bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PRR34-AS1 promotes exosome secretion of VEGF and TGF-β via recruiting DDX3X to stabilize Rab27a mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Zhilei , Zhou Ye , Jia Yuming , Wang Chao , Zhang Meng , Xu Zhuo
Published: October 2022

Background

Exosomes are deemed to be an important tool of intercellular communicators in cancer cells. Our study investigated the role of PRR34 long non-coding RNA antisense RNA 1 (PRR34-AS1) in regulating exosome secretion in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.

Methods

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analyzed the expression of PRR34-AS1. We assessed the function of PRR34-AS1 on the biological changes of THLE-3 cells and HCC cells. The downstream interaction between RNAS was assessed by mechanistic experiments.

Results

PRR34-AS1 expression was upregulated in HCC cells in comparison to THLE-3 cells. PRR34-AS1 depletion repressed HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion as well as EMT phenotype, while PRR34-AS1 up-regulation accelerated the malignant phenotypes of THLE-3 cells. PRR34-AS1 recruited DDX3X to stabilize the mRNA level of exosomal protein Rab27a. Moreover, PRR34-AS1 facilitated the malignant phenotypes of THLE-3 cells by elevating Rab27a expression to promote the exosome secretion of VEGF and TGF-β in HCC cells.

Conclusions

The current study revealed a novel function of PRR34-AS1 in accelerating exosome secretion in HCC cells and offered an insight into lncRNA function in the regulation of tumor cell biology.

Graphical Abstract
A novel aquaporin-4-associated optic neuritis rat model with severe pathological and functional manifestations
Authors: Morita Yuko , Itokazu Takahide , Nakanishi Toru , Hiraga Shin-ichiro , Yamashita Toshihide
Published: October 2022

Background

Optic neuritis (ON) is a common manifestation of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody seropositive neuromyelitis optica (NMO). The extent of tissue damage is frequently severe, often leading to loss of visual function, and there is no curative treatment for this condition. To develop a novel therapeutic strategy, elucidating the underlying pathological mechanism using a clinically relevant experimental ON model is necessary. However, previous ON animal models have only resulted in mild lesions with limited functional impairment. In the present study, we attempted to establish a feasible ON model with severe pathological and functional manifestations using a high-affinity anti-AQP4 antibody. Subsequently, we aimed to address whether our model is suitable for potential drug evaluation by testing the effect of minocycline, a well-known microglia/macrophage inhibitor.

Methods

AQP4-immunoglobulin G (IgG)-related ON in rats was induced by direct injection of a high-affinity anti-AQP4 monoclonal antibody, E5415A. Thereafter, the pathological and functional characterizations were performed, and the therapeutic potential of minocycline was investigated.

Results

We established an experimental ON model that reproduces the histological characteristics of ON in seropositive NMO, such as loss of AQP4/glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity, immune cell infiltration, and extensive axonal damage. We also observed that our rat model exhibited severe visual dysfunction. The histological analysis showed prominent accumulation of macrophages/activated microglia in the lesion site in the acute phase. Thus, we investigated the possible effect of the pharmacological inhibition of macrophages/microglia activation by minocycline and revealed that it effectively ameliorated axonal damage and functional outcome.

Conclusions

We established an AQP4-IgG-induced ON rat model with severe functional impairments that reproduce the histological characteristics of patients with NMO. Using this model, we revealed that minocycline treatment ameliorates functional and pathological outcomes, highlighting the usefulness of our model for evaluating potential therapeutic drugs for ON in NMO.
Combined anterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments reconstruction with ipsilateral hamstring autograft: surgical technique
Authors: Piedade Sérgio Rocha , Górios Carlos , Migliorini Filippo , Maffulli Nicola
Published: October 2022

Different surgical techniques have been proposed to reconstruct combined anterior cruciate (ACL) and lateral collateral ligaments (LCL). Although these surgical techniques are reliable and reproducible, the number of autologous grafts needed for the reconstruction could be a limiting factor, especially when patients present with multi-ligament knee injuries and the posterior cruciate ligament is also torn. In addition, some of these techniques are not easy to master and have a steep learning curve. We present a surgical procedure that has been used over the last 18 years to reconstruct combined ACL and LCL injuries and has become a reproducible, feasible and time-efficient procedure to approach combined ACL and LCL injuries using an ipsilateral hamstring autograft.
Pembrolizumab combined with low-dose cyclophosphamide and intra-tumoral injection of the toll-like receptor 4 agonist G100 in patients with advanced pretreated soft tissue sarcoma: results from the PEMBROSARC basket study
Authors: Spalato-Ceruso Mariella , Bouteiller Fanny , Guegan Jean-Philippe , Toulmonde Maud , Bessede Alban , Kind Michèle , Cousin Sophie , Buy Xavier , Palussiere Jean , Le Loarer François , Dadone-Montaudie Berengere , Pulido Marina , Italiano Antoine
Published: October 2022

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are heterogeneous mesenchymal tumors with limited therapeutic options in the advanced setting. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have been shown to have significant clinical activity in inflamed STS which are characterized by the presence of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS). New strategies are needed to sensitize TLS-negative STS to immunotherapy. Engagement of the toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) signal pathway contributes to the development of a favorable tumor microenvironment in solid tumors. G100 is a highly potent toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonist. We hypothesized that intra-tumoral G100 would induce a robust local and potentially systemic anti-tumor immune response in the microenvironment of TLS-negative sarcoma, leading to improved response to PD1 inhibition. Twenty metastatic STS patients who had a superficial injectable lesion were treated with 50 mg of cyclophosphamide (CP) orally twice daily (1 week on and 1 week off), 200 mg of pembrolizumab intravenously on day 8 of a planned 21-day cycle and G100 20 µg one weekly intra-tumoral injection for at least 6 weeks and for a maximum of 12 weeks (1st injection one week before CP administration, ie. Day -7). Biopsies and blood were collected pre and post treatment. Of the 17 patients assessable for efficacy analysis, 2 were progression-free at 6 months, and the 6-month non-progression rate was 11.8% (95% CI: 1.5–36.4), indicating that the first endpoint of the study was not reached. In 8 patients, there was an increase in T-cell infiltration into tumor after treatment. The ratio CD8/Fox-P3 + CD4 on treatment decreased in 11 cases out of 14 suggesting a predominant induction of Treg. Soluble PDL1 levels at baseline were also with adverse outcome. G100 appears to modulate the tumor microenvironment with significant infiltration of T cells. However, clinical activity in combination with PD1 inhibition was limited and no clear correlation was observed between tumor shrinkage and increased inflammation. TLR4 stimulation might have both antitumor and pro-tumor consequences.

Trial registration: This study was registered with ClinicalTrial.gov, number NCT02406781.
Native-valve endocarditis detected by point-of-care echocardiography
Authors: Blanco Pablo , Figueroa Liliana , Menéndez María Fernanda
Published: October 2022

Background

Infective endocarditis carries a high morbidity and mortality; therefore, a rapid diagnosis and timely treatment is crucial to improve outcomes. Diagnosis of infective endocarditis is supported on echocardiogram findings.

Case presentation

An adult male with history of long-term hemodialysis, presented with embolic manifestations (cerebral, skin) and fever. A large vegetation in the mitral valve and other in the tricuspid valve were detected by point-of-care transthoracic echocardiogram, while blood cultures subsequently resulted positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Despite therapeutic efforts, the patient developed into an irreversible shock and died.

Conclusions

Point-of-care echocardiogram has a pivotal role in diagnosis and decision-making of infective endocarditis.
Association of H3K9me3 with breast cancer prognosis by estrogen receptor status
Authors: Zhou Meng , Yan Jin-qi , Chen Qian-xin , Yang Yuan-zhong , Li Yue-lin , Ren Yue-xiang , Weng Zi-jin , Zhang Xiao-fang , Guan Jie-xia , Tang Lu-ying , Ren Ze-fang
Published: October 2022

Background

Cellular experiments revealed that a decreased histone H3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) level was associated with the upregulation of oncogenes in breast cancer cells. Moreover, the role of H3K9me3 in breast cancer was closely associated with estrogen receptor (ER) status. Therefore, we aimed to examine the prognostic value of H3K9me3 on breast cancer by ER status. The level of H3K9me3 in tumors were evaluated with tissue microarrays by immunohistochemistry for 917 women diagnosed with primary invasive breast cancer. Hazard ratios (HRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were estimated using Cox regression models. Interaction between H3K9me3 and ER on the prognosis was assessed on multiplicative scale.

Results

The level of H3K9me3 in tumor tissues was lower than that in adjacent tissues. The high level of H3K9me3 was associated with a better OS (HR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.21–0.86) and PFS (HR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.29–0.81) among only ER-positive but not ER-negative tumors. Moreover, the interaction between the level of H3K9me3 and ER status (negative and positive) on the prognosis was significant (Pinteraction = 0.011 for OS; Pinteraction = 0.022 for PFS). Furthermore, the ER-positive tumors were stratified by ER-low and ER-high positive tumors, and the prognostic role of H3K9me3 was significant among only ER-high positive patients (HR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.13–0.85 for OS; HR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.26–0.86 for PFS).

Conclusions

Our study showed that the prognostic value of H3K9me3 on breast cancer was related to ER status and expression level, and the high level of H3K9me3 was associated with a better prognosis among ER-positive tumors, particularly ER-high positive tumors.
Reproducibility of artificial intelligence models in computed tomography of the head: a quantitative analysis
Authors: Gunzer Felix , Jantscher Michael , Hassler Eva M. , Kau Thomas , Reishofer Gernot
Published: October 2022

When developing artificial intelligence (AI) software for applications in radiology, the underlying research must be transferable to other real-world problems. To verify to what degree this is true, we reviewed research on AI algorithms for computed tomography of the head. A systematic review was conducted according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. We identified 83 articles and analyzed them in terms of transparency of data and code, pre-processing, type of algorithm, architecture, hyperparameter, performance measure, and balancing of dataset in relation to epidemiology. We also classified all articles by their main functionality (classification, detection, segmentation, prediction, triage, image reconstruction, image registration, fusion of imaging modalities). We found that only a minority of authors provided open source code (10.15%, n 0 7), making the replication of results difficult. Convolutional neural networks were predominantly used (32.61%, n = 15), whereas hyperparameters were less frequently reported (32.61%, n = 15). Data sets were mostly from single center sources (84.05%, n = 58), increasing the susceptibility of the models to bias, which increases the error rate of the models. The prevalence of brain lesions in the training (0.49 ± 0.30) and testing (0.45 ± 0.29) datasets differed from real-world epidemiology (0.21 ± 0.28), which may overestimate performances. This review highlights the need for open source code, external validation, and consideration of disease prevalence.
Tocilizumab for relapsing and remitting giant cell arteritis: a case series
Authors: Saha Pratyasha , Srikantharajah Denesh , Kaul Arvind , Sofat Nidhi
Published: October 2022

Background

Giant cell arteritis is a large vessel vasculitis of the arteries in the head and neck. The mainstay of management is with high-dose corticosteroids, and patients often face difficulties stopping or reducing steroids without recurrence of symptoms. Corticosteroids are well established to have numerous associated side effects, including osteoporosis, weight gain, and diabetes. Therefore, when tocilizumab was approved for up to 1 year for cases of relapsing or refractory giant cell arteritis by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in April 2018, this offered an opportunity to benefit from new funding and to reduce steroid burden.

Case presentation

This case series describes the impact of the establishment of a new hub and spoke referral pathway for the use of tocilizumab in refractory or relapsing giant cell arteritis, with case examples from consecutive patients who accessed the funding between August 2018 and April 2021. A total of 16 patients were identified: 11 female and 5 male, with an average age of 72.4 (range 61–82) years, with a majority of 11 ethnically white. The central assessing hub is St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Hospital, serving a population of 1.3 million in the south of England. This is the first large case series looking into the impact of the establishment of a regional clinical pathway for the new tocilizumab funding.

Conclusions

The case series demonstrates that the use of tocilizumab has reduced both the duration and the dose of corticosteroids in these 16 cases (mean prednisolone reduction 20.4 mg: 95% CI 13.0–27.8 mg), with 50% of patients continuing on tocilizumab after the initial 12 month funding period. The disease course, patterns of response, and maintenance of remission are discussed, and we describe the benefits of replicating this hub and spoke tocilizumab pathway in other centers.
A physics-informed neural network to model COVID-19 infection and hospitalization scenarios
Authors: Berkhahn Sarah , Ehrhardt Matthias
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we replace the standard numerical approach of estimating parameters in a mathematical model using numerical solvers for differential equations with a physics-informed neural network (PINN). This neural network requires a sequence of time instances as direct input of the network and the numbers of susceptibles, vaccinated, infected, hospitalized, and recovered individuals per time instance to learn certain parameters of the underlying model, which are used for the loss calculations.

The established model is an extended susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) model in which the transitions between disease-related population groups, called compartments, and the physical laws of epidemic transmission dynamics are expressed by a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The system of ODEs and its time derivative are included in the residual loss function of the PINN in addition to the data error between the current network output and the time series data of the compartment sizes. Further, we illustrate how this PINN approach can also be used for differential equation-based models such as the proposed extended SIR model, called SVIHR model.

In a validation process, we compare the performance of the PINN with results obtained with the numerical technique of non-standard finite differences (NSFD) in generating future COVID-19 scenarios based on the parameters identified by the PINN. The used training data set covers the time between the outbreak of the pandemic in Germany and the last week of the year 2021.

We obtain a two-step or hybrid approach, as the PINN is then used to generate a future COVID-19 outbreak scenario describing a possibly next pandemic wave. The week at which the prediction starts is chosen in mid-April 2022.
The underlying molecular mechanisms and biomarkers of plaque vulnerability based on bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Cheng Rui , Xu Xiaojiang , Yang Shurong , mi Zhongqian , Zhao Yong , gao Jinhua , Yu Feiyan , Ren Xiuyun
Published: October 2022

Aim

The study aimed to identify the underlying differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and mechanism of unstable atherosclerotic plaque using bioinformatics methods.

Methods

GSE120521, which includes four unstable samples and four stable atherosclerotic samples, was downloaded from the GEO database. DEGs were identified using LIMMA. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses of DEGs were performed using the Database for metascape Visualization online tool. Based on the STRING database, protein–protein interactions (PPIs) network among DEGs were constructed. Regulatory networks were visualized using Cytoscape. We use the xCell to analyze the different immune cell subtypes.

Results

A total of 1626 DEGs (1034 up-regulated and 592 down-regulated DEGs) were identified between unstable and stable samples. I pulled 62 transcription factors (34 up-regulated TFs and 28 down-regulated TFs) from the Trust database. The up-regulated TFs were mainly enrichment in positive regulation of myeloid leukocyte differentiation, and the down-regulated TFs were mainly enrichment in connective tissue development. In the PPI network, RB1, CEBPA, PPARG, BATF was the most significantly up-regulated gene in ruptured atherosclerotic samples. The immune cell composition enriched in CD cells and macrophages in the unstable carotid plaque.

Conclusions

Upregulated RB1, CEBPA, PPARG, BATF and down-regulated SRF, MYOCD, HEY2, GATA6 might perform critical promotional roles in atherosclerotic plaque rupture, furthermore, number and polarization of macrophages may play an important role in vulnerable plaques.
Biodynamic compost effects on soil parameters in a 27-year long-term field experiment
Authors: Rodas-Gaitan Heberto , Fritz Jürgen , Dahn Christian , Köpke Ulrich , Joergensen Rainer Georg
Published: October 2022

Background

Soil samples were taken after 27 years from a long-term field experiment to study the effects of composted pure cattle farmyard manure (FYM) and two FYM treatments with biodynamic preparations on soil chemical and microbiological properties.

Methods

Soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen, basal respiration, fungal ergosterol, microbial biomass C (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN) were analyzed in a 6-field crop rotation system, conducted as a randomized block design with six replicates. The multi-substrate-induced respiration (multi-SIR) approach was used to assess microbial functional diversity by the respiratory response of 17 low molecular weight organic substances.

Results

All composted FYM treatments revealed generally positive effects on SOC, total N, basal respiration, MBC, and MBN in contrast to control without FYM. Only fungal ergosterol was not increased by FYM application. After 27 experimental years, discriminant function analysis of multi-SIR data not only revealed significant general effects of biodynamic preparations, but was also able to differentiate between the sole application of the Achillea millefolium preparation and the standard application of all 6 biodynamic compost preparations.

Conclusions

The Achillea preparation was specifically able to improve the N status of the microbial community as indicated by the higher catabolic use of D-glucosamine as well as the amino acids γ-aminobutyric acid, L-cysteine, and L-leucine. The reason for different effects of the sole Achillea preparation and all 6 preparations cannot be explained by the current study.

Graphical Abstract
The procurement and supply chain strengthening project: improving public health supply chains for better access to HIV medicines, Uganda 2011–2016
Authors: Muyingo Sowedi , Etoori David , Lotay Paul , Malamba Samuel , Olweny James , Keesler King , Wiersma Steven , Jjemba Pito , Settaala Rashid
Published: October 2022

Background

With countries moving towards reaching the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goal to achieve HIV epidemic control, there are going to be an unprecedented number of persons who will need to be tested, treated, and regularly monitored for viral suppression. However, most of the countries with the greatest burden of HIV/AIDS experience regular stock outages which could be detrimental to reaching these targets. ART and other commodities such as HIV test kits and laboratory supplies need to be readily and consistently available to achieve these targets. The main objective was to improve access to HIV/AIDS related commodities and strengthening institutional capacity for the management of HIV/AIDS logistics services through the MAUL procurement and supply chain strengthening project (PSSP) that rolled out four interventions on mentorship and support supervision, stock level monitoring, spatial visualization of stock indicators using GIS, and using WhatsApp to submit order reports as photo images.

Methods

Medical Access Uganda Limited, a private-not-for-profit supply chain management company in Uganda, implemented these interventions as part of a procurement and supply chain strengthening project (PSSP). These interventions were evaluated using performance monitoring indicators from 2011–2016. We tested for the significance in the change in scores of performance monitoring indicators using the test for difference in proportions. Health facilities were scored on 6 categories and accredited as bronze, silver or gold based on their total scores. Kaplan–Meier estimates were computed for time to silver, and gold ranking and univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were computed for time to gold ranking.

Results

We observed a significant reduction in reported stock-outs from 46 to 4% (p < 0.001) in the analysis period. Accurate stock card inventory rose from 79 to 91% (p < 0.001); adequate stock levels rose from 54 to 71% (p = 0.002) and stock reporting rates from 91 to 100% (p < 0.001). The stock order fill rate improved from a high of 93% to 97% (p = 0.375). Patient load (medium vs low adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 2.19, p = 0.026; high vs low aHR: 2.97, p = 0.034) and number of support supervision visits (6–10 aHR: 3.33, p = 0.024; > 10 aHR: 5.78, p = 0.003) were associated with better stock management ranking scores.

Conclusions

Improvements in supply chain management in countries committed to achieving the 90-90-90 goals are crucial to achieving HIV epidemic control. Health system strengthening and mentorship investments in Uganda were feasible and are essential for sustainable disease control efforts.
Team debriefing in the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study of a hospital-wide clinical event debriefing program and a novel qualitative model to analyze debriefing content
Authors: Welch-Horan Thomas B. , Mullan Paul C. , Momin Zobiya , Eggers Jeannie , Lawrence Julia B. , Lichliter Royanne L. , Doughty Cara B.
Published: October 2022

Background

Healthcare workers faced unique challenges during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic which necessitated rapid adaptation. Clinical event debriefings (CEDs) are one tool that teams can use to reflect after events and identify opportunities for improving their performance and their processes. There are few reports of how teams have used CEDs in the COVID-19 pandemic. Our aim is to explore the issues discussed during COVID-19 CEDs and propose a framework model for qualitatively analyzing CEDs.

Methods

This was a descriptive, qualitative study of a hospital-wide CED program at a quaternary children’s hospital between March and July 2020. CEDs were in-person, team-led, voluntary, scripted sessions using the Debriefing in Suspected COVID-19 to Encourage Reflection and Team Learning (DISCOVER-TooL). Debriefing content was qualitatively analyzed using constant comparative coding with an integrated deductive and inductive approach. A novel conceptual framework was proposed for understanding how debriefing content can be employed at various levels in a health system for learning and improvement.

Results

Thirty-one debriefings were performed and analyzed. Debriefings had a median of 7 debriefing participants, lasted a median of 10 min, and were associated with multiple systems-based process improvements. Fourteen themes and 25 subthemes were identified and categorized into a novel Input-Mediator-Output-Input Debriefing (IMOID) model. The most common themes included communication, coordination, situational awareness, team member roles, and clinical standards.

Conclusions

Teams identified diverse issues in their debriefing discussions related to areas of high performance and opportunities for improvement in their care of COVID-19 patients. This model may help healthcare systems to understand how CED tools can be used to accelerate organizational learning to promote safety and improve outcomes in changing clinical environments.
Wearing hats and blending boundaries: harmonising professional identities for clinician simulation educators
Authors: Dace William , Purdy Eve , Brazil Victoria
Published: October 2022

Many clinicians working in healthcare simulation struggle with competing dual identities of clinician and educator, whilst those who harmonise these identities are observed to be highly effective teachers and clinicians. Professional identity formation (PIF) theories offer a conceptual framework for considering this dilemma. However, many clinician simulation educators lack practical guidance for translating these theories and are unable to develop or align their dual identities.

An unusual experience involving the first author’s suspension of disbelief as a simulation facilitator sparked a novel reflection on his dual identity as a clinician and as a simulation educator. He re-framed his clinician and simulation ‘hats’ as cooperative and fluid rather than competing and compartmentalised. He recognised that these dual identities could flow between clinical and simulation environments through leaky ‘blended boundaries’ rather than being restricted by environmental demarcations.

This personal story is shared and reflected upon to offer a practical ‘hats and boundaries’ model. Experimenting with the model in both clinical and simulation workplaces presents opportunities for PIF and alignment of dual identities. The model may help other clinician simulation educators navigate the complexities of merging their dual identities.
The effect of post-reperfusion levosimendan in an experimental intestinal ischemia–reperfusion model
Authors: Aygun Hakan , Olguner Cimen , Koca Ugur , Ergur Bekir Ugur , Sisman Ali Rıza , Isguven Duyguhan , Girgin Pelin , Akkus Muhammed , Tulgar Serkan
Published: October 2022

Background

Levosimendan has been reported to have a positive effect on ischemia–reperfusion injury. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the effects of levosimendan applied after reperfusion in an experimental intestinal injury-reperfusion (IR) model.

Methods

Twenty-one Wistar-albino male rats were separated into three groups: Sham group (n = 7): solely superior mesenteric artery (SMA) was dissected after laparotomy; intestinal ischemia–reperfusion group (IIR, n = 7): SMA was clamped for 60 min and unclamped for 120 min to cause ischemia–reperfusion; IIR + levosimendan group (IIR + L, n = 7): levosimendan was administered in ischemia–reperfusion model. The mean arterial pressures (MAP) were measured in all groups. MAP measurements were performed at the end of stabilization, at the 15th, 30th, and 60th minute of ischemia; at the 15th, 30th, 60th, and 120th minute of reperfusion; and at the end of levosimendan bolus application and when levosimendan infusion concluded. Reperfusion injury was evaluated with tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and by Chiu score.

Results

MAP at 15 min, 30 min, and 60 min of reperfusion was lower in IIR and IIR + L groups compared with basal inter-group measurements. Decline in MAP at 30 min after reperfusion was statistically significant in IIR and IIR + L groups when compared with the sham group. There was no significant difference between MDA levels in the groups. Chiu score was significantly lower in the sham group when compared to IIR and IIR + L groups and higher in IIR when compared to the IIR + L group.

Conclusion

Levosimendan leads to a decrease in intestinal damage although it did not affect lipid peroxidation and MAP when administered after reperfusion in an experimental intestinal IR model.
A universal approach to complete control in multi-channel optical structures
Authors: Gao Qi , Zhou Yun-Song , Zhao Li-Ming
Published: October 2022

The photon spin Hall effect can lead to the more general question of how to control all the light waves in a muti-channel structure (so-called complete control). To address this problem in general and thoroughly, a theoretical approach was established in this paper. Guided by this approach, the complete controls in several complicated structures are realized theoretically or numerically. We also represent this approach in the form of representation theory. The important works reported recently in this area were explained by this theory.
Robust Minimal Instability of the Top Trading Cycles Mechanism
Authors: Doğan Battal , Ehlers Lars
Published: October 2022

In the context of priority-based allocation of objects, we formulate methods to compare assignments in terms of their stability. We introduce three basic properties that a reasonable stability comparison should satisfy. We show that for any stability comparison satisfying the three properties, the top trading cycles mechanism is minimally unstable among efficient and strategy-proof mechanisms when objects have unit capacities. Our unifying approach covers basically all natural stability comparisons and establishes the robustness of a recent result by Abdulkadiroğlu et al. (2020). When objects have nonunit capacities, we characterize the capacity-priority structures for which our result is preserved. (JEL C70, C78, D61, D82)
Disclosure and Favoritism in Sequential Elimination Contests
Authors: Fu Qiang , Wu Zenan
Published: October 2022

We consider a two-stage contest, in which only a subset of contestants enters the finale. We explore the optimal policy for disclosing contestants’ interim status after the preliminary round, i.e., their interim ranking and elimination decision. The optimum depends on the design objective. We fully characterize the conditions under which disclosure or concealment emerges as the optimum. We further allow the organizer to bias the competition based on finalists’ interim rankings, which endogenizes the dynamic structure of the contest. Concealment outperforms in generating total effort, while disclosure prevails when maximizing the expected winner’s total effort. (JEL C72, L22)
Expectations-Based Loss Aversion May Help Explain Seemingly Dominated Choices in Strategy-Proof Mechanisms
Authors: Dreyfuss Bnaya , Heffetz Ori , Rabin Matthew
Published: October 2022

Deferred acceptance (DA), a widely implemented algorithm, is meant to improve allocations: under classical preferences, it induces preference-concordant rankings. However, recent evidence shows that—in both real, large-stakes applications and experiments—participants frequently play seemingly dominated, significantly costly strategies that avoid small chances of good outcomes. We show theoretically why, with expectations-based loss aversion, this behavior may be partly intentional. Reanalyzing existing experimental data on random serial dictatorship (a restriction of DA), we show that such reference-dependent preferences, with a degree and distribution of loss aversion that explain common levels of risk aversion elsewhere, fit the data better than no-loss-aversion preferences. (JEL D11, D82, D91)
Making Elections Work: Accountability with Selection and Control
Authors: Anesi Vincent , Buisseret Peter
Published: October 2022

We study the limits of dynamic electoral accountability when voters are uncertain about politicians’ characteristics (adverse selection) and their actions (moral hazard). Existing work argues that voters cannot achieve their first-best payoff. This is attributed to inherent deficiencies of the electoral contract, including voters’ inability to precommit, and the restriction to a binary retention-replacement decision. We provide conditions under which voters can, despite these constraints, obtain arbitrarily close to the first-best payoff in an equilibrium of the electoral interaction. Our paper resolves that there need not be a trade-off between selection and control. (JEL D72, D82)
Crime, Broken Families, and Punishment
Authors: Bezin Emeline , Verdier Thierry , Zenou Yves
Published: October 2022

We develop a two-period overlapping generations model in which both the family structure and the decision to commit crime are endogenous and the dynamics of moral norms of good conduct is transmitted intergenerationally by families and peers. By “destroying” biparental families and putting fathers in prison, we show that more intense crime repression can backfire because it increases the possibility that criminals’ sons become criminals themselves. Our model also explains the emergence and persistence of urban ghettos characterized by a large proportion of broken families, high crime rates, and high levels of peer socialization, which reinforce criminal activities. (JEL I28, J12, J15, K42, R23, Z13)
A pragmatic randomized controlled trial of standard care versus steroids plus standard care for treatment of pneumonia in adults admitted to Kenyan hospitals (SONIA)
Authors: Lucinde Ruth , Abdi Abdirahman , Orindi Benedict , Mwakio Stella , Gathuri Henry , Onyango Edwin , Chira Salome , Ogero Morris , Isaaka Lynda , Shangala Jimmy , Oginga Irene Njeri , Wachira Alvin , Manuthu Evans , Kariuki Hazel , Nyikuli Jared , Wekesa Cyprian , Otedo Amos , Bosire Hannah , Okoth Steve Biko , Ongalo Winston , Mukabi David , Lusamba Wilber , Muthui Beatrice , Kirui Nicholas , Adembesa Isaac , Mithi Caroline , Sood Mohammed , Ahmed Nadia , Gituma Bernard , Ongaki Vera Bina , Giabe Matiko , Omondi Charles , Ombajo Loice Achieng , Kagucia Wangeci , English Mike , Hamaluba Mainga , Ochola-Oyier Lynette Isabella , Kamuya Dorcas , Bejon Philip , Agweyu Ambrose , Akech Samuel , Etyang Anthony Oliwa
Published: October 2022

Background:

It is unclear if adjunctive steroid therapy reduces mortality in community-acquired pneumonia, as very few studies have had mortality as a primary outcome. This question has become even more relevant following demonstration of a mortality benefit of dexamethasone when used in patients with COVID-19 who had severe disease. This has led to increased prescription of steroids in adults with community acquired pneumonia in low-resource settings even when their COVID-19 diagnosis is uncertain due to low testing rates.

This pragmatic parallel randomised-controlled open-label trial will determine if adjunctive low-dose steroids for treatment of adults admitted to hospital with community acquired pneumonia whose SARS-CoV-2 status is either unknown or negative reduces mortality.

Methods:

We will enroll and randomize 2180 patients admitted with a clinical diagnosis of community acquired pneumonia into two arms; in Stratum A-participants will receive standard care for the treatment of community acquired pneumonia. In Stratum B-participants will receive a 10-day course of low-dose oral corticosteroids in addition to standard care. All participants will be followed up to 30 days post randomization and their final status recorded (alive or dead). An immunology sub study will be conducted on a subset of the trial participants (50 per arm) to determine the correlation of pre-existing and treatment induced immune and metabolic changes with study outcomes.

Discussion:

Mortality among adults admitted to hospital with community acquired pneumonia in resource-limited settings is high. Steroids are readily available in these settings. If the addition of steroids to standard care for community acquired pneumonia is found to be beneficial, this easily scalable intervention would significantly reduce the currently high mortality associated with the illness.
Russian language and speech culture. Theory
Authors: Kovadlo Lyudmila
Published: October 2022

Russian Russian Language and Culture of Speech textbook consists of two books: "Russian language and culture of speech. Theory" and "Russian language and speech culture. Practicum".
The study of the Russian language in professional educational organizations implementing the educational program of secondary general education has its own characteristics depending on the profile of vocational education, which is expressed through the content of training. When mastering the professions of technical, natural-scientific, socio-economic profiles of vocational education, the Russian language is studied at the basic level of secondary education. When mastering the specialties of secondary vocational education in the humanities, the Russian language is studied in depth as a specialized academic discipline that requires a higher level of language training of students. In this regard, much attention is paid to functional styles of speech, especially the official business style, and the specifics of the use of language units in accordance with the speech situation, which has practical application not only for students of secondary vocational education, but also for a wide range of business people.
Russian Russian vocabulary and stylistics are outlined in the textbook, which instills the skills of using the norms of Russian speech. In addition, attention is drawn to the norms of Russian literary pronunciation, the rules of text construction are given. The main part is devoted to the culture of Russian speech in the study of grammar and syntax. A separate chapter is devoted to punctuation of the Russian language.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of secondary vocational education of the latest generation.
For students of secondary vocational education, applicants and high school students.
Modeling of systems
Authors: Astrahancevaa Irina , Bobkov Sergey , Mizonov Vadim , Boykov Sergey
Published: October 2022

The textbook discusses general issues of system modeling, analytical, empirical and simulation approaches to modeling. Typical mathematical schemes used in the analytical approach, methods and tools of simulation modeling of systems are given. Attention is also paid to network and agent-based alternative approaches to modeling.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
It is intended for undergraduate students studying in the direction of 09.03.02 "Information systems and technologies", whose working curricula include the discipline "Systems Modeling". It is assumed that the training plans also include training courses "Discrete Mathematics", "Mathematical logic and theory of algorithms", "System analysis". The manual will also be useful for master's degree students studying in the direction 09.04.02 "Information systems and technologies" (discipline "Models of information processes and systems").
Online Assortment Optimization for Two-Sided Matching Platforms
Authors: Aouad Ali , Saban Daniela
Published: October 2022

Motivated by online labor markets, we consider the online assortment optimization problem faced by a two-sided matching platform that hosts a set of suppliers waiting to match with a customer. Arriving customers are shown an assortment of suppliers and may choose to issue a match request to one of them. After spending some time on the platform, each supplier reviews all the match requests she has received and, based on her preferences, she chooses whether to match with a customer or to leave unmatched. We study how platforms should design online assortment algorithms to maximize the expected number of matches in such two-sided settings. We establish that a simple greedy algorithm is 1/2-competitive against an optimal clairvoyant algorithm that knows in advance the full sequence of customers’ arrivals. However, unlike related online assortment problems, no randomized algorithm can achieve a better competitive ratio, even in asymptotic regimes. To advance beyond this general impossibility, we consider structured settings where suppliers’ preferences are described by the multinomial logit and nested logit choice models. We develop new forms of balancing algorithms, which we call preference-aware, that leverage structural information about suppliers’ choice models to design the associated discount function. In certain settings, these algorithms attain competitive ratios provably larger than the standard “barrier” of [Formula: see text] in the adversarial arrival model. Our results suggest that the shape and timing of suppliers’ choices play critical roles in designing online assortment algorithms for two-sided matching platforms.

This paper was accepted by Omar Besbes, revenue management and market analytics.

Supplemental Material: The data files and online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4464 .
An Approximate Analysis of Dynamic Pricing, Outsourcing, and Scheduling Policies for a Multiclass Make-to-Stock Queue in the Heavy Traffic Regime
Authors: Ata Barış , Barjesteh Nasser
Published: October 2022

A new study by Ata and Barjesteh proposes an effective joint dynamic pricing, outsourcing, and scheduling policy for a multiclass make-to-stock manufacturing system. The authors approximate this control problem with a Brownian control problem. They solve the Brownian problem explicitly by exploiting the solution to a Riccati equation and propose a policy for the manufacturing system based on its solution. The proposed policy is a two-sided barrier policy. Outsourcing and idling processes are used to maintain the workload above the lower and below the upper barriers, respectively. Dynamic prices are used to control the workload process between the two barriers. The authors show using a simulation study that the optimality gap of the proposed policy is small, and their proposed policy outperforms a long list of static pricing policies. Moreover, the gap between their proposed policy and the static pricing policies increases with the server utilization and the outsourcing cost.
Investment in the Common Good: Free Rider Effect and the Stability of Mixed Strategy Equilibria
Authors: Kim Youngsoo , Kwon H. Dharma
Published: October 2022

The free rider problem is widely observed in investments in the common good. For example, if Best Buy offers corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, such as recycling, tech training, and supplier audit, at its own expense, other firms in the industry can benefit from these programs at no cost (i.e., they become the free riders). Such a free rider effect often manifests itself as a mixed strategy equilibrium, in which potential investors unnecessarily delay their investments. The article “Investment in the common good: Free rider effect and the stability of mixed strategy equilibria” finds that recurring investment opportunities can be a major driver of delays in investment in the common good. It also shows that sufficient heterogeneity in investment cost among potential investors can alleviate the free rider effect. Therefore, the policy makers may try to facilitate investments in public goods (e.g., CSR activities) through some form of selective benefits to potential investors.
Evaluation of Lung Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Patients Followed Up With Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
Authors: ERYILMAZ POLAT Sanem , HIZAL Mina , TUĞCU Gökçen Dilşa , GÜNEŞ Altan , CİNEL Güzin
Published: October 2022

Objective: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is a common long-term complication of preterm birth. The evaluation of patients with advanced radiologic methods at early ages is essential in terms of determining the severity of the disease and follow-up. As a non-ionizing modality, magnetic resonance imaging is particularly appropriate for the repeated radiological assessment of pulmonary pathologies associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
Material and Methods: Patients who were followed up with the diagnosis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and underwent lung magnetic resonance imaging between August 2017 and August 2019 were evaluated retrospectively. Coronal and axial T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging was performed (TR/TE: 4500-5300/90-106 msec). A pediatric radiologist evaluated magnetic resonance imaging findings. Pulmonary structural findings and their distribution were determined (fibrotic bands, distortion). The findings were compared with bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients’ severity, clinical and demographic characteristics. The imaging was performed during the patient’s sleep time without sedation or by giving chlorhydrate.
Results: A total of 7 patients were included in the study. Three patients were female, and 4 were male. According to bronchopulmonary dysplasia classification, 1 patient was mild, 3 patients were moderate, and 3 were severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The median gestational week was 26.2. In mild bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients, fibrotic bands were seen in <3 segment, and there was no parenchymal distortion. Bronchovascular distortion was observed in moderate and severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients.
Conclusion: Pulmonary magnetic resonance imaging can reveal structural abnormalities in patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and can be used as an imaging method in the follow-up of patients.
The analysis of nursing diagnoses determined by students for patients in rehabilitation units
Authors: Park Jeongeun , Jeong Sungmoon
Published: October 2022

This study aimed to analyze nursing diagnoses determined by the nursing students for pa-tients in rehabilitation unit. Data were collected from 190 case reports submitted by the nursing students who practiced in the rehabilitation unit, and analyzed on the basis of North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA) International, Inc. nursing diagnoses. Thirty different diagnoses were documented in rehabilitation unit. The most frequent nursing diagnosis was im-paired physical mobility (n= 68, 14.6%). The 30 diagnoses were grouped into 10 domains and 20 classes of the NANDA International, Inc. human response patterns. The average quality of nursing statements corresponded to a score of 8.63, indicating relatively good quality. The re-sults of this study will help to improve the quality of nursing process education and provide guidelines to improve the quality of nursing care for the rehabilitation nursing situation in Korea.