bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining the Role of Age at Entrance in Foreign Detention for Dutch Prisoners’ Reoffending Behavior After Release
Authors: Hall Matthias van
Published: May 2023

While about 1,900 Dutch prisoners are detained abroad annually, current knowledge on this group of prisoners is often limited to descriptions about their background characteristics and conditions in foreign detention. Previous research has highlighted the relatively high average age of Dutch prisoners at entrance in foreign detention. The current study examines whether reoffending behavior differs across three groups of prisoners: younger prisoners (aged between 18–30 years), middle-aged prisoners (aged between 31–45 years), and older prisoners (46 years or older). Using registration and reconviction data, the results demonstrate that middle-aged prisoners form the largest group. Furthermore, the results indicate that younger prisoners are more likely to reoffend after release from foreign detention compared to other subgroups.
Discontinuous first person agreement in Semitic and postsyntactic modularity
Authors: Hewett Matthew
Published: May 2023

Semitic agreement is normally discontinuous (i.e. expressed by more than one affix on the verb) only in the second and third persons. However, in restricted cases in particular languages, first person agreement is also discontinuous. I discuss two types of first person discontinuities. The first manifests the hallmarks of a meta split, persisting across paradigms and exponents. I argue that this type of first person discontinuity arises due to postsyntactic Fission which separates antagonistic sets of features prior to insertion and which is driven by markedness constraints on feature coexponence. The second type of first person discontinuity is restricted to a single paradigm and does not evince true discontinuous bleeding effects. Such discontinuities are best captured via morphological Doubling, modeled via Generalized Reduplication. First person discontinuities thus provide strong empirical support for the autonomy of morpheme splitting rules and morpheme copying rules. I demonstrate that each type of rule has a distinct empirical signature and acts as a repair to a different kind of morphotactic constraint. Consequently, there must be more than one route to discontinuous agreement.
Liberated, But Not Free
Authors: Maitra Nabanjan
Published: May 2023

Polemic has a deeply polemical history. It has, on occasion, been dismissed as a philosophical dead-end, but its sociological salience has more often been missed. In this article, I take up the one-sided religious polemics undertaken in the fourteenth century by the Mādhva Vedāntins against the Advaita Vedāntins. I argue that religious polemics, besides being integral to the consolidation of group identity and fostering solidarity, shed light on the issues that are of acute import to the group advancing them. In these engagements, silence can convey as much as sustained engagement, revealing the asymmetries of power that obtain between presumed rival institutions.
A State-Society Approach to Climate Policy Diffusion for Sustainable Development in East Asia
Authors: Lee Jinhyun
Published: May 2023

Increasingly, global efforts to combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have invoked national climate policies in the past decades. The Paris Agreement provides general guidelines for climate policy with which signatory countries are expected to comply. East Asia’s economic and political significance is rising in achieving these goals globally, but countries in the region are somewhat behind international climate norms and face criticism from global society. Moreover, despite government initiatives to achieve a sustainability transition domestically, East Asian societies are less aligned with international climate norms, prioritizing economic development over issues like climate change. As a result, governments in the region face different incentives for their policy options. This paper discusses three East Asian examples from the global norm-diffusion perspective by taking a state-society approach. It argues that the top-down efforts initiated by global society will fail without domestic societies embracing international efforts.
The logics of staying for highly skilled Asian migrants in Japan
Authors: Liu-Farrer Gracia
Published: May 2023

Japan welcomes highly educated migrants, but do these migrants stay on in Japan? Drawing on a web survey of 600 immigrant employees working in Japan, this paper evaluates different factors influencing migrants’ stay and leave intentions. The results indicate that economic and employment-related reasons have limited impact on migrants’ stay intentions. Nationalities also predict migrants’ varied willingness to stay in Japan, indicating the blurring boundary between economic and cultural logics of migration. Among all factors, marrying locals provides the strongest incentive to stay, demonstrating again that affective and social ties exercise the most power in anchoring the migrants.
Becoming Naturecultural: Rethinking sustainability for a more-than-human world
Authors: Ergene Seray , Calás Marta B.
Published: May 2023

The Earth is facing extraordinary ecological crises resulting from human impact on the planet. Meanwhile, a growing body of research studies the relationship of organizations with the natural environment but often overlooks anthropocentrism: the premise of human superiority over nature. Unfortunately, this human exceptionalist premise is the crux of the ecological crisis that cannot be overlooked any longer. To address this discrepancy in the literature, we claim that an ontological shift is necessary. Drawing from feminist new materialisms and Deleuzian relational ontologies, we develop becoming naturecultural, a material–discursive assembling process of more-than-human and more-than-capitalist entanglements. To illustrate the analytical value of becoming naturecultural, we engaged in empirical work at an organic cotton t-shirt supply chain, and conducted a multi-sited fieldwork with affective ethnographic methodologies. Working with the data collected, we narrated a human de-centered case study fostering critical but affirmative inquiries about sustainability from a non-anthropocentric relational ontology. At the end we discuss two implications for organizational sustainability research: thinking with and writing with becoming naturecultural. They facilitate moving beyond critiques of anthropocentrism and articulating affirmative possibilities for organization studies in and for the Anthropocene.
Application of multi-spectral CT imaging in Crohn's disease: a systematic review
Authors: Grassi Giovanni , Laino Maria Elena , Kalra Mannudeep , Cherchi Maria Valeria , Nicola Refky , Mannelli Lorenzo , Balestrieri Antonella , Suri Jasjit S , Sala Evis , Saba Luca
Published: May 2023

Background

No quantitative computed tomography (CT) biomarker is actually sufficiently accurate to assess Crohn’s disease (CD) lesion activity, with adequate precision to guide clinical decisions.

Purpose

To assess the available literature on the use of iodine concentration (IC), from multi-spectral CT acquisition, as a quantitative parameter able to distinguish healthy from affected bowel and assess CD bowel activity and heterogeneity of activity along the involved segments.

Material and Methods

A literature search was conducted to identify original research studies published up to February 2022. The inclusion criteria were original research papers (>10 human participants), English language publications, focus on dual-energy CT (DECT) of CD with iodine quantification (IQ) as an outcome measure. The exclusion criteria were animal-only studies, languages other than English, review articles, case reports, correspondence, and study populations <10 patients.

Results

Nine studies were included in this review; all of which showed a strong correlation between IC measurements and CD activity markers, such as CD activity index (CDAI), endoscopy findings and simple endoscopic score for Crohn's disease (SES-CD), and routine CT enterography (CTE) signs and histopathologic score. Statistically significant differences in IC were reported between affected bowel segments and healthy ones (higher P value was P < 0.001), normal segments and those with active inflammation ( P < 0.0001) as well as between patients with active disease and those in remission ( P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The mean normalized IC at DECTE could be a reliable tool in assisting radiologists in the diagnosis, classification and grading of CD activity.
The goals of care framework and the perioperative period: A practical approach
Authors: Lee Chuan-Whei , Ashby Michael A
Published: May 2023

The goals of care (GOC) framework (2014) is an illness phase categorisation system that enables limitations of medical treatment (LOMT) to be documented and communicated within a healthcare system. It incorporates a clinical assessment of illness phase and GOC discussion on aims and LOMT for an episode of care. Together, this results in documentation of a GOC category that guides treatment escalation decisions during episodes of patient deterioration. Confusion exists about incorporating this framework into the perioperative period, particularly management of treatment escalation required for patient survival during surgery that is at variance with agreed goals and limitations. A historical tendency for automatic and unilateral suspension of limitations during surgery may be susceptible to ethical or medicolegal challenge. This article highlights the difference between the GOC framework and ‘not for resuscitation’ framework, considers the unique considerations of the perioperative period and addresses misconceptions of the GOC framework in patients undergoing surgery. Finally, it provides an approach to the GOC framework for patients considered for surgery by emphasising illness phase assessment and the need for the GOC category to accurately reflect the clinical situation throughout the perioperative period, guiding treatment escalation intraoperatively and postoperatively.
Unbonded Concrete Overlay Critical Stress Prediction for Conventional and Short Width Lanes
Authors: Khazanovich Lev , de Salles Lucio Salles , Vandenbossche Julie
Published: May 2023

Accurate critical stress prediction is a key element for a mechanistic–empirical design of pavement structures. For unbonded concrete overlays (UBOL), the critical stress prediction procedure used by the current Mechanistic–Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) has several shortcomings. The current MEPDG UBOL model only predicts top or bottom-critical longitudinal stresses, so transverse fatigue cracking is considered whereas longitudinal cracking, which has been observed in several in-service overlays, is ignored. The MEPDG critical stress prediction models assume that the UBOL and the existing pavement have the same deflection profiles, ignoring the separation between the overlay and the existing pavement. Various interlayer properties influencing critical overlay stress are also overlooked. In addition, the model only considers conventional lane width UBOLs and is unable to analyze short slab overlays. The latter has been gaining popularity as an attractive geometry for UBOLs. This paper documents the development of an improved procedure for computing UBOL critical stresses for conventional and short width slabs geometry. The procedure is able to predict critical transverse and longitudinal stresses at various locations taking into account interlayer stiffness and the presence of voids in the interlayer. Rapid solutions using neural networks were developed to enable computationally efficient UBOL critical stress prediction.
Building an Evidence Base for the Protection and Support of Breastfeeding: An Interview With Adriano Cattaneo
Authors: Cattaneo Adriano , Arendt Maryse
Published: May 2023

Adriano Cattaneo holds an MD degree from the University of Padua, Italy, and an MSc from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He spent most of his professional career in low-income countries, including 4 years as medical officer with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva. After returning to Italy, he worked for 20 years as an epidemiologist at the Unit for Health Services Research and International Health, the Institute for Maternal and Child Health (IRCCS Burlo Garofolo) in Trieste, a WHO Collaborating Centre for Maternal and Child Health. He is the author of more than 220 publications in scientific journals and books, more than 100 of which are in peer reviewed journals. He has been affiliated with International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) in Italy since it was created in 2001. As project coordinator of two European Union funded projects, he played an important role in the development of the document Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding in Europe: A Blueprint for Action, a tool tested and used for the development of national breastfeeding policies and programs. He retired in 2014.
Artificial Intelligence (and Christianity): Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How?
Authors: Coghill George M.
Published: May 2023

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a high-profile subject these days. In its brief history it has undergone several highs and lows and suffered from significant degrees of hype as well as antagonism and fear. One thing is clear: we are no closer to the goal of producing a truly sentient being than when it started. Nonetheless, the tools developed by AI researchers are here to stay and as with all technological advances it has its good and bad aspects. In this article I will present a brief overview of the field of AI looking at what it is, how it developed, what are its specialism as well as some of its well-publicised successes, and failures, as well as pointing out some key Christian participants in the story.
Dehumanization and a psychology of deglobalization: Double binds and movements beyond radicalization and racialized mis-interpellation
Authors: Khawaja Iram , Christensen Tina Wilchen , Lerche Mørck Line
Published: May 2023

This article seeks to conceptualize and analyze how processes of deglobalization are interdependently connected with processes of dehumanization, double bind, and racialization in the field of radicalization of ethnic and religious minorities in Denmark. We analyze two sociopolitical cases to show how deglobalization takes form in local practice, enabling or limiting specific subjects’ and groups’ possibilities of being perceived and accepted as Danish citizens. Relations between radicalization and dehumanization are explored across subjective, societal, political, and discursive practices linked to double bind processes and possible movements beyond them. Our aim is to establish a theoretical framework for exploring a psychology of deglobalization that takes into account processes of racialization, mis-interpellation, double bind, and the possibilities for rehumanization.
Beyond Citation Counts: Reassessing Top Criminologists’ “Influence” With Altmetric Scores
Authors: Sanders Whitney S. , Corey Jessica , Worrall John L.
Published: May 2023

Criminal justice and criminology (CCJ), like many academic disciplines, conducts its share of rankings. Citation-based ranks of individual scholars are particularly popular, and they tend to consistently identify the field’s supposedly “top” scholars and “academic stars.” Whether citations equate with “influence,” however, is up for debate. At the least, citation-based metrics are unidimensional and fail to capture attention outside academia. Accordingly, we drew on the work of Cohn et al. and re-ranked top-cited scholars using the Google Chrome “Altmetric it!” bookmarklet. As expected, the Altmetrics methodology fundamentally altered past rankings. The most influential scholars in our rankings, Terrie E. Moffitt and Avshalom Caspi, received higher Altmetric scores than all the remaining ranked scholars combined.
Team Composition Revisited: Expanding the Team Member Attribute Alignment Approach to Consider Patterns of More Than Two Attributes
Authors: Emich Kyle J. , McCourt Michael , Lu Li , Ferguson Amanda , Peterson Randall
Published: May 2023

The attribute alignment approach to team composition allows researchers to assess variation in team member attributes, which occurs simultaneously within and across individual team members. This approach facilitates the development of theory testing the proposition that individual members are themselves complex systems comprised of multiple attributes and that the configuration of those attributes affects team-level processes and outcomes. Here, we expand this approach, originally developed for two attributes, by describing three ways researchers may capture the alignment of three or more team member attributes: (a) a geometric approach, (b) a physical approach accentuating ideal alignment, and (c) an algebraic approach accentuating the direction (as opposed to magnitude) of alignment. We also provide examples of the research questions each could answer and compare the methods empirically using a synthetic dataset assessing 100 teams of three to seven members across four attributes. Then, we provide a practical guide to selecting an appropriate method when considering team-member attribute patterns by answering several common questions regarding applying attribute alignment. Finally, we provide code ( https://github.com/kjem514/Attribute-Alignment-Code ) and apply this approach to a field data set in our appendices.
Comparison of two different 360-degree intrastromal corneal rings combined with simultaneous accelerated-corneal cross-linking
Authors: Mohammadpour Mehrdad , Heirani Mohsen , Khoshtinat Narges , Khorrami-Nejad Masoud
Published: May 2023

Purpose

to compare five-year outcomes of two complete intracorneal implants (MyoRing versus annular-shaped intracorneal implant [AICI]) combined with accelerated corneal cross-linking (A-CXL) in progressive KCN.

Methods

In this historical cohort study, preoperative and postoperative visual, refractive, tomographic, biomechanical, and aberrometric parameters of 27 eyes of 27 patients who underwent implantation of two complete rings (13 AICI and 14 MyoRing) combined with A-CXL were recorded.

Results

The mean age of patients in “AICI plus A-CXL” and “MyoRing plus A-CXL” groups were 28.1 ± 4.6 and 26.3 ± 3.8 years, respectively. All pre- and postoperative visual and refractive parameters between the two groups were not significantly different ( p > 0.05). Comparing pre- and postoperative tomographic measurements showed that anterior corneal surface (ACS) flat-K and corneal thickness at pachymetric apex significantly improved for MyoRing plus A-CXL group after five years ( p < 0.05). On the other hand, ACS K-max and mean-K values were significantly improved for AICI plus A-CXL group after five years ( p < 0.05). Both groups revealed significant improvements in ACS steep-K and corneal astigmatism ( p < 0.05). Five years after surgery, the high order aberration in the AICI group (2.60 ± 0.83) was significantly better than the MyoRing group (1.70 ± 0.43) ( p = 0.007).

Conclusions

Both complete intrastromal rings (MyoRing or AICI) combined with A-CXL significantly Improved visual, refractive, and corneal aberrometric, biomechanical, and tomographic parameters and halt the progression of KCN with comparable long-term outcomes.
Interrelationships between cotton fiber quality traits and tensile properties of hydroentangled nonwoven fabrics
Authors: Hinchliffe Doug J , Thyssen Gregory N , Condon Brian D , Zeng Linghe , Hron Rebecca J , Madison Crista A , Jenkins Johnie N , McCarty Jack C , Delhom Christopher D , Sui Ruixiu
Published: May 2023

Cotton fibers can be used to produce nonwovens suitable for numerous single use applications including hygiene, wipes, and medical products among others. Cotton comprises a relatively small amount of total raw materials used in nonwovens production compared to the synthetic fibers of polyester and polypropylene, but the use of cotton fibers in nonwovens continues to increase due to demand for disposable products containing natural, sustainable, and biodegradable materials. However, the relationship between cotton fiber classification measurements and nonwoven fabric physical and functional properties are not well characterized. A better understanding of the effects of cotton fiber properties on nonwovens fabric properties will facilitate fiber selection for specific end-use applications. In this study, cotton fibers with broad distributions of fiber quality measurements from 10 recombinant inbred lines of a multi parent advanced generation intercross multiparent advanced generation intercross population were harvested and processed in their greige state into hydroentangled nonwoven fabrics of two distinct basis weights. Tensile testing of lightweight nonwovens indicated fiber length and tensile strength at break were positively correlated with fabric strength, whereas micronaire (air permeability of a fiber bundle) was negatively correlated indicating finer fibers contributed to increased fabric strength. Increased strength of heavyweight fabrics was mainly correlated with higher fiber uniformity index. These results suggest that cotton fibers could be selectively sourced based on fiber quality for specific nonwoven applications and establishes alternative market opportunities for cotton fibers classified as inferior and subject to discount pricing in the woven textile market.
Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder Management in the Setting of Chronic Hepatitis B and Latent Tuberculosis: A Case Report
Authors: Sadowsky Dylan , Delijani Kevin , Davis William , Safadi Amy , Brayo Petra , Osborne Benjamin
Published: May 2023

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system, with optic neuritis and transverse myelitis as its most common presentations. Although immunomodulatory treatment options for NMOSD have expanded, preventing reactivation of latent infections in patients can be both a therapeutic challenge and a special consideration for the neurohospitalist in an inpatient setting. We present a challenging case of a NMOSD patient who presented to the emergency department with worsening weakness and numbness in the setting of an NMOSD pseudo-relapse, later found to have untreated latent tuberculosis (TB) and chronic hepatitis B (HBV). She was briefly treated with high-dose IV methylprednisolone, which was stopped after her symptoms and imaging became more consistent with a pseudo-relapse. After confirmation that neither HBV nor TB had reactivated, the patient was discharged on isoniazid and entecavir. A month later, the patient’s symptoms were stable, and she was started on inebilizumab for relapse prevention of NMOSD. This case report is the first to highlight the therapeutic complexities of managing NMOSD that requires immunosuppression in the setting of preventing reactivation of both TB and HBV.
Technical Efficiency, Technological Change and Total Factor Productivity Growth of Selected Manufacturing Firms in India
Authors: Sharma Supran , Raina Dalip
Published: May 2023

The present study analyses the performance of selected manufacturing firms in India in terms of the level of efficiency and productivity. The study uses the Malmquist Productivity Index model to estimate the total factor productivity change for the selected manufacturing firms with decomposition into catching up effect and innovation effect from the common set of selected manufacturing firms over the period of study. The study also examines the technical efficiency of manufacturing firms and factors determining the level of technical efficiency of manufacturing firms with the help of the Tobit model. The present study concludes that the firms in steel industry are more efficient than the other manufacturing industries selected in the study. The analysis carried out to identify the results for the productivity change concludes that on an average there is productivity growth for the manufacturing industry. The steel, non ferrous, automobile and electronic firms have shown steady growth over the period of time and conclude that catching up effect is the major contributor for growth. The study also recommends that for the enhancement of technical efficiency the level of exports of goods, age and ownership are the major contributors.
Effective Crude Blending for Improving Naphtha Productivity Using Linear Programming Modelling
Authors: K Hassan Mohamed , Kandeil Abdel Razek , Khayat Ahmed El
Published: May 2023

Petroleum refining is a complex industry that involves a wide spectrum of activities starting from crude purchase, transportation to refineries, refining operations, product transportation and delivering the product to end users. Its nature encounters complex economies that are heavily linked, that is, the selection of the right crude is not linked only to transportation costs, else related to considerations of refinery configuration, capabilities and constraints in converting the crude into products, as well as the product volumes and prices fluctuation modes. Solution packages based on Linear Programming (LP) technique have evolved through years among various mathematical optimization techniques, throughout the process routing from crude evaluation, selection, scheduling and product logistics planning. The objective of this study is to develop a mathematical programming model for solving a blending problem in a major refinery in Alexandria, Egypt with the objective of maximising Naphtha productivity. Refinery planning and optimization is basically addressed through special purpose linear programming software packages that remain a black box for the users and that are very cosdy for the organizations. The model developed in this work was proved to be highly effective at the level of solving the blending problem. This research has shown that the developed linear programming model for the blending problem has yielded better overall Naphtha productivity for the case of the oil refinery studied, as compared to results obtained by the commercial software.
Transcriptome-wide analysis of RNA m6A methylation regulation of muscle development in Queshan Black pigs
Authors: Dou Yaqing , Wei Yilin , Zhang Zhe , Li Chenlei , Song Chenglei , Liu Yingke , Qi Kunlong , Li Xinjian , Li Xiuling , Qiao Ruimin , Wang Kejun , Yang Feng , Han Xuelei
Published: May 2023

Background

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) refers to the methylation modification of N6 position of RNA adenine, a dynamic reversible RNA epigenetic modification that plays an important regulatory role in a variety of life processes. In this study, we used MeRIP-Seq and RNA-Seq of the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle of adult (QA) and newborn (QN) Queshan Black pigs to screen key genes with m6A modification involved in muscle growth by bioinformatics analysis.

Results

A total of 23,445 and 25,465 m6A peaks were found in the whole genomes of QA and QN, respectively. Among them, 613 methylation peaks were significantly different (DMPs) and 579 genes were defined as differentially methylated genes (DMGs). Compared with the QN group, there were 1,874 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in QA group, including 620 up-regulated and 1,254 down-regulated genes. In order to investigate the relationship between m6A and mRNA expression in the muscle of Queshan Black pigs at different periods, a combined analysis of MeRIP-Seq and RNA-Seq showed that 88 genes were significantly different at both levels. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes results showed that DEGs and DMGs were mainly involved in skeletal muscle tissue development, FoxO signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, insulin signaling pathway, PI3K–Akt signaling pathway, and Wnt signaling pathway. Four DEGs (IGF1R, CCND2, MYOD1 and FOS) and four DMGs (CCND2, PHKB, BIN1 and FUT2), which are closely related to skeletal muscle development, were selected as candidate genes for verification, and the results were consistent with the sequencing results, which indicated the reliability of the sequencing results.

Conclusions

These results lay the foundation for understanding the specific regulatory mechanisms of growth in Queshan Black pigs, and provide theoretical references for further research on the role of m6A in muscle development and breed optimization selection.
Associations of emotional social support, depressive symptoms, chronic stress, and anxiety with hard cardiovascular disease events in the United States: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis (MESA)
Authors: Riahi Seyed Mohammad , Yousefi Ahmad , Saeedi Farhad , Martin Seth Shay
Published: May 2023

Background

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality around the globe and psychosocial factors are not sufficiently understood.

Aim

In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the role of different psychosocial factors including depressive symptoms, chronic stress, anxiety, and emotional social support (ESS) on the incidence of hard CVD (HCVD).

Methods

We examined the association of psychosocial factors and HCVD incidence amongst 6,779 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Using physician reviewers’ adjudication of CVD events incident, depressive symptoms, chronic stress, anxiety, emotional social support scores were measured by validated scales. We used Cox proportional Hazards (PH) models with psychosocial factors in several of the following approaches: (1) Continuous; (2) categorical; and (3) spline approach. No violation of the PH was found. The model with the lowest AIC value was chosen.

Results

Over an 8.46-year median follow-up period, 370 participants experienced HCVD. There was not a statistically significant association between anxiety and HCVD (95%CI) for the highest versus the lowest category [HR = 1.51 (0.80–2.86)]. Each one point higher score for chronic stress (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.08–1.29) and depressive symptoms (HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01–1.03) was associated with a higher risk of HCVD in separate models. In contrary, emotional social support (HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.96–0.99) was linked with a lower risk of HCVD.

Conclusions

Higher levels of chronic stress is associated with greater risk of incident HCVD whereas ESS has a protective association.
Associations between neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio with left atrial spontaneous echo contrast or thrombus in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation
Authors: Deng Yingjian , Zhou Faguang , Li Qiang , Guo Jincun , Cai Binni , Li Guiyang , Liu Jianghai , Li Linlin , Zheng Qi , Chang Dong
Published: May 2023

Background

The importance of inflammation in thrombosis is increasingly appreciated. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR) are important indicators of systemic inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the associations between NLR and MHR with left atrial appendage thrombus (LAAT) and spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Methods

This retrospective, cross-sectional study enrolled 569 consecutive patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to investigate independent risk factors of LAAT/SEC. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of NLR and MHR in predicting LAAT/SEC. Subgroup and Pearson correlation analyses were used to assess the correlations between NLR and MHR with the CHA2DS2-VASc score.

Results

Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that NLR (OR: 1.49; 95%CI: 1.173–1.892) and MHR (OR: 2.951; 95%CI: 1.045–8.336) were independent risk factors for LAAT/SEC. The area under the ROC curve of NLR (0.639) and MHR (0.626) was similar to that of the CHADS2score (0.660) and CHA2DS2-VASc score (0.637). Subgroup and Pearson correlation analyses showed significant but very weak associations between NLR (r = 0.139,P < 0.05) and MHR (r = 0.095,P < 0.05) with the CHA2DS2-VASc score.

Conclusion

Generally, NLR and MHR are independent risk factors for predicting LAAT/SEC in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.
Time from symptoms onset to remdesivir is associated with the risk of ICU admission: a multicentric analyses
Authors: Alonso-Navarro Rodrigo , Ramírez Margarita , Masiá Mar , Paredes Roger , Montejano Rocío , Povar-Echeverria Marina , Carratalà Jordi , Salavert Miguel , Bernal Enrique , Dueñas Carlos , Flores Juan , Fanjul Francisco , Gutiérrez Isabel , Rico Verónica , Mateu Lourdes , Cadiñanos Julen , Berenguer Juan , Soriano Alex
Published: May 2023

Background

Shorter duration of symptoms before remdesivir has been associated with better outcomes. Our goal was to evaluate variables associated with the need of ICU admission in a cohort of hospitalized patients for COVID-19 under remdesivir including the period from symptoms onset to remdesivir.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective multicentric study analysing all patients admitted with COVID-19 in 9 Spanish hospitals who received treatment with remdesivir in October 2020. The main outcome was the need of ICU admission after 24 h of the first dose of remdesivir.

Results

In our cohort of 497 patients, the median of days from symptom onset to remdesivir was 5 days, and 70 of them (14.1%) were later admitted into ICU. The clinical outcomes associated with ICU admission were days from symptoms onset (5 vs. 6; p = 0.023), clinical signs of severe disease (respiratory rate, neutrophil count, ferritin levels and very-high mortality rate in SEIMC-Score) and the use of corticosteroids and anti-inflammatory drugs before ICU. The only variable significatively associated with risk reduction in the Cox-regression analyses was ≤ 5 days from symptoms onset to RDV (HR: 0.54, CI95%: 0.31–0.92; p = 0.024).

Conclusion

For patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19, the prescription of remdesivir within 5 days from symptoms onset diminishes the need of ICU admission.
Radical prostatectomy versus external beam radiotherapy with androgen deprivation therapy for high-risk prostate cancer: a systematic review
Authors: Heesterman Berdine L. , Aben Katja K. H. , de Jong Igle Jan , Pos Floris J. , van der Hel Olga L.
Published: May 2023

Background

To summarize recent evidence in terms of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), functional and oncological outcomes following radical prostatectomy (RP) compared to external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for high-risk prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods

We searched Medline, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Controlled Trial Register and the International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number registry on 29 march 2021. Comparative studies, published since 2016, that reported on treatment with RP versus dose-escalated EBRT and ADT for high-risk non-metastatic PCa were included. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale was used to appraise quality and risk of bias. A qualitative synthesis was performed.

Results

Nineteen studies, all non-randomized, met the inclusion criteria. Risk of bias assessment indicated low (n = 14) to moderate/high (n = 5) risk of bias. Only three studies reported functional outcomes and/or HRQoL using different measurement instruments and methods. A clinically meaningful difference in HRQoL was not observed. All studies reported oncological outcomes and survival was generally good (5-year survival rates > 90%). In the majority of studies, a statistically significant difference between both treatment groups was not observed, or only differences in biochemical recurrence-free survival were reported.

Conclusions

Evidence clearly demonstrating superiority in terms of oncological outcomes of either RP or EBRT combined with ADT is lacking. Studies reporting functional outcomes and HRQoL are very scarce and the magnitude of the effect of RP versus dose-escalated EBRT with ADT on HRQoL and functional outcomes remains largely unknown.
Modified-dropless protocol (nil intraocular) for micro-incision vitrectomy surgery (MIVS): a retrospective pilot study
Authors: Garcia-O’Farrill Noraliz , Brown Gordon T. , Hunter Allan A.
Published: May 2023

Background

Perioperative infection and inflammation prophylaxis after ocular surgery has evolved over the years along with improvements in surgical equipment and a growing interest in alternatives to the standard topical eye drops. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of a novel, modified-dropless protocol for 23-gauge (23-G), 25-gauge (25-G) and 27-gauge (27-G) micro-incision vitrectomy surgery (MIVS) that omits any intraocular injections of antibiotics or steroids.

Methods

This Institutional Review Board-approved, single-surgeon retrospective study reviewed MIVS post-surgical outcomes in patients who received a modified-dropless protocol from February 2020 to March 2021. A total of 158 charts were reviewed, of which 150 eyes met the eligibility criteria. After each case, patients were administered a 0.5 cc subconjunctival injection of a 1:1 Cefazolin (50 mg/cc):Dexamethasone (10 mg/cc) in the inferior fornix and 0.5 cc of posterior Sub-Tenon’s Kenalog (STK). No intravitreal injections were administered, and no pre- or postoperative antibiotic or steroid eye drops were prescribed. For patients allergic to penicillin, separate subconjunctival injections of 0.25 cc each of Vancomycin (10 mg/cc) and Dexamethasone (10 mg/cc) were administered. The primary safety parameter was postoperative cases of endophthalmitis. Secondary endpoints consisted of Best-Corrected Distance Visual Acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), and postoperative complications (retinal detachments, inflammation, need for additional surgery) within three months of surgery. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square (χ²) tests for categorical values, and a Student’s t-test to compare continuous outcomes.

Results

The majority of surgeries (96%) were performed with the 27G MIVS platform. There were no cases of postoperative endophthalmitis. Mean logMAR BCVA improved from 0.71 (± 0.67) to 0.61 (± 0.60) post-operatively (p = 0.02). Excluding patients who had silicone oil tamponade, postoperative BCVA improved from 0.67 (± 0.66) to 0.54 (± 0.55) (p = 0.003). Mean IOP increased from 14.6 (± 3.8) to 15.3 (± 4.1) (p = 0.05). Ten patients required further medication therapy for an increase in IOP, one had inflammatory signs, and 14 required a second surgical intervention mostly due to recurrences of initial surgical indication.

Conclusion

A modified-dropless postoperative protocol involving subconjunctival and posterior sub-Tenon’s injections only may be a safe and convenient alternative to topical eye drops for patients undergoing MIVS, but additional and larger studies are needed.
Research into the correlation between positional skull deformation and motor performance of infants aged under 4 months
Authors: Huang Tianqi , Li Wenzao , Wang Chengju , Qu Fuxiang , Yang Qiuxia , Pan Qiuming , Pu Xiaoqin , Xiao Can , Cai Yi , Xia Meifeng , Zhang Yuping
Published: May 2023

Objective

To investigate the correlation between positional skull deformation (PD) and motor performance of infants under 4 months of age.

Methods

Infants aged under 4 months were enrolled in the children’s healthcare and the premature infants follow-up Clinic of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Military Medical University. The cranial vault asymmetry (CVA) and cephalic index (CI) were calculated in all infants, and the infant motor performance test (TIMP) was used to evaluate the infant motor performance. The motor performances of infants with different types and degrees of PD were compared, so were the incidences of PD in infants with different motor performance levels.

Results

Overall, 2118 infants were recruited and divided according to the types of PD and TIMP scores. The comparison of TIMP scores within different types of PD at different months of age showed that, regardless of the types of PD, TIMP scores of infants with PD were lower than those of normal infants. In particular, the difference in TIMP scores was statistically significant (P < 0.05) in infants with dolichocephaly, plagiocephaly,dolicho-plagiocephaly and brachy-plagiocephy. In addition, the comparison of CVA values of infants with different TIMP score levels at different months of age showed that the CVA values of the extremely low-level group were significantly higher than those of the medium-level and high-level group, especially in the 3-month-old and 4-month-old groups, which showed significant statistical differences (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

PD and motor performance of infants aged under 4 months seem to interact and influenc each other. The more serious the severity of PD were,the worse the motor performance of infants. Conversely, the incidence of PD increased in infants with poor motor performance.
Creation and testing of the Domiscore—a tool to characterize the impact of housing on health and well-being
Authors: Richard Aude , Bruat Camille , Febvrel Didier , Squinazi Fabien , Simos Jean , Zmirou-Navier Denis ,   the members of the HCSP working group, Baillon Laurent , Bex Valérie , Deroubaix Pierre , Drougard Corinne , Estecahandy Pascale , Febvrel Didier , Garrec Nathalie , Goupil Ghislaine , Kirchner Séverine , Kulig Susanne , Madec Laurent , Malou Nathalie , Marano Francelyne , Martinon Laurent , Pamies Sophie , Simos Jean , Squinazi Fabien , Zmirou-Navier Denis
Published: May 2023

Background

Despite evidence of the major impact housing carries on health, many individuals still live in unhealthy dwellings. In France, the Domiscore has been proposed as a tool to assess the quality of dwellings with regard to their health impact, to allow for a better detection of unsafe housing and to improve dwellings. The aim of this paper is to present the method used to construct the Domiscore and test its relevance and usability.

Methods

The Domiscore grid, inspired by the Nutriscore, consists of 46 variables—such as air quality, light or outdoor view. Each variable is scored on a four-point scale using in situ observation, mandatory diagnostics and open access data. The sum of each variable’s score results in an overall risk score for the dwelling. The Domiscore was tested in two phases.

During the first testing phase, 11 real estate professionals, health professionals and social workers used the Domiscore for on-site visits in different geographic areas of France. They then participated in a semi-structured qualitative interview.

The second phase consisted in a public consultation with diverse stakeholders such as public authorities, housing activists and social workers, using an online survey to collect their opinions on the Domiscore’s relevance, understandability and usability.

Results

The Domiscore was tested on 28 homes. Variables completion rates were high irrespective of tester profile for all home visits (91%, SD = 4.7%). The mean time needed to fill in the grid was 1.5 h. The public consultation returned 151 responses. The Domiscore was deemed easy to understand, relevant, and rather easy to fill out. Most participants found the Domiscore useful for information gathering, awareness raising, detecting at-risk situations and agreed that it could contribute to enhance housing conditions. Its length was noted, although the inclusion of additional variables was also suggested.

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that the Domiscore is accessible to housing specialists and other professionals for the evaluation of a dwelling’s health impacts and the standardized detection of dangerous situations. The testing process allowed for improvements in the grid and training materials for future users.
Preclinical evaluation of antimalarial activity of CPF-1 formulation as an alternative choice for the treatment of malaria
Authors: Chaniad Prapaporn , Techarang Tachpon , Phuwajaroanpong Arisara , Plirat Walaiporn , Na-Ek Prasit , Konyanee Atthaphon , Viriyavejakul Parnpen , Septama Abdi Wira , Punsawad Chuchard
Published: May 2023

Background

Kheaw Hom remedy is a traditional Thai medicine used to treat fever. Some plants used in the Kheaw Hom remedy show promising in vitro antimalarial activity. This study prepared novel formulations of plants from the Kheaw Hom remedy and evaluated their antimalarial and toxicological activities.

Methods

Seven new formulations were prepared by combining at least three herbs of six selected plants from the Kheaw Hom remedy, namelyMammea siamensisKosterm.,Mesua ferreaL.,Dracaena loureiroiGagnep.,Pogostemon cablin(Blanco) Benth.,Kaempferia galangaL, andEupatorium stoechadosmumHance. In vitro antimalarial activities of each formulation’s aqueous and ethanolic extracts were evaluated using the parasite lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) assay. Cytotoxicity in Vero and HepG2 cells was assessed using the MTT assay. An extract with good antimalarial potency and selectivity index (SI) was selected for in vivo antimalarial activity using Peter’s 4-day suppressive test and acute oral toxicity test in mice. In addition, bioactive compounds were identified using Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis.

Results

Among the seven new formulations, ethanolic extracts of CPF-1 (Formulation 1) showed the highest activity with an IC50value of 1.32 ± 0.66 µg/ml, followed by ethanolic extracts of Formulation 4 and Formulation 6 with an IC50value of 1.52 ± 0.28 µg/ml and 2.48 ± 0.34 µg/ml, respectively. The highest SI values were obtained for the ethanolic extract of CPF-1 that was selected to confirm its in vivo antimalarial activity and toxicity. The results demonstrated a significant dose-dependent reduction in parasitemia. Maximum suppressive effect of the extract (72.01%) was observed at the highest dose administered (600 mg/kg). No significant toxicity was observed after the administration of 2000 mg/kg. Using GC-MS analysis, the most abundant compound in the ethanolic extract of CPF-1 was ethylp-methoxycinnamate (14.32%), followed by 2-propenoic acid, 3-phenyl-, ethyl ester, (E)- (2.50%), and pentadecane (1.85%).

Conclusion

The ethanolic extract of CPF-1 showed promising in vitro and in vivo antimalarial efficacy, with no toxic effects at a dose of 2000 mg/kg, suggesting that the ethanolic extract of CPF-1 may serves as a new herbal formulation for the treatment of malaria. Additional research is required for safety and clinical pharmacology studies.