bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Discriminant Use of Intrauterine Balloon Tamponade and Compression Sutures for Management of Major Postpartum Hemorrhage: Comparison of Patient Characteristics and Clinical Outcome
Authors: Kong Choi Wah , To William Wing Kee
Published: January 2021

Background. Intrauterine balloon tamponade (IUBT) and compression sutures have been widely used in recent years in the management of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). However, there is scant literature directly comparing the clinical scenarios that led to the discriminant selection of these management modalities and the direct clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study is to compare the patient characteristics and clinical risk factors that led to the use of IUBT and compression sutures in the management of major PPH as well as the immediate outcome in a retrospective cohort. Methods. Patients who had IUBT or compression sutures applied due to major PPH (>1000 ml) from 2014 to 2018 in a single obstetric unit were recruited. The patient characteristics and clinical outcome of the two groups were compared. Results. A total of 67 patients had IUBT and 29 patients had compression sutures applied as the first uterine sparing technique. Apart from more vaginal deliveries (25.4% vs. 3.5%) in the IUBT group compared to compression sutures, there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of patient characteristics. The IUBT group had a slightly higher blood loss at the start of the uterine sparing procedure (239 ml, p = 0.049) and received more transfusions, despite no differences in the total blood loss, hemogloblin level, incidence of coagulopathy, and intensive care unit admission between the two groups. There was no significant difference in the overall success rate between IUBT and compression sutures to control PPH without additional surgical intervention or hysterectomy (73.1% vs. 55.1%, p = 0.15) or the success rate for PPH due to uterine atony (32.8% vs. 20.7%), though IUBT apparently performed better than compression sutures in cases of placenta praevia (77.3% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.01). Blood loss > 1.5 l at the start of the procedure, presence of placenta accreta, and presence of coagulopathy were found to be significant poor prognostic factors for both procedures to control PPH. Conclusions. There were no dominating patient characteristics that favoured the selection of either IUBT or compression sutures in the management of severe PPH except for the mode of delivery. Both procedures had equally high overall success rates to control PPH, but IUBT performed better in placenta praevia cases as compared to compression sutures.
Role of Acacia seyal on Selected Soil Properties and Sorghum Growth and Yield: A Case Study of Guba Lafto District, North Wollo, Ethiopia
Authors: Belayneh Alayu Haile , Gebremedhin Kidane Giday , Egziabher Yemane G.
Published: January 2021

Acacia seyal is one of the multipurpose parkland agroforestry tree species in eastern and southern Africa. It is a common on-farm tree in the Rift Valley of Ethiopia, but information is limited on its effect on soil properties and sorghum growth and yield. The study was conducted to evaluate its effect on selected soil properties and sorghum growth and yield in Guba Lafto district of northern Ethiopia. Six isolated and closely comparable Acacia seyal trees growing on sorghum farms were purposely selected, and plots were marked under the canopy of trees with three radial distances (0–2 m, 2–4 m, and 4–6 m) and one outside of the tree canopy (10 m away from any tree). Soil samples from each distance zone were taken between 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm soil depths for soil property analysis. Four quadrates with 1 m2 at each distance zone in four directions were laid for sorghum growth and yield attribute valuation. The results showed that only total nitrogen (TN) was significantly higher (

P
<
0.05

) at the subsoil layer under the canopy compared to an open area, while other selected soil parameters were not affected by the tree species. Sorghum biomass yield (

P
=
0.006

) and grain yield (

P
=
0.025

) were significantly lower under the canopy of the trees than in the open area. Generally, Acacia seyal had little effect in improving soil properties and showed a negative effect on sorghum yield and growth. Further research on its effect under wide area coverage of parkland system should be performed to bring a radical shift on the intercropping farming system.
3D Visualization Monitoring and Early Warning of Surface Deformation in Subsidence Area Based on GIS
Authors: Gao Lei , Song Yuanwen , Zhao Bo
Published: January 2021

Due to the large‐scale mining of mineral resources, the surface strata in many areas have collapsed and even developed into deformation and subsidence. Based on the conventional geotechnical deformation monitoring technology, the surface deformation prediction and disaster caused by the conventional geotechnical deformation monitoring technology can be avoided. In this paper, based on GIS, combined with the analysis of surface settlement, the surface settlement, slope value, curvature deformation value, horizontal displacement, and corresponding horizontal deformation formula are comprehensively analyzed and studied. In order to make the surface deformation visualization and realize the high approximation processing with the subsidence area, this paper innovatively introduces the 3D visualization settlement data analysis and realizes the calculation result analysis and corresponding retrieval multiple visualization in the subsidence area depth prediction process. On this basis, the prediction data of subsidence area can be optimized and analyzed so as to master the efficient and accurate law of surface deformation. In the experimental part, a mine is taken as the experimental object, and the 3D visual monitoring processing is carried out. In this paper, the main method to prevent electromagnetic leakage of the computer system is the source suppression method. The source suppression method solves the problem fundamentally by reducing or eliminating the emission of computer electromagnetic leakage source. In the actual experiment, the effect of this method is very effective. The experimental results show that the prediction results and corresponding early warning accuracy of the system are significantly improved compared with the traditional scheme, which provides practical significance for disaster prevention and corresponding environmental impact assessment.
Protective Effects of Chicken Egg Yolk Immunoglobulins (IgYs) against Vibrio vulnificus Infections
Authors: Cai Ruizhao , Liu Ning , Guo Penghao , Liao Kang , Li Mengzhi , Zhu Junyou , Chen Shouyi , Chen Lei , Shu Bin , Qi Shaohai
Published: January 2021

Vibrio (V.) vulnificus infection is a rare disease whose death rates exceed 50% despite aggressive antibiotic treatment and surgical debridement. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of specific anti-V. vulnificus immunoglobulins Y (IgYs) for preventing and treating V. vulnificus infections. IgYs were produced by immunizing egg laying hens with inactivated whole cell bacteria. Peritoneal cytokines, blood’s bacterial load, and survival curves were obtained from both prophylactic and therapeutic mouse models. The results showed that the specific IgYs (i) inhibited the growth of V. vulnificus in vitro, (ii) dramatically reduced the inflammatory response and blood’s bacterial load, and (iii) improved the survival rate of V. vulnificus-infected mice. These results prove that anti-V. vulnificus IgYs can be markedly effective means for the prophylaxis and the therapy of V. vulnificus infections.
An Orderly EV Charging Scheduling Method Based on Deep Learning in Cloud‐Edge Collaborative Environment
Authors: Zhong Jiayong , Xiong Xiaofu
Published: January 2021

The rapid increase of the number of electric vehicles (EVs) has posed great challenges to the safe operation of the distribution network. Therefore, this paper proposes an ordered charging scheduling method for EV in the cloud‐edge collaborative environment. Firstly, the uncertainty of user load demands, charging station requirements, and renewable outputs are taken into consideration. Correspondingly, the residential distribution points, EV charging stations, and renewable plants are regarded as the edge nodes. Then, the load demands and renewable outputs are predicted by a model combined with the convolutional neural network and deep belief network (CNN‐DBN). Secondly, the power supply plans for charging stations are determined at the cloud side aiming at minimizing the operating cost of the distribution network via collecting the forecasting results. Finally, the charging station formulates the personalized charging scheduling strategies according to EV’s charging plans and the charging demands in order to follow the supply plan. The simulation results show that the load peak‐to‐valley difference and standard deviation of the proposed algorithm are reduced by 30.13% and 16.94%, respectively, compared with the disorderly charging and discharging behavior, which has verified the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed method.
A Three-Term Gradient Descent Method with Subspace Techniques
Authors: Yao Shengwei , Wu Yuping , Yang Jielan , Xu Jieqiong
Published: January 2021

We proposed a three-term gradient descent method that can be well applied to address the optimization problems in this article. The search direction of the obtained method is generated in a specific subspace. Specifically, a quadratic approximation model is applied in the process of generating the search direction. In order to reduce the amount of calculation and make the best use of the existing information, the subspace was made up of the gradient of the current and prior iteration point and the previous search direction. By using the subspace-based optimization technology, the global convergence result is established under Wolfe line search. The results of numerical experiments show that the new method is effective and robust.
Iterative Method for a System of Nonlinear Fredholm Integral Equations
Authors: Wang Keyan , Wang Qisheng
Published: January 2021

In this paper, the iteration method is proposed to solve a class of system of Fredholm-type nonlinear integral equations. First, the existence and uniqueness of solution are theoretically proven by the fixed-point theorem. Second, the approximation solution method is given by using the appropriate integration rule. The error analysis for the approximated solution with the exact solution is discussed for infinity-norm, and the rates of convergence are obtained. Furthermore, an iteration algorithm is constructed, and the convergence of the proposed numerical method is rigorously derived. Finally, some numerical examples are given to illustrate the theoretical results.
Strategies for Success: Landing Your First Academic Position and Navigating the Early Years—A Report from the American Society of Preventive Oncology's Early Career Investigator Special Interest Group
Authors: Khan Saira , Hardikar Sheetal , Reeves Katherine W. , Wetter David W. , Burton-Chase Allison M.
Published: January 2021

As part of the 2019 American Society of Preventative Oncology (ASPO) annual meeting, the Early Career Investigator Special Interest Group organized a session entitled “Strategies for Success: Landing Your First Academic Position and Navigating the Early Years.”* This session was designed to provide senior doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows with strategies for preparing successful faculty job applications. Furthermore, strategies and best practices to help guide early career faculty through the initial years of their academic positions were also discussed. This report summarizes the main themes of the session, including advice and recommendations from the panelists.
BK Virus-Associated Urothelial Carcinoma in a Patient with Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Case Report
Authors: Koyama Juntaro , Kawasaki Yoshihide , Kimura Shingo , Sato Takuma , Shimada Shuichi , Kawamorita Naoki , Yamashita Shinichi , Nakagawa Ryo , Kawajiri Akihisa , Onodera Koichi , Onishi Yasushi , Mitsuzuka Koji , Watanabe Mika , Ito Akihiro
Published: January 2021

Bladder tamponade due to hemorrhagic cystitis caused by BK virus in immunocompetent patients is familiar to urologists. BK virus is an important cause of nephropathy and graft loss in kidney transplant recipients. Although urothelial carcinoma of the bladder in kidney transplant recipients with persistent BK viruria is known, BK virus-associated urothelial carcinoma (BKVUC) in peripheral blood stem cell transplantation recipients is not as well known. A 54-year-old man with acute lymphoblastic leukemia was treated in the Department of Hematology of our hospital. After recurrence 25 months later, he received chemotherapy for half a year and underwent peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. He achieved temporarily complete remission, but he developed hematuria with BK virus-positive result 1 month after peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. One month later, he developed bladder tamponade-diagnosed hemorrhagic cystitis due to BK virus in our Urological Department. We performed transurethral coagulation to manage hemorrhage and removed a bleeding lesion in the bladder wall. Pathological examination of the removed bladder wall revealed pT1 stage BKVUC. We found that bladder tamponade could have led to reactivation of BK virus in this immunocompetent patient. This could be the first report of BKVUC of the bladder found in a peripheral blood stem cell transplantation recipient with close urological follow-up for 24 months. Adequate removal of bleeding lesions from the bladder mucosa with appropriate timing during hemorrhagic cystitis due to BKVUC could be essential to achieve good outcomes.
Event-Based but Not Time-Based Prospective Memory Is Related to Oral Health in Late Adulthood
Authors: Manchery Nithin , Nangle Matthew R. , Grainger Sarah A. , Haines Simon , Pradhan Archana , Rendell Peter G. , Henry Julie D.
Published: January 2021

Background: Most evidence now indicates that cognitive function is related to poorer oral health in late adulthood, but that this relationship is not invariant across specific cognitive domains. Prospective memory (PM) is a core memory skill that refers to memory for future intentions and is known to be related to the formation of habits such as tooth flossing. However, the relationship between PM and oral health has been subject to only limited empirical study. Objective: The two studies reported in this paper were designed to test whether PM is related to oral health in older adults of varying vulnerability status. Methods: Study 1 sampled community-dwelling older adults (N = 172) living independently in the community; Study 2 sampled older adults living in a retirement village (N = 32). Participants in both studies were asked to complete a behavioural measure of PM, with their oral health indexed via self-report (Study 1) or an objective oral health exam (Study 2). Results: In both studies, relationships emerged between event-based PM and oral health, with Study 2 showing that these relationships were specific to oral health measures of plaque and calculus. Conclusions: Older adults are particularly vulnerable to dental pathology, with important implications for their broader health and well-being. By showing that there is a relationship between oral health and a particular type of PM, this work will have potential implications for the development of more effective interventions focused on enhancing oral health outcomes in this group, such as those focused on strengthening habit formation.
A New Technique to Repair Vesicorectal Fistula: Overlapping Rectal Muscle Plasty by Transanal Endoscopic Surgery
Authors: Kanehira Eiji , Tanida Takashi , Kanehira Aya Kamei , Takahashi Kodai , Obana Yuichi , Iwasaki Mistuharu , Sagawa Koji
Published: January 2021

Objective: To evaluate clinical results of a novel surgical technique, we developed to repair vesicorectal fistula (VRF) occurring after prostatectomy, hospital records of the patients, who underwent the new surgical treatment, were assessed. Methods: The novel surgical technique is called “overlapping rectal muscle plasty,” which is performed under transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM). During the new procedure, a complete fistulectomy was first performed, and then the proper muscle layer of the rectum was folded, overlapped, and sutured to create a thick wall between the rectum and urinary bladder. This operation was carried out in 15 patients with VRF following radical prostatectomy. Results: The operation was safely performed in all patients with an average time of 127.2 min. Fistula was corrected in 13 patients (86.7%), who were then freed from both urinary and intestinal diversions. Conclusions: Overlapping rectal muscle plasty by TEM is a safe procedure. The success rate seems to be acceptable in selected patients. This new repair method may be considered as a minimally invasive option in the surgical treatment of VRF after prostatectomy.
Skeletal Muscle Depletion: A Risk Factor for Pneumonia following Gastric Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection in Elderly Patients
Authors: Arao Masamichi , Mizutani Taku , Ozawa Noritaka , Hanai Tatsunori , Takada Jun , Kubota Masaya , Imai Kenji , Ibuka Takashi , Shiraki Makoto , Araki Hiroshi , Ishihara Takuma , Shimizu Masahito
Published: January 2021

Introduction: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is an effective treatment for gastric neoplasms in elderly patients; however, it involves several adverse events, including pneumonia. This study aimed to investigate whether skeletal muscle depletion (SMD) was associated with the development of pneumonia in elderly patients who underwent gastric ESD. Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study included 157 patients (≥80 years) who had undergone gastric ESD. The skeletal muscle cross-sectional area was measured by CT, and the value of the third lumbar vertebra skeletal muscle index (L3 SMI) was evaluated. The SMD was defined as an L3 SMI value ≤38.0 cm2/m2 for women and ≤42.0 cm2/m2 for men. Pneumonia was also diagnosed using CT to identify all included patients. Results: Among 157 patients, 66 (42.0%) showed SMD. In the SMD group, the incidence of pneumonia was 21.2%, whereas it was 7.7% in the non-SMD group (p = 0.018). The longest hospitalization duration was 19 days. Antibiotics were administered in 61.9% of the patients. Procedure time was not significantly different between the groups (72 ± 54 min vs. 62 ± 44 min, p = 0.201). On multivariate analysis, SMD was an independent risk factor for the development of pneumonia (odds ratio = 3.16, 95% confidence interval, 1.18–8.50, p = 0.023). Conclusions: SMD was not a rare entity in patients aged ≥80 years with gastric neoplasms. SMD was a significant risk factor for pneumonia related to gastric ESD in elderly patients.
Um Carro, queimado, na berma da estrada: a experiência de um laboratório de escrita para teatro
Authors: Coelho Rui Pina
Published: January 2021

Este texto faz o balanço do Laboratório de Escrita para Teatro, promovido pelo Teatro Nacional D. Maria II (Lisboa), que coordenei de Setembro de 2015 a Setembro de 2019. Nesses quatro anos foram escritos vinte e três textos originais para teatro por vinte e três novos autores. O projecto surge integrado num programa mais lato de apoio a dramaturgias emergentes e ao incentivo à nova dramaturgia portuguesa, consistindo, neste caso, na aproximação de jovens autores dramáticos a processos de partilha, experimentação e colaboração que possam desafiar, influenciar e estimular a escrita original de um texto para teatro. Na primeira edição (2015/16) andámos em torno de “Um estado de excepção permanente”, sob a égide de Terry Eagleton (2003) e da ideia de que a dramaturgia contemporânea não tem outra hipótese senão dar conta do estado de guerra – um estado de excepção permanente – entre os indivíduos e as instituições de poder. Na segunda edição (2016/17) fomos questionando “A política de tudo”, num gesto de homenagem aos cem anos da Revolução de Outubro e de uma inquirição das contradições do século XX, inspirados pela lição de Alain Badiou (2005). Na terceira edição (2017/18) demorámo-nos n’ “O quotidiano do homem comum e outras coisas sem importância”, conduzidos pela reflexão de Jean-Pierre Sarrazac em torno da poética da dramaturgia contemporânea e das suas “microepopeias dos anónimos”. Na quarta edição (2018/19), quisemos “Interromper o real para a ele regressar”, confiando nos possíveis gestos políticos que o teatro pode compreender.
Stupanj zadovoljstva medicinskih sestara u izvršavanju radnih zadataka
Authors: Jurić Luka , Mikšić Štefica
Published: January 2021

Uvod: Stupanj zadovoljstva izvršavanja radnih zadataka definira se ugodnim osjećajem koji proizlazi iz percepcije da nečiji posao ispunjava ili omogućava ispunjenje važnih poslovnih vrijednosti pojedinca. On utječe na stupanj kvalitete rada, učinkovitost u radu i važan je dio sestrinskog profesionalnog života.
Cilj: U istraživanju se željelo ispitati utječu li međuljudski odnosi, organizacija rada, osjećaj sigurnosti na poslu, visina plaće, mogućnost napredovanja i komunikacija na zadovoljstvo izvršavanja radnih zadataka medicinskih sestara i tehničara.
Metode: Provedeno je presječno istraživanje pomoću anonimnog anketnog upitnika u kojemu je sudjelovalo 67 medicinskih sestara i tehničara koji rade na kirurškim odjelima te u operacijskim salama.
Rezultati: Iz rezultata je vidljivo da su zaposlenici kirurških odjela i operacijskih sala u Kliničkom bolničkom centru Sestre milosrdnice nezadovoljni organizacijom rada, ali su djelomično zadovoljni radnim zadacima. Prevladava zadovoljstvo osjećajem sigurnosti na poslu te sigurnosti zaposlenja. U ispunjavanju radnih zadataka vrlo je bitno zadovoljstvo odnosom s nadređenim, mogućnost napredovanjate zadovoljstvo s bliskim suradnicima.
Zaključak: Zaposlenici na kirurškim odjelima te u operacijskim salama u Kliničkom bolničkom centru Sestre milosrdnice djelomično su zadovoljni izvršavanjem radnih zadataka.
Safety and Feasibility of Same-Day Discharge After Left Atrial Appendage Closure With the WATCHMAN Device
Authors: Tan Bryan E-Xin , Boppana Leela Krishna Teja , Abdullah Abdullah S. , Chuprun Dmitry , Shah Abrar , Rao Mohan , Bhatt Deepak L. , Depta Jeremiah P.
Published: January 2021

Background:

As the use of left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) becomes more widespread, improvements in resource utilization and cost-effectiveness are necessary. Currently, there are limited data on same-day discharge (SDD) after LAAC. We aimed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of SDD versus non-SDD in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who underwent LAAC.

Methods:

We retrospectively studied 211 patients who underwent the WATCHMAN procedure in a tertiary hospital (June 2016 to June 2019). The primary safety outcome was the composite of stroke, systemic embolism, major bleeding requiring transfusion, vascular complications requiring endovascular intervention, or death through 7 days (periprocedural) and 45 days post-procedure. The secondary outcomes were the individual components of the primary outcome and all-cause readmission. We compared the clinical outcomes of patients who had SDD and non-SDD post-procedure.

Results:

Patients with procedure-related complications on the day of LAAC and patients who were admitted for acute clinical events before LAAC were excluded. One hundred ninety patients were included in the final analysis. Seventy-two of 190 (38%) patients had SDD, and 118 of 190 (62%) had non-SDD. There were no statistically significant differences in the primary safety outcome through 7 days (1.4% versus 5.9%;
P
=0.26) and 45 days post-procedure (2.8% versus 9.3%;
P
=0.14) between the two groups. The secondary outcomes were similar in both groups. No patients had device-related thrombus on transesophageal echocardiography at 45 days. Only 1 patient from the non-SDD group had clinically significant peri-device flow (>5 mm) at 45 days.

Conclusions:

In a selected cohort of patients who underwent successful elective LAAC with WATCHMAN without same-day procedure-related complications, the primary safety outcome and secondary outcomes through 7 and 45 days post-procedure were similar in the SDD and non-SDD groups. Our findings are hypothesis generating and warrant further investigation in prospective trials.
Heart Team/Guidelines Discordance Is Associated With Increased Mortality: Data From a National Survey of Revascularization in Patients With Complex Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Witberg Guy , Segev Amit , Barac Yaron D. , Raanani Ehud , Assali Abid , Finkelstein Ariel , Roguin Ariel , Sahar Gideon , Vaknin-Assa Hana , Bolotin Gil , Eitan Amnon , Klempfner Robert , Goldenberg Ilan , Kornowski Ran
Published: January 2021

Background:

Practice guidelines emphasize the role of the SYNTAX score (SS; Synergy Between PCI With TAXUS and Cardiac Surgery) in choosing between percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass graft surgery in cases of complex coronary artery disease. There is paucity of data on the implementation of these recommendations in daily practice, and on the consequences of guideline discordant revascularization.

Methods:

This was a retrospective analysis of a prospective national survey of consecutive real world patients undergoing coronary revascularization for complex coronary artery disease according to decisions of local heart team at each center. SS was calculated at a dedicated CoreLab, and patients were classified as heart team/guidelines agreement/discordant.

Results:

Nine hundred seventy-nine patients (571 percutaneous coronary intervention and 408 coronary artery bypass graft) were included. Mean age was 65 years and the mean SS was 22. Heart team/guidelines discordance occurred in 170 (17.3%) patients. Independent predictors of heart team/guidelines discordance were age, admission to a center with no cardiac surgery service, SS, and previous percutaneous coronary intervention/myocardial infarction. A multivariate model based on these characteristics had a C statistic of 0.83. Thirty-day outcomes were similar in the agreement/discordance groups, however, heart team/guidelines discordance was associated with a significant increase in 3 year mortality (17.6% versus 8.4%; hazard ratio, 2.05;
P
=0.002) after multivariate adjustment.

Conclusions:

Heart team/guidelines discordance is not infrequent in real world patients with complex coronary artery disease undergoing revascularization. This is more likely to occur in elderly patients, those with more complex coronary disease (as determined by the SS), and those treated at centers with no cardiac surgery service. These patients have a higher risk for mid-term mortality.
Randomized Trial of Aspirin Versus Warfarin After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Low-Risk Patients
Authors: Rogers Toby , Shults Christian , Torguson Rebecca , Shea Corey , Parikh Puja , Bilfinger Thomas , Cocke Thomas , Brizzio Mariano E. , Levitt Robert , Hahn Chiwon , Hanna Nicholas , Comas George , Mahoney Paul , Newton Joseph , Buchbinder Maurice , Moreno Ricardo , Zhang Cheng , Craig Paige , Asch Federico M. , Weissman Gaby , Garcia-Garcia Hector M. , Ben-Dor Itsik , Satler Lowell F. , Waksman Ron
Published: January 2021

Background:

The optimal antithrombotic regimen after transcatheter aortic valve replacement remains unclear.

Methods:

In this randomized open-label study, low-risk patients undergoing transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement at 7 centers in the United States were randomized 1:1 to low-dose aspirin or warfarin plus low-dose aspirin for 30 days. Patients who could not be randomized were enrolled in a separate registry. Computed tomography or transesophageal echocardiography was performed at 30 days. The primary effectiveness end point was a composite of the following at 30 days: hypoattenuated leaflet thickening, at least moderately reduced leaflet motion, hemodynamic dysfunction (mean aortic valve gradient ≥20 mm Hg, effective orifice area ≤1.0 cm
2
, dimensionless valve index <0.35, or moderate or severe aortic regurgitation), stroke, or transient ischemic attack.

Results:

Between July 2018 and October 2019, 94 patients were randomly assigned, 50 to aspirin and 44 to warfarin plus aspirin, and 30 were enrolled into the registry. In the intention-to-treat analysis of the randomized cohort, the composite primary effectiveness end point was met in 26.5% for aspirin versus 7.0% for warfarin plus aspirin (
P
=0.014; odds ratio, 4.8 [95% CI, 1.3–18.3]). The rate of hypoattenuated leaflet thickening was 16.3% for aspirin versus 4.7% for warfarin plus aspirin (
P
=0.07; odds ratio, 4.0 [95% CI, 0.8–20.0]). There was no excess bleeding at 30 days with anticoagulation. In the as-treated analysis of pooled randomized and registry cohorts, the rate of hypoattenuated leaflet thickening was 16.7% for aspirin versus 3.1% for warfarin plus aspirin (
P
=0.011; odds ratio, 6.3 [95% CI, 1.3–30.6]).

Conclusions:

In low-risk transcatheter aortic valve replacement patients, anticoagulation with warfarin may prevent transcatheter heart valve dysfunction in the short term without excess bleeding.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT03557242.
CD31 Mimetic Coating Enhances Flow Diverting Stent Integration into the Arterial Wall Promoting Aneurysm Healing
Authors: Cortese Jonathan , Rasser Charlotte , Even Guillaume , Bardet Sylvia M. , Choqueux Christine , Mesnier Jules , Perrin Marie-Laure , Janot Kevin , Caroff Jildaz , Nicoletti Antonino , Michel Jean-Baptiste , Spelle Laurent , Caligiuri Giuseppina , Rouchaud Aymeric
Published: January 2021

Background and Purpose:

Beyond aneurysmal occlusion, metallic flow diverters (FDs) can induce an adverse endovascular reaction due to the foreignness of metal devices, hampering FD endothelialization across the aneurysm neck, and arterial healing of intracranial aneurysms. Here, we evaluated the potential benefits of an FD coating mimicking CD31, a coreceptor critically involved in endothelial function and endovascular homeostasis, on the endothelialization of FDs implanted in vivo.

Methods:

Nitinol FD (Silk Vista Baby) and flat disks were dip-coated with a CD31-mimetic peptide via an intermediate layer of polydopamine. Disks were used to assess the reaction of endothelial cells and blood elements in vitro. An aneurysm rabbit model was used to compare in vivo effects on the arterial wall of CD31-mimetic–coated (CD31-mimetic, n=6), polydopamine-coated (polydopamine, n=6), and uncoated FDs (bare, n=5) at 4 weeks post-FD implantation. In addition, long-term safety was assessed at 12 weeks.

Results:

In vitro, CD31-mimetic coated disks displayed reduced adhesion of blood elements while favoring endothelial cell attachment and confluence, compared to bare and polydopamine disks. Strikingly, in vivo, the neoarterial wall formed over the CD31-mimetic-FD struts at the aneurysm neck was characteristic of an arterial tunica media, with continuous differentiated endothelium covering a significantly thicker layer of collagen and smooth muscle cells as compared to the controls. The rates of angiographic complete occlusion and covered branch arterial patency were similar in all 3 groups.

Conclusions:

CD31-mimetic coating favors the colonization of metallic endovascular devices with endothelial cells displaying a physiological phenotype while preventing the adhesion of platelets and leukocytes. These biological properties lead to a rapid and improved endothelialization of the neoarterial wall at the aneurysm neck. CD31-mimetic coating could therefore represent a valuable strategy for FD biocompatibility improvement and aneurysm healing.
Defining a Target Population to Effectively Test a Neuroprotective Drug
Authors: Olivé-Gadea Marta , Requena Manuel , Campos Daniel , Garcia-Tornel Alvaro , Deck Matías , Muchada Marian , Boned Sandra , Rodríguez Noelia , Juega Jesús , Rodríguez-Luna David , Pagola Jorge , Rubiera Marta , Hernández-Jiménez Macarena , Molina Carlos A. , Ribo Marc
Published: January 2021

Background and Purpose:

We aim to identify the subgroup of acute ischemic stroke patients with higher probabilities of benefiting from a potential neuroprotective drug using baseline outcome predictors and test whether different selection criteria strategies can improve detected treatment effect.

Methods:

We analyzed the association between final infarct volume (FIV), measured on 24- to 72-hour computed tomography, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at discharge/day 5 of acute stroke patients who underwent endovascular treatment. Models were adjusted for age, sex, and affected hemisphere. We analyzed the impact of absolute (5–15 mL) and relative (33%) FIV reductions in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale in the whole population and in different subsets of patients selected according to baseline imaging criteria using computed tomography perfusion.

Results:

We analyzed 627 patients; association between FIV and 5-day National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale was best described with a quadratic function, with a regression coefficient β=1.56 ([95% CI, 1.45–1.67]
P
<0.001) in the adjusted analysis. In the models considering a fixed absolute (5/15 mL) FIV reduction, treatment effect was highest when patients with predicted larger FIV were excluded, whereas in a 33% FIV reduction model, treatment effect increased with the exclusion of patients with expected excellent outcomes.

Conclusions:

Patients either with excellent outcomes after endovascular thrombectomy or with large infarcts may dilute the treatment effect in stroke neuroprotective drug trials. Computed tomography perfusion on admission may help selecting adequate patients according to expected drug effect profile.
We Don’t Agree (Only) Upward
Authors: Bárány András , van der Wal Jenneke
Published: January 2021

For Bjorkman and Zeijlstra (2019), Agree consists of two operations: checking and valuation. Checking involves (a) probing, always upward from an uninterpretable feature [uF] to an interpretable feature [iF] c-commanding it, and (b) [iF]’s checking [uF]. Valuation generally happens downward, with the valuer c-commanding the valuee. Upward valuation, in which the probe c-commands the goal, is exceptional and only occurs if downward valuation has failed. In this reply, we argue that this approach is not supported empirically. We present data from Matengo, German, Serbo-Croatian, Sambaa, Liko, and Nez Perce, arguing that upward valuation must be available more generally than Bjorkman and Zeijlstra suggest.
Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Hardiness and Meaningfulness Reduce Negative E!ects on Psychological Well-Being
Authors: Epishin Vitalii E. , Salikhova Albina B. , Bogacheva Nataliya V. , Bogdanova Mariia D. , Kiseleva Maria G.
Published: January 2021

Background. !e COVID-19 outbreak and the measures taken to curb it have changed people’s lives and a"ected their psychological well-being. Many studies have shown that hardiness has reduced the adverse e"ects of stressors, but this has not been researched in the Russian COVID-19 situation yet. Objective. To assess the role of hardiness and meaningfulness as resources to cope with stress and minimize its e"ects on psychological wellbeing. Design. !e study was conducted March 24–May 15, 2020 on a sample of 949 people (76.7% women), aged 18–66 years (M = 30.55, Me = 27, SD = 11.03). !e data was divided into four time-periods, cut o" by the dates of signi$cant decisions by the Russian authorities concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. !e questionnaires were: Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventories, Symptom Check-list-90-R, Noetic Orientations Test, and Personal Views Survey-III. Results. Welch’s ANOVA showed signi$cant di"erences between the time-periods in meaningfulness, hardiness, anxiety, depression, and the General Symptomatic Index (GSI) (W = 4.899, p < 0.01; W = 3.173, p < 0.05; W = 8.096, p < 0.01; W = 3.244, p < 0.022; and W = 4.899, p < 0.01, respectively). General linear models for anxiety, depression, and GSI showed that biological sex, chronic diseases, self-assessed fears, and hardiness contributed to all of them. In all three models, hardiness had the most signi$cant impact. Anxiety was also in%uenced by the time factor, both in itself and in its interaction with hardiness levels. With less hardiness, more anxiety occurred over time. Conclusion. Hardiness was shown to be a personal adaptive resource in stressful situations related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Digital Socialization of Adolescents in the Russian Federation: Parental Mediation, Online Risks, and Digital Competence
Authors: Soldatova Galina U. , Rasskazova Elena I. , Chigarkova Svetlana V.
Published: January 2021

Background. Digital socialization is understood to be mediated by all available digital technological processes for mastering and appropriating a social experience online. Understanding of this new type of socialization requires studying parental mediation strategies for children’s online activity, as well as the level of digital literacy of both children and parents, including through the prism of adolescents’ confrontation with online risks. Objective. To study digital socialization and the role of parents in this process; to reveal relationships between parental user activity, mediation, and digital competence, and adolescents’ user activity, digital competence, and experience of online risks. Design. The study was conducted on the basis of the EU Kids Online 2017–2019 survey methodology. The sample consisted of 1,553 schoolchildren aged 12–17 and 1,219 parents of adolescents the same age, all from the Russian Federation. Results. The findings show that parents underestimate the online risks faced by adolescents, especially the most common communication and content online risks. Adolescents often do not notice parental “restrictive” and “active“ mediation of their online activities. Adolescents’ request for parental help with their online difficulties depends not on the parents’ digital competence, but on their active mediation. In following parental active mediation and safety mediation strategies, adolescents are more likely to face online risks, but at the same time they use active coping strategies. The negative relationship between the adolescents’ digital competence and parental restrictive mediation and technical control suggests that excessive control and limitations hinder the development of knowledge and skills in the safe mastering of the Internet. Conclusion. The digital gap between adolescents and parents is observed both in confrontation with online risks and awareness of this experience, and in the application of parental mediation strategies. Parental active mediation provides stronger digital socialization and more constructive ways of coping with the threats of the digital world – online risks, which are the consequence of deep immersion into this world.
Hybridity and Transformation: The Political Orientation of the Chinese in the Dutch East Indies
Authors: Lin Dong-Yu , Lin Ping
Published: January 2021

During the early twentieth century, strong nationalistic ideas sprang up in Indonesia. Some Chinese elites in professional positions under the Dutch colonial government tended to side with the Dutch with the pro-Dutch attitude; some working for Chinese newspapers or agencies developed the pro-China stance; some supported and cooperated with the indigenous people with the pro-independence tendency; and others had their inclinations transformed over the course of time. After examining the life history of a few prominent Chinese figures, this article shows that three levels of factors—international politics in East Asia, local politics in the Dutch East Indies, and their life histories under Dutch rule (together with travel experience to China)—were critical for each Chinese person in establishing or transforming their often hybrid political orientations. The Chinese preference was neither monolithic nor settled, so the general assumption that “Chinese people are loyal to China” in Indonesian politics of the colonial era should be revised.
Critical discourse analysis as a reflection tool for information literacy instruction
Authors: Dandar Devina , Lacey Sajni
Published: January 2021

This article uses the theoretical perspectives of critical discourse analysis (Mayr, 2008; Fairclough, 1992) and critical pedagogy (Pagowsky & McElroy, 2016; Accardi, et al., 2010) to explore how language is a socially regulating structure used to represent and maintain power within the academic context. These perspectives are applied to two case studies of library terminology used in the authors’ library orientation sessions to examine how language reinforces Western academic ideologies and structures of power in the information literacy (IL) classroom. This analysis facilitates an exploration of how language used in these contexts can both alienate and empower students within the IL classroom. In addition, other aspects that are explored include power dynamics and student voice within the classroom, critical discourse analysis as a tool for IL instruction reflection, and how these are connected to critical pedagogy. The authors also provide questions regarding privilege and power in IL to support library professionals in fostering meaningful reflections and dialogue, challenging their status quo and exploring new approaches to using critical IL in teaching.
Teaching a one-credit course on data literacy and data visualisation
Authors: Usova Tatiana , Laws Robert
Published: January 2021

Data literacy skills are becoming critical in today’s world as the quantity of data grows exponentially and becomes the ‘currency’ of power. In spring 2020, a team of two librarians piloted a new one-credit course in data literacy and data visualisation. This report explains the rationale behind the project and discusses the place of data literacy within information literacy (IL) instruction. The authors describe the pilot’s learning objectives, topics covered, course design, the structure of assignments and the delivery of the course. They analyse the feedback received on the course and suggest ways to refine their practice. The article calls for a re-envisaging of the library’s role in data literacy instruction. It aims to address how librarians can extend their current practice of teaching IL to data literacy and why it is important. The authors’ experience may inspire other academic librarians to incorporate data literacy and data visualisation into their teaching practice.
Intensity Change of Binary Tropical Cyclones (TCs) in Idealized Numerical Simulations: Two Initially Identical Mature TCs
Authors: Liu Hao-Yan , Wang Yuqing , Gu Jian-Feng
Published: January 2021

This study investigates the intensity change of binary tropical cyclones (TCs) in idealized cloud-resolving simulations. Four simulations of binary interaction between two initially identical mature TCs of about 70 m s−1 with initial separation distance varying from 480 to 840 km are conducted in a quiescent f-plane environment. Results show that two identical TCs finally merge if their initial separation distance is within 600 km. The binary TCs presents two weakening stages (stages 1 and 3) with a quasi-steady evolution (stage 2) in between. Such intensity change of one TC is correlated with the upper-layer vertical wind shear (VWS) associated with the upper-level anticyclone (ULA) of the other TC. The potential temperature budget shows that eddy radial advection of potential temperature induced by large upper-layer VWS contributes to the weakening of the upper-level warm core and thereby the weakening of binary TCs in stage 1. In stage 2, the upper-layer VWS first weakens and then restrengthens with relatively weak magnitude, leading to a quasi-steady intensity evolution. In stage 3, due to the increasing upper-layer VWS, the nonmerging binary TCs weaken again until their separation distance exceeds the local Rossby radius of deformation of the ULA (about 1600 km), which can serve as a dynamical critical distance within which direct interaction can occur between two TCs. In the merging cases, the binary TCs weaken prior to merging because highly asymmetric structure develops as a result of strong horizontal deformation of the inner core. However, the merged system intensifies shortly after merging.
Impacts of Large-Scale Soil Moisture Anomalies on the Hydroclimate of Southeastern South America
Authors: Bieri Carolina A. , Dominguez Francina , Lawrence David M.
Published: January 2021

The La Plata basin (LPB), located in southeastern South America (SESA), is a region of significant socioeconomic importance, particularly for agriculture. This area of South America exhibits strong land–atmosphere coupling in the warm season. In this work, we evaluate the impact of large-scale soil moisture (SM) anomalies on regional-scale atmospheric conditions. Multivariate empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis is used to extract the dominant modes of joint variability of monthly averaged root-zone SM and 1-month-lagged precipitation from atmospheric reanalyses. We find that the dominant EOF pattern is consistent with a positive correlation between antecedent SM and precipitation, while the second dominant EOF pattern is consistent with a negative correlation between these variables. To evaluate causality, the effects of large-scale SM anomalies on atmospheric variables are examined using the Community Earth System Model (CESM). CESM simulations suggest that anomalously dry SM is initially collocated with decreased precipitation. Subsequent changes in the atmospheric circulation associated with a thermal low draw moisture into the region, eventually promoting increased precipitation. This study investigates the pathways through which SM anomalies modulate precipitation in this region. For this reason, this study has potential atmospheric prediction applications that could benefit the population and the socioeconomic well-being of this important region.
An 8-yr Meteotsunami Climatology across Northwest Europe: 2010–17
Authors: Williams David A. , Schultz David M. , Horsburgh Kevin J. , Hughes Chris W.
Published: January 2021

Meteotsunamis are shallow-water waves that, despite often being small (~0.3 m), can cause damage, injuries, and fatalities due to relatively strong currents (>1 m s−1). Previous case studies, modeling, and localized climatologies have indicated that dangerous meteotsunamis can occur across northwest Europe. Using 71 tide gauges across northwest Europe between 2010 and 2017, a regional climatology was made to understand the typical sizes, times, and atmospheric systems that generate meteotsunamis. A total of 349 meteotsunamis (54.0 meteotsunamis per year) were identified with 0.27–0.40-m median wave heights. The largest waves (~1 m high) were measured in France and the Republic of Ireland. Most meteotsunamis were identified in winter (43%–59%), and the fewest identified meteotsunamis occurred in either spring or summer (0%–15%). There was a weak diurnal signal, with most meteotsunami identifications between 1200 and 1859 UTC (30%) and the fewest between 0000 and 0659 UTC (23%). Radar-derived precipitation was used to identify and classify the morphologies of mesoscale precipitating weather systems occurring within 6 h of each meteotsunami. Most mesoscale atmospheric systems were quasi-linear systems (46%) or open-cellular convection (33%), with some nonlinear clusters (17%) and a few isolated cells (4%). These systems occurred under westerly geostrophic flow, with Proudman resonance possible in 43 out of 45 selected meteotsunamis. Because most meteotsunamis occur on cold winter days, with precipitation, and in large tides, wintertime meteotsunamis may be missed by eyewitnesses, helping to explain why previous observationally based case studies of meteotsunamis are documented predominantly in summer.