bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Novel Countermeasure Method for Radar Coherent Jamming Based on Signal Feature Transformation
Authors: Liu Zhipeng , Jia Ningning , Feng Yuntian , Hu Baojie , Wang Xiaoyang , Gu Yanyang , Fan Zhipeng
Published: December 2022

With the advancement of active jamming technology, a variety of new types of coherent jamming based on digital radio frequency memory (DFRM) have been proposed and implemented in practice, posing serious threats to modern radar systems due to their flexibility, suppression, and deception characteristics. Hence, the research on relevant countermeasures is necessary and challenging. In this paper, we take a fresh look at the problem and present a method for removing interference from received time-frequency overlapping signals based on signal feature modification (SFT). The antijamming problem is transformed into one linear underdetermined blind source separation (UBSS) model in a dual-channel receiving scenario using sparse component analysis, and the feasible solution is found by transforming the observed signal features to a new time-frequency domain representation. Simulations demonstrate that the developed technique outperforms standard interference countermeasures in terms of signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) and target identification performance, which are critical for antijamming.
Super‐Resolution Swin Transformer and Attention Network for Medical CT Imaging
Authors: Hu Jianhua , Zheng Shuzhao , Wang Bo , Luo Guixiang , Huang WoQing , Zhang Jun
Published: December 2022

Computerized tomography (CT) is widely used for clinical screening and treatment planning. In this study, we aimed to reduce X‐ray radiation and achieve high‐quality CT imaging by using low‐intensity X‐rays because CT radiation is damaging to the human body. An innovative vision transformer for medical image super‐resolution (SR) is applied to establish a high‐definition image target. To achieve this, we proposed a method called swin transformer and attention network (STAN) that uses the swin transformer network, which employs an attention method to overcome the long‐range dependency difficulties encountered in CNNs and RNNs to enhance and restore the quality of medical CT images. We adopted the peak signal‐to‐noise ratio for performance comparison with other mainstream SR reconstruction models used in medical CT imaging. Experimental results revealed that the proposed STAN model yields superior medical CT imaging results than the existing SR techniques based on CNNs. The proposed STAN model employs a self‐attention mechanism to more effectively extract critical features and long‐range information, hence enhancing the quality of medical CT image reconstruction.
Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Tribal Communities and Sustainability of Nature and Natural Resources in Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve in India
Authors: Kala Chandra Prakash
Published: December 2022

Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) continues to erode as a result of globalization and the homogenization of diverse cultures, yet it has helped to conserve natural resources and preserve nature for centuries. Biosphere reserves have been established in regions where both cultural and natural resource assortments are deemed rich. The present study was carried out in the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve (PBR) of India with the major objective of investigating the TEK of local communities with respect to the sustainability of nature and natural resources. Through both a questionnaire and interviews with tribal groups in PBR, a total of 128 plant species were documented, of which the highest number of species (52%) was used for food, followed by medicine (40%), cultural practices (13%), and construction of houses (11%). Apart from the collection of plants from the adjacent forests for their sustenance, the tribal groups engaged in various other activities including farming practices, maintenance of home gardens, soil and water conservation, and continuance of sacred groves. The nature and natural resource-based livelihood and conservation activities of tribal groups involve specific cultural practices and customary norms. This study reveals that the traditional knowledge of tribal communities offers unique ideas for developing and contributing to more effective sustainable management practices and nature conservation. It has a great potential to strengthen the agriculture and health sectors, as the tribal communities have accumulated a fair amount of knowledge in such sectors.
Analysis of Prevention and Treatment of Anastomotic Leakage after Sphincter-Preserving Surgery for Middle- and Low-Grade Rectal Cancer under Laparoscopy
Authors: Yu Jia-He , Huang Xiang-Wu , Song Yu-Cheng , Lin Hui-Zhong , Zheng Feng-Wu
Published: December 2022

Background. Anastomotic leakage is one of the most serious complications that can occur after laparoscopic-assistedsphincter-preserving surgery for middle- and low-grade rectal cancer. Objectives. To explore the cause, prevention, and treatment of anastomotic leakage after sphincter-preserving surgery for middle- and low-grade rectal cancer under laparoscopy. Methods. The clinical data from patients with mid- and low-grade rectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic-assistedanus-preserving surgery in the anorectal surgery department of our hospital have been analyzed. Patients with a definite diagnosis, indications for laparoscopic surgery, and sphincter-preserving surgery were included in the analysis, and patients with a protective loop ileostomy and laparotomy were excluded. Results. Among the 126 patients with middle- and low-grade rectal cancer undergoing sphincter-preserving surgery under laparoscopy. There were 75 male patients and 51 female patients, ranging in age from 37 to 89 years old, with an average age of 60.2 ± 6.7. The distance from the lower edge of the rectal tumor to the anal edge was ≤10 cm. 6 developed anastomotic leakage after the operation (leakage rate of 4.7%). Moreover, turbid purulent fluid was drained from the abdominal drainage tube in three patients on the third and fourth days after the operation, and the abdominal drainage tube drained serous drainage in three more patients on the fifth and sixth days, with signs of peritonitis appearing locally. All patients received continuous flushing and negative pressure drainage with a self-made double cannula and symptomatic treatment, and all were cured and discharged. Conclusion. Many factors can cause anastomotic leakage after this operation, and adequate perioperative preparation, meticulous operation during surgery, and careful postoperative management are key factors in preventing it.
The Relationship and Changes of Liver Blood Supply, Portal Pressure Gradient, and Liver Volume following TIPS in Cirrhosis
Authors: He Jinghong , Li Jinyu , Fang Changxing , Qiao Ying , Feng Duiping
Published: December 2022

Aim. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) alters the liver blood supply and reduces portal pressure. This study was to investigate the changes and associations of the hepatic blood flow, liver volume, and portal pressure gradient (PPG) after TIPS in liver cirrhosis. Methods. Twenty-one patients with liver cirrhosis who received TIPS were recruited. The contrast CT images were used to assess the iodine density (ID) of liver parenchymal and liver volume. The ID of the liver parenchyma was used to reflect hepatic blood flow. We used a paired t-test and regression analysis to investigate the effect of TIPS on hepatic blood flow, liver volume, and PPG in individuals with cirrhosis and the factors that affect changes in liver volume. Results. After TIPS, there was a significant improvement in the ID of liver parenchyma at arterial phase (AP) and PPG in individuals with cirrhosis (

P

 < 0.05). Each 1 unit increase in the ID change of whole liver parenchyma at the venous phase (VP) was significantly associated with a 269.44 cm3 increase in the liver volume after TIPS (b = 269.44,

P

 = 0.012). With an increasing ID change of whole liver parenchyma at VP, the change in liver volume followed an increasing trend (

P

for overall association = 0.005). Conclusions. Our data indicate that there was a significant improvement in hepatic blood flow, especially at AP, after TIPS and the change in hepatic blood supply from the portal vein is positively associated with the change in liver volume after TIPS. Increasing the blood supply to the liver from the portal vein may improve the reduction of liver volume.
Secondary Aorto-Colonic Fistula: A Case Report and Literature Review of a Rare Complication after EVAR
Authors: Wiangphoem Nattawadee
Published: December 2022

Background: Aorto-enteric fistula (AEF) is a rare but fatal condition. The incidence of the overall AEF was approximately 0.36–2%, but the incidence of the aorto-colonic fistula was scarcely reported. A history of abdominal pain, fever, or gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) in a patient with a history of aortic intervention should be highly suspected of this condition. This report describes a patient with lower GIB after an endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for a symptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Case Presentation: A 65-year-old man with a history of EVAR for symptomatic AAA presented with a massive lower GIB for two weeks. He also had a history of left lower quadrant pain and low-grade fever. Diverticular disease was suspected, and medical treatment was administered. After the initial conservative treatment, a colonoscopy was performed. The findings showed a fistula that exposed an aortic stent graft at the left-sided colon. An aorto-colonic fistula was diagnosed. After administering intravenous (IV) antibiotics, a staged axillo-bifemoral bypass graft with aortic stent graft explantation was performed. The patient recovered well and was discharged home after a month of hospitalization and IV antibiotics. Conclusion: In a patient with a history of aortic intervention, any abdominal pain, unknown fever, or even GIB should be suspected of complications of aortic intervention. Highly suspicious of this rare condition is the key to an early diagnosis and prompt treatment.
Proteasome Inhibitors Silence Oncogenes in Multiple Myeloma through Localized Histone Deacetylase 3 Stabilization and Chromatin Condensation
Authors: Maneix Laure , Iakova Polina , Moree Shannon E. , Hsu Joanne I. , Mistry Ragini M. , Stossi Fabio , Lulla Premal , Sun Zheng , Sahin Ergun , Yellapragada Sarvari V. , Catic André
Published: December 2022

Proteasome inhibitors have become the standard of care for multiple myeloma. Blocking protein degradation particularly perturbs the homeostasis of short-lived polypeptides such as transcription factors and epigenetic regulators. To determine how proteasome inhibitors directly impact gene regulation, we performed an integrative genomics study in multiple myeloma cells. We discovered that proteasome inhibitors reduce the turnover of DNA-associated proteins and repress genes necessary for proliferation through epigenetic silencing. Specifically, proteasome inhibition results in the localized accumulation of histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) at defined genomic sites, which reduces H3K27 acetylation and increases chromatin condensation. The loss of active chromatin at super-enhancers critical for multiple myeloma, including the super-enhancer controlling the proto-oncogene c-MYC, reduces metabolic activity and cancer cell growth. Epigenetic silencing is attenuated by HDAC3 depletion, suggesting a tumor-suppressive element of this deacetylase in the context of proteasome inhibition. In the absence of treatment, HDAC3 is continuously removed from DNA by the ubiquitin ligase Seven in Absentia Homolog 2 (SIAH2). Overexpression of SIAH2 increases H3K27 acetylation at c-MYC–controlled genes, increases metabolic output, and accelerates cancer cell proliferation. Our studies indicate a novel therapeutic function of proteasome inhibitors in multiple myeloma by reshaping the epigenetic landscape in an HDAC3-dependent manner. As a result, blocking the proteasome effectively antagonizes c-MYC and the genes controlled by this proto-oncogene.

Significance:

Integrative genomics reveals that a key function of proteasome inhibitors involves limiting the activity of MYC and MYC-dependent genes through epigenetic repression.
The Association of Protein Biomarkers With Incident Heart Failure With Preserved and Reduced Ejection Fraction
Authors: Takvorian Katherine S. , Wang Dongyu , Courchesne Paul , Vasan Ramachandran S. , Benjamin Emelia J. , Cheng Susan , Larson Martin G. , Levy Daniel , Ho Jennifer E.
Published: December 2022

Background:

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are distinct clinical entities, yet there is scant evidence for associations of proteomic signatures with future development of HFpEF versus HFrEF.

Methods:

We evaluated the association of 71 protein biomarkers with incident HFpEF versus HFrEF (left ventricular ejection fraction ≥ versus <50%) among Framingham Heart Study participants using multivariable Cox models.

Results:

Among 7038 participants (mean age 49 years; 54% women), 5 biomarkers were associated with increased risk of incident HFpEF (false discovery rate q<0.05): NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide; hazard ratio [HR], 2.13; 95% CI, 1.52–2.99;
P
<0.001), growth differentiation factor-15 (HR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.32–2.12;
P
<0.001), adrenomedullin (HR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.23–2.04;
P
<0.001), uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein (HR, 1.55; 95% CI 1.23–1.95;
P
<0.001), and C-reactive protein (HR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.17–1.83;
P
=0.001). Fourteen biomarkers were associated with incident HFrEF (multivariable
P
<0.001, q<0.05 for all). Of these, 3 biomarkers were associated with both HF subtypes (NT-proBNP, growth differentiation factor-15, and C-reactive protein). When compared directly, myeloperoxidase, resistin, and paraoxanase-1 were more strongly associated with HFrEF than HFpEF.

Conclusions:

We identified 5 protein biomarkers of new-onset HFpEF representing pathways of inflammation, cardiac stress, and vascular stiffness, which partly overlapped with HFrEF. We found 14 biomarkers associated with new-onset HFrEF, with some distinct associations including myeloperoxidase, resistin, and paraoxanase-1. Taken together, these findings provide insights into similarities and differences in the development of HF subtypes.

Registration:

URL:
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00005121
; Unique identifier: NCT0005121.
Three new fern names of hybrid genera and four new combinations in Athyriaceae, Osmundaceae, and Thelypteridaceae
Authors: WAN XIA , ZHANG LI-BING
Published: December 2022

We reviewed the hybrid genera of ferns and propose three new nothogeneric names, ×Apseudathyrium, ×Glaphyrocyclosorus, and ×Osmunimunda, and four new combinations to accommodate the nothospecies related to these three new nothogenera.
New species of the genus Eupithecia (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) from China. Part IX
Authors: MIRONOV VLADIMIR , ŠUMPICH JAN
Published: December 2022

In this ninth part of this series, six new species of Eupithecia Curtis, 1825 are described from China: Eupithecia remissata sp. n., Eupithecia fericlava sp. n., Eupithecia florianii sp. n., Eupithecia concostivexa sp. n., Eupithecia voraria sp. n. and Eupithecia khama sp. n. The species Eupithecia solianikovi Viidalepp, 1988 is recorded as new for China. Eupithecia fulvidorsata Mironov & Galsworthy, 2006 is a first record for Yunnan province and two species Eupithecia ensifera Mironov & Galsworthy, 2004 and Eupithecia supercastigata Inoue, 1958 are recorded from Sichuan province for the first time. Adults and genitalia are illustrated for all species.
A new species of shrimp, genus Ambidexter Manning & Chace, 1971 (Decapoda: Processidae), from southeastern Caribbean Sea, Venezuela, with key to genus
Authors: RODRÍGUEZ PEDRO , LIRA CARLOS
Published: December 2022

A new species of processid shrimp, Ambidexter cochensis sp. nov. is described from Venezuela, on the basis of several specimens collected in seagrass beds at a depth less than 1 m. This new species is closely related to A. swifti Abele, 1972 from eastern Pacific, which mainly differs by the number of carpal articles of the second pereiopod, the setation pattern on the telson and the structure of the appendix masculina of the male second pleopod. A key to genus is presented.
An Autobiographical Reading of Drago Jančar’s Novel “Mocking Desire”
Authors: Cmiel-Bażant Marta
Published: December 2022

The novel Mocking Desire was published in 1993, when Drago Jančar was already a wellknown author, who had received some important literary awards. This hybrid and multifaceted literary work describes the Slovenian writer’s stay in New Orleans and in New York. Because Jančar visited the United States on a Fulbright Fellowship in 1985, his novel is read as an autobiography, although the author has not established an autobiographical pact with the reader (Lejeune). The aim of this study is to consider the autobiographical writing as a literary genre, the figure of reading, and the play with convention, in order to answer the question what provokes the autobiographical reading of Mocking Desire.
Spanish and Creole: Exploring Aspects of Minority and Minoritised Languages in Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago
Authors: Hoyte-West Antony
Published: December 2022

As the two largest countries in the Anglophone Caribbean, the sole official language of both Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago is English. This status, however, does not accommodate the historical and contemporary multilingualism common to both countries. Mindful of the islands’ colonial past, as well as their geographical proximity to Latin America, the government of Trinidad & Tobago has designated Spanish as the country’s official foreign language, and there have been calls for the same move to be made in Jamaica. Even though Spanish is very much a minority language in both nations in terms of the number of speakers, this move has associated implications for the education sectors. In addition, it has been argued that this mandate also denigrates autochthonous Creole languages, which are spoken widely in both countries but generally have no formal place in education or public life. Accordingly, this preliminary literature-based study examines relevant Jamaican and Trinidad & Tobago policies through the lens of the language policy model originally developed by Bernard Spolsky in 2004, which foregrounds the four interlinked concepts of national ideology, the role of English, a country’s sociolinguistic structure, and minority language rights. Particular attention will be focused on current initiatives regarding the latter, as well as seeking to examine how governmental emphasis on Spanish – given the existence of these local Creole languages – is viewed within the Jamaican and Trinidad & Tobago contexts.
“But this doesn’t look Vilamovian”: Lesser-Known Determinants of the Cultural Distinctiveness of Vilamovians
Authors: Król Tymoteusz
Published: December 2022

Researchers who study Wilamowice regard the costume and language as the main determinants of the cultural distinctiveness of the Vilamovians. The representatives of this ethnic group themselves also presented them as the most important. This was probably the case before 1945, when the folk dress and language began to disappear due to the post-war persecutions. Today, they still remain important markers of Vilamovianness, but are rarely used in everyday life.
The article presents the determinants of Vilamovian distinctiveness that are important for contemporary Vilamovians, especially for young people involved in linguistic revitalisation. These are, among others, Vilamovian Polish, multilingualism, Vilamovian Christmas songs, Vilamovian-style scrambled eggs, Vilamovian Christmas Eve noodles and drinking from one glass. Although they are also found in other regions, including nearby villages, they are an equally important attribute of Vilamovianness for many Vilamovians. More important than their “objective” uniqueness is the fact that during the research carried out by the author, particularly young people from Wilamowice considered them appropriate for expressing their identity and the cultural distinctiveness related to it. Perhaps in the future some of them will become more important for Vilamovians than the costume or language. Ethnic boundaries are not the result of members of an ethnic community having a separate culture, but of their actions in order to distinguish themselves from others.
Theoretical Diffraction Pattern Characteristics of Cubic Twin Crystal
Authors: Ren Lingqi , Yu Lan , Chen Liangwei
Published: December 2022

Twin crystal is a common lattice arrangement of crystal structure. The commonly used characterization methods for crystal structure include transmission electron diffraction (TED) pattern and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) pattern, but there is currently no specific reference
standard for twin crystal. In this research, the mathematical relationship between crystal structure and TED and EBSD patterns of twin was calculated. The characteristics of twin electron diffraction spectrum, as well as the calibration of TED and EBSD patterns, were discussed and analyzed
towards the examples of face-centered cubic crystal and body-centered cubic crystal. Overall, our results establish a theoretical calculation standard of diffraction spectrum, which provides a reference for further explorations to characterization of twin crystal structures.
Naloxegol for Treatment of Opioid-Induced Constipation in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Gillett Ethan L. , Layes Clint A. , Crawley Lee , Schexnayder Stephen M.
Published: December 2022

Opioid-induced constipation is a common problem in critically ill children requiring sedation. Naloxegol is an oral U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist for chronic opioid-induced constipation use in adults, but data on its use in children are lacking. We performed a retrospective analysis of critically ill children that had received naloxegol for opioid-induced constipation at our institution. Of the 45 patients studied, mean stool frequency increased significantly from 0.63 ± 0.12 stools per day to 1.71 ± 0.13 stools per day after starting naloxegol (95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.75, 1.4], P < .001). There was no significant difference in the mean Withdrawal Assessment Tool 1 (WAT-1) score in the 24 hours before and after receiving the first dose (95% CI: [-0.25, 0.40], P = .63). This suggests naloxegol is effective in increasing stool output in critically ill children receiving opioids without an increase in opioid-withdrawal symptoms. It may be an effective adjunctive therapy for this population.
Criminal Thinking in a Sample of Men and Women Attending a Multi-Site Batterer Intervention Program
Authors: Solinas-Saunders Monica , Stacer Melissa J.
Published: December 2022

The study investigated differences and similarities in criminal thinking between men and women attending a multi-site Batterer Intervention Program (BIP). Overall, rates of criminal thinking were low. However, the results of the multivariate analyses suggest that, after controlling for demographic characteristics (i.e., race, ethnicity, education, SES) and personal experiences (i.e., prior convictions, mental health problems, substance abuse, experience of abuse) female participants significantly differed from men in patterns of Power Orientation. If replicated by other studies, especially studies that use larger samples of women enrolled in BIPs, these findings may contribute to identifying rehabilitation programs that best address women’s needs.
Homelessness and Crime in Neighborhoods
Authors: Ee Marilyn , Zhang Yan
Published: December 2022

Objective:

Literature on the influence of homelessness on crime is lacking, particularly at the neighborhood level. This study seeks to understand how homelessness affects crime levels in a large city in the United States.

Data/Methods:

Crime data, homeless count data, and neighborhood characteristics are obtained from three government public data sources. OLS Regression and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) are utilized to determine the relationship between homelessness and crime on a global and local level.

Results:

The analyses revealed that homelessness is significantly, positively associated with crime, even when controlling for macro-level correlates of crime. The effect size of homelessness on crime varies across neighborhoods.

Conclusions/Implications:

Policy implications based on findings of the current study and future research are discussed.
A multi-thread control algorithm with update delays based on event-triggered mechanism
Authors: Gao Hui , Wang Yixuan
Published: December 2022

In this paper, an event-triggered mechanism for a class of multi-thread control systems is designed by the relationship between the threshold line and the Lyapunov function and an algorithm is proposed with update delays considered. In order to solve the problem of resource waste in complex systems with mismatched characteristics of the number of controllers and controlled plants, a stable multi-thread control algorithm considering the delay is designed by adopting the event-triggered mechanism. In the algorithm, the concept of a novel multi-thread control system is utilized to eliminate the need for a complex description of this class of systems. By reducing the constraints on the Lyapunov function in the traditional switching control scheme, a novel event-triggered rule is designed to save resources and ensure that the system is asymptotically stable. Furthermore, it is proved that the proposed multi-thread control algorithm based on event-triggered mechanism is feasible when the system has a non-zero update delay. Finally, the system is guaranteed to avoid the Zeno phenomenon and the proposed algorithm is investigated by simulation.
Motives Linking Subclinical Psychopathy and Benign Masochism to Recreational Drug use
Authors: Sagioglou Christina , Greitemeyer Tobias
Published: December 2022

As the use of some psychoactive substances continues to be a global health risk, it is important to understand why people use them. We compared the predictive power of psychopathy and masochism with regard to lifetime recreational drug use and tested the underlying motives in a sample of 415 US-based adults. Psychopathy predicted use of illicit drugs, cannabis, and nicotine, while masochism predicted cannabis, alcohol, and caffeine use. Both traits were related to most motives, but the motives differentially predicted substance use. Expansion motivation was the sole motive for illicit drug use, whereas cannabis was predicted mainly by expansion and enhancement. Alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine were used to escape daily worries, and alcohol was further used for social reasons. Benign masochism is a newly identified predictor of popular drug use. Future research could investigate masochism and expansion motivation as predictors of potentially harmful substance use.
Self-Other Balance in Context: A Quiet Ego May Be Meaningful and Adaptive in Latinx/Hispanic Cultures and Work Settings
Authors: Bistricky Steven L. , Sublett Lisa W. , Moreno Georgina L. , Palmer Lauren E. , Marek Ryan J.
Published: December 2022

Quiet ego is a relatively novel, increasingly studied, multi-dimensional concept characterized by a compassionate, interdependent worldview and an adaptive balance between self-interest and concern for others. Quiet ego has been associated with a range of characteristics that can promote relationship quality, responding effectively in the face of challenges, and greater well-being. However, it is currently unknown to what extent quiet ego translates across cultures and settings. The present research leverages cultural and organizational theories to evaluate the conceptual and structural validity of quiet ego for Latinx/Hispanic individuals in the U.S. and to examine relationships among quiet ego, work supervisor relationship quality, and goals in the workplace. Employed college student participants ( n = 831; nLatinx/Hispanic = 305) completed an online survey, and collected data were subjected to confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis. Findings confirmed the overall structural model of quiet ego with four primary dimensions (perspective taking, inclusive identity, detached awareness, and growth-mindedness) and indicated that this structure did not differ between Latinx/Hispanic and non-Latinx/Hispanic subsamples. Further, results cohered with the proposed model suggesting that quiet ego might facilitate relationship quality with a workplace supervisor, which, in turn could foster balanced, intrinsically motivating perceptions that one’s work goals benefit both oneself and others (mutual gain motivation). The study suggests that quiet ego may be a construct with meaning and utility in Latinx/Hispanic populations and in employment settings. However, further research is needed, and specific suggestions for future study are discussed.
Social and Emotional Loneliness: Their Relationship to Multiple Domains of Cognition in Later Life
Authors: Hayslip Bert , Maiden Robert J. , Greil Arthur L.
Published: December 2022

Despite the fact that the literature suggests loneliness to undermine cognitive functioning in later life, no work has simultaneously examined the relationships between these constructs taking a multidimensional approach to the assessment of each. The present study explored relationships among social and emotional loneliness and both general crystallized (Gc) and general fluid (Gf) ability, as well as to several indices of everyday intellectual functioning in later life. Sequential regression analyses suggested that neither social nor emotional loneliness predicted Gc. However, only when eliminating health as a covariate was more social loneliness associated with lower scores for Gf. Surprisingly, more emotional loneliness was associated with higher scores for Gf. More social loneliness also predicted more everyday cognitive failures and with less positive lifestyle attitudes. These findings support a view of loneliness-cognition relationships in later life that reflects the multidimensional nature of each construct.
Next Stop: Europe? Aspirations for Secondary Migration Among Syrian Refugees in Jordan
Authors: Tyldum Guri , Zhuang Huafeng
Published: December 2022

Refugees who seek protection in neighboring countries (first safe countries of refuge) often have weak economic ties to their current place of residence. Refugees in these first safe countries also often have much to gain economically if they move on to Europe or other wealthier countries, as their refugee status opens doors that are closed to many other migrant groups. Still, far from all refugees in first safe countries aspire to move on to other locations. This article examines migration aspirations among Syrian refugees in Jordan and asks what characterizes refugees who aspire to move on to Europe. Building on theories of migration aspirations originally developed to study labor migration, it draws on a representative survey of 7,632 Syrian refugees in Jordan, conducted during the winter of 2017/2018. We show that religious and cultural preferences (preferences for living in a Muslim country and attitudes toward female labor market participation), as well as perceptions of when return to Syria will be possible, were more important in explaining variance in migration aspirations among Syrian refugees in Jordan than economic factors such as poverty or lack of jobs. These findings suggest that selection effects shape Syrian refugee migration to Europe and that refugees who go to Europe differ from those who remain in that they put less value on traditional gender roles and on living in Muslim societies. As such, the article contributes to the literature on how cultural ties and value preferences shape migration aspirations and influence the composition of migrant populations.
Deep learning-based noise reduction for coronary CT angiography: using four-dimensional noise-reduction images as the ground truth
Authors: Kobayashi Takuma , Nishii Tatsuya , Umehara Kensuke , Ota Junko , Ohta Yasutoshi , Fukuda Tetsuya , Ishida Takayuki
Published: December 2022

Background

To assess low-contrast areas such as plaque and coronary artery stenosis, coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) needs to provide images with lower noise without increasing radiation doses.

Purpose

To develop a deep learning-based noise-reduction method for CCTA using four-dimensional noise reduction (4DNR) as the ground truth for supervised learning.

Material and Methods

\We retrospectively collected 100 retrospective ECG-gated CCTAs. We created 4DNR images using non-rigid registration and weighted averaging three timeline CCTA volumetric data with intervals of 50 ms in the mid-diastolic phase. Our method set the original reconstructed image as the input and the 4DNR as the target image and obtained the noise-reduced image via residual learning. We evaluated the objective image quality of the original and deep learning-based noise-reduction (DLNR) images based on the image noise of the aorta and the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the coronary arteries. Further, a board-certified radiologist evaluated the blurring of several heart structures using a 5-point Likert scale subjectively and assigned a coronary artery disease reporting and data system (CAD-RADS) category independently.

Results

DLNR CCTAs showed 64.5% lower image noise ( P < 0.001) and achieved a 2.9 times higher CNR of coronary arteries than that in original images, without significant blurring in subjective comparison ( P > 0.1). The intra-observer agreement of CAD-RADS in the DLNR image was excellent (0.87, 95% confidence interval = 0.77–0.99) with original CCTAs.

Conclusion

Our DLNR method supervised by 4DNR significantly reduced the image noise of CCTAs without affecting the assessment of coronary stenosis.
Utility of the National Emergency Laparotomy Audit prognostic model in predicting outcomes in an Australian health system
Authors: Tran Elizabeth T , Ho Kwok M
Published: December 2022

The Royal College of Anaesthetists was commissioned by the United Kingdom Health Quality Partnership to conduct the National Emergency Laparotomy Audit of England and Wales (NELA), to compare outcomes of patients undergoing emergency laparotomy in order to promote quality improvement. Prior to 2016 there were minimal data for emergency laparotomy patients in Australia. The aim of this cohort study was to assess the utility and applicability of the NELA model in a tertiary centre in Western Australia. NELA-related data of patients who underwent emergency laparotomy, between June 2018 and May 2020, were merged with other administrative databases and clinical records. The discriminative ability and calibration of the model were assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve and calibration plot, respectively. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess whether the NELA-predicted risks were an independent predictor of hospital mortality. Of the 502 patients included, 168 (33.5%) patients had a NELA-predicted risk >10%, and of these, 93 (55.4%) were admitted to a critical care unit in a planned fashion immediately after surgery. The NELA model had a good ability to discriminate between survivors and non-survivors (AUROC 0.892, 95% confidence intervals 0.854 to 0.93, P <0.001). However, the model was not perfectly calibrated, with the predicted risks tending to overestimate the observed risks of mortality, especially when the predicted risks were >50%. A high NELA-predicted risk remained significantly associated with mortality after adjusting for other covariates, including sepsis and plasma lactate concentration, suggesting that it is a reliable screening tool for identifying high-risk patients requiring emergency laparotomy.
An Educational Graphical User Interface to Construct Convolutional Neural Networks for Teaching Artificial Intelligence in Radiology
Authors: Jin Haiyue , Wagner Matthias W. , Ertl-Wagner Birgit , Khalvati Farzad
Published: December 2022

Deep learning techniques using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been successfully developed for various medical image analysis tasks. However, the skills to understand and develop deep learning models are not usually taught during radiology training, which constitutes a barrier for radiologists looking to integrate machine learning (ML) into their research or clinical practice. In this work, we developed and evaluated an educational graphical user interface (GUI) to construct CNNs for teaching deep learning concepts to radiology trainees. The GUI was developed in Python using the PyQt and PyTorch frameworks. The functionality of the GUI was demonstrated through a binary classification task on a dataset of MR images of the brain. The usability of the GUI was assessed through 45-min user testing sessions with 5 neuroradiologists and neuroradiology fellows, assessing mean task completion times, the System Usability Scale (SUS), and a qualitative questionnaire as metrics. Task completion times were compared against a ML expert who performed the same tasks. After a 20-min introduction to CNNs and a walkthrough of the GUI, users were able to perform all assigned tasks successfully. There was no significant difference in task completion time compared to a ML expert. The educational GUI achieved a score of 82.5 on the SUS, suggesting that the system is highly usable. Users indicated that the GUI seems useful as an educational tool to teach ML topics to radiology trainees. An educational GUI allows interactive teaching in ML that can be incorporated into radiology training.
Visualization and investigation of healing mechanism in carbon fiber reinforced Elium® composites
Authors: Khan Tayyab , Ali Muhammad A , Irfan Muhammad S , Cantwell Wesley J , Umer Rehan
Published: December 2022

In this study, carbon fiber/Elium® composites are manufactured using the resin infusion manufacturing technique. Artificial cracks representing impact-induced delamination are incorporated during layup. The laminates are subsequently healed using several healing parameters. The bonding mechanisms are investigated through microscopic analyses and X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT). The mechanical performance of the healed composites is investigated through four-point bending tests. It is found that as the healing temperature is increased, the cracks are gradually healed by interdiffusion and macroscopic resin flow across each crack interface. The 3D models generated from XCT images show an increase in solid volume fraction from 48% to 70% at the optimum healing parameters. The flexural strength and flexural modulus of the undamaged composites subjected to optimized healing condition are significantly increased relative to the room temperature cured pristine samples. The residual flexural strength of the damaged samples healed at the optimum parameters is 96% of the reference condition. The SEM images confirm that delamination from the previously-healed crack interfaces is the most dominant failure mode in the healed samples, in contrast to fiber fracture and brittle failure in the undamaged reference composite samples. The results show that the damaged composite laminates can be effectively healed and repaired to as good as undamaged laminates using the interdiffusion mechanism.
“Time is not time is not time”: A feminist ecological approach to clock time, process time, and care responsibilities
Authors: Doucet Andrea
Published: December 2022

Over the past half century, time-use studies have become a leading method for researching unpaid care work, especially in the multidisciplinary field of gender divisions of household work and care and in feminist international studies on counting and accounting for women’s unpaid work. Although attention to conceptual and methodological refinements in time-use methods is increasing, more focus on the challenges of conceptualizing and measuring care responsibilities, the limitations of measuring relational care practices with clock time, the existence of other kinds of time, and the epistemological and ontological moorings of time-use studies is needed. Two research programs inform this article: qualitative and longitudinal research with Canadian households in which parents were challenging norms, practices, and ideologies of male breadwinning and female caregiving; and the development of a feminist ecological ethico-onto-epistemological approach to knowledge making. A case study from the first program and several pivotal ideas drawn from the second—about relational ontologies, multiple ontologies, and the ethico-political dimensions of knowledge making—support three key arguments advanced in this article. First, I argue for a deeper interrogation of methodological and epistemological matters in coding, classifying, and categorizing care tasks in time-use studies. Second, I maintain that care responsibilities exist as “process time”; they can be narrated, but they cannot be measured in fixed units of clock time. Third, I maintain that it is not only possible, but politically and conceptually important for researchers to look beyond clock time, to recognize the ontological multiplicity of time, including relational and non-linear time and to embrace and use different kinds of time. This article is part of a growing call to reimagine how we think about, conceptualize, measure, and make knowledges about time, time use, and care-time intra-actions.
The effect of manufacturing parameters on various composite plates under ballistic impact
Authors: ARI Ali , KARAHAN Mehmet , KOPAR Mehmet , AHRARI Mazyar
Published: December 2022

In this study, the usability of several composite plates in level III and level IV body armors were examined, along with the ballistic resistance, protection level, and production parameters of each plate. For level III protection, composite panels are made using the heat pressing method under various pressures, and for level IV composites, ceramic plates of various thicknesses are reinforced on the back with various composite materials. Ballistic tests using the NIJ standards were performed on the created composite panels. There were delaminations between the layers as a result of the ballistic test in the level III protective panels produced at 140 bar pressure, but there was no puncture in the panels produced at 250 bar pressure, and the depth of trauma was reduced to a minimum. These observations were made using samples produced at 90 bar pressure under controlled conditions. Level IV panels were subjected to dry and wet ballistic tests, and the results of these tests showed that K-flex reinforced ceramics were impervious to punctures. It has been found that aramid-reinforced epoxy ceramic panels and UD H62 reinforced ceramics have superior ballistic qualities and are 6% lighter.
Culture of discrimination in healthcare: A grounded theory
Authors: Hosseinabadi-farahani Mohammadjavad , Fallahi-khoshknab Masoud , Arsalani Narges , Hosseini Mohammadali , Mohammadi Eesa
Published: December 2022

Background

Discrimination in health care is an international challenge and a serious obstacle to justice and equality in health.

Research objective

The purpose of this study was to design a grounded theory of discrimination in health care based on the experiences and perceptions of Iranian healthcare providers and patients.

Research design

This qualitative study was conducted using by the grounded theory method.

Participants and research context

Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 18 healthcare providers including 11 nurses, two physicians, two nurse’s assistants, and three patients in two general hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Participants were selected through purposeful sampling and analyzed simultaneously using the Corbin and Strauss (2015) approach.

Ethical considerations

The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (Ethics code: IR.USWR.REC.1398.023). Also, after explaining the objectives of the study, all the participants completed and signed the written consent form.

Findings

The “culture of discrimination” was the study’s core category, reflecting the nature of discrimination in health care. The theory of “culture of discrimination in health care” is the result of five main categories: “individual social stimuli,” “culture of discrimination,” “unintentional discrimination,” “conflict with discrimination,” and “dissatisfaction with discriminatory behavior.” These categories cover the underlying factors, strategies, and outcomes of the discrimination process in health care.

Discussion

The results of the study showed that nurses and other health care providers experience unintentional discrimination. Unintentional discrimination refers to discriminatory behaviors and practices of health care providers.

Conclusion

The theory of culture of discrimination in health care can be used as a practical guide to describe and understand the role of health care providers, especially nurses. Further studies with a quantitative approach to applying this theory in medical settings are recommended.
Antioxidant Status in Neonatal Sepsis: A Case Control Study
Authors: Kumar Pankaj , Singh Manoj Kumar , Shukla Avneesh , Kumar Rajesh , Singh Sheo Pratap , Pasupuleti Mukesh
Published: December 2022

Objective:

Assessment of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione levels in neonatal sepsis.

Methods:

This case-control study was conducted from October 2017 to October 2018. All the patients having features suggestive of sepsis were subjected to a sepsis screen and blood culture. SOD, catalase, and glutathione assay was done in study subjects qualifying inclusion and exclusion criteria and in controls by spectrophotometric assay.

Results:

This study consisted of 58 cases and 46 controls. Out of 58 cases, 36 (62.07%) were male, 45 (77.59%) were term, and 23 (39.66%) cases were of normal birth weight. The levels of catalase ( P value = .0037) and glutathione ( P value = .0009) were lower, while SOD was higher ( P value = .0122) among cases with neonatal sepsis than controls.

Conclusion:

This study helps us in understanding antioxidant status in neonatal sepsis. However, studies with a larger sample size are needed to further understand inflammatory and antioxidant cascade.
The Safety of Direct Oral Anticoagulants Compared to Warfarin in Patients Hospitalized With Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Harrsch Felicia A. , Walls Jennifer L. , Makkar Kathleen M.
Published: December 2022

Background:

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are preferred over warfarin for many indications, though their safety has not been well established in patients with acute renal impairment.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of bleeding complications associated with DOACs compared with warfarin in patients admitted to the hospital with acute kidney injury (AKI).

Methods:

This was a retrospective cohort study evaluating patients admitted to the Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital with a diagnosis of AKI from October 2017 through September 2021 and receiving therapy with oral anticoagulants. Comparing DOACs with warfarin, the primary endpoint was the percent frequency of composite major and minor bleeding during the admission and within 30 days of discharge.

Results:

There were 112 hospitalization encounters included in the study. Of these, 42 (37.5%) patients were receiving warfarin and 70 (62.5%) patients were receiving DOAC therapy before admission. There was a higher frequency of the primary endpoint of bleeding in patients receiving DOACs as compared with warfarin, though this was not statistically significant (18.5% vs. 11.9%, respectively, P = 0.432). There were no differences between groups in the frequency of major bleeding, minor bleeding, or transfusions. Patients receiving DOAC therapy were more likely to experience anticoagulation-related readmissions or emergency department visits compared with patients on warfarin therapy (11.4% vs. 0%, P = 0.024).

Conclusion and Relevance:

Direct oral anticoagulants and warfarin were associated with statistically similar rates of bleeding in patients presenting with AKI. Further research is necessary to elucidate if DOACs are safer than warfarin in this patient population.