bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations of the COVID-19 pandemic with older individuals’ healthcare utilization and self-reported health status: a longitudinal analysis from Singapore
Authors: Ahn SangNam , Kim Seonghoon , Koh Kanghyock
Published: January 2022

Background

The COVID–19 pandemic has challenged the capacity of healthcare systems around the world and can potentially compromise healthcare utilization and health outcomes among non-COVID–19 patients.

Objectives

To examine the associations of the COVID-19 pandemic with healthcare utilization, out-of-pocket medical costs, and perceived health among middle-aged and older individuals in Singapore.

Method

Utilizing data collected from a monthly panel survey, a difference-in-differences approach was used to characterize monthly changes of healthcare use and spending and estimate the probability of being diagnosed with a chronic condition and self-reported health status before and during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.

Subjects

Data were analyzed from 7569 nationally representative individuals from 2019 January and 2020 December.

Measures

Healthcare utilization and healthcare spending by medical service categories as well as self-reported health status.

Results

Between January and April 2020 (the first peak period of COVID-19 in Singapore), doctor visits decreased by 30%, and out-of-pocket medical spending decreased by 23%, mostly driven by reductions in inpatient and outpatient care. As a result, the probability of any diagnosis of chronic conditions decreased by 19% in April 2020. The decreased healthcare utilization and spending recovered after lifting the national lockdown in June, 2020 and remained similar to the pre-pandemic level through the rest of 2020.

Conclusions

Middle-aged and older Singaporeans’ healthcare utilization and the diagnosis of chronic conditions substantially decreased during the first peak period of the COVID-19 outbreak. Further studies to track the longer-term health effect of the pandemic among non-COVID-19 patients are warranted.
Evaluation of a Medicaid performance improvement project to reduce high-dose opioid prescriptions
Authors: Hartung Daniel M. , Geddes Jonah , Hallvik Sara E. , Korthuis P. Todd , Middleton Luke , Leichtling Gillian , Hildebran Christi , Kim Hyunjee
Published: January 2022

Background

In 2015, Oregon’s Medicaid program implemented a performance improvement project to reduce high-dose opioid prescribing across its 16 coordinated care organizations (CCOs). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of that program on prescription opioid use and outcomes.

Methods

Using Medicaid claims data from 2014 to 2017, we conducted interrupted time-series analyses to examine changes in the prescription opioid use and overdose rates before (July 2014 to June 2015) and after (January 2016 to December 2017) implementation of Oregon’s high-dose policy initiative (July 2015 to December 2015). Prescribing outcomes were: 1) total opioid prescriptions 2) high-dose [> 90 morphine milligram equivalents per day] opioid prescriptions, and 3) proportion of opioid prescriptions that were high-dose. Opioid overdose outcomes included emergency department visits or hospitalizations that involved an opioid-related poisoning (total, heroin-involved, non-heroin involved). Analyses were performed at the state and CCO level.

Results

There was an immediate reduction in high dose opioid prescriptions after the program was implemented (− 1.55 prescription per 1000 enrollee; 95% CI − 2.26 to − 0.84; p < 0.01). Program implementation was also associated with an immediate drop (− 1.29 percentage points; 95% CI − 1.94 to − 0.64 percentage points; p < 0.01) and trend reduction (− 0.23 percentage point per month; 95% CI − 0.33 to − 0.14 percentage points; p < 0.01) in the monthly proportion of high-dose opioid prescriptions. The trend in total, heroin-involved, and non-heroin overdose rates increased significantly following implementation of the program.

Conclusions

Although Oregon’s high-dose opioid performance improvement project was associated with declines in high-dose opioid prescriptions, rates of opioid overdose did not decrease. Policy efforts to reduce opioid prescribing risks may not be sufficient to address the growing opioid crisis.
Understanding the ecosystem of patients with lysosomal storage diseases in Spain: a qualitative research with patients and health care professionals
Authors: de Dios García-Díaz Juan , López-Rodríguez Mónica , Morales-Conejo Montserrat , Riera-Mestre Antoni ,   Minority Diseases Working Group from the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine
Published: January 2022

Background

Lysosomal Storage Diseases (LSDs) are a group of Rare Diseases (RDs) caused by lysosomal enzyme deficiencies. Patients with LSDs suffer from a wide range of symptoms with a strong impact in their daily routines. In this study we aimed to explore the impact of the disease on the lives of patients with four LSDs, as well as how they experience Patient Journey from diagnosis to follow up. Unmet Needs (UNs) perceived by patients and clinicians were assessed to have a better understanding of which initiatives could improve LSDs management and especially those that could result in an improvement of patients’ quality of life.

Methods

Qualitative research was the research methodology selected for the study. It provides plentiful and holistic insights into people’s views and actions. The study was conducted through in-depth face-to-face semi-structured interviews.

Results

In total, 20 patients and 25 Health Care Professionals (HCPs) from different Spanish regions were interviewed. Patients perceived that the highest impact of the LSDs was on their daily routines, specifically on their emotional side, their work/school environment, their family and their social life. Regarding the Patient Journey experience, the worst perceived stage was the pre-diagnosis, where patients only reported negative perceptions, being the delay in diagnosis and misdiagnosis the most commented issues. On the contrary, the follow-up stage was the one with less negative perceptions. Overall, patients and HCPs agreed on the priority UNs, such as accelerating diagnosis, reducing bureaucracy for the treatment access and a more coordinated attention for the patients, not only among different physicians but also with other professionals such as genetic counselors or social workers.

Conclusions

Our data shows that there are still UNs to be addressed from the perspective of patients and HCPs. The main UN is accelerating diagnosis, which could be achieved by medical awareness and education, according to clinicians. A more comprehensive disease management was another main point to be worked on to improve LSD-patient experience and quality of life.
Circ_0000658 knockdown inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition in bladder cancer via miR-498-induced HMGA2 downregulation
Authors: Qiu Feng , Liu Qiuchen , Xia Yanfu , Jin Hengxi , Lin Yuxin , Zhao Xiaojun
Published: January 2022

Background

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been associated with the angiogenesis and oncogenic phenotypes of multiple malignant tumors including bladder cancer (BCa). Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are recognized as crucial regulators in the EMT. This study aims to illustrate the possible role of circular RNA_0000658 (circ_0000658) in BCa and the underlying molecular mechanism.

Methods

The expression of circ_0000658, microRNA (miR)-498, and high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) was assessed in cancer and adjacent normal tissue collected from BCa patients and human BCa cell lines (MGH-U3, T24, 5637 and SW780). BCa cells were transduced with a series of overexpression or shRNA plasmids to clarify the function of circ_0000658 and miR-498 on the oncogenic phenotypes and EMT of BCa cells. Further, we established nude mice xenografted with BCa cells to validate the roles of circ_0000658 on tumor growth in vivo.

Results

Circ_0000658 was highly expressed in BCa tissue samples and cell lines, which indicated a poor prognosis of BCa patients. Circ_0000658 competitively bound to miR-498 and thus restricted miR-498 expression. Meanwhile, circ_0000658 weakened the binding of miR-498 to the target gene HMGA2 and upregulated the HMGA2 expression. Circ_0000658 elevation or miR-498 knockdown augmented oncogenic phenotypes and EMT of BCa cells, corresponding to a reduction in the expression of β-catenin and E-cadherin as well as an increase in the expression of N-cadherin, Slug, Snail, ZEB1 and Twist. Inhibition of HMGA2 reversed the effects of circ_0000658 overexpression on tumor growth in vivo.

Conclusion

Altogether, our study uncovered the tumor-promoting role of circ_0000658 in BCa via the miR-498/HMGA2 axis.
Infinitely many solutions for the discrete Schrödinger equations with a nonlocal term
Authors: Xie Qilin , Xiao Huafeng
Published: January 2022

In the present paper, we consider the following discrete Schrödinger equations $$ - \biggl(a+b\sum_{k\in \mathbf{Z}} \vert \Delta u_{k-1} \vert ^{2} \biggr) \Delta ^{2} u_{k-1}+ V_{k}u_{k}=f_{k}(u_{k}) \quad k\in \mathbf{Z}, $$
−

(
a
+
b

∑

k
∈
Z

|
Δ

u

k
−
1

|
2

)

Δ
2

u

k
−
1

+

V
k

u
k

=

f
k

(

u
k

)

k
∈
Z
,
where a, b are two positive constants and $V=\{V_{k}\}$
V
=
{

V
k

}
is a positive potential. $\Delta u_{k-1}=u_{k}-u_{k-1}$
Δ

u

k
−
1

=

u
k

−

u

k
−
1

and $\Delta ^{2}=\Delta (\Delta )$

Δ
2

=
Δ
(
Δ
)
is the one-dimensional discrete Laplacian operator. Infinitely many high-energy solutions are obtained by the Symmetric Mountain Pass Theorem when the nonlinearities $\{f_{k}\}$
{

f
k

}
satisfy 4-superlinear growth conditions. Moreover, if the nonlinearities are sublinear at infinity, we obtain infinitely many small solutions by the new version of the Symmetric Mountain Pass Theorem of Kajikiya.
Solutions for a category of singular nonlinear fractional differential equations subject to integral boundary conditions
Authors: Yan Debao
Published: January 2022

We concentrate on a category of singular boundary value problems of fractional differential equations with integral boundary conditions, in which the nonlinear function f is singular at $t=0$
t
=
0
, 1. We use Banach’s fixed-point theorem and Hölder’s inequality to verify the existence and uniqueness of a solution. Moreover, also we prove the existence of solutions by Krasnoselskii’s and Schaefer’s fixed point theorems.
Foresight: a new approach based on the Z-number cognitive map
Authors: Izadi Mostafa , Seiti Hamidreza , Jafarian Mostafa
Published: January 2022

Foresight has recently emerged as one of the most attractive and practical fields of study, while being used to draw up a preferable future and formulate appropriate strategies for achieving predetermined goals. The present research aimed at providing a framework for foresight with a primary focus on the role of a cognitive approach and its combination with the concept of fuzzy cognitive map in the environments of uncertainty and ambiguity. The proposed framework consisted of the 3 phases: pre-foresight, foresight, and post-foresight. The main stage (foresight) focused on the role of imagination and intuition in drawing the future in the experts’ minds and depicting their perceptions above perceptions in the form of a fuzzy cognitive map influenced by variables related to the subject under study in order to determine a preferable future. The use of a Z-number concept and integrating it with fuzzy cognitive maps in the foresight-oriented decision-making space, which was mainly saturated with uncertainty and ambiguity, was one of the main strengths of the proposed framework in the current investigation. The present paper focused primarily on the evolution of expert’s knowledge with regard to the topic of foresight. The role of Z-number in various processes, from data collection to illustration, analysis, and aggregation of cognitive maps, was considered for gaining knowledge and understanding into the nature of future. Moreover, an ultimate objective was realized through identifying, aggregating, and selecting the variables from each expert’s perspective and then the relationship between each variable was determined in the main stage of foresight. Finally, the proposed framework was presented and explicated in the form of a case study, which revealed satisfactory results.
The novel epiligament theory: differences in healing failure between the medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments
Authors: Georgiev Georgi P. , Telang Manasi , Landzhov Boycho , Olewnik Łukasz , Slavchev Svetoslav A. , LaPrade Robert F. , Ruzik Kacper , Tubbs R. Shane
Published: January 2022

According to current literature, 90% of knee ligament injuries involve the medial collateral ligament or the anterior cruciate ligament. In contrast to the medial collateral ligament, which regenerates relatively well, the anterior cruciate ligament demonstrates compromised healing. In the past, there were numerous studies in animal models that examined the healing process of these ligaments, and different explanations were established. Although the healing of these ligaments has been largely investigated and different theories exist, unanswered questions persist.

Therefore, the aim of this article is 1) to review the different historical aspects of healing of the medial collateral ligament and present the theories for healing failure of the anterior cruciate ligament; 2) to examine the novel epiligament theory explaining the medial collateral ligament healing process and failure of anterior cruciate ligament healing; and 3) to discuss why the enveloping tissue microstructure of the aforementioned ligaments needs to be examined in future studies.

We believe that knowledge of the novel epiligament theory will lead to a better understanding of the normal healing process for implementing optimal treatments, as well as a more holistic explanation for anterior cruciate ligament healing failure.
Predictive Value of Technical Throwing Skills on Nomination Status in Youth and Long-Term Career Attainment in Handball
Authors: Koopmann Till , Lath Franziska , Büsch Dirk , Schorer Jörg
Published: January 2022

Background

Research on talent in sports aims to identify predictors of future performance. This study retrospectively investigated 1) relationships between young handball field players’ technical throwing skills and (a) their potential nomination to youth national teams and (b) their long-term career attainment 10 years later, and 2) associations between nomination status and career attainment.

Results

Results from retrospectively predicting nomination status and career attainment using logistic regression analyses show that technical throwing skills were partly able to explain players’ nomination status (Nagelkerke R2: females 9.2%, males 13.1%) and career attainment (Nagelkerke R2: 9.8% for female players). Here, variables throwing velocity and time on exercise showed statistically significant effects. In addition, nomination status and career attainment were shown to be associated using chi-square tests (w of .37 and .23 for female and male players, respectively) and nomination status as a predictor increased the prediction of career attainment remarkably (Nagelkerke R2: females 20.3%, males 12.7%).

Conclusions

Given these results, basic technical throwing skills may serve rather as a prerequisite in this age group on national level, emphasizing its importance already on lower levels and in younger age groups. Furthermore, advantages from entering the national TID system early especially for females are discussed.
Beyond race?
Authors: Saharso Sawitri , Scharrer Tabea
Published: January 2022

While at the moment the world seems to be divided along racial lines and ‘race’ appears to be a central axe of social inclusion and exclusion, in this article we ask whether it is thinkable to go ‘beyond race’. We want to explore the idea of going ‘beyond race’ in four different ways: (1) ‘Beyond race’ as a demographic reality when people of mixed origin form the majority of population; (2) ‘Beyond race’ in regard to policies that aim at combatting inequalities also along color lines, yet are no longer dependent on a notion of race. (3) ‘Beyond race’ in terms of political mobilizations, e.g. the possibility or desirability of anti-racist movements not grounded in identity politics and (4) ‘Beyond race’ as a conceptualization of race that is decoupling biology and culture, or even to stop thinking in racial categories altogether, yet without de-politicizing any marginalised group’s, history and experience. We are aware that this questioning of race, and by implication of ethnicity, may be a typical hang-up of two authors based in Europe. We have invited authors from different parts of the world, and with different academic backgrounds to reflect in a commentary on the issues we raise and to explain their position.
Elderly suicides in Denizli, Turkey: a retrospective study from 2011 to 2020
Authors: Zeybek Volkan , Yetiş Hasan , İzci Abdülkadir , Acar Kemalettin
Published: January 2022

Background

Although suicide rates and methods used may vary according to society, gender, and age there are epidemiological studies reporting that suicide rates increase with advanced age in all societies, particularly accelerating after the age of 65 years. This study aimed to investigate the demographic data and suicide characteristics—such as the location and method, among others—of the elderly suicide deaths among forensic deaths between 2011 and 2020 in Denizli, Turkey.

Results

It was determined that elderly suicides constituted 13.8% of all suicides and increased gradually over the years during the 10-year period. The vast majority of cases were male (82%). It has been observed that hanging is the most frequently used method. It is also noteworthy that although firearm suicide among men was the second most common method, women do not choose this method at all. The majority of elderly suicides (88.5%) in Denizli occurred in the home and its annexes.

Conclusions

Suicide prevention programmes should promote the elderly to benefit widely from social and health services. Therefore, there is a need to include widespread home care services and firearms regulations in prevention programmes.
Using retinal electrophysiology toward precision psychiatry
Authors: Schwitzer Thomas , Leboyer Marion , Laprévote Vincent , Louis Dorr Valérie , Schwan Raymund
Published: January 2022

Precision medicine in psychiatry is based on the identification of homogeneous subgroups of patients with the help of biosignatures—sets of biomarkers—in order to enhance diagnosis, stratification of patients, prognosis, evaluation, and prediction of treatment response. Within the broad domain of biomarker discovery, we propose retinal electrophysiology as a tool for identification of biosignatures. The retina is a window to the brain and provides an indirect access to brain functioning in psychiatric disorders. The retina is organized in layers of specialized neurons which share similar functional properties with brain neurons. The functioning of these neurons can be evaluated by electrophysiological techniques named electroretinogram (ERG). Since the study of retinal functioning gives a unique opportunity to have an indirect access to brain neurons, retinal dysfunctions observed in psychiatric disorders inform on brain abnormalities. Up to now, retinal dysfunctions observed in psychiatric disorders provide indicators for diagnosis, identification of subgroups of patients, prognosis, evaluation, and prediction of treatment response. The use of signal processing and machine learning applied on ERG data enhances retinal markers extraction, thus providing robust, reproducible, and reliable retinal electrophysiological markers to identify biosignatures in precision psychiatry. We propose that retinal electrophysiology may be considered as a new approach in the domain of electrophysiology and could now be added to the routine evaluations in psychiatric disorders. Retinal electrophysiology may provide, in combination with other approaches and techniques, sets of biomarkers to produce biosignatures in mental health.
Ibrutinib in Combination With Rituximab for Indolent Clinical Forms of Mantle Cell Lymphoma (IMCL-2015): A Multicenter, Open-Label, Single-Arm, Phase II Trial
Authors: Giné Eva , de la Cruz Fátima , Jiménez Ubieto Ana , López Jimenez Javier , Martín García-Sancho Alejandro , Terol M. José , González Barca Eva , Casanova María , de la Fuente Adolfo , Marín-Niebla Ana , Muntañola Ana , González-López Tomás José , Aymerich Marta , Setoain Xavier , Cortés-Romera Montserrat , Rotger Amanda , Rodríguez Sonia , Medina Herrera Alejandro , García Sanz Ramón , Nadeu Ferran , Beà Silvia , Campo Elías , López-Guillermo Armando
Published: January 2022

PURPOSE

The need for an individualized management of indolent clinical forms in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is increasingly recognized. We hypothesized that a tailored treatment with ibrutinib in combination with rituximab (IR) could obtain significant responses in these patients.

METHODS

This is a multicenter single-arm, open-label, phase II study with a two-stage design conducted in 12 Spanish GELTAMO sites (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02682641 ). Previously untreated MCL patients with indolent clinical forms defined by the following criteria were eligible: no disease-related symptoms, nonblastoid variants, Ki-67 < 30%, and largest tumor diameter ≤ 3 cm. Both leukemic non-nodal and nodal subtypes were recruited. Patients received ibrutinib 560 mg once daily and a total of eight doses of rituximab 375 mg/m2. Ibrutinib could be discontinued after 2 years in the case of sustained undetectable minimal residual disease (MRD). The primary end point was the complete response (CR) rate achieved after 12 cycles according to Lugano criteria.

RESULTS

Fifty patients with MCL (male 66%; median age 65 years) were enrolled. After 12 cycles of treatment, 42 (84%; 95% CI, 74 to 94) patients had an overall response, including 40 (80%; 95% CI, 69 to 91) with CR. Moreover, undetectable MRD in peripheral blood was achieved in 87% (95% CI, 77 to 97) of cases. At 2 years, 24 of 35 evaluable patients (69%) could discontinue ibrutinib because of undetectable MRD. Four patients had disease progression; three were non-nodal MCL and carried high genomic complexity and TP53 mutations at enrollment. No unexpected toxicity was seen except one patient with severe aplastic anemia.

CONCLUSION

Frontline IR combination achieves a high rate of CRs and undetectable MRD in indolent clinical forms of MCL. Discontinuation seems appropriate in cases with undetectable MRD, except for TP53-mutated cases.
Intractable Seizures and Limbic Encephalitis, Unaccounted Complications of Type 1 Diabetes Autoimmunity
Authors: Madkhali Mohammed A , Hao Jenifer-Kris , Khan Mohammad Saud , Himani Sharma , Jaume Alexa , Tiwari Abhinav , Imam Shahnawaz , Jaume Juan Carlos
Published: January 2022

Glutamic acid decarboxylase 65kD autoantibody (GAD65Ab) is frequently detected in patients with refractory epilepsy and stiff person syndrome. In contrast to T1D, the pathological role of GAD65Ab in neurological disorders is still debatable. As a result, the implementation of possible immunotherapy is usually delayed. This report presents 2 cases of GAD65Ab-associated brain autoimmunity and their different management. We present clinical data and discuss management based on available evidence in the reviewed literature. Both cases presented with acute on chronic neurological symptoms and were GAD65Ab positive. Case 1, a 30-year-old man with a history of early-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus at 14 months, followed by cryptogenic temporal epilepsy at 11 years of age, presented with intractable seizures. Case 2, a 48-year-old woman, presented with a history of recurrent severe headaches, cognitive impairment, decreased memory, and behavioral symptoms. GAD65Ab was detected in both patients’ sera. Cerebrospinal fluid GAD65Ab was only checked and positive in case 1. Case 2 was diagnosed with limbic encephalitis, treated with immunotherapy, and showed a remarkable clinical improvement. Case 1 with refractory epilepsy failed multiple antiepileptic drugs and responsive-stimulator system treatments. He was finally diagnosed with autoimmune epilepsy. The delay in diagnosis resulted in a lost opportunity for early immunotherapy. In conclusion, autoantibody screening and early initiation of immunotherapy should be considered to manage GAD65Ab-associated neurological disorders.
Running Mascara: The Hermeneutics of Trans Visual Archives in Late Franco-Era Spain
Authors: Fernández Galeano Javier
Published: January 2022

This article traces the curation of visual archives of trans subjectivity by the Franco regime. It focuses specifically on the experiences of three trans women who were prosecuted in the early to mid-1970s. Based on the definition of photographs as “material performances,” the author reconsiders recent debates about the “ethics of turning away” from forensic documents. Since Spanish privacy laws forbid the full reproduction of defendants’ photographs, this study also delves into the ethics of research on trans visibility in contexts of criminalization. The examined evidence demonstrates the disproportionate targeting of poor trans women as well as the centrality of the paseo (stroll) in their daily struggle for belonging. The confiscated photographs show a community of trans women posing in natural or public settings using different techniques to highlight the eroticism of their bodies. Likewise, trans women’s representational strategies centered joy, sisterhood, and intimacy as tenets of a livable life.
From the Law of Value Debate to the One-Child Policy in China: On Accounting and Biopolitics
Authors: Thompson Malcolm
Published: January 2022

This article argues that the origins of the one-child policy beginning in 1980 in China, and its development into the current system of “comprehensive population management,” are to be found not in any unfolding of a statist or authoritarian logic, or within the parameters of a nominally “socialist” project, but rather in a return to a properly capitalist set of concerns and governmental techniques, the first iteration of which can be traced to the 1920s and 1930s. With regard to the broad set of economic reforms launched in the period 1979–81, it is argued that the one-child policy is absolutely continuous with other reforms across economic sectors (agricultural responsibility systems and urban enterprise reforms) and discontinuous with anything we might understand as population management in the period 1949–76. The “law of value debate” in 1979, which “resolved” a long-standing set of issues concerning national accounting, planning, and accumulation, is found to be—despite its apparently Marxist character, derivation, and vocabulary—the passage through which a capitalist developmental logic was reintroduced into Chinese governing, with significant consequences.
Thinking Like a State: Policing Dangerous Thought in Imperial Japan, 1900–1945
Authors: Ward Max
Published: January 2022

This article explores the changing ways the Japanese police understood and policed radical politics between 1900 and 1945. Specifically, it traces the process in which the objective of policing transformed from an emphasis on political organizations, their activities, publications, and assemblies in the 1900s to the policing of individuals ostensibly harboring “dangerous ideas” that were deemed threatening to state and capital—what the police came to categorize as “thought crime” by the late 1920s. Once “thought” was identified as an object for policing, Japanese police agencies began to practice a kind of intellectual history—thinking like a state—to distinguish dangerous thought and to understand its origin and its spread during the socioeconomic turbulence of the interwar period. Drawing on Jacques Rancière’s theory of police, this article explores how police manuals and other publications categorized certain ideas, texts, enunciations, and slogans and distributed them based on the presumed degree of danger they posed to the imperial polity. It reveals how the expanded classifications and distributions of dangerous thought transformed policing in the 1920s, thereby extending imperial state power into various aspects of social life in interwar Japan.
Early Minimally Invasive Parafascicular Surgery for Evacuation of Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage in the Setting of Computed Tomography Angiography Spot Sign: A Case Series
Authors: Falcone Joseph , Chen Jefferson W.
Published: January 2022

BACKGROUND:

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) is associated with high morbidity and mortality, and the role of surgery is uncertain. Spot sign on computed tomography angiography (CTA) has previously been seen as a contraindication for minimally invasive techniques.

OBJECTIVE:

To demonstrate the use of minimally invasive parafascicular surgery (MIPS) for early evacuation of sICH in patients with spot sign on CTA.

METHODS:

Retrospective review of patients presenting to a US tertiary academic medical center from 2018 to 2020 with sICH and CTA spot sign who were treated with MIPS within 6 h of arrival.

RESULTS:

Seven patients (6 men and 1 woman, mean age 54.4 yr) were included in this study. There was a significant decrease between preoperative and postoperative intracerebral hemorrhage volumes (75.03 ± 39.00 cm3 vs 19.48 ± 17.81 cm3, P = .005) and intracerebral hemorrhage score (3.1 ± 0.9 vs 1.9 ± 0.9, P = .020). The mean time from arrival to surgery was 3.72 h (±1.22 h). The mean percentage of hematoma evacuation was 73.78% (±21.11%). The in-hospital mortality was 14.29%, and the mean modified Rankin score at discharge was 4.6 (±1.3). No complications related to the surgery were encountered in any of the cases, with no abnormal intraoperative bleeding and no pathology demonstrating occult vascular lesion.

CONCLUSION:

Early intervention with MIPS appears to be a safe and effective means of hematoma evacuation despite the presence of CTA spot sign, and this finding should not delay early intervention when indicated. Intraoperative hemostasis may be facilitated by the direct visualization provided by a tubular retractor system.
The effect of corporate social responsibility on Malaysian financial institutions' dividend payout
Authors: Sallehhuddin Abdullah , Boon Keong Teo , Md Yatim Norzarina
Published: January 2022

Background: The corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure was made mandatory in Malaysia in 2007 with the introduction of the CSR Framework by Bursa Malaysia. Since then, the practice of CSR disclosure is growing, as Malaysia joins global efforts towards sustainable development. Despite increased research on CSR; limited studies are assessing the relationship of specific dimensions – environmental, community, workplace and marketplace, towards dividend payout, which is crucial to investment and corporate financial decision making. 

Method: The study involved 32 Malaysian public listed finance companies as of 2017. It deployed data from annual reports and databases. Additionally, the study used content analysis to measure the CSR disclosure score, and dividend payout was calculated from the database.  

Results: There was a significant correlation between community and workplace dimensions with dividend payout. Despite the absence of significant results, the regression analysis showed a positive relationship between community and workplace dimensions with dividend payout. Besides, there was an inverse relationship between the environmental and marketplace dimension with dividend payout. The results indicated that active involvement in the community dimension resulted from an immediate positive impact towards brand equity, attracting current and new customers, and therefore improving the earning levels and dividend payout. Additionally, greater participation in the workplace dimension solidifies employees' engagement and motivation, improves the productivity level, which can be translated into enhanced earning levels and dividend payout. Meanwhile, participation in environmental and marketplace dimensions requires a longer period to yield an impact, higher development expenditure, and involve sensitive information that might benefit competitors. Hence, companies tend to utilise internal funding instead of redistributing the wealth through dividend payout.   

   

Conclusion: The study contributes to the literature of CSR by explaining the relationship of specific dimensions of environmental, community, workplace, and marketplace towards dividend payout using the evidence from the emerging economy.
THE IMPACT OF PEOPLE MANAGEMENT TRANSFORMATION ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Olszewski Grzegorz
Published: January 2022

For several years, the concept of sustainable development appears the philosophy of many scientific studies. This concept came from the field of forestry. It means that forest management cut down only as many trees as they can grow in this place. That way, the forest is never liquidated and can always rebuild itself. There are many definitions of sustainability. Perhaps the best comes from the 1987 report "Our Common Future" of the UN World Commission on Environment and Development, where "sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." That implies a challenge to developing all areas of human life without harming any of them. One of the areas with significant impact is the activity of organizations that affects the development and stability of the economy. Also, in studies on organization and management, the sustainable development concept is increasingly common. Progress in the application of the sciences of organization and management undoubtedly has a positive impact on the activities of organizations, which leads to economic development and changes in the quality of life. This paper intends to bring closer the meaning of the evolution of people management in today's state of development and to determine trends in future organizations management. The content of this paper does not exhaust the discussed issues but may contribute to further discussion and activities in the field of sustainable development.
Relationships of urolithogenicity index with some components of urine composition in healthy old female rats
Authors: Flyunt Viktor , Flyunt Igor-Severyn , Ruzhylo Sofiya , Fihura Oksana , Popovych Dariya , Żukow Xawery
Published: January 2022

Background. Despite the long history, the results of studies of the impact of balneotherapy in the resort of Truskavets on the lithogenicity of urine are ambiguous, so the topic remains relevant. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the lithogenicity index of urine and a number of components of its composition. Materials and Methods. Experiment was performed on 60 healthy old female Wistar rats 220-300 g. Ten animals remained intact, using daily water from drinking ad libitum. Other animals for 6 days were loaded through the tube with daily and various mineral waters at a dose of 1,5 mL/100 g of body mass. The day after the completion of the drinking course collected daily urine, which determined the content of a number of components of the composition. We calculated urine lithogenicity index (Lith) by the formula: Lith = (Uric acid•Calcium/Magnesium•Creatinine)0,25. Results. The most significant effect on the Lith is the concentration of magnesium (r=-0,730), followed by uric acid (r=0,583), calcium (r=0,352) and creatinine (r=-0,298). Medium molecular polypeptides, catalase, sodium, phosphates and urea has been identified as prolithogenic factors while tubular reabsorption of water as litholytic factor. The chemical composition of the fluids consumed by animals has little effect on the lithogenicity index of urine. Conclusion. Both prolithogenic and litholytic factors are present in the urine, which depend little on the chemical composition of the fluid used.
A Scalable Forecasting Framework to Predict COVID-19 Hospital Bed Occupancy
Authors: Heins Jakob , Schoenfelder Jan , Heider Steffen , Heller Axel R. , Brunner Jens O.
Published: January 2022

We present a scalable forecasting framework with a Monte Carlo simulation to forecast the short-term bed occupancy of patients with confirmed and suspected COVID-19 in intensive care units and regular wards. Our forecasts were a central part of the official weekly reports of the Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care from May 2020 to March 2021.
A Star Is Born: The Relationship Between Performance and Achieving Status Through Certification Contests in the Context of Equity Analysts
Authors: Paik Eugene Taeha , Pollock Timothy G. , Boivie Steven , Lange Donald , Lee Peggy M.
Published: January 2022

We investigate how the relationship between status and performance decouples over time by addressing two questions: (1) how performance affects the likelihood that an actor achieves high status and (2) how achieving high status affects the actor’s subsequent performance. In doing so, we focus on the role repeated certification contests play, where evaluators assess actors’ performance along particular dimensions and confer high status on the contest winners. Using the context of sell-side (brokerage) equity analysts and the “All-Star” list from Institutional Investor magazine, we first investigate whether analysts who make the All-Star list are more likely to produce accurate and/or independent forecasts. Then, we investigate analyst performance after recent and multiple wins. Our results demonstrate the decoupling of status and performance over time and the roles played by both the high-status actor and the social evaluators conferring their status. Whereas analyst performance increases the likelihood of being designated an All-Star, recent and multiple All-Star designations differentially affect both how subsequent performance is assessed, and how the All-Star analysts subsequently perform. In the short term, achieving high status can increase performance and solidify an analyst’s status position; however, in the long term, it can lead to lower performance and eventually result in status loss, which further erodes performance.
Unlock the Sharing Economy: The Case of the Parking Sector for Recurrent Commuting Trips
Authors: Liu Wei , Zhang Fangni , Wang Xiaolei , Shao Chaoyi , Yang Hai
Published: January 2022

This study examines the pricing strategy of a parking sharing platform that rents the daytime-usage rights of private parking spaces from parking owners and sells them to parking users. In an urban area with both shared parking and curbside parking, a choice equilibrium model is proposed to predict the number of shared parking users under any given pricing strategy of the platform. We analytically analyze how the pricing strategy of the platform (price charged on users and rent paid to parking owners or sharers) would affect the parking choice equilibrium and several system efficiency metrics. It is shown that the platform is profitable when some parking owners have a relatively small inconvenience cost from sharing their spaces, but its profit is always negative at minimum social cost. Numerical studies are conducted to illustrate the analytical results and provide further understanding.
Muon scattering tomography: review
Authors: Miyadera Haruo , Morris Christopher L.
Published: January 2022

Cosmic-ray muon scattering tomography has gathered attention in the security and nuclear industries in the last 10 years. Muon scattering tomography is capable of identifying atomic numbers of objects, is highly sensitivity to high-atomic-number materials such as uranium, and is very useful for detecting them in a background of low-atomic-number material. The principle, detectors, and applications of muon tomography are presented, as well as its future aspect.
Impact of skin tone on photoacoustic oximetry and tools to minimize bias
Authors: Mantri Yash , Jokerst Jesse V.
Published: January 2022

The major optical absorbers in tissue are melanin and oxy/deoxy-hemoglobin, but the impact of skin tone and pigmentation on biomedical optics is still not completely understood or adequately addressed. Melanin largely governs skin tone with higher melanin concentration in subjects with darker skin tones. Recently, there has been extensive debate on the bias of pulse oximeters when used with darker subjects. Photoacoustic (PA) imaging can measure oxygen saturation similarly as pulse oximeters and could have value in studying this bias. More importantly, it can deconvolute the signal from the skin and underlying tissue. Here, we studied the impact of skin tone on PA signal generation, depth penetration, and oximetry. Our results show that subjects with darker skin tones exhibit significantly higher PA signal at the skin surface, reduced penetration depth, and lower oxygen saturation compared to subjects with lighter skin tones. We then suggest a simple way to compensate for these signal differences.
Vortex Airy beam realized by superposition of two Airy beams
Authors: Suzuki Masato , Yamane Keisaku , Omatsu Takashige , Morita Ryuji
Published: January 2022

We propose a new-type vortex Airy beam with both orbital angular momentum and non-diffraction property as a superposition of laterally-sheared two Airy beams. The propagation characteristics are hugely improved compared with the conventional ones.
Differential Absorption Lidar Transmitter based on a Photonic Integrated Circuit for Carbon Dioxide Sensing
Authors: Pérez-Serrano A. , Quevedo-Galán C. , Aguilera V. R. , Castera P. , Tijero J. M. G. , Esquivias I.
Published: January 2022

We have designed, fabricated and characterized an indium phosphide photonic integrated circuit to be utilized as the transmitter of a differential absorption lidar for carbon dioxide sensing. We demonstrate its suitability for the application.
Picosecond Pulse Shaping via On-Chip Interferometry
Authors: Fischer Bennet , Chemnitz Mario , MacLellan Benjamin , Roztocki Piotr , Wetzel Benjamin , Little Brent , Chu Sai , Moss David , Azaña José , Morandotti Roberto
Published: January 2022

We present autonomous pulse shaping based on on-chip temporal coherence synthesis powered by a particle swarm algorithm, which allows for robust, and reconfigurable picosecond pulse shaping with low-bandwidth equipment utilizing all-optical sampling.
Generic Heterogeneous Integration Process Flow for Commercial Foundry Low-Index Photonic Platforms
Authors: Poelman Stijn , Cuyvers Stijn , De Witte Jasper , Hermans Artur , Van Gasse Kasper , Picqué Nathalie , Roelkens Gunther , Van Thourhout Dries , Kuyken Bart
Published: January 2022

We demonstrate a generic heterogeneous integration process flow for low-index photonic platforms, based on a two-step microtransfer printing approach. In this work, a silicon coupler is used for low-loss integration of III/V on silicon nitride.
Triply-Resonant Sum-Frequency Generation in 10 µm Gallium Phosphide Photonic Ring Resonators
Authors: Logan Alan D. , Shree Shivangi , Hestroffer Karine , Hatami Fariba , Fu Kai-Mei C.
Published: January 2022

We demonstrate triply-resonant sum-frequency generation from telecom to visible in a gallium phosphide-on-oxide integrated photonic platform. Multi-resonant devices are essential for scalable low-power frequency conversion.
Experimental repeater-like quantum communications over 600 km of optical fibre with wavelength-multiplexed phase stabilisation
Authors: Pittaluga Mirko , Minder Mariella , Lucamarini Marco , Sanzaro Mirko , Woodward Robert I. , Li Ming-Jun , Yuan Zhiliang , Shields Andrew J.
Published: January 2022

We introduce a novel phase stabilisation scheme for phase-sensitive single-photon applications. By applying it to the Twin-Field Quantum Key Distribution protocol, we establish a repeater-like quantum communication over 600 km of optical fibre.
Dynamic Computer Generated Holography for Virtual Reality Displays
Authors: Eybposh M. Hossein , Curtis Vincent R , Moossavi Aram , Pégard Nicolas C.
Published: January 2022

We present new virtual reality display technologies that synthesize high-fidelity images with compact, inexpensive digital micromirror devices. Our strategy displays fast sequences of coherent holograms mutually optimized to render realistic images in the human eye.
Optical soft artificial skin
Authors: Roy Abhijit Chandra , Kumar Navin , Shreyas B S , Gupta Ananya , Kumar Aloke , Venkataraman V.
Published: January 2022

We present a 3D printable artificial skin made of a soft material capable of detect touch, load and bending. The artificial skin (soft-a-skin) comprises a uniquely designed optical waveguide and soft hemispherical structures.
Correction of Image Artifacts Related to High-Speed Motion in Swept-Source OCT
Authors: Gupta Ashish , Ruminski Daniel , Grulkowski Ireneusz
Published: January 2022

High-speed motion detected by OCT results in image artifacts including axial shift and broadening of the signal. The method to correct the artifacts allows retrieving a correct trajectory/velocity of a rapidly moving object.
Supervised Dimensionality Reduction of Single-cell Features from Label-free Multimodal Images for T Cell Subtype Classification
Authors: Lee Elizabeth , Baranski Maciej , Chew Marvin , Sin Wei-Xiang , Cheung Ka-Wai , Tucker-Kellogg Lisa , Yong Derrick , Birnbaum Michael , Barbastathis George
Published: January 2022

Nonlinear dimensionality reduction of features extracted from single T cell images show localization of partial cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the lower-dimensional space, showing potential T cell subtype classification from label-free imaging.
Ultra-Narrow Linewidth Frequency Stabilized Photonic Integrated Lasers
Authors: Blumenthal Daniel J.
Published: January 2022

Integrated ultra-narrow linewidth stabilized lasers bring the potential for spectrally-pure lasers at the chip-scale. IR and visible emission Si3N4 Brillouin lasers stabilized to ultra-high Q resonators will be described for atom, quantum, microwave and communications.
Optical-Isolator-Free, Sub-kHz VECSEL System at 698 nm
Authors: Lee Martin , Moriya Paulo Hisao , Hastie Jennifer E.
Published: January 2022

We report robust performance against optical feedback in a single frequency visible VECSEL targeted at optical clocks. Sub-kHz linewidth at 698 nm was demonstrated in frequency- stabilized operation, without an isolator in the optical set-up.
Stokes and anti-Stokes pumped Yb-doped fiber lasers
Authors: Yu Nanjie , Desai Kavita V. , Mironov Andrey E. , Xiong Mingye , Cavillon Maxime , Hawkins Thomas , Ballato John , Eden J. Gary , Dragic Peter D.
Published: January 2022

A novel excitation balanced laser is proposed, where introducing a second pump, to the red of the signal wavelength, significantly reduces the quantum defect (QD). Experimental and theoretical results indicate near-zero QD heating is possible.
Chip-scale light sources in visible and near-infrared
Authors: Komljenovic Tin
Published: January 2022

Various emerging applications can benefit from integrated photonic circuits due to the size, weight, power, and cost advantage enabled by high-level of integration. In many cases, the wavelength of operation of such systems lies beyond standard telecom/datacom ranges requiring development of novel photonic platforms. We show recent progress in this rapidly evolving field with a focus on chip-scale sources operating below 1.2 µm wavelength to facilitate system-on-a-chip functionality.
Arbitrary dispersion in free space using space-time wave packets
Authors: Yessenov Murat , Hall Layton A. , Abouraddy Ayman F.
Published: January 2022

We show versatile control over the magnitude, sign, and order of dispersion of a pulse in free space using space-time wave packets – a class of pulsed beams undergirded by non-differentiable angular dispersion.
Ultrafast Voltage Imaging of Single Neurons at Ten Kilohertz in Behaving Mice
Authors: Lowet Eric , Xiao Sheng , Mertz Jerome , Han Xue
Published: January 2022

We performed five and ten kilohertz imaging of individual hippocampal neurons expressing SomArchon using a high-speed sCMOS camera. The ultrafast imaging speed allows for detailed characterization of action potential waveforms in hippocampal neurons.