bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pretreatment CT-based machine learning radiomics model to predict response in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated with lenvatinib plus PD-1 inhibitors and interventional therapy.
Authors: Shang Changzhen , Hua Yonglin , Chen Yajin , Zhuang Hongkai
Published: August 2024

94

Background: Lenvatinib plus PD-1 inhibitors and interventional (LPI) therapy has demonstrated promising treatment effects in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). However, biomarkers for predicting the response to LPI therapy remained to be further explored. The current study aimed to develop a radiomics model to noninvasively predict the efficacy of LPI therapy for uHCC. Methods: Clinical data of patients who were diagnosed with uHCC and accepted LPI therapy were collected in our institution. The clinical model was built by clinicopathological information. Nine machine learning classifiers were tested and the multilayer perceptron classifier with optimal performance was utilized as the radiomics model. The clinical-radiomics model was constructed by integrating clinical and radiomics scores. Results: 151 patients were enrolled in this study (2:1 randomization, 101 and 50 in the training and validation cohorts), of which three patients achieved complete response, 69 showed partial response, 46 showed stable disease and 33 showed progressive disease (evaluated by mRECIST criteria). The objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and conversion resection rate were 47.7, 78.1 and 23.2%, respectively. 14 features were selected from the initially extracted 1223 for radiomics model construction. The area under the curves of the radiomics model (0.900 for training and 0.893 for validation) were comparable to that of the clinical-radiomics model (0.912 for training and 0.892 for validation), and both were superior to the clinical model (0.669 for training and 0.585 for validation). Meanwhile, the radiomics model could categorize participants into high- and low-risk groups for progression-free survival and overall survival in the training and validation sets. Conclusions: The current study developed a novel and promising machine learning radiomics model, which could efficiently predict the efficacy of LPI therapy for uHCC, with comparable performance to clinical-radiomics model.
Efficacy of a mountain craft training in improving resilience and psychological well-being and reducing fatigue in childhood cancer survivors.
Authors: Chung Joyce Oi Kwan
Published: August 2024

TPS167

Background: This pilot study aims to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of mountain craft training in improving resilience and quality of life and reducing fatigue and depressive symptoms in childhood cancer survivors (CCS). Methods: A randomised controlled trial. A sample of 40 CCS, aged 10 to 16, will be invited to participate in this study. Resilience scale, Center for epidemiologic studies depression scale; Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory; and Fatigue Scale – Child will be used to assess resilience, depressive symptoms, health-related quality of life and levels of fatigue, respectively. Participants in the intervention group will receive two 30-45 mins lectures on resilience, physical exercise, knowledge and skills in mountain craft; and a 4-day hiking programme on weekends over a 3-month period. Participants in the control group will participate in 4 day of leisure activities on weekends over a 3-month period. The main outcome measure: The participants’ level of resilience at 6-month post intervention The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software (version 26.0) will be used to analyse the quantitative data. Pearson chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables, and the independent sample t-test for continuous variables. The Generalised Estimating Equation (GEE) will be employed to determine the changes between the intervention and placebo control groups, the within-group (time) effects, and the interaction effects.
Approach to the Pediatric Patient With Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis
Authors: Ward Leanne M , Bakhamis Sarah A , Koujok Khaldoun
Published: August 2024

Glucocorticoid (GC) therapy remains the cornerstone of treatment for many conditions of childhood and an important cause of skeletal and endocrine morbidity. Here, we discuss cases that bring to life the most important concepts in the management of pediatric GC-induced osteoporosis (pGIO). Given the wide variety of underlying conditions linked to pGIO, we focus on the fundamental clinical–biological principles that provide a blueprint for management in any clinical context. In so doing, we underscore the importance of longitudinal vertebral fracture phenotyping, how knowledge about the timing and risk of fractures influences monitoring, the role of bone mineral density in pGIO assessments, and the impact of growth-mediated “vertebral body reshaping” after spine fractures on the therapeutic approach. Overall, pGIO management is predicated upon early identification of fractures (including vertebral) in those at risk, and timely intervention when there is limited potential for spontaneous recovery. Even a single, low-trauma long bone or vertebral fracture can signal an osteoporotic event in an at-risk child. The most widely used treatments for pediatric osteoporosis, intravenous bisphosphonates, are currently recommended first-line for the treatment of pGIO. It is recognized, however, that even early identification of bone fragility, combined with timely introduction of the most potent bisphosphonate therapies, may not completely prevent osteoporosis progression in all contexts. Therefore, prevention of first-ever fractures in the highest-risk settings is on the horizon, where there is also a need to move beyond antiresorptives to the study of anabolic agents.
Associations of Body Mass Index Growth Rates and Body Composition With Cardiometabolic Risks in Chinese Preschool Children
Authors: Liao Zijun , Wang Jing , Chen Yiren , Li Weiqin , Xie Xianghui , Zhang Ting , Liu Gongshu , Chen Fangfang
Published: August 2024

Objective

To examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) growth rates, body composition, and cardiometabolic markers in preschool children.

Methods

Three-year-old children were recruited for this cohort study. BMI and body composition measurements were obtained at enrollment, with multiple BMI measurements spanning ages 1 month to 3 years extracted from medical records. Levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), remnant cholesterol (RC), uric acid (UA), and fasting plasma glucose were measured at 3 years. Data analyses employed piecewise linear mixed models and logistic regression models.

Results

Out of 3822 children recruited, 3015 were included in the analysis. The accelerated BMI z-score growth rate between 6 and 24 months was positively correlated with high TG and LDL-C levels, with sex, birthweight, and size for gestational age disparities. Obesity increased the risks of high TG level and the highest RC quartile in boys. Fat mass index and percentage of fat mass were linked with high UA level and dyslipidemia, particularly high TG and non-HDL-C levels, in boys. Fat-free mass index showed negative associations with high levels of TC and non-HDL-C in boys and high LDL-C level in girls (P < .05).

Conclusion

This study underscores the significant impact of BMI growth rates and body composition on cardiometabolic markers in 3-year-old children. The effects of BMI growth rates in specific periods varied by sex, birthweight, and size for gestational age, and boys exhibited a higher susceptibility to adverse outcomes.
Expanded Indications for Neoadjuvant Endocrine Therapy in Early-Stage Breast Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Khorfan Rhami , Vora Halley P. , Namm Jukes P. , Solomon Naveenraj L. , Lum Sharon S.
Published: August 2024

Background

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pandemic Breast Cancer Consortium (PBCC) published recommendations for triage of breast cancer patients. The recommendations included neoadjuvant treatment of early-stage breast cancer patients experiencing delays in surgery. This study evaluated national patterns of neoadjuvant treatment according to triage guidelines.

Methods

Patients treated with surgery (upfront or post-neoadjuvant) in 2018–2020 were collected from the National Cancer Database. The proportions of patients treated according to the PBCC triage guidelines were calculated in 2020 and compared with similar cohorts in 2018–2019. Patient and hospital factors were evaluated for association with treatment.

Results

Among cT1N0 ER+/PR+/HER2– patients, those treated in 2020 were more likely to receive neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) compared with those before that time (odds ratio [OR], 3.08; range, 2.93–3.24). Among the patients with cT2N0 or cT1N1 disease, NET was more common in 2020 (OR, 1.76; range, 1.65–1.88). Academic facility, black or Asian race, more comorbidities, and the New England/Middle Atlantic region were associated with NET use.

Conclusions

During the COVID-19 pandemic, expanded utilization of neoadjuvant therapy for surgical breast cancer patients was observed. Health care system limitations during the pandemic contributed to expanded adoption of neoadjuvant therapy for early breast cancer, contrary to usual practice. Long-term outcomes for patients treated according to PBCC recommendations should be closely monitored.
The genome sequence of the Clouded Brindle moth, Apamea epomidion (Haworth, 1809)
Authors: Boyes Douglas ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: August 2024

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Apamea epomidion (the Clouded Brindle moth; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). The genome sequence spans 624.60 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 32 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z and W sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.36 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 17,961 protein-coding genes.
Tworzenie Amerykanów. Zdrowie psychiczne jako składnik budowy społeczeństwa Stanów Zjednoczonych na przełomie XIX i XX wieku
Authors: Batóg Włodzimierz
Published: August 2024

Prezentowany w artykule przypadek żydowskiej imigrantki z Rumunii przybyłej do USA w 1916 r. ukazuje sposób traktowania osób z niepełnosprawnościami umysłowymi chcących pozostać w Stanach Zjednoczonych. Oceniana poprzez pryzmat przydatności społecznej na podstawie eugenicznie określonych kryteriów Fanny Berkovic miała być deportowana do kraju pochodzenia ze względu na możliwość obciążenia swym pobytem amerykańskiej służby zdrowia, niewielką przydatność społeczną i ekonomiczną oraz prawdopodobieństwo pozostawienia potomstwa w podobnym do jej stanie zdrowia. Artykuł pokazuje, dlaczego i jak poprzez kryteria medyczne definiowano użyteczność imigrantów, jakie zagrożenia w nich widziano i dlaczego ich deportacja rozumiana była jako wzmocnienie narażonej na osłabienie tkanki społecznej USA budującej Amerykę.
Autistic children must not be written off
Authors: Lasota Jolanta
Published: August 2024

Jolanta Lasota, chief executive of charity Ambitious about Autism
DIGITAL SAFEGUARDING
Authors: Hayes Derren
Published: August 2024

Children have never been more connected, with many able to support their education and friendships digitally, prompting policymakers and practitioners to develop new ways to make the online world safer
Early education: key questions
Authors: Owston Lee
Published: August 2024

Ofsted has published the first in a series of research reports on early years education. Lee Owston, deputy director for cross remit education, discusses the findings and what they mean in practice
Mental health detention
Authors: Morling Lauren , Bina Sihana
Published: August 2024

Lauren Morling and Sihana Bina of Coram International set out requirements when detaining children for mental health reasons and what changes are needed to respect young people's rights
It's finally time to act on what children say
Authors: McMillan Deborah
Published: August 2024

Deborah McMillan, former children's commissioner for Jersey
Children's care providers dispute ‘harmful’ profiteering rhetoric
Authors: Simpson Fiona
Published: August 2024

After critical reports, trust must be rebuilt between local authorities and private sector care companies to increase placement sufficiency for children and deliver better outcomes, cross-sector experts say
Case study: proXN
Authors: Wallace Libbie
Published: August 2024

Libbie Wallace discusses proXN's rapid impact and promising future in the competitive skin health landscape
Supplemental videos for "Diurnal Trends of Maize Canopy Cover Under Water Stress"
Authors: DeJonge Kendall , Cummins Liam , Gilkerson Tyler
Published: August 2024

 

These videos quantify and demonstrate the diurnal fluctuations of maize canopy cover under full and limited irrigation. These datasets were taken in 2016 at the USDA-ARS Limited Irrigation Research Farm, in conjunction with an overarching project that evaluated crop yield response with varying irrigation levels. These videos will be referenced in an upcoming journal article which features deeper experimental detail and analysis.

Images were collected by digital trailcams with 5.0 megapixel resolution, with images taken every 15 minutes. The cameras were mounted to a customized metal frame which cantilevered above the crop canopy, mounted nadir at height of 12 ft above the ground. Nighttime images were illuminated by LED lights mounted on the camera. Images were processed using a custom Python language script that delineates green pixels from each RGB image, and defines the ratio of green pixels to total pixels as the fractional canopy cover (fc, %). Due to overexposure from low sunlight angle at dawn and dusk, as well as occasional fog, some images were eliminated from analysis. 

The single day video shows images and associated graphs for July 8, 2016, for fully and deficit irrigated maize. The multiday video shows the same, but for six consecutive days from July 13 until July 19, which includes an irrigation event on July 15 (40 mm for full irrigation and 26 mm for limited irrigation) and an 18 mm rainfall event on the night of July 17.
Supplemental tables for "Feasibility of Predicting Subsurface Drainage Discharge with DRAINMOD Parameterized by Uncalibrated SURRGO Soil Properties and ROSETTA3"
Authors: Askar Manal , Ghane Ehsan , Youssef Mohamed A. , Shedekar Vinayak , King Kevin W. , Bhattarai Rabin
Published: August 2024

This supplemental material is linked to the submitted manuscript NRES-15735.
Supplemental figure for "AFC-ResNet18: A Novel Real-Time Image Semantic Segmentation Network for Orchard Scene Understanding"
Authors: Zhang jian , Yang Jingwei , An Ting , Wu Pengxin , Ma Chen , Zhang Cong , zhao ying , Wang Lihong , Li Chengsong
Published: August 2024

Figure S is the detailed architecture of AFC-ResNet18 which is shown in figure 2 of the journal article.
Spontaneous Osteonecrosis of Knee: A Complication of COVID-19 or An Iatrogenic Side Effect of Steroid Use?
Authors:   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India,, Ahmad Sohail , Harun Faisal ,   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India,, Anwer Adnan ,   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India,, Hari Kaustubh ,   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India,, Rana Tyson ,   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India,, Asif Areeb ,   Final Year Student, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Published: August 2024

Introduction: Spontaneous osteonecrosis of bones is a relatively well-studied entity, which has been linked to both COVID-19 as well as the “wonder drug” used to treat it: steroids. The disease is said to occur within 2 months of COVID-19 infection and the clinical picture is usually of a painful joint with a history of COVID-19 which may be associated with management using steroids. The report highlights the importance of clinical discretion while administering steroids as well as the increasing number of such cases of osteonecrosis of bones post the COVID-19 pandemic. Case Report: In this case report, we present the case of a young female who presented to us with complaints of spontaneous onset pain in her left knee, which the patient could trace back to when she got infected with the COVID-19 virus. Radiological investigations confirmed the clinical suspicion of osteonecrosis of knee joints secondary to steroid use for the management of COVID-19. The patient was managed conservatively with satisfactory results on follow-up. Conclusion: Painful knee joints are a common complaint in outpatient orthopedic clinics, but the presence of idiopathic knee pain, especially in young patients, with a prior history of COVID-19 should raise the suspicion of spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee. The results of the condition are excellent using conservative management. Keywords: Spontaneous osteonecrosis of knee, COVID-19, steroids, knee pain
Vertebral Artery Variation and Imposed Risks Associated with Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Procedures – A Case Study with Surgeons’ Perspectives
Authors:   Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dublin, Ohio, United States,, Tiell Jacob , Ryu Robert ,   Orthopedic ONE, Columbus, Ohio,, Todd Larry ,   OrthoNeuro, Dublin, Ohio, United States., Foster Jodie ,   Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dublin, Ohio, United States,, Gundler Caroline ,   Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dublin, Ohio, United States,
Published: August 2024

Introduction: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a common cervical procedure with more than 137,000 cases in the United States (U.S.) each year. Historically, ACDF has been a relatively safe procedure despite encountering vital anatomical structures that can risk serious complications. One particularly dangerous sequela of ACDF is the risk of lacerating the vertebral artery (VA). While VA injuries are rare (0.5% of cases), it is crucial for surgeons to prevent this potentially deadly complication with thorough knowledge of VA anatomy. The VA is commonly protected within the transverse foreman; however, anomalies can exist with the artery potentially being found more medial or proximal within the surgical site than expected. The purpose of this article is to report an anomaly found in a cadaveric specimen, where the VA courses within 2 mm of an ACDF plate. Case Report: A 66-year-old male with a past medical history of coronary artery disease passed away due to complications of a myocardial infarction. During cadaveric dissection, it was discovered that the donor had undergone a previous 3-level (C4-C7) ACDF procedure for an unknown reason. Under further examination, the left VA was observed to take an anomalous medially tracking course before eventually entering the transverse foramina of C5. Left anterior tubercles were absent at the level of C5 and C6 with prominent osteophytes found on the anterior tubercles/transverse foramina of the contralateral side. Conclusion: There are no studies published on the anatomy of VA variants and their implications on ACDF procedures. ACDF was found to have complication rates in 13.2% of cases. VA variants are observed in up to 20% of the U.S. population and VA injury in ACDF procedures has a rate near 0.5%. With anatomic variations leading to a higher risk of injury, surgeons are required to take further precautionary steps before operating including ordering computed tomography angiography or magnetic resonance angiography films. Understanding the detailed anatomy of the VA and its variants is critical. Using the perspectives of orthopedic spine surgeons, this study supplements the literature on potential VA anomalies encountered in ACDF procedures. Keywords: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, vertebral artery, anomaly, variation, spine.
A Rare Case of Periprosthetic Fracture with Fracture of Femoral Stem around a Bipolar Hemiarthroplasty
Authors:   Department of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India., Sawarbandhe Sarang , Sangtani Abhilash P ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India., Chaudhary Sumedh ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India., Agrawal Pravin ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India., Dhole Kiran ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India., Jogani Abhinav ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.
Published: August 2024

Introduction: The incidence of periprosthetic fractures (PPF) around a total hip arthroplasty continues to increase with the rise in number of arthroplasties performed. However, fracture of the femoral stem has become very rare since the development of modern prosthetic designs. We present a rare case of an 80-year-old man who sustained a periprosthetic femur fracture with a fracture of the femoral stem component around a bipolar hemiarthroplasty. Case Report: This man sustained a Vancouver type B1 periprosthetic femur fracture with a fracture of the femoral stem component around a fully cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty done 10 years back. This patient was treated with removal of the broken femoral stem and osteosynthesis with a plate and cerclage wire plus revision to a longer stem prosthesis. Conclusion: PPF with a fracture of the femoral stem around a hemiarthroplasty is a rare and uncommon occurrence. A combination of osteosynthesis with revision arthroplasty with a longer stem proved to be a suitable treatment with satisfactory results. However, regular follow-ups post-arthroplasties are advocated to identify complications at an earlier stage. Keywords: Periprosthetic fracture, broken femoral stem, revision hemiarthroplasty.
Avascular Necrosis of Proximal Tibia Associated with Pathological Fracture – A Rare Entity – A Case Report
Authors:   Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sri Ramachandra medical college and research institute, Porur, Chennai- 600116, India., Rajesh Kishore Ragavendra , Harshavardhan J K Giriraj ,   Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sri Ramachandra medical college and research institute, Porur, Chennai- 600116, India., Suriyakumar Sundar ,   Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sri Ramachandra medical college and research institute, Porur, Chennai- 600116, India., Balasubramanian Subalakshmi ,   Department of Pathology, Sri Ramachandra medical college and research institute, Porur, Chennai- 600116, India., Rajeswaran R ,   Department of Radiology, Sri Ramachandra medical college and research institute, Porur, Chennai- 600116, India.
Published: August 2024

Introduction: Epiphyseal infarcts are likely to be treated early because most are symptomatic. However, metaphyseal and diaphyseal infarcts are silent and are diagnosed incidentally. Sarcomas developing in the necrotic bone are extremely rare, but they have been reported in literature. Proximal third tibial shaft pathological fracture due to avascular necrosis (AVN) is an extremely rare occurrence. Case Report: A 56-year-old lady presented with complaints of pain and inability to weight bear over the right leg following an alleged history of trivial trauma while doing household activities. The radiograph showed a transverse fracture at the junction of the proximal third and middle third of the shaft of the tibia. In view of the suspicion of pathological fracture, magnetic resonance imaging of the right leg was done which showed features of AVN. A core biopsy of the lesion was done to rule out tumors considering the risk of malignant transformation. Fixation of fracture was done with intramedullary interlocking nailing of the tibia. The 6-month post-operative follow-up clinical, pathological, and radiological outcome showed complete healing of the fracture. The stabilization of fracture alone without augmentation led to fracture healing. Conclusion: AVN need not always occur in precarious areas such as the head of the femur, proximal radius, and distal fibula. Rarely, AVN of diaphyseal bone can lead to pathological fracture as illustrated in this case report. Fractures can heal following fixation, but the patient has to be followed up for the rare possibility of malignant transformation. Keywords: Avascular necrosis, proximal tibia avascular necrosis, pathological fracture, core-needle biopsy, imaging.
‘Workers using foodbanks’: the embedding of food insecurity at the nexus of welfare and employment laws
Authors: Hayes L.J.B. , Maynard Naomi
Published: August 2024

In this first UK study of ‘Workers using foodbanks’, 65 per cent of research participants, including 76 per cent of those of working age, identified poor-quality employment as the root cause of their food insecurity. This primary problem of the deficient quality of jobs was characterised by insecure work, low wages, and excessive mental stress. Data revealed an environment in which workers are required to claim benefits because available employment cannot sustain their needs. A contemporary generation of ‘in-and-out-of-work[ers]’ are food insecure because of a secondary problem of inadequate welfare support. Post-pandemic welfare laws are interacting with ineffective employment rights protection to scaffold a low-wage labour market in which jobs are stripped of qualities that meet workers’ basic needs. There is an urgent need to respond to the UKs record high incidence of food insecurity by improving the quality of available employment so that all jobs deliver adequate income, security of working arrangements, and support for good mental and physical health. ‘Workers using foodbanks’ is an aphorism that captures a contemporary reality in which the risk of food insecurity is embedded in contractual arrangements for work that are forged at the nexus of welfare and employment laws.
A Bridge at Powell and Clay: Designing Chinese American Community in San Francisco’s Chinatown YWCA
Authors: Brumberg-Kraus Zoya
Published: August 2024

abstract: Recently, scholars of Asian American studies and architecture have been revisiting Chinatown architectural design as a unique form. Much of that research focuses on the pagoda-adorned Chinatown architecture of commercial buildings like restaurants, banks, and theaters to appeal to tourists. This article explores the 1932 Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) Clay Street Center and Residence in San Francisco’s Chinatown as an example of vernacular Chinatown architecture that breaks from the standard image of the early twentieth-century Oriental style. I argue that the YWCA’s function as a nonprofit community space allowed the women who designed it to portray a creative vision of Chinese American identity that shares some visual continuity with, but is uniquely distinct from, most iconic Chinatown architecture. I also argue that, in a moment when Chinatown was still very much segregated from the rest of San Francisco, the Chinese YWCA board working with architect Julia Morgan used architecture as a medium of pleasure and aspirational visual integration for working-class immigrant women.
Bigger than Penn Central: The Financial Crisis of 1970 and the Origins of the Federal Reserve's Systemic Guarantee
Authors: Barker Tim , Hughes Chris
Published: August 2024

Abstract: The Federal Reserve's reaction to the Penn Central bankruptcy in 1970 marked a pivotal moment in American financial governance history. This paper delves into the Fed's extraordinary measures to avert a widespread financial crisis following the resulting collapse of the commercial paper market. We outline the crisis's progression, highlighting Penn Central's increasing troubles and the subsequent emergency actions by the Fed, led by chair Arthur Burns in mid-1970. A key focus of our analysis is the financial environment of the 1960s, marked by the growth of complex, intertwined, and increasingly global short-term credit systems, which introduced a new type of systemic risk. We argue that the Penn Central crisis represented the Federal Reserve's initial major intervention in response to this emerging systemic risk, expanding its traditional role as a lender of last resort to individual banks to a broader responsibility as a stabilizer of the entire financial system. The Fed pursued this new systemic guarantee by using moral suasion, encouraging banks to increase lending, and providing structural support to reinforce financial system stability, thereby establishing a new precedent in central banking history. Our study also explores the consequences of the crisis. Despite the successful management of the Penn Central crisis, this paper raises crucial questions about the potential moral hazard and the extensive impact of the Federal Reserve's landmark actions. We contend that reassessing the 1970 Penn Central crisis is essential for a better comprehension of the structure of American financial market governance and the Fed's evolving role in handling subsequent crises, including the Great Financial Crisis of 2008.
Two Stories and Ten Theses on Teaching the Science/Knowledge Divide in Global History
Authors: Tilley Helen
Published: August 2024

Abstract: This essay uses the parable of "The Blind Men and the Elephant" alongside two vignettes relating to the British and American Empires to explore a series of propositions about the world in terms of teaching the science/knowledge divide in global history. It is intended to prompt debate about some of the blind spots that endure in the history of science as well as various challenges around method for the history of knowledge. At the heart of the essay are concerns about planetary health and human values. It parses the world in ten theses relating to spaces and geographies, languages and translations, ontologies and unknowns, ruptures and revolutions, experiments and random controls, borders and ancestry, personhood and legal fictions, governance and ignorance, intellectual property and piracy, and measures and metrics. Because scholars must train deeply and teach broadly, it invites everyone to think about how to trespass judiciously and study responsibly. It features ideas about reality, truth, conflict, and consciousness that can easily be overshadowed but are worth taking seriously for anyone who wants a more just world.
Material Afterlives: The Quilted Poetics of Daughters of the Dust (1991) and Lemonade (2016)
Authors: Grieve Alexandra
Published: August 2024

ABSTRACT: This article examines Daughters of the Dust (Julie Dash, 1991) and the visual album Lemonade (Beyoncé Knowles, 2016), which cites Julie Dash’s portrayal of a community of former slaves in its depiction of the histories of plantation labor. In a poetics I am calling quilted , I argue that these works use textiles to picture the means by which enslaved women practiced freedom despite the designation of their bodies as mere “material,” to be bought and consumed. Additionally, these works are indicative of how the textural matter of the screen has absorbed material residues from the afterlives of slavery.
An Unmediated View of China? dGenerate Films and Transnational Distribution Companies as Sites of Cultural Translation
Authors: Wang Jing
Published: August 2024

ABSTRACT: This research examines transnational film distribution companies’ roles in introducing Chinese independent documentary films into global marketplaces. Using the American-based dGenerate Films as a case study, I analyze how these companies function as cultural translators, bridging national cinema cultures and international audiences. This cultural translating is realized through dGenerate’s distribution practices, including its mediating roles, acquisition criteria, curatorial strategies, and market targeting. Along with complicating factors that underlie these efforts, such practices contribute substantially to the ways that a cinema culture from one country is presented, interpreted, and received by viewers in other countries and cultures.
The Origin and Dispersal of Austroasiatic Languages from the Perspectives of Linguistics, Archeology, and Genetics
Authors: Yu Jian , Deng Xiaohua , Fan Zhiquan , Yang Wenjiao , Ji Zhi , Wang Chuan-Chao
Published: August 2024

abstract: The Austroasiatic (AA) languages comprise a large language family in mainland Southeast Asia (MSEA) and South Asia. Theoretical, methodological, and material constraints have limited research on the origin and dispersal of AA-speaking populations within historical-comparative linguistics. With the deepening of archaeological and genetic studies, interdisciplinary collaboration has become key to solving this problem. We review the latest hypotheses in linguistics, archaeology, and molecular anthropology and propose insights on the origin and dispersal of AA languages. The ancestors of the AA-speaking populations were suggested to be rice farmers living in the Neolithic Age in southern China. Between 3,000 and 4,500 BP, some of these ancestors who spoke Proto-AA migrated from southern China to northern Vietnam, together with shouldered stone tools and domesticated rice. They mixed with local hunter-gatherers and expanded to the south of MSEA, giving rise to the Mon-Khmer, Aslian, and Nicobarese populations. They also spread to the northeast of India to form the Munda-speaking populations. Another group arrived near Dian Lake in Yunnan about 2,500 BP, where they created the Bronze Drum culture with the Proto-Tai-Kadai (TK)–speaking populations and later spread eastward to northern Vietnam via Guangxi. Finally, the Proto-AA–speaking people who remained in southern China mixed with the Proto-TK–speaking groups from Fujian and Guangdong, leading to a language shift, which we hypothesize was one of the main reasons for the “disappearance” of AA in southern China.
Dimensional Changes in the Skulls of Ancient Children with Age in Xinjiang, China
Authors: Li Haijun , Zhou Jing , Zhao Yujie , Chen Feng , Zhang Hailong , Fu Chang , Wang Bo , Xiao Xiaoyong
Published: August 2024

abstract: Many scholars have conducted research on the growth patterns of children’s skulls in terms of skull size, head circumference, cranial cavity volume, and so forth. This study compared and analyzed 20 skull measurement indexes of different ages from skulls of 38 children (aged 2–15 years) and 87 adult females (20–40 years) at the Zaghunluq cemetery in Xinjiang, China, to determine how the size of ancient children’s skulls changed with age. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant differences between the six age groups (2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–11, 12–15 years, and adults [20–40 years]) in terms of metrical cranial traits, cranial area, and cranial cavity volume. Results indicate that the skull kept growing from ages 3–5, 12–15, and adults, implying that the skull sizes of ancient children in Xinjiang continued to increase with age. In addition, the study revealed that children aged 12–15 had skulls that were significantly smaller than those of adults. This finding showed that the skulls of ancient children in Xinjiang were not fully developed at the age of 15. Notably, differences existed between age groups in both developmental traits of the cranium and the rates at which the skull changed.
Enhanced sensing and broadened absorption with higher-order scattering zeros
Authors: Feng Yachuan , Wang Yimin , Li Zhenhua , Li Tao
Published: August 2024

Non-Hermitian systems offer a compelling platform for enhancing sensitivity in measurement applications. Here, we propose a multimode non-Hermitian optical configuration comprising three coupled whispering-gallery-mode microcavities and a waveguide. The transmission spectrum of the configuration reveals valleys influenced by zeros and poles of polynomial ratios and can exhibit higher-order scattering zeros. We then propose a sensing protocol based on higher-order scattering zeros, which shows enhanced sensitivity but operates without the eigenbasis collapse, exhibiting a cubic root response to small perturbations. Furthermore, we show that the transmission spectrum can feature a sextic lineshape at purely real zeros and thus holds promise for the development of high-performance optical absorbers.
Research on damage characteristics of UAV flight control system irradiated by continuous laser
Authors: Zheng Changbin , Liu Le , Xu Chengyang , cai Sheng , Wang Jiamin , Huang Dandan , YANG KUN , Zeng Wenbin , Pei Han , Li Jinfeng , Jiao Yuping , Guo Jin
Published: August 2024

In order to improve the laser anti-UAV technology and UAV laser protection capabilities, research on continuous laser damage to UAV flight control system has been carried out. Combining waveform and function monitoring, the performance of the flight control system under laser irradiation is observed in real time, and the temperature and ablation process are recorded, which are used to analyze its damage characteristics and thresholds. Experimental results show that the flight control system has two damage modes: temporary failure and permanent damage. Temporary failure has a temperature threshold, which is about 177.7°C. All temporarily failed flight control system functions can be restored after cooling and manual restart, but permanent damaged flight control systems cannot be manually restarted. The experiment shows that, within 10 s, the power density required for temporary failure and permanent damage of the flight control system was 28.4 W/cm^2 and 42.6 W/cm^2 respectively. The power density required for permanent damage is 82.0 W/cm^2 within 16 s if the flight control system is encapsulated with aluminum alloy. Based on the circuit fault diagnosis of the flight control system samples that has been permanently damaged, the laser's thermal effects damaged the diodes and linear regulators, ultimately rendering the flight control system unable to be manually restarted.
Caught in a trap: DNA contamination in tsetse xenomonitoring can lead to over-estimates of Trypanosoma brucei infection
Authors: Saldanha Isabel , Lea Rachel , Manangwa Oliver , Garrod Gala , Haines Lee R. , Acosta-Serrano Álvaro , Auty Harriet , Betson Martha , Lord Jennifer S. , Morrison Liam J. , Mramba Furaha , Torr Stephen J. , Cunningham Lucas J.
Published: August 2024

Background

Tsetse flies (Glossina sp.) are vectors of Trypanosoma brucei subspecies that cause human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). Capturing and screening tsetse is critical for HAT surveillance. Classically, tsetse have been microscopically analysed to identify trypanosomes, but this is increasingly replaced with molecular xenomonitoring. Nonetheless, sensitive T. brucei-detection assays, such as TBR-PCR, are vulnerable to DNA cross-contamination. This may occur at capture, when often multiple live tsetse are retained temporarily in the cage of a trap. This study set out to determine whether infected tsetse can contaminate naïve tsetse with T. brucei DNA via faeces when co-housed.

Methodology/Principle findings

Insectary-reared teneral G. morsitans morsitans were fed an infectious T. b. brucei-spiked bloodmeal. At 19 days post-infection, infected and naïve tsetse were caged together in the following ratios: (T1) 9:3, (T2) 6:6 (T3) 1:11 and a control (C0) 0:12 in triplicate. Following 24-hour incubation, DNA was extracted from each fly and screened for parasite DNA presence using PCR and qPCR. All insectary-reared infected flies were positive for T. brucei DNA using TBR-qPCR. However, naïve tsetse also tested positive. Even at a ratio of 1 infected to 11 naïve flies, 91% of naïve tsetse gave positive TBR-qPCR results. Furthermore, the quantity of T. brucei DNA detected in naïve tsetse was significantly correlated with cage infection ratio. With evidence of cross-contamination, field-caught tsetse from Tanzania were then assessed using the same screening protocol. End-point TBR-PCR predicted a sample population prevalence of 24.8%. Using qPCR and Cq cut-offs optimised on insectary-reared flies, we estimated that prevalence was 0.5% (95% confidence interval [0.36, 0.73]).

Conclusions/Significance

Our results show that infected tsetse can contaminate naïve flies with T. brucei DNA when co-caged, and that the level of contamination can be extensive. Whilst simple PCR may overestimate infection prevalence, quantitative PCR offers a means of eliminating false positives.
The impact of digital financial development on corporate leverage ratio: The case of a-share listed non-financial enterprises in China’s Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges
Authors: Junqi Liu , Abbas Sher , Rongbing Liu , Ali Najabat
Published: August 2024

This study investigates the impact of digital finance on corporate leverage ratios. The study employed a large sample of China’s Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share non-financial listed enterprises from 2011–2020. The study’s results depict that the development of digital finance can significantly reduce the leverage ratio of enterprises. We empirically identified that digital finance affects the difference in the term structure of the corporate leverage ratio. It was found that the development of digital finance has a significant negative impact on enterprises’ short-term and long-term leverage ratios. Moreover, our heterogeneity analysis shows that the negative effect of digital financial development on corporate leverage ratios is different in state-owned and non-state-owned enterprises, large-scale and small-scale enterprises, and high-leverage and low-leverage enterprises. Mechanism analysis shows that the development of digital finance can reduce corporate leverage by lowering financing costs, alleviating financing constraints, and weakening non-systemic risks. Therefore, policymakers should focus on developing and adopting digital finance by creating a supportive regulatory environment, improving access to digital financial services, and encouraging innovation in the digital finance sector. Finally, our results remain robust after addressing endogeneity issues and conducting robustness checks.
Protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial of the ‘Outdoor’ mobility intervention for older adults after hip fracture
Authors: Sheehan Katie J. , Bastas Denise , Guerra Stefanny , Creanor Siobhan , Hulme Claire , Lamb Sallie , Martin Finbarr C. , Sackley Catherine , Smith Toby , Bell Philip , Hillsdon Melvyn , Pope Sarah , Cook Heather , Godfrey Emma
Published: August 2024

Background

A high proportion of patients do not regain outdoor mobility after hip fracture. Rehabilitation explicitly targeting outdoor mobility is needed to enable these older adults to recover activities which they value most. The overarching aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of a randomised controlled trial which aims to assess the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of an intervention designed to enable recovery of outdoor mobility among older adults after hip fracture (the OUTDOOR intervention).

Methods

This is a protocol for a multi-centre pragmatic parallel group (allocation ratio 1:1) randomised controlled assessor-blinded feasibility trial. Adults aged 60 years or more, admitted to hospital from- and planned discharge to- home, with self-reported outdoor mobility in the three-months pre-fracture, surgically treated for hip fracture, and who are able to consent and participate, are eligible. Individuals who require two or more people to support mobility on discharge will be excluded. Screening and consent (or consent to contact) will take place in hospital. Baseline assessment and randomisation will follow discharge from hospital. Participants will then receive usual care (delivered by physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or therapy assistants), or usual care plus the OUTDOOR intervention. The OUTDOOR intervention includes a goal-orientated outdoor mobility programme (supported by up to six in-person visits), therapist-led motivational dialogue (supported by up to four telephone calls), supported by a past-patient led video where recovery experiences are shared, and support to transition to independent ongoing recovery. Therapists delivering the OUTDOOR intervention (distinct from those supporting usual care) will receive training in motivational interviewing and behaviour change techniques. Baseline demographics will be collected. Patient reported outcome measures including health related quality of life, activities of daily living, pain, community mobility, falls related self-efficacy, resource use, readmissions, and mortality will be collected at baseline, 6-weeks, 12-weeks, and 6-months (for those enrolled early in the trial) post-randomisation. Exercise adherence (6- and 12- weeks) and intervention acceptability (12-weeks) will be collected. A subset of 20 participants will also support accelerometery data collection for 10 days at each time point.

Dissemination

The trial findings will be disseminated to patients and the public, health professionals and researchers through publications, presentations and social media channels.

Trial registration

The trial has been registered at ISRCTN16147125.

Protocol version

3.0.
Rural suicide in Newfoundland and Labrador: A qualitative exploration of health care providers’ perspectives
Authors: Pritchard Tyler R. , Buckle Jennifer L. , Thomassin Kristel , Lewis Stephen P.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Residents of rural regions may have higher and unique suicide risks. Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) is a Canadian province replete with rural regions. Despite an abundance of rural suicide research, heterogeneity in rural regions may preclude amalgamating findings to inform prevention efforts. Thus, exploring the unique needs of NL is needed. Importantly, health care providers (HCP) may afford unique perspectives on the suicide-related needs or concerns of rural life. We asked HCPs of residents of rural NL their perceived suicide risk factors, concerns, and needs for rural NL.

Method

Twelve HCPs of rural residents of NL completed virtual semi-structured interviews. Interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis [13,14].

Results

HCPs noted individual, psychological, social, and practical factors linked to rural-suicide risk and subsequent needs. Findings highlight the unique challenges of residing and providing health care in rural NL and inform prevention and intervention efforts.