bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feasibility of a 12-Month Exercise Intervention in Postsurgical Colorectal Cancer Patients
Authors: Heitkamp Melanie , Spanier Bianca , von Korn Pia , Knapp Sebastian , Groß Claudia , Haller Bernhard , Halle Martin
Published: January 2023

Background. Extensive physical activity (PA; ≥18 MET

∗

h/week, MET metabolic equivalent of tasks hours) postcancer diagnosis has shown favorable effects on colorectal cancer disease-free survival. However, the feasibility of introducing this high volume of PA in this patient group is unclear. Therefore, the aim of the F-PROTECT study was to evaluate the feasibility of extensive and prolonged PA (≥18 MET

∗

h/week over 12 months) in colorectal cancer patients with the primary objectives to (1) recruit 50 patients within 12 months and (2) reach an attendance rate of ≥70%. Methods. Single-armed, bicentric, prospective intervention study in colorectal cancer patients (≤80 years; UICC II/III Union for International Cancer Control) after histopathological confirmed R0-resection who were consecutively recruited from visceral surgery units of 10 clinics in Germany. Recruitment rates were calculated using screening logs. Intervention was a 12-month endurance-focused exercise program with supervised and home-based training. Attendance rates defined as ≥70% participation in training sessions were calculated by training diaries. Results. Out of 521 patients who were screened for eligibility, 50 (23 female; 59 ± 10 years, UICC 44% II, 56% III; adjuvant chemotherapy 60%) were recruited within 15 months. Mean duration between surgery and first training was 103 ± 57 days. Training attendance rate was 64% (including 9 dropouts). Six (12%) participants reached ≥18 MET

∗

h/week in ≥70% of training sessions between 4–12 months. 28 adverse events (n = 9 serious) occurred, however, were not assessed as training related. Conclusions. The present intervention involving a combination of supervised and home-based exercise training in postsurgical colorectal cancer patients was not feasible. Strategies specifically designed for this patient group must be developed and investigated to motivate long-term PA. Registration. The study was prospectively registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01991847).
Brief Communication: Histological Assessment of Nonhuman Primate Brown Adipose Tissue Highlights the Importance of Sympathetic Innervation
Authors: Williams Abigail G. , Long Masha , Kavanagh Kylie
Published: January 2023

Objective. The objective of this study was to functionally analyze the correlation of key histological features in brown adipose tissue (BAT) with clinical metabolic traits in nonhuman primates. Methods. Axillary adipose tissue biopsies were collected from a metabolically diverse nonhuman primate cohort with clinical metabolism-related data. Expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31), cytochrome c oxidase subunit 4 (COX IV), beta-3 adrenergic receptor (β3-AR), and adipose cell size were quantified by immunohistochemical analysis. Computed tomography scans were performed to assess body composition. Results. Tyrosine hydroxylase was negatively correlated with whole body fat mass as a percentage of body weight (p = 0.004) and was positively correlated with the density of UCP1 (p = 0.02), COX IV (p = 0.006), CD31 (p = 0.007), and cell density (p = 0.02) of the BAT samples. Beta-3 adrenergic receptor abundance had a weak positive correlation with COX IV (p = 0.04) in BAT but did not significantly correlate to UCP1 or TH expression in BAT. Conclusions. Our findings highlight that there is a disparity in innervation provided to BAT based on body composition, as seen with the negative association between TH, a marker for innervation, and adiposity. These findings also support the importance of innervation in the functionality of BAT, as TH abundance not only supports leaner body composition but is also positively correlated with known structural elements in BAT (UCP1, COX IV, CD31, and cell density). Based on our observations, β3-AR abundance does not strongly drive these structural elements or TH, all of which are known to be important in the function of brown adipose tissue. In effect, while the role of other receptors, such as β2-AR, should be reviewed in BAT function, these results support the development of safe sympathetic nervous system stimulants to activate brown adipose tissue for obesity treatment.
Data-Driven Multiobjective Optimization for Massive MIMO and Hyperdensification Empowered 5G Planning under Realistic Network Environment
Authors: Zeleke Seifu G. , Haile Beneyam B. , Bekele Ephrem T. , Mutafungwa Edward , Hämäläinen Jyri
Published: January 2023

To accommodate the increasing data rate demand, the fifth-generation (5G) cellular network came up with new technological advancements including massive multiple-input multiple-output (massive MIMO) and hyperdensification which can significantly boost network capacity. On the other hand, the introduction of these technologies along with their heterogeneity brings a challenge in terms of network operators’ need to identify a cost-effective optimal deployment approach which is hardly entertained by the legacy planning and optimization method. Hence, to leverage the core benefits of those technologies in a cost-effective manner, we need a holistic planning framework that takes into account their coverage, capacity and cost impact, and realistic spatiotemporal distribution of users. In this work, we present a data-driven multiobjective optimization planning framework that can be used not only for small cells but also for massive MIMO. The planning framework is illustrated using a 5G planning case study for a service area in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, considering its realistic network data that is collected from the network management system and different potential identified deployment options. Ray tracing is employed to compute propagation, and users and demands are distributed based on the realistic network data. A two-stage optimization and a joint optimization are applied to identify points that provide optimal network performance. Simulation results reveal that the planning method provides Pareto points for different deployment options that can significantly improve the performance of the existing network while reducing the total network cost.
Fast and Sensitive Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleic Acid Using a Rapid Detection System Free of RNA Extraction
Authors: Ma Liang , Fan Yanyan , Kong Xiaomu , Jiang Yongwei , Huang Hong , Zhao Meimei , Liu Yi , Gao Peng , Cui Yong , Cao Yongtong
Published: January 2023

Objectives. To establish and evaluate the analytical and clinical performance of the Flash20 SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid rapid detection system free of RNA extraction. Methods. The limit of detection (LoD) was determined using a negative nasopharyngeal swab matrix spiked with different concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 virus; a total of 734,337 reference sequences of viral genomes from GenBank were used for the in-silico analysis to assess the inclusivity of the assay. The specificity of the system was evaluated by testing 27 medically relevant organisms. A total of 115 clinical specimens were collected and tested on the Flash20 SARS-CoV-2 detection system and with an FDA-approved comparator test to assess the clinical performance of the system. Results. The LoD of the Flash20 SARS-CoV-2 detection system is 250 copies/mL with a positive rate ≥90% (n = 20); alignments results showed that over 99% identity of the primer and probe of the Flash20 SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid rapid detection system to the available SARS-CoV-2 sequences; the omicron samples tested 100% positive. None of the 27 organisms showed cross-reactivity with the Flash20 SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid rapid detection system. Among all the 215 clinical samples, the Flash20 SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid rapid detection system exhibits a high sensitivity of 99.24% (131/132) and 100% (83/83) specificity. Conclusion. The nucleic acid rapid detection system provides sensitive and accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2 free of RNA extraction. The high sensitivity and short time to results of approximately 35 minutes may impact earlier infection control and disease management.
A Formulated Approximated Solution for a Bus Transit System with Peak and Normal Periods
Authors: Wang Yu-Lan , Chen Ming-Li , Lin Scott Shu-Cheng
Published: January 2023

For a bus transit system with peak and normal periods, we derived an approximated formulated solution, to provide a patchwork for a published paper. Based on the same numerical example of the original model, our approximated solution attains the minimum cost within 0.3% to indicate that our approximated formulated solution is a good supplementary tool to estimate the optimal solution.
Epigenetic–Metabolic Interplay in the DNA Damage Response and Therapeutic Resistance of Breast Cancer
Authors: Das Chandrima , Adhikari Swagata , Bhattacharya Apoorva , Chakraborty Sanjukta , Mondal Payel , Yadav Shalini S. , Adhikary Santanu , Hunt Clayton R. , Yadav Kamlesh K. , Pandita Shruti , Roy Siddhartha , Tainer John A. , Ahmed Zamal , Pandita Tej K.
Published: January 2023

Therapy resistance is imposing a daunting challenge on effective clinical management of breast cancer. Although the development of resistance to drugs is multifaceted, reprogramming of energy metabolism pathways is emerging as a central but heterogenous regulator of this therapeutic challenge. Metabolic heterogeneity in cancer cells is intricately associated with alterations of different signaling networks and activation of DNA damage response pathways. Here we consider how the dynamic metabolic milieu of cancer cells regulates their DNA damage repair ability to ultimately contribute to development of therapy resistance. Diverse epigenetic regulators are crucial in remodeling the metabolic landscape of cancer. This epigenetic–metabolic interplay profoundly affects genomic stability of the cancer cells as well as their resistance to genotoxic therapies. These observations identify defining mechanisms of cancer epigenetics–metabolism–DNA repair axis that can be critical for devising novel, targeted therapeutic approaches that could sensitize cancer cells to conventional treatment strategies.
National Cancer Institute Combination Therapy Platform Trial with Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice (ComboMATCH)
Authors: Meric-Bernstam Funda , Ford James M. , O'Dwyer Peter J. , Shapiro Geoffrey I. , McShane Lisa M. , Freidlin Boris , O'Cearbhaill Roisin E. , George Suzanne , Glade-Bender Julia , Lyman Gary H. , Tricoli James V. , Patton David , Hamilton Stanley R. , Gray Robert J. , Hawkins Douglas S. , Ramineni Bhanumati , Flaherty Keith T. , Grivas Petros , Yap Timothy A. , Berlin Jordan , Doroshow James H. , Harris Lyndsay N. , Moscow Jeffrey A.
Published: January 2023

Over the past decade, multiple trials, including the precision medicine trial National Cancer Institute-Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice (NCI-MATCH, EAY131, NCT02465060) have sought to determine if treating cancer based on specific genomic alterations is effective, irrespective of the cancer histology. Although many therapies are now approved for the treatment of cancers harboring specific genomic alterations, most patients do not respond to therapies targeting a single alteration. Further, when antitumor responses do occur, they are often not durable due to the development of drug resistance. Therefore, there is a great need to identify rational combination therapies that may be more effective. To address this need, the NCI and National Clinical Trials Network have developed NCI-ComboMATCH, the successor to NCI-MATCH. Like the original trial, NCI-ComboMATCH is a signal-seeking study. The goal of ComboMATCH is to overcome drug resistance to single-agent therapy and/or utilize novel synergies to increase efficacy by developing genomically-directed combination therapies, supported by strong preclinical in vivo evidence. Although NCI-MATCH was mainly comprised of multiple single-arm studies, NCI-ComboMATCH tests combination therapy, evaluating both combination of targeted agents as well as combinations of targeted therapy with chemotherapy. Although NCI-MATCH was histology agnostic with selected tumor exclusions, ComboMATCH has histology-specific and histology-agnostic arms. Although NCI-MATCH consisted of single-arm studies, ComboMATCH utilizes single-arm as well as randomized designs. NCI-MATCH had a separate, parallel Pediatric MATCH trial, whereas ComboMATCH will include children within the same trial. We present rationale, scientific principles, study design, and logistics supporting the ComboMATCH study.
The WAVE2/miR-29/Integrin-β1 Oncogenic Signaling Axis Promotes Tumor Growth and Metastasis in Triple-negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Rana Priyanka S. , Wang Wei , Markovic Vesna , Szpendyk Justin , Chan Ernest Ricky , Sossey-Alaoui Khalid
Published: January 2023

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy in women and the major cause of death because of its invasion, metastasis, and resistance to therapies capabilities. The most aggressive subtype of breast cancer is triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) due to invasive and metastatic properties along with early age of diagnosis and poor prognosis. TNBC tumors do not express estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors, which limits their treatment with targeted therapies. Cancer invasiveness and metastasis are known to be promoted by increased cell motility and upregulation of the WAVE proteins. While the contribution of WAVE2 to cancer progression is well documented, the WAVE2-mediated regulation of TNBC oncogenic properties is still under investigated, as does the molecular mechanisms by which WAVE2 regulates such oncogenic pathways. In this study, we show that WAVE2 plays a significant role in TNBC development, progression, and metastasis, through the regulation of miR-29 expression, which in turn targets Integrin-β1 (ITGB1) and its downstream oncogenic activities. Conversely, we found WAVE2 expression to be regulated by miR-29 in a negative regulatory feedback loop. Reexpression of exogenous WAVE2 in the WAVE2-deficient TNBC cells resulted in reactivation of ITGB1 expression and activity, further confirming the specificity of WAVE2 in regulating Integrin-β1. Together, our data identify a novel WAVE2/miR-29/ITGB1 signaling axis, which is essential for the regulation of the invasion-metastasis cascade in TNBC. Our findings offer new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of TNBC by targeting WAVE2 and/or its downstream effectors.

Significance:

Identification of a novel WAVE2/miR-29/ITGB1 signaling axis may provide new insights on how WAVE2 regulates the invasion-metastasis cascade of TNBC tumors through the modulation of ITGB1 and miR-29.
Nosocomial COVID-19: A Nationwide Spanish Study
Authors: Ramos-Rincon Jose-Manuel , Lopez-Sampalo Almudena , Cobos-Palacios Lidia , Ricci Michele , Rubio-Rivas Manel , Díaz-Simón Raquel , Martín-Escalante María-Dolores , Castañeda-Pérez Sabela , Fernández-Madera-Martínez Rosa , Beato-Perez Jose-Luis , García-García Gema-Maria , García-Andreu María-del-Mar , Arnalich-Fernandez Francisco , Molinos-Castro Sonia , Vargas-Núñez Juan-Antonio , Artero Arturo , Freire-Castro Santiago-Jesús , Fernández-Gómez Jennifer , Cubo-Romano Pilar , Hernández-Milián Almudena , Inés-Revuelta Sandra-Maria , Boixeda Ramon , Fernández-Pedregal Elia , Gómez-Huelgas Ricardo ,   on behalf of the SEMI-COVID-19 Network
Published: January 2023

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 is a highly contagious virus, and despite professionals’ best efforts, nosocomial COVID-19 (NC) infections have been reported. This work aimed to describe differences in symptoms and outcomes between patients with NC and community-acquired COVID-19 (CAC) and to identify risk factors for severe outcomes among NC patients. Methods: This is a nationwide, retrospective, multicenter, observational study that analyzed patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 in 150 Spanish hospitals (SEMI-COVID-19 Registry) from March 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021. NC was defined as patients admitted for non-COVID-19 diseases with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test on the fifth day of hospitalization or later. The primary outcome was 30-day in-hospital mortality (IHM). The secondary outcome was other COVID-19-related complications. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: Of the 23,219 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, 1,104 (4.8%) were NC. Compared to CAC patients, NC patients were older (median 76 vs. 69 years; p < 0.001), had more comorbidities (median Charlson Comorbidity Index 5 vs. 3; p < 0.001), were less symptomatic (p < 0.001), and had normal chest X-rays more frequently (30.8% vs. 12.5%, p < 0.001). After adjusting for sex, age, dependence, COVID-19 wave, and comorbidities, NC was associated with lower risk of moderate/severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.59–0.87; p < 0.001) and higher risk of acute heart failure (aOR: 1.40; 1.12–1.72; p = 0.003), sepsis (aOR: 1.73; 1.33–2.54; p < 0.001), and readmission (aOR: 1.35; 1.03–1.83; p = 0.028). NC was associated with a higher case fatality rate (39.1% vs. 19.2%) in all age groups. IHM was significantly higher among NC patients (aOR: 2.07; 1.81–2.68; p < 0.001). Risk factors for increased IHM in NC patients were age, moderate/severe dependence, malignancy, dyspnea, moderate/severe ARDS, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and shock; odynophagia was associated with lower IHM. Conclusions: NC is associated with greater mortality and complications compared to CAC. Hospital strategies to prevent NC must be strengthened.
Nucleotide Sequence and Chromosome Mapping of 5S Ribosomal DNA from the Dojo Loach, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus
Authors: Shibata Kiko , Kuroda Masamichi , Yamaha Etsuro , Arai Katsutoshi , Fujimoto Takafumi
Published: January 2023

There are 2 genetically divergent groups in the dojo loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus: A and B. Although most wild-type diploids reproduce sexually, clonal diploids (clonal loach) reproduce gynogenetically in certain areas. Clonal loaches produce unreduced isogenic eggs by premeiotic endomitosis, and such diploid eggs develop gynogenetically following activation by the sperm of sympatric wild-type diploids. These clonal loaches have presumably arisen from past hybridization events between 2 different ancestors. The genomic differences between these 2 groups have not been completely elucidated. Thus, new genetic and cytogenetic markers are required to distinguish between these 2 groups. Here, we compared the 5S rDNA region to develop markers for the identification of different dojo loach groups. The nontranscribed sequence (NTS) of the 5S rDNA was highly polymorphic and group-specific. NTSs were found in clades of 2 different groups in clonal loaches. In contrast, we did not find any group-specific sequences in the coding region of the 5S rRNA gene. Sequences were located near the centromere of the short arm of the largest submetacentric chromosomes in groups A and B and clonal loaches. Thus, the 5S rDNA of the dojo loach is conserved at the chromosomal location. Whereas, the sequences of the NTS regions evolved group-specifically in the dojo loach, with the sequences of both groups being conserved in clonal loaches.
Prediction of The Global Recession's Effects on Indonesia's Economy in 2023
Authors: Vella Anggresta  , Heru Subiyantoro  , Pudji Astuty
Published: January 2023

The global economy in recent years has shown a downward trend and is predicted by the World Bank to become a recession in 2023. As a global economic phenomenon, this condition will affect every country, including Indonesia’s. This study analyzed the ability of Indonesia's economic fundamentals in a qualitative descriptive and literature study based on five indicators of the economic crisis, namely: economic growth, the exchange rate of the rupiah against the US dollar; inflation; economic growth; and total foreign debt, by comparing conditions during the economic crisis in 1998 and 2008, with Indonesia's current economic situation (in 2022). The results of this study indicated that Indonesia's economic condition is considered quite ready and stable to face the threat of a global economic crisis in 2023. However, as a country that depends on global economic relations, Indonesia will indirectly or directly impact the economic fluctuations and inflation that occur in many countries during the crisis because the economic crisis will have social and political impacts. This research suggests that Indonesia should focus on maintaining economic continuity in the real sector, maintaining the supply of basic needs at the community level, building economic independence by encouraging more production, and supporting political and security stability.
Effectiveness on the Implementation of Curfew in the Municipality of Di-lasag, Aurora
Authors: Pia Jasmin N. , Moises Hazelle A. , Dimacuta Nor-Ain D. , Malang Bernandino P. , Vigonte Florinda G.
Published: January 2023

The study identified the effectiveness of implementing curfew in the Municipality of Dilasag adopted from the Executive Order (E.O.) No. 2020-0025 s.2020 from the Provincial Government of Aurora. It was focused on the profile, the implementation of curfew regarding security, discipline, health, and crimes, and the citizens' recommendations as part of the research. The study used the descriptive research method to identify the perceptions of 359 respondents selected by Slovin's formula and systematic random sampling who had also answered the survey questionnaire. The average weighted mean revealed that curfew implementation was effective and improved the community's security, discipline, health, and crime prevention. The chi-square test as the utilized statistical treatment revealed that profile such as sex, educational attainment, and occupation has no significant difference in implementing a curfew. However, it was shown in the study that age profile has a highly significant difference in health and crime prevention and has a significant difference in security and discipline. Furthermore, the study signified that the age group was correlated to the curfew implementation, that older respondents perceived a high level of effectiveness of curfew implementation compared to younger respondents. Finally, parents' participation is an important recommendation and is still needed to improve curfew implementation in the community., and supporting political and security stability.
Predictive Modeling to Assess Pretest Probability of Transthyretin Gene Variants Based on Demographic Information
Authors: Saef Joshua , Martyn Trejeeve , Ives Lauren , Roth Lori R. , Grodin Justin L. , Maurer Mathew S. , Hanna Mazen , Tang W.H. Wilson
Published: January 2023

Background:

Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is a morbid condition, though recent advances in diagnosis and therapy stand to change its natural history. Patients’
TTR
genotype may guide family screening as more treatments and preventive strategies become available. An efficient, intuitive means of determining pretest genetic risk may better inform patients/clinicians when pursuing genetic testing.

Methods:

This is a cohort study of 767 consecutive patients diagnosed with ATTR-CM who underwent genetic testing. Classification and regression trees (CART) analysis created a decision tree assessing likelihood of carrying a pathologic
TTR
gene variant. Age, sex, and race were used as independent variables. Logistic regression was also performed to model probability of pathologic
TTR
genotype. The primary outcome was the decision tree’s accuracy in 2 separate institutions’ ATTR-CM registry.

Results:

In our study cohort, 208 patients (27.1%) had ATTRv. Race has served most efficiently as the root node followed by age and sex in a CART algorithm, and showed 88.2% accuracy (75.3% sensitivity, 93.9% specificity) in the validation cohort. The odds of having a
TTR
gene variant were greater in Black patients compared with non-Black patients (OR, 34.6 [95% CI, 20.5–58.3];
P
<0.001). Non-Black patients with ATTR-CM aged 69 years and older had <4% risk of having a predisposing mutation.

Conclusions:

This CART algorithm incorporating age, sex, and race was able to determine which patients with ATTR-CM have pathogenic
TTR
mutations with high specificity. Non-Black patients diagnosed at age 69 years or older with ATTR-CM have a low likelihood to have ATTRv.
Sampling-Dependent Transition Paths of Iceland–Scotland Overflow Water
Authors: Beron-Vera F. J. , Olascoaga M. J. , Helfmann L. , Miron P.
Published: January 2023

In this note, we apply transition path theory (TPT) from Markov chains to shed light on the problem of Iceland–Scotland Overflow Water (ISOW) equatorward export. A recent analysis of observed trajectories of submerged floats demanded revision of the traditional abyssal circulation theory, which postulates that ISOW should steadily flow along a deep boundary current (DBC) around the subpolar North Atlantic prior to exiting it. The TPT analyses carried out here allow attention to be focused on the portions of flow from the origin of ISOW to the region where ISOW exits the subpolar North Atlantic and suggest that insufficient sampling may be biasing the aforementioned demand. The analyses, appropriately adapted to represent a continuous input of ISOW, are carried out on three time-homogeneous Markov chains modeling the ISOW flow. One is constructed using a high number of simulated trajectories homogeneously covering the flow domain. The other two use much fewer trajectories which heterogeneously cover the domain. The trajectories in the latter two chains are observed trajectories or simulated trajectories subsampled at the observed frequency. While the densely sampled chain supports a well-defined DBC, whether this is a peculiarity of the simulation considered or not, the more heterogeneously sampled chains do not, irrespective of the nature of the trajectories used, i.e., observed or simulated. Studying the sampling sensitivity of the Markov chains, we can give recommendations for enlarging the existing float dataset to improve the significance of conclusions about long-time-asymptotic aspects of the ISOW circulation.
Low-Skill Products by High-Skill Workers: The Distributive Effects of Trade in Emerging and Developing Countries
Authors: Menéndez González Irene , Owen Erica , Walter Stefanie
Published: January 2023

In developing countries, trade is increasingly associated with greater returns to high-skilled labor and rising inequality. These empirical patterns are at odds with canonical models of trade in the developing world. What does this mean for the political economy of trade in these countries? We argue that although developing countries have a comparative advantage in low-skill products, these are produced by workers that are relatively high-skilled compared to their peers. Trade and global production benefit relatively skilled workers, particularly those exposed to exports and inward foreign direct investment in manufacturing. Our argument offers insight into why relatively skilled workers are most supportive of free trade and why inequality is rising in developing countries. We examine micro- and macro-level implications of our argument using cross-national survey data on policy preferences and aggregate data on trade and inequality. The findings have important implications for the political economy of trade and global production in developing countries.
“Who Are You Really Punishing?”: Mothers’ Experiences With an Incarcerated Son
Authors: Tadros Eman , Presley Sarah , Guzman Yenitza
Published: January 2023

The consequences of incarceration are not solely reserved for the individual incarcerated, rather the impacts of incarceration have been shown to extend to the entire family system. The parent-child relationship is multifaceted and necessitates empirical evidence that significantly honors the voices that are at the center of experience but typically silenced by the stigma and prejudice nature of incarceration. Via a phenomenological approach, mothers of incarcerated adult sons were interviewed. Five themes emerged from eight interviews: emotional impact, barriers and challenges for families, mental health services, systemic issues, and advocacy and support. Our findings inform clinical implications for mental health professionals working with the incarcerated population. We provided recommendations on how to best advocate for this population through research, clinical work, and policy.
Dextromethorphan Induced Dystonia: A Rare Case Report
Authors: Mahadevappa Manjappa , Attri Lakshay Kumar , Chalasani Sri Harsha , Syed Jehath
Published: January 2023

Dextromethorphan is a distant derivative of morphine, used as an antitussive agent indicated in standard care for various infections and respiratory conditions ranging from the common cold (rhinoviruses) to severe acute respiratory illness (SARI). Being a derivative of morphine, a natural central nervous system (CNS) depressant, dextromethorphan produces little to no action on CNS when ingested in the prescription dosage. We present a case of a 64-year-old female patient, a known case of ischemic heart disease post angioplasty and stenting to the left anterior descending artery (LAD), with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and hypothyroidism who developed extrapyramidal symptoms post dextromethorphan administration. The incidence of dextromethorphan-induced dystonia is unknown, and the literature review suggests 4 case reports indicating dextromethorphan-induced dystonia, and each of those reports is a case of either accidental overdose or overdose in substance abuse disorder. No cases of these CNS side effects are described among adults with a therapeutic dose of dextromethorphan. This case report serves to sensitize the clinician about this rare occurrence.
The Impact of Pharmacist-Led Antimicrobial Stewardship Review of Cultures in the Ambulatory Setting at a Comprehensive Cancer Center
Authors: Abdelrahman Deema H. , AbuSara Aseel K. , Khabour Dina S.
Published: January 2023

Background: Several antimicrobial stewardship interventions have demonstrated improved clinical outcomes. Though the impact of a pharmacist-led antimicrobial stewardship review of cultures has been described, studies have not evaluated such an intervention in institutions that primarily serve cancer patients. Aim: To describe the impact of the antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist’s review of microbiological cultures from adult cancer patients in the ambulatory setting. Method: A retrospective study at a comprehensive cancer center that included adult cancer patients with positive microbiological cultures treated in the ambulatory setting, between August 2020 and February 2021. The cultures were reviewed in real time by the antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist, and were assessed for appropriateness of treatment. The number of antimicrobial modifications made, type of modifications, and physicians’ acceptance rate were recorded. Results: A total of 661 cultures from 504 patients were reviewed by the pharmacist. The mean age of patients was 58 years ± 16 (SD); most had solid tumors (95%), and 34% were recent recipients of chemotherapy. Among the reviewed cultures, 175 (26%) required antimicrobial therapy modification, with an acceptance rate of 86%. The modifications consisted of changing from non-susceptible to susceptible antimicrobials (n = 95, 54%), initiation (n = 61, 35%), discontinuation (n = 10, 6%), de-escalation (n = 7, 4%), and dose modification (n = 2, 1%) of antimicrobials. Conclusion: Around one fourth of the cultures reviewed by the antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist in the ambulatory setting required interventions to optimize therapy. Future studies should evaluate the impact of these interventions on clinical outcomes.
Global governance in the Anthropocenes
Authors: Ashworth Lucian M.
Published: January 2023

This article adumbrates how we can re-envision global governance in the Anthropocene. The first section explores the plurality of Anthropocenes through an initial analysis of the Great Transformation since 1950. The second section focuses on what this means for global governance through insights from the history of international thought. The first insight comes from earlier works by the international functionalists, who emphasized process over goals. The second is found in the international political geography of Derwent Whittlesey, who outlined how we could take in ecological concerns through a four-dimensional view of the industrial world. Here I will also stress the growing importance of the concept of waste and refuse in global governance, a concern that becomes visible when we think about global politics in four dimensions. The final concluding section underscores how a messy and unprecedented crisis requires an equally messy and unprecedented approach to global governance.
Meta-governance, uncertainty and self-organization in corporatist social service sectors: The case of Hong Kong
Authors: Wang Xiao Lu
Published: January 2023

This article explores the relationship between meta-governance, uncertainty and governance network responses. A social network analysis was conducted on the interlocking directorate network among nonprofits before and after a market-oriented collibration triggered by a new public management reform to the corporatist social service provision system in Hong Kong. By unpacking and showing the distinct processes of network formation in response to substantive and strategic uncertainty arising from the market-oriented collibration, the study shows that although more nonprofit actors were directly included in the formalized policy venues after the reform, the network density and clustering coefficient dropped after the reform, potentially reducing the self-coordinating capacity of the governance network. However, for some nonprofit actors, node betweenness centrality increased and node degree centrality decreased, creating an enabling condition for adaption.

Points for practitioners

The uncertainties in meta-governance may bring about network processes at variance with the original intentions of public meta-governors that actors with complementary resources and competences combine their efforts in the provision of services and service innovation. To manage substantive and strategic uncertainties, public meta-governors need to find ways to increase the shared understandings of social problems, enhance the clarity of policy goals, and find a balance when collaborating between collaborative and market modes of governance.
Designing and developing a virtual reality escape game for youth vocational rehabilitation
Authors: Koivisto Jaana-Maija , Nykänen Kati , Kuuluvainen Salla , Maunula Jessi , Kauhanen Elina , Varjonen Kaijus , Jumisko-Pyykkö Satu , Koskela Kyösti , Romppanen Taina
Published: January 2023

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, youth unemployment has been growing with increased risks of social exclusion. Vocational rehabilitation helps young people to plan their future and find their way into education and working life. New methods based on the needs of young people are needed for youth vocational rehabilitation, whose target group is young people aged 16–29. This article describes the design and development process of a virtual reality escape game for vocational rehabilitation. The study uses a design-based research methodology. As a result of the research process, a new and innovative tool, an escape game played with a virtual headset and controllers, was developed for young people needing support with life management skills. The results of testing sessions held as part of the process showed that young people, social workers and rehabilitation professionals found gaming useful for vocational rehabilitation. As a practical implication, the virtual reality escape game can be used with young people to identify and develop life management, study and work skills. However, more research is needed on its use and effectiveness in vocational rehabilitation.
Investigation of the spring-back phenomenon in two-dimensional bending of continuous glass fiber-reinforced polyamide composite sheets
Authors: Onur OZDEMIR A.
Published: January 2023

Thermoplastic composite sheets have great potential for use in industrial applications owing to their fast-forming properties in the mold. One of the important matters of forming is the tendency of the part to recover elastically after it comes out of the mold. This behavior affects the dimensional accuracy of the final part. In this study, V-bending experiments were carried out to understand the spring-back phenomenon of continuous glass fiber-reinforced polyamide-6 composite sheets. Unidirectional and cross-ply composite sheets were used in the experiments and bending angle, die radius, pressure, and dwell-time were investigated systematically. After bending, the spring-back angles of the parts were measured and the effects of the inspected parameters were compared. Also, variations in part thickness caused by spring-back were evaluated. Finally, the deformations in the specimens resulting from the residual stress were visualized with a scanning electron microscope. When the results were compared, it was determined that the bending conditions where the spring-back defect could be minimized were 6 mm radius, 90° angle, 120 s dwell-time, and 3 MPa pressure. Under these situations and in sheets bent 90°, the amount of spring-back was determined as 22° for unidirectional composites and 15° for cross-ply composites.
Rethinking Causation in English Criminal Law
Authors: Firkins Grant
Published: January 2023

This article challenges English criminal law's approach to causation. In doing so, it proposes replacing the standard tests of causation with a single test, known as ‘INUS’ causation – where a cause is an insufficient but necessary part of an unnecessary but sufficient condition. It argues that the standard tests represent a normative exercise in finding the defendant (D) responsible for a prohibited outcome, often grounded only in D's moral responsibility for that outcome. This approach is problematic because moral responsibility is irrelevant to causal responsibility; and not distinguishing causal responsibility from moral responsibility results in inappropriate criminal-responsibility ascription for result crimes. INUS would provide a single, non-normative test of causation; a metaphysical one that offers a robust causal enquiry that focuses only on causal responsibility, which contributes appropriately to criminal-responsibility ascription. INUS would also yield practical benefits. It would be able to engage with causal enquires in a broader range of cases on a more principled, clear and consistent basis.
Tribute to Dianne Rekow—Dental “Imagineer”
Authors: Bayne S.C. , Watson T.F. , Cooper L.F.
Published: January 2023

Elizabeth Dianne Rekow, BSME, MSME, MBA, DDS, MS, Certificate in Orthodontics, and PhD (1944–2022), was a dental science futurist pursuing brave new paths during her career. She was one of the pivotal scientists who initiated the CAD/CAM movement in the 1980s and went on to focus on digital dentistry for the rest of her career. Her professional contributions involved seven patents, 92 peer-reviewed publications, 10 book contributions, 31 proceeding contributions, and well over 100 national and international presentations. She was an avid supporter of women in science. Her greatest contribution was her expansive imagination. She served as 35th president of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research in 2006–2007 and 88th president of the International Association for Dental Research in 2011–2012. The present article reviews key elements of her career and includes testimonies from friends about her special relationships.
Artificial intelligence in medicine – is too much transparency a good thing?
Authors: Nolan Paul
Published: January 2023

Some encouraging uses for AI in medicine will lead to potentially novel legal liability issues. Complex algorithms involve an opacity that creates problems for the medical and legal professions alike. As iatrogenic injury is common in medical malpractice, the medical profession is understandably concerned when AI is introduced in diagnostic and therapeutic devices and events and outcome cannot be fully explained due to the “black box” effect.

A concern about machine learning algorithms is the black box issue and understanding how conclusions or outcomes are reached. The deployment of AI devices in healthcare will require an increase in a clinician’s understanding of AI to increase the transparency of their use.

An important aspect of medical treatment is the notion of “therapeutic privilege”. This will only arise in limited circumstances and requires the clinician to make a judgment, based on reasonable grounds, that the patient’s physical or mental health might be seriously harmed by providing the information.

Given the complexity of AI and the black box effect, could too much AI transparency possibly overwhelm a patient, such that it may dissuade them from giving consent in circumstances where treatment is necessary and essential? In other words, too much AI transparency and information may inadvertently hinder treatment and progress.
Mirrors and envelopes: John Berger and Eva Figes’ Light (1983)
Authors: Darlington Joseph Andrew
Published: January 2023

This article explores the influence of John Berger on Eva Figes’ novel Light (1981). The novel describes a day in the life of Claude Monet. Figes’ depiction of Monet’s artistic processes reflects her own explorations of literary-critical theory as well as showing the clear influence of Berger’s ideas. The article uses archive materials newly recently made available at the British Library to outline the personal relationship between the two writers. It uses this to build a picture of mutual influence, both interpersonal and interdisciplinary, between two of the leading critics, Marxist and Feminist, of the 1970s.
Design of PIλ-PDμ controller for high-order systems based on model order reduction using BB-BC and time moment matching
Authors: Zheng Min , Li Peike , Liu Quan , Lin Haisheng
Published: January 2023

In this paper, a practical fractional proportional–integral and proportional–derivative (PIλ-PDμ) controller tuning method and a model reduction method are proposed for high-order systems with or without time delay. First, the Big Bang–Big Crunch (BB-BC) algorithm and the time moment matching method are used to reduce the order of the high-order system function, and the approximate low-order system function is obtained. Second, the parameter region of fractional-order PIλ-PDμ controller is obtained according to the D partition method, and the improved weighted geometric center (WGC) method is introduced to select the special points in the stable region as the control parameters. Then, the fractional-order PIλ controller is discretized by Muir method, and the fractional-order PDμ controller is discretized by continued fraction expansion (CFE). Finally, the BB-BC algorithm is used to optimize the control parameters, and the parameters with better control performance are obtained. The simulation results show that the fractional PIλ-PDμ parameter setting method based on BB-BC algorithm can improve the control performance of the system, and the model reduction scheme based on the combination of moment matching method and BB-BC algorithm is effective in both time domain and frequency domain analysis.
A Comparative Investigation of the Predictive Validity of Four Indirect Measures of Bias and Prejudice
Authors: Axt Jordan , Buttrick Nicholas , Feng Ruo Ying
Published: January 2023

Although measures of implicit associations are influential in the prejudice literature, comparative tests of the predictive power of these measures are lacking. A large-scale ( N > 100,000) analysis of four commonly used measures—the Implicit Association Test (IAT), Single-Category IAT (SC-IAT), evaluative priming task (EPT), and sorting paired features task (SPF)—across 10 intergroup domains and 250 outcomes found clear evidence for the superiority of the SC-IAT in predictive and incremental predictive validity. Follow-up analyses suggested that the SC-IAT benefited from an exclusive focus on associations toward stigmatized group members, as associations toward non-stigmatized group members diluted the predictive strength of relative measures like the IAT, SPF, and EPT. These results highlight how conclusions about predictive validity can vary drastically depending on the measure selected and reveal novel insights about the value of different measures when focusing on predictive than convergent validity.
The Money Chase: The Role of Racial Innuendo and Marketized Discourse in Courting Private Dollars
Authors: Hernández Laura E.
Published: January 2023

Background/Context:

The business and philanthropic sectors have been a persistent force in shaping U.S. schools. Recently, they have used their resources to advance policies that embody newer principles of industry—reforms that suggest that competition, choice, and deregulation can spur improvement and effectiveness. This has most notably included deep investments in the proliferation of charter schools, surfacing questions as to the sector’s reliance on private dollars as well as the equitable and democratic impact of advancing this manifestation of neoliberal reform.

Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study:

While scholars have elucidated the role of business and philanthropic funding in promoting charter schools, less is known about how the well-substantiated connections between charters and the private sector have been facilitated or how discourse—the ideas, representations, and argumentation conveyed in acts of communication—is mobilized to create a rationale for support. To date, research has typically examined the discourse and messaging intended for families navigating choice settings. Yet, how these depictions are crafted for donors, who typically inhabit positions of economic and social power and are critical actors in charter growth, remain comparatively less understood.

Research Design:

This study fills this empirical gap and investigates the tactics used to solicit donor investment by charter management organizations (CMOs). It uses a conceptual framework that synthesizes tenets from the research on neoliberal policy networks and the sociology of race to enable a multifaceted analysis of the discursive tactics used to secure donor support while attending to the often-nuanced ways in which race may be invoked in those efforts. Methodologically, this study follows an embedded case study design to investigate the tactics deployed by a population of CMOs in Northern California and relies on observational and documentary data to examine how CMOs design and execute donor outreach and the resonant messages they aim to elevate.

Conclusions/Recommendations:

I find that CMOs elevated business-friendly themes related to workforce preparation, impact, and return on investment in their outreach and at times commodified their constituents by offering their labor as exchangeable resources to elevate donor profiles. Simultaneously, CMOs advanced color-evasive discourse, relying on deficit-laden racial narratives to create a reinforcing and complementary rationale for intervention. These findings suggest that CMOs relied on market and racialized logics as the persuasive fodder for donor investment, leaving the economic and racial status quo—and the democratic and equity implications it perpetuates—unchallenged.