bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CRISPR/dCas9-Dnmt3a-mediated targeted DNA methylation of APP rescues brain pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Park Hanseul , Shin Jaein , Kim Yunkyung , Saito Takashi , Saido Takaomi C. , Kim Jongpil
Published: September 2022

Background

Aberrant DNA methylation patterns have been observed in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), and dynamic changes in DNA methylation are closely associated with the onset and progression of these diseases. Particularly, hypomethylation of the amyloid precursor protein gene (APP) has been reported in patients with AD.

Methods

In this study, we used catalytically inactivated Cas9 (dCas9) fused with Dnmt3a for targeted DNA methylation of APP, and showed that the CRISPR/dCas9-Dnmt3a-mediated DNA methylation system could efficiently induce targeted DNA methylation of APP both in vivo and in vitro.

Results

We hypothesized that the targeted methylation of the APP promoter might rescue AD-related neuronal cell death by reducing APP mRNA expression. The cultured APP-KI mouse primary neurons exhibited an altered DNA-methylation pattern on the APP promoter after dCas9-Dnmt3a treatment. Likewise, the APP mRNA level was significantly reduced in the dCas9-Dnmt3a-treated wild-type and APP-KI mouse primary neurons. We also observed decreased amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide level and Aβ42/40 ratio in the dCas9-Dnmt3a-treated APP-KI mouse neurons compared to the control APP-KI mouse neurons. In addition, neuronal cell death was significantly decreased in the dCas9-Dnmt3a-treated APP-KI mouse neurons. Furthermore, the in vivo methylation of APP in the brain via dCas9-Dnmt3a treatment altered Aβ plaques and attenuated cognitive and behavioral impairments in the APP-KI mouse model.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the targeted methylation of APP via dCas9-Dnmt3a treatment can be a potential therapeutic strategy for AD.
Multi-omic profiling of the leukemic microenvironment shows bone marrow interstitial fluid is distinct from peripheral blood plasma
Authors: Nierves Lorenz , Guo Jian , Chen Siyuan , Tsui Janice , Uzozie Anuli C. , Bush Jonathan W. , Huan Tao , Lange Philipp F.
Published: September 2022

Background

The bone marrow is the place of hematopoiesis with a microenvironment that supports lifelong maintenance of stem cells and high proliferation. It is not surprising that this environment is also favourable for malignant cells emerging in the bone marrow or metastasizing to it. While the cellular composition of the bone marrow microenvironment has been extensively studied, the extracellular matrix and interstitial fluid components have received little attention. Since the sinusoids connect the bone marrow interstitial fluid to the circulation, it is often considered to have the same composition as peripheral blood plasma. Stark differences in the cellular composition of the bone marrow and peripheral blood with different secretory capacities would however suggest profound differences.

Methods

In this study we set out to better define if and how the bone marrow interstitial fluid (BMIF) compares to the peripheral blood plasma (PBP) and how both are remodeled during chemotherapy. We applied a multi-omic strategy to quantify the metabolite, lipid and protein components as well as the proteolytic modification of proteins to gain a comprehensive understanding of the two compartments.

Results

We found that the bone marrow interstitial fluid is clearly distinct from peripheral blood plasma, both during active pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia and following induction chemotherapy. Either compartment was shaped differently by active leukemia, with the bone marrow interstitial fluid being rich in extracellular vesicle components and showing protease dysregulation while the peripheral blood plasma showed elevation of immune regulatory proteins. Following chemotherapy, the BMIF showed signs of cellular remodeling and impaired innate immune activation while the peripheral blood plasma was characterized by restored lipid homeostasis.

Conclusion

This study provides a comprehensive examination of the fluid portion of the acute lymphoblastic leukemia microenvironment and finds the contribution of either microenvironment to tumourigenesis.
Effect of an online resourcefulness training in improving psychological well-being of front-line medical staff: a quasi-experimental study
Authors: Zhang Dandan , Jia Yitong , Chen Yongjun , Meng Ge , Zhuang Xinqi , Chen Li , Wang Dongmei , Zhang Yin-Ping
Published: September 2022

Background

The global COVID-19 pandemic is still not under effective control, and strong workplace supports with comprehensive mental health interventions are urgently needed to help medical staff effectively respond to the pandemic. This study aimed to verify the effect of an online resourcefulness training program on the resourcefulness, and psychological variables of front-line medical staff working in the COVID-19 isolation ward.

Design

A pre-test and post-test quasi-experimental design with control group was employed.

Participants

A total of 60 participants working in two isolation wards were recruited via convenience sampling. The two isolation wards were randomly assigned to the control group (isolation ward 1, n = 30) and the intervention group (isolation ward 2, n = 30).

Intervention

The participants were trained online by video conferences and WeChat. The control group received conventional training (e.g., psychological training, psychological counseling), while the intervention group received a 4-h online resourcefulness training. Both groups learned updated guidelines of COVID-19 simultaneously via video conference. The primary outcomes (resourcefulness, anxiety, depression and coping styles) and the secondary outcome (psychological resilience) were measured before intervention and three time points after intervention.

Results

After the intervention and one week after the intervention, the resourcefulness, resilience, and positive response scores of the participants in the intervention group were significantly higher than those of the control group. The anxiety and negative response scores in the intervention group were significantly lower than those of the control group (all p < 0.05).

One month after the intervention, the scores of resourcefulness, tenacity, and positive response of the intervention group were higher than those of the control group (all p < 0.05). Repeated measures analysis of variance showed that the two groups of participants had statistically significant changes in the time-based effect and group-based effect in resourcefulness, resilience, anxiety scores and coping styles (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

The results showed that our online resourcefulness training can significantly improve the resourcefulness, resilience, and positive response scores and effectively reduce anxiety and depression scores of front-line medical staff. This demonstrates that online resourcefulness training would be an effective tool for the psychological adjustment of front-line medical staff in fighting against COVID-19.
Validity of score interpretations on an online English placement writing test
Authors: Choi Yun Deok
Published: September 2022

A much-debated question in the L2 assessment field is if computer familiarity should be considered a potential source of construct-irrelevant variance in computer-based writing (CBW) tests. This study aims to make a partial validity argument for an online source-based writing test (OSWT) designed for English placement testing (EPT), focusing on the explanation inference. Score interpretations on the OWST are proposed and supporting evidence is sought in terms of test-takers’ self-confidence in and preferences for CBW tests (two interrelated aspects of computer familiarity) and L2 writing ability. Ninety-seven ESL students demonstrating two different levels (higher and lower levels) of L2 writing ability studying at a US university completed the OSWT and an online questionnaire asking about their attitudes towards CBW tests. A series of statistical and thematic analyses revealed that most of the test-takers held self-confidence in and preferences for CBW tests for reasons related to previous CBW experience (e.g., familiarity with CBW, useful tools/functions available on computers) regardless of L2 writing ability. The higher-level test-takers obtained significantly higher scores on the OSWT than their lower-level counterparts. Test-takers’ preferences were a significant predictor of the OSWT scores only in the higher-level group. The findings largely support the validity of proposed score interpretations on the OSWT. Implications are discussed in terms of test fairness and the construct of CBW tests.
Identifying moderating factors during the preschool period in the development of borderline personality disorder: a prospective longitudinal analysis
Authors: Boone Kiran , Vogel Alecia C. , Tillman Rebecca , Wright Amanda J. , Barch Deanna M. , Luby Joan L. , Whalen Diana J.
Published: September 2022

Background

Despite a growing literature detailing early childhood risk factors for borderline personality disorder (BPD), few studies have examined moderating factors that might mitigate or exacerbate the effects of those risk factors. The current study examined whether three preschool-age characteristics—impulsivity, emotional lability, and initiative-taking—moderated the relationship between known preschool-age risk factors and adolescent BPD symptoms.

Methods

We performed multilevel modeling analyses in a sample (n = 151) from the Preschool Depression Study, a prospective longitudinal study with assessments from preschool through adolescence. Preschool risk factors included adverse childhood experiences, internalizing symptoms, and externalizing symptoms measured with parent clinical interviews. Preschool moderating factors were assessed via parent report and observational coding of temperament and behavior. The Borderline Personality Features Scale for Children measured BPD symptoms in adolescence.

Results

We found that observed initiative-taking moderated the relationship between preschool internalizing symptoms and adolescent BPD symptoms (b = 0.57, p = .011) and moderated the relationship between preschool externalizing symptoms and adolescent BPD symptoms (b = 1.42, p = .013). Greater initiative-taking was associated with lower BPD risk for children with high internalizing or externalizing symptoms. Conversely, for children with low internalizing or externalizing symptoms, greater initiative-taking was associated with increased BPD risk.

Conclusions

We identify a potential moderating factor in BPD development, offer novel targets for screening and intervention, and provide a framework for using early childhood observational assessments in BPD research. Our findings suggest the need for future research on early moderating factors in BPD development, which could inform early childhood interventions targeting those factors to mitigate the effects of potentially less malleable risk factors.
Iron-gall inks: a review of their degradation mechanisms and conservation treatments
Authors: Melo Maria João , Otero Vanessa , Nabais Paula , Teixeira Natércia , Pina Fernando , Casanova Conceição , Fragoso Sara , Sequeira Sílvia O.
Published: September 2022

Iron-gall inks are an essential element of our written cultural heritage that is at risk of a total loss due to degradation. This degradation leads to the loss of the support, particularly the cellulose-based support. Intending to stabilize it, we have come a long way from the nineteenth-century cellulose nitrate laminations to the relatively recent phytate treatments; nevertheless, less invasive treatments are needed. To pave the way for developing safer and more sustainable treatments, tailored as much as possible to the object, this paper reviews the conservation treatments and the advances that have taken place over the last decade in our understanding of the degradation mechanisms of iron-gall inks, based on a careful selection of references to support a concise microreview. This discussion is based on the currently accepted models based on the Fe3+-gallate and the identification of degradation products for iron-gall inks observed in heritage objects, including manuscripts dating from the fourteenth to seventeenth centuries and drawings from the fifteenth to nineteenth centuries. The degradation promoted by iron-gall inks induces scission of cellulose through acid catalysis and/or redox reactions. The causes of these acid-base and redox reactions are also assessed. Finally, we detail the state-of-the-art conservation treatments used to mitigate iron gall ink deterioration, covering treatments from the late nineteenth century to the beginning of the twentieth century, followed by the presentation of current phytate treatments and new postphytate treatments.
Historical overview and current practice of peritoneal dialysis in Japan
Authors: Kawanishi Hideki
Published: September 2022

In the early days of peritoneal dialysis (PD) therapy, its limited duration and peritoneal deterioration were argued to be its disadvantages. Biocompatible solutions and hybrid therapy have been used in Japan to overcome these issues, which resulted in a decrease in encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) incidence and an extension of PD continuation; these results have been disseminated worldwide. Peritoneal dialysis outcomes and practice patterns study (PDOPPS), a prospective observational study, has begun to confirm the outcomes of PD therapy, and sufficient evidence has been published, which has influenced the preparation of PD guidelines. Current thinking about PD emphasizes the need to maintain quality of life and life goals as care goals for patients and to provide high-quality care. However, we must conduct basic research on the prevention of peritoneal deterioration.
Inferring FDG-PET-positivity of lymph node metastases in proven lung cancer from contrast-enhanced CT using radiomics and machine learning
Authors: Gorodetski Boris , Becker Philipp Hendrik , Baur Alexander Daniel Jacques , Hartenstein Alexander , Rogasch Julian Manuel Michael , Furth Christian , Amthauer Holger , Hamm Bernd , Makowski Marcus , Penzkofer Tobias
Published: September 2022

Background

We evaluated the role of radiomics applied to contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) in the detection of lymph node (LN) metastases in patients with known lung cancer compared to 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET)/CT as a reference.

Methods

This retrospective analysis included 381 patients with 1,799 lymph nodes (450 malignant, 1,349 negative). The data set was divided into a training and validation set. A radiomics analysis with 4 filters and 6 algorithms resulting in 24 different radiomics signatures and a bootstrap algorithm (Bagging) with 30 bootstrap iterations was performed. A decision curve analysis was applied to generate a net benefit to compare the radiomics signature to two expert radiologists as one-by-one and as a prescreening tool in combination with the respective radiologist and only the radiologists.

Results

All 24 modeling methods showed good and reliable discrimination for malignant/benign LNs (area under the curve 0.75−0.87). The decision curve analysis showed a net benefit for the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) classifier for the entire probability range and outperformed the expert radiologists except for the high probability range. Using the radiomics signature as a prescreening tool for the radiologists did not improve net benefit.

Conclusions

Radiomics showed good discrimination power irrespective of the modeling technique in detecting LN metastases in patients with known lung cancer. The LASSO classifier was a suitable diagnostic tool and even outperformed the expert radiologists, except for high probabilities. Radiomics failed to improve clinical benefit as a prescreening tool.
Enhancing the stability of CT radiomics across different volume of interest sizes using parametric feature maps: a phantom study
Authors: Jensen Laura J. , Kim Damon , Elgeti Thomas , Steffen Ingo G. , Schaafs Lars-Arne , Hamm Bernd , Nagel Sebastian N.
Published: September 2022

Background

In radiomics studies, differences in the volume of interest (VOI) are often inevitable and may confound the extracted features. We aimed to correct this confounding effect of VOI variability by applying parametric maps with a fixed voxel size.

Methods

Ten scans of a cup filled with sodium chloride solution were scanned using a multislice computed tomography (CT) unit. Sphere-shaped VOIs with different diameters (4, 8, or 16 mm) were drawn centrally into the phantom. A total of 93 features were extracted conventionally from the original images using PyRadiomics. Using a self-designed and pretested software tool, parametric maps for the same 93 features with a fixed voxel size of 4 mm3 were created. To retrieve the feature values from the maps, VOIs were copied from the original images to preserve the position. Differences in feature quantities between the VOI sizes were tested with the Mann-Whitney U-test and agreement with overall concordance correlation coefficients (OCCC).

Results

Fifty-five conventionally extracted features were significantly different between the VOI sizes, and none of the features showed excellent agreement in terms of OCCCs. When read from the parametric maps, only 8 features showed significant differences, and 3 features showed an excellent OCCC (≥ 0.85). The OCCCs for 89 features substantially increased using the parametric maps.

Conclusions

This phantom study shows that converting CT images into parametric maps resolves the confounding effect of VOI variability and increases feature reproducibility across VOI sizes.
Study on restless leg syndrome and its relationship with quality of sleep among the general population of Mangalore, India
Authors: Joseph Nitin , Suresh Sooraj , Prasad Satwiki , Malwee Swaraj Mandar , Brittas Anand , Gupta Vedant
Published: September 2022

Background

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological morbidity. It is, however, a frequently underdiagnosed medical condition. This study was hence done to assess the occurrence and severity of RLS among participants and to study its determinants and its association with quality of sleep. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among the general population of Mangalore in July 2021. Data were collected using a Google Form. The International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group Rating Scale was used to diagnose RLS and its severity. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess sleep quality.

Results

The prevalence of RLS among the 202 participants was 24(11.9%). Among them, 5 were already diagnosed with RLS. Their mean age at onset was 40.4 ± 25.3 years. Among the rest 197 participants, 19(9.6%) were newly diagnosed with RLS. The severity of RLS was mild, moderate and severe among 7(36.8%), 9(47.4%) and 3(15.8%) participants, respectively. Five (26.3%) of the 19 newly diagnosed participants were identified as RLS sufferers. In multivariable analysis, the presence of diabetes mellitus and family history of RLS were  associated with the presence of RLS among the participants. The mean Global PSQI value was 5.0 ± 3.1. Sleep latency was prolonged (p = 0.001), and sleep disturbances (p = 0.01) were higher among participants newly diagnosed with RLS (n = 19) compared to those without RLS (n = 178). Subjective sleep quality was poor (p = 0.038), and sleep disturbances (p = 0.016) were more among participants with severe degree RLS.

Conclusions

The prevalence of RLS in the present study was higher than that reported in previous Indian studies. Unpleasant sensations in RLS affected sleep initiation and maintenance among the affected. A multi-disciplinary approach is required to control its determinants and address other sleep-related problems among the RLS affected population.
Perioperative management of acquired TEF repair in a child with Hodgkin’s lymphoma: a case report
Authors: Sen Indu Mohini , Menon Prema , Puri Sunaakshi , Kumar Raj , Bansal Deepak
Published: September 2022

Background

Acquired tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is a rare presentation in pediatric lymphoma patients. Most heal spontaneously following chemotherapy/radiotherapy without requiring surgery.

Case presentation

A 10-year-old child is presented with persistent tracheoesophageal fistula after completion of chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The mid-tracheal location of the fistula had significant implications in terms of airway management. Securing the airway with a microcuff tube helped meet the goals of achieving adequate ventilation while preventing airway contamination and permitting the repair without any complication.

Conclusions

The index case posed surgical and anesthetic challenges due to the size and location of the fistula. However, timely surgical intervention improved the quality of life of the child as well as that of the parents.
Links between host genetics, metabolism, gut microbiome and amoebic gill disease (AGD) in Atlantic salmon
Authors: Schaal Patrick , Cheaib Bachar , Kaufmann Joshka , Phillips Karl , Ryder Liz , McGinnity Phil , Llewellyn Martin
Published: September 2022

Background

Rapidly spreading parasitic infections like amoebic gill disease (AGD) are increasingly problematic for Atlantic salmon reared in aquaculture facilities and potentially pose a risk to wild fish species in surrounding waters. Currently, it is not known whether susceptibility to AGD differs between wild and farmed salmon. Wild Atlantic salmon populations are declining and this emerging disease could represent an additional threat to their long-term viability. A better understanding of how AGD affects fish health is therefore relevant for the accurate assessment of the associated risk, both to farming and to the well-being of wild populations. In this study, we assessed the impact of natural exposure to AGD on wild, hybrid and farmed post-smolt Atlantic salmon reared in a sea farm together under common garden conditions.

Results

Wild fish showed substantially higher mortality levels (64%) than farmed fish (25%), with intermediate levels for hybrid fish (39%) suggesting that AGD susceptibility has an additive genetic basis. Metabolic rate measures representing physiological performance were similar among the genetic groups but were significantly lower in AGD-symptomatic fish than healthy fish. Gut microbial diversity was significantly lower in infected fish. We observed major shifts in gut microbial community composition in response to AGD infections. In symptomatic fish the relative abundance of key taxaAliivibrio,MarinomonasandPseudoalteromonasdeclined, whereas the abundance of PolaribacterandVibrioincreased compared to healthy fish.

Conclusions

Our results highlight the stress AGD imposes on fish physiology and suggest that low metabolic-rate fish phenotypes may be associated with better infection outcomes. We consider the role increased AGD outbreak events and a warmer future may have in driving secondary bacterial infections and in reducing performance in farmed and wild fish.
Value of montelukast as a potential treatment of post-COVID-19 persistent cough: a non-randomized controlled pilot study
Authors: Mohamed Hussein Aliae A. R. , Ibrahim Mohamed Eltaher A. A. , Makhlouf Hoda A. , Makhlouf Nahed A. , Abd-Elaal Howaida K. , Kholief Karima M. S. , Sayed Islam G.
Published: September 2022

Background

This pilot study included 68 cases with post-COVID-19 persistent cough (> 8 weeks), randomly allocated into two groups; intervention group (32 patients) received standard cough therapy, and montelukast 10 mg/day for 14 days and control group (36 patients) received only cough sedatives.

Results

We found a significant improvement in the number of cough paroxysms/day, cough severity visual analog scale, cough severity index and cough quality of life, shorter duration improvement, and minimal side effects in the interventional group.

Conclusions

We suggest that montelukast may be effective to reduce the duration and severity of the persistent post-COVID-19 cough and further improve quality of life.
Outcomes After Nonresponse and Relapse Post-Tisagenlecleucel in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults With B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Schultz Liora M. , Eaton Anne , Baggott Christina , Rossoff Jenna , Prabhu Snehit , Keating Amy K. , Krupski Christa , Pacenta Holly , Philips Christine L. , Talano Julie-An , Moskop Amy , Baumeister Susanne H.C. , Myers Gary Douglas , Karras Nicole A. , Brown Patrick A. , Qayed Muna , Hermiston Michelle , Satwani Prakash , Wilcox Rachel , Rabik Cara A. , Fabrizio Vanessa A. , Chinnabhandar Vasant , Kunicki Michael , Mavroukakis Sharon , Egeler Emily , Li Yimei , Mackall Crystal L. , Curran Kevin J. , Verneris Michael R. , Laetsch Theodore W. , Stefanski Heather
Published: September 2022

PURPOSE

Nonresponse and relapse after CD19-chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy continue to challenge survival outcomes. Phase II landmark data from the ELIANA trial demonstrated nonresponse and relapse rates of 14.5% and 28%, respectively, whereas use in the real-world setting showed nonresponse and relapse rates of 15% and 37%. Outcome analyses describing fate after post-CAR nonresponse and relapse remain limited. Here, we aim to establish survival outcomes after nonresponse and both CD19+ and CD19– relapses and explore treatment variables associated with inferior survival.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective multi-institutional study of 80 children and young adults with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia experiencing nonresponse (n = 23) or relapse (n = 57) after tisagenlecleucel. We analyze associations between baseline characteristics and these outcomes and establish survival rates and salvage approaches.

RESULTS

The overall survival (OS) at 12 months was 19% across nonresponders (n = 23; 95% CI, 7 to 50). Ninety-five percent of patients with nonresponse had high preinfusion disease burden. Among 156 morphologic responders, the cumulative incidence of relapse was 37% (95% CI, 30 to 47) at 12 months (CD19+; 21% [15 to 29], CD19–; 16% [11 to 24], median follow-up; 380 days). Across 57 patients experiencing relapse, the OS was 52% (95% CI, 38 to 71) at 12 months after time of relapse. Notably, CD19– relapse was associated with significantly decreased OS as compared with patients who relapsed with conserved CD19 expression (CD19– 12-month OS; 30% [14 to 66], CD19+ 12-month OS; 68% [49 to 92], P = .0068). Inotuzumab, CAR reinfusion, and chemotherapy were used as postrelapse salvage therapy with greatest frequency, yet high variability in treatment sequencing and responses limits efficacy analysis across salvage approaches.

CONCLUSION

We describe poor survival across patients experiencing nonresponse to tisagenlecleucel. In the post-tisagenlecleucel relapse setting, patients can be salvaged; however, CD19– relapse is distinctly associated with decreased survival outcomes.
Keeping an Open Mind About Open Notes: Sharing Anesthesia Records With Patients
Authors: Ramaswamy Priya , Xie James , Marsiglio Angela M. , Burgart Alyssa M. , Schmiesing Cliff A. , Cohen Neal H. , Robinowitz David L. , Wang Ellen
Published: September 2022

ADDENDUM:

Please note that in the interim since this paper was accepted for publication, new governmental regulations, pertinent to the topic, have been approved for implementation. The reader is thus directed to this online addendum for additional relevant information: http://links.lww.com/AA/E44
The Small Matter of Suing Chevron
Authors: Sawyer Suzana
Published: September 2022

In 2011, an Ecuadorian court issued the world’s largest environmental contamination liability: a $9.5 billion judgment against Chevron. Within years, a US federal court and an international tribunal determined that the Ecuadorian judgment had been procured through fraud and was unenforceable. In The Small Matter of Suing Chevron Suzana Sawyer delves into this legal trilogy to explore how distinct legal truths were relationally composed of, with, and through crude oil. In Sawyer’s analysis, chemistry proves crucial. Analytically, it affords a grammar for appreciating how molecular, technical, and legal agencies catalyzed distinct jurisdictional renderings. Empirically, the chemistry of hydrocarbons (its complexity, unfathomability, and misattribution) significantly shaped competing judicial determinations. Ultimately, chemical, scientific, contractual, and litigating techniques precipitated this legal saga’s metamorphic transformation, transmuting a contamination claim into an environmental liability, then a racketeering scheme, and then a breach of treaty. Holding the paradoxes of complicity in suspension, Sawyer deftly demonstrates how crude matters, technoscience, and liberal legality configure how risk and reward, deprivation and disavowal, suffering and surfeit become legally and unevenly distributed.
Trading Futures
Authors: Maia Filipe
Published: September 2022

The discourse of financialized capitalism tries to create a future predictable enough to manage risk for the wealthy, to shape the future into a profit-making site that constrains and privatizes the sense of what’s possible. Here, people’s hopes and meaning-making energies are policed through the burden of debt. In Trading Futures Filipe Maia offers a theological reflection on hope and the future, calling for escape routes from the debt economy. Drawing on Marxism, continental philosophy, and Latin American liberation theology, Maia provides a critical portrayal of financialization as a death-dealing mechanism that colonizes the future in its own image. Maia elaborates a Christian eschatology of liberation that offers a subversive mode of imagining future possibilities. He shows how the Christian vocabulary of hope can offer a way to critique the hegemony of financialized capitalism, propelling us in the direction of a just future that financial discourse cannot manage or control.
Stimulating the sir2–spargel axis rescues exercise capacity and mitochondrial respiration in a Drosophila model of Barth syndrome
Authors: Damschroder Deena , Zapata-Pérez Rubén , Richardson Kristin , Vaz Frédéric M. , Houtkooper Riekelt H. , Wessells Robert
Published: September 2022

Cardiolipin (CL) is a phospholipid required for proper mitochondrial function. Tafazzin remodels CL to create highly unsaturated fatty acid chains. However, when TAFAZZIN is mutated, CL remodeling is impeded, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and the disease Barth syndrome. Patients with Barth syndrome often have severe exercise intolerance, which negatively impacts their overall quality of life. Boosting NAD+ levels can improve symptoms of other mitochondrial diseases, but its effect in the context of Barth syndrome has not been examined. We demonstrate, for the first time, that nicotinamide riboside can rescue exercise tolerance and mitochondrial respiration in a Drosophila Tafazzin mutant and that the beneficial effects are dependent on sir2 and spargel. Overexpressing spargel increased the total abundance of CL in mutants. In addition, muscles and neurons were identified as key targets for future therapies because sir2 or spargel overexpression in either of these tissues is sufficient to restore the exercise capacity of Drosophila Tafazzin mutants.
A General Large-Scale Fabrication of Tin Oxide with Interfacial Engineering via Trichloropropylsilane for Hysteresis-Free MAPbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells Exceeding 20% PCE
Authors: Zhou Peng , Liu Liu , Cheng Jiahao , Jiao Chuanjia , Song Kemeng , Shan Chengcai , Li Wangnan , Liang Guijie , Wang Jingyang , Huang Fuzhi , Cheng Yi-Bing
Published: September 2022

We demonstrate a facile chemical bath deposition (CBD) of SnO2 films as excellent ETLs using a low temperature method (70 °C). The vacuum drying treatment and trichloropropylsilane (C3H7Cl3Si, Cl-Si) are employed for surface modification on SnO2 films due to the hygroscopicity of most metal oxides. The results reveal that the water molecules adsorbed on the CBD-SnO2 films can be desorbed by vacuum drying, and the hydrolysis products of Cl-Si can bond to SnO2 films through hydroxyl groups. Thus, the hydrophobicity of CBD-SnO2 is enhanced by employing the Cl-Si treatment, which is beneficial to improve the crystallinity of MAPbI3. The Cl-Si modified SnO2 films exhibit efficient electron extraction and hole blocking ability due to the higher electronic conduction band energy level than the pristine SnO2. Consequently, the MAPbI3 PSCs based on the hydrophobic Cl-Si/SnO2 exhibit a high PCE of 20.12% with low hysteresis, retaining 80% of the initial PCE after 500 h without any encapsulation at ambient condition. The 5 × 5 cm2 PSC modules prepared with this strategy achieve 15.24% efficiency (14.44% at forward scanning) with an aperture area of 10 cm2.
Kinematics analysis and calibration of a 6-degree of freedom light load collaborative robot
Authors: Wang Dianjun , wang zilong , Chen Ya , Cui Zhiguo , Zhu Yadong , Wu Chao
Published: September 2022

Background: In the process of carrying small forgings and other materials, the trajectory error of the 6-degree of freedom light-load collaborative robot will lead to the deviation of forgings placement position. The kinematics analysis and calibration of 6-degree of freedom light load collaborative robot are performed to solve the problem of trajectory error.

Methods: The quaternion and cubic spline interpolation methods are adopted to plan the trajectory of the 6-degree of freedom light load collaborative robot. Based on the kinematic error model, the least squares estimation method is adopted to estimate the parameter error of the robot's connecting rod, and the parameter compensation values of each joint are obtained.

Results: The kinematic calibration experiment shows that the coordinates of the robot end center are basically consistent with the actual coordinates after compensation, which verifies the rationality of the kinematic model and calibration method.

Conclusions: The study lays the theoretical foundation for the trajectory error correction of the light load collaborative robot.
Novel behavioral model in evaluating initiation and sustenance of teeth brushing behavior among students pursuing health sciences: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Panjwani Dhiraj , Pai Mithun , Yellapurkar Shweta , Poddar Aayush Anand , Rajesh Gururagavendra
Published: September 2022

Background: Oral hygiene maintenance is a crucial and integral feature in determining the overall wellbeing of a person. It has been established that interventions for health promotion at the public health level derived from theoretical models based on social and behavioural sciences have a superior effectiveness as compared to the ones without a theoretical background. Hence a novel behavioral model known as the multi-theory model (MTM) was used to understand two important aspects of health behavior change: (i) Initiation and (ii) Sustenance in twice daily teeth brushing in a university setting with objectives to identify factors effecting MTM in initiation and sustenance of twice daily brushing behavior among students pursuing health sciences and correlating the MTM theory with socio-demographic and behavioral patterns.

Methods: The study is an analytical cross-sectional study. Students pursuing Medicine and Dentistry in a University setting were included. A validated questionnaire was designed for this study. Questions were framed to evaluate the constructs of initiation and sustenance of MTM, personality, sleeping habits and demographic corelates of participants. Multiple means between the groups were compared using analysis of variance and a post hoc test. Correlation was established between different domains, the items were then entered for hierarchical multiple regression.

Results: Of the 235 participants in the study, 229 completed the questionnaire. There was a significant association between brushing quartiles, professional streams (p<0.001) and academic performance (p<0.001). The hierarchical multiple regression revealed that at stage one, behavioral confidence contributed significantly to the regression model (F (1,227) = 33.227, p<0.001) and accounted for 12.4% of the variation in twice daily brushing.

Conclusion: MTM is a good tool in predicting the initiation and sustenance of twice daily brushing behavior among young adults and can form a useful tool in assessing the patterns of brushing behavior in a population.
An expert opinion on antacids: A review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic efficacy
Authors: Shetty Bhuvan , Vishwanath Mrinal Kumar
Published: September 2022

Acidity caused by common gastric conditions such as non-ulcer dyspepsia, duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer, stress gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), pancreatic insufficiency, bile acid-mediated diarrhea, biliary reflux, and constipation can be treated by administration of potent and efficacious acid suppressant (anti-secretory) agents such as antacids, histamine H2 receptor blockers, and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Antacids provide symptomatic relief from hyperacidity as well as other associated conditions by neutralizing the gastric acid directly, thereby raising the gastric pH, attenuating the pepsin activity, restoring acid-base balance, and increasing prostaglandin and bicarbonate secretion. The effectiveness of antacids is determined by its acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) and buffering capacity. Antacids containing a combination of aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, and other ingredients such as those present in Digene showed better therapeutic efficacy even at low dosage with fewer side effects, persistent increase in gastric pH, faster and longer duration of pain relief, and fast relief from gas. Various clinical studies suggest that to obtain fast symptomatic relief, the treating physician can utilize antacids with the highest neutralizing capacities like Digene.
Comparison between the effects of two treatment regimens from GINA guidelines step 3 on quality of life and inflammatory biomarkers of pediatric asthmatic patients: an observational study
Authors: M. Jabbar Rawaa , L. Jasim Ali
Published: September 2022

Background: Asthma is a complicated condition characterized by chronic airway inflammation and airflow restriction, resulting in various respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness. The research intended to evaluate and compare the clinical outcomes of two interchangeable treatment regimens administered to a group of Iraqi asthmatic children.

Methods: This observational clinical study was conducted on a sample of pediatric Iraqi asthmatic patients in the central pediatric hospital in Baghdad. The study enrolled asthmatic children with moderate persistent asthma, who a specialized physician had diagnosed. Patients had been allocated to two groups to receive either medium doses of beclomethasone inhaler (80 μg twice a day) for group one, or low doses (40 μg twice a day) plus montelukast chewable tablets (5 mg once daily) for group two. This study used the Child Health Survey–child version (CHS–child version) to investigate the quality of life of included patients. Also, this study investigated the inflammatory blood markers; (eosinophils and prostaglandin D2).  

Results: This research included 63 patients ranging in age from 7 to 11 years, with a slight male preponderance: group one patients (n=30) and group two patients (n=33). Compared with baseline levels, the study groups had considerably higher quality of life scores at the first follow-up visit (P<0.05). After that, the two groups' scores were non-significantly higher at the second follow-up visit compared with the first follow-up visit (P>0.05). Both groups significantly improved inflammatory biomarkers at the first follow-up visit (P <0.05). The second follow-up visit revealed further improvement in both groups.

Conclusion: This research found that both groups generated substantial improvements in study parameters compared with baseline values and that the second group, which included a beclomethasone inhaler with montelukast, was associated with the highest degree of improvement in terms of quality-of-life ratings.
Pharmaceutical pollution: Prediction of environmental concentrations from national wholesales data
Authors: Welch Samuel A. , Olsen Kristine , Nouri Sharikabad Mohammad , Tollefsen Knut Erik , Grung Merete , Moe S. Jannicke
Published: September 2022

The regulation and monitoring of pharmaceutical pollution in Europe lag behind that of more prominent groups. However, the repurposing of sales data to predict surface water environmental concentrations is a promising supplement to more commonly used market-based risk assessment and measurement approaches. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) has since the 1980s compiled the Drug Wholesale Statistics database - covering all sales of both human and veterinary pharmaceuticals to retailers, pharmacies, and healthcare providers.

To date, most similar works have focused either on a small subset of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) or used only prescription data, often more readily available than wholesale data, but necessarily more limited. By using the NIPH’s product wholesale records, with additional information on API concentrations per product from, we have been able to calculate sales weights per year for almost 900 human and veterinary APIs for the period 2016–2019.

In this paper, we present our methodology for converting the provided NIPH data from a public health to an ecotoxicological resource. From our derived dataset, we have used an equation to calculate Predicted Environmental Concentration per API for inland surface waters, a key component of environmental risk assessment. We further describe our filtering to remove ecotoxicological-exempt and data deficient APIs. Lastly, we provide a limited comparison between our dataset and similar publicly available datasets for a subset of APIs, as a validation of our approach and a demonstration of the added value of wholesale data.

This dataset will provide the best coverage yet of pharmaceutical sales weights for an entire nation. Moreover, our developed routines for processing 2016–2019 data can be expanded to older Norwegian wholesales data (1974–present). Consequently, our work with this dataset can contribute to narrowing the gap between desk-based predictions of exposure from consumption, and empirical but expensive environmental measurement.
Do Rating Agencies Behave Defensively for Higher Risk Issuers?
Authors: Bonsall Samuel B. , Koharki Kevin , Kraft Pepa , Muller Karl A. , Sikochi Anywhere
Published: September 2022

We examine whether rating agencies act defensively toward issuers with a higher likelihood of default. We find that agencies’ qualitative soft rating adjustments are more accurate as issuers’ default risk grows, as evidenced by the adjustments leading to lower type I and type II error rates and better prediction of default and default recovery losses. We also find that soft adjustments’ relevance increases with issuers’ default risk, as evidenced by the adjustments being more predictive of initial offering yields and leading to a greater market reaction to rating changes. Further, we find that the rating agencies assign better educated and more experienced analysts to higher-risk issuers, providing evidence of one mechanism used by the rating agencies to generate more accurate and relevant soft adjustments. Overall, our study suggests that as the likelihood of issuer default grows, the threat of reputational harm from discovered rating failures increasingly mitigates the rating agencies’ strategic behavior incentivized by the issuer-pay model.

This paper was accepted by Brian Bushee, accounting.

Funding: P. Kraft and K. A. Muller gratefully acknowledge funding received from the HEC Paris Foundation and Labex Ecodec [Grant ANR-11-LABX-0047] and the Poole Faculty Fellowship, respectively.

Supplemental Material: Data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4537 .
DIÁRIOS ENQUANTO SUPORTE DE MEMÓRIAS: quarto de despejo, de Carolina Maria de Jesus (1960), e Diário do fim do mundo, de Maria Nilda de Carvalho Mota (2020)
Authors: Heller Barbara , Gimenez Karen , Mangilli Ayello Nascimento Christiane , Freitas Pektovic Raphaella
Published: September 2022

Buscamos compreender, por meio da análise textual de dois diários de mulheres pretas e faveladas, Quarto de despejo (1960), de Carolina Maria de Jesus, e Diário do fim do mundo (2020), de Maria Nilda de Carvalho Mota, as representações sobre ações policiais na periferia de São Paulo. Analisamos o contexto sociopolítico, o diário como suporte de memórias e de verdades e como gênero literário. Para Carolina de Jesus a polícia garantiu sua sobrevivência, mas para Maria Mota foi o contrário. Sustentamo-nos em teóricos sobre escrita diarística e sobre violência.
DESVIANDO O OLHAR: Expectativas e virada teórica no uso de tecnologias imersivas para o jornalismo
Authors: Coeli Silva Rodrigues Ligia , Figueiredo Carolina Dantas de
Published: September 2022

Câmeras em 360º e produções feitas com Realidade Virtual (RV) e Realidade Aumentada (RA) figuram na lista de promessas tecnológicas que marcaram o jornalismo nas primeiras décadas do século XXI. Este artigo busca contribuir com as discussões sobre o uso dessas tecnologias, anunciadas como propostas de inovação por causar efeitos de imersão e empatia na audiência. Apresentamos um estado da arte sobre a teorização dessas produções, mediante a percepção de que as expectativas relacionadas às aplicações das proposituras desses recursos apresentam fragilidades. Através de revisão de literatura, comparamos a produção bibliográfica de pesquisadores do Brasil e Espanha. Notou-se uma descontinuidade dos discursos, categorizados em dois posicionamentos distintos: a) uma fase de proposituras relacionadas ao uso dessas tecnologias para alcançar transparência, participação e imersão da audiência, seguida de b) questionamentos quanto a aplicabilidade e futuro dessas tecnologias para o jornalismo.
Ant community diversity in two agrosystems in Bejaia wilaya (Northern Algeria)
Authors: Henine-Maouche Anissa , Guergouz Wissem , Moudache Thiziri
Published: September 2022

The present work studied the diversity of Formicidae in two agrosystems of Bejaia, a lemon orchard located at INRAA and an orange orchard located at Amizour.  We used the transect method by combining three (3) sampling methods: Barber Pots or Pitfall, Bait, and manual capture. We identified 18 ant species representing 11 genera and three subfamilies: Dolichoderinae (Tapinoma magnum), Formicinae (Cataglyphis, Camponotus, Lasius, and Plagiolepis), and Myrmicinae (Messor, Aphaenogaster, Crematogaster, Pheidole, Tetramorium, and Temnothorax). The species richness was 13 species in the Oued Ghir’s site and 12 species in Amizour’s site. At INRAA, Dolichoderinae and Myrmicinae have the same proportions (43.95 and 43.17%, respectively) followed by Formicinae (12.88%). In Amizour, Formicinae showed the higher frequency (40.28%), followed by Dolichoderinae and Myrmicinae (30.47 and 29.25%, respectively). In the INRAA lemon orchard Tapinoma magnum was the dominant species with a relative abundance of 43.95%, whereas in Amizour the predominance is attributed to the Cataglyphis viatica with a relative abundance of 39.05%.