bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sengstaken–Blakemore tube in critical upper gastrointestinal bleeding: Implications for aeromedical retrieval
Authors: Latona Akmez , Chao Che‐Yung , Bartholdy Roland , Jarvis Christopher
Published: May 2022

Sengstaken–Blakemore tubes (SBTs) are rarely used in Australia, because of improved access to endoscopy and interventional radiology, as well as overall lower rate of variceal haemorrhage from improvements in primary prophylaxis. SBT's use is associated with significant rate of serious complications, such as oesophageal perforation, mucosal necrosis, aspiration pneumonia and respiratory compromise secondary to external compression of the trachea. As such, SBT is currently only recommended for use in life‐threatening variceal haemorrhage, where endoscopic, embolization and pharmacologic therapy have been unsuccessful or are unavailable. No data exist for its use in Australasia but one area that it could be indicated is for hemodynamically unstable patients in remote setting, where long transfer times often means delayed access to endoscopy. We present a case of SBT insertion in retrieval medicine and discuss placement in the management of an unstable upper gastrointestinal bleed, complicating factors such as lack of radiology to confirm balloon position, the impact of flight altitude on balloon pressures, the maintenance of traction in flight and logistics of long flight times across the state of Queensland. This is the first case report of SBT use in the Australian aeromedical environment. It is also the first one where SBT has been used for duodenal bleeding, although the source of bleeding was unknown prior to insertion.
TIGIT/CD47 dual high expression predicts prognosis and is associated with immunotherapy response in lung squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Peng Yue , Qiu Bin , Tan Fengwei , Xu Jiachen , Bie Fenglong , He Huayu , Liu Lei , Tian He , Bai Guangyu , Zhou Bolun , Li Yuan , Huai Qilin , Yang Zhenlin , Gao Shugeng
Published: May 2022

Background

Recent studies indicated that T cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and ITIM domains (TIGIT) and cluster of differentiation 47 (CD47) have emerged as new potential immunotherapy targets. However, the roles of TIGIT and CD47 in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) have not been fully illustrated.

Methods

The specimens and clinicopathological information from 190 LUSC patients who underwent surgeries in our center were retrospectively collected. Immunohistochemical staining for TIGIT and CD47 was conducted. Transcriptional and clinical data of 479 LUSC were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

Results

In the TCGA LUSC cohort, 142 (29.6%) cases were TIGIT/CD47 dual high expression at RNA level. The expression levels of TIGIT and CD47 were significantly correlated (p < 0.001). The proportions of patients with high TIGIT expression (p = 0.001) and high TIGIT/CD47 dual high expression (p = 0.049) were both higher in female cases. Advanced TNM stage (p = 0.006) and TIGIT/CD47 dual high expression (p = 0.047) were independent prognostic factors for LUSC. In the 190 LUSC cohort of our center, 75 (39.5%) cases were TIGIT/CD47 dual high expression at protein level. Cross‐table analysis showed a correlation between TIGIT and CD47 expression. Older age (p = 0.001), advanced TNM stage (p < 0.001) and TIGIT/CD47 dual high expression (p = 0.046) were independent prognostic factors in our cohort.

Conclusion

We found that TIGIT and CD47 dual high expression was associated with poor prognosis in LUSC. We speculated that patients with dual high expression of CD47/TIGIT might be suitable for new target immunotherapy in the future.
Formation of reference groups for archaeological pottery using neutron activation and multivariate statistical analyses
Authors: Badawy Wael M. , Dmitriev Andrey Yu. , Koval Vladimir Yu. , Smirnova Veronica S. , Chepurchenko Olesia E. , Lobachev Valery V. , Belova Maria O. , Galushko Aleksey M.
Published: May 2022

For the first time in Russia, instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and related analytical techniques were used to determine the distribution patterns of elemental composition in archeological pottery in terms of classification and provenance of medieval pottery. A total of 48 fragments have been discovered in three locations; Bolgar, the Moscow Kremlin (MosKremlin), and Selitrennoe settlement (Selitrennoe). The assemblages were subjected to INAA in order to determine the concentrations of 37 elements in mg/kg. The data were analyzed using geochemical, bivariate, and multivariate statistical techniques. To classify the fragments according to their origin hierarchical clustering (HCA), linear discriminant (LDA), and principal component analyses (PCA) were used. Based on the INAA results, the first attempt was made to apply machine learning methods to the study of artifacts in Russia. The results show that they are reliable and powerful in extracting information about critical elements for identifying ceramic fragments and using them as chemical fingerprints. Chromium was the most useful element and was used in conjunction with other elements as a fingerprint to distinguish sherds. Chemical and statistical analyses help to establish of reference groups for medieval archeological pottery, which will be used in the future to classify and identify various unknown sherds. These reference groups serve as baseline data for determining the fragment's place of manufacture and are considered a reasonable judgment based on experimental data.
How we acquire suturing skills for laparoscopic hepaticojejunostomy
Authors: Murakami Masakazu , Yamada Koji , Onishi Shun , Sugita Koshiro , Yano Keisuke , Harumatsu Toshio , Yamada Waka , Matsukubo Makoto , Muto Mitsuru , Kaji Tatsuru , Ieiri Satoshi
Published: May 2022

Laparoscopic choledochal cyst excision and hepaticojejunostomy is a representative surgical procedure requiring laparoscopic suturing including needle driving and knot tying. Laparoscopic needle driving and knot tying is a highly technically demanding skill, especially in small infants and children. We developed a laparoscopic hepaticojejunostomy simulator for training. This simulator was developed for a 1‐year‐old infant body size based on computed tomography data and reproduced a pneumoperitoneum condition based on 3D scanner data of the clinical situation. Surgeon in training (SITs) of our institution have to acquire practice of laparoscopic hepaticojejunostomy using a simulator before performing clinical cases. Thirteen cases of choledochal cyst have been managed at our institution since the introduction of practice using this simulator in 2016. Six SITs performed 13 cases of laparoscopic choledochal cyst excision and hepaticojejunostomy. There were no cases of anastomotic bile leakage. Laparoscopic disease‐specific simulator practice is effective for the acquisition of secure hepaticojejunostomy skills for the treatment of choledochal cysts in children as off‐the‐job training.
Bullying as a Traumatizing Process: An Investigation of the Phenomenology of the Bullying Experiences and their Dynamic Effects
Authors: Cour Sandra Dornonville La , Bonde Birgit , Rosenbaum Bent
Published: May 2022

Bullying has been shown to generate deleterious psychological effects leading to psychosocial, psychological and psychiatric disturbances. Based on qualitative research, the aim of this study is to investigate the internalization and psychodynamics of bullying and the extent to which bullying may fundamentally influence the individual's experience of self and other. We have conducted qualitative interviews with group therapy patients at a psychiatric clinic in Denmark, all of whom had been assigned to therapy due to depression, and all with severe experiences of bullying. Originally this was not the focus of their therapy, but our investigation indicates how different aspects of the patients’ pathology appear to be linked to their prior experiences of bullying. We suggest that bullying may be perceived as a specific type of traumatic experience, and we posit that it may have disruptive effects on the internal self‐other representations, which the individual may have difficulties integrating at the symbolic level.
Lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab in Japanese patients with endometrial cancer: Results from Study 309/KEYNOTE‐775
Authors: Yonemori Kan , Yunokawa Mayu , Ushijima Kimio , Sakata Jun , Shikama Ayumi , Minobe Shinichiro , Usami Tomoka , Enomoto Takayuki , Takehara Kazuhiro , Hasegawa Kosei , Yamagami Wataru , Yamamoto Keiko , Han Shirong , Dutta Lea , Orlowski Robert , Miura Takuma , Makker Vicky , Fujiwara Keiichi
Published: May 2022

Study 309/KEYNOTE‐775 is a phase 3 open‐label, randomized trial of lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab versus treatment of physician's choice (TPC) in patients with advanced endometrial cancer with progression after platinum‐based therapy. Primary endpoints of superiority for lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab were met for progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in all‐comers (ie, regardless of mismatch repair [MMR] status) and patients with MMR proficiency (pMMR). We present results for the Japanese subset. Patients were randomized to oral lenvatinib 20 mg/day plus intravenous pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks (Q3W; up to 35 cycles of pembrolizumab) or TPC (intravenous doxorubicin 60 mg/m2 Q3W or paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 QW [3 weeks on/1 week off]). Primary endpoints were PFS by blinded independent central review per RECIST version 1.1 and OS. One hundred four patients were randomized in Japan (data cutoff, October 26, 2020; median follow‐up, 11.8 [range, 1.1–26.9] months). Hazard ratios (HRs) for PFS with lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab versus TPC were 1.04 (95% CI, 0.63–1.73) in patients with pMMR and 0.81 (0.50–1.31) in all‐comers. Hazard ratios for OS were 0.74 (0.41–1.34) with pMMR and 0.59 (0.33–1.04) for all‐comers. Adverse events were manageable and led to discontinuation of one/both study drugs in 36.5% of patients in the lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab group versus 7.8% in the TPC group. Similar to the global Study 309/KEYNOTE‐775 results, this analysis suggested favorable efficacy and manageable safety with lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab after platinum‐based chemotherapy in Japanese patients with advanced endometrial cancer and supports this combination as a new standard of care in this population.
Constrained Remeshing Using Evolutionary Vertex Optimization
Authors: Zhang Wen‐Xiang , Wang Qi , Guo Jia‐Peng , Chai Shuangming , Liu Ligang , Fu Xiao‐Ming
Published: May 2022

We propose a simple yet effective method to perform surface remeshing with hard constraints, such as bounding approximation errors and ensuring Delaunay conditions. The remeshing is formulated as a constrained optimization problem, where the variables contain the mesh connectivity and the mesh geometry. To solve it effectively, we adopt traditional local operations, including edge split, edge collapse, edge flip, and vertex relocation, to update the variables. Central to our method is an evolutionary vertex optimization algorithm, which is derivative‐free and robust. The feasibility and practicability of our method are demonstrated in two applications, including error‐bounded Delaunay mesh simplification and error‐bounded angle improvement with a given number of vertices, over many models. Compared to state‐of‐the‐art methods, our method achieves higher remeshing quality.
Semantic Segmentation in Art Paintings
Authors: Cohen N. , Newman Y. , Shamir A.
Published: May 2022

Semantic segmentation is a difficult task even when trained in a supervised manner on photographs. In this paper, we tackle the problem of semantic segmentation of artistic paintings, an even more challenging task because of a much larger diversity in colors, textures, and shapes and because there are no ground truth annotations available for segmentation. We propose an unsupervised method for semantic segmentation of paintings using domain adaptation. Our approach creates a training set of pseudo‐paintings in specific artistic styles by using style‐transfer on the PASCAL VOC 2012 dataset, and then applies domain confusion between PASCAL VOC 2012 and real paintings. These two steps build on a new dataset we gathered called DRAM (Diverse Realism in Art Movements) composed of figurative art paintings from four movements, which are highly diverse in pattern, color, and geometry. To segment new paintings, we present a composite multi‐domain adaptation method that trains on each sub‐domain separately and composes their solutions during inference time. Our method provides better segmentation results not only on the specific artistic movements of DRAM, but also on other, unseen ones. We compare our approach to alternative methods and show applications of semantic segmentation in art paintings. The code and models for our approach are publicly available at: https://github.com/Nadavc220/SemanticSegmentationInArtPaintings.
Coupling 3D Liquid Simulation with 2D Wave Propagation for Large Scale Water Surface Animation Using the Equivalent Sources Method
Authors: Schreck Camille , Wojtan Chris
Published: May 2022

This paper proposes a method for simulating liquids in large bodies of water by coupling together a water surface wave simulator with a 3D Navier‐Stokes simulator. The surface wave simulation uses the equivalent sources method (ESM) to efficiently animate large bodies of water with precisely controllable wave propagation behavior. The 3D liquid simulator animates complex non‐linear fluid behaviors like splashes and breaking waves using off‐the‐shelf simulators using FLIP or the level set method with semi‐Lagrangian advection.

We combine the two approaches by using the 3D solver to animate localized non‐linear behaviors, and the 2D wave solver to animate larger regions with linear surface physics. We use the surface motion from the 3D solver as boundary conditions for 2D surface wave simulator, and we use the velocity and surface heights from the 2D surface wave simulator as boundary conditions for the 3D fluid simulation. We also introduce a novel technique for removing visual artifacts caused by numerical errors in 3D fluid solvers: we use experimental data to estimate the artificial dispersion caused by the 3D solver and we then carefully tune the wave speeds of the 2D solver to match it, effectively eliminating any differences in wave behavior across the boundary. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time such a empirically driven error compensation approach has been used to remove coupling errors from a physics simulator.

Our coupled simulation approach leverages the strengths of each simulation technique, animating large environments with seamless transitions between 2D and 3D physics.
Fast and Exact Root Parity for Continuous Collision Detection
Authors: Wang Bolun , Ferguson Zachary , Jiang Xin , Attene Marco , Panozzo Daniele , Schneider Teseo
Published: May 2022

We introduce the firstexactroot parity counter for continuous collision detection (CCD). That is, our algorithm computes the parity (even or odd) of the number of roots of the cubic polynomial arising from a CCD query. We note that the parity is unable to differentiate between zero (no collisions) and the rare case of two roots (collisions).

Our method does not have numerical parameters to tune, has a performance comparable to efficient approximate algorithms, and is exact. We test our approach on a large collection of synthetic tests and real simulations, and we demonstrate that it can be easily integrated into existing simulators.
Fiblets for Real‐Time Rendering of Massive Brain Tractograms
Authors: Schertzer Jérémie , Mercier Corentin , Rousseau Sylvain , Boubekeur Tamy
Published: May 2022

We present a method to render massive brain tractograms in real time. Tractograms model the white matter architecture of the human brain using millions of 3D polylines (fibers), summing up to billions of segments. They are used by neurosurgeons before surgery as well as by researchers to better understand the brain. A typical raw dataset for a single brain represents dozens of gigabytes of data, preventing their interactive rendering. We address this challenge with a new GPU mesh shader pipeline based on a decomposition of the fiber set into compressed local representations that we call fiblets. Their spatial coherence is used at runtime to efficiently cull hidden geometry at the task shader stage while synthesizing the visible ones as polyline meshlets in a warp‐scale parallel fashion at the mesh shader stage. As a result, our pipeline can feed a standard deferred shading engine to visualize the mesostructures of the brain with various classical rendering techniques, as well as simple interaction primitives. We demonstrate that our algorithm provides real‐time framerates on very large tractograms that were out of reach for previous methods while offering a fiber‐level granularity in both rendering and interaction.
N‐Cloth: Predicting 3D Cloth Deformation with Mesh‐Based Networks
Authors: D. Li Y. , Tang M. , Yang Y. , Huang Z. , F. Tong R. , Yang S.C. , Li Y. , Manocha D.
Published: May 2022

We present a novel mesh‐based learning approach (N‐Cloth) for plausible 3D cloth deformation prediction. Our approach is general and can handle cloth or obstacles represented by triangle meshes with arbitrary topologies. We use graph convolution to transform the cloth and object meshes into a latent space to reduce the non‐linearity in the mesh space. Our network can predict the target 3D cloth mesh deformation based on the initial state of the cloth mesh template and the target obstacle mesh. Our approach can handle complex cloth meshes with up to 100K triangles and scenes with various objects corresponding to SMPL humans, non‐SMPL humans or rigid bodies. In practice, our approach can be used to generate plausible cloth simulation at 30 – 45 fps on an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 GPU. We highlight its benefits over prior learning‐based methods and physically‐based cloth simulators.
Seeking Patterns of Visual Pattern Discovery for Knowledge Building
Authors: Andrienko N. , Andrienko G. , Chen S. , Fisher B.
Published: May 2022

Currently, the methodological and technical developments in visual analytics, as well as the existing theories, are not sufficiently grounded by empirical studies that can provide an understanding of the processes of visual data analysis, analytical reasoning and derivation of new knowledge by humans. We conducted an exploratory empirical study in which participants analysed complex and data‐rich visualisations by detecting salient visual patterns, translating them into conceptual information structures and reasoning about those structures to construct an overall understanding of the analysis subject. Eye tracking and voice recording were used to capture this process. We analysed how the data we had collected match several existing theoretical models intended to describe visualisation‐supported reasoning, knowledge building, decision making or use and development of mental models. We found that none of these theoretical models alone is sufficient for describing the processes of visual analysis and knowledge generation that we observed in our experiments, whereas a combination of three particular models could be apposite. We also pondered whether empirical studies like ours can be used to derive implications and recommendations for possible ways to support users of visual analytics systems. Our approaches to designing and conducting the experiments and analysing the empirical data were appropriate to the goals of the study and can be recommended for use in other empirical studies in visual analytics.
Mapping review of interventions to reduce the use of restrictive practices in children and young people's institutional settings: The CONTRAST study
Authors: Baker John , Kendal Sarah , Berzins Kathryn , Canvin Krysia , Branthonne‐Foster Stella , McDougall Tim , Goldson Barry , Kellar Ian , Wright Judy , Duxbury Joy
Published: May 2022

Restrictive practices are often used harmfully with children in institutional settings. Interventions to reduce their use do not appear to have been mapped systematically. Using environmental scanning, we conducted a broad‐scope mapping review of English language academic databases, websites and social media, using systematic methods. Included records (N = 121) were mostly from the United States and contained details of 82 different interventions. Children's participation was limited. Reporting quality was inconsistent, which undermined claims of effectiveness. Overall, despite a multitude of interventions, evidence is limited. Leaders should consider the evidence, including children's perspectives, before introducing poorly understood interventions into children's settings.
A new method for determining relative colour strength of dye based on new colour depth formulas. Part I: For different dyes with approximate hue
Authors: Xie Wanzi , Wang Hongbo , Yang Hongying , Zhang Jingjing , Qi Mengyuan
Published: May 2022

Relative colour strength (RCS) of dye plays an important role in the production, the evaluation and the application of dyes. There are different standards on the determination of it, their principles are all related to colour depth. However, the standard methods have some limitations. For this purpose, this study proposed a new method for the RCS based on the new colour depth formula Yangn, which included three methods named colour strength value (CSV1, CSV2 and CSV3). Part I in this study was to investigate the application effect of Yangn on the RCS of different disperse dyes with approximate hues. According to the experimental results of E‐type and SE‐type disperse dyes, the new method showed its advantages. Firstly, compared with AATCC EP‐6, the results of the new method were more consistent. Secondly, under different dyeing concentrations, the RCS values of the new method were relatively consistent, with average coefficient values (CVs) being less than 5%, especially for CSV3 with only 3.59%; while all the average CVs of AATCC EP‐6 were greater than 6%. For the calculation of RCS of different types of dyes with approximate hue, the new method presented more accurate results.
The Effect of Fast Internet on Employment: Evidence from a Large Broadband Expansion Program in China
Authors: Wang Qing , Xu Wenjing , Huang Yanghua , Yang Jidong
Published: May 2022

Information and communication technology plays an important role in human life and social production. The existing literature has mainly studied the economic impact of such technology in developed countries; the use of broadband in developing countries has been overlooked. This paper fills the gap by examining a broadband development program in China. Difference‐in‐difference estimates show that the deployment of high‐quality broadband promoted regional employment in the skilled service sector. The effect was larger in cities with a greater number of educated residents and cities in the west of China. We also found that broadband development stimulated firm creation and innovation. These findings imply that broadband promotes innovation and provides new impetus to the economic transition of emerging markets.
Flattening the curve: voluntary association participation and the 2013–16 West Africa Ebola epidemic
Authors: Reddy Michelle
Published: May 2022

To what extent does voluntary association participation correlate with reduced Ebola duration in districts of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone during the epidemic in West Africa in 2013–16? This study, the first cross‐national quantitative analysis of Ebola outcomes across these countries, answers this question by investigating how social capital influences epidemic outcomes. Ebola virus disease struck along the borders of three countries with similar levels of human development as well as cultural practices, yet resulted in different outcomes. This study examines the role of social trust, political trust, voluntary association participation, religious organisation membership, and community meeting attendance in explaining international policy failure to reduce Ebola outcomes. Overall, in districts with a culture of raising issues and participating in voluntary and religious organisations, Ebola duration rates were lower. These findings have implications not only for health crisis response, but also for disaster response and the provision of international aid to civil society.
Stable species and interactions in plant–pollinator networks deviate from core position in fragmented habitats
Authors: Ren Peng , Si Xingfeng , Ding Ping
Published: May 2022

Species and their interactions are more dynamic over time and space in fragmented habitats than in continuous habitats. In fragmented habitats, the low nestedness of mutualistic networks may be related to the position change of stable (high persistence over time/space) species and interactions in the networks. Previous studies have shown that stable species and interactions tend to be in the core position of mutualistic networks. However, in fragmented habitats, it remains unknown whether stable species or interactions still tend to be in the core position. To address this gap, here we evaluated the correlation between the position of proximity to the network core and the temporal/spatial stability of species and interactions, using the observation of 42 plant–pollinator networks conducted in a fragmented island landscape over 3 years. We showed that temporally/spatially stable species and interactions deviated from the network core to varying degrees. Temporally stable plants were most likely to deviate from the network core, followed by pollinators and interactions, while only spatially stable pollinators tend to deviate from the network core. When unstable species (present in few time/space points, typically specialists) and interactions occupy the network core, they cannot interact with most species in the network as generalists do, resulting in the decrease of network nestedness. Therefore, from the perspective of position and stability, stable species and interactions deviate from the network core in fragmented habitats, which is an important reason for the decrease of nestedness in mutualistic networks. Our study suggests that protecting plants which occupy the core in large plant–pollinator networks is essential for maintaining the network persistence in fragmented habitats.
Island area and historical geomorphological dynamics shape multifaceted diversity of barrier island floras
Authors: Ferreira‐Arruda Thalita , Guerrero‐Ramírez Nathaly R. , Denelle Pierre , Weigelt Patrick , Kleyer Michael , Kreft Holger
Published: May 2022

The influence of island dynamics and characteristics on taxonomic diversity, particularly species richness, are well studied. Yet, our knowledge on the influence of island dynamics and characteristics on other facets of diversity, namely functional and phylogenetic diversity, is limited, constraining our understanding of assembly processes on islands (e.g. biogeographic history, dispersal and environmental filtering and species interactions). Using barrier islands, a highly dynamic and so far, understudied island type, we investigate how multiple facets of vascular plant diversity (functional, phylogenetic and taxonomic diversity) are shaped by island geomorphology, modern and historic area, and habitat heterogeneity. In line with our expectation, historical dynamics in island geomorphology affected phylogenetic and taxonomic diversity via habitat heterogeneity. However, island area was the best predictor across all facets of diversity. Specifically, larger islands had higher functional and phylogenetic diversity than expected by chance while most of the smaller islands had lower diversity. The influence of area on functional diversity acted via habitat heterogeneity, with habitat heterogeneity influencing negatively functional diversity. Our results suggest that larger islands accumulate functionally and phylogenetically unique species. Further, results for functional diversity pointed towards potential area–heterogeneity trade‐offs, with these trade‐offs likely resulting from increased interspecific competition favoring a specific set of trait values (of stronger competitors), particularly on smaller islands. Together, these results demonstrate that going beyond taxonomic diversity contributes to identifying underlying processes shaping diversity–area relationships.
Contrasting views on the careers of classic professionals: Exploring the careers of physicians
Authors: van Leeuwen Evelien H.
Published: May 2022

Studies into professionals' work show that their autonomy and mobility have decreased. These developments are likely to have implications for the careers of professionals. Despite these developments, the career literature continues to emphasize high mobility and strong individual agency as two core characteristics of contemporary careers. These contrasting views, together with a lack of studies into the careers of professionals, result in unclarity about the careers of professionals. This study explores the career experiences and career characteristics of classic professionals in 38 semi‐structured interviews with physicians. Findings show that physicians' mobility is limited, as changing occupations and moving to other organizations is rare, and that they do not take full responsibility for their careers. These findings contribute to the literature on professionalism and careers by providing contextual knowledge on professionals' careers. This study is relevant for organizations, (HR) managers, and occupational communities wanting to implement tailored career support for professionals.
Association between social deprivation and incidence of first seizures and epilepsy: A prospective population‐based cohort
Authors: Maloney Eimer M. , Corcoran Paul , Costello Daniel J. , O'Reilly Éilis J.
Published: May 2022

Objective

Epidemiologic studies have investigated whether social deprivation is associated with a higher incidence of epilepsy, and results are conflicting, especially in children. The mechanisms underlying a potential association are unclear. This study examines whether there is an association between social deprivation and the incidence of first seizures (unprovoked and provoked) and new diagnosis of epilepsy by comparing incidence across an area‐level measure of deprivation in a population‐based cohort.

Methods

Multiple methods of case identification followed by individual case validation and classification were carried out in a defined geographical area (population 542 868) to identify all incident cases of first provoked and first unprovoked seizures and new diagnosis of epilepsy presenting during the calendar year 2017. An area‐level relative deprivation index, based on 10 indicators from census data, was assigned to each patient according to registered address and categorized into quintiles from most to least deprived.

Results

The annual incidence of first unprovoked seizures (n = 372), first provoked seizures (n = 189), and new diagnosis of epilepsy (n = 336) was highest in the most deprived areas compared to the least deprived areas (incidence ratios of 1.79 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.26–2.52], 1.55 [95% CI = 1.04–2.32], and 1.83 [95% CI = 1.28–2.62], respectively). This finding was evident in both adults and children and in those with structural and unknown etiologies of epilepsy.

Significance

The incidence of first seizures and new diagnosis of epilepsy is associated with more social deprivation. The reason for this higher incidence is likely multifactorial.
Polymorphism ofCaCO3and the variability of elemental composition of the calcareous skeletons secreted by invertebrates along the salinity gradient of the Baltic Sea
Authors: Piwoni‐Piórewicz Anna , Strekopytov Stanislav , Humphreys‐Williams Emma , Najorka Jens , Szymczycha Beata , Kukliński Piotr
Published: May 2022

Biomineralization is of great importance in ecosystem functioning and for the use of carbonate skeleton as environmental proxies. Skeletal formation is controlled to different degrees by environmental parameters and biological mechanisms. While salinity is one of the most important factors affecting ecological processes and ocean physiochemistry, the goal of this investigation was to identify how salinity influences the mineral type and the concentrations of chemical elements in the whole skeleton of invertebrates from the Baltic Sea. In this model system, the surface salinity decreases from marine values (27.2) to almost fresh water (6.1). The selected organisms, mussels (Mytilusspp.), bryozoans (Einhornia crustulenta,Cribrilina cryptooecium,Cryptosula pallasiana,Electra pilosa,Escharella immersa), barnacles (Amphibalanus improvisus,Semibalanus balanoides), and polychaetes (Spirorbis tridentatus), precipitated skeleton composed of calcite and aragonite, most likely as a result of various interacting environmental and biological factors. The concentrations of all elements in bulk skeleton were highly variable between species from the same location, underlining the role of the biological mechanisms in skeletal formation. The concentration of Ca, Mg, Sr, and Na increased in the bulk skeleton of stenohaline organisms with increasing salinity, while in the bulk skeleton of euryhaline species, only the concentration of Na increased with increasing salinity. The concentrations of Mn, Ba, Cu, Pb, Y, V, Cd, and U in the skeleton of euryhaline species generally decreased at higher salinities, most likely reflecting the lower bioavailability of elements at higher salinity. However, the concentrations of elements in the skeleton of stenohaline organisms were highly variable with no clear salinity impact. This study suggests that, although the composition of skeleton of calcifying organisms along the salinity gradient of the Baltic Sea is to a large extent affected by biological mechanisms, it also reflects the responses to environmental conditions.
Gendered labor legacies of authoritarian neoliberalism: Chile's double crisis
Authors: Ipsen Annabel
Published: May 2022

Legacies of Chile's democratic crisis pose challenges for workplace gender equity. This paper brings together scholarly debates on gender regimes and factory regimes to examine the gendered labor practices in a high‐tech, transnational agricultural sector. Specifically, I ask how gender regimes and regulatory practices entrenched in Chile's authoritarian past shape labor dynamics in this industry today. I argue that we must look to the past to understand how firms benefit from unequal social relations embedded in institutions and for identifying mechanisms of change. I document how the neoliberal and authoritarian policies of the democratic crisis in Chile (1973–90) became the baseline conditions in democracy, leaving stark gender and labor inequalities that persist today. The resulting neoliberal pact continues to privilege elites and marginalize the working poor, especially women, contributing to the slow‐brewing inequality crisis that came to a head in 2019. Based on ethnographic observation and semi‐structured interviews in Arica, Chile, a major hub for corn seed development, I show how these legacies enable firms to benefit from Chile's unequal gender relations to develop high‐value products without paying the price associated with the skill needed to produce them. I find that conservative gender norms together with labor relations inherent in Chile's neoliberal model, rooted in a 17‐year dictatorship, create obstacles to efforts to address gender inequality.
Basic relationships between human capital, migration and labour markets in the Western Balkans: An econometric investigation
Authors: Mara Isilda , Landesmann Michael
Published: May 2022

The high outward mobility that characterises the countries in the Western Balkan region—already for three decades—is often seen as tightly linked to labour market imbalances and persistently low utilisation of human capital over time. To shed light on these issues we analysed the effects of labour market determinants and human capital endowment on migration and vice versa by estimating simultaneously a system of equations that accounted for such relationships in the context of WB countries. The period under analysis is 2007–2019 and the destination countries are the EU15. The empirical results confirm the importance of wage gaps and their changes as an important pull factor for driving emigration. In addition, gaps in human capital emerge as a powerful determinant for explaining emigration into countries where returns to human capital are relatively higher.
Notch3 expression in capillary pericytes predicts worse graft outcome in human renal grafts with antibody‐mediated rejection
Authors: Xu‐Dubois Yichun , Kavvadas Panagiotis , Keuylian Zela , Hertig Alexandre , Rondeau Eric , Chatziantoniou Christos
Published: May 2022

Microvasculature consisting of endothelial cells and pericytes is the main site of injury during antibody‐mediated rejection (ABMR) of renal grafts. Little is known about the mechanisms of activation of pericytes in this pathology. We have found recently that activation of Notch3, a mediator of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and dedifferentiation, promotes renal inflammation and fibrosis and aggravates progression of renal disease. Therefore, we studied the pericyte expression of Notch3 in 49 non‐selected renal graft biopsies (32 for clinical cause, 17 for graft surveillance). We analysed its relationship with patients’ clinical and morphological data, and compared with the expression of partial endothelial mesenchymal transition (pEndMT) markers, known to reflect endothelial activation during ABMR. Notch3 was de novo expressed in pericytes of grafts with ABMR, and was significantly correlated with the microcirculation inflammation scores of peritubular capillaritis and glomerulitis and with the expression of pEndMT markers. Notch3 expression was also associated with graft dysfunction and proteinuria at the time of biopsy and in the long term. Multivariate analysis confirmed pericyte expression of Notch3 as an independent risk factor predicting graft loss. These data suggest that Notch3 is activated in the pericytes of renal grafts with ABMR and is associated with poor graft outcome.
Reproductive decision‐making by women with X‐linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia
Authors: Leo B. , Schneider H. , Hammersen J.
Published: May 2022

Background

In X‐linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (XLHED), ectodysplasin A1 (EDA1) deficiency results in malformation of hair, teeth and sweat glands. Lack of sweating which can cause life‐threatening hyperthermia is amenable to intrauterine therapy with recombinant EDA1.

Objectives

This study aimed at evaluating reproductive decision‐making by women with XLHED and at clarifying the potential impact of a prenatal treatment option.

Methods

In a retrospective cross‐sectional analysis, a 75‐item questionnaire filled in by 50 women with XLHED (age 19–49 years) was assessed.

Results

Sixteen women (32%) prevented pregnancies because of the risk to pass on XLHED; 15 considered assisted reproduction for the same reason. Twelve women had a history of miscarriage, stillbirth or abortion, and three women reported on previous abortion of affected fetuses. When imagining to be pregnant, all except one showed interest in prenatal diagnosis of XLHED and in the possibility of treatment before birth. In 13 out of 50 women (26%), XLHED if detected prenatally would have impact on the continuation of pregnancy. Among 35 mothers of at least one affected child, XLHED had rarely been diagnosed during the first pregnancy (17%) but regularly during subsequent pregnancies (77%). Becoming aware of the condition before birth had caused a moral conflict for 50% of these women. Subjects with an affected child less frequently considered assisted reproduction to prevent XLHED (P < 0.05). In 69% of the women who reported an effect of XLHED on family planning, a prenatal treatment option for this disease would influence their decision‐making.

Conclusions

Many pregnant XLHED carriers who seek prenatal diagnosis experience moral conflicts. A prenatal treatment option would have strong impact on reproductive decisions, underlining the importance of adequate professional counselling.
Acute nitrous oxide‐induced neuropathy mimicking Guillain‐Barré syndrome
Authors: Qin Xing , Kang Li , Liu Xiao , Jin Jiaoting , Hu Fangfang , Lu Wenhui , Deng Yongning , Chen Qiao Yi , Dang Jingxia
Published: May 2022

The early clinical features of nitrous oxide (N2O)‐induced neuropathy were mimicking that of Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS). We aimed to explore clinical and laboratory characteristics of N2O‐induced neuropathy in comparison with GBS. We retrospectively reviewed data of 15 patients with N2O‐induced neuropathy and compared them with 15 GBS patients. The age of the N2O‐induced neuropathy group was significantly younger than that in the GBS group (22 ± 5 vs 45 ± 17). Paresthesia was more common in N2O‐induced neuropathy group (100% vs 53.3%). The proportion of distal upper limbs weakness was lower than that in GBS group (20.0% vs 93.3%). There was no significant difference in the distal weakness of the lower limbs (100% vs 80.0%). The incidence of motor conduction block and compound muscle action potential amplitude reduction in upper limbs was lower than that in GBS group (6.7% vs 60.0%; 26.7% vs 80.0%). The sensory nerve action potential amplitude drop in the lower limbs was more severe than that in GBS group (53.3% vs 0). The increase of Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was more pronounced compared to GBS group (96.97 ± 6.00 vs 88.55 ± 5.41). High homocysteine levels were more common in N2O‐related group [29.80(11.60, 70.50) vs 14.35(9.22, 19.30)]. Typical clinical features of the acute N2O neuropathy appears to be a myeloneuropathy, affecting the lower limbs more than the upper limbs, mixed axonal‐demyelinating electrophysiological performance, higher homocysteine level, and larger MCV and common posterior spinal cord involvement in cervical segment.
Severe COVID‐19 in people 55 and older during the first year of the pandemic in Sweden
Authors: Rosengren Annika , Lundberg Christina E. , Söderberg Mia , Santosa Ailiana , Edqvist Jon , Lindgren Martin , Åberg Maria , Gisslén Magnus , Robertson Josefina , Cronie Ottmar , Sattar Naveed , Lagergren Jesper , Brandén Maria , Björk Jonas , Adiels Martin
Published: May 2022

Background

Exposure to many contacts is the main risk factor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection, while risk of serious disease and death is chiefly determined by old age and comorbidities. Relative and population‐attributable fractions (PAFs) of multiple medical and social exposures for COVID‐19 outcomes have not been evaluated among older adults.

Objectives

We describe the effect of multiple exposures on the odds of testing positive for the virus and of severe disease (hospital care or death) and PAFs in Swedish citizens aged 55 years and above.

Methods

We used national registers to follow all citizens aged 55 years and above with respect to (1) testing positive, (2) hospitalization, and (3) death between 31 January 2020 and 1 February 2021.

Results

Of 3,410,241 persons, 156,017 (4.6%, mean age 68.3 years) tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2, while 35,999 (1.1%, mean age 76.7 years) were hospitalized or died (12,384 deaths, 0.4%, mean age 84.0 years). Among the total cohort, the proportion living without home care or long‐term care was 98.8% among persons aged 55–64 and 22.1% of those aged 95 and above. After multiple adjustment, home care and long‐term care were associated with odds ratios of 7.9 (95% confidence interval [CI] 6.8–9.1) and 22.5 (95% CI 19.6–25.7) for mortality, with PAFs of 21.9% (95% CI 20.9–22.9) and 33.3% (95% CI 32.4–34.3), respectively.

Conclusion

Among Swedish residents aged 55 years and above, those with home care or long‐term care had markedly increased risk for COVID‐19 death during the first year of the pandemic, with over 50% of deaths attributable to these factors.
Teachers' Response to Stress, Anxiety and Depression During COVID‐19 Lockdown: What Have We Learned From the Pandemic?
Authors: Lacomba‐Trejo Laura , Schoeps Konstanze , Valero‐Moreno Selene , del Rosario Constanza , Montoya‐Castilla Inmaculada
Published: May 2022

BACKGROUND

As a result of national lockdown due to the COVID‐19 outbreak, teachers were forced to suspend their classes and replace them with online teaching and home schooling. Additional stressors such as competing family responsibility have increased their worries and mental health problems. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of COVID‐19‐related worries on teachers' emotional symptoms, considering the mediating role of several protective factors.

METHODS

A total of 614 Chilean teachers (94.60% women) participated in this study using a cross‐sectional design and incidental sampling method. Self‐report data was collected assessing emotional symptoms, COVID‐19‐related worries, life satisfaction, affect balance, and resilience. Descriptive analyses, Pearson's correlations, hierarchical regressions, and mediation models were conducted.

RESULTS

The results indicated that emotional symptoms were associated with prepandemic physical and mental health problems, higher levels of worries and negative affect, as well as lower levels of life satisfaction and resilience. Results from the mediation models showed that the negative impact of COVID‐19‐related worries on emotional symptoms was alleviated by affect balance and resilience.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the importance of addressing the risk and protective factors for teachers' mental health during exceptional situations such as the ongoing pandemic.
The 2021 report on oral health in America: Directions for the future of dental public health and the oral health care system
Authors: Quiñonez Carlos , Jones Judith A. , Vujicic Marko , Tomar Scott L. , Lee Jessica Y.
Published: May 2022

In the two decades between Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General and Oral Health in America: Advances and Challenges much good happened but intractable challenges persist. Inequity in oral health status, utilization, and access to care continue to negatively affect the health and economic wellbeing of Americans and their families, local, state, and federal health care systems, and American society overall. To move the nation forward, we argue that: more emphasis is needed in prevention; access to care must be improved to mitigate inequity; newer understandings of oral disease must be leveraged in the service of health and health care; the value that oral health brings to economic wellbeing must be elucidated; better policy choices must be made in all of the above; and more effective oral health care leaders in driving policy change must be trained.
Texture staling of pound cakes assessed by front face fluorescence spectroscopy in tandem with chemometric analysis
Authors: Nhouchi Zeineb , Karoui Romdhane
Published: May 2022

Two vegetal oils have been selected for the formulation of pound cakes, rapeseed oil (RO) and palm oil (PO). The freshness of these products has been monitored during 58 days of storage. The RO pound cakes of 58 days as well as PO pound cakes presented higher values (p < .05) of hardness (N), Young's modulus (N.cm−2) and compressive stress (N.cm−2) than those aged of 5 days. For both vitamin A and tryptophan spectra, the maximum of fluorescence intensity varied according to the aging period. For both RO and PO recipes, lipid oxidation indicators (peroxide value, para‐anisidine value, and total oxidation value [TOTOX]) were interestingly correlated to Young's modulus (R2 = 0.99) as well as compressive stress (R2 = 0.99), using polynomial model. The application of partial least squares regression to the vitamin A spectra provided excellent predictive results for both compressive stress (R2 = 0.99) and TOTOX (R2 = 0.99). Good results were observed for tryptophan spectra for the prediction of TOTOX (R2 = 0.77). Thus, the use of front face fluorescence spectroscopy may provide rapid and accurate results for the monitoring of pound cakes freshness throughout storage.