bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contemporary Outcomes and Trends for the Transseptal Mitral Valve-in-Valve Procedure Using Balloon Expandable Transcatheter Valves in the United States
Authors: Goel Kashish , Makkar Raj , Krishnaswamy Amar , Kapadia Samir R. , Kodali Susheel K. , Shah Ashish , Barker Colin M. , Xu Ke , Dhoble Abhijeet , Yadav Pradeep , Rihal Charanjit S. , Abbas Amr E. , Guerrero Mayra , Whisenant Brian K.
Published: August 2024

BACKGROUND:

Previous transcatheter valve therapy registry analyses of transcatheter mitral valve in valve (MViV) replacement of degenerated bioprosthesis reported early experience in the United States. Given recent increases in transseptal MViV volumes and introduction of the SAPIEN 3 Ultra valve, it is important to determine contemporary outcomes for patients undergoing transseptal SAPIEN 3/SAPIEN 3 Ultra MViV replacement.

METHODS:

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)/American College of Cardiology Transcatheter Valve Therapy Registry was used to extract data for all patients undergoing transseptal SAPIEN 3/SAPIEN 3 Ultra MViV from 2015 to September 2022. Primary efficacy outcome was 1-year all-cause mortality. Secondary end points included 30-day mortality, functional class, quality of life, and mitral valve performance. Primary safety outcomes were device success and in-hospital complications.

RESULTS:

A total of 4243 patients with a mean±SD STS score of 9.2±7.7 underwent transseptal MViV at 455 sites. The rate of Mitral Valve Academic Research Consortium technical (96.6%) success was high, and procedural complications were low. All-cause in-hospital, 30-day, and 1-year mortality rates were 3.2%, 4.3%, and 13.4%, respectively. Significant improvements in New York Heart Association class (New York Heart Association I/II, 18% to 87%) and quality of life (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire score, 38 to 78) were noted at 1 year (
P
<0.0001 for both) after MViV. Upon stratifying by STS scores, it was observed that the low-risk group (STS<4) had a significantly lower in-hospital mortality rate of 0.4%, whereas the intermediate-risk group (STS, 4–8) had an in-hospital mortality rate of 1.9%. From 2015 to 2022, the number of transseptal MViV cases/year increased significantly, whereas procedure times, length of stay, and intensive care unit hours shortened significantly. At the same time, there was a significant trend toward reduced in-hospital (
P
=0.0005), 30-day (
P
=0.004), and 1-year mortality rates (
P
=0.01).

CONCLUSIONS:

This multicenter, prospective study reports excellent procedural outcomes, acceptable 1-year mortality rates, and a significant improvement in quality of life for patients undergoing transseptal MViV in the contemporary era. Patients in the low-risk and intermediate-risk STS score categories had significantly better outcomes compared with those in the high-risk category. MViV is a reasonable therapy for the majority of patients with degenerated bioprosthetic mitral valves, who are anatomical candidates.
Impact of Carotid Siphon Calcification on the Course and Outcome of Patients With Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Engel Adrian , Song Li , Rauschenbach Laurèl , Gümüs Meltem , Santos Alejandro N. , Dinger Thiemo Florin , Darkwah Oppong Marvin , Li Yan , Gembruch Oliver , Ahmadipour Yahya , Dammann Philipp , Sure Ulrich , Jabbarli Ramazan
Published: August 2024

BACKGROUND:

Carotid siphon calcification (CSC) serves as a marker of atherosclerosis and therefore may influence the outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). We aimed to analyze the impact of CSC on neurological outcomes, ischemia, and vasospasm.

METHODS:

A total of 716 patients with aSAH were treated between December 2004 and June 2016 in our central European tertiary neurovascular care center in Essen, Germany. CSC was recorded using the Woodcock scale (grades 0–3) on a computed tomography scan. Study end points included an unfavorable outcome at 6 months post-aSAH (modified Rankin Scale score ≥4), vasospasm, and early cerebral ischemia (72 hours) and delayed cerebral ischemia (delayed cerebral ischemia; >72 hours) in the follow-up computed tomography scans. The associations were adjusted for patients’ baseline characteristics and secondary complications. Finally, within a subgroup analysis, patients with and without daily aspirin intake after endovascular aneurysm occlusion were compared.

RESULTS:

Increasing grades of CSC were associated with lower rates of vasospasm in the anterior circulation. Severe CSC (grade 3) was independently related to the risk of an unfavorable outcome (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.06 [95% CI, 1.98–8.33];
P
<0.001) and early cerebral ischemia (aOR, 1.58 [95% CI, 1.03–2.43];
P
=0.035) but not delayed cerebral ischemia (aOR, 1.08 [95% CI, 0.67–1.73];
P
=0.763). In the aspirin subgroup analysis, the negative effect of severe CSC on functional outcome remained significant only in aSAH cases without aspirin (aOR, 5.47 [95% CI, 2.38–12.54];
P
<0.001). In contrast, there was no association between severe CSC and unfavorable outcomes among individuals with daily aspirin intake (aOR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.59–4.21];
P
=0.603).

CONCLUSIONS:

Our data suggest CSC as a cerebrovascular risk factor resulting in higher rates of early cerebral ischemia and unfavorable outcomes after aSAH. However, by increasing arterial stiffness, CSC might lower the probability of vasospasm, which could explain the missing link between CSC and delayed cerebral ischemia. Additionally, aspirin intake seems to potentially mitigate the negative impact of CSC on aSAH outcome. Further investigations are needed to confirm the observations from the present study.
Using Machine Learning Methods to Assess Module Performance Contribution in Modular Optimization Frameworks
Authors: Kostovska Ana , Vermetten Diederick , Korošec Peter , Džeroski Sašo , Doerr Carola , Eftimov Tome
Published: August 2024

Modular algorithm frameworks not only allow for combinations never tested in manually selected algorithm portfolios, but they also provide a structured approach to assess which algorithmic ideas are crucial for the observed performance of algorithms. In this study, we propose a methodology for analyzing the impact of the different modules on the overall performance. We consider modular frameworks for two widely used families of derivative-free, black-box optimization algorithms, the covariance matrix adaptation evolution strategy (CMA-ES) and differential evolution (DE). More specifically, we use performance data of 324 modCMA-ES and 576 modDE algorithm variants (with each variant corresponding to a specific configuration of modules) obtained on the 24 BBOB problems for six different runtime budgets in two dimensions. Our analysis of these data reveals that the impact of individual modules on overall algorithm performance varies significantly. Notably, among the examined modules, the elitism module in CMA-ES and the linear population size reduction module in DE exhibit the most significant impact on performance. Furthermore, our exploratory data analysis of problem landscape data suggests that the most relevant landscape features remain consistent regardless of the configuration of individual modules, but the influence that these features have on regression accuracy varies. In addition, we apply classifiers that exploit feature importance with respect to the trained models for performance prediction and performance data, to predict the modular configurations of CMA-ES and DE algorithm variants. The results show that the predicted configurations do not exhibit a statistically significant difference in performance compared to the true configurations, with the percentage varying depending on the setup (from 49.1% to 95.5% for modCMA and 21.7% to 77.1% for DE).
Islamic Law, Oil Wealth, and the Modern State in the Gulf: The Scope of the Sharia in Twentieth-Century Qatar
Authors: Caeiro Alexandre
Published: August 2024

How can one write the modern legal history of the Gulf states without projecting onto the past the contemporary hegemony of the modern nation-state? What narratives other than secularization stories might be told? And what archives are available to us to facilitate such an endeavor? This paper addresses these questions with reference to Qatar, where a powerful sharia judiciary developed under the British Protectorate maintained its autonomy until the 1990s. The publications of the Presidency of Sharia Courts (est. 1958) and the work of its long-time president, Shaykh ʿAbdallāh b. Zayd Āl Maḥmūd (1911–97), suggest that oil wealth, modern state bureaucracy, and the British legal order expanded – rather than curtailed – the scope of sharia law in Qatar in the course of the twentieth century. Sharia scholars and institutions reinforced the rule of law, contributed to minimizing the role of customary norms in society, replaced commercial courts and alternative modes of dispute resolution, and helped establish an autonomous legal sphere separate from political power.
The Lasiocampidae (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampoidea) of Maputo Special Reserve, Mozambique: a provisional checklist with descriptions of three new species and taxonomic notes
Authors: TAKANO HITOSHI , LÁSZLÓ GYULA M.
Published: August 2024

A preliminary checklist of 39 species of lappet moths (Lasiocampidae) is provided for Maputo Special Reserve in southern Mozambique of which three are new to science, Diapalpus smithi sp. n., Eutricha giustii sp. n. and Rhinobombyx maputoensis sp. n., and a further ten are new country records. Several taxonomic changes are implemented in this paper: the synonymy of Sena prompta plusioides (Walker, 1862) syn. rev. with Sena prompta (Walker, 1855) is revived, Bombycopsis (Bufoidia) pallida Joannou & Krüger, 2009 syn. n. is synonymised with B. (B.) nigrovittata Aurivillius, 1927, and Lebeda mustelina Distant, 1899 is transferred to Leipoxais Holland, 1893 comb. n. Additionally, it is shown that the neotype designation by Zolotuhin & Gurkovich (2009) for Lebeda morosa Walker, 1865 is invalid although a new neotype is not selected as the original type may still be extant. All species, forms and both sexes where present are figured, as are the genitalia in the case of the new species and the comparative material examined.
Description of Mesophylax isly sp. nov. (Trichoptera, Limnephilidae) from Morocco, and new genus records from the Balkans
Authors: TAYBI ABDELKHALEQ FOUZI , MABROUKI YOUNESS , IBRAHIMI HALIL
Published: August 2024

The male and female genitalia of Mesophylax isly Ibrahimi, Taybi & Mabrouki sp. nov. (Limnephilidae) are described based on material collected from the Isly River in Morocco. The new species is most similar to Mesophylax aspersus hoggarensis Malicky 1988 known from Algeria, from which it differs in the formation of intermediate appendages, inferior appendages, parameres, and segment IX in males, as well as in the formation of segment X, lateral shoulders of segment IX, supragenital plate and vulvar scale in females. Information is provided on the autecology and habitat of the new species, as well information about other species co-occurring with M. isly sp. nov. We also report new localities for Mesophylax aspersus aspersus Rambur 1842 from Kosovo and Morocco and the first record of Mesophylax impunctatus aduncus Navás 1923 from Albania.
Medvedevittella nom. nov., a replacement for Gressittella Medvedev, 2009 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
Authors: DENG MIN , XING JICHUN
Published: August 2024

The genus Gressittella belonging to the subfamily Eumolpinae Hope, 1840 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), was established by Medvedev (2009), however, the name Gressittella Medvedev, 2009, is preoccupied by a leafhopper genus of the tribe Penthimiini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) based on the type species Gressittella bella Evans, 1972. Thus, following article 60 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN, 1999), Medvedevittella nom. nov., a new replacement name for the genus Gressittella Medvedev, 2009 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is proposed, and this results in four new combinations: Medvedevittella riedeli (Medvedev, 2009) comb. nov., Medvedevittella obscura (Medvedev, 2009) comb. nov., Medvedevittella laevis (Medvedev, 2009) comb. nov. and Medvedevittella foveipennis (Bryant, 1950) comb. nov., for the species currently included in this genus.
Fifty Years of Secrecy: The Politics of Oblivion and Perpetuation of the Dictatorship’s Impunity in Contemporary Uruguay
Authors: Achugar Mariana , Fried Amilivia Gabriela
Published: August 2024

This article explores the long duration of posttransitional authoritarian discourses of “national security” in Uruguay, in the five decades since the coup that led to a State terrorist regime. We posit that the current deployment of Cold war era discourses justifying state terrorism constitute foundational master tools that enable modern-day military and alt-right autocrats to conceal human rights violations and appropriate the liberal human rights discourse for illiberal political ends. Authoritarians of this new type use these resignified democratic discourses to perpetuate their power, gain influence, and legitimize their repressive illiberal practices. The article uses three public debates relating to the military’s illicit actions in the dictatorship and their involvement in contemporary politics via the new military political party, Cabildo Abierto, to show how these authoritarian tools are deployed in political discourse. We analyze a corpus of texts from recent judicial documents with military “confessions,” official withholding of secret archives, and law proposals presented in Congress. Our findings show that dictatorship-era discourses of “national security” are employed by contemporary military and right-wing political actors for the purpose of sustaining their power. We reveal continuities in dictatorship era discourse practices and strategies that contribute to the emergence of new autocratic social actors who enter the political sphere to capture state resources and protect their group interests. Our findings contribute to the exploration of discursive uses of the past in the present resulting in increased political polarization and autocratic tendencies in contemporary Uruguay.
Abortion, Reproductive Justice, and Justice-Based Sexual Ethics in the Episcopal Church
Authors: Pae Keunjoo Christine
Published: August 2024

This article offers a critical theo-ethical reflection on abortion from a reproductive justice (RJ) perspective. Focusing on the socio-political structure that shapes abortion discourses and legislation and affects women’s agency over their reproductive ability, I complicate the ways of thinking about abortion. The abortion debate reveals what we, as the church, value, how we embody God’s love and justice, and how we should live. In search of the answers to these questions, the article engages in women of color’s theory and activism for RJ through the theological, the political, and the sexual. Finally, the article suggests that the Episcopal/Anglican church reconsider abortion as a social justice issue and meditate on its commitment to God’s justice in light of RJ.
From Politicization to Vigilance: The Post-war Legacies of Wartime Victimization
Authors: Liu Shelley X.
Published: August 2024

Following regime change, how does wartime victimization shape political attitudes and participation in the long run? I argue that it increases post-war political vigilance: greater sensitivity to illiberal politics and poor governance, but with dampened effects on participation under authoritarianism due to greater fear of harm. I examine Protected Villages (PVs) in the Zimbabwe Liberation War (1972–1979). PVs, a Rhodesian counterinsurgency strategy, was a large-scale and violent resettlement program that intensified politics’ role in civilian lives. I map PV-affected areas within pre-war and current-day administrative divisions, and estimate a difference-in-discontinuities regression to identify PVs’ long-run effects. PV-affected areas report greater sensitivity to the country’s illiberal politics and are more critical of poor government performance today. Contrary to existing literature however, I find no evidence of increased political participation and pro-social behavior in the long run, nor hardened support for the ruling party—whom these areas had once supported during war.
Six1 Regulates Mouse Incisor Development by Promoting Dlx1/2/5 Expression
Authors: Luo S.Y. , Wang S. , Liu Z.X. , Bian Q. , Wang X.D.
Published: August 2024

Tooth development is a complex process orchestrated by intricate gene regulatory networks, involving both odontogenic epithelium and ectomesenchyme. Six1, a pivotal transcription factor (TF), is involved in the development of the lower incisor. However, its precise role during incisor development and the molecular mechanisms underpinning its regulatory functions remain poorly understood. This study employs Six1 deletion mouse models to elucidate the critical regulatory role of Six1 in governing dental mesenchyme development. By performing single-cell RNA sequencing, we constructed a comprehensive transcriptome atlas of tooth germ development from the bud to bell stage. Our analyses suggest that the dental follicle and the dental papilla (DP) are differentiated from dental ectomesenchyme (DEM) and identify the key TFs underlying these distinct states. Notably, we show that Dlx1, Dlx2, and Dlx5 ( Dlx1/ 2/ 5) may function as the key TFs that promote the formation of DP. We further show that the deletion of Six1 perturbs dental mesenchyme development by impeding the transitions from DEM to DP states. Importantly, SIX1 directly binds to the promoters of Dlx1/ 2/ 5 to promote their co-expression, which subsequently leads to widespread epigenetic and transcriptional remodeling. In summary, our findings unveil Six1’s indispensable role in incisor development, offering key insights into TF-driven regulatory networks that govern dental mesenchyme cell fate transitions during tooth development.
Visualization of Pulpal Structures by SWIR in Endodontic Access Preparation
Authors: Benz L. , Heck K. , Hevisov D. , Kugelmann D. , Tseng P.-C. , Sreij Z. , Litzenburger F. , Waschke J. , Schwendicke F. , Kienle A. , Hickel R. , Kunzelmann K.-H. , Walter E.
Published: August 2024

Endodontic access preparation is one of the initial steps in root canal treatments and can be hindered by the obliteration of pulp canals and formation of tertiary dentin. Until now, methods for direct intraoperative visualization of the 3-dimensional anatomy of teeth have been missing. Here, we evaluate the use of shortwave infrared radiation (SWIR) for navigation during stepwise access preparation. Nine teeth (3 anteriors, 3 premolars, and 3 molars) were explanted en bloc with intact periodontium including alveolar bone and mucosa from the upper or lower jaw of human body donors. Analysis was performed at baseline as well as at preparation depths of 5 mm, 7 mm, and 9 mm, respectively. For reflection, SWIR was used at a wavelength of 1,550 nm from the occlusal direction, whereas for transillumination, SWIR was passed through each sample at the marginal gingiva from the buccal as well as oral side at a wavelength of 1,300 nm. Pulpal structures could be identified as darker areas approximately 2 mm before reaching the pulp chamber using SWIR transillumination, although they were indistinguishable under normal circumstances. Furcation areas in molars appeared with higher intensity than areas with canals. The location of pulpal structures was confirmed by superimposition of segmented micro–computed tomography (µCT) images. By radiomic analysis, significant differences between pulpal and parapulpal areas could be detected in image features. With hierarchical cluster analysis, both segments could be confirmed and associated with specific clusters. The local thickness of µCTs was calculated and correlated with SWIR transillumination images, by which a linear dependency of thickness and intensity could be demonstrated. Lastly, by in silico simulations of light propagation, dentin tubules were shown to be a crucial factor for understanding the visibility of the pulp. In conclusion, SWIR transillumination may allow direct clinical live navigation during endodontic access preparation.
Preclinical pilot studies: Five common pitfalls and how to avoid them
Authors: Karp Natasha A , Sharpe Alan , Phillips Benjamin
Published: August 2024

Pilots are small-scale initial experiments that are intended to guide the design of future, larger studies, with a view to increasing their effectiveness. In this statistical primer we highlight five common mistakes that limit the utility of pilot studies and provide practical guidance to avoid such errors and increase their effectiveness. The common thread connecting these mistakes is insufficient planning and over-interpretation of the results. This approach compromises the ultimate goals of the research programme and the future experimental cascade. In support of our view that over-interpretation is an error, we present a simple simulation to demonstrate that pilots will generally generate an inaccurate estimate of the variability of the biological endpoint under study and that frequent under-estimation will lead to inconclusive and unethical subsequent experiments. We argue that well planned pilots are an important part of the research cascade and still need to be implemented to a high standard.
Wuhan residents perceptions of prejudice and discrimination and the social categorization processes during and after the COVID-19 lockdown: A qualitative study
Authors: Zhou Tong , Hu Yihao , Jiang Wenyi , Coplan Robert J. , Yuan Muzi , Li Dan , Liu Junsheng
Published: August 2024

Although studies have focused on intergroup biases (e.g., discrimination) during the COVID-19 pandemic, little is known about the underlying mechanisms driving intergroup bias, specifically social categorization. In-depth interviews were conducted among 32 residents of Wuhan, P.R. China, during and after the initial COVID-19 lockdown (Jan-July, 2020). Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was applied to describe perceived prejudice and discrimination and the intergroup interaction processes. Results indicated that: (1) Wuhan residents’ interpretations of perceived prejudice and discrimination evolved over time, especially regarding views of the pandemic prevention measures; (2) intergroup contact, emotional factors and cognitive factors influenced individuals’ perceptions of prejudice and discrimination; (3) social categorization and integration processes underwent changes across different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan, encompassing the lockdown and reopening; (4) the group identity of recovered COVID-19 patients was easily solidified; (5) in the group integration process, emphasizing common attributes between groups, individualized media coverage and positive aspects of intergroup interactions weakened intergroup boundaries and promoted group integration. These results enrich existing knowledge about perceived discrimination and social categorization processes of a suddenly marginalized group through qualitative research methods.
Rotspanier. Debate with Regard to the Classification of the Spanish Prisoners Deported to the Mauthausen Concentration Camp
Authors: López Diego Martínez
Published: August 2024

Spanish prisoners deported to the Mauthausen Nazi concentration camp were treated and classified in an anomalous and problematic fashion that did not correspond to the real reasons for their detention. Thus, despite being prosecuted as Rotspaniers – ‘red Spaniards’ – a category initially employed to designate those Germans who had fought in the Spanish Civil War in support of the republican government, they were systematically forced to wear a blue badge that, according to the codes usually implemented in camps, classified them as ‘emigrants’, an equally strange category that was applied to all those Jews or political exiles who had fled Germany following the rise of Nazism but had been arrested upon their return to the country. This reality, however, was not shared by the other Spaniards distributed across the other camps in the system or by the other Rotspaniers present in Mauthausen, who were given the red badge that indicated they were political prisoners. This is the anomaly addressed by this article, which, based on study of the administrative sources at Mauthausen and thorough analysis of ‘protective custody’ as a legal instrument employed by the Nazi authorities to neutralize their enemies, enables us to revisit the debate and propose a new interpretative framework through which to re-evaluate the Spanish experience in the network of German camps.
‘Saviours’, ‘Business Partners’, or ‘Snobs’? How Jewish Inmates Perceived and Interacted with British Prisoners of War in the Nazi Camp Complex Blechhammer (Upper Silesia)
Authors: Barth Susanne
Published: August 2024

Between 1942 and 1945, Jewish inmates of a forced labour camp and later Auschwitz subcamp at Blechhammer (Blachownia Slaska, Upper Silesia) worked alongside British prisoners of war on the construction site of a giant synthetic fuel facility, the Oberschlesische Hydrierwerke. This paper examines the multifaceted forms of interaction between these two groups, who were situated at the opposite ends of a spectrum ranging from high survival rates to certain death. By reframing the Jewish inmates’ perceptions of the POWs, it seeks to shed new light on a controversial debate on the nature of the relationship between them and the British prisoners. The paper argues that important aspects have been missing from this debate, as the Jewish inmates were not sufficiently represented and not viewed as active protagonists. The relations between Jews and British POWs were not one-sided, but rather interdependent in complex ways. Both groups used these contacts to gain strategic information on the war and jointly contributed to the Allied resistance effort. The barter with British POWs played a crucial role in the collective and individual survival strategies of Jewish inmates, whereas the British increasingly depended on the Jewish inmates to procure basic foods, when German rations ceased to be allocated. An analysis of the effects of British aid-giving showed that the actual impact on the physical survival of the emaciated inmates was negligible. However, these gifts were commonly interpreted as humanitarian gestures by both sides. Altogether, the British were encouraging symbols of resistance against the Nazi regime in the eyes of the inmates. Negative experiences were rarely corroborated and were often linked to poor English language skills, or a stronger identification with other nationalities.
The Anti-Cold War Left: Third World Imaginaries and Protest Cultures at the Local Level in Spain, 1968–1986
Authors: Davis Andrea
Published: August 2024

This article contributes to recent scholarly efforts to reassess the history of Third-Worldism in Europe during the Cold War. Focusing on left-wing activists who mobilized through and beyond the long 1960s in the Spanish city of Santa Coloma de Gramenet, the article demonstrates how local communities drew meaning from and projected meaning onto the Third World to help them understand domestic conditions under the Francoist dictatorship, find common ground during the transition to democracy, and carve out a new role for Spanish democracy on European and global stages based on the collective values of non-alignment, participation, Third-World optimism and solidarity.
‘Is it perfume from a dress / that makes me so digress?’ – the categorical differences between human experience and AI highlighted by literature
Authors: Fischer Pascal
Published: August 2024

Since the term ‘Artificial Intelligence’ was coined, the respective research field has frequently emulated human mental faculties. Despite diverging viewpoints regarding the feasibility of achieving human-like cognition in machines, the very use of the word intelligence for complex computer systems evokes human consciousness. Likewise, there have been attempts to understand the human mind in terms of computers, exemplified by the computational theory of mind. By contrast, my article underscores the categorical difference between the mind and machines. Partly building upon arguments by David Gelernter and Bert Olivier, I focus on literary examples spanning from Shakespeare to T.S. Eliot that accentuate subjective experience, the intricate relationship between body and mind, and the anticipation of death as human characteristics beyond the reach of computational systems.
The way the portal wrote: Datafication and subjectivity in Patricia Lockwood's No One Is Talking About This
Authors: Sumner Tyne Daile
Published: August 2024

The so-called ‘internet novel’ has been predominantly analysed in relation to social media, fragmented online discourse, and identity formation in the virtual realm. While these themes persist across a range of internet novels, from speculative fiction to recent literary prose that mimics the internet itself, less attention has been given to the genre’s engagement with the production of increasing quantities of personal data online, otherwise known as datafication. This article examines Patricia Lockwood’s No One Is Talking About This (2021) in the context of datafication, language, and the effect of the internet on human subjectivity. The article takes up Deborah Lupton’s concept of ‘data selves’ and Legacy Russell’s theorisation of ‘glitch’ to consider the aesthetic, affective, bodily, and subjective critique of datafication in Lockwood’s novel. It argues that contemporary literary fiction is not only a site for representing and imagining the implications of datafication, but that it can also function as a self-enclosed intelligent system that is indispensable for understanding how the internet is fundamentally changing the way we speak, write, and think.
Theatre dialogues with machines
Authors: Lösel Gunter
Published: August 2024

This article highlights artistic strategies that deal with algorithms, machines, and the interplay between humans and machines in the context of theatre. It is written from the perspective of a theatre practitioner and researcher, and focuses on the question of what artistic strategies can be used to express the interplay of humans and machines at this specific point in history and technological progress. The article draws on two historical references, the concept of a rule-based theatre in pre-modern theatre and strategies to address the android in the avant-garde movements of the early twentieth century. It identifies features of a ‘cyborg art’ and counterposes them to more traditional humanistic approaches, in order to identify modern artistic strategies in theatre, that deal with human–machine interaction. It then raises the question of whether these strategies need to be expanded or reinvented to accommodate the latest developments in AI, identifying three new qualities of concurrent machines, their ability to ‘hallucinate‘, their ‘softness’ and their implicit message ‘meaning is improbable‘. In the last section I will describe own approaches to stage artificial intelligence using improvisational theatre ‘Almost Human‘ (2019) and ‘The Answering Machine’ (ongoing) and address basic problems of how we can represent digital machines on a stage.
Storytelling systems: Progress towards generation informed by models of the reader
Authors: Gervás Pablo
Published: August 2024

The present paper attempts to identify specific points of contact between efforts to generate narrative in the field of artificial intelligence and the field of narratology. Such points of contact centre around the tasks of modelling processes related to the construction of narrative in computational terms. A number of existing research efforts to develop systems related to storytelling are reviewed. An analysis of the functionalities that they cover suggests that storytelling might be profitably studied in terms of at least four different sub-tasks: Fabula generation, narrative discourse composition, text generation, and narrative interpretation. An analysis from a computational point of view of the context in which narrative is used as a means of communication between author and reader is presented. This shows that parts of the cognitive processes involved are yet to be modelled, which suggests that the set of sub-tasks identified may continue to grow with further research.
Effect of Glenoid Bone Loss and Shoulder Position on Axillary Nerve Anatomy During the Latarjet Procedure
Authors: Carbone Andrew D. , Kwak Daniel , Chung Min-Shik , McGarry Michelle H. , Nakla Andrew P. , Banffy Michael B. , Lee Thay Q.
Published: August 2024

Background:

The Latarjet procedure is increasingly being utilized for the treatment of glenoid bone loss and has a relatively high neurological complication rate. Understanding the position-dependent anatomy of the axillary nerve (AN) is crucial to preventing injuries.

Purpose:

To quantify the effects of changes in the shoulder position and degree of glenoid bone loss during the Latarjet procedure on the position of the AN.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

A total of 10 cadaveric shoulders were dissected, leaving the tendons of the rotator cuff and deltoid for muscle loading. The 3-dimensional position of the AN was quantified relative to the inferior glenoid under 3 conditions: (1) intact shoulder, (2) Latarjet procedure with 15% bone loss, and (3) Latarjet procedure with 30% bone loss. Measurements were obtained at 0°, 30°, and 60° of glenohumeral abduction (equivalent to 0°, 45°, and 90° of shoulder abduction) and at 0°, 45°, and 90° of humeral external rotation (ER).

Results:

Abduction of the shoulder to 60° resulted in a posterior (9.5 ± 1.1 mm; P < .001), superior (3.0 ± 1.2 mm; P = .013), and lateral (19.1 ± 2.3 mm; P < .001) shift of the AN, and ER to 90° resulted in anterior translation (10.0 ± 1.2 mm; P < .001). Overall, ER increased the minimum AN-glenoid distance at 30° of abduction (14.9 ± 1.3 mm [0° of ER] vs 17.3 ± 1.5 mm [90° of ER]; P = .045). The Latarjet procedure with both 15 and 30% glenoid bone loss resulted in a superior and medial shift of the AN relative to the intact state. A decreased minimum AN-glenoid distance was seen after the Latarjet procedure with 30% bone loss at 60° abduction and 90° ER (17.7 ± 1.6 mm [intact] vs 13.9 ± 1.6 mm [30% bone loss]; P = .007), but no significant differences were seen after the Latarjet procedure with 15% bone loss.

Conclusion:

Abduction of the shoulder induced a superior, lateral, and posterior shift of the AN, and ER caused anterior translation. Interestingly, the Latarjet procedure, when performed on shoulders with extensive glenoid bone loss, significantly reduced the minimum AN-glenoid distance during shoulder abduction and ER. These novel findings imply that patients with substantial glenoid bone loss may be at a higher risk of AN injuries during critical portions of the procedure. Consequently, it is imperative that surgeons account for alterations in nerve anatomy during revision procedures.

Clinical Relevance:

This study attempts to improve understanding of the position-dependent effect of shoulder position and glenoid bone loss after the Latarjet procedure on AN anatomy. Improved knowledge of AN anatomy is crucial to preventing potentially devastating AN injuries during the Latarjet procedure.
Arthroscopic Bankart Repair for Anterior Glenohumeral Instability in 488 Adolescents Between 2000 and 2020: Risk Factors for Subsequent Recurrent Instability Requiring Revision Stabilization
Authors: Kay Jeffrey , Heyworth Benton E. , Bae Donald S. , Kocher Mininder S. , Milewski Matthew D. , Kramer Dennis E.
Published: August 2024

Background:

After arthroscopic Bankart repair (ABR) for anterior glenohumeral instability (GHI), adolescent athletes have higher rates of subsequent recurrent GHI than any other subpopulation. Elucidating which adolescents are at highest risk of postoperative recurrent GHI may optimize surgical decision-making.

Purpose:

To identify prognostic factors associated with subsequent recurrent GHI requiring revision stabilization surgery (RSS) after ABR.

Study Design:

Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

The study included patients 12 to 21 years old who had undergone ABR for anterior GHI at a pediatric tertiary care hospital by 1 of 5 sports medicine fellowship–trained surgeons between 2000 and 2020. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model, with percentage of patients with recurrent GHI undergoing subsequent RSS, was used with a time-to-event outcome analysis. The Cox model effects were expressed as the hazard ratio (HR). All tests were 2-sided, with an alpha of .05.

Results:

Records of 488 adolescent patients with ABR (78% male; mean age, 16.9 ± 1.98 years) were analyzed. Of these, 86 patients (17.6%) underwent subsequent RSS for recurrent GHI, yielding a cumulative risk of 8.8% at 2 years, 16.5% at 5 years, and 20% at 15 years. RSS occurred at a mean of 2.6 ± 2.1 years after ABR. Risk factors for RSS included >1 preoperative dislocation (2 dislocations: HR = 7.4, P = .0003; ≥3 dislocations: HR = 10.9, P < .0001), presence of a Hill-Sachs lesion (small: HR = 2.5, P = .0114; medium-large: HR = 4.2, P = .0004), younger age (1-year decrease: HR = 1.2, P = .0015), and participation in contact sports (HR = 1.8, P = .01). Adolescents with only 1 preoperative dislocation had a cumulative incidence of RSS (3.2%), which was significantly lower than those with 2 (24.2%) or ≥3 preoperative dislocations (33.5%).

Conclusion:

The number of dislocations before index ABR was the strongest risk factor for recurrent GHI requiring RSS in adolescents with anterior GHI, with 2 dislocations conferring >7-fold increased risk compared with a single preoperative dislocation. Other significant risk factors included the presence of a Hill-Sachs lesion, younger age, and participation in contact sports.
Resection of extensive segments of inferior vena cava without reconstruction in the treatment of renal carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus: A case report
Authors: Shang Kun , Li Changjiu , Chen Jun , Li Ning , He Huadong
Published: August 2024

We present a 55-year-old male patient with right renal carcinoma with long inferior vena cava (IVC) tumor thrombus who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with extensive IVC resection and left renal vein ligation. The patient had a history of hematuria only prior to admission. Our case involved resection of the entire abdominal segment of the IVC and left renal vein without reconstruction. Unfortunately, the patient passed away over a year after the surgery due to brain metastasis.
Lipopolysaccharide-induced bacterial infection model: microRNA-370-3p participates in the anti-infection response by targeting the macrophage TLR4-NLRP3 caspase-1 cellular pyroptosis pathway
Authors: Liu Wen , Chen Haiyun , Xia Fengli , Lu Lu , Reyimu Abdusemer , Pawuziye Paerhati , Li Yadong , Xu Aimin , Zou Xiaoguang
Published: August 2024

Objective

To explore the effect of miR-370-3p on LPS triggering, in particular its involvement in disease progression by targeting the TLR4-NLRP3-caspase-1 cellular pyroptosis pathway in macrophages.

Methods

Human macrophage RAW264.7 was divided into 6 groups: control, LPS, LPS + inhibitor-NC, LPS + miR-370-3p inhibitor, LPS + mimics-NC and LPS + miR-370-3p mimics. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression level of miR-370-3p and analyzed comparatively. CCK-8 and flow cytometry assays were used to detect cell viability and apoptosis. ELISA assay was used to detect the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in the supernatant of the cells. The WB assay was used to detect TLR4, NLRP3, Caspase-1 and GSDMD levels.

Results

After LPS induction, macrophage miR-370-3p levels decreased, cell viability decreased, and apoptosis increased. At the same time, the levels of TLR4, NLRP3, Caspase-1 and GSDMD increased in the cells, and the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α increased in the cell supernatant. Compared with the LPS group, the significantly higher expression level of miR-370-3p in the cells of the LPS + miR-370-3p mimics group was accompanied by significantly higher cell viability, significantly lower apoptosis rate, significantly lower levels of TLR4, NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD in the cells, and significantly lower levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in the cell supernatant.

Conclusion

MiR-370-3p may be involved in anti-infective immune responses by targeting and inhibiting the macrophage TLR4-NLRP3-caspase-1 cellular pyroptosis pathway.
Does Being a HERO Really Make a Positive Difference to Police Officer Street Level Bureaucrats’ Well-Being?
Authors: Xerri Matthew J. , Brunetto Yvonne , Saccon Chiara , Wankhade Paresh
Published: August 2024

This study examines the extent to which being a HERO (i.e., Hope, Efficacy, Resilience, and Optimism) impacts police officer Street Level Bureaucrats (SLBs) operational and organizational stress, and their subsequent perceived well-being. The sample comprised 220 Italian and 228 English SLBs, and hypotheses were tested using the Analysis for Moment Structures (AMOS) v.27 Structural Equation Modeling software. The findings depict that HERO explains approximately a fifth of SLBs’ organizational stress, and together, their variance accounted for approximately two-thirds of SLBs’ well-being. Finally, as one personal psychological resource for helping police officers cope with stress in the workplace, the findings indicate a need to upskill SLBs in HERO to better negotiate bureaucratic processes without becoming more susceptible to negative stress-related outcomes.
Evaluating the Functional Impairment of Assault Victims in a Judicial Context: A Multicentered Retrospective Study in Seven French Forensics Units
Authors: Chambre Arthur , Outh-Gauer Sophie , Tuchtan Lucile , Delannoy Yann , Laugier Vincent , Bourokba Nacer , Martrille Laurent , Macaigne Cyrus , Savall Frédéric , Lefevre Thomas
Published: August 2024

Functional impairment is of major importance in the evaluation of assault victims. French law assesses the seriousness of the violence in terms of the functional impairment experienced by the victims, quantified by the duration of the victims’ inability to fulfill their usual daily activities, measured in days of “total incapacity to work” (TIW). Significant variations in the duration of TIW have been reported depending on the examination centers or physician. To date, few studies, all monocentric, have focused on the determinants of this variability. We aimed to study the functional impairment of assault victims by searching for determinants of TIW. We conducted a retrospective multicenter study, including assault victims from seven forensic medicine units. The data were automatically extracted from the medical certificates drawn up and gathered within the ORFéAD database. Thirty-eight variables were studied, relating to the victim’s characteristics, the circumstances of the examination and the assault, the physical and psychological symptoms, and the duration of TIW. A total of 5,663 victims were included, including 2,438 (43%) women. The median age was 32 years (min; max [10; 98]). The median duration of TIW was 2 days (min; max [0; 182]). Male gender, age, time to examination, examination center, traumatic injuries (ecchymosis, hematoma, wound, bone fracture), use of a weapon, and functional limitation were associated with the duration of TIW ( p < .05). The associations formerly identified in a monocentric setting were confirmed and new determinants were identified. This study has allowed a better understanding of the factors influencing the evaluation of functional impairment and determination of the TIW of assault victims. This first study using ORféAD is intended to be supplemented by the participation of other forensic units, and the inclusion of other variables, such as violence type, victim categories, or the examining physician.
Environmental magnetic records derived from lacustrine sediments in the Western Guangdong Province, China: Implications for Late-Holocene climatic/environmental changes
Authors: Du Yingyi , Zhong Wei , Shang Shengtan , Wang Zhi , Wang Xiaojun , Quan Mingying , Li Tianhang
Published: August 2024

The western Guangdong Province (WGDP) in China, influenced by both the East Asian and the Indian summer monsoon, is a pivotal region for exploring the Asian summer monsoon (ASM) evolution. So far, there still lacks detail studies on late Holocene climatic/environmental changes here. In this study, multiple magnetic parameters were measured on the lake sediments of Hedong section in this area. Results indicated a dominance of pseudo-single-domain detrital (titano-)magnetite or maghemite mixed with paramagnetic and anti-ferromagnetic minerals in sediments, and the impacts of authigenic greigite, bacterial activity, post-depositional dissolution, and dilution effects were trivial. Changes in rainfall-induced surface erosion intensity were determined as a role in sediment magnetic properties. Intensified surface erosion deduced by increased rainfall favored enhanced concentrations and more coarse-grained magnetic minerals in sediments, and vice versa. Thus, the magnetic parameters can be used to reflect varying ASM strength in the past ~4300 years. They revealed four relatively humid (strengthened ASM) (i.e., 4300–4000 cal. yr BP, 3500–3130 cal. yr BP, 2640–1950 cal. yr BP, and 1250–850 cal. yr BP), and three dry periods (weakened ASM) (i.e., 4000–3500 cal. yr BP, 3130–2640 cal. yr BP, and 1950–1250 cal. yr BP) which coincided with the Bond events 3, 2, and 1 respectively. In combination with the three significant cycles (i.e., 1250-, 75-, and 65-year) revealed by spectral analysis on SIRM record, we inferred both the external forcing (e.g., solar activity) and internal hemispheric-scale atmospheric processes (e.g., ENSO, North Atlantic Oscillation) have played an integral role in late Holocene climate changes in the study region.
Role of Entrepreneurship Education Program Triggers and Perceived Social Support in Student’s Entrepreneurship Intention Formation
Authors: Mitra Remi , Sharma Mahendra , Purohit Rajen
Published: August 2024

Purpose:

The research paper aims to understand the influence of specific triggers derived from entrepreneurship education programs (EEPs) on students’ intentions. Additionally, it extends the theory of planned behavior by including an additional construct of perceived social support (PSS) as a determinant of students’ entrepreneurship intention (EI).

Methodology:

A sample of 395 university students from the Indian state of Gujarat, who had previously attended EEPs, was selected. A convenient sampling method was employed to validate the scale, which was further refined using confirmatory factor analysis in the first stage and through the measurement model in Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) in the second step.

Findings:

The triggers derived from assessed EEPs had a significant impact on EI and its antecedents. While PSS did not have any significant impact on attitude, it did have considerable influence on perceived behavior control and subjective norms.

Practical Implications:

Universities should extensively address the trigger component in EEPs. It is the trigger derived from these programs that raises attitudes and intentions toward entrepreneurship. This article also confirms that PSS is essential for the development of EI, owing to which, policy support from government and universities does enhance the students’ enthusiasm to pursue sustainable entrepreneurship.

Originality/Value:

This research makes unique contribution to entrepreneurship literature by considering the role of ‘triggers’ that are acquired from EEPs because they raise the attitudes and intentions among students.