bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of the July 2018 worldwide valsartan recall and shortage on global trends in antihypertensive medication use: a time-series analysis in 83 countries
Authors: Choi Yuna , Santhireswaran Araniy , Chu Cherry , Suda Katie J , Hernandez Inma , Magnani Jared W , Tadrous Mina
Published: January 2023

Objectives

This study aims to examine the effects of the July 2018 worldwide valsartan recall and shortage on global trends of antihypertensive medication use in 83 countries.

Methods

A time-series analysis of monthly purchases of valsartan, other angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) across 83 countries from January 2017 to July 2020 was conducted using the IQVIA MIDAS database. Trends in outcomes were investigated globally and by economic level (developed vs developing economies). The valsartan recall’s impact on antihypertensive use was assessed with interventional autoregressive integrated moving average modelling.

Results

Global valsartan utilisation trends decreased significantly by 15.7% (−61 166 515 SU; p<0.0001), while global purchases of other ARBs increased by 44.8% (+958 069 420 SU; p=0.8523) and ACEIs increased by 1.6% (+44 106 747 SU; p=0.1102). Of the 32 developed countries, 20 (62.5%) showed a decline in 1-month percentage change in valsartan purchases, whereas only 10 out of 33 developing countries (30.3%) experienced a decrease in valsartan purchases. Mean 1-month, 3-month and 6-month percentage changes for developed countries were −1.2%, −9.3% and −12.2%, respectively, while the changes for developing countries were 25.0%, 7.3% and −1.2%.

Conclusions

Global valsartan purchases substantially decreased post-recall, highlighting the far-reaching impacts of drug shortages. Opposing utilisation trends by economic level raise concerns of potential distribution of contaminated medications from developed countries to developing countries. Concerted actions for equitable global access to quality medications and mitigation of drug shortages are needed.
Towards cost saving in surgery without compromising safety: stapleless laparoscopic splenectomy in a developing country—a prospective cohort study
Authors: Lasheen Omar , Yehia Mohamed , Salah Ayman , Mikhail Sameh , Hassan Ahmed
Published: January 2023

Background

Minimally invasive surgery has been steadily growing in popularity. Control of splenic hilar vessels is the most delicate step during laparoscopic splenectomy (LS). In the earlier eras of LS, hilar vessels were controlled using clips and/or ligation. Laparoscopic staples were later introduced and have arguably led to an increase in popularity of LS. They do not abolish potential complications of splenectomy and theoretically represent an added operative cost.

In this study, we aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of stapleless LS (using knots, haemostatic devices and clips) compared with the now more conventional stapled LS.

Methods

A pilot randomised prospective study was conducted in a university hospital between September 2018 and April 2020. It included 40 patients randomly assigned to two equal groups: (1) 20 patients: stapleless LS and (2) 20 patients: LS using laparoscopic staples.

We compared operative time, intra and postoperative complications and postoperative recovery.

Results

There was no statistically significant difference between both groups across all comparative outcomes.

Conclusion

Both techniques are comparable in terms of safety and operative time. In terms of cost efficiency, we recommend more comprehensive analyses of hospital costs.
JAG consensus statements for training and certification in flexible sigmoidoscopy
Authors: Siau Keith , Pelitari Stavroula , Green Susi , McKaig Brian , Rajendran Arun , Feeney Mark , Thoufeeq Mo , Anderson John , Ravindran Vathsan , Hagan Paul , Cripps Neil , Beales Ian L P , Church Karen , Church Nicholas I , Ratcliffe Elizabeth , Din Said , Pullan Rupert D , Powell Sharon , Regan Catherine , Ngu Wee Sing , Wood Eleanor , Mills Sarah , Hawkes Neil , Dunckley Paul , Iacucci Marietta , Thomas-Gibson Siwan , Wells Christopher , Murugananthan Aravinth
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Joint Advisory Group (JAG) certification in endoscopy is awarded when trainees attain minimum competency standards for independent practice. A national evidence-based review was undertaken to update standards for training and certification in flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS).

Methods

A modified Delphi process was conducted between 2019 and 2020 with multisociety representation from experts and trainees. Following literature review and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations appraisal, recommendation statements on FS training and certification were formulated and subjected to anonymous voting to obtain consensus. Accepted statements were peer-reviewed by national stakeholders for incorporation into the JAG FS certification pathway.

Results

In total, 41 recommendation statements were generated under the domains of: definition of competence (13), acquisition of competence (17), assessment of competence (7) and postcertification support (4). The consensus process led to revised criteria for colonoscopy certification, comprising: (A) achieving key performance indicators defined within British Society of Gastroenterology standards (ie, rectal retroversion >90%, polyp retrieval rate >90%, patient comfort <10% with moderate-severe discomfort); (B) minimum procedure count ≥175; (C) performing 15+ procedures over the preceding 3 months; (D) attendance of the JAG Basic Skills in Lower gastrointestinal Endoscopy course; (E) satisfying requirements for formative direct observation of procedural skill (DOPS) and direct observation of polypectomy skill (SMSA level 1); (F) evidence of reflective practice as documented on the JAG Endoscopy Training System reflection tool and (G) successful performance in summative DOPS.

Conclusion

The UK standards for training and certification in FS have been updated to support training, uphold standards in FS and polypectomy, and provide support to the newly independent practitioner.
Localising culprit artery in inferior STEMI
Authors: Farhat-Sabet Ardalon , Smith Alexandra , Atwood John E , Pickett Christopher
Published: January 2023

Background

ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) represents a cardiac emergency. Time to diagnosis, identification of culprit lesion, and intervention are important. Inferior STEMI represents a dilemma for cardiologists. The territory can be supplied by the right coronary artery (RCA) or the left circumflex coronary artery (LCx). Diagnostic algorithms have been proposed to predict the culprit artery.

Methods

We performed a single-centre retrospective cohort analysis of all patients admitted to our hospital from 2008 to 2020 with a diagnosis of inferior STEMI. We examined the diagnostic 12 lead ECG for quantification of ST elevation in leads II and III and compared this to culprit lesion found on angiography.

Results

There were 304 patients identified with STEMI in our database; 105 were found to have an inferior myocardial infarction by ECG criteria. Ninety-nine were included in our study with either RCA or LCx culprit lesions on angiography (82 males, 17 females). The average age of these patients was 64.9 years old. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for ST elevation in lead II exceeding lead III predicting LCx culprit lesion was 0.32 (95% CI 0.13 to 0.57), 0.94 (95% CI 0.86 to 0.98), 0.55 (95% CI 0.29 to 0.78), 0.85 (95% CI 0.81 to 0.89), respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for ST elevation in lead III exceeding lead II predicting RCA culprit lesion was 0.94 (95% CI 0.86 to 0.98), 0.32 (95% CI 0.13 to 0.57), 0.85 (95% CI 0.81 to 0.89), 0.55 (95% CI 0.29 to 0.78), respectively.

Conclusions

In inferior STEMI, comparison of ST elevation in leads II and III can reliably predict culprit lesion artery and guide intervention.

Subject indexing

Culprit artery localisation, inferior stemi, ECG.
Probing the $$h c\bar{c} $$ coupling at a Future Circular Collider in the electron-hadron mode
Authors: Hernández-Sánchez J. , Honorato C. G. , Moretti S.
Published: January 2023

We study the production of a neutral Higgs boson at a Future Circular Collider in the electron-hadron mode (FCC-eh) through the leading process$$e^- p \rightarrow \nu _e h q $$e-p→νehqassuming the decay channel$$h \rightarrow c \bar{c} $$h→cc¯, wherehis the Standard Model (SM)-like state discovered at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). This process is studied in the context of a 2-Higgs Doublet Model Type III (2HDM-III) embedding a four-zero texture in the Yukawa matrices and a general Higgs potential, where both Higgs doublets are coupled with up- and down-type fermions. Flavour Changing Neutral Currents (FCNCs) are well controlled by this approach through the adoption of a suitable texture once flavour physics constraints are taken in account. Considering the parameter space where the signal is enhanced and in agreement with both experimental data and theoretical conditions, we analyse the aforementioned signal by taking into account the most important SM backgrounds, separatingc-jets from light-flavour and gluon ones as well asb-jets by means of efficient flavour tagging. We find that the$$h c \bar{c} $$hcc¯coupling strength can be accessed with good significance after a luminosity of 1 ab$$^{-1}$$-1for a 50 TeV proton beam and a 60 GeV electron one, the latter with a 80% (longitudinal) polarisation.
Constraints on primordial curvature spectrum from primordial black holes and scalar-induced gravitational waves
Authors: Yi Zhu , Fei Qin
Published: January 2023

The observational data of primordial black holes and scalar-induced gravitational waves can constrain the primordial curvature perturbation at small scales. We parameterize the primordial curvature perturbation by a broken power law form and find that it is consistent with many inflation models that can produce primordial black holes, such as nonminimal derivative coupling inflation, scalar–tensor inflation, Gauss–Bonnet inflation, and K/G inflation. The constraints from primordial black holes on the primordial curvature power spectrum with the broken power law form are obtained, where the fraction of primordial black holes in dark matter is calculated by the peak theory. Both the real-space top-hat and the Gaussian window functions are considered. The constraints on the amplitude of primordial curvature perturbation with Gaussian window function are around three times larger than those with real-space top-hat window function. The constraints on the primordial curvature perturbation from the NANOGrav 12.5 years data sets are displayed, where the NANOGrav signals are assumed as the scalar-induced gravitational waves, and only the first five frequency bins are used.
Generating Deep Learning Model-Specific Explanations at the End User’s Side
Authors: Haffar R. , Jebreel N. , Sánchez D. , Domingo-Ferrer J.
Published: January 2023

End users who cannot afford to collect and label big data to train accurate deep learning (DL) models resort to Machine Learning as a Service (MLaaS) providers, who provide paid access to accurate DL models. However, the lack of transparency in how the providers’ models make predictions causes a problem of trust. A way to increase trust (and also to align with ethical regulations) is for predictions to be accompanied by explanations locally and independently generated by the end users (rather than by explanations offered by the model providers). Explanation methods using internal components of DL models (a.k.a. model-specific explanations) are more accurate and effective than those relying solely on the inputs and outputs (a.k.a. model-agnostic explanations). However, end users lack white-box access to the internal components of the providers’ models. To tackle this issue, we propose a novel approach allowing an end user to locally generate model-specific explanations for a DL classification model accessed via a provider’s API. First, we approximate the provider’s model with a local surrogate model. We then use the surrogate model’s components to locally generate model-specific explanations that approximate the explanations obtainable with white-box access to the provider’s DL model. Specifically, we leverage the surrogate model’s gradients to generate adversarial examples that counterfactually explain why an input example is classified into a specific class. Our approach only requires the end user to have unlabeled data of size [Formula: see text] of the provider’s training data and with a similar distribution; given the small size and unlabeled nature of these data, they can be assumed to be already available to the end user or even to be supplied by the provider to build trust in his model. We demonstrate the accuracy and effectiveness of our approach through extensive experiments on two ML tasks: image classification and tabular data classification. The locally generated explanations are consistent with those obtainable with white-box access to the provider’s model, thus giving end users an independent and reliable way to determine if the provider’s model is trustworthy.
Report on the 2nd Symposium on Artificial Intelligence and Law (SAIL) 2022
Authors: Ghosh Saptarshi , Ghosh Kripabandhu , Ganguly Debasis , Bhattacharya Arnab , Chakrabarti Partha Pratim , Guha Shouvik , Pal Arindam , Rudra Koustav , Majumder Prasenjit , Roy Dwaipayan , Bandopadhyay Ayan , Sen Procheta , Bhattacharya Paheli , Deroy Aniket , Bhattacharya Upal , Adhikary Subinay , Nigam Subham Kumar
Published: January 2023

This report describes the 2

nd

edition of the Symposium on Artificial Intelligence and Law (SAIL) organized as a virtual event during June 6--9, 2022. The aim of SAIL is to bring together experts from the industry and the academia to discuss the scope and future of AI as applied to the legal domain. The symposium is also meant to foster collaborations between researchers of the following communities: Law, Artificial Intelligence, Data Mining, Information Retrieval, and Natural Language Processing. Eminent researchers working on AI and Law in both the academia and the industry were invited to deliver talks at this symposium.

Date:
6--9 June, 2022.

Website:
https://sites.google.com/view/sail-2022/.
When Measurement Misleads
Authors: Zobel Justin
Published: January 2023

The discipline of information retrieval (IR) has a long history of examination of how best to measure performance. In particular, there is an extensive literature on the practice of assessing retrieval systems using batch experiments based on collections and relevance judgements. However, this literature has only rarely considered an underlying principle: that measured scores are inherently incomplete as a representation of human activity, that is, there is an innate gap between measured scores and the desired goal of human satisfaction. There are separate challenges such as poor experimental practices or the shortcomings of specific measures, but the issue considered here is more fundamental - straightforwardly, in batch experiments the human-machine gap cannot be closed. In other disciplines, the issue of the gap is well recognised and has been the subject of observations that provide valuable perspectives on the behaviour and effects of measures and the ways in which they can lead to unintended consequences, notably Goodhart's law and the Lucas critique. Here I describe these observations and argue that there is evidence that they apply to IR, thus showing that blind pursuit of performance gains based on optimisation of scores, and analysis based solely on aggregated measurements, can lead to misleading and unreliable outcomes.
Dataset Search and Augmentation
Authors: Chen Zhiyu
Published: January 2023

Data has become an indispensable part of our life. However, current mainstream commercial search engines do not support specialized functions for dataset search. A dataset usually consists of both metadata and data content. Existing information retrieval models designed for Web search cannot efficiently extract semantic information inside structured datasets, even when they contain textual content. Developing new algorithms for next-generation search engines to efficiently find datasets can benefit data practitioners in their data discovery experience.

In this dissertation, we consider how to effectively perform dataset search and augmentation. We start by providing an end-to-end description of a dataset search engine following the lifecycle of datasets. Our review includes web dataset acquisition techniques, dataset profiling and augmentation methods, and dataset search tasks and corresponding methods. In order to extract datasets from research articles, we present an information extraction framework to determine triples of interest which can be used for academic dataset search. We propose a feature-based method to augment tabular datasets with additional schema labels to help users and systems to better understand the datasets. We develop three methods for tabular dataset search: the first utilizes generated schema labels to enhance the search results; the second adopts pretrained language models to learn matching features; the third models the complex relations in the datasets as one or more graphs and uses graph neural networks to learn representations of queries and tables. To support dataset search in which a query is also a dataset, we propose universal dataset encoders which regard a dataset as a point set so that the encoded dataset representations can be used to search for similar datasets. Extensive experiments across multiple tasks demonstrate the superiority of our proposed methods over the state of the art.

Awarded by:
Lehigh University, Bethlehem, USA on 10 May 2022.

Supervised by:
Brian D. Davison.

Available at:
https://github.com/Zhiyu-Chen/Dissertation/blob/main/Dissertation_Dataset_Search.pdf.
LatCrit and Criminology: Toward a Theoretical Understanding of Latino/a/x Crime and Criminal Legal System Involvement
Authors: Vélez María B. , Peguero Anthony A.
Published: January 2023

An important body of work documents how race matters for the patterning of crime and criminal legal system involvement largely by focusing on comparisons between Blacks and Whites. We build on this vital scholarship by spotlighting Latino/a/xs, a fast-growing group that is the United States’ largest racial minority, to broaden the field's understanding of race and crime. In this review, we follow race scholars who see Latino/a/xs as a racial category because dominant actors racialize them as an innate, distinct, inferior, and criminogenic category, leading to their marginalized experiences across many domains. Moreover, Latino/a/xs increasingly view themselves as not White. Studying Latino/a/xs offers an opportunity to integrate key tenets of Latina and Latino Critical Legal Theory (LatCrit), which provide a scaffolding to center race and racism. LatCrit highlights the ways racism metes out discrimination, cultural and linguistic devaluation, criminalization, and racial profiling that in turn shape and are shaped by levels of Latino/a/x crime and legal system involvement. This article provides a description of what it means to center race with an emphasis on LatCrit,an empirical assessment of Latino/a/x crime and legal system involvement, and an integration of core criminological theory with LatCrit. By doing so, we advance the field to more directly and robustly engage with the idea that racial disparities in crime and legal system involvement are products of racialization as well as attendant policies, institutions, and practices that historically and contemporaneously subjugate and marginalize the Latino/a/x population. We seek to push the boundaries of criminology theory and thereby invigorate and equip them for the twenty-first century and its racial landscape, which is increasingly Latino/a/x.
Electrochemical Characteristics of Intermetallic Phases in Al–Cu–Li Alloys
Authors: Zhu Yakun , Frankel Gerald S. , (Bland) Miller Leslie G. , Garves Jacob , Pope Jackson , (Warner) Locke Jenifer
Published: January 2023

This study provides a comprehensive overview of the electrochemical characteristics of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) commonly encountered in the 3rd generation Al–Cu–Li alloys. The electrochemical measurements were carried out on a AA2070-T8 alloy and surrogate alloys that have the compositions of select IMCs, typically found in AA2070-T8. The effects of environmental variables such as [Cl−] and pH on the corrosion potential, pitting potential, repassivation potential, corrosion rate, and galvanic current of these IMCs were thoroughly evaluated utilizing the electrochemical microcell method. An electrochemical database was documented that covers eight groups of common IMCs in various Al alloys. The findings improve the understanding of interactions between matrix and IMCs in Al alloys, with implications for corrosion mitigation and new materials design.
Oxidative Stress Response Biomarkers of Ovarian Cancer Based on Single-Cell and Bulk RNA Sequencing
Authors: Zheng Mingjun , Hu Yuexin , Liu Ouxuan , Li Siting , Wang Yuxuan , Li Xinru , Liu Juanjuan , Yang Qing , Li Xiao , Lin Bei
Published: January 2023

Background. The occurrence and development of ovarian cancer (OV) are significantly influenced by increased levels of oxidative stress (OS) byproducts and the lack of an antioxidant stress repair system. Hence, it is necessary to explore the markers related to OS in OV, which can aid in predicting the prognosis and immunotherapeutic response in patients with OV. Methods. The single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset GSE146026 was retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and Bulk RNA-seq data were obtained from TCGA and GTEx databases. The Seurat R package and SingleR package were used to analyze scRNA-seq and to identify OS response-related clusters based on ROS markers. The “limma” R package was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between normal and ovarian samples. The risk model was constructed using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. The immune cell infiltration, genomic mutation, and drug sensitivity of the model were analyzed using the CIBERSORT algorithm, the “maftools,” and the “pRRophetic” R packages, respectively. Results. Based on scRNA-seq data, we identified 12 clusters; OS response-related genes had the strongest specificity for cluster 12. A total of 151 genes were identified from 2928 DEGs to be significantly correlated with OS response. Finally, nine prognostic genes were used to construct the risk score (RS) model. The risk score model was an independent prognostic factor for OV. The gene mutation frequency and tumor immune microenvironment in the high- and low-risk score groups were significantly different. The value of the risk score model in predicting immunotherapeutic outcomes was confirmed. Conclusions. OS response-related RS model could predict the prognosis and immune responses in patients with OV and provide new strategies for cancer treatment.
Numerical Studies of Floor Heave Control in Deep Mining Roadways with Soft Rocks by the Rock Bolts Reinforcement Technology
Authors: Sakhno Ivan , Sakhno Svitlana
Published: January 2023

The floor heave is one of the key factors that can restrict high-efficiency and safety mining, especially in the deep roadways with soft rock. Considering the influences of rock fracturing over time on rock mass properties, a case study of the floor heave evolution and rock bolts reinforcement technology was performed in this paper. A numerical simulation was used to study the stress-strain state and displacement of surrounding rocks. It was found that significant floor heave caused by nonlinear deformation of laminated immediate floor under an increase in rock fracturing. The post-peak strain regions appear in the bottom corners of the roadway, after which strata in the immediate floor are destroyed one by one. The joint spacing of 0.45 m on the immediate floor is critical. At this step, post-peak strain regions merge in the central part of the roadway floor, which is the cause of uncontrolled floor heave. Rock bolts reinforcement was proposed to control the floor heave. Three floor support schemes with two types of support elements, different bolt orientations, and lengths of reinforcement were studied. The numerical simulation demonstrated that after reinforcement, post-peak plastic strain in the floor strata was reduced effectively. The optimal floor support scheme and depth of reinforcement were determined by the allowable floor heave. Ideally, the floor heaves could be reduced by rock bolts with a steel belt installed according to the support scheme III and reinforcement length of 2.0 m for outer bolts and 3.0 m for central bolts.
A Convolutional Self-Attention Network for CSI Reconstruction in MIMO System
Authors: Liu Qingli , Sun Jiaxu , Qiu Shaoming , Lv Yana , Du Xiuli
Published: January 2023

A convolutional self-attention network-based channel state information reconstruction method is presented to address the issue of low reconstruction accuracy of channel state information in Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) at a high compression rate. First, an encoder-decoder structure-based channel state information reconstruction model is built. The feature is extracted by the encoder’s convolutional network, and the information is compressed by adding an attention block. At the same time, the compressed information is nonuniform quantized to prevent the transmission process from using up too much bandwidth. A dequantization module and an attention block are added to the decoder to reduce the impact of noise on the matrix, converting the continuous value into a discrete value to increase reconstruction accuracy and using the long-time cosine annealing training approach. According to the simulation results, when compared to CsiNet, Lightweight CNN, CRNet, and CLNet, convergence speed is improved by 17.64%, indoor reconstruction precision is improved by an average of 37.4%, and outside reconstruction accuracy is improved by an average of 32.5% under all compressions.
Is Vehicle Plate Corner Prediction by Vision Transformer Better than CNNs?
Authors: Jun Kyungkoo
Published: January 2023

The license plate recognition performance can be improved by converting the license plate photographed from the side to the front view. To perform this transformation, four vertex corner positions of the license plate are required. Existing deep learning methods to find these corner positions use a convolutional neural network (CNN). In this study, we propose a model using a vision transformer (ViT), a nonconvolutional method that has recently been attracting attention, as a backbone, and compare its performance with existing CNN models. The ablation study is conducted by diversifying the ViT structure. Through these results, it was found that ViT has strengths in model size reduction but is similar in performance or inferior to CNN and that ViT training is more difficult than CNN.
Exploration of Bioinformatics on Microbial Fuel Cell Technology: Trends, Challenges, and Future Prospects
Authors: Nachammai K. T. , Ramachandran Srinithi , Nagarajan Chitra , Kulanthaivel Langeswaran , Subbaraj Gowtham Kumar , Chandrasekaran Kirubhanand , Paramasivan Vijayalakshmi , Subramanian Senthilkumar
Published: January 2023

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative energy method. MFC technology has gained much interest in recent decades owing to its effectiveness in remediating wastewater and generating bioelectricity. The microbial fuel cell generates energy mainlybecause of oxidation-reduction reactions. In this reaction, electrons were transferred between two reactants. Bioinformatics is expanding across a wide range of microbial fuel cell technology. Electroactive species in the microbial community were evaluated using bioinformatics methodologies in whole genome sequencing, RNA sequencing, transcriptomics, metagenomics, and phylogenetics. Technology advancements in microbial fuel cells primarily produce power from organic and inorganic waste from various sources. Reduced chemical oxygen demand and waste degradation are two added advantages for microbial fuel cells. From plants, bacteria, and algae, microbial fuel cells were developed. Due to the rapid advancement of sequencing techniques, bioinformatics approaches are currently widely used in the technology of microbial fuel cells. In addition, they play an important role in determining the composition of electroactive species in microorganisms. The metabolic pathway is also possible to determine with bioinformatics resources. A computational technique that reveals the nature of the mediators and the substrate was also used to predict the electrochemical properties. Computational strategies were used to tackle significant challenges in experimental procedures, such as optimization and understanding microbiological systems. The main focus of this review is on utilizing bioinformatics techniques to improve microbial fuel cell technology.
Pyroptosis-Related Signature Predicts the Progression of Ulcerative Colitis and Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer as well as the Anti-TNF Therapeutic Response
Authors: Ning Yumei , Lin Kun , Fang Jun , Chen Xiaojia , Hu Xinyi , Liu Lan , Zhao Qiu , Wang Haizhou , Wang Fan
Published: January 2023

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a complex intestinal inflammation with an increasing risk of colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC). However, the pathogenesis is still unclear between active UC and inactive UC. Recently, it has been reported that pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) are closely associated with inflammatory disease activity. Nevertheless, the specific roles of PRGs in the progression and treatment of UC and CAC remain unclear. In this study, we identified 30 differentially expressed PRGs based on the immune landscape of active and inactive UC samples. Meanwhile, weighted gene coexpression network analysis was applied to explore important genes associated with active UC. By intersecting with the differentially expressed PRGs, CASP5, GBP1, GZMB, IL1B, and IRF1 were selected as key PRGs to construct a pyroptosis-related signature (PR-signature). Then, logistic regression analysis was performed to validate the PR-signature and establish a pyroptosis-related score (PR-Score). We demonstrated that PR-Score had a powerful ability to distinguish active UC from inactive UC in multiple datasets. Besides, PR-Score was positively correlated with immune cell infiltration and inflammatory microenvironment in UC. Lower PR-Score was associated with a better response to anti-TNF therapy for patients with UC. Additionally, high-PR-Score was found to suppress CAC and improve the survival outcomes of patients with colorectal cancer. Finally, the levels of the PR-signature genes were validated both in vitro and in vivo. These findings can improve our understanding of PRGs in UC and provide new markers for predicting the occurrence of active UC or CAC and the treatment of UC.
Genetic Variability and Association of Yield and Yield-Related Traits under Moisture Stress in Common Bean Genotypes (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) at Melkassa and Miesso, Ethiopia
Authors: Tola Meseret , Tesso Bulti , Amsalu Berhanu
Published: January 2023

Twenty-five common bean genotypes were evaluated to assess the genetic variability, trait association, and determine the direct and indirect effects of traits on seed yield. The genotypes were grown in a lattice design at the research farm of the Melkassa Agricultural Research Center, Melkassa and Miesso, in the 2018 cropping season. Analysis of variance revealed that significant differences were observed among the genotypes at individual locations. The phenotypic coefficient of variation values were moderate for number of nodes, seeds per pod, plant height, and hundred seed weight at Melkassa. Moderate genotypic coefficient of variation values were obtained for pods per plant and seeds per pod. At Miesso, moderate phenotypic coefficients of variation values were recorded for number of nodes, hundred seed weight, and plant height. High heritability estimates were obtained for seed yield and hundred seed weight at Melkassa and for seed yield at Miesso, indicating that selection could be fairly easy and improvement is possible using these traits in a common bean breeding program. High genetic advances were obtained for seed yield and pods per plant at Melkassa, while moderate genetic advances as a percent of the mean were attained for plant height, hundred seed weight, and seeds per pod. Similarly, at Miesso, high and moderate genetic advances as percent of mean values were obtained for seed yield and hundred seed weight, respectively. Seed yield showed positive and significant phenotypic association with days to flowering, internode length, and pods per plant at Melkassa and had positive and significant phenotypic association with seeds per pod and hundred seed weight at Miesso. Hence, selection of those genotypes based on the traits with high genotypic coefficient of variability, heritability, genetic advance, and positive correlation coefficient and direct effect on seed yield can be recommended for further yield improvement at the respective location and at the national level in general.
Severe Neurological Involvement in an Adult with Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli-Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Treated with Eculizumab
Authors: Vanesse Pauline , Georgery Hélène , Duprez Thierry , Gerard Ludovic , Collienne Christine , Verroken Alexia , Crombé Florence , Morelle Johann , Hantson Philippe
Published: January 2023

A 68-year-old man with a medical history of hypertension was admitted to the emergency department for diffuse abdominal pain preceded by bloody diarrhea. Upon admission, neurological examination was normal, but he suddenly developed a left-sided hemiparesis. After a normal brain computed tomography, intravenous thrombolysis was administered for a suspicion of ischemic stroke. In the first laboratory investigations, hemoglobin was 16.9 g/dL, platelets 121 × 109/L (150–450), and serum creatinine 1.17 mg/dL. By the second hospital day, the platelet level dropped to 79 × 109/L, with haptoglobin at 0.12 g/L, 3% schistocytes, and normal ADAMTS13 activity (57%). Serum creatinine increased to 1.84 mg/dL with oliguria. The suspicion of thrombotic microangiopathy was supported by the identification of Shiga toxin genes stx1 and stx2 on a rectal swab and the isolation of an eaeA-negative Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O113:H4. The patient presented a generalized tonic-clonic seizure, and orotracheal intubation was required for decreased consciousness. Plasma exchange therapy was started, and eculizumab was given 6 days after symptoms onset. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on day 13 showed symmetric hyperintensities within basal ganglia that disappeared on a second MRI on day 37. At 2-month follow-up, the patient had made a complete neurological and renal recovery and eculizumab therapy was stopped.
Possible Efficacy of Vedolizumab, an Anti-α4β7 Integrin Antibody, in Palmoplantar Pustulosis
Authors: Terui Hitoshi , Moroi Rintaro , Masamune Atsushi , Aiba Setsuya , Yamasaki Kenshi
Published: January 2023

Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) is a chronic skin inflammatory disease in which blisters and pustules repeatedly develop on palms and soles. PPP is often refractory to topical therapy, oral therapy, phototherapy, and biologics that are usually applied for PPP. We report a patient with PPP improved by vedolizumab (anti-α4β7 integrin antibody) treatment for ulcerative colitis, suggesting the possibility of a new molecular target for PPP therapy.
Fetal Hydrothorax Treated with Pleuro-Amniotic Shunting: Fetal and Maternal Complications and Long-Term Outcomes
Authors: Lanna Mariano , Consonni Dario , Faiola Stefano , Casati Daniela , Laoreti Arianna , Zavatta Alice , Farolfi Andrea , Spaccini Luigina , Scelsa Barbara , Lista Gianluca , Cetin Irene
Published: January 2023

Introduction: We aimed to identify maternal and fetal complications and investigate postnatal and long-term outcomes of fetal hydrothorax (FHT) treated with pleuro-amniotic shunting (shunt). Methods: Single-center retrospective observational cohort of shunt cases performed from 2000 to 2021. Risk factors for maternal complications, fetal demise, neonatal death (NND), and postnatal outcomes were identified. Results: Out of 88 cases, 70 (79.5%) were complicated by hydrops, with an average gestational age (GA) at diagnosis of 27 weeks (range 16–34). In 16 cases, definitive etiology of FHT was identified; five cases of Noonan syndrome and three cases of monogenic disorders diagnosed by whole-exome sequencing (EPHB4, VEGFR3, RASA1). Shunt was performed at an average GA of 28 weeks (20–34), with a dislodgement in 10 cases (11.4%). Maternal: Complications occurred in three cases; survival rate was 76.1% (67/88). Follow-up data were available for 57/67 (85.1%) children. Incidence of severe neurodevelopmental impairment and pneumopathy (broncho dysplasia, persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborn, and asthma) was 5.3% and 8.8%, respectively. Post-treatment persistence of hydrops, FHT associated with genetic syndromes, and GA at birth were risk factors for fetal demise, NND, and postnatal complications. Conclusion: In truly isolated FHT, whenever indicated, pleuro-amniotic shunting is a safe procedure associated with good survival rate and long-term outcome.
Non-native freshwater fish from drainages of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil
Authors: Bertaco Vinicius de Araújo , Azevedo Marco Aurélio
Published: January 2023

The present study catalogues exotic and allochthonous fish species found in the three main freshwater river drainages of Rio Grande do Sul State using records of scientific collections and literature, and discusses the main impacts caused by their introduction in natural environments. Ten exotic species are found in the area, i.e., Clarias gariepinus, Coptodon rendalli, Ctenopharyngodon idella, Cyprinus carpio, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Hypophthalmichthys nobilis, Ictalurus punctatus, Micropterus salmoides, Oncorhynchus mykiss and Oreochromis niloticus, belonging to five orders, nine genera and seven families. These fishes are native from African, Asian, European and North American countries. The eight allochthonous species, i.e., Acestrorhynchus pantaneiro, Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus, Hoplias lacerdae, Megaleporinus macrocephalus, Piaractus mesopotamicus, Pachyurus bonariensis, Serrasalmus maculatus, and Trachelyopterus lucenai, belong to three orders, eight genera, and six families, are native from the Río La Plata basin, that includes the Río Uruguay, and have been all registered in the Laguna dos Patos. Two of these species are further recorded in the Rio Tramandaí system (A. pantaneiro and T. lucenai). The study also presentes a brief history of the first records of exotic species in the state and in the country, and their main vectors of introduction. According to the records of exotic species in scientific collections, the two exotic species with the highest number of records in the country are tilapias Coptodon rendalii (508 records) and Oreochromis niloticus (376 records), and most records occurred in the last two decades. The two carps Cyprinus carpio and Ctenopharyngodon idella are the only exotic species recorded in the three main drainage basins of the state. In addition, we warn about the importance of studies about the biology and negative impacts of exotic species over native species on the understanding of management in wild environments.
Breeding biology of the Maguari Stork Ciconia maguari (Aves, Ciconiidae) in the Pampa, and an outline in other Brazilian biomes
Authors: Tubelis Dárius Pukenis , Vieira Ivinna Kariny da Costa
Published: January 2023

The Maguari Stork (Ciconia maguari) is one of the three species of the family Ciconiidae that occur in South America. Despite abundant in landscapes dominated by wetlands and grasslands, detailed studies on its biology are scarce. This study is aimed at investigating aspects of the breeding of Maguari Storks in Brazil. Photographic records were searched in the WikiAves database. A total of 65 records, obtained by citizens along 13 years in 32 municipalities, showed evidences of breeding activities in Brazil. Most (86%) of these records were gathered in the Pampa biome, in southern Brazil. Nests were large platforms and contained 1-3 young. Nests built on the ground were in grasslands or reed patches. Those built on shrubs were at boundaries between lakes and grasslands, and were often in colonial nesting sites with egrets and herons. Incubation occurred between July and November, and nestlings were found between August and December. Juveniles able to fly were recorded between late October and February. Most records of breeding activities were obtained at sites located < 300 m above sea level. As the Maguari Stork is a conspicuous and charismatic species, its conservation could substantially benefit from the awareness of landowners to promote eco-tourism in their properties, attracting birdwatchers. For this, it should be ensured the integrity of grasslands, marshes, and lakes with microhabitats often used for nesting (woody plants and reed patches).
Quadrinhos e propaganda colonial na Itália
Authors: Crippa Giulia
Published: January 2023

Desenvolve uma análise sobre os quadrinhos italianos na época colonial e fascista. Na história dos quadrinhos italianos é, sem dúvida, necessário destacar a trajetória da propaganda voltada às crianças, publicada pelo semanário Corriere dei Piccoli, suplemento do jornal Corriere della Sera. Sem pretensão de escrever uma história completa, analisam-se algumas dessas histórias em quadrinhos (Bilbolbul, Romolino e Remoletto, Nel cuore dell’Africa) para entender como se manifesta, de um lado, o racismo em suas formas italianas e, do outro, como a propaganda colonial se articula. Para isso, analisando principalmente o material do Corriere dei Piccoli, cuja publicação começou em 1908, encerrando-se em 1960. A proposta cobre o período entre a fundação da revista e 1937, ano que antecede a promulgação das Leis Raciais na Itália. Para tanto, o artigo se desenvolve através de uma pesquisa bibliográfica para contar as origens do Corriere dei Piccoli, analisando as tiras como indícios da trajetória colonial nos quadrinhos
Análise sobre representação LGBTI+ em um quadrinho de super-heróis
Authors: Paiva Mário Jorge de
Published: January 2023

Visa analisar uma questão conjuntural, que obteve impacto midiático: o fato de o novo Superman, personagem da DC Comics, ter se revelado um membro da comunidade LGBTI+, ao beijar outro homem, na edição Superman: Son of Kal-El número 5. Para a análise, usaremos técnicas qualitativas e abordaremos tal questão pela luz da história dos quadrinhos americanos. Em termos de aporte teórico, utiliza-se material diverso, mesmo que o foco maior recaia sobre o trabalho de Dandara Cruz (2017) e Mário Paiva (2021). Na conclusão, destaca-se que este novo Superman aborda o elemento queer de modo frontal e assim se afasta das categorias de queerbaiting, queer coding ou uma representação conservadora da questão.
Micropolítica nas histórias em quadrinhos
Authors: Correa Edilaine
Published: January 2023

Encuentre su clítoris: observaciones sobre una revista de historieta de género en Argentina de Gabriela Borges (Marca de Fantasia, Paraíba, 2020, 148 p.) é um livro resultante de sua Dissertação de Mestrado em Antropologia Social e Política da Faculdade Latino-americana de Ciências Sociais, sob orientação do antropólogo Professor Doutor Carlos Masotta, defendida em 2014 em Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Impact of Postsurgical Opioid Prescription Reduction in General Surgery Patients
Authors: Baker Matt , Miranda Derick , Dixon Gage , Salsman Madeline , Oza Mangesh D.
Published: January 2023

Purpose: Recent studies suggest a large percentage of post-surgical opioid prescriptions are not utilized. This surplus of opioids provides supply for diversion or entry into the waste cycle. Recommendations are available for general surgery procedures which may optimize prescribed quantity while maintaining patient satisfaction which this work was initiated to investigate. Methods: This retrospective patient survey was conducted with Institutional Review Committee approval following adjustments to discharge opioid prescription quantities in an individual General Surgeon practice. Patients were contacted via phone to assess the impact of the reduced opioid quantities. Patients were categorized based on whether they utilized the entire prescription or opioid remained. Data collected include baseline demographics, inpatient stay characteristics, opioid use patterns, and satisfaction with overall pain control. The primary endpoint was to determine if patients were satisfied with their pain control based on response. Secondary endpoints included if patient characteristics could be identified that signal larger opioid quantity use, and whether unused opioids were disposed. Results: Thirty patients utilized all opioid prescribed, 60 had some quantity remaining. Baseline data appear similar aside from age with younger patients using more opioid. Patients were satisfied with their overall pain control in 93% of respondents. A total of 960 opioid tablets (11.4 ± 4.8 tabs/patient) were not prescribed, 8% required refill. Opioid disposal yet to occur in 85% of patients. Conclusion: An evidence-based reduction in opioid discharge prescriptions following general surgery procedures resulted in nearly 1000 opioid tablets not being dispensed without having a negative impact on patient satisfaction.
A study of the socio-economic context and impact of influenza pandemic of 1918–19 on Bihar
Authors: Jha Sudhanshu Kumar
Published: January 2023

The influenza pandemic of 1918–19 wreaked havoc all over the world, and Bihar, where more than a million people died, was no exception. The pandemic became more lethal in Bihar relative to what we know of other states in eastern India. Why did rural mortality surpass urban mortality? How did the pandemic worsen the socio-economic crisis in the years that followed? This study examines the socio-economic context of the pandemic in Bihar at a micro-level and investigates how the pandemic became unbearable for the people due to a severe economic crisis that resulted from the war and failed monsoons, among other factors. It seeks to explain the manner in which factors such as agricultural failure, inflation, high population density and poor health infrastructure resulted in higher rural mortality. It also shows how the loss of the younger generation and forced migration during the pandemic resulted in a lower rate of birth in the years following the pandemic, resulting in a loss of the labour force and worsening of the agrarian crisis.