bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HBO1 as an Important Target for the Treatment of CCL4-Induced Liver Fibrosis and Aged-Related Liver Aging and Fibrosis
Authors: Xing Baopeng , Lan Hainan , Li Haifeng
Published: December 2022

The liver is the largest digestive organ in the human body. The increasing incidence of chronic liver fibrosis is one of the major health challenges in the world. Liver fibrosis is a wound-healing response to acute or chronic cellular damage of liver tissue. At present, despite a series of research progress on the pathophysiological mechanism of fibrosis that has been made, there is still a gap in identifying antifibrotic targets and converting them into effective treatments. Therefore, it is extremely important to seek a molecular target that can alleviate or reverse liver fibrosis, which has important scientific and clinical significance. In the current study, to evaluate the therapeutic effect of HBO1 as a molecular target on liver aging and fibrosis, naturally-aged mice and CCL4-induced liver fibrosis mice were used as animal models, and multiple experiments were performed. Experimental results showed that HBO1 knockdown could strongly mitigate the accumulation of hepatic collagen by Masson and Sirius Red staining. Further study showed that HBO1 knockdown reduced the expression of fibrosis-related marker molecules (α-SMA, collagen type I (ColI), and fibronectin). Further work showed that HBO1 knockdown could significantly alleviate HSC activation. On this basis, we analyzed the underlying mechanism by which HBO1 alleviates liver fibrosis. It was found that HBO1 knockdown may modulate liver fibrosis by regulating the processes of EMT, inflammation, and oxidative stress. We further studied the effect of HBO1 knockdown on liver aging and aging-related liver fibrosis, and the results showed that HBO1 knockdown could significantly reduce the level of aging-related liver fibrosis and relieve liver aging. In conclusion, we systematically investigated the potential of HBO1 as a therapeutic target to attenuate liver fibrosis and liver aging. The current study found a crucial target for liver fibrosis and liver-aging therapy, which has laid a solid foundation for the liver fibrosis-related research.
Intercropping and Rhizobium Inoculation Affected Microclimate and Performance of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Varieties
Authors: Shumet Shemeles Tesfaye , Ayalew Tewodros , Roro Amsalu Gobena , Beshir Hussien Mohammed
Published: December 2022

A field experiment was carried out at Hawassa, during the 2020 cropping season with the objective to evaluate the impact of maize-common bean intercropping and Rhizobium inoculation on microclimate, growth, and yield of common bean varieties. Treatments consisting of two common bean varieties, two levels of inoculation and three spatial arrangements of common bean with another sole maize were laid out in a factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results revealed that the main effect of spatial arrangements highly significantly (

P

 < 0.001) affected soil and leaf temperature. Soil moisture content was improved under intercropped plots compared with sole cropping. The intensity of light and qualities, such as red, far-red, and photosynthetically active radiations (μmol m−2 s−1) and ultraviolet rays (UV)-A, UV-B (W m−2), were reduced under intercropping as compared to the sole. Interaction effects of variety, spatial arrangements, and inoculation significantly (

P

 < 0.01) affected plant height and leaf area index. Inoculated sole Nassir outperformed for plant height and leaf area index. Inoculated sole Hawassa Dume variety performed best for nodule number plant−1, nodule dry weight plant−1, pods number plant−1, 100 seed weight, grain yield, and above-ground biomass yield. The highest grain yield (2.8 t ha−1) was recorded from inoculated sole Hawassa Dume. However, considering the equivalent ratio (LER), intercropping with one maize row to two haricot bean rows spatial arrangements was productive by 62% more than sole cropping (total land equivalent ratio of 1.62%).
CGO and SNS Optimization Algorithm for the Structures with Discontinuous and Continuous Variables
Authors: Ghannadiasl Amin , Zarbilinezhad Milad
Published: December 2022

This study aims to find discontinuous and continuous approaches to reducing the size of planar truss structures with a specified shape and topology. The member’s section area has assumed to be a decision variable, and the objective function is to minimize their weight. The member stresses and node displacements are the constraints that must maintain within the allowed limits for each condition. Chaos game optimization (CGO) and social network search (SNS) algorithms were used to optimize four well-known planar truss structures. In discontinuous-size cases, the results of the social network search (SNS) algorithm are the most cost-effective. However, the results of the chaos game optimization (CGO) algorithm are the most cost-effective in continuous-size cases.
Ultrasound-Assisted Wittig Reaction for the Synthesis of 3-Substituted 4-Chloroquinolines and Quinolin-4(1H)-ones with Extended π-Conjugated Systems
Authors: Frites Wahiba , Khalfaoui Massaab , Hammal Lamouri , Silva Vera L. M. , Silva Artur M. S.
Published: December 2022

3-(Vinyl-/buta-1,3-dien-1-yl/4-phenylbuta-1,3-dien-1-yl)-4-chloro quinolines and quinolin-4(1H)-ones were synthesized by ultrasound-assisted Wittig reaction of the corresponding 4-chloro-3-formylquinoline and 3-formylquinolin-4(1H)-ones with nonstabilized ylides. Ease execution, mild conditions, and high yields make this method exploitable for the generation of libraries of 3-substituted 4-chloroquinolines and quinolin-4(1H)-ones with extended π-conjugated systems. To demonstrate the usefulness of these compounds as precursors for the synthesis of more complex structures, 3-vinylquinolin-4(1H)-ones were used as dienes in the Diels–Alder reaction with N-methylmaleimide to produce novel acridone derivatives. The attempted Diels–Alder reaction with 3-(buta-1,3-dien-1-yl)quinolin-4(1H)-one did not afford the expected cycloadduct; instead, 2-methyl-2H-pyrano[3,2-c]quinoline was obtained. The structures and stereochemistry of the new compounds were established by NMR studies.
Identification Method of Dynamic Parameters of Distribution Network Lines
Authors: Li Bin , Ma Jiayang , Hu Ke , Jiang Ye Hai , Jiao Hao , Chen Jinming
Published: December 2022

Accurate network parameters are of great importance for the accurate control of the power distribution network (PDN). In fact, the line parameters of the PDN are always affected by external operating conditions. However, most of the line parameters in the PDN account are static parameters. In order to obtain the dynamic parameters that reflect the line operating condition, this study presents a method that uses only the RMS voltage of the first section of the line and the RMS voltage and power at the low-voltage side of the transformer. This study introduces the processing method of abnormal measurement data, constructs a derivative-free identification equation represented by a matrix, and uses the designed loss function combined with a heuristic method to solve the equation. An actual feeder is used in the experimental part. The experimental data show that the method has some antipower noise ability, and the identification accuracy of this method is better than that of the genetic algorithm and random search algorithm.
Effects of Eight Weeks of Selected Virtual‐Assisted Montessori‐Based Games on Motor Proficiency and Perceived Self‐Control in Children with Spastic Hemiplegia during the Coronavirus Outbreak
Authors: Khaledi Mahsa , Heirani Ali , Sabaghi Ayoob
Published: December 2022

This study is aimed at examining the effect of eight weeks of selected virtual‐assisted games based on Montessori pedagogical principal on the motor proficiency and perceived self‐control in the children with spastic hemiplegia during the coronavirus outbreak. In this quasi‐experimental study, the children (6.42y ± 1.12y) with hemiplegia were randomly selected and assigned to either the experimental group or the control group. In the pretest, motor skills and self‐controlling were evaluated using 36‐item Lincoln‐Oseretsky Motor Development Scale and Children’s Perceived Self‐Control Scale (CPSC) (ss, 1982), respectively. The experimental group then engaged in three 45‐minute sessions of virtual game play over the course of eight weeks. 24 hours following the last practice session, the posttest was given on the same day as the pretest. After ensuring the normal distribution of collected data with Shapiro‐Wilk test, the data were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance test (ANCOVA). Results showed that the experimental group compared to the control group was better in the motor proficiency and perceived self‐control after performing selected virtual‐assisted Montessori games can significantly improve motor proficiency and perceived self‐control (P < 0.05). This pattern of data revealed that the virtual‐assisted intervention based on Montessori pedagogical principles may increase motor proficiency and self‐control in children with hemiplegia, particularly when confronted with the limitations imposed on by the coronavirus epidemic.
Comparing Acid and Enzymatic Hydrolysis Methods for Cellulose Nanocrystals (CNCs) Obtention from Agroindustrial Rice Husk Waste
Authors: Hernández Pérez Ricardo , Salgado Delgado René , Olarte Paredes Alfredo , Salgado Delgado Areli , García Hernández Edgar , Medrano Valis Atenas , Martínez Candia Fryda
Published: December 2022

Agroindustrial residues represent a serious environmental problem in the world; in this case, the polluting rice husk, present in the rice fields of Morelos State, is one source of incalculable biomass. The aim of this study was to assess two viable and optimized procedures for obtaining nanocellulose from these wastes. The sieved samples included 4 treatments with different grain sizes (sieves # 10, 15, 30, and 50) and three replicates. They were then processed by an alkaline treatment (NaOH) 5%, bleaching with sodium hypochlorite, followed by pretreatment with 0.65% hydrochloric acid (HCl). After drying, the cellulose was subjected to acid hydrolysis with (H2SO4) at 64%, and was compared to an enzymatic hydrolysis complex. This complex was formed of D-(+) cellobiose and endo-1,4-β-D-glucanase from Acidothermus cellulolyticus. End products were sonicated and dialyzed until they reach a neutral pH. Finally, the nanocellulose was characterized by FTIR, DSC, XRD, SEM, and TEM. Evident results recognize the nanocellulose (NC) synthesis by both routes, with greater contaminants generated in the medium by the acid hydrolysis. It is much more feasible and faster to achieve with enzymatic hydrolysis, less aggressive for the environment, and higher performance. In future trials, the cost-benefit of using the enzyme complex should be assessed as an alternative to replace acid hydrolysis.Key words: acid hydrolysis, enzymatic hydrolysis, waste, rice husk, Oryzasativa L, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs).
Traveling Wave Solution of the Kaup–Boussinesq System with Beta Derivative Arising from Water Waves
Authors: Chen Dan , Li Zhao
Published: December 2022

The main purpose of this paper is to construct the traveling wave solution of the Kaup–Boussinesq system with beta derivative arising from water waves. By using the complete discriminant system method of polynomial, the rational function solution, the trigonometric function solution, the exponential function solution, and the Jacobian function solution of the Kaup–Boussinesq system with beta derivative are obtained. In order to further explain the propagation of the Kaup–Boussinesq system with beta derivative in water waves, we draw its three‐dimensional diagram, two‐dimensional diagram, density plot, and contour plot by using Maple software.
Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Features of Small to Big Satellite Nevus Uncover the Nevogenesis of Large/Giant Congenital Melanocytic Nevus
Authors: Gu Jieyu , Wei Boxuan , Gao Bowen , Duan Ran , Sheng Lingling , Zheng Danning , Bao Yongyang , Xie Feng
Published: December 2022

The nevogenesis of large/giant congenital melanocytic nevus (lgCMN) is a complex biological process including several integral prenatal stages. Limited by ethical concerns, the debate of whether lgCMN develops from the epidermis to the dermis or in the opposite direction remains controversial. With the present study of the accompanying satellite nevi, we tend to support that lgCMN develops from epidermis to dermis. The satellite nevi were divided into 3 groups: big (diameter >10 mm), medium (>5 mm but ≤10 mm), and small (≤5 mm). Hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining (SOX10, Ki67, and p16) were performed to compare the nevocyte infiltration depth as well as the positively stained rates among these satellite nevi. Compared to big satellite nevi, less deeply the nevocytes infiltrated the dermis, as well as more cells expressed SOX10 and Ki67 in the epidermis and fewer cells expressed p16 in the dermis of small satellite nevi. Additionally, two specimens were obtained from each of 4 patients who underwent serial resections of lgCMN at an average interval of 1.75 years to examine the histopathological changes. In the present study, satellite nevi of different sizes represent different stages of lgCMN from early to late, deepening our comprehension of the sequential stages of lgCMN nevogenesis. Initially, abnormal nevocytes seeded, proliferated, and spread along the epidermis. At rete ridges that protrude from the papillary dermis within the epidermis, some nevocytes formed nests and gradually penetrated into the dermis. Eventually, the nevocytes infiltrated the dermis and entered a homeostatic state. This study provides new evidence supporting the theory of epidermal-to-dermal nevogenesis in lgCMN.
Research on Fault Diagnosis Method Based on Improved CNN
Authors: Hao Hu , Fuzhou Feng , Junzhen Zhu , Xun Zhou , Pengcheng Jiang , Feng Jiang , Jun Xue , Yazhi Li , Guanghui Sun
Published: December 2022

Traditional fault diagnosis methods require complex signal processing and expert experience, and the accuracy of fault identification is low. To solve these problems, a fault diagnosis method based on an improved convolutional neural network (CNN) is proposed. Based on the traditional CNN model, a variety of convolution stride modes were added to extract features of different scales of signals and expand the feature dimension. Firstly, the vibration signals were collected and grouped. Then, the data were divided into a training set and a test set and input into improved CNN for feature extraction and model training to realize fault identification. The proposed model achieved a classification accuracy of 99.3% when testing the vibration data of the armored vehicle. Finally, the proposed model was used to classify different fault types of planetary gearboxes. The gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) method was used to visualize the classification weight of samples. The results showed that the classification accuracy reaches 98% under various working conditions of the planetary gearbox.
Qingfei Tongluo Formula Mitigates Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection via the PERK Signaling Pathway
Authors: Liu Xiuxiu , Wang Mingjing , Kan Qianna , Lin Yan , Jiang Zhiyan
Published: December 2022

Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) is usually found in school-aged children and relapses easily because of antibiotic resistance. The Qingfei Tongluo formula (QTF) is a clinically used traditional Chinese medicine to treat MPP. Our previous study demonstrated that QTF exhibited ameliorative effects on the experimental MPP mice model. In this study, the function and underlying QTF mechanism in MPP was attempted to be further explored. Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) was applied to infect A549 cells and BALB/c mice to mimic MPP in vitro and in vivo. Cytokine release and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay and flow cytometry. Western blot analysis was used to detect the protein involved in ER stress. MP infection was found to enhance cytokine release and ER stress in vitro and in vivo, and this effect could be alleviated by QTF. Moreover, protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) knockdown alleviated MP infection-induced cytokine release, ROS production, and ER stress in A549 cells while the PERK overexpression exhibited the opposite effects. In conclusion, QTF alleviated MP infection-induced cytokine release, ROS production, and ER stress via PERK signaling pathway inhibition.
Removal of Reactive Black Dye in Water by Magnetic Mesoporous Carbon from Macadamia Nutshell
Authors: Damdib Sakonsupa , Vanichsetakul Nuttamon , Pimpapoat Phanuwat , Mikhalovsky Sergey , Busquets Rosa , Siyasukh Adisak , Tonanon Nattaporn
Published: December 2022

The novel and intriguing role of Fe(NO3)3 as a chemical activator in carbonization of macadamia nutshell is introduced in this work. Magnetic mesoporous carbon was achieved by chemical activation of macadamia nutshell with Fe(NO3)3 under nitrogen atmosphere at 850°C (MMC-850). Porosity of MMC-850 included S BET 317 m2/g with V micro 0.0796 cm3/g and considerably high V meso 0.4318 cm3/g. Not only did MMC-850 possesses good magnetic properties with saturation magnetization and coercive force of 31.48 emu/g and 506.6 Oe, respectively, but MMC-850 also showed high-removal efficiency of reactive black dye (RB5) with maximum adsorption capacity at 123.51 mg/g. The experimental data fit the Langmuir isotherm and Elovich model. Thermal regeneration was effective in degrading RB5 and removal ability was above 90% after two regeneration cycles. RB5 removal from water by MMC-850 as an adsorbent is considered a facile and inexpensive method since macadamia nutshell is a food by-product which is a green and renewable carbon precursor. MMC-850 is a potential adsorbent because it can be separated from wastewater treatment system using magnetic force. Besides, MMC-850 particle is not brittle compared to other porous biochar/activated carbon with similar size; therefore, it is an excellent candidate for column packing or scaling up for wastewater treatment facilities in the future.
Efficacy of a Small-Molecule Inhibitor of KrasG12D in Immunocompetent Models of Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Kemp Samantha B. , Cheng Noah , Markosyan Nune , Sor Rina , Kim Il-Kyu , Hallin Jill , Shoush Jason , Quinones Liz , Brown Natalie V. , Bassett Jared B. , Joshi Nikhil , Yuan Salina , Smith Molly , Vostrejs William P. , Perez-Vale Kia Z. , Kahn Benjamin , Mo Feiyan , Donahue Timothy R. , Radu Caius G. , Clendenin Cynthia , Christensen James G. , Vonderheide Robert H. , Stanger Ben Z.
Published: December 2022

Mutations in the KRAS oncogene are found in more than 90% of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), with Gly-to-Asp mutations (KRASG12D) being the most common. Here, we tested the efficacy of a small-molecule KRASG12D inhibitor, MRTX1133, in implantable and autochthonous PDAC models with an intact immune system. In vitro studies validated the specificity and potency of MRTX1133. In vivo, MRTX1133 prompted deep tumor regressions in all models tested, including complete or near-complete remissions after 14 days. Concomitant with tumor cell apoptosis and proliferative arrest, drug treatment led to marked shifts in the tumor microenvironment (TME), including changes in fibroblasts, matrix, and macrophages. T cells were necessary for MRTX1133's full antitumor effect, and T-cell depletion accelerated tumor regrowth after therapy. These results validate the specificity, potency, and efficacy of MRTX1133 in immunocompetent KRASG12D-mutant PDAC models, providing a rationale for clinical testing and a platform for further investigation of combination therapies.

Significance:

Pharmacologic inhibition of KRASG12D in pancreatic cancer models with an intact immune system stimulates specific, potent, and durable tumor regressions. In the absence of overt toxicity, these results suggest that this and similar inhibitors should be tested as potential, high-impact novel therapies for patients with PDAC.

See related commentary by Redding and Grabocka, p. 260.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 247
Effect of Fludrocortisone on Intradialytic Hypotension: An Open-Label, Randomized, Crossover Study
Authors: Vongchaiudomchoke Thanawat , Siriyong Patchanon , Wachiraphansakul Nuttaya , Noppakun Kajohnsak
Published: December 2022

Introduction: Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is an important complication during chronic hemodialysis due to its adverse cardiovascular and hemodialysis outcomes. Case reports have demonstrated that administration of fludrocortisone before undergoing hemodialysis might increase intradialytic blood pressure. This study is a randomized crossover study aiming to evaluate the intradialytic hemodynamic effects of fludrocortisone. Material and Methods: A randomized, controlled two-period crossover trial was conducted at Lampang Hospital in stable chronic hemodialysis patients who experienced IDH >30% in their sessions during the past 3 months. All participants have randomly received a single dose of 0.2-mg fludrocortisone 30 min before each hemodialysis session, or had no treatment for 4 weeks. After a 2-week washout period, the participants were then switched to the other treatment for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the mean lowest intradialytic mean arterial pressure (MAP) during the hemodialysis session. Results: A total of 17 patients were recruited with a mean age of 61.7 ± 14.8 years. By analysis of crossover design, the mean lowest intradialytic MAP was not different between receiving fludrocortisone or with no treatment (76.1 ± 12.5 vs. 73.9 ± 11.5 mm Hg, p for treatment effect = 0.331, p for period effect = 0.855, p for sequence effect = 0.870). There was no difference in the incidence of IDH between the two groups (34.4% in fludrocortisone vs. 42.7% in no treatment, p = 0.137). However, in diabetic patients and patients with residual kidney function, the incidence of IDH was significantly lower when receiving fludrocortisone (30.8 vs. 52.6%, p < 0.001, and 27.6 vs. 74.3%, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: In chronic hemodialysis patients who had IDH, fludrocortisone administration did not improve intradialytic hemodynamics and did not decrease the incidence of IDH.
Imaging Diagnosis of Various Hepatocellular Carcinoma Subtypes and Its Hypervascular Mimics: Differential Diagnosis Based on Conventional Interpretation and Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Minami Yasunori , Nishida Naoshi , Kudo Masatoshi
Published: December 2022

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unique among malignancies, and its characteristics on contrast imaging modalities allow for a highly accurate diagnosis. The radiological differentiation of focal liver lesions is playing an increasingly important role, and the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System adopts a combination of major features including arterial phase hyper-enhancement (APHE) and the washout pattern. Summary: Specific HCCs such as well or poorly differentiated type, subtypes including fibrolamellar or sarcomatoid and combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma do not often demonstrate APHE and washout appearance. Meanwhile, hypervascular liver metastases and hypervascular intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma can demonstrate APHE and washout. There are still other hypervascular malignant liver tumors (i.e., angiosarcoma, epithelioid hemangioendothelioma) and hypervascular benign liver lesions (i.e., adenoma, focal nodular hyperplasia, angiomyolipoma, flash filling hemangioma, reactive lymphoid hyperplasia, inflammatory lesion, arterioportal shunt), which need to be distinguished from HCC. When a patient has chronic liver disease, differential diagnosis of hypervascular liver lesions can be even more complicated. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine has been widely explored, and recent advancement in the field of deep learning has provided promising performance for the analysis of medical images, especially radiological imaging data contain diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive information which AI can extract. The AI research studies have demonstrated high accuracy (over 90% accuracy) for classifying lesions with typical imaging features from some hepatic lesions. The AI system has a potential to be implemented in clinical routine as decision support tools. However, for the differential diagnosis of many types of hypervascular liver lesions, further large-scale clinical validation is still required. Key Messages: Clinicians should be aware of the histopathological features, imaging characteristics, and differential diagnoses of hypervascular liver lesions to a precise diagnosis and more valuable treatment plan. We need to be familiar with such atypical cases to prevent a diagnostic delay, but AI-based tools also need to learn a large number of typical and atypical cases.
Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Induce Proliferation and Therapeutic Resistance to Everolimus in Neuroendocrine Tumors through STAT3 Activation
Authors: Amin Tania , Viol Fabrice , Krause Jenny , Fahl Martina , Eggers Corinna , Awwad Fayez , Schmidt Benjamin , Benten Daniel , Ungefroren Hendrik , Fraune Christoph , Clauditz Till S. , Sauter Guido , Izbicki Jakob R. , Lohse Ansgar W. , Huber Samuel , Schrader Jörg
Published: December 2022

Introduction: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) have been identified as relevant contributors to cancer progression and drug resistance in many tumors. Although neuroendocrine tumors (NET) are often associated with a strong stromal reaction, no study has addressed whether CAF are involved in progression and therapeutic resistance in NET. The aim of this study was to characterize the role of CAF in NET. Methods: We established primary CAF cultures derived from NET liver metastases to study the effect on NET cell lines NT-3 and BON. Immunohistochemistry was performed on tissue sections of primary and metastatic NET tissue. Results: Immunohistochemistry identified CAF dispersed in between tumor cells and within fibrotic bands separating tumor cell clusters in NET. Stimulating NET cells with CAF decreased expression of SSTR2 and chromogranin A and induced expression of CXCR4. CAF induced a 2.3-fold increase in proliferation and completely reversed the response to everolimus in NT-3 cells. We identified STAT3 as the main signaling pathway induced by CAF. STAT3 targeting by small interfering RNA knockdown and inhibitors prevented CAF-induced proliferation and restored everolimus responsiveness. STAT3 activation in NET tissue was associated with decreased chromogranin A expression, increased Ki-67 index, and decreased 5-year overall and progression-free survival. CAF directly influence proliferation and therapeutic response in NET cells. Conclusion: Identifying STAT3 as the contributing pathway of this so far neglected tumor-stroma interaction has the potential to become a new therapeutic target to halt tumor growth and to restore therapeutic responsiveness in NET.
Association of Clinical Setting With Sociodemographics and Outcomes Following Endovascular Femoropopliteal Artery Revascularization in the United States
Authors: Raja Aishwarya , Wadhera Rishi K. , Choi Eunhee , Chen Siyan , Shen Changyu , Figueroa Jose F. , Yeh Robert W. , Secemsky Eric A.
Published: December 2022

Background:

After the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services modified reimbursement rates for outpatient peripheral vascular intervention in 2008 with the intent of improving access to care, providers began to increasingly perform peripheral vascular interventions in privately owned office-based clinics. Little is known about the characteristics of patients treated in this setting and their long-term outcomes as compared with those treated in hospital-based centers.

Methods:

In this retrospective cohort study, Medicare beneficiaries ≥66 years undergoing outpatient femoropopliteal peripheral vascular interventions in office-based clinics and hospital-based centers from 2015 to 2017 were identified. Sociodemographics, comorbidities, and institutional characteristics were compared across sites. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the adjusted associations between practice site location and outcomes. The primary outcome was the composite of major amputation or death analyzed through the end of follow-up.

Results:

Among 134 869 patients, 29.9% were treated in office-based clinics and 70.1% in hospital-based centers. Patients treated in office-based clinics were more often Black (16.9% versus 11.9%), dually enrolled in Medicaid (26.3% versus 19.6%), and residents of lower-resourced regions (32.6% versus 25.6%). Over a median follow-up time of 800 days (interquartile range, 531–1119 days), patients treated in office-based clinics had reduced risks of major amputation or death compared with outpatients treated in hospital-based centers (hazard ratio, 0.92 [95% CI, 0.89–0.95]). They also had lower adjusted all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.90–0.96]), major lower extremity amputation (hazard ratio, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.79–0.89]), and all-cause hospitalization (hazard ratio, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.84–0.88]). These findings persisted after stratification by critical limb ischemia, race, dual enrollment, and regional socioeconomic status, as well as among operators treating patients in both clinical settings.

Conclusions:

In this large nationwide analysis of Medicare beneficiaries, office-based clinics treated a more socioeconomically disadvantaged population compared with hospital-based centers. Long-term outcomes were comparable between locations. As such, these clinics appear to be selecting lower-risk patients for outpatient peripheral vascular interventions, although there remains the possibility of unmeasured confounding.
Trends in Thrombolysis and Thrombectomy Use in Patients With Ischemic Stroke and Cancer
Authors: Otite Fadar Oliver , Somani Sana , Chaturvedi Seemant , Mehndiratta Prachi
Published: December 2022

Background

To determine how intravenous thrombolysis (IV‐tPA) and mechanical thrombectomy (MT) use has changed in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with cancer (AIS‐C) compared with patients with AIS and noncancer (AIS‐NC) in the United States since publication of pivotal MT trials.

Methods

All primary AIS‐NC and AIS‐C admissions (weighted N=5 748 357) were identified from the 2007 to 2019 Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Joinpoint and multivariable‐adjusted models with interaction terms were used to compare the rate of change in IV‐tPA and MT use between AIS‐C and AIS‐NC.

Results

From 2007 to 2019, 4.4% of AIS admissions had active cancer. Overall IV‐tPA use in AIS‐C (6.4%) was lower than that of AIS‐NC (8.5%) (
P
<0.001) but use differed by cancer subtype (hematologic, 7.2%; metastatic, 4.2%). IV‐tPA use increased over time in all cancers, but analysis of status‐by‐time interaction revealed that the pace of increase was slower in metastatic compared with AIS‐NC admissions (rate ratio, 0.98;
P
=0.015) per year. In contrast, MT use in AIS‐C (2.2%) was greater than that of AIS‐NC (1.9%), but use was highest in metastatic (2.5%) and lowest in hematologic cancers (1.6%) (
P
values for all pairwise comparisons <0.001). MT use increased at a faster pace in metastatic AIS‐C (rate ratio, 1.06;
P
=0.001)/year compared with AIS‐NC. In‐hospital all‐cause mortality in AIS‐NC was 4.2% compared with 8.2% in AIS‐C (
P
<0.001). Mortality declined over time in all cancer groups, but the pace of decline was faster in solid and metastatic AIS‐C compared with AIS‐NC (
P
values <0.01).

Conclusions

Use of IV‐tPA and MT has increased in AIS‐C over the past decade. Contrary to prior studies, the current frequency and pace of increase in MT use is greater in metastatic AIS‐C compared with AIS‐NC. Future studies are needed to determine whether AIS‐C are more predisposed to large‐vessel occlusion.
Meta’s Oversight Board and Beyond – Corporations as Interpreters and Adjudicators of International Human Rights
Authors: Kulick Andreas
Published: December 2022

Social media platform corporations such as Meta (Facebook), Twitter, etc. find themselves in a position of having to interpret international human rights norms, in particular Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) (freedom of expression). Millions or even billions of content moderation decisions need to be taken on the platforms each day that affect users’ human rights interests. Since content moderation is integral to the technical and commercial set-up of these platforms, corporate decision-making vis-à-vis human rights and thus corporate interpretation of international human rights norms is inevitable. Yet, corporations are flawed interpreters. Whereas they act, like a court or tribunal, as triadic decision-makers, they, unlike a court or tribunal, do not share the neutrality, impartiality and independence of the latter. In particular, they are responsible to their shareholders and they pursue commercial interests when moderating content. This article grapples with the theoretical and doctrinal implications of flawed but inevitable corporate human rights interpretation. Taking the early practice of the Oversight Board, a body established by Meta, Inc. (Facebook), in order to tackle the “hard cases” of content moderation as a case study, the pitfalls and challenges of corporate human rights interpretation become apparent. In the end, I submit a few suggestions in order to remedy what seems to be here to stay with us at least for as long as an important part of public discourse is channelled through social media platforms.
Tubo-Sogdian Relations along the Silk Road: On an Enigmatic Gold Plaque from Dulan (Qinghai, China)
Authors: Sifei Li
Published: December 2022

In 2018, some tombs that belonged to early Tibetan-related elites at the site of Dulan (Qinghai, China) were disturbed by looters’ activity. One of the gold objects confiscated by local police officers displays a curious composite creature that could be called a winged ichthyocentaurus or triton. This creature includes the torso of a dressed man with a beribboned crown holding a rhyton-like horn and a coiled fish tail. This article discusses the possible function and meaning of this type of composite creatures that appear also on some artifacts from Central Asian archaeological sites and Sino-Sogdian funerary monuments. The iconography of the hybrid creatures seems to be rooted in Greek art. Sogdians possibly transmitted it to the Tibetan Plateau along the so-called Silk Road in the 7th-8th cc. The horn held by the creature is reminiscent of one attribute of the ancient Chinese wind god “Feng Bo” (风伯, “Master of the Wind”) that has been depicted in the funerary milieu since the Han period (202 B.C.-220 A.D.) because of its association with immortality. This object could allow us to identify the iconography of the Sogdian wind deity Weshparkar (Avestan Vayu) who sometimes had a “wind blowing horn” like in the Dulan gold plaque. The study of this specific detail could help to shed light on the multicultural background of early Tibetan societies that definitely had contacts with Central Asia and China along the Silk Road trading network.
The City of Brass and Alexander’s Narrow Grave: Translation and Commentary of Kafas added to Manuscript M7709 (Part 2)
Authors: MacFarlane Alex
Published: December 2022

The 17th-century manuscript M7709 (held in the Matenadaran, Yerevan, Armenia) includes an Armenian copy of the History of the City of Brass, to which an unknown scribe has added short poems about Alexander the Great. This is the second of three articles that together present the Alexander poems of M7709 in full, with English translation, for the first time (see Part I in Iran and the Caucasus 25.4: 334–351), focusing on sixteen poems: the death of Alexander, and Alexander’s confrontation with emissaries of Darius III. It adds commentary on the poems’ relationship to the corresponding part of the History of the City of Brass on each page, proposing textual reasons why the scribe added the poems where he did. Across the three articles, this commentary delves into textual relationships beyond the pages of M7709, linking the Armenian History of the City of Brass, Alexander Romance and other texts and traditions, to show how this manuscript is situated amid wider networks of circulating literature. As a microhistorical study, it seeks to provide illumination into the macrohistory of medieval and early modern literature in and beyond the Caucasus.
The Fragility of the Philippines in the Context of Increasing China-U.S. Rivalry in the Western Pacific
Authors: Stach Łukasz
Published: December 2022

The situation in Southeast Asia is of concern not only to the countries in the region, but also to the world’s great powers. The growing economic and military power of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and its rivalry with the United States (U.S.) are perceived as disruption of the regional status quo. Smaller Southeast Asian states try to secure their position in the changing international environment. These countries include the Philippines, which faces many internal and external security threats. The situation is worsened by the fact that the Philippines is considered by scholars to be a weak and fragile state. The article attempts to elucidate the issue of the Philippines’ fragile state and its influence on the country’s position in the age of growing China-U.S. competition. Moreover, the study tries to answer the question of why the Philippines earned the reputation of a fragile state. The article uses on content analysis of existing literature plus the data from readily accessible sources, and it mostly employs descriptive data analysis methodology.
Public Means for Private Ends? Local Electoral Incentives and Public Welfare Expenditures
Authors: Mendoza Maria Elize H.
Published: December 2022

The literature on distributive politics explores changes in public expenditures vis-à-vis the electoral incentives of politicians. In theory, term-limited politicians are not inclined to increase spending in the absence of re-election prospects. The Philippine case shows otherwise. Guided by theories and studies on Philippine local politics and the effects of term limits on electoral incentives, this article argues that even term-limited politicians can be driven to increase spending if they have a family member intended to succeed them in an upcoming election. Estimates from regression models that used panel data on public expenditures and elections in Philippine provinces and cities from 1992 to 2018 confirm this. Overall, this study provides insights on how electoral incentives and public spending behavior of term-limited politicians change once membership in a political family is factored in.
The Emotional (Un)making of the Family in Cross-European Parent–Child Relations
Authors: Shubin Sergei
Published: December 2022

This essay examines the emotions that make and unmake transnational families, drawing on interviews with migrant parents living in Scotland and separated from their children abroad. First, it explores the meaning of distance and its role in stimulating emotional connections and disconnections between family members. It emphasises the significance of separation for emotional well-being and the necessity of absences in stimulating different intensities of transnational emotional labour. Second, the essay broadens the conceptualisation of the ‘emotional’ to include emotional work and emotional worklessness. It highlights emotions of ‘longing’ and ‘hope’ that unwork the structures of intentionality and reveal passivity at the heart of familial relations. Emotional lives of transnational families are permeated by the imaginaries of co-presence and potential future. Exploring the simultaneous production and fragmentation of emotional connections, the essay suggests the reworking of the contestable family idea(l)s and attending to intimate practices beyond utility and familial normativities.
Music in Evolution and Evolution in Music
Authors: Jan Steven
Published: December 2022

Music in Evolution and Evolution in Music by Steven Jan is a comprehensive account of the relationships between evolutionary theory and music. Examining the ‘evolutionary algorithm’ that drives biological and musical-cultural evolution, the book provides a distinctive commentary on how musicality and music can shed light on our understanding of Darwin’s famous theory, and vice-versa.

Comprised of seven chapters, with several musical examples, figures and definitions of terms, this original and accessible book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the relationships between music and evolutionary thought. Jan guides the reader through key evolutionary ideas and the development of human musicality, before exploring cultural evolution, evolutionary ideas in musical scholarship, animal vocalisations, music generated through technology, and the nature of consciousness as an evolutionary phenomenon.

A unique examination of how evolutionary thought intersects with music, Music in Evolution and Evolution in Music is essential to our understanding of how and why music arose in our species and why it is such a significant presence in our lives.
4 Evolutionary Metaphors in Discourse on Music
Authors: Jan Steven
Published: December 2022

Chapter 4: discusses the impact evolutionary thought has had on discourses in music historiography and in music theory/analysis. This requires a double-layered approach that not only considers the (metaphorical) application of evolutionary ideas to questions of individual composers’ stylistic development, to diachronic and idiostructural formal-structural development, and to diachronic musical style and genre change (these particularly prevalent in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries), but that also considers verbalisation on music (as ‘verbal-conceptual memeplexes’) as itself subject to memetic-evolutionary pressures, some of these pressures arising from the need for alignment with the music that the verbal-conceptual memeplexes purport to describe and explain. The relationship between such music-discourse evolution, and the evolution of culture more broadly, is also examined, as part of an evaluation of Susan McClary’s critique of ‘absolute’ music and its relationship to socioeconomic change.
Workplace Deceptions During the Pandemic: Differences in Conspiracy Beliefs, Psychological Functioning, and Covid-19 Experiences
Authors: Rogers Richard , Pan Minqi , Hartigan Sara E. , Chang Yi-Ting , Donson Jordan E.
Published: December 2022

The global pandemic has disrupted virtually all countries on health, psychological functioning, and economies, to name a few. Accurate information has also fallen victim to the pandemic, which has been rife with misinformation and conspiracy theories. The current study investigated Covid-19 deceptions related to employment. With complete anonymity via MTurk, 389 participants from the United States rated their likelihood of deception regarding hypothetical four workplace scenarios. The first set of analyses examined differences between high and low risk of deceptions for each scenario based on participants’ self-appraisals. The largest differences were found for general conspiracy beliefs and affective disorders, specifically major depression and generalized anxiety. The second set of analyses focused across the workplace scenarios on two operationalized groups with Likely-Deceptive ( n = 189) vastly outnumbering Likely-Genuine ( n = 55). Personal experiences with Covid-19 dramatically increased deceptions. Testing positive for Covid-19 increased the odds of being in the Likely-Deceptive by twelve-fold. Two discriminant models examined cognitive misbeliefs and psychological functioning. When both were combined, depression and Covid-19 misinformation produced the strongest structure coefficients followed closely by general conspiracy beliefs and generalized anxiety. The far-ranging implications of these findings are discussed.
A novel bottom-up methodology for design and fabrication of three-dimensional braided hybrid composites based on the law of yarn routing and grouping
Authors: Cheng Yanan , Quan Zhenzhen , Gu Qiujin , Yu Jianyong
Published: December 2022

A hybrid is an effective means to improve the comprehensive properties of composites. In the current article, by investigating the yarn routing and grouping law in three-dimensional braiding, a novel bottom-up methodology for the design and fabrication of three-dimensional braided hybrid composites is proposed based on the [ m, m] hybrid unit. Three-dimensional braided hybrid composites with different sizes of hybrid unit were prepared and drop-hammer based impact tests were conducted to study the composites' dynamic mechanical performances. It was found that the three-dimensional braided hybrid composites based on the bottom-up methodology present much better structural integrity and toughness than conventional ply-stacked hybrid counterparts and significant dependence of mechanical performances on the size of hybrid unit. We found that the smaller the size of hybrid unit, the better the mechanical performance. The results demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed bottom-up methodology and could enable the design and fabrication of three-dimensional braided preforms and composites with certain well designed structures and functions.
Development of clothing-type platforms considering pressure and user satisfaction: focusing on industrial workers who tend to lift loads
Authors: Kim Yehyoun , Kim Jeesoo , Lee Dongyoung , Piao Jiaoli , Bae Joonbum , Koo Sumin Helen
Published: December 2022

The purpose of this study was to develop a clothing-type platform of wearable robots for industrial workers who usually lift loads to prevent accidents and increase their work efficiency. First, fabrics were selected through test analyses of the elongation recovery rate and tensile strength. Second, a suit-type platform embedded with electrostatic clutch band actuators was prototyped and measured the friction force, and a washing dimension change rate of the test with the platform was conducted. Third, clothing pressures were measured after the developed prototype was worn, using an air injection sensor system at nine points and with four motions. Next, subjective clothing pressure and satisfaction surveys were conducted. The study produced four major results: (a) the selected fabrics and the prototype with the electrostatic clutch actuator met the performance requirements; (b) the greatest clothing pressure occurred at the back, back waist, and back knee, where actuators were connected, and the clothing pressure was sufficient for positional stability; (c) the subjective pressure was different in each section from the actual clothing pressure measurement; and (d) participants were satisfied with the developed prototypes, and they showed willingness to purchase them. The results can help developers of wearable robots increase comfort and user satisfaction.
A Magic Leap in Tourism: Intended and Realized Experience of Head-Mounted Augmented Reality in a Museum Context
Authors: Bird Jonathan M. , Smart Philip A. , Harris David J. , Phillips Laura A. , Giannachi Gabriella , Vine Samuel J.
Published: December 2022

Augmented reality (AR) is an emergent technology in tourism. However, research concerning the AR user experience is relatively scarce and seldom addresses the intentions of designers. Accordingly, we sought to: (a) explore the design intentions underlying a multi-user, purpose-built AR experience; (b) assess the extent to which users’ realized experience aligned with the designers’ intended experience; and (c) examine the relationships between users’ internal states and their associated behavior, in alignment with a Stimulus-Organism-Response framework. In Study 1, designers ( n = 5) took part in a focus group and completed a design intentions survey. In Study 2, users ( n = 48) tested the AR experience, and a range of subjective (e.g., affective responses) and objective (i.e., visual attention) data were recorded. Findings indicated designer–user disparities primarily at the organism and response levels. Additionally, users’ affective responses to the AR experience were strongly associated with visitor engagement.