bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis: Still a Diagnostic Challenge
Authors: Silva Mendes Sofia , Gonçalves Bruno , Soares João Bruno , Caetano Ana Célia , Gonçalves Raquel
Published: September 2022

Introduction: Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EoG) is a rare condition with a yet poorly understood pathophysiology. Case Presentation: We report on a case of a 36-year-old woman with a history of atopy presenting with nausea, abdominal discomfort, weight loss, and ascites. Laboratorial analysis revealed peripheral eosinophilia and a slight elevation of inflammatory markers. The patient pursued medical assistance several times with a delay in the diagnosis. The pathway to the diagnosis of EoG with serosal infiltration and further management is presented. Discussion: Despite being diagnosed by exclusion, it is important to suspect EoG with subserosa involvement in patients presenting with the uncommon association of peripheral eosinophilia and ascites, particularly if there is a history of atopy.
Clinical Contribution of Standardized Terminology for Pancreatic Lesions’ Cytopathology
Authors: Bakkaloglu Oguz Kagan , Kepil Nuray , Yildirim Suleyman , Atay Kadri , Tuncer Murat , Dobrucalı Ahmet Merih , Erzin Yusuf
Published: September 2022

Introduction: Demonstration of diagnostic contribution of Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology-standardized nomenclature for pancreaticobiliary cytology (PSC-PC) in endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) fine-needle biopsy (FNA) biopsies is important for widespread use and further development. Methods: 179 EUS-FNA biopsies (89: solid, 90: cystic) and PSC-PC categories were compared with surgical definite histopathology and definite clinical diagnosis. Overall risk of malignancy (oROM) was calculated for each PSC-PC category. Diagnostic accuracy was evaluated. Results: The cytopathology of lesions was nondiagnostic in 27%. Ductal dilatation, lymphadenopathy, and solid characteristic (independently) were associated with diagnostic result, while lesion size was not. PSC-PC categories had 89% diagnostic consistency with surgical definite histopathology. Category mismatch was detected in 3 patients (11%), of which 2 had adenocarcinoma. oROM was 14.3% for nondiagnostic group, 46% for cat. III (atypia), and 12% for cat. IVB (neoplastic – other). In terms of malignancy, the PSC-PC system had 100% specificity; PPV, 92% sensitivity, and 81% NPV; and the diagnostic accuracy was 94%. Conclusion: Using PSC-PC in EUS-FNA biopsies, pancreatic malignancy can be diagnosed with high diagnostic accuracy. In mucinous cystic lesions, some malignancies may be missed. To predict the malignancy risk of cat. IVB, assessment of dysplasia seems important. Although PSC-PC is not the only parameter in terms of diagnosing malignancy, its contribution to the clinical decision is quite high.
Multicenter Study on the Performance of Imaging Tests Compared to Endosonography-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration in the Diagnosis of Solid Pseudopapillary Neoplasms of the Pancreas
Authors: Ricardo Vítor Doria , Marchetti Giulia , de Almeida Arthur Ferraz , Lopes César Vivian , Reis Jerusa dos Santos , Bonin Eduardo Aimoré , de Araújo Wladimir Campos , Machado Marcel Autran , Romanini Samuel Galante , Ardengh José Celso
Published: September 2022

Introduction: Imaging diagnosis of pancreatic solid-pseudopapillary neoplasms (SPNs) is difficult. Preoperative diagnosis by endosonography-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is possible and has been reported in the literature in pancreatic tumors. However, its usefulness is still controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of the EUS-FNA in the diagnosis of patients with SPN and describe the findings in computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography imaging (MRI/MRCP), and EUS therefore comparing the imaging methods alone to the findings of microhistology (McH) obtained by EUS-FNA. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients undergoing EUS-FNA with suspected SPN in imaging studies in 5 Brazilian high-volume hospitals (two university hospitals and three private hospitals). The demographic data; findings in CT, MRI/MRCP, and EUS; and McH results obtained by EUS-FNA were noted prospectively. The final diagnosis was obtained after the anatomopathological examination of the surgical specimen in all patients (gold standard), and we compared the results of CT, MRI/MRCP, EUS, and the McH with the gold standard. Results: Fifty-four patients were included in the study, of which 49 (90.7%) were women with an average age of 33.4 (range 11–78) years. The most common symptom presented was abdominal pain, present in 35.2% patients. SPN was detected incidentally in 32 (59%) patients. The average size of the tumors was 3.8 cm (SD: 2.26). The most common finding at EUS was a solid, solid/cystic, and cystic lesion in 52.9%, 41.1%, and 7.8% patients, respectively. The final diagnosis was 51 patients with SPN and 3 with nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NF-NET). The correct diagnosis was made by CT, MRI/MRCP, EUS isolated, and EUS-FNA in 21.9%, 28.88%, 64.71%, and 88.24%, respectively. EUS-FNA associated with CT and MRI increased diagnostic performance from 22.72% to 94.11% and from 29.16% to 94.11%, respectively. Conclusions: SPN are rare, incidentally identified in most cases, and affect young women. Differential diagnosis between SPN, NF-NET, and other types of tumors with imaging tests can be difficult. EUS-FNA increases preoperative diagnosis in case of diagnostic doubt and should be used whenever necessary to rule out NF-NET or other type of solid/cystic nodular lesion of the pancreas.
Metastatic Patterns and Prognosis of Patients with Sinonasal Carcinoma: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Lu Zhenzhang , Chen Liqing , Lu Yongtian , Zhao Zhimin , Nie Guohui
Published: September 2022

Introduction: The aim of this study was to summarize the incidence, risk factors, and prognostic factors of distant metastasis of sinonasal carcinoma. Methods: We collected data for patients diagnosed with sinonasal carcinoma from 2010 to 2015 from the SEER database and analyzed the risk factors for distant metastasis via univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. In addition, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis models were used to describe the factors related to the overall survival of patients with distant metastasis. Results: A total of 2,255 patients were included in the study, including 86 in the distant metastasis group and 2,169 in the nondistant metastasis group. In the univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, we found that the risk factors affecting distant metastasis were poorly differentiated tumor grade (HR = 1.932, 95% CI: 1.082–3.452, p = 0.026), advanced T stage (T3–T4) (HR = 4.302, 95% CI: 2.047–9.039, p < 0.001), and advanced N stage (HR = 3.093, 95% CI: 1.911–5.005, p < 0.001). Moreover, elderly patients had a poorer prognosis than young patients (HR = 1.792, 95% CI: 1.096–2.931, p = 0.02) and that surgical treatment improved the survival rate of tumor patients with distant metastasis (HR = 0.450, 95% CI: 0.247–0.821, p = 0.009). Conclusion: Tumor grade, T stage, and N stage are risk factors for distant metastasis in sinonasal carcinoma, while an age of less than 65 years and surgery were positive prognostic factors for sinonasal carcinoma patients with distant metastasis.
Frontostriatal Circuits Alterations Associated with Cognitive Flexibility Deterioration in Huntington’s Disease
Authors: Padron-Rivera Gustavo , Romero-Molina Angel Omar , Diaz Rosalinda , Vaca-Palomares Israel , Ochoa-Morales Adriana , Romero-Rebollar César , Chirino-Pérez Amanda , Fernandez-Ruiz Juan
Published: September 2022

Background: Recent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have reported abnormal functional connectivity (FC) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC)-striatum circuit in patients with premanifest Huntington’s disease (HD). However, there is a lack of evidence showing persistence of abnormal frontostriatal FC and its relation to cognitive flexibility performance in patients with clinically manifest HD. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the resting-state FC integrity of the frontostriatal circuit and its relation to cognitive flexibility in HD patients and healthy controls (HCs). Method: Eighteen patients with early clinical HD manifestation and 18 HCs matched for age, sex, and education participated in this study. Both groups performed the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) Intra-Extra Dimensional (IED) set-shift task, which measures cognitive flexibility. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance images were also acquired to examine the FC in specific frontostriatal circuits. Eight regions of interest were preselected based on regions previously associated with extradimensional (ED) shifting in patients with premanifest HD. Results: Significant negative correlations between the number of attentional set-shifting errors and the ventral striatum-ventrolateral PFC FC were found in the HD group. This group also showed negative FC correlations between the total errors and the FC between right ventral striatum-right ventrolateral PFC, left ventral striatum-left ventrolateral PFC, and right ventral striatum-left ventrolateral PFC. Negative correlations between the ED errors and left ventral striatum-left ventrolateral PFC and right ventral striatum-right ventrolateral PFC FC were also found. Finally, a positive correlation between the number of stages completed and left ventral striatum-left ventrolateral PFC FC was found. Conclusions: Manifest HD patients show significant cognitive flexibility deficits in attentional set-shifting that are associated with FC alterations in the frontostriatal circuit. These results show that FC abnormalities found in the prodromal stage of the disease can also be associated with cognitive flexibility deficits at a later clinical stage, making them good candidates to be explored in longitudinal studies.
Expression Analyses of Polo-Like Kinase 4, a Gene Product Responsible for Autosomal Recessive Microcephaly and Seckel Syndrome, during Mouse Brain Development
Authors: Hamada Nanako , Iwamoto Ikuko , Noda Mariko , Nishikawa Masashi , Nagata Koh-ichi
Published: September 2022

Polo-like kinase 4 (Plk4) is a ser/thr kinase, which plays a central role in centriole duplication during the cell cycle. PLK4 gene abnormalities are responsible for autosomal recessive chorioretinopathy-microcephaly syndrome and Seckel syndrome. In this study, we performed expression analyses of Plk4 by focusing on mouse brain development. Western blotting analyses revealed that Plk4 with a molecular mass of ∼100 kDa was broadly expressed in adult mouse tissues with specific subcellular distribution. As to the central nervous system, Plk4 was expressed throughout the developmental process with drastic increase after P15, suggesting an essential role of Plk4 in differentiated neurons. In immunohistochemical analyses with mouse brain at embryonic day 14, Plk4 was detected dominantly at the cell-cell contact sites of neuronal progenitors in the ventricular zone. Plk4 was then diffusely distributed in the cell body of cortical neurons at P7, while it was enriched in the neuropil as well as soma of excitatory neurons in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus and Purkinje cells in the cerebellum at P30. Notably, biochemical fractionation analysis found an enrichment of Plk4 in the postsynaptic density fraction. Then, immunofluorescent analyses showed partial co-localization of Plk4 with excitatory synaptic markers, PSD95 and synaptophysin, in differentiated primary cultured hippocampal neurons. These results suggest that Plk4 takes part in the regulation of synaptic function in differentiated neurons.
Selection of Companion Plants for Pest Control of Cruciferous Crops
Authors: Hong In-Kyoung , Yun Hyung-Kwon , Jung Young-Bin , Lee Sang-Mi , Lee Sang-Deok
Published: September 2022

Background and objective: This study was conducted to determine the types of pests that occur in spring and autumn on three types of cruciferous vegetables, which are host plants, and investigate the actual effect by selecting companion plants with pest control effects.Methods: This study selected 3 types of cruciferous crops and 17 types of companion plants through literature review to investigate the types of pests and damage index occurring in spring and autumn. After examining the number of pests that occur per 10 plants on a weekly basis, the mean and standard deviation were calculated using the IBM SPSS statistics Ver. 25 program.Results: There was little damage to pests in 17 types of herbs, flowers, and vegetables. When grown together with cruciferous vegetables, 8 types of herbs, 5 types of vegetables, and 4 types of flowers showed little pest damage. In particular, companion plants that suffered less pest damage were catnip, chamomile, thyme, and nasturtium in spring cultivation and thyme, basil, catnip, chamomile, rosemary, and marigold in autumn cultivation. Shoot growth of Kimchi cabbage and white radish in the experimental group planted with vegetables was 148-181% of the control group using conventional cultivation but companion planting with rosemary, nasturtium, and marigold showed less growth than the control group, especially the experimental group planted with rosemary, which showed 45-53% of growth compared to the control group. The companion plants with good growth in the root of white radish were celery, beet, basil, and marigold. There was little difference in the degree of pest damage to crops between the central planting with a few companion crops and the parallel, alternate, and perimeter planting with many companion crops.Conclusion: Pests can be managed effectively with a pest management technique that utilizes the pull effect based on the interaction between frequently occurring pest types and companion plants.
An Awareness and Demand Survey on Agro-Healing Among Adults with Symptoms of Stress
Authors: Kim Yun-Jin , Kim Seon-Ok , Choi Na-Yoon , Ryu Seok-Hee , Park Sin-Ae
Published: September 2022

Background and objective: This study conducted an awareness and demand survey on agro-healing for the purpose of preparing basic data for developing agro-healing programs and improving service quality to heal the mental health of people with symptoms of stress.Methods: In order to conduct this study, a questionnaire consisting of 23 items was developed to investigate the awareness and demand for agro-healing. The survey was conducted online on adults in their 20s and 30s showing symptoms of stress. A total of 225 copies of the questionnaire were collected, and 183 copies were finally used for analysis.Results: The survey results showed that 66.1% of the respondents were 'not aware at all' and 33.9% were 'aware' of agro-healing. Regarding the experience of participating in agro-healing, 68.3% of the respondents said they had 'no experience' and 31.7% said they had 'experience'. Among the respondents with experience, the most common purpose of participation was 'experience' (31.0%), followed by 'education' (27.6%), 'leisure' (20.7%), 'healing' (10.3%), and 'recreation' (5.1%). The intent to participate in agro-healing was rated on a 5-point Likert scale, and 'forest healing' scored 4.0 points, 'horticultural therapy' 3.8 points, 'animal-assisted therapy' 3.8 points, and 'agricultural work healing' 3.2 points. The points to be improved when using the agro-healing service are 'lack of various promotional contents' (73.8%), 'lack of education and training programs' (13.7%), 'lack of partnership with the government' (7.1%), and 'lack of consideration for the underprivileged' (5.5%). 74.3% of the respondents said it is necessary to implement and systemize agro-healing policies, 21.3% said it was 'moderate', and 4.3% said it was 'unnecessary', indicating that there was high awareness of the need to implement agro-healing service policies.Conclusion: This study is expected to provide basic data for effective agro-healing services to treat the mental health of people with stress symptoms and be used as a reference material for making policy suggestions to establish an organized agro-healing system.
A Soft Power Resource, Rationality and the Impact of Covid-19 on China’s Influence on Africa
Authors: Ameyaw-Brobbey Thomas , Nunoo Isaac
Published: September 2022

China features significantly in the Covid-19 narrative for good and bad reasons. The purpose of this paper is to test, empirically, the assumption that Covid-19 would negatively influence perceptions of China in Ghana, due to its perceived relationship with the pandemic. We characterise Chinese manufactured products as soft power resources and analyse the role they play in addressing the personal needs and interests of Ghanaians and how they affect positive and negative perceptions of China amid the Covid-19 pandemic. We used a mixed research method and collected data from a sample size of 1,020 for analysis. We found that Ghanaians are rational actors who maximise the perceived gains of their actions in pursuit of their objectives. Thus, the self-interest and personal satisfaction Ghanaians gain through China’s manufactured products outweigh the negative representation of China in the Covid-19 narrative, shaping a positive attitude in Ghana towards China. We situate the argument within rational choice theory.
Christianity and Islam: Meekness-Servanthood and Faith as Polity-Majesty
Authors: Singh David Emmanuel
Published: September 2022

Christianity has had and continues to have elements of physical this worldly majesty, and one can find ample examples of the collusion of the state with faith but, arguably, it is not a polity for power. It is a way that invites people to follow Christ in his redemptive suffering for others. Islam too, has the Meccan phase of powerless witness. Its phase as a polity began in Medina. Muhammad in Mecca was an embodiment of prophetic service, accompanied by suffering. He would have seen himself as a prophet like Moses (and others). This changed with the ensuing battles for the faith and his emergence as a powerful statesman in Medina and beyond. However, it would be facile to characterise Islam as a whole in terms of polity or majesty, just as it would be superficial to portray Christianity merely in terms of servanthood or meekness. Islam has not been devoid of examples of service and sacrifice, just as Christianity is not bereft of power. This special issue of ijac focuses not only on what is arguably essential to both faiths but also provides examples from history and lived experiences and expressions. This issue aims to dwell on a nuanced discourse that contextually connects both faiths.
‘A Religion whose Author was Meek and Lowly’
Authors: Nickel Gordon
Published: September 2022

The journals and letters of Abdul Masih (1776–1827) provide a lively and fascinating entry into consideration of the themes of faith and humility in South Asian Christianity. These themes were strong in the training Abdul received from evangelical chaplains of the East India Company prior to British permission for Christian mission in India. However, it is in Abdul’s reports of personal encounters with a wide variety of Muslim, Hindu, and Catholic interlocutors that the quality of meekness especially comes alive. Abdul perceived that the quality came from the teaching and example of Jesus. How was this quality to be shown in authentic faith conversation that revealed a clash of truth claims and even public calls for punishment of an ‘apostate’? When ambushed with polemic in excitable public settings? As Abdul conceived it, the ‘meekness and gentleness of Christ’ (2 Cor 10:1) dovetails nicely with a ‘boldness’ in gospel witness and a clear proclamation of the only faith that brings salvation. Remarkable, though wholly in line with his approach, was the way in which Muslim interlocutors who frequently came to dispute or reproach expressed satisfaction with Abdul by the end of the conversation. Meanwhile, Abdul humbly and faithfully ministered among Indian Christians in Agra and elsewhere as a catechist for the Church Missionary Society over a period of fourteen years.
Rubus neohunanensis, a new name for a bramble taxon misidentified as R. hunanensis in previous Chinese taxonomic literature
Authors: XIONG XIAN-HUA , GAO XIN-FEN
Published: September 2022

N/A
Mutual enhancement of wind- and tide-induced near-inertial internal waves in Luzon Strait
Authors: Chen Zhiwu , Liu Gengbin , Liu Zhiyu , Chen Shaomin , Lu Huaihao , Xu Jiexin , Gong Yankun , Xie Jieshuo , He Yinghui , Chen Ju , He Yunkai , Cai Shuqun
Published: September 2022

Tide-induced near-inertial internal waves (NIWs) are generated by tide-topography interaction and are energized by internal tides through triadic resonant interaction of internal waves. They are located above topography and could be in close contact with wind-induced NIWs when the topography is a tall ridge, like in the Luzon Strait of the northern South China Sea (SCS). A natural question arises as to whether there is significant interaction between wind- and tide-induced NIWs. By using moored velocity observations, satellite-tracked surface drifter dataset, and idealized numerical simulations, we find that in the presence of tide-induced NIWs, the wind can inject slightly more near-inertial energy (NIE), while in the presence of wind-induced NIWs, significantly more tidal energy is transferred to NIWs. Thus, wind- and tide-induced NIWs can mutually enhance each other, producing more NIE than a linear superposition of that generated by wind and tide forcing alone. Increasing wind intensity and tidal excursion lead to saturation of NIE enhancement, while a taller ridge leads to stronger enhancement. The high mixed-layer NIE near Luzon Strait is mostly generated by the wind, while the mutual enhancement between wind- and tide-induced NIWs can further enhance this pattern. The interaction between wind- and tide-induced NIWs leads to an enhancement of 25% more NIE. If tide-induced NIWs are neglected, as is usually the case in the estimation of NIE, the total NIE will be underestimated by almost 50%. This might imply that tide-induced NIWs are important for the energetics of NIWs in Luzon Strait.
A Decade after Typhoon Morakot (2009): What Have We Learned about Its Physics and Predictability?
Authors: Wang Chung-Chieh , Kuo Hung-Chi , Chen Yu-Han , Chen Shin-Hau , Tsuboki Kazuhisa
Published: September 2022

Typhoon Morakot struck Taiwan during 7–9 August 2009 and became the deadliest tropical cyclone (TC) in five decades by producing up to 2635 mm of rain in 48 h, breaking the world record. The extreme rainfall of Morakot resulted from the strong interaction among several favorable factors that occurred simultaneously. These factors from large scale to small scale include the following: 1) weak environmental steering flow linked to the evolution of the monsoon gyre and consequently slow TC motion; 2) a strong moisture surge due to low-level southwesterly flow; 3) asymmetric rainfall and latent heating near southern Taiwan to further reduce the TC’s forward motion as its center began moving away from Taiwan; 4) enhanced rainfall due to steep topography; 5) atypical structure with a weak inner core, enhancing its susceptibility to the latent heating effect; and 6) cell merger and back building inside the rainbands associated with the interaction between the low-level jet and convective updrafts. From a forecasting standpoint, the present-day convective-permitting or cloud-resolving regional models are capable of short-range predictions of the Morakot event starting from 6 August. At longer ranges beyond 3 days, larger uncertainty exists in the track forecast and an ensemble approach is necessary. Due to the large computational demand at the required high resolution, the time-lagged strategy is shown to be a feasible option to produce useful information on rainfall probabilities of the event.
Thermal buckling behavior of Bouligand inspired laminated composite plates
Authors: Yang Fan , Xie Weihua
Published: September 2022

Natural Bouligand structure is a special class of hierarchical architectures, which have proven to be effective in enhancing its mechanical properties. In this work, we demonstrate that the thermal buckling capacity of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastics can also be improved by mimicking bio-inspired Bouligand architectures. A finite element approach using commercial software ABAQUS is developed to predict the critical buckling temperature of the Bouligand inspired laminated plates under thermal loading. Numerical predictions show a good agreement with analytical results obtained from the literature. The effectiveness of Bouligand-type composite laminates in enhancing thermal buckling behavior is first confirmed by comparing with unidirectional, cross-ply and quasi-isotropic laminates. We then present the effects of pitch angle and ply thickness on the thermal buckling temperature of bio-inspired Bouligand-type laminates. Finally, we conclude that the improved mechanical and thermal properties can be simultaneously achieved by the Bouligand structure of laminates as the pitch angle is increased. The present study highlights the high thermal buckling behavior of biomimetic Bouligand structure, offering a possibility in developing biomimetic composites with good trade-off between mechanical properties and thermal performance.
Prognostic Value of Lymph Node Yield, Lymph Node Density, and pN in Oral Cancer
Authors: Stampe Helene , Jakobsen Kathrine Kronberg , Tvedskov Jesper Filtenborg , Wessel Irene , Kiss Katalin , Friborg Jeppe , Andersen Amanda Oester , Grønhøj Christian , von Buchwald Christian , Christensen Anders
Published: September 2022

Objectives

To investigate thresholds for lymph node yield (LNY), lymph node density (LND), and pN in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma in relation to previous findings in the literature.

Study Design

Retrospective register‐based study.

Setting

Copenhagen Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma database.

Methods

Appropriate thresholds for LNY, LND, and pN were determined by areas under the curve and subsequently subjected to multivariate analysis. Five‐year overall survival and 3‐year recurrence‐free survival were determined by Kaplan‐Meier survival curves.

Results

In total, 413 patients diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma were included. In the pN0 cohort, no superior/prognostic LNY cutoff values were detected. In the pN+ cohort, areas under the curve determined thresholds of LNY, LND, and pN to be 21 nodes, 5%, and 3 metastases, respectively. The 5‐year overall survival was 52% for patients with LNY ≥21 vs 38% for patients with LNY <21 (hazard ratio [HR], 1.49; 95% CI, 1.05‐2.11; P < .05), 60% for patients with LND ≤5% vs 38% for patients with LND >6% (HR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.03‐2.57; P < .05), and 43% for patients with pN <3 vs 26% for patients with pN ≥3 (HR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.04‐2.15; P < .05).

Conclusions

Increased nodal yield, decreased LND, and decreasing number of pN were associated with significantly improved survival outcomes. LNY might serve as a prognosticator of survival as well as a surgical quality indicator. LND may have implications as a tool in cancer staging and treatment planning.
Social Media and the Digital Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere
Authors: Staab Philipp , Thiel Thorsten
Published: September 2022

This article explores the question of how to understand social media following the Habermasian theory of the structural transformation of the public sphere. We argue for a return to political-economic fundamentals as the basis for analysing the public sphere and seek to establish a characteristic connection between digital-behavioural control and singularised audiences in the context of proprietary markets. In the digital constellation, it is less a matter of immobilising the citizen as a consumer but rather of their political activation – albeit in conditions under which commercial interests have primacy: privatisation without privatism.
Mid-upper Arm Circumference as an Indicator of Quality of Life of Patients with Advanced Cancer
Authors: Won Seon-Hye , Hiratsuka Yusuke , Suh Sang-Yeon , Bae Hayoung , Choi Sung-Eun , Kim Yu Jung , Kang Beodeul , Lee Si Won , Suh Koung Jin , Kim Ji-Won , Kim Se Hyun , Kim Jin Won , Lee Keun-Wook
Published: September 2022

Objective: Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) has been used to assess malnutrition and health status across various disease groups. However, it is unclear whether MUAC is associated with quality of life (QOL) of patients with advanced cancer. Our goal was to investigate the relationship between MUAC and QOL in ambulatory out-patients with advanced cancer. Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary cancer center in South Korea. A total of 200 patients with advanced cancer at oncology clinics of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from March 2016 to January 2019 were enrolled. Out-patients with advanced cancer whose survival was expected to be less than one year by their oncologists were enrolled. QOL of patients was evaluated using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). Associations of QOL with MUAC and nutritional parameters were examined with generalized linear models. Results: The most common cancer sites were the lung, colon or rectum, and genitourinary tract. In univariate analyses, significant factors associated with higher summary score of EORTC QLQ-C30 were higher MUAC (≥ 26.5 cm, p < 0.001), higher body mass index (BMI) (≥ 22 kg/m2, p < 0.001), higher serum albumin (≥ 3.7 g/dL, p < 0.01), higher creatinine (≥ 0.8 mg/dL, p = 0.023), and higher uric acid (≥ 5 mg/dL, p < 0.01). In multivariate analysis, higher serum albumin (≥ 3.7 g/dL, p < 0.01) and higher MUAC (≥ 26.5 cm, p = 0.03) were independently associated with better summary score of EORTC QLQ-C-30. Conclusion: MUAC was highly associated with QOL in terms of summary score and overall health status. Thus, MUAC, with its simplicity, can be a useful tool to reflect QOL in patients with advanced cancer.
Role of adding carbon nanotubes in the electric and electromagnetic shielding behaviors of three different types of graphene in hybrid nanocomposites
Authors: dos Anjos Erick GR , Moura Nayara K , Antonelli Eduardo , Baldan Mauricio R , Gomes Newton AS , Braga Natália F , Santos Adelina P , Rezende Mirabel C , Pessan Luiz A , Passador Fabio R
Published: September 2022

Graphene-related materials (GRM) are promising materials to improve mechanical, electrical, and optical polymer properties. Adding multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) on GRM nanocomposites promotes synergistic effects on its electrical properties and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE). This study focused on evaluating the addition of MWCNT on three different polycarbonate (PC)/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)/GRM nanocomposites. These hybrid nanocomposites were prepared by melt mixing using extrusion and injection-mold processes. The morphologies of the nanocomposites were evaluated by field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), and their proprieties were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), oscillatory rheological, dielectric spectroscopy, and EMI SE analyses. The electrical behavior of all hybrid nanocomposites was anisotropic due to the injection-molded preparation process. The lateral size, thickness, and production method of the GRM were indicated to be critical factors for the electrical and EMI SE behaviors of these composites. The nanocomposites with GRM2, which had the smallest lateral size and thickness (graphene nanoplatelets), promoted total attenuation levels around 20 dB with 1.5 wt% of MWCNT, matching the EMI SE required for some commercial applications.
Development of an IoT integrated DMAIC model for process improvement in Indian SMEs: An empirical study
Authors: Gomathi Prabha M , Yuvaraja M
Published: September 2022

Lean Six Sigma (LSS) and the Internet of Things (IoT) facilitate an organisation to compete in the global market. The benefits of implementing the above-mentioned approaches were not realised by many Indian SMEs. The Indian SMEs contribute nearly about 30% of the country's GDP. Hence, this work focused on how Lean Six Sigma and the Internet of Things were deployed to improve the process performance in an Indian SME. IoT integrated LSS model was implemented to minimise lead time and enhance the quality of the product. Value Stream Mapping and line balancing techniques were used to minimise the lead time. To improve quality and service, an IoT-enabled in-house testing procedure was adopted and based on customer feedback, an android application was also developed to monitor the critical parameters at the customer end to enable preventive maintenance. An Augmented Reality based application was developed to simulate the sequence of the assembly process to facilitate training for the workers. To assess the benefits of implementation, a survey was conducted among people at various levels in the organization. This research resulted in a reduction of assembly lead time from 63.8 min to 24.4 min and an improvement in sigma level from 3.9 to 4.7. In the responses received from the survey, key issues faced during the implementation of the proposed model were identified. Key issues like resistance to change, poor interpersonal, lack of training, poor autonomy, timely decision making, and demand fluctuations during implementation are to be addressed for further effective implementation. The proposed model enhances the overall performance of the process in the manufacturing industry. Furthermore, it creates a driveway for Indian SMEs towards Industry 4.0.
Non-destructive evaluation of strength and stiffness of Eucalyptus pellita. A comparison of near infrared spectroscopy and acoustic wave velocity assessment
Authors: Japarudin Yani , Meder Roger , Lapammu Mahadir , Alwi Agustan , Brown Mark
Published: September 2022

Tree improvement programmes benefit from measured data for multiple phenotypes in order to potentially gain maximum genetic leverage for selection. Diameter at breast height, tree height and tree form have traditionally dominated the measured phenotype due to their ease of measurement, and the fact that logs are traded by volume. More complex traits, including those that potentially offer economic benefit in terms of quality and end-product performance such as strength and stiffness, are more difficult to measure in standing trees and are frequently overlooked. These traits are therefore in need of rapid methods of assessment. Tree improvement of Eucalyptus pellita in Malaysian Borneo for solid wood and veneer product utilisation is one such example of where selection for improved stiffness is desirable. Genetic trials of E. pellita were assessed using acoustic velocity measurements at several intervention points, including the standing tree, fallen stem, logs and boards, along with near infrared spectroscopic measurement of the final test samples. Calibrations were developed for modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR) and compression parallel to the grain, using reference values obtained from 3-point bending of small clearwood test samples obtained from the trees following felling and sawing to ensure back-to-log recovery of the test sample location. Dynamic MOE calculated from the standing tree acoustic velocity showed good correlation with the mean MOE from static bending for the wood in the butt log, representing the location where standing tree acoustic velocity measurements were obtained. The Savitzky-Golay second derivative pre-treatment yields the best performing calibration for the microNIR and MPA on ground wood for MOE (R2Cal = 0.76, r2CV = 0.80, r2Pred = 0.46, RMSEC and RMSECV = 1.4 GPa, RMSEP = 2.3 GPa, LV = 3) for the microNIR and R2Cal = 0.98, r2CV and r2Pred = 0.70, RMSEC = 0.5 GPa, RMSECV and RMSEP =1.5 GPa, LV = 4 for the MPA.
Modulation of melatonin to the thalamic lesion-induced pain and comorbid sleep disturbance in the animal model of the central post-stroke hemorrhage
Authors: Kaur Tavleen , Shih Hsi-Chien , Huang Andrew Chih Wei , Shyu Bai-Chuang
Published: September 2022

The devastating chronic central post stroke pain is associated with variety of comorbidities. Disrupted sleep is a severe comorbidity, causing an increase in the suicide rate, due to CPSP’s pain symptom. Melatonin is a well-known jet-lag compound, which helps in entrainment of sleep cycle. Accordingly, whether melatonin as a therapeutic measurement for the regulation of sleep disturbance related to central post stroke pain remains unclear. Exogenous melatonin administration entrained the disrupted 24 h circadian cycle, more effectively after 2 and 3 week of administration. The effect of melatonin was persisted on 4th week too, when melatonin administration was discontinued. Also, melatonin ameliorated the pain due to distorted sleep-activity behavior after melatonin administration for 3 weeks. The low levels of melatonin in blood plasma due to CPSP were restored after 3 weeks of melatonin administration. After 30 mg/kg melatonin administrations for 3 weeks, all the disrupted resting and activity behaviors were reduced during light and dark periods. The results suggested that melatonin significantly ameliorated CPSP’s pain symptoms and comorbid sleep disturbance showing in activity behavior.
Deepen supply-side reform of science popularization resources and build high-quality and highly efficient modern science and technology museums
Authors: Wang Xiaoming
Published: September 2022

Standing at the starting point of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025), China's modern science and technology museum system faces both new opportunities and challenges, and urgently needs supply-side reform of science popularization resources. The reform should maintain the direction of promoting public participation, strengthening cross-sector integration, applying emerging technologies, promoting the science popularization industry and deepening international cooperation. The aim of the reform is to optimize exhibition levels and quality, deepen the diversity and innovation of educational resources, refine the detection of and response to visitor demands, and strengthen academic research and the transformation of research achievements. Such efforts will serve to cultivate the capacity for holding popular exhibitions, enhancing science communication, delivering targeted services and driving innovation, and will promote the development of high-quality and highly efficient modern science and technology museums.
Causes of Undergraduate Students’ Underachievement in a Gulf Cooperation Council Country (GCC) University
Authors: Johnson Chithira , Gitay Rizwan , Al Hazaa Khalifa , Abdel-Salam Abdel-Salam G. , Mohamed Radwa Ismail , BenSaid Ahmed , Al-Tameemi Rusol Adil Naji , Romanowski Michael H.
Published: September 2022

UNESCO reports enrollment in higher education in the Arab and Gulf Cooperation Council region doubled from 5.1 million in 2000 to 10.7 million in 2015. Despite significant budgets and the world’s lowest teacher-to-student ratio, higher education in this region is plagued by student underachievement. This study identifies academic underachievement factors among undergraduate students at risk at a national university in the GCC. As part of the Intrusive Intervention Program, students were required to complete an Academic Success Plan that delineated academic, personal, social, career, and other academic underachievement reasons. Based on 5,040 students’ responses that indicated their academic underachievement causes, findings reported that students perceived academic factors as the most recurrent reason for academic underachievement. In contrast, social adjustment causes were found to be the least recurrent. Specific causes are reported under each category and discussion is provided against gender, nationality, major, and classification.
Is Lenke Rule About Selective Thoracic Fusion Applicable for Younger Adult Idiopathic Scoliosis Under 40 Years of Age: Comparison With Adolescent Patients
Authors: Yi Honglei , Chen Hu , Wang Xinhui , Ye Zhujun , Xia Hong
Published: September 2022

Study Design

Retrospective study.

Objective

To evaluate the surgical outcomes of younger adult idiopathic scoliosis patients (YAdIS) with selective thoracic fusion by comparing them with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Methods

Seventy-two idiopathic scoliosis patients (36 adults and 36 adolescents) treated by posterior-only all-pedicle screw technique were retrospective reviewed and matched by fusion levels. Radiographic parameters were evaluated preoperatively, postoperatively, and at final follow-up. Operating time, blood loss, transfusion, and complications were noted. The clinical outcome was assessed by the Scoliosis Research Society-22 questionnaire (SRS-22).

Results

The major thoracic curves in YAdIS and AIS groups were 56.3° ± 9.7°, 53.3° ± 10.1° and corrected to 17.2° ± 7.3°, 14.9° ± 7.5° respectively without significant difference in correction rate (69.3% vs 72.0%). For the lumbar curve, Cobb angles in 2 groups were 35.6° ± 10.1°and 31.4 ± 9.2° preoperatively, and were spontaneously corrected to 18.5° ± 9.0° and 12.6° ± 8.2°.Correction rates were 48.0% and 59.8% ( P < .05). Preoperative and postoperative coronal vertebra alignments (CVA) in the YAdIS group were 20.6 ± 9.7 mm and 16.8 ± 7.9 mm ( P > .05), while in the AIS group was 17.8 ± 10.5 mm and 9.7 ± 8.3 mm ( P < .05). However, sagittal parameters showed significant improvements in thoracic kyphosis in both groups ( P < .05). Complication rates were 25% vs 11.1% ( P = .13) with no significant difference. Preoperative SRS-22 was worse in the YAdIS group than AIS group. All the scores were significantly improved postoperatively in the YAdIS group. However, in the AIS group, only SRS scores improved significantly.

Conclusions

YAdIS can also be treated very well with selective thoracic fusion based on the Lenke rule used for AIS.
Variable Stiffness Identification and Configuration Optimization of Industrial Robots for Machining Tasks
Authors: Jiao Jiachen , Tian Wei , Zhang Lin , Li Bo , Hu Junshan , Li Yufei , Li Dawei , Zhang Jianlong
Published: September 2022

Industrial robots are increasingly being used in machining tasks because of their high flexibility and intelligence. However, the low structural stiffness of a robot significantly affects its positional accuracy and the machining quality of its operation equipment. Studying robot stiffness characteristics and optimization methods is an effective method of improving the stiffness performance of a robot. Accordingly, aiming at the poor accuracy of stiffness modeling caused by approximating the stiffness of each joint as a constant, a variable stiffness identification method is proposed based on space gridding. Subsequently, a task-oriented axial stiffness evaluation index is proposed to quantitatively assess the stiffness performance in the machining direction. In addition, by analyzing the redundant kinematic characteristics of the robot machining system, a configuration optimization method is further developed to maximize the index. For numerous points or trajectory-processing tasks, a configuration smoothing strategy is proposed to rapidly acquire optimized configurations. Finally, experiments on a KR500 robot were conducted to verify the feasibility and validity of the proposed stiffness identification and configuration optimization methods.
Plastic–elastic Model for Water-based Lubrication Considering Surface Force
Authors: Zhang Shuowen , Zhao Mingbo , Zhang Chenhui
Published: September 2022

Water-based lubrication is an effective method to achieve superlubricity, which implies a friction coefficient in the order of 10−3 or lower. Recent numerical, analytical, and experimental studies confirm that the surface force effect is crucial for realizing water-based superlubricity. To enhance the contribution of the surface force, soft and plastic materials can be utilized as friction pair materials because of their effect in increasing the contact area. A new numerical model of water-based lubrication that considers the surface force between plastic and elastic materials is developed in this study to investigate the effect of plastic flow in water-based lubrication. Considering the complexity of residual stress accumulation in lubrication problems, a simplified plastic model is proposed, which merely calculates the result of the dry contact solution and avoids repeated calculations of the plastic flow. The results of the two models show good agreement. Plastic deformation reduces the local contact pressure and enhances the function of the surface force, thus resulting in a lower friction coefficient.
Associations between cumulative risk, childhood sleep duration, and body mass index across childhood
Authors: Phu Tiffany , Doom Jenalee R.
Published: September 2022

Background

Although associations between cumulative risk, sleep, and overweight/obesity have been demonstrated, few studies have examined relationships between these constructs longitudinally across childhood. This study investigated how cumulative risk and sleep duration are related to current and later child overweight/obesity in families across the United States sampled for high sociodemographic risk.

Methods

We conducted secondary analyses on 3690 families with recorded child height and weight within the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study. A cumulative risk composite (using nine variables indicating household/environmental, family, and sociodemographic risk) was calculated for each participant from ages 3-9 years. Path analyses were used to investigate associations between cumulative risk, parent-reported child sleep duration, and z-scored child body mass index (BMI) percentile at ages 3 through 9.

Results

Higher cumulative risk experienced at age 5 was associated with shorter sleep duration at year 9, b = − 0.35, p = .01, 95% CI [− 0.57, − 0.11]. At 5 years, longer sleep duration was associated with lower BMI, b = − 0.03, p = .03, 95% CI [− 0.06, − 0.01]. Higher cumulative risk at 9 years, b = − 0.34, p = .02, 95% CI [− 0.57, − 0.10], was concurrently associated with shorter sleep duration. Findings additionally differed by child sex, such that only male children showed an association between sleep duration and BMI.

Conclusions

Results partially supported hypothesized associations between child sleep duration, cumulative risk, and BMI emerging across childhood within a large, primarily low socioeconomic status sample. Findings suggest that reducing cumulative risk for families experiencing low income may support longer child sleep duration. Additionally, child sleep duration and BMI are concurrently related in early childhood for male children.