bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and Survival in Stage III Colon Cancer: Findings from CALGB/SWOG 80702 (Alliance)
Authors: Wang Qiao-Li , Ma Chao , Yuan Chen , Shi Qian , Wolpin Brian M. , Zhang Yin , Fuchs Charles S. , Meyer Jeffrey , Zemla Tyler , Cheng En , Kumthekar Priya , Guthrie Katherine A. , Couture Felix , Kuebler Philip , Kumar Pankaj , Tan Benjamin , Krishnamurthi Smitha , Goldberg Richard M. , Venook Alan , Blanke Charles , Shields Anthony F. , O'Reilly Eileen M. , Meyerhardt Jeffrey A. , Ng Kimmie
Published: May 2023

Purpose:

To assess whether higher plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] is associated with improved outcomes in colon cancer and whether circulating inflammatory cytokines mediate such association.

Experimental Design:

Plasma samples were collected from 1,437 patients with stage III colon cancer enrolled in a phase III randomized clinical trial (CALGB/SWOG 80702) from 2010 to 2015, who were followed until 2020. Cox regressions were used to examine associations between plasma 25(OH)D and disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and time to recurrence (TTR). Mediation analysis was performed for circulating inflammatory biomarkers of C-reactive protein (CRP), IL6, and soluble TNF receptor 2 (sTNF-R2).

Results:

Vitamin D deficiency [25(OH)D <12 ng/mL] was present in 13% of total patients at baseline and in 32% of Black patients. Compared with deficiency, nondeficient vitamin D status (≥12 ng/mL) was significantly associated with improved DFS, OS, and TTR (all Plog-rank<0.05), with multivariable-adjusted HRs of 0.68 (95% confidence interval, 0.51–0.92) for DFS, 0.57 (0.40–0.80) for OS, and 0.71 (0.52–0.98) for TTR. A U-shaped dose–response pattern was observed for DFS and OS (both Pnonlinearity<0.05). The proportion of the association with survival that was mediated by sTNF-R2 was 10.6% (Pmediation = 0.04) for DFS and 11.8% (Pmediation = 0.05) for OS, whereas CRP and IL6 were not shown to be mediators. Plasma 25(OH)D was not associated with the occurrence of ≥ grade 2 adverse events.

Conclusions:

Nondeficient vitamin D is associated with improved outcomes in patients with stage III colon cancer, largely independent of circulation inflammations. A randomized trial is warranted to elucidate whether adjuvant vitamin D supplementation improves patient outcomes.
Supplementary Table S4 from Phase II Trial of Nelipepimut-S Peptide Vaccine in Women with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ
Authors: O'Shea Anne E. , Clifton Guy T. , Qiao Na , Heckman-Stoddard Brandy M. , Wojtowicz Malgorzata , Dimond Eileen , Bedrosian Isabelle , Weber Diane , Garber Judy E. , Husband Alexander , Pastorello Ricardo , Lee J. Jack , Hernandez Mike , Liu Diane D. , Vornik Lana A. , Brown Powel H. , Alatrash Gheath , Peoples George E. , Mittendorf Elizabeth A.
Published: May 2023

Supplementary Table S4: Lymphocyte infiltration
Supplementary Table S1 from Phase II Trial of Nelipepimut-S Peptide Vaccine in Women with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ
Authors: O'Shea Anne E. , Clifton Guy T. , Qiao Na , Heckman-Stoddard Brandy M. , Wojtowicz Malgorzata , Dimond Eileen , Bedrosian Isabelle , Weber Diane , Garber Judy E. , Husband Alexander , Pastorello Ricardo , Lee J. Jack , Hernandez Mike , Liu Diane D. , Vornik Lana A. , Brown Powel H. , Alatrash Gheath , Peoples George E. , Mittendorf Elizabeth A.
Published: May 2023

Supplementary Table S1: Demographics by therapy
Figure S4 from Reprogramming of tumor reactive Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes to human induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Authors: Islam SM Rafiqul , Maeda Takuya , Tamaoki Naritaka , Good Meghan L , Kishton Rigel J , Paria Biman C. , Yu Zhiya , Bosch-Marce Marta , Bedanova Nicole M , Liu Chengyu , Kruhlak Michael J , Restifo Nicholas P , Vizcardo Raul
Published: May 2023

Figure S4: Characterization of tumor antigen specific TIL-iPSC clone derived from patient 3784
Impairment of Angiogenesis-Driven Clot Resolution Is a Key Event in the Progression to Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: Validation in a Novel Rabbit Model
Authors: Quarck Rozenn , Willems Lynn , Tielemans Birger , Stoian Leanda , Ronisz Alicja , Wagenaar Allard , Perros Frédéric , Claessen Guido , Ciarka Agnieszka , Godinas Laurent , Belge Catharina , Jacquemin Marc , Delcroix Marion
Published: May 2023

Background:

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a life-threatening condition and rare complication of acute pulmonary embolism. Mechanisms underlying impaired clot resolution and in sustained fibrothrombotic obstruction of the pulmonary arterial bed remain poorly understood. Since defective angiogenesis correlated to defective clot resolution based on observations in surgical material from patients with CTEPH, we aimed to validate its crucial pathogenic role by intrathrombus inhibition of angiogenesis in a novel CTEPH rabbit model.

Methods:

We aimed to compare whether intrathrombus administration of an antifibrinolytic agent, tranexamic acid, or an inhibitor of angiogenesis, SU5416, would contribute to CTEPH progression. Both products were administered on a weekly basis by autologous clot embolization in rabbits. Right ventricular pressure was monitored by telemetry, right ventricular function by transthoracic echocardiography, and a complete pulmonary hemodynamic evaluation was obtained through right heart catheterization. Markers of inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, heart failure, and fibrinolysis were measured in plasma. Pulmonary vessel remodeling was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.

Results:

Impairing intrathrombus angiogenesis by repeatedly embolizing autologous blood clots containing SU5416 resulted in elevated mean pulmonary arterial pressure (38 mm Hg), increased indexed pulmonary vascular resistance, and enhanced right ventricular hypertrophy (80%, 1.9-fold, 36%, respectively, compared with rabbits embolized with clots containing an antifibrinolytic agent). This was caused by both obstruction of large pulmonary arteries with fibrothrombotic material and muscularization of pulmonary microvessels, and accompanied by inflammatory cell infiltration and increased circulating endothelin-1.

Conclusions:

The key role of angiogenesis-driven clot resolution was validated in a reliable small-animal model reproducing the major pathophysiological hallmarks of CTEPH.
Latent Coronary Plaque Morphology From Computed Tomography Angiography, Molecular Disease Activity on Positron Emission Tomography, and Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Kwiecinski Jacek , Kolossváry Márton , Tzolos Evangelos , Meah Mohammed N. , Adamson Philip D. , Joshi Nikhil V. , Williams Michelle C. , van Beek Edwin J.R. , Berman Daniel S. , Maurovich-Horvat Pál , Newby David E. , Dweck Marc R. , Dey Damini , Slomka Piotr J.
Published: May 2023

Background:

Assessments of coronary disease activity with
18
F-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography and radiomics-based precision coronary plaque phenotyping derived from coronary computed tomography angiography may enhance risk stratification in patients with coronary artery disease. We sought to investigate whether the prognostic information provided by these 2 approaches is complementary in the prediction of myocardial infarction.

Methods:

Patients with known coronary artery disease underwent coronary
18
F-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography and coronary computed tomography angiography on a hybrid positron emission tomography/computed tomography scanner. Coronary
18
F-NaF uptake was determined by the coronary microcalcification activity. We performed quantitative plaque analysis of coronary computed tomography angiography datasets and extracted 1103 radiomic features for each plaque. Using weighted correlation network analysis, we derived latent morphological features of coronary lesions which were aggregated to patient-level radiomics nomograms to predict myocardial infarction.

Results:

Among 260 patients with established coronary artery disease (age, 65±9 years; 83% men), 179 (69%) participants showed increased coronary
18
F-NaF activity (coronary microcalcification activity>0). Over 53 (40–59) months of follow-up, 18 patients had a myocardial infarction. Using weighted correlation network analysis, we derived 15 distinct eigen radiomic features representing latent morphological coronary plaque patterns in an unsupervised fashion. Following adjustments for calcified, noncalcified, and low-density noncalcified plaque volumes and
18
F-NaF coronary microcalcification activity, 4 radiomic features remained independent predictors of myocardial infarction (hazard ratio, 1.46 [95% CI, 1.03–2.08];
P
=0.03; hazard ratio, 1.62 [95% CI, 1.04–2.54];
P
=0.02; hazard ratio, 1.49 [95% CI, 1.07–2.06];
P
=0.01; and hazard ratio, 1.50 (95% CI, 1.05–2.13);
P
=0.02).

Conclusions:

In patients with established coronary artery disease, latent coronary plaque morphological features, quantitative plaque volumes, and disease activity on
18
F-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography are additive predictors of myocardial infarction.
R-spondin 3/LGR4 (Leucine-Rich Repeat-Containing G Protein-Coupled Receptor 4) Axis Is a Novel Inflammatory and Neurite Outgrowth Signaling System in the Ischemic Brain in Mice
Authors: Shimamura Munehisa , Hayashi Hiroki , Ju Nan , Yoshida Shota , Baba Satoshi , Sasaki Tsutomu , Mochizuki Hideki , Morishita Ryuichi , Nakagami Hironori
Published: May 2023

Background:

Although stimulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is an important strategy to treat ischemic stroke, its signaling pathway has not been fully clarified yet. Recently, RSPO3 (R-spondin 3)/LGR4 (leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 4) signaling has resolved TLR4 (toll-like receptor 4)-induced inflammation in lung injury; however, whether this signal is critical in the ischemic brain remains unknown. Therefore, we investigated the role of RSPO3/LGR4 signaling in the ischemic brain.

Methods:

BALB/c mice were exposed to permanent distal middle cerebral artery and common carotid artery occlusion. Temporal RSPO3 and LGR4 expressions were examined, and the mice were randomly assigned to receive vehicle or recombinant RSPO3. The underlying mechanisms were investigated using microglial cell lines and primary mixed glia-endothelia-neuron and primary neuronal cultures.

Results:

In the ischemic brain, RSPO3 and LGR4 were expressed in endothelial cells and microglia/macrophages and neurons, respectively. Stimulation of RSPO3/LGR4 signaling by recombinant RSPO3 recovered neurological deficits with decreased
Il1β
and
iNOS
mRNA on day 3 and increased
Gap43
on day 9. In cultured cells, LGR4 was expressed in neuron and microglia, whereas RSPO3 promoted nuclear translocation of β-catenin. Neuroprotective effects with reduced expression of inflammatory cytokines were observed in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated glia-endothelium-neuron cultures but not in glutamate-, CoCl
2
-, H
2
O
2
-, or oxygen glucose deprivation-stimulated neuronal cultures, indicating that RSPO3/LGR4 can protect neurons by regulating inflammatory cytokines. LGR4-Fc chimera, which was used to block endogenous RSPO3/LGR4 signaling, increased LPS-induced production of inflammatory cytokines, suggesting that endogenous RSPO3 suppresses inflammation. RSPO3 decreased TLR4-related inflammatory cytokine expression by decreasing TLR4 expression without affecting the M1/M2 phenotype. RSPO3 also inhibited TLR2- and TLR9-induced inflammation but not TLR7-induced inflammation, and promoted neurite outgrowth.

Conclusions:

RSPO3/LGR4 signaling plays a critical role in regulating TLR-induced inflammation and neurite outgrowth in the ischemic brain. Enhancing this signal will be a promising approach for treating ischemic stroke.
Integrated taxonomy of the genus Atlanticus Scudder, 1894 in East China and re-evaluation of morphological characters of eight species (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Tettigoniinae)
Authors: Fang Zhen-Gui , Wu Xue , Liu Yi-Jiao , Wu Shi-Yang , He Zhu-Qing
Published: May 2023

In previous taxonomic studies, identification of Atlanticus species was mainly based on male morphological features, such as cercus, tenth abdominal tergum and subgenital plate. In this study, we systematically revise eight Atlanticus species (61 individuals) in East China. We sequence COI genes of all samples for identification, and compare morphologies and male calling songs. The classification based on male cerci, calling songs, and COI genes is consistent. In contrast, the morphologies of male tenth abdominal tergum and subgenital plate varied among species. In addition, we regard A. jiangyei Liu, Wang & Cheng, 2016 as a junior synonym of A. pieli Tinkham, 1941, and A. helleri Liu, Wang & Cheng, 2016 as a junior synonym of A. kiangsu Ramme, 1939.
The Meaning of Religion and Spirituality in the Lives of Youth
Authors: Rinne Emmi , Räihä Pekka , Kuusisto Arniika , Kallioniemi Arto
Published: May 2023

Amongst the complex changes in youth, religious development is also particularly salient. This paper analyzes what is the meaning of religion in youth and what are the possible stress factors that one might encounter when upholding a religious worldview in today’s world. The participants of this study were 41 grade 9 students (ages 15–16) attending four different Finnish Christian schools. The results reveal that religion plays a significant role in the lives of the youth. Furthermore, personal faith functioned as a resource in multiple ways, enabling the youth to experience their life as meaningful. Moreover, according to the youth, a personal religious worldview enabled them to find hope, comfort and strength in different life situations. However, religion was also experienced as a stress factor causing challenges in life, such as being subjected to bullying and discrimination. Still, even then the youth viewed religion as an essential part of their life.
Taxonomic notes on some East Asian pteridophytes
Authors: WAN XIA , KNAPP RALF , CHEN DE-KUI , HE HAI , ZHANG LI-BING
Published: May 2023

Following results of recent studies, Huperzia myriophyllifolia (Huperziaceae), Lycopodium subinundatum (Lycopodiaceae), and Polystichum pseudodeltodon, P. pseudostenophyllum, P. subapiciflorum, and P. subobliquum (Dryopteridaceae) are recognized/reinstated. A new combination, Pseudolycopodiella subinundata, is made based on L. subinundatum. Spinulum lioui (Lycopodiaceae) is reported as a new record for most part of China and other Asian countries.
Plastocerus angulosus (Germar, 1844) (Coleoptera: Elateridae: Dendrometrinae): an enigmatic click beetle with a convoluted taxonomic history
Authors: NÉMETH TAMÁS , HOFFMANNOVA JOHANA , KAKIOPOULOS GEORGE , KRAMP KATJA , KUNDRATA ROBIN
Published: May 2023

Plastocerus angulosus (Germar, 1844) is one of the only two species of genus Plastocerus Schaum, 1852 within the monogeneric click beetle tribe Plastocerini. It is distributed in the area comprising Greece, Turkey, Syria, Israel, and Lebanon (first record for Lebanon published here). Due to the slightly modified morphology of P. angulosus, this taxon has a convoluted taxonomic history and was earlier classified in various families and even superfamilies. However, recent phylogenies place it in Elateridae: Dendrometrinae. In this study, we review the morphology, intraspecific morphological and genetic variability, sexual dimorphism, systematics, bibliography, and distribution of P. angulosus. Our results show rather low morphological and relatively high genetic variability in this species. Females, which are larger than males and differ mainly in the antennae and abdominal ventrites, are not so rare as previously thought. Further field research should focus on the discovery of immature stages to describe their morphology and understand their biology and ecology.
A Pan–North Pacific Wintertime Surface Air Temperature Pattern Influenced by the SST Anomalies over the Kuroshio and Oyashio Extension
Authors: Che Zhihui , Mu Lin , Zhong Linhao
Published: May 2023

A new wintertime surface air temperature (SAT) pattern, called the Asia–Kuroshio and Oyashio Extension–North America (AKNA) pattern, is identified over the pan–North Pacific region (85°E–85°W, 25°–65°N) based on NCEP reanalysis data. The AKNA pattern is likely to influence the climate of the extratropical area of Asia and North America via two SAT dipoles and has a significant impact on the wintertime extremely cold weather along the eastern coastal regions of East Asia. Simulations using an atmospheric general circulation model indicate that wintertime sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTa) in the Kuroshio and Oyashio Extension (KOE) region can force an equivalent barotropic atmospheric ridge downstream and weaken the Siberian high and Alaska atmospheric ridge, resulting in the formation of the AKNA pattern. This circulation pattern tends to intensify the midlatitude (40°–60°N) westerlies over East Asia, which inhibits the southward invasion of the cold air into southern East Asia. Further diagnostic analysis indicates that the KOE SSTa can modulate the variation of storm track and westerlies by affecting baroclinic instability and eddy–mean flow interaction. Moreover, the KOE SSTa can provide a favorable environment for the development of the local atmospheric ascending motion and secondary circulation across the KOE SSTa, thereby affecting variability of the free atmosphere.

Significance Statement

This study aims to build a connection between the wintertime extratropical climate and the variation of the Kuroshio and Oyashio Extension. This work isolated a new wintertime surface air temperature (SAT) pattern over mid–high-latitude Asia and North America, which explains a considerable proportion of cold extremes over the eastern regions of East Asia. The reanalysis data and model simulations indicate that the temporal variability of the SAT pattern is influenced by the change of sea surface temperature in the Kuroshio and Oyashio Extension. These findings emphasize the important role of midlatitude air–sea interaction in the modulation of the mid–high-latitude climate.
Cloud and Precipitation in Low-Latitude Extratropical Cyclones Conditionally Sorted on CYGNSS Surface Latent and Sensible Heat Fluxes
Authors: Naud Catherine M. , Crespo Juan A. , Posselt Derek J. , Booth James F.
Published: May 2023

Extratropical cyclones are the primary cause of midlatitude winds, precipitation, and clouds. Surface latent and sensible heat fluxes from the ocean impact cyclone intensity, but their role in moisture transport leading to cloud and precipitation is still under investigation. While numerical simulations can help establish such links, evaluating and constraining these simulations require observations. To this end, satellite-based observations of cloud and precipitation in low-latitude extratropical cyclones are examined for four distinct classifications based on the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) latent and sensible heat fluxes, averaged in the post-cold-frontal or warm-sector areas of the cyclones. Using a cyclone compositing approach, contrasts in cloud and precipitation in strong- versus weak-surface-flux conditions are examined. In the post-cold-frontal region, stronger latent or sensible heat fluxes are associated with lower precipitation rates and higher cloud opacity, indicating more vigorous shallow convection. However, larger sensible heat flux cases display larger cloud fraction, while larger latent heat flux cases exhibit lower cloud fraction, which could indicate differing cloud morphologies. In the comma region of the cyclones, clouds and precipitation depend on both cyclone strength and moisture availability. Consistent with this, larger cloud amount and precipitation are found for strong fluxes in the post-cold-frontal region, and weak or negative sensible heat fluxes, indicative of poleward warm advection, in the warm sector. The strong regional differences in the surface heat flux–cloud and precipitation relationships highlight the need for further investigation into moisture supply and transport in cyclones, while providing guidance for future work.
Use of a Guide-wire as an Adjunct for the Safe Removal of a ‘Stuck’ Indwelling Central Venous Catheter at Risk for Breaking
Authors: Urevick Alexander J. , Briscoe W. Eric , Harpstead Edward , Koontz Curtis S. , Bhattacharya S. Dave
Published: May 2023

Port-based central venous catheters may remain indwelling for years with subsequent fibrosis resulting in a “stuck” catheter. At time of removal, this can lead to complications such as catheter fracture or require additional operative techniques for safe extraction. We present a case utilizing a protocol wherein a J-tip guidewire is placed to assist in removal. We believe this serves the following beneficial functions: Mechanically, as the catheter stretches and collapses upon retraction it distributes the force circumferentially along the length of the catheter as well as reduces angular kinking, mitigating stress points of fracture. Second, in case of fracture, the distal portion should remain intubated by the J-tip guidewire, reducing embolic potential. Third, it allows more facile percutaneous transvenous retrieval if indicated. Though this does not represent a perfect solution to the “stuck” catheter problem, this technique increases safety and efficacy of removal with easy application at minimal additional cost.
Institutional Hegemony of a Logic Within a Cross-Sector Partnership
Authors: Harsman Barbara
Published: May 2023

Although some scholars propagate cross-sector partnerships (CSPs) as a panacea for addressing the grand challenges of the 21st century, scholars also acknowledge that this type of collaboration faces significant barriers since the institutional logics of partners such as business, civil society, and government potentially have contradicting interests and future visions. This inductive longitudinal case study on integrating skilled migrants into the German labor market examines the institutional work by which CSP members, particularly government actors, deliberately rein in contradictory logics to reproduce the dominant government logic, and in doing so, establish a high level of institutional coherence. In disclosing the processes by which the dominant logic maintains its hegemony, I contribute new insight into the institutional dynamics within government-sponsored CSPs. I identify various actions and I illuminate CSP tensions and dark sides.
Comparison of 2 Conservative Treatment Approaches for the Flat Foot in Children Aged 5 to 10: Foot Orthoses Versus Foot Orthoses Supplemented With Zukunft-Huber Manual Therapy
Authors: Boryczka-Trefler Anna , Kalinowska Małgorzata , Szczerbik Ewa , Stępowska Jolanta , Łukaszewska Anna , Syczewska Małgorzata
Published: May 2023

The aim was to find if foot orthotics alone can improve flat feet in children and analyze how the addition of Zukunft-Huber manual therapy and corrective bandaging changes the outcome. Forty-nine children aged 5 to 10 with asymptomatic flexible flat feet were divided into 2 groups. The first was treated with foot orthoses alone, in the second wearing foot orthoses was supplemented with Zukunft-Huber manual therapy and corrective bandaging. Pedobarography during gait was performed before the therapy and after a year. In the first group decrease in arch index, width, force, and area of midfoot, increase in force MH2 and area hindfoot was found, in the second decrease in arch index, width, force, and area of midfoot, increase in force under metatarsal head second, third, fourth, and fifth, area metatarsal head fourth and area hindfoot. Both methods showed positive changes, but foot orthoses with additional intervention were more effective.
Decentralised international development aid from municipalities: Exploring its added value, challenges and implications for international social work
Authors: Belda-Miquel Sergio , Talón-Villacañas Alba
Published: May 2023

This study focuses on international development aid policies implemented by municipalities. By proposing a theoretical framework and addressing the Spanish context, it first explores the added value and the challenges involved with this kind of decentralised aid. Second, it discusses the implications in terms of the competencies required by social workers in order to leverage the potential of these aid policies. The research draws on the qualitative analysis of documents, interviews and discussion groups. It concludes that international social workers need knowledge, values and skills in widely different aspects in order to overcome the challenges entailed in aid from municipalities.
“Making a Difference”: Unpacking the Positives in Correctional Work and Prison Life From the Perspective of Correctional Workers
Authors: Ricciardelli Rosemary , Johnston Matthew S. , Maier Katharina
Published: May 2023

Prisons are rarely conceptualized as promoting “positivity” in the lives of people who are incarcerated (PWAI) or correctional workers (CWs). Analyzing data from 908 open-ended survey responses of Canadian provincial and territorial correctional employees, we present nuances to the more negative constructions of carceral environments; namely, that many CWs work to better the lives of marginalized and vulnerable criminalized people. CWs are able to reflect on how their occupation facilitates personal growth and the pursuit of social and transformative justice. We discuss how their internal commitments toward rehabilitating and making a difference must be reinforced through institutional and organizational changes.
The Affordance Directive: Affordance Priming Facilitates Object Detection Similar to Semantic Priming
Authors: Surber Tyler , Huff Mark J. , Hajnal Alen
Published: May 2023

The present study investigated differences in priming perceptions of target objects via affordance or semantic primes. Affordances denote possibilities for action in relation to objects (e.g., chair – sit), whereas semantic primes describe related concepts and features of objects (e.g., chair – legs). In Experiments 1A/1B the effects of affordance and semantic priming were compared via a semantic-categorization task using a normed word list of objects. In Experiments 2–4 we investigated affordance priming on object identification of pictures using a shoebox-classification task. In Experiment 1A participants were asked to respond by categorizing the presented word as concrete or abstract. Experiment 1B was similar to 1A, but with a 1000 ms response deadline. Experiment 2 presented target objects as words or photographs. Experiment 3 presented target objects as photographs degraded at three levels (clear, medium blur, extreme blur). Experiment 4 presented target objects as photographs that began degraded and slowly became clear. Experiment 1B found word priming for semantic primes, but not affordances. In contrast, Experiments 2–4 found object priming was facilitated by both affordances and semantic primes. Collectively, our results indicate that affordances facilitate object classification.
Nowhere at ease: Listening to Syrian refugee trauma in Christy Lefteri’s The Beekeeper of Aleppo (2019)
Authors: Yiğit Ali , Kurtuluş Melih
Published: May 2023

The ongoing Syrian civil war has inflicted wounds on the minds and bodies of countless Syrians, and it continues to influence the contemporary global agenda. The purpose of this article is to examine how refugee trauma is depicted at the individual level, and how Syrian refugees attempt to survive it, in Christy Lefteri’s The Beekeeper of Aleppo (2019). This best-selling novel tells a story of the effects of war by following the lives of a bereaved Syrian couple as they make their way through Turkey and Greece to the United Kingdom. We show how Lefteri’s fictionalised portraits of traumatised refugees coincide with the academic literature on trauma. At the same time, we question the applicability of Eurocentric trauma theory to their cases. We argue that refugee trauma presents itself in distinctive ways and embodies a dynamic texture as a result of refugees’ vulnerability and marginalisation in broader society, which in turn prompts them to employ various coping mechanisms in their struggle for survival.
Psychosocial aspects of Noma (Cancrum Oris) in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review
Authors: Onu Justus U. , Aluh Deborah O. , Ononiwu Charles N.
Published: May 2023

Noma is a neglected tropical disease of an underserved population. Our review describes the volume and scope of existing research evidence on psychosocial aspects of Noma in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Our literature search was conducted on all original peer-reviewed research articles on the psychosocial aspects of Noma in each country in SSA using PubMed, Google Scholar, and a direct search of reference list of pertinent journal articles. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines was used to describe the review. A total of six studies were found in four countries of the region. One in three persons with Noma has a mental health condition, indices of social disadvantage and belief in the supernatural causation of the disease are very common. However, despite evidence of enormous need, a huge gap still exists in the area of psychosocial alleviation.
Beliefs About Jesus’s Race, Implicit Bias, and Cultural Correlates Among Asian American College Students
Authors: Kim Paul Youngbin , Locke Marcella A. , Shakil Esal , Lee Joo-Hwan , Chiangpradit Nicole V.
Published: May 2023

Limited research examines how people of color view Jesus’s race and the influence of culture on such a view. We investigated the relationship between views of Jesus’s race and implicit bias when viewing images of Jesus (e.g., positive words associated with White Jesus, negative words associated with non-White Jesus) among Asian American students ( N = 103) from a Christian university. We predicted that (a) a small percentage of participants would view Jesus as White; (b) participants would demonstrate implicit bias; and (c) beliefs about Jesus’s race, racial colorblindness, ethnic identity, and internalized model minority stereotype would predict implicit bias. Participants were more likely to view Jesus as non-White but favor images of White Jesus over images of non-White Jesus, especially participants who endorsed White Jesus. Racial colorblindness was associated with beliefs about Jesus’s race and implicit bias. These findings highlight how inaccurately portraying prominent figures’ race as White perpetuates White standards such that race is obliviated and biases are internalized.
“Risk Mitigation: Preparation for Police Interaction”
Authors: Rabii Watoii
Published: May 2023

Literatures on parenting strategies examine social and cultural reproduction. However, a growing literature also documents the unique concerns of parents from marginalized communities. Of particular concern for these parents is the racialized surveillance of their children. This is especially true in Muslim communities. Racialized surveillance influences Muslim parents’ childrearing practices and erodes trust in law enforcement. Due to this distrust, parents have a “talk” to prepare their children for the realities of discrimination and causes them to develop risk mitigation strategies for police interaction. These precautions are similar to the ones issued by non-Muslim racialized parents. Using qualitative data from a survey of Muslim parents (N = 90), this paper explores how a diverse group of Muslim parents create safety plans for police interaction. I argue that Muslim parents’ childrearing strategies include a form of risk management that provides their children with necessary cultural repertoires to safely navigate police interactions. Body and emotion management are key components of these strategies. The directives issued by the Muslim parents I surveyed focus on mitigating the vulnerability their children experience as racialized beings – whether this is due to their Muslim identity, being read as Muslim, or their racial and/or ethnic identity.
The effects of international research collaboration on the policy impact of research: A causal inference drawing on the journal Lancet
Authors: Xu Chuer , Zong Qianjin
Published: May 2023

Research findings have been widely used as evidence for policy-making. The internationalisation of research activities has been increasing in recent decades, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous studies have revealed that international research collaboration can enhance the academic impact of research. However, the effects that international research collaboration exerts on the policy impact of research are still unknown. This study aims to examine the effects of international research collaboration on the policy impact of research (as measured by the number of citations in policy documents) using a causal inference approach. Research articles published by the journal Lancet between 2000 and 2019 were selected as the study sample ( n = 6098). The number of policy citations of each article was obtained from Overton, the largest database of policy citations. Propensity score matching analysis, which takes a causal inference approach, was used to examine the dataset. Four other matching methods and alternative datasets of different sizes were used to test the robustness of the results. The results of this study reveal that international research collaboration has significant and positive effects on the policy impact of research ( coefficient = 4.323, p < 0.001). This study can provide insight to researchers, research institutions and grant funders for improving the policy impact of research.
Neurocognitive Deficits in Recently Diagnosed Young Remitted Bipolar I Disorder and At-Risk Subjects: Potential Endophenotypes?
Authors: Reddy Preethi V. , Bojappen Nandhini , Reddy Rajkumari P. , Arumugham Shyam Sundar , Muralidharan Kesavan
Published: May 2023

Background:

Neurocognitive deficits have been reported consistently in euthymic bipolar disorder (BD) across studies. Endophenotype potential of such deficits have been reported in a few studies. However, data from the Indian subcontinent is sparse, and no studies had a sample (patients and high-risk group) aged 20-25 years, which is the actual risk period for developing BD. We studied cognitive deficits, as a potential endophenotype for BD, in recently diagnosed BD (FEM—first episode mania) in remission, young unaffected first-degree relatives (HR) of patients with BD, and healthy controls (HC).

Methods:

Cross-sectional study design using convenient sampling was employed. We recruited FEM ( n = 25), HR ( n = 25), and age-matched HC ( n = 25) between 18 and 30 years. All HR subjects were <25 years of age, which is the period of vulnerability for BD. All the groups were screened using MINI Version 6. Neurocognitive assessments were done using the NIMHANS neuropsychology battery. The cognitive domains assessed were processing speed, attention, working memory, executive functions, and visual and verbal memory.

Results:

The three groups were comparable in age and sex (all P > 0.06). The mean (SD) age of the FEM subjects was 23.7 (3.47) years, and the mean duration of illness was 5.92 (2.94) months. Compared to the HC group, the FEM group performed poorly on multiple cognitive domains (all P < 0.05). Performance of the HR group was comparable to the FEM group, but they showed significantly poorer performance compared to HC on the verbal fluency test—controlled oral word association (COWA, F = 12.36, P = 0.001), and the visual learning and memory test—complex figure test-immediate recall (CFT-IR, F = 8.10 and p = 0.001).

Conclusions:

Cognition is impaired very early in the course of BD. Visual memory and executive function (verbal fluency) have endophenotypic potential. These findings are particularly important given that the HR group were still within the vulnerable period to develop BD. These findings imply a tremendous potential for early diagnosis and prevention by early interventions in BD.
Bombay Lights: Gas Light and the Transition to a Modern City
Authors: Palsetia Jesse S.
Published: May 2023

Gas lighting, part of a re-envisioning of cities as modern metropoles, was one of the first ‘modern’ technologies implemented in nineteenth century Bombay. The debates over the implementation of gas light to illuminate the streets of Bombay have largely been overlooked in the history and historiography of colonial Bombay. Yet, the illumination of Bombay’s public streets with gas light was an important turning point in the transition of Bombay from a provincial outpost to a modern city. The article examines the related debates, presents the illumination of colonial Bombay with gas light as a metaphor for the emergence of the modern city and depicts how new processes regarding civic planning and development emerged from this gas light debate, which ultimately made the implementation of electrical light and other aspects of modern city life possible.
The multifaceted roles of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) in inflammatory responses – Potential target to regulate neuroinflammation in acute brain injury
Authors: Li Yan , Fan Qiuyue , Li Fengshi , Pang Rui , Chen Chen , Li Peiying , Wang Xin , Xuan Wei , Yu Weifeng
Published: May 2023

Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) is one of the most important transcription factors that respond to and exert dual effects on inflammatory responses. Recently, the involvement of ATF3 in the neuroinflammatory response to acute brain injury (ABI) has been highlighted. It functions by regulating neuroimmune activation and the production of neuroinflammatory mediators. Notably, recent clinical evidence suggests that ATF3 may serve as a potential ideal biomarker of the long-term prognosis of ABI patients. This mini-review describes the essential inflammation modulatory roles of ATF3 in different disease contexts and summarizes the regulatory mechanisms of ATF3 in the ABI-induced neuroinflammation.
Digital Transformation of Public Services as State Transformation: An Overview of the Experience in Turkey During the Pandemic
Authors: Sahin Selver B.
Published: May 2023

This paper discusses the contextual aspects of the digital transformation of the Turkish public administration system during the COVID-19 pandemic. It argues that the accelerating process of the digitalization of public services during the pandemic should be understood in connection with the ongoing, broader transformation of the Turkish state into the neoliberal regulatory state that has been ideologically framed as a facilitator of market-led economic development. This argument is based on the “state transformation approach” developed as an alternative analytical tool to address governance outcomes as a manifestation of neoliberally informed shifts in the location of state power, in the groups of actors that exercise state power, and in the ideas used to rationalize the exercise of it.
Effectiveness of Fortified Mid-Day Meal in Reducing Anemia Among School Children in Dhenkanal, Odisha: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Mohapatra Mrinal Kar , Pradhan Ashirbad , Tiwari Divya , Yunus Shariqua , Patro Binod Kumar , Behera Binod Kumar , Sahu Suchanda , Bhatia Vikas , Bhattacharya Shreeporna , Paithankar Pradnya , Dutta Ambarish
Published: May 2023

Background:

Iron-deficiency anemia among school-aged children is widespread in India. The efficacy of micronutrient and iron fortified school-served meals in reducing iron deficiency anemia has been demonstrated in randomized controlled trials in other parts of the globe. The current study evaluates its effectiveness in real-world Indian settings.

Methods:

Mid-day-Meal (MDM) programme provides free lunch to students of grades 1 to 8 in all public-funded Indian schools. An implementation research project fortified MDM of all public schools of 4 out of 8 sub-districts (“blocks”) of Dhenkanal district of Odisha state with fortified rice kernel (FRK). All the schools of the other 4 blocks fortified with micronutrient powders (MNP)—both FRK and MNP containing equal amounts of supplementary iron and other micronutrients. Schools of 4 matched blocks of neighboring nonimplementing Angul district served as control. Cross-sectional representative samples of students were drawn from the 3 arms, before and after intervention (n = 1764 and n = 1640 respectively). Pre-post changes in anemia prevalence and hemoglobin levels were estimated in the sampled children using difference-in-difference analysis after controlling for inter-arm differences in socioeconomic status, and iron and deworming tablet consumptions.

Results:

Factoring in pre-post changes in control and adjusting for potential confounders, the proportion of children without anemia and mean hemoglobin improved by 1.93 (1.38, 2.24, P < .001) times and 0.24 (−0.03, 0.51, P = .083) g/dL in MNP; and 1.63 (1.18, 2.24, P = .002) times and 0.18 (−0.09, 0.45, P = .198) g/dL in FRK arms.

Conclusions:

Fortified MDM could effectively improve anemia status among Indian school-aged children under real-world conditions.
A multiscale homogenization iterative algorithm of 2D orthogonal prepreg carbon/aramid/epoxy woven-ply
Authors: Wu Zhi-Yong , Fu Yuan , Guo Hui , Xu Li-Min , Gu He-Jin , Chen Xiang-Ping , Liu Jin
Published: May 2023

An orthogonal mixture woven composites with aramid yarns and carbon yarns are investigated in this work. A dual-scale computational homogenization algorithm is also proposed to address the cross-scale numerical problems. Models and methods for mesoscale and macroscale are illustrated separately. Two types of meso-structures are selected for comparison, which are termed as representative unit cell (RUC) and equivalent cross-ply laminate (ECPL), and the corresponding macro-structures are referred to as RUCs and equivalent cross-ply laminate plain-woven composites (ECPL-PWC). The key finds clarified that the ECPL-PWC takes more computational expenses compared with the RUCs, but the RUCs is in acceptable agreement with testing results, as well as the evaluation results of the ECPL-PWC would obtain very satisfactory accuracy through minor numerical adjustments. The final finite element damage results reveals that the RUCs is more accurate for local damage assessment, while the ECPL-PWC is better for global damage analysis.
Numerical performance investigation of a photovoltaic-thermal hybrid collector-evaporator with different tube configurations for heat pumps
Authors: James Alosh , Sahoo Smruti Ranjan , Raj Arun K , Mohanraj Murugesan , Srinivas Mokkalla , Jayaraj Simon
Published: May 2023

Surface temperature build-up due to the continuous conversion of incident sunlight to heat deteriorates the power output, efficiency, and life of photovoltaic panels. Photovoltaic-thermal (PV-T) systems provide a potential solution to avoid excessive heating of PV panels, simultaneously providing useful heat energy. A heat extraction unit is attached to the PV panel in PV-T systems that extract and convert the waste heat into useful heat. Therefore, design and material selection are keys to better performance in the system-level approach. Additionally, it is a cumbersome task dealing with refrigerant-based heat and fluid flow interactions in a system-level approach. With this in perspective, this paper analyzes different materials and flow configurations of PV-T systems. A transient, three-dimensional turbulence solver coupled with heat transfer through solids and liquids physics is modeled using COMSOL Multiphysics software. R-32 refrigerant acts as the heat transfer fluid in the system loop. The conservation equations are discretized using the finite element method. The present study involves two different plate materials (aluminum and copper) and three flow configurations (serpentine, roll-bond, and spiral) with and without absorber plates. A total of eight different configurations are being investigated here. The obtained results suggest that with the absorber plate, the performance increases significantly with a PV panel temperature decrease of 4–5 K, and the outlet fluid temperature increase by 2–8 K. It was observed that the performance difference between copper and aluminum plate is minimal (2%). Roll-bond flow configuration has scope for further research since it is more efficient than others because of the larger contact area for heat transfer.
Effects of electroacupuncture at KI3 and ST36 on the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus in a rat model of chronic glomerulonephritis
Authors: Su Hang , Wu Haosheng , Wu Shengbing , Zhou Meiqi
Published: May 2023

Objective:

The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) acts as a critical integrating center of endocrine/autonomic responses and regulates visceral functional activities. However, its involvement in electroacupuncture (EA) treatment of chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) remains unclear.

Methods:

Over four experiments, we randomized 111 rats into: control, untreated model (CGN) or EA-treated model (CGN + EA) groups, a model group receiving EA after PVN damage (CGN + EA + Lesion) or untreated model groups injected with adeno-associated viral vectors encoding human M4 muscarinic receptor (CGN + hM4D) or enhanced green fluorescent protein (CGN + EGFP). CGN was modeled by intraperitoneal injection of bovine serum albumin for 2 weeks. Rats in the CGN + EA and CGN + EA + Lesion groups received EA at bilateral ST36 and KI3 for 14 days. Urine/serum samples were collected to evaluate inflammatory factors and changes in renal function.

Results:

EA inhibited the release of interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-1β, and decreased urine protein (PRO), creatinine (Cre) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. PVN damage influenced the effect of EA on the levels of these parameters. EA appeared to inhibit the firing frequency and spectral energy of PVN neurons. In the viral vector experiment, levels of PRO, Cre, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α in the CGN group were increased in CGN versus control groups ( p < 0.0001), decreased in CGN + hM4D versus CGN groups ( p < 0.05) and did not differ between CGN + EGFP and control groups ( p > 0.05).

Conclusion:

Our findings indicate that EA at ST36 and KI3 improves CGN in this rat model by weakening the activity of PVN neurons, alleviating impairment of renal function impairment and restricting the release of inflammatory factors.
Analyzing Prospects and Implications of CPEC on Baloch Imbroglio in Pakistan
Authors: Kaur Manjit , Malhi Gurvel Singh
Published: May 2023

Baloch struggle is a long-drawn battle against the state of Pakistan and its mighty security establishment that has rather intensified by each passing day. The heightened ethnic consciousness and resolve to defend their homeland from the ‘outsiders’ have got a fillip with China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The province of Balochistan has assumed strategic significance due to its location and natural resources. With the presence of China in the province, woes of Baloch nationalists have further grown. Pakistan will not let its control loose over the province and deepening ties with Beijing is reassuring for her. CPEC has increased existential difficulties for the Baloch people. In this context, the present article attempts to analyze the Baloch imbroglio as a struggle of the people of the province to protect their rights against the exploitation by the federal government in collaboration with a country which itself is rated as poor in terms of upholding human rights. It highlights the prospects of CPEC and its impact on the ongoing Baloch ethnic nationalism.