bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and Safety of Gegen Qinlian Decoction for Pediatric Diarrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Dan , Bi Chao-Ran , Jiang Hai-Yan , Li Yi-Jing , Zhang Wen-Ping , Liu Yuan , Liu Yan-Jing
Published: September 2022

Objective. To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Gegen Qinlian decoction in the treatment of pediatric diarrhea. Methods. A search for relevant RCTs was performed from which a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. This meta-analysis was registered at INPLASY (reference number ID: INPLASY202180105). Results. (1) Eleven trials involving 1126 patients were included in the meta-analysis. (2) Two trials recorded the adverse events. (3) The meta-analysis showed that compared with the control group, the experimental group has a significantly shorter duration of diarrhea in children (MD = −18.64, 95% CI (−23.76, −13.52),

P
<
0.00001

), duration of fever (MD = −19.43, 95% CI (−25.76, −13.11),

P
<
0.00001

), duration of vomiting [MD = −22.51, 95% CI (−29.92, −15.09),

P
<
0.00001

], duration of correcting dehydration (MD = −23.35, 95% CI (−35.48, −11.22),

P
=
0.0002

), and the effective rate (OR = 4.64, 95% CI (3.12, 6.90),

P
<
0.00001

). Conclusion. There were significant differences in the clinical efficacy in the treatment of pediatric diarrhea between the experimental and control groups. Thus, Gegen Qinlian decoction may have certain advantages in the treatment of pediatric diarrhea. In addition, we conclude the following: (1) the application of Gegen Qinlian decoction to treat this disease is recommended for >5 days. (2) We recommend conducting multicenter RCTs to avoid the impact of regional differences on the results. (3) We recommend using the unmodified Gegen Qinlian decoction, which may have better efficacy.
Tooth Root Bending Fatigue Performance of Shot Peening TM210A Steel Spur Gear
Authors: Xu H. J. , Yin Guang-Qiang , Tong X. Y. , Lv S. L.
Published: September 2022

Tooth root bending fatigue performance is the primary consideration in gear design. To investigate the difference between the tooth root fatigue performances of shot peened and base material, TM210A steel gears and double-tooth pulsating bending fatigue experiment with a stress ratio of 0.05 was carried out on the experimental gears by the group method and the staircase method. The fatigue life of experimental gears with different stress levels and the conditional fatigue limit under 1 × 107 cycles were obtained, and the S-N curves were fitted by the double-weighted least squares method. The tooth root residual stress of the shot peened gear was measured by the X-ray diffraction method, the stress field at the tooth root was calculated by the finite element method, and the fatigue failure mechanism of the shot peened gear tooth root was analyzed. The results show that shot peening can significantly enhance the tooth root bending fatigue life and strength of TM210A steel gear, and the tooth root bending fatigue limit of shot peened gear is about 2.18 times that of base material gear. The residual stress generated by shot peening keeps the fatigue source away from the tooth root surface, and the smaller the external load stress, the farther the fatigue source is from the surface, and the smaller the range where the fatigue source can occur.
Explore and Analyze the Composition and Characteristics of Intestinal Microbiota between Gastric Cancer Patients and Healthy People
Authors: He Fang , Wang Fang , Yang Jiali , Yang Shaoqi
Published: September 2022

Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world. As the intestine is downstream of the digestive tract, the occurrence of gastric cancer may have a certain significant impact on it. Therefore, it is particularly important to find out the intestinal bacteria closely related to gastric cancer, to identify the specific flora related to gastric cancer, and to maintain the stability of the core structure of intestinal microecology in patients with gastric cancer. Based on this, the fecal samples of gastric cancer patients and healthy people were collected, and the diversity and composition of intestinal flora in patients with gastric cancer were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing technology. We found that there was no significant difference in the diversity and abundance of intestinal flora between gastric cancer patients and healthy people. The relative abundance of Faecalibacterium, Bifidobacterium, and Subdoligranulum in the intestinal tract of patients with gastric cancer was significantly lower than that in healthy people, while the relative abundance of Enterococcus, Streptococcus, and Bacteroides was increased. This study found that there were six kinds of intestinal microflora closely related to the occurrence of gastric cancer, which provided a theoretical basis for further exploring the pathogenesis of gastric cancer.
Parental Involvement Status in Their Children’s Learning: Selam Primary School of Woldia Town, Ethiopia
Authors: Abraha Mollaw
Published: September 2022

The study aimed to examine to what extent parents participated in their children’s learning. It focused on how the Selam elementary school inspired to involve families in the children’s schooling. To realize this, the researcher used grounded theory as the design of the study. Parents and teachers were involved in the study purposively, and school principals participated in the study comprehensively. The study used an interview and focus group discussion as data gathering tools. The gathered data were analyzed by using open, axial, and selective coding approaches. And the findings indicated how most parents went to school only when their children scored low academically and misbehaved; teachers had discussions with parents of misbehaved and academically weak learners. The outputs also showed that the school was ineffective in mobilizing parents in the school and learners’ learning initiatives. So, parents have to prioritize their children’s instructional process; teachers need to involve caregivers in the instructional process regularly by designing a communication plan with appropriate means of interaction. The school also has to work on how teachers and parents tackle students’ instructional problems by working together regularly.
Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of National Traditional Sports Cultural Heritage Based on Feature Clustering and Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Wang Xuefeng , Liu Zhewei
Published: September 2022

The development of three-dimensional reconstruction technology with cultural heritage in traditional sports allows an accurate portrayal of this aspect of life. Cultural heritage can be documented, recovered, and shown with the tools and techniques. It is an important aspect of self-determination and the ability of marginalized groups to engage in social and cultural life fully. The most challenging aspects of national cultural sports heritage in reconstruction, including armed conflict and war, improper disposal, pollution, poaching, natural disasters, and destruction of heritage sites, have been determined. This article introduces (SCH-AI) new technology for sports cultural heritage (SCH), which develops an improved artificial intelligence (AI) that helps reduce armed conflict and war and promotes tolerance toward religions and people. Athletics improves by bringing individuals together in a social and economic context. Sports engagement boosts community health and productivity. When a clustering algorithm is used, it analyses the data that were provided identifying organic clusters or patterns in the space of features. Clustering is the process of dividing data into distinct subsets. The scenario depicts a strength and conditioning coach who wishes to establish alternative training in sports regimens for players with varying refinement sprint timing. The research of SCH-AI has many advantages; accessing traditional games is regarded as the ideal platform for promoting peace, harmony, and cultural heritage preservation. Sports are also part of the steps to recognize and preserve the rights of people, and it is the protection of their cultural legacy. Cultural heritage gives users a sense of belonging and harmony within a community and a greater understanding of earlier generations and their history.
Feasibility of Economic Forecasting Model Based on Intelligent Algorithm of Smart City
Authors: He Yongting , Li XiaoKe
Published: September 2022

Smart cities make better use of space and have less traffic, cleaner air, and more efficient municipal services, improving people’s quality of life. The vast number of vehicles continually seeking to reach crowded spots in smart cities complicates acquiring a public parking space. It presents challenges for both traffic and residents. With such vast populations, road congestion is a serious challenge. It wastes vital resources such as fuel, money, and, most importantly, time. Finding a good location to park is one of the reasons for traffic congestion on the highway. This paper proposes a deep learning-based economic forecasting model (DL-EFM) for long-term economic growth in smart cities. Traffic management is vital for cities to guarantee that people and products can move freely across the city. Many automobiles attempting to reach crowded areas in smart cities make getting a public parking place difficult. It is inconvenient for both drivers and residents. Different traffic management authorities have implemented an artificial neural network (ANN) to resolve the issue, and modern vehicle systems have been coupled with intelligent parking solutions. The experimental outcome of the deep learning-based economic forecasting model improves traffic estimation, accuracy prediction in traffic flow, traffic management, and smart parking when compared to existing methods.
Electrochemical Detection of H2O2 on Graphene Nanoribbons/Cobalt Oxide Nanorods‐Modified Electrode
Authors: Murugan Preethika , Sundramoorthy Ashok K. , Nagarajan Ramila D. , Atchudan Raji , Shanmugam Rajeshkumar , Ganapathy Dhanraj , Arya Sandeep , Alothman Asma A. , Ouladsmane Mohamed
Published: September 2022

The most important biological changes which have to be monitored is the mechanism of ageing in the human body where the mitochondria play a major role. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is one of the important markers for the reactive oxygen species (ROS), which denatures the protein and DNA, that was the main contributory factor of ageing. So, it is very important to monitor H2O2 levels in the biological samples. Herein, we reported the preparation of 1D graphene nanoribbon/cobalt oxide nanorod (GNR/Co3O4) based nanocomposite‐modified electrochemical sensor for H2O2. Firstly, GNR was synthesized by oxidative unzipping of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Secondly, cobalt oxide nanorods (Co3O4) were grown onto GNR by a chemical reduction process. As‐prepared nanocomposite was characterized by UV‐Visible spectroscopy (UV‐Vis) and HR‐TEM. Electrochemical properties of GNR/Co3O4‐coated electrode were studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) which showed two redox peaks at 0.93 and 0.88 V in phosphate buffer solution. Next, the electrocatalytic activity of GNR/Co3O4‐coated electrode was studied against H2O2 oxidation. The electrochemical studies revealed that GNR/Co3O4‐coated electrode exhibited high electrocatalytic activity for H2O2 oxidation at 0.925 V. This sensor showed a linear response for H2O2 oxidation from 10 to 200 μM. The limit of detection (LOD) was calculated to be 1.27 μM. The selectivity of the sensor was also studied with other biomolecules associated in the human body, and the results showed that interference effect is negligible. Thus, the proposed GNR/Co3O4‐modified electrode can be used for H2O2 detection with excellent stability and selectivity.
Preclinical and Clinical Efficacy of Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Breast Cancer Brain Metastases
Authors: Kabraji Sheheryar , Ni Jing , Sammons Sarah , Li Tianyu , Van Swearingen Amanda E.D. , Wang Yanzhi , Pereslete Alyssa , Hsu Liangge , DiPiro Pamela J. , Lascola Chris , Moore Heather , Hughes Melissa , Raghavendra Akshara S. , Gule-Monroe Maria , Murthy Rashmi K. , Winer Eric P. , Anders Carey K. , Zhao Jean J. , Lin Nancy U.
Published: September 2022

Purpose:

Brain metastases can occur in up to 50% of patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. Because patients with active brain metastases were excluded from previous pivotal clinical trials, the central nervous system (CNS) activity of the antibody–drug conjugate trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) is not well characterized.

Experimental Design:

We studied how T-DXd affects growth and overall survival in orthotopic patient-derived xenografts (PDX) of HER2-positive and HER2-low breast cancer brain metastases (BCBM). Separately, we evaluated the effects of T-DXd in a retrospective cohort study of 17 patients with stable or active brain metastases.

Results:

T-DXd inhibited tumor growth and prolonged survival in orthotopic PDX models of HER2-positive (IHC 3+) and HER2-low (IHC 2+/FISH ratio < 2) BCBMs. T-DXd reduced tumor size and prolonged survival in a T-DM1–resistant HER2-positive BCBM PDX model. In a retrospective multi-institutional cohort study of 17 patients with predominantly HER2-positive BCBMs, the CNS objective response rate (ORR) was 73% (11/15) while extracranial response rate was 45% (5/11). In the subset of patients with untreated or progressive BCBM at baseline, the CNS ORR was 70% (7/10). The median time on treatment with T-DXd was 8.9 (1.3–16.2) months, with 42% (7/17) remaining on treatment at data cutoff.

Conclusions:

T-DXd demonstrates evidence of CNS activity in HER2-positive and HER2-low PDX models of BCBM and preliminary evidence of clinical efficacy in a multi-institution case series of patients with BCBM. Prospective clinical trials to further evaluate CNS activity of T-DXd in patients with active brain metastases are warranted.

See related commentary by Soffietti and Pellerino, p. 8
Circulating Tumor and Immune Cells for Minimally Invasive Risk Stratification of Smoldering Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Termini Rosalinda , Žihala David , Terpos Evangelos , Perez-Montaña Albert , Jelínek Tomáš , Raab Marc , Weinhold Niels , Mai Elias K. , Grab Anna Luise , Corre Jill , Vergez Francois , Sacco Antonio , Chiarini Marco , Giustini Viviana , Tucci Alessandra , Rodriguez Sara , Moreno Cristina , Perez Cristina , Maia Catarina , Martín-Sánchez Esperanza , Guerrero Camilla , Botta Cirino , Garces Juan-Jose , Lopez Aitziber , Tamariz-Amador Luis-Esteban , Prosper Felipe , Bargay Joan , Cabezudo Maria-Elena , Ocio Enrique M. , Hájek Roman , Martinez-Lopez Joaquin , Solano Fernando , Iglesias Rebeca , Paiva Artur , Geraldes Catarina , Vitoria Helena , Gomez Clara , De Arriba Felipe , Ludwig Heinz , Garcia-Guiñon Antoni , Casanova Maria , Alegre Adrian , Cabañas Valentin , Sirvent Maialen , Oriol Albert , de la Rubia Javier , Hernández-Rivas José-Ángel , Palomera Luis , Sarasa Maria , Rios Pablo , Puig Noemi , Mateos Maria-Victoria , Flores-Montero Juan , Orfao Alberto , Goldschmidt Hartmut , Avet-Loiseau Hervé , Roccaro Aldo M. , San-Miguel Jesus F. , Paiva Bruno ,   on behalf of the PETHEMA/GEM and iMMunocell Cooperative Groups
Published: September 2022

Purpose:

Early intervention in smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) requires optimal risk stratification to avoid under- and overtreatment. We hypothesized that replacing bone marrow (BM) plasma cells (PC) for circulating tumor cells (CTC), and adding immune biomarkers in peripheral blood (PB) for the identification of patients at risk of progression due to lost immune surveillance, could improve the International Myeloma Working Group 20/2/20 model.

Experimental Design:

We report the outcomes of 150 patients with SMM enrolled in the iMMunocell study, in which serial assessment of tumor and immune cells in PB was performed every 6 months for a period of 3 years since enrollment.

Results:

Patients with >0.015% versus ≤0.015% CTCs at baseline had a median time-to-progression of 17 months versus not reached (HR, 4.9; P < 0.001). Presence of >20% BM PCs had no prognostic value in a multivariate analysis that included serum free light-chain ratio >20, >2 g/dL M-protein, and >0.015% CTCs. The 20/2/20 and 20/2/0.015 models yielded similar risk stratification (C-index of 0.76 and 0.78). The combination of the 20/2/0.015 model with an immune risk score based on the percentages of SLAN+ and SLAN− nonclassical monocytes, CD69+HLADR+ cytotoxic NK cells, and CD4+CXCR3+ stem central memory T cells, allowed patient’ stratification into low, intermediate-low, intermediate-high, and high-risk disease with 0%, 20%, 39%, and 73% rates of progression at 2 years.

Conclusions:

This study showed that CTCs outperform BM PCs for assessing tumor burden. Additional analysis in larger series are needed to define a consensus cutoff of CTCs for minimally invasive stratification of SMM.
The Safety and Efficacy of Clonidine in Hemodialysis Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Derk Gwendolyn , Barton Amy , An Ruopeng , Fang Hsin-Yu , Ashrafi Sadia Anjum , Wilund Ken
Published: September 2022

Background: Clonidine is a frequently prescribed long-term antihypertensive medication in hemodialysis (HD) patients in the USA, but its safety and efficacy has not been clearly established in the HD population. Objective: To evaluate, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the safety and efficacy of clonidine in HD patients. Methods: Keyword search of “clonidine” and “dialysis” was conducted through April 2021 in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases. Inclusion criteria were as follows – study design: randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, prospective studies, retrospective studies, or case series; subjects: adult HD patients; main outcome: blood pressure (BP) and safety; language: English; and article type: peer-reviewed publications. Studies that examined the effects of clonidine in populations other than adult HD patients were excluded. Meta-analysis was performed on BP reduction outcomes. Results: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review, including prospective pre-post studies (2), double-blind controlled trial (1), single-blinded placebo-controlled trial (1), crossover open-label clinical trial (1), retrospective analysis (1), and case report series (2). Three studies included in the meta-analysis ranged from 2 to 12 weeks duration, with a collective sample size of 24 (ages 12–77 years). Risk of bias, assessed using the ROBINS-1 tool, was high for all included studies. Significant adverse effects reported included hypotension, light-headedness, drowsiness, dry mouth, rebound hypertension, and contact dermatitis from patch application. Short-term clonidine use was associated with significant improvement in systolic BP (pooled effect: −12.985 mm Hg, 95% CI [−7.878, −18.092], p < 0.001), while changes in diastolic BP were not statistically significant (−11.119 mm Hg, 95% CI [−22.725, 0.487], p = 0.060). No data currently support the long-term efficacy of clonidine in HD patients. This study was unfunded and was developed using PRISMA guidelines and registered on PROSPERO (CRD42018112042). Conclusions: There is no evidence supporting the long-term use of clonidine in the HD population and a significant side-effect profile. There is low-quality evidence demonstrating the efficacy of clonidine in lowering BP in HD patients in short-term use, but significant safety concerns remain. Fluid removal strategies and other antihypertensives should be used over clonidine for long-term BP control in the HD population.
Impact of COVID-19 before and after 2020 on Retinal Detachment Management in a Tertiary Eye Hospital in Germany
Authors: Weber Constance , Stasik Isabel , Holz Frank G. , Liegl Raffael
Published: September 2022

Introduction: COVID-19 has had a tremendous impact on our everyday life. A growing body of evidence indicates that subsequent lockdowns and fear of exposure may have impacted patient care. We analyzed data on incidence and time to surgery in cases of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRD) at three defined time points before, during, and 1 year after the first lockdown period in Germany. Methods: In this single-center study, we identified all patients who were admitted and treated for a primary RRD in April and May 2020, the time of the first lockdown period in Germany, and compared them with cases of the same time period in the years 2019 and 2021. The time from first occurrence of symptoms to surgery as well as visual outcome was analyzed. Results: A total of 192 patients presented to our tertiary academic referral center with a RRD during the months of April and May in 2019 (72 patients), 2020 (62 patients), and 2021 (58 patients) and were included in this study. There were no significant differences with regard to gender and age. In 2019, the time interval between occurrence and presentation to our hospital amounted to a mean of 5.96 days and in 2021 to mean of 5.45 days. However, in 2020, the time between occurrence and presentation was significantly longer with a mean of 15.36 days. The number of patients presenting with a macula-on retinal detachment was also lowest in 2020 (39.2%) compared to 2019 (50.7%) and 2021 (50.0%). Furthermore, with 1.24 logMAR the mean BCVA upon initial presentation was lower in 2020 compared to 0.93 logMAR in 2019 and 1.06 logMAR in 2021. Six to twelve weeks following surgery, visual acuity had improved in 56.1% of patients in 2019 and 60.0% of patients in 2021 as compared to 59.0% in 2020. Conclusion: We found significant differences in terms of elapsed time from first symptoms to surgical management for patients in 2020 in comparison with the same time period in 2019 and 2021. Less strict lockdown policies appear to impact patient behavior and patient care. Further measures, such as questionnaires, might help address which measures may provide safer circumstances for patients to consult health care providers in the case of future strict lockdowns.
Risk of Postdischarge Bleeding From Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Among US Black and White Adults
Authors: Heindl Brittain , Clarkson Stephen , Parcha Vibhu , Dillon Chrisly , Narayan Renuka , Usifo Ebikere , Hillegass William , Irvin Marguerite R. , Arora Pankaj , Zhai Guihua , Beasley Mark , Limdi Nita
Published: September 2022

Background

Dual antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention reduces myocardial infarctions but increases bleeding. The risk of bleeding may be higher among Black patients for unknown reasons. Bleeding risk scores have not been validated among Black patients. We assessed the difference in bleeding risk between Black and White patients along with the performance of the Predicting Bleeding Complications in Patients Undergoing Stent Implantation and Subsequent Dual Anti Platelet Therapy, Patterns of Nonadherence to Antiplatelet Regimens in Stented Patients, and Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk scores among both groups.

Methods and Results

This was a single‐center prospective study of patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (2014–2019) and were followed for 1 year. The outcome was postdischarge Bleeding Academic Research Consortium 2 to 5 bleeding. Incidence rates were reported. Cox proportional hazards models measured the effect of self‐reported Black race on bleeding and determined the predictors of bleeding among 19 a priori variables. The 3 risk scores were assessed among Black and White patients separately using the Harrell concordance index. Of 1529 included patients, 342 (22.4%) self‐reported as being Black race. Unadjusted bleeding rates were 22.7 per 100 person‐years among Black patients versus 16.3 among White patients (hazard ratio, 1.41 [95% CI, 1.00–2.00],
P
=0.052). Predictors of bleeding were age, glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min per 1.73 m
2
, prior bleeding, ticagrelor or prasugrel use, and anticoagulant use. Among Black and White patients, respectively, the C‐indexes were the following: 0.644 versus 0.600 for Predicting Bleeding Complications in Patients Undergoing Stent Implantation and Subsequent Dual Anti Platelet Therapy (
P
<0.001 for both), 0.620 versus 0.612 for Patterns of Nonadherence to Antiplatelet Regimens in Stented Patients (
P
=0.003 and
P
<0.001, respectively), and 0.600 versus 0.598 for Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk (
P
=0.006 and
P
<0.001, respectively).

Conclusions

The risk of dual antiplatelet therapy–associated postdischarge Bleeding Academic Research Consortium 2 to 5 bleeding was not significantly different between self‐reported Black and White patients. Bleeding risk scores performed similarly among both groups.
Heterogeneity in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Prevalence Among White, African American, African Immigrant, and Afro‐Caribbean Adults: Insights From the 2010–2018 National Health Interview Survey
Authors: Baptiste Diana‐Lyn , Turkson‐Ocran Ruth‐Alma , Ogungbe Oluwabunmi , Koirala Binu , Francis Lucine , Spaulding Erin M. , Dennison Himmelfarb Cheryl , Commodore‐Mensah Yvonne
Published: September 2022

Background

In the United States, Black adults have higher rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors than White adults. However, it is unclear how CVD risk factors compare between Black ethnic subgroups, including African Americans (AAs), African immigrants (AIs), and Afro‐Caribbeans, and White people. Our objective was to examine trends in CVD risk factors among 3 Black ethnic subgroups and White adults between 2010 and 2018.

Methods and Results

A comparative analysis of the National Health Interview Survey was conducted among 452 997 participants, examining sociodemographic characteristics and trends in 4 self‐reported CVD risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, overweight/obesity, and smoking). Generalized linear models with Poisson distribution were used to obtain predictive probabilities of the CVD risk factors. The sample included 82 635 Black (89% AAs, 5% AIs, and 6% Afro‐Caribbeans) and 370 362 White adults. AIs were the youngest, most educated, and least insured group. AIs had the lowest age‐ and sex‐adjusted prevalence of all 4 CVD risk factors. AAs had the highest prevalence of hypertension (2018: 41.9%) compared with the other groups. Overweight/obesity and diabetes prevalence increased in AAs and White adults from 2010 to 2018 (
P
values for trend <0.001). Smoking prevalence was highest among AAs and White adults, but decreased significantly in these groups between 2010 and 2018 (
P
values for trend <0.001), as compared with AIs and Afro‐Caribbeans.

Conclusions

We observed significant heterogeneity in CVD risk factors among 3 Black ethnic subgroups compared with White adults. There were disparities (among AAs) and advantages (among AIs and Afro‐Caribbeans) in CVD risk factors, suggesting that race alone does not account for disparities in CVD risk factors.
Housekeeping Proteins Exhibit a High Level of Expression Variability Within Control Group and Between Ischemic Human Heart Biopsies
Authors: Colombe Anne‐Sophie , Gerbaud Pascale , Benitah Jean‐Pierre , Pidoux Guillaume
Published: September 2022

Background

Human cardiac biopsies are widely used in clinical and fundamental research to decipher molecular events that characterize cardiac physiological and pathophysiological states. One of the main approaches relies on the analysis of semiquantitative immunoblots that reveals alterations in protein expression levels occurring in diseased hearts. To maintain semiquantitative results, expression level of target proteins must be standardized. The expression of HKP (housekeeping proteins) is commonly used to this purpose.

Methods and Results

We evaluated the stability of HKP expression (actin, β‐tubulin, GAPDH, vinculin, and calsequestrin) and total protein staining within control (coefficient of variation) and comparatively with ischemic human heart biopsies (
P
value). All HKP exhibited a high level of intragroup (ie, actin, β‐tubulin, and GAPDH) and/or intergroup variability (ie, GAPDH, vinculin, and calsequestrin). Among all, we found total protein staining to exhibit the highest degree of stability within and between groups, which makes this reference the best to study protein expression level in human biopsies from ischemic hearts and age‐matched controls. In addition, we illustrated that using an inappropriate reference protein marker misleads interpretation on SERCA2 (sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca
2+
ATPase) and cMyBPC (cardiac myosin binding protein‐C) expression level after myocardial infarction.

Conclusions

These reemphasize the need to standardize the level of protein expression with total protein staining in comparative immunoblot studies on human samples from control and diseased hearts.
Highly Visible Wall‐Timer to Reduce Endovascular Treatment Time for Stroke
Authors: Khazaal Ossama , Cox Mougnyan , Grodinsky Emily , Dawod Judy , Cristancho Daniel , Atsina Kofi‐Buaku , Ji Jonathan Y. , Neuhaus‐Booth Elizabeth , Ramchand Preethi , Pukenas Bryan A. , Kung David , Hurst Robert , Choudhri Omar , Burkhardt Jan‐Karl , Kasner Scott E. , Favilla Christopher G.
Published: September 2022

Background

Endovascular therapy for acute ischemic stroke has revolutionized clinical care for patients with stroke and large vessel occlusion, but treatment remains time sensitive. At our stroke center, up to half of the door‐to‐groin time is accounted for after the patient arrives in the angio‐suite. Here, we apply the concept of a highly visible timer in the angio‐suite to quantify the impact on endovascular treatment time.

Methods

This was a single‐center prospective pseudorandomized study conducted over a 32‐week period. Pseudorandomization was achieved by turning the timer on and off in 2‐week intervals. The primary outcome was angio‐suite‐to‐groin time, and secondary outcomes were angio‐suite‐to‐intubation time, groin‐to‐recanalization time, and 90‐day modified Rankin scale. A stratified analysis was performed based on type of anesthesia (ie, endotracheal intubation versus not).

Results

During the 32‐week study period, 97 mechanical thrombectomies were performed. The timer was on and off for 38 and 59 cases, respectively. The timer resulted in faster angio‐suite‐to‐groin time (28 versus 33 minutes;
P
=0.02). The 5‐minute reduction in angio‐suite‐to‐groin was maintained after adjusting for intubation status in a multivariate regression (
P
=0.02). There was no difference in the 90‐day modified Rankin scale between groups. The timer impact was consistent across the 32‐week study period.

Conclusions

A highly visible timer in the angio‐suite achieved a meaningful, albeit modest, reduction in endovascular treatment time for patients with stroke. Given the lack of risk and low cost, it is reasonable for stroke centers to consider a highly visible timer in the angio‐suite to improve treatment times.
Gaining, Losing, and Regaining Merit-based Scholarships
Authors: Ribar David C. , Rubenstein Ross
Published: September 2022

Georgia offers two merit-based scholarships to in-state college students: HOPE Scholarships, which provide partial tuition support, and Zell Miller Scholarships, which provide full tuition support but with stricter eligibility and retention conditions. Studies have examined retention of these scholarships but not other dynamics, including gaining HOPE Scholarships if students enter without them and follow-on transitions after students initially lose or gain a scholarship. This study uses Fall 2013 to Spring 2019 administrative data from 26 University System of Georgia institutions to estimate multivariate hazard models of (a) losing an entering Zell Miller Scholarship, (b) losing an entering HOPE Scholarship, (c) gaining a HOPE Scholarship after matriculating without one, (d) regaining a scholarship, and (e) losing a non-entering scholarship. Many students change their scholarship status—hazard analyses predict that 25 percent of entering Zell Miller Scholarship students lose their scholarships by their 90th credit hour, 42 percent of entering HOPE Scholarship students lose their scholarship by their 90th credit hour, and 27 percent of students who enter without a scholarship gain one. Students of color, students with economic disadvantages, and men are more likely to lose scholarships and less likely to gain scholarships. These dynamics compound inequalities in initial scholarship receipt.
College Football Performance, Student Earnings, and the Gender Wage Gap
Authors: Carney Monica Harber
Published: September 2022

Fluctuations in U.S. college football team performance have been shown to have impacts on the student experience. This study explores the long-run implications, examining the impact of college football team performance relative to the period of student attendance on future earnings. Better college football team performance during the early years of school attendance increases average wages of male students, but does not impact female wages. Supplemental evidence suggests that positive shocks to student social networks may partly explain the positive impact on earnings. Better team performance near the time of graduation increases average wages for both men and women.
College Gap Time and Academic Outcomes for Women: Evidence from Missionaries
Authors: Marchant Margaret , Wikle Jocelyn S.
Published: September 2022

This study leverages a policy change in the missionary program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that exogenously influenced the likelihood that a woman took gap time during college to understand how gap time influences women's subsequent choice of major and academic outcomes. If structured gap time shapes educational outcomes, increasing the uptake of gap time by women may be a mechanism to ameliorate later wage gaps. Using administrative data from Brigham Young University (N = 17,402) and an instrumental variables estimation strategy, we find that women who take gap time for missionary service shift into majors with higher expected salaries and are more likely to be in limited-enrollment majors and majors with a higher concentration of men. However, gap time decreases the likelihood of graduating within eight years of entering college, creating tension between the costs and benefits. On average, net benefits of expected wages are close to zero. Gap time most clearly benefits women with relatively low ACT scores who are more likely to be accepted into limited enrollment programs following gap time. This research informs university administrators and students alike seeking to understand the academic implications of taking planned time off during postsecondary education.
Chinese Immigrant Parents’ Attitudes, Expectations and Practices regarding Their Children’s Chinese Language Maintenance
Authors: Shen Chunxuan , Jiang Wenying
Published: September 2022

This study investigates the attitudes, expectations and reported practices of Chinese immigrant parents with respect to their children’s Chinese language maintenance in Brisbane, Australia. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews with 30 parents. The study found that these parents unanimously agreed on the benefits of maintaining the Chinese language for their children. However, their positive attitudes were neither fully reflected in their expectations nor enacted in their practices. Parental expectations of their children’s Chinese proficiency were not very high, with only four parents hoping that their children would acquire both oracy and literacy in Chinese. Home practices of cultivating Chinese literacy were largely lacking. Our findings suggest that future improvement of Chinese LOTE programs in Australian schools would induce Chinese parents to make more effort in promoting heritage language practices among their children, particularly literacy-related language practices at home.
The Declaration of Sentiments: The Theological Testament of Arminius
Authors: Skevington Wood A.
Published: September 2022

The essence of Arminius’s teaching is contained in his last apologia, The Declaration of Sentiments. The circumstances leading up to its presentation are outlined before the contents are closely examined. A lengthy introduction is followed by nine major sections covering aspects of Christian doctrine under discussion in seventeenth-century Holland and elsewhere. Since it was the principal item under review at the time in the Reformed Church, much of the Declaration is taken up with the matter of predestination and the lapsarian controversy concerning the relationship between election/reprobation and the fall of man. As the issues raised are the subject of continuing debate, an account of how Arminius himself expressed his convictions may serve the interests of clarification.
Apostasy: Some Logical Reflections
Authors: Cook Robert R.
Published: September 2022

As a simple exercise in philosophical theology this article challenges on rational grounds three common assumptions found amongst scholars regarding the matter of Christian apostasy. These assumptions are firstly that, to be internally consistent, non-Calvinist theologies of an Arminian or Wesleyan persuasion must maintain the possibility of Christian apostasy. Secondly, that the Calvinist theological system with its doctrine of unconditional election should provide greater assurance of salvation than non-Calvinism. And thirdly, that scriptural warnings about the dire consequences of apostasy are best understood as merely hypothetical.
The Christian and the Environment: Prophet, Priest and King
Authors: Williams David T.
Published: September 2022

While the deterioration of the environment is a growing concern, people need to be motivated to take action. While Christianity has been accused of causing ecological damage, Christians rather need a theology of ecological action; this is found in the traditional ‘office’ of Christ. In imitation of their Lord, Christians should act as prophets, making the need known and demanding action, and providing an example of a correct lifestyle. They should act as priests, in sacrifice for the environment, and even ministering to its needs. They should act as kings, seeking harmony between humanity and the world. Such actions are prefigured in the primal environment of peace and harmony.
God, Eternity and Time — An Essay in Review of Alan G. Padgett, God, Eternity and the Nature of Time
Authors: Braine David
Published: September 2022

The reviewer commends Alan Padgett, God, Eternity and the Nature of Time, as an important reference book on its subject. He criticises the author for his rejection of the traditional view of eternity in favour of the view that there is temporal successiveness in the life of God, and enters into dialogue with his comments on the reviewer's own work.
The Teaching of Luther and Calvin about Ordinary Work: 1. Martin Luther (1483-1546)
Authors: Hart Ian
Published: September 2022

In the author’s experience sermons today rarely offer Christians any aching or guidance about ordinary daily work, which in fact takes p the greater part of their time, energies and thinking. It was not ways so. Luther, Calvin and the Puritan preachers spoke and wrote about the Christian's work regularly, comprehensively and perceptively. In these three articles their main emphases are summarised. Ordinary work is in fact the service of God; in some way it must serve one’s neighbour; it is to be regarded as one’s ‘calling’, and all jobs are of equal value in God’s sight; each person’s skills are their ‘spiritual gifts’; and work must be done with honesty and fairness to others.
Conservative Constructionist: The Early Influence of Billy Graham in Britain
Authors: Randall Ian M.
Published: September 2022

A major influence on the development of evangelicalism in post-war Britain was the work of Billy Graham. It raised the level of confidence among British evangelicals, creating fresh links among them and strengthening their unity. It created a greater sense of urgency for evangelism with a consequent increase in activism. The heirs of Billy Graham’s evangelicalism constitute the mainstream of British evangelicalism.
Jesus’ Paradigm for Relating Human Experience and Language about God
Authors: Deddo Gary W.
Published: September 2022

The essay provides sustained theological reflection on Jesus’ command to ‛call no one father’ (Mt. 23), the assumption regarding the nature of human experience, and the paradigm utilized for relating it to our language about God. This approach is contrasted with contemporary arguments which conclude that reference to God as Father ought to be restricted or even eliminated.

While recognizing the necessity of taking seriously our broken human experience, these two options represent two distinct and incompatible approaches: one theocentric, the other anthropocentric. The anthropocentric approach is held to be ultimately neither compassionate, hopeful or healing. Furthermore, it undermines the validity not only of traditional Christian speech but also of any religious or philosophical language about God.

By contrast, Jesus offers us not just a command, but a theocentric approach which enables us to speak faithfully about God and which promises us a healing of mind, heart and life.
Piecing Together Paul’s Life: A Review Article
Authors: Wenham David
Published: September 2022

The article summarises the argument of R. Riesner’s new book on the chronology of the early life of Paul and relates it to other work in the same area by G. Lüdemann, R. A. Martin and N. Taylor. Riesner in effect defends a traditional chronology but with new arguments and powerfully attacks the reconstruction offered by Lüdemann. He does not discuss the significance of Antioch in detail, and the article explores this point briefly. Riesner’s rehabilitation of the Book of Acts as a historical source deserves serious consideration.
Clarification of morphology and distribution of Thalictrum fortunei (Ranunculaceae) from China, with reduction of T. fortunei var. bulbiliferum to its synonymy
Authors: ZENG YOU-PAI , YUAN QIONG , YANG QIN-ER
Published: September 2022

Critical observations on herbarium specimens and studies of living plants in the wild and in cultivation demonstrate that plants of Thalictrum fortunei with bulbils borne in leaf axils do not deserve recognition as an independent variety, i.e. T. fortunei var. bulbiliferum, with bulbils frequently occurring in late flowering and fruiting plants of this species. We therefore reduce T. fortunei var. bulbiliferum to the synonymy of T. fortunei. The description of hairiness is added for this species, which has been previously described as glabrous throughout. Morphological and geographical confusion involving T. fargesii and T. fortunei is also clarified.
Ternstroemia guerrerensis (Pentaphylacaceae), a new endangered cloud forest tree from Guerrero, Mexico
Authors: ALCÁNTARA-AYALA OTHÓN , MARADIAGA-CECEÑA FRANCISCO S. , LUNA-VEGA ISOLDA , ALVARADO-SIZZO HERNÁN
Published: September 2022

A new species of Ternstroemia, T. guerrerensis O. Alcántara-Ayala, I. Luna-Vega, F. S. Maradiaga-Ceceña & H. Alvarado-Sizzo, is molecular, phylogenetically, and morphologically described and illustrated from Guerrero, Mexico. This short tree inhabits disturbed areas of the tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF), with Magnolia vazquezii and different oaks as dominant species in the canopy. This new species is related to T. lineata subsp. lineata, but differs from the latter in the shape and apex of the leaves, peduncle length and color, petiole color, and length of the connective prolongation of the anthers.
A new species of the ghost shrimp genus Callianassa Leach, 1814 (Decapoda: Axiidea: Callianassidae) from Wakasa Bay, western Japan: the first representative of the genus from the Pacific region
Authors: HENMI YUMI , ITANI GYO , OSAWA MASAYUKI , KOMAI TOMOYUKI
Published: September 2022

The ghost shrimp genus Callianassa Leach, 1814 is currently represented by six taxa, of which five are known from the eastern Atlantic and only C. persica Sakai, 2005 from the Persian Gulf. In this study, a new species of Callianassa is described and illustrated on the basis of material from the subtidal soft sediments (at 26–28 m depth) in Wakasa Bay, western Japanese coast of the Sea of Japan. Callianassa ogurai n. sp. is the first species of the genus from the Pacific region. This study discusses characters differentiating the new species and other five congeneric species. Molecular phylogenetic analysis using the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene supports the close relationship between the new species and C. subterranea (Montagu, 1808), warranting the generic assignment of the new species to Callianassa sensu stricto. We also explore the contentious taxonomic status of C. timiris (Sakai, Türkay, Beck & Freiwald, 2015).
Improving Harm Reduction Services: A Qualitative Study on the Perspectives of Highly Marginalized Persons Who Inject Drugs in Montreal
Authors: Poliquin Hélène , Perreault Michel , Villela Guilhon Ana C. , Bertrand Karine
Published: September 2022

Harm reduction (HR) is an alternative to the moralization of drug use and a pragmatic public health approach aimed at minimizing harms associated with use. This study sought to gain the perspectives of persons who inject drugs (PWID) on the adequacy of services provided by HR organizations in Montreal. Twenty-two semi-structured interviews and two focus groups were conducted with 30 participants. Some of the key advantages of HR perceived by participants include access to injection equipment, psychosocial support, and reduced social isolation. However, many wanted more opportunities for social insertion and greater value to be placed on their knowledge and life experiences (e.g., experiential knowledge of the street scene, drug use, sex work, or homelessness). This study suggests that PWID who access HR services in Montreal are interested in paid work opportunities in environments that promote power sharing, and activities that are conducted and managed by and for them.
Counterinsurgency in (un)changing times? Colonialism, hearts and minds, and the war on terror
Authors: Combes deRaismes
Published: September 2022

Counterinsurgencies mostly fail, as the 2021 allied withdrawal from Afghanistan illustrates. Still, confronting insurgencies remains a central component in ongoing counterterror efforts around the world. The crux of counterinsurgency (COIN) centers on winning the ‘hearts and minds’ of noncombatants in order to cut militants off from a needed source of material and psychological support. In practice, however, COIN has failed to leverage a pacified civilian population into a military victory and has instead led to protracted engagements with unclear and contradictory goals. I argue that this policy failure can be explained by rehabilitating the doctrine’s colonial heritage to its contemporary deployment. I do so by tracing the doctrinal origins of COIN to American-led pacification programs in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Using time as a conceptual anchor, I draw on postcolonialism and social theory to unearth how embedded imperialist notions of Self/Other in the doctrine help explain this ongoing failure. A temporal lens augments an analysis of COIN in three respects. First, it illustrates the longevity of counterinsurgency as a geopolitical practice of pacifying ‘disruptive Others’. Second, it reveals a paradox in a doctrine that intimates an end state marked by the absence of those disruptive Others but is designed to constantly seek out disruption. Finally, it lays bare differing motivations for the imperial Self to endure the encounter with the Other in the first place. I conclude by reflecting on the potentially harmful consequences both at home and abroad should the underlying assumptions of COIN remain unexamined.