and quantitative information based on evidence. In this analysis, traditional methods will not be used. Instead, it will leverage NLP techniques to process and extract relevant information from the text. This literary analysis is a new kind of approach that encourages further discussions about the methodologies currently used. The proposed methodology enables exploratory analysis of both individual and unstructured corpus databases while also allowing geospatial data to complement the textual analysis by connecting the people in the text with real places.
Strictly join irreducible varieties of residuated lattices
Authors: Aglianò Paolo , Ugolini Sara
Published: September 2021

We study (strictly) join irreducible varieties in the lattice of subvarieties of residuated lattices. We explore the connections with well-connected algebras and suitable generalizations, focusing in particular on representable varieties. Moreover, we find weakened notions of Halldén completeness that characterize join irreducibility. We characterize strictly join irreducible varieties of basic hoops and use the generalized rotation construction to find strictly join irreducible varieties in subvarieties of $\mathsf{MTL}$-algebras. We also obtain some general results about linear varieties of residuated lattices, with a particular focus on representable varieties, and a characterization for linear varieties of basic hoops.
Priors neutral between the parties: the Batson motion in Idaho v. Ish
Authors: Kadane Joseph B
Published: September 2021

For Bayesian inference to be useful to a court, it is essential that the priors used should be neutral between the parties. ‘Neutrality’ reflects the idea that the fact-finder would want the statistical analyses to be fair to both parties. It is neither the same as the legal designation of which party has the burden of proof with respect to a particular matter, nor the standard of proof that must be met for that party to prevail. The recent case of Idaho v. Ish raises the question of how to find such priors, particularly in a doubly constrained 2 × 2 table with a zero. This article re-examines this issue. It also offers reflection on whether, given a zero in the table (which here means that all members of a particular race or sex are excluded from jury service), it matters how many are excluded.
“The Secret of that Herb”: Mystical Smoking from Italian Sabbateanism to Hasidism
Authors: Luboshitz Tzvi
Published: September 2021

This article is dedicated to the notion of “mystical smoking” in Kabbalah and Hasidism. In spite of the fact that many researchers have dealt with the smoking habits of the Hasidim, the sources and meanings of this behavior have not yet been fully clarified. This paper will reexamine “mystical smoking” by reading some of the writings of R. Moshe David Valle, an eighteenth-century Italian kabbalist. According to Valle, the act of smoking plays a crucial role in the enduring struggle of the righteous person (tsaddik) against the powers of the Evil Side (sitra achra) and the impure husks (qelipot). From several paragraphs of Valle’s writings, it becomes clear that smoking is equated with sacrificing to the sitra achra, and is as necessary and important as the biblical scapegoat in the struggle against the sitra achra. Moreover, the calming, relaxing, or clouding effect that comes naturally with smoking causes the sitra achra within the tsaddik’s soul to be satisfied and to restrain itself from fighting against the Holy Side. In light of “the secret of the pipe,” which Valle discusses at length, Hasidic stories and sermons in which smoking plays an essential role will be reevaluated. Until now, these sources have been subject to ultra-positivist, psychological, or literary explanations, which are unsatisfying and insufficient. In this paper, a new explanation, based on specific kabbalistic ideas, will be suggested, and conjectures regarding the transmission of knowledge from Italy to Eastern Europe will be proposed.
Impact of the ISM magnetic field on GRB afterglow polarization
Authors: Teboul O , Shaviv N J
Published: September 2021

Linear polarization has been measured in several gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglows. After a few days, polarization arises from the forward shock emission that depends on the post-shock magnetic field. The latter can originate both from compression of existing fields, here the interstellar medium (ISM) magnetic field, and from shock-generated instabilities. For short GRBs, previous modelling of the polarization arising from the forward shock considered a random field fully or partially confined to the shock plane. However, the ISM magnetic field likely consists of both random and ordered components. Here we study the impact of a more realistic magnetic field having both ordered and random components. We present our semi-analytical model and compute polarization curves arising for different magnetic field configurations. We find that the presence of an ordered component, even significantly weaker than the random one, has distinct signatures that could be detectable. In the presence of an ordered component not in the observer plane, we show that (i) for an observer inside the jet, the polarization angle θp either remains constant during all the afterglow phase or exhibits variations smaller than the 90° swing expected from a random component solely; (ii) for an off-axis observer, the polarization angle evolves from $\theta _\mathrm{ p}^{\max }$, before the jet break to its opposite after the jet break. We also find that the upper limit polarization for GRB 170817 requires a random field not fully confined to the shock plane and is compatible with an ordered component as large as half the random one.
Bang your Head: Construing Beat through Familiar Drum Patterns in Metal Music
Authors: Hudson Stephen S
Published: September 2021

This article presents a theoretical framework for understanding headbanging to metal music as an embodied practice of perception and offers several analyses to demonstrate how specific patterns serve as a common core of rhythmic patterning in the genre. Listeners express metal’s flexible rhythmic style through headbanging, creating experiences of heaviness and community. This motion brings felt beats into existence, guided by what I call “metering constructions,” familiar rhythmic/motional patterns that are both schematic knowledge of music and embodied practices of perception. I define metering constructions through theories of embodied meter and cognitive linguistics. Two constructions, the backbeat and the phrase-ending 332, are used throughout rock, but distinguished in metal by characteristic drum patterns and motional qualities. Headbangers thus create and perform their own beat interpretation, what I call a “patchwork quilt of recognized rhythms” stitched together in various orders and combinations—sometimes resembling regular isochronous meter, sometimes not.
Structure and Variable Formal Function in Schubert’s Three-Key Expositions
Authors: Grant Aaron
Published: September 2021

Few expositional procedures have permitted so diverse a repertoire of form-functional explanations as the three-key exposition. Ever since Felix Salzer coined the term, theorists have attempted to model these structures, particularly in relation to Schubert’s sonata-form expositions. Although authors have proposed a number of different options, no consensus has emerged, leading many theorists to equivocate when labeling these expositions. Much of this disagreement is predicated on a misunderstanding of Schubert’s three-key expositions, namely trying to shoehorn them into a two-part model of sonata-form expositions. This article proposes a new form-functional model for Schubert’s three-key expositions. I first detail the typical features of these expositions based on a corpus of all Schubertian three-key expositions. I use these norms to argue that the three-key exposition constitutes a new, three-part expositional option along with continuous and two-part expositions. My approach aligns with Salzer (1928), Hinrichsen (1988 and 1994), Kessler (1996), and Hur (1992), who contend that the second tonal area should be seen as occupying the same hierarchical level as the other two tonal areas. My model, however, differs from theirs because I do not pigeonhole the exposition into a two-part framework. Rather, I show how Schubert’s mutable treatment of the second tonal area’s harmonic stability and the third tonal area’s rhetoric necessitates a new set of formal functions. In doing so, I not only illuminate a previously unacknowledged aspect of Schubert’s practices, but I also show how the various combinations of formal functions provided him a new set of expressive possibilities.
Clinical trial challenges, design considerations, and outcome measures in rare CNS tumors
Authors: Armstrong Terri S , Gilbert Mark R
Published: September 2021

Clinical research for patients with rare cancers has been very challenging. First and foremost, patient accrual to clinical trials typically requires a network, cooperative group, or even international collaboration in order to achieve the necessary numbers of patients to adequately evaluate a new treatment or intervention. Similar limitations in preclinical models and in the understanding the natural history of the disease or pertinent prognostic factors further impede the development of hypothesis-based, appropriately powered clinical trials. However, despite these challenges, several studies in rare cancers, including ependymoma and subependymal giant cell astrocytoma, have helped to establish new treatment regimens. Importantly, in these seminal trials, patient outcomes measures were critical in describing the clinical benefit derived from the therapy, underscoring the need to incorporate these measures in future trials. While obstacles still remain, novel and creative approaches to clinical trial designs have been developed that can be used to study new treatments for patients with rare cancers, thereby addressing a significant unmet need.
Classifying Patients Operated for Spondylolisthesis: A K-Means Clustering Analysis of Clinical Presentation Phenotypes
Authors: Chan Andrew K , Wozny Thomas A , Bisson Erica F , Pennicooke Brenton H , Bydon Mohamad , Glassman Steven D , Foley Kevin T , Shaffrey Christopher I , Potts Eric A , Shaffrey Mark E , Coric Domagoj , Knightly John J , Park Paul , Wang Michael Y , Fu Kai-Ming , Slotkin Jonathan R , Asher Anthony L , Virk Michael S , Kerezoudis Panagiotis , Alvi Mohammed A , Guan Jian , Haid Regis W , Mummaneni Praveen V
Published: September 2021

BACKGROUND

Trials of lumbar spondylolisthesis are difficult to compare because of the heterogeneity in the populations studied.

OBJECTIVE

To define patterns of clinical presentation.

METHODS

This is a study of the prospective Quality Outcomes Database spondylolisthesis registry, including patients who underwent single-segment surgery for grade 1 degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Twenty-four-month patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were collected. A k-means clustering analysis—an unsupervised machine learning algorithm—was used to identify clinical presentation phenotypes.

RESULTS

Overall, 608 patients were identified, of which 507 (83.4%) had 24-mo follow-up. Clustering revealed 2 distinct cohorts. Cluster 1 (high disease burden) was younger, had higher body mass index (BMI) and American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) grades, and globally worse baseline PROs. Cluster 2 (intermediate disease burden) was older and had lower BMI and ASA grades, and intermediate baseline PROs. Baseline radiographic parameters were similar (P > .05). Both clusters improved clinically (P < .001 all 24-mo PROs). In multivariable adjusted analyses, mean 24-mo Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Numeric Rating Scale Back Pain (NRS-BP), Numeric Rating Scale Leg Pain, and EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) were markedly worse for the high-disease-burden cluster (adjusted-P < .001). However, the high-disease-burden cluster demonstrated greater 24-mo improvements for ODI, NRS-BP, and EQ-5D (adjusted-P < .05) and a higher proportion reaching ODI minimal clinically important difference (MCID) (adjusted-P = .001). High-disease-burden cluster had lower satisfaction (adjusted-P = .02).

CONCLUSION

We define 2 distinct phenotypes—those with high vs intermediate disease burden—operated for lumbar spondylolisthesis. Those with high disease burden were less satisfied, had a lower quality of life, and more disability, more back pain, and more leg pain than those with intermediate disease burden, but had greater magnitudes of improvement in disability, back pain, quality of life, and more often reached ODI MCID.
Overlap Before the Critical Step of Lumbar Fusion Does Not Lead to Increased Short-Term Morbidity
Authors: Farooqi Ali S , Borja Austin J , Detchou Donald K E , Glauser Gregory , Shultz Kaitlyn , McClintock Scott D , Malhotra Neil R
Published: September 2021

BACKGROUND

Few studies have assessed the impact of overlapping surgery during different timepoints of neurosurgical procedures.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of overlap before the critical portion of surgery on short-term patient outcomes following lumbar fusion.

METHODS

In total, 3799 consecutive patients who underwent single-level, posterior-only lumbar fusion over 6 yr (2013-2019) at an academic hospital system were retrospectively studied. Outcomes included 30-d emergency department (ED) visit, readmission, reoperation, mortality, overall morbidity, and overall morbidity/surgical complications. Duration of overlap that occurred before the critical portion of surgery was calculated as a percentage of total beginning operative time. Univariate logistic regression was used to assess the impact of incremental 1% increases in the duration of overlap within the whole population and patients with beginning overlap. Subsequently, univariate analysis was used to compare exact matched patients with the least (bottom 40%) and most amounts of overlap (100% beginning overlap). Coarsened exact matching was used to match patients on key demographic factors, as well as attending surgeon. Significance was set at a P-value < .05.

RESULTS

Increased duration of beginning overlap was associated with a decrease in 30-d ED visit (P = .03) within all patients with beginning overlap, but not within the whole population undergoing lumbar fusion. Duration of beginning overlap was not associated with any other short-term morbidity or mortality outcome in either the whole population or patients with beginning overlap.

CONCLUSION

Increased duration of overlap before the critical step of surgery does not predict adverse short-term outcomes after single-level, posterior-only lumbar fusion.