bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genomic Instability and Protumoral Inflammation Are Associated with Primary Resistance to Anti–PD-1 + Antiangiogenesis in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Authors: Danlos François-Xavier , Texier Matthieu , Job Bastien , Mouraud Severine , Cassard Lydie , Baldini Capucine , Varga Andrea , Yurchenko Andrey A. , Rabeau Audrey , Champiat Stéphane , Letourneur Diane , Bredel Delphine , Susini Sandrine , Blum Yuna , Parpaleix Aurelien , Parlavecchio Cedric , Tselikas Lambros , Fahrner Jean-Eudes , Goubet Anne-Gaelle , Rouanne Mathieu , Rafie Saloomeh , Abbassi Alae , Kasraoui Ines , Breckler Marie , Farhane Siham , Ammari Samy , Laghouati Salim , Gazzah Anas , Lacroix Ludovic , Besse Benjamin , Droin Nathalie , Deloger Marc , Cotteret Sophie , Adam Julien , Zitvogel Laurence , Nikolaev Sergey I. , Chaput Nathalie , Massard Christophe , Soria Jean-Charles , Gomez-Roca Carlos , Zalcman Gerard , Planchard David , Marabelle Aurelien
Published: January 2023

Cancer immunotherapy combinations have recently been shown to improve the overall survival of advanced mesotheliomas, especially for patients responding to those treatments. We aimed to characterize the biological correlates of malignant pleural mesotheliomas’ primary resistance to immunotherapy and antiangiogenics by testing the combination of pembrolizumab, an anti–PD-1 antibody, and nintedanib, a pan-antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in the multicenter PEMBIB trial (NCT02856425). Thirty patients with advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma were treated and explored. Unexpectedly, we found that refractory patients were actively recruiting CD3+CD8+ cytotoxic T cells in their tumors through CXCL9 tumor release upon treatment. However, these patients displayed high levels of somatic copy-number alterations in their tumors that correlated with high blood and tumor levels of IL6 and CXCL8. Those proinflammatory cytokines resulted in higher tumor secretion of VEGF and tumor enrichment in regulatory T cells. Advanced mesothelioma should further benefit from stratified combination therapies adapted to their tumor biology.

Significance:

Sequential explorations of fresh tumor biopsies demonstrated that mesothelioma resistance to anti–PD-1 + antiangiogenics is not due to a lack of tumor T-cell infiltration but rather due to adaptive immunosuppressive pathways by tumors, involving molecules (e.g., IL6, CXCL8, VEGF, and CTLA4) that are amenable to targeted therapies.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 799
In Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria, Complete Response to Antihistamine Treatment Is Linked to Low Disease Activity
Authors: Türk Murat , Ertaş Ragıp , Şahiner Ümit Murat , Kolkhir Pavel , Şekerel Bülent Enis , Soyer Özge , Avcı Atıl , Atasoy Mustafa , Özyurt Kemal , Türk Yekta , Zeydan Engin , Maurer Marcus
Published: January 2023

Introduction: The use of predictors of response to a specific treatment in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) can improve disease management, help prevent unnecessary healthcare costs, and save time. In this study, we aimed to identify predictors of complete response to standard-dosed and higher than standard-dosed antihistamine treatments in patients with CSU. Methods: Medical records of 475 CSU patients, 120 of them <18 years old, from 3 different centers were analyzed. We used 15 machine learning (ML) models as well as traditional statistical methods to predict complete response to standard-dosed and higher than standard-dosed antihistamine treatment based on 17 clinical parameters. Results: CSU disease activity, which was assessed by urticaria activity score (UAS), was the only clinical parameter that predicted complete response to standard-dosed and higher than standard-dosed antihistamine treatment, with ML models and traditional statistics, for all age groups. Based on ROC analyses, optimal cut-off values of disease activity to predict complete response were UAS <3 and UAS <4 for standard-dosed (area under the ROC curve [AUC] = 0.69; p = 0.001) and higher than standard-dosed (AUC = 0.79; p = 0.001) antihistamine treatments, respectively. Also, ML models identified lower total IgE (<150 IU/mL) as a predictor of complete response to a standard-dosed antihistamine and lower CRP (<3.4 mg/mL) as a predictor of complete response to higher than standard-dose antihistamine treatment. Discussion: In this study, we showed that patients with UAS <3 are highly likely to have complete response to standard-dosed AH and those with a UAS <4 are highly likely to have complete response to higher than standard-dosed AH treatment. Low CSU disease activity is the only universal predictor of complete response to AH treatment with both ML models and traditional statistics for all age groups.
Novel Image-Guided Flexible-Probe Transbronchial Microwave Ablation for Stage 1 Lung Cancer
Authors: Pritchett Michael A. , Reisenauer Janani S. , Kern Ryan , Wilson David S. , Meyers Erin E. , Szapary Philippe O. , Laeseke Paul F.
Published: January 2023

Background: Image-guided percutaneous thermal ablation is an established treatment option for early-stage lung cancer in medically inoperable patients but carries a high risk of pleura-related complications, particularly pneumothorax. Objective: This study aimed to determine if image-guided transbronchial microwave ablation (tMWA) is a feasible approach to treat peripheral stage 1 lung cancer. Method: A prospective, single-arm, multicenter study sought to enroll 40 adults who were medically inoperable or declined surgery for peripheral stage 1 lung tumors (≤20 mm). Ablation was performed using navigational bronchoscopy and a flexible MWA probe, guided by cone-beam CT with augmented fluoroscopy. Follow-up at 1, 6, and 12 months included CT imaging of the ablation zone and possible tumor recurrence, adverse events (AEs), pulmonary function, and quality of life. Results: Across 2 sites, 11 tumors (10 NSCLC, 1 carcinoid) were treated in 10 enrolled patients. Median tumor diameter was 13 × 14 mm (7–19 mm) and median minimum ablative margin was 11 mm (5–19 mm). Technical success and technique efficacy were achieved in all patients. No tumor recurrence was seen during 12-month follow-up. No pneumothorax, pleural effusion, or bronchopleural fistula were noted. Minor AEs included scant hemoptysis, pain, cough, and dyspnea. Two serious AEs occurred ≤30 days of ablation and included a COPD exacerbation (day 9) and a death of unknown cause (day 15). The death led the sponsor to halt enrollment. Pulmonary function and quality-of-life indices remained stable. Conclusions: Image-guided tMWA is a technically feasible approach for peripheral early-stage lung cancer but warrants further evaluation of safety and efficacy in larger cohorts.
Atrophic, Tractional, and Neovascular Grading System in a Dome-Shaped Macula and Ridge-Shaped Macula Highly Myopic Cohort
Authors: García-Zamora María , Flores-Moreno Ignacio , Ruiz-Medrano Jorge , Puertas Mariluz , Almazán-Alonso Elena , Vega-González Rocío , González-Buendía Lucía , Ruiz-Moreno José M.
Published: January 2023

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze the atrophic, tractional, and neovascular (ATN) components grading in highly myopic patients with dome-shaped macula (DSM) and ridge-shaped macula (RSM). Methods: This was a cross-sectional, noninterventional study. 57 eyes of 38 different patients were included. They were classified as DSM or RSM based on the number of radial scans that showed an inward protrusion ≥50 µm in the swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) (12 = DSM; <12 = RSM). All patients underwent a complete ophthalmological examination in addition to SS-OCT. They were graded using the ATN system for myopic maculopathy by 2 masked retina specialists that assessed the atrophic (A), tractional (T), and neovascular (N) components in order to analyze the differences between the groups. As complementary measurements, age, axial length, and best-corrected visual acuity were collected. Height and orientation of the macular bulge and the presence of Bruch’s membrane defects, scleral perforating vessels, and staphyloma were recorded. Results: Out of total 57 eyes, 13 eyes (22.8%) were classified as DSM. Regarding the atrophic component (A), there were statistically significant differences between groups, with DSM group showing a greater stage of atrophy (predominantly stage A3 in 69.2% of the sample) compared to the RSM group (predominantly stage A2 in 61.3% of the sample) (p < 0.05). For the T and N components, there were no significant differences between groups. The presence of Bruch’s membrane defects was more frequently seen in DSM (p < 0.05). Conclusions: DSM group showed more Bruch’s membrane defects and a greater stage of the atrophy component, based on the ATN grading system, compared with RSM group. As Bruch’s membrane may have biomechanical properties in terms of strength, the defects found around the macula, added to the major atrophic component, may be a cause of a local relaxation that induce a central bulge forming the dome.
The Impact of Prepartum Platelet Count on Postpartum Blood Loss and Its Association with Coagulation Factor XIII Activity
Authors: Brun Romana , Hothorn Torsten , Eigenmann Eva , Frevert Marie Louise , Zimmermann Roland , Korte Wolfgang , Haslinger Christian
Published: January 2023

Background: Postpartum hemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Contradictory information exists regarding the relevance of prepartum platelet count on postpartum hemorrhage. We have shown prepartum coagulation factor XIII to be associated with postpartum blood loss; however, little is known about the association of platelet count with factor XIII activity. Our objectives were, first, to evaluate the impact of prepartum platelet count on measured postpartum blood loss in the context of prepartum measurements of coagulation factors I, II, and XIII and, second, to evaluate the association of platelet count with coagulation factor XIII, both pre- and postpartum. Material and Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study (PPH 1,300 study) which analyzed the impact of prepartum blood coagulation factors on postpartum blood loss in 1,300 women. Blood loss was quantified using a validated technique. The impact of prepartum platelet count on measured blood loss was assessed by continuous outcome logistic regression; the association of platelet count with factor XIII activity by Spearman rank correlation. Results: Prepartum platelet count was significantly associated with measured postpartum blood loss: every one unit (G/L) increase in prepartum thrombocytes was associated with an odds ratio of 1.002 (95% confidence interval, 1.001–1.004, p = 0.005) to keep blood loss below any given cut-off level. This means that the probability of postpartum hemorrhage decreases with increasing prepartum platelet levels. Moreover, a significant association of platelet count with factor XIII activity was shown (Spearman rank correlation coefficient for prepartum values 0.228, p < 0.001, and for postpartum values 0.293, p < 0.001). Discussion/Conclusion: The significant association of prepartum platelet count and postpartum blood loss as well as the association of platelet count with blood coagulation factor XIII activity support the likely role of platelets in preventing postpartum hemorrhage and support the new guidelines for the treatment of postpartum hemorrhage in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, which calls for optimizing platelet counts peripartally in case of postpartum hemorrhage. A possible effect of platelets on the level of circulating factor XIII cannot be ruled out and should prompt further investigation.
Polygenic Contributions to Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in a Sample Ascertained for Alcohol Use Disorders
Authors: Colbert Sarah M.C. , Mullins Niamh , Chan Grace , Meyers Jacquelyn L. , Schulman Jessica , Kuperman Samuel , Lai Dongbing , Nurnberger John , Plawecki Martin H. , Kamarajan Chella , Anokhin Andrey P. , Bucholz Kathleen K. , Hesselbrock Victor , Edenberg Howard J. , Kramer John , Dick Danielle M. , Porjesz Bernice , Agrawal Arpana , Johnson Emma C.
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Suicidal thoughts and behaviors have partially distinct genetic etiologies. Methods: We used PRS-CS to create polygenic risk scores (PRSs) from GWAS of non-suicidal self-injury, broad-sense self-harm ideation, nonfatal suicide attempt, death by suicide, and depression. Using mixed-effect models, we estimated whether these PRSs were associated with a range of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (N = 7,526). Results: All PRSs were significantly associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempt (betas = 0.08–0.44, false discovery rate [FDR] <0.023). All PRSs except non-suicidal self-injury PRS were associated with active suicidal ideation (betas = 0.14–0.22, FDR <0.003). Several associations remained significant in models where all significant PRSs were included as simultaneous predictors, and when all PRSs predicted suicide attempt, the PRS together explained 6.2% of the variance in suicide attempt. Significant associations were also observed between some PRSs and persistent suicidal ideation, non-suicidal self-injury, compounded suicide attempt, and desire to die. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that PRS for depression does not explain the entirety of the variance in suicidal thoughts and behaviors, with PRS specifically for suicidal thoughts and behaviors making additional and sometimes unique contributions.
Early Sugar Introduction Associated with Early Childhood Caries Occurrence
Authors: Echeverria Mariana Silveira , Schuch Helena Silveira , Cenci Maximiliano Sérgio , Motta Janaína Vieira dos Santos , Bertoldi Andrea Dâmaso , Britto Correa Marcos , Huysmans Marie-Charlotte D.N.J.M. , Demarco Flávio Fernando
Published: January 2023

Consensus has yet to be reached on the impact of early sugar introduction on early childhood dental caries (ECC). This study aimed to evaluate the association between the time of introduction of sugar in the infant’s diet and ECC at 48 months, using data from the 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study. This cohort comprises 4,275 children. At 48 months, 3,654 (91.1%) children had their oral health clinically evaluated by a team of 12 trained and calibrated dentists and their dental caries experience and cavitated lesions were assessed. The period of life in which sugar was first introduced into the child’s diet was considered the primary exposure of the study, collected through questionnaires at 3, 12, 24, and 48 months of age. Analyses were conducted using Stata, version 15.0. Descriptive analyses were initially performed. Poisson regression with robust variance adjustment for the crude and adjusted analysis was used to estimate the effect of the sugar introduction on ECC. The highest prevalence of caries experience (43.3%) was in children in which sugar was introduced into the infant’s diet before 12 months of age. A higher prevalence of caries experience was found for less educated (49.8%) and younger (51.7%) mothers, and in poorer families (48.3%). In the adjusted analysis, the experience of caries was 48% greater in the group with sugar introduction before 12 months of age, compared to those where sugar was introduced after 24 months of age In conclusion, our results support the adoption of preventive measures to delay the supply of sugar in early life in order to reduce the caries experience in children.
Effectiveness of Conciliation Mediation in Regional Arbitration Branch – National Capital Region
Authors: Rebayla Ethel Jhoann T. , Segre Joan M. , Rojas Maria Antoniette V. , Indita Waliza
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to determine the Effectiveness of Conciliation Mediation in Regional Arbitration Branch – National Capital Region. It employed the descriptive-quantitative method of research using the researchers-made instrument to gather data from the 60 employees of the National Labor Relations Commission. They served as respondents to the study. The researcher personally distributed the tool using the random sampling technique because the researchers distributed the questionnaire to every member of the population and gave them an equal chance of being selected. It was discovered that most respondents were in the age range of 51-60 years old and above, female, married, and 26 years and above in the government service. When the effectiveness of the conciliation medication was tested, the result yielded that the Conciliation Mediation Process, Duration of the Process, Conciliator Mediator Skills, and Termination of the Conciliation Mediation Process in terms of efficacy, efficiency, and reliability were highly effective. Taking into account the result of the study, it was recommended that regular training for conciliators mediators should be conducted so that their skills in settling preliminary labor disputes may be enhanced and which will result in more future settlements between the parties involved. It is also recommended that the conciliator mediators increase their commitment to accommodate all requests and possible assistance to our laborers. It is likewise prudent to train new and incoming conciliator mediators so that as early as now, they will be given a chance to experience and explore handling conciliation mediation.
Frequency distribution of the initial number of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus carried by adult Monochamus carolinensis in Illinois, with reference to that by M. alternatus in Japan
Authors: Togashi Katsumi , Appleby James E. , Oloumi-Sadeghi Hassan , Malek Richard B.
Published: January 2023

The pine wood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is the causative agent of pine wilt disease and is transmitted primarily by cerambycid adults of the genus Monochamus. It is believed to have been introduced into Japan from North America in the 1900s and confirmed to have invaded western Europe in 1999. The nematode has been devastating pine forests in invaded areas because the native pine species are susceptible. This study examined the number of PWN carried by individual M. carolinensis adults (initial PWN load) immediately after emerging from dead Pinus sylvestris and P. strobus trees in Illinois, USA. The data were compared with the initial PWN load on M. alternatus adults emerging from dead P. thunbergii trees in Japan ca 80 years after the PWN invasion. When the zero-inflated negative binomial model was fitted to the initial PWN loads it provided three results. First, the PWN exhibited clumped distributions among vectors in the PWN-M. carolinensis-P. sylvestris or P. strobus system in Illinois and the PWN-M. alternatus-P. thunbergii system in Japan. Second, there was no difference in the frequency distribution of the initial PWN load between the three disease systems. Third, the initial PWN load increased as the overwintering PWN density in wood or the adult body mass increased, whereas it decreased as the emergence date of vectors increased. Consequently, the frequency distribution of initial PWN load exhibited no evolutionary change in Japan and the initial PWN load was considered to be determined by environmental factors and conditions.
Nomenclatural notes on Brazilian Celtis (Cannabaceae)
Authors: ZAMENGO HENRIQUE BORGES , CHAMORRO DEBORA , GAGLIOTI ANDRÉ LUIZ , OAKLEY LUIS , PEDERNEIRAS LEANDRO CARDOSO
Published: January 2023

In preparation for a new Neotropical taxonomic review and a global phylogeny focusing on the Neotropical lineages of Celtis, some nomenclatural changes are needed. Lectotypes are designated for Celtis alnifolia, C. asperula, C. brasiliensis, C. clausseniana, C. diffusa, C. morifolia, C. fluminensis, C. glycycarpa, C. hilariana, C. membranacea, C. orthacanthos, C. selloviana and Momisia integrifolia, and an epitype is designated for Celtis asperula. Celtis flavovenarum was proposed as a new name to replace the homonym C. morifolia. For C. spinosa we provide the locality of its type.
A Global–Regional-Unified Atmospheric Dynamical Core on the Yin–Yang Grid
Authors: Chen Siyuan , Zhao Yifan , Peng Xindong , Li Xiaohan
Published: January 2023

A global–regional-unified nonhydrostatic dynamical core was constructed on the Yin–Yang grid using a semi-implicit semi-Lagrangian solver. Arbitrary coordinate rotation was possible for both global and limited-area models with a multilevel nesting capability. Significant flexibility is available when configuring the model’s horizontal mesh using coordinate rotation. The performance of the dynamical core was assessed using a series of numerical tests in Cartesian and spherical coordinates. The results illustrate the reasonable ability of the piecewise rational method to manage sharp gradient advection and the capability of the dry dynamical core to simulate fine structures in target systems in the Cartesian and spherical configurations. An average convergence rate of 2.43 was confirmed for the dry dynamical core in the balanced flow test. The nested grid improved the fine structure simulation of the baroclinic wave development without affecting wave propagation. The propagating speed of the vortex remained unchanged in the nested grid in the colliding modons test, although the vorticity amplitude decayed more slowly than that in the coarse grid. Proper development of topographic waves was achieved for both large- and small-scale mountains with a clear damping effect in association with the off-center semi-implicit average. A deepened trough in the nesting region, in comparison with that in the parent grid, was simulated in a topographic Rossby wave test. The implementation of coordinate rotation and grid nesting improved the numerical performance when managing atmospheric dynamical problems at relatively low cost.
Deep Conventionality, or, Tracing the Meanings of Conventional Rituals
Authors: Shoham Hizky
Published: January 2023

Can conventional rituals be meaningful? When and how can conventionality be part of processes of meaning-making rather than a mere obstacle that the cultural analyst must overcome? The article traces the meanings of minor rituals that populate the world of modern industrial societies and seem to have universal appeal. The article applies a Blochian regressive method to ethnological history in order to re-create the gradual process in which conventions appear, are disseminated, popularized, turned into group icons, and ritualized, and only then—and only sometimes—acquire discursive meanings that are often contested. This sequential model reveals the power of conventionality—the lack of contemplation about social conventions—in the processes of popularizing, ritualizing, and iconizing conventional acts. In the terms of Alexander’s meaning-centered performance theory, this conventionality exemplifies a “perfect” or “effortless” fusion of performers and audience. The article thus argues that the meanings of conventional rituals—and perhaps also of conventional performances of more “sacred” rituals—often lie not in symbolic significance or semiotic thickness, but in deep conventionality: meaningfulness encoded in the convention itself.
Power and normativity: Rainer Forst on noumenal power
Authors: Heyssse Tim
Published: January 2023

According to Rainer Forst, a critical theory of power must break with the tendency of political theorists to conceive of power in opposition to normativity. Appropriately, Forst proposes a noumenal definition according to which power is normative: It works through recognition of reasons and is thereby open to critical assessment. In this discussion note, I first clarify the normativity of power in Forst’s noumenal theory by means of Donald Davidson’s theory of action and then explain how theory of action leads to a different understanding of force and violence from Forst’s noumenal theory. In doing this, I find reason to endorse a non-normative definition of power on the lines proposed by Robert Dahl and endorsed by most authors in analytical political theory. This definition nevertheless remains faithful to Forst’s methodological guideline that a theory of power must keep in view the relations between power and normativity.
Study on the effect of air and argon assisted short electric arc machining on Ti6Al4V titanium alloy
Authors: Zhao Yinan , Zhou Jianping , Zhang Shengsheng , Dai Xiangyu , Zhang Ru , Liu Zhouwei , Xu Yan
Published: January 2023

The use of an argon–water medium rather than air–water medium is proposed to increase the material removal rate (MRR) and decrease surface oxide production for short electric arc machining. To provide a more stable discharge state during high-temperature processing, this approach uses argon to reduce the production of highly resistant refractory materials (e.g. titanium oxide). For short-arc machining of Ti6Al4V titanium alloy, the effects of the voltage, milling depth, electrode speed and gas flow rate on the MRR, relative electrode loss rate and surface roughness were compared for air–water and argon–water mixtures. It was discovered that the milling depth and voltage had the greatest impact on the MRR, voltage and electrode rotational speed had the greatest impact on the relative tool electrode wear rate (REWR), and voltage had the greatest impact on the surface roughness. In contrast to the air–water mixture, the MRR with the argon–water working medium was as high as 9391 mm3/min, with a 13% improvement in MRR, as well as a smooth and flat surface of the machined workpiece. Nevertheless, the REWR increased to 2.46% and the surface roughness was at least 432 μm with the argon–water medium, increasing by 59 μm compared with the air–water medium. Moreover, the addition of argon reduced the types of surface compound on the workpiece and decreased the residual stress defects, including the recast layer, microcracks and holes.
MiR-155-5p-SOCS1/JAK1/STAT1 participates in hepatic lymphangiogenesis in liver fibrosis and cirrhosis by regulating M1 macrophage polarization
Authors: Bi Jian , Liu Jia , Chen Xiuli , Shi Na , Wu Hao , Tang Haiying , Mao Jingwei
Published: January 2023

Background

The role and underlying mechanism of liver macrophages and their derived miR-155-5p in hepatic lymphangiogenesis in liver fibrosis remain unclear. Here, we investigated the mechanism by which macrophages and miR-155-5p were involved in lymphangiogenesis during liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Methods

In vivo, hepatic lymphatic vessel expansion was evaluated; the liver macrophage subsets, proportion of peripherally-derived macrophages and expressions of CCL25, MCP-1, VAP-1 and MAdCAM-1 were documented; and miR-155-5p in the peripheral blood and liver was detected. In vitro, macrophages with miR-155-5p overexpression and inhibition were used to clarify the effect of miR-155-5p on regulation of macrophage polarization and the possible signalling pathway.

Results

Hepatic lymphangiogenesis was observed in mice with liver fibrosis and cirrhosis challenged with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). In the liver, the number of M1 macrophages was associated with lymphangiogenesis and the degree of fibrosis. The liver recruitment of peripherally-derived macrophages occurred during liver fibrosis. The levels of miR-155-5p in the liver and peripheral blood gradually increased with aggravation of liver fibrosis. In vitro, SOCS1, a target of miR-155-5p, regulated macrophage polarization into the M1 phenotype through the JAK1/STAT1 pathway.

Conclusion

MiR-155-5p-SOCS1/JAK1/STAT1 pathway participates in hepatic lymphangiogenesis in mice with liver fibrosis and cirrhosis induced by CCl4 by regulating the polarization of macrophages into the M1 phenotype.
Lisa Delpit: Disrupting Cultures of Power to Foster Transformative Pedagogies
Authors: Sinha Shuchi
Published: January 2023

Language and literacy education has long been a site of contestation. Lisa Delpit, an African–American language and literacy educator, shook this contested site in the 1980s and 1990s through her ground-breaking book Other People’s Children: Cultural Conflicts in the Classroom, by centring the voices, discontentment and hopes of African–American communities that were emerging from their everyday lived experiences in classrooms saturated by cultures of power and norms of the privileged. In this essay, I explore why her arguments hold such deep currencies in the world we inhabit, contextualising it within her work contexts. Further on, I explore their significance and applications within the diverse contexts in which we work in India, to revisit, rethink and reimagine critical, decolonial and transformative pedagogies for India’s fractured, post-colonial, caste-centred, often patriarchal, culturally, religiously and linguistically diverse but often hegemonic landscapes.
Venous Thromboembolism in Japanese Patients with Gynecologic Cancer
Authors: Suzuki Takahito , Tsurimoto Shota , Tada Takayasu , Yamamura Ryo , Katoh Hiromasa , Noji Yoshihiro , Yamaguchi Masato , Fujino Susumu
Published: January 2023

Objective

Gynecologic cancer, including cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancer, comprises the fifth leading type of cancer and is an important malignant disease in women. Previous studies in Western countries have reported respective prevalence rates for venous thromboembolism (VTE) of 3.3%–18.7%, 0.8%–8.1%, and 7.2%–20.9%. In this study, we aimed to identify the characteristics associated with VTE in Japanese patients.

Methods

We carried out a retrospective cohort study to compare the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with each gynecologic cancer with and without concomitant VTE. Patients: Patients with cervical, endometrial, or ovarian cancer treated at Fukui Prefectural Hospital, Japan, from April 2010 to March 2020.

Results

Among 699 patients with gynecologic cancer, 50 developed VTE within 5 years after their cancer diagnosis, including 16/357 patients with cervical cancer (5.6%), 12/185 with endometrial cancer (6.8%), and 22/157 with ovarian cancer (14.6%). The 1-year mortality rate after symptomatic VTE onset was 47.8%. The VTE group included significantly more older patients and more patients with advanced cancer or poor performance status compared with the non-VTE group. There was no significant difference in the rate of surgical treatment. Symptomatic, but not asymptomatic VTE, was associated with shorter survival.

Conclusion

Several baseline characteristics differed between patients with and without VTE. The incidences of VTE and some risk factors were similar in Japanese patients with gynecologic cancers compared with patients in other countries. Patients with VTE had some factors that worsened their prognosis, with patients with gynecologic cancer and symptomatic VTE having an especially poor prognosis.
Ice cream with sucralose, stevioside, and erythritol as sugar substitutes: Sensory profile and customer preference
Authors: Long Men , Wei Yanling , Tao Shoukui , Wu Yejing , Wang JingYi , Zhou Di , Cai Huazhen , Zhan Ge
Published: January 2023

Sugar-free food has been gaining popularity because of low-calorie content. But sugar replacement by high-intensity sweeteners can negatively affect sensory. In this study, the effect of the addition of sucralose (Suc), stevioside (Ste), and erythritol (Ery) as sugar substitutes on the sensory profile and overall acceptance of ice cream were evaluated by penalty analysis (PA) based on the check-all-that apply (CATA) method, with those of the partial least squares (PLS) regression. Twelve sweetening agents of ice cream samples were presented to 106 consumers who answered on an overall liking question using the 15-point hedonic scale and a CATA question with 32 attributes that described the sensory characteristics of ice cream. The results showed that mixed sweeteners (60%Suc+20%Ste+20%Ery or 60%Suc+10%Ste+30%Ery) can present an advantageous performance when used separately, and making ice cream similar to that of sucrose (Sac) added. Adding Suc, Ste, and Ery to ice cream hardly felt bitterness, astringency, and chemical-like sensations of the sweetening agent. The significant difference between different sweeteners is the intensity and speed of sweetness. Developing combination of high-potency sweeteners that can make sweetness appear quickly could open up new ways to design sugar-free ice cream.
Family violence content in baccalaureate and master's level social work programs
Authors: Renner Lynette M. , Driessen Molly C.
Published: January 2023

Scholars continue to call for social work students to be better prepared in the areas of family violence. In this study, we gathered information on the inclusion of intimate partner violence (IPV), child maltreatment, and elder abuse content in accredited baccalaureate and master's level social work programs across the United States. A survey invitation was sent to 538 baccalaureate and 306 master's level social work program directors in the summer of 2020. The final sample consisted of program directors representing 177 baccalaureate and 79 master's level social work programs. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Findings

Data revealed that 12.43% of baccalaureate social work programs had a course on elder abuse, 25.42% had a course specific to IPV, and 60.45% had a course focused on child maltreatment; however, few programs required these courses. Master's program directors reported that 6.33% of their programs had a course on elder abuse, 34.18% on IPV, and 46.84% on child maltreatment; yet only three programs required a course on child maltreatment and none required courses on IPV or elder abuse.

Applications

Social workers will likely work with client systems who experience family violence and it is critical that social work programs look for ways to improve the quantity and quality of family violence content into their curricula. It is also important for state licensing boards to require content on family violence at the initial and renewal stages. These educational efforts will enhance the knowledge and abilities of the social work workforce.
Acute severe asthma and its predictors of mortality in rural Southwestern Nigeria: a-five year retrospective observational study
Authors: Ibrahim Azeez Oyemomi , Aremu Shuaib Kayode , Afolabi Babatunde Adeola , Ajani Gbadebo Oladimeji , Kolawole Fasanmi Tolulope , Oguntoye OlufunmilayoAdenike
Published: January 2023

Objectives

There is an observed paucity of data regarding the predictors of asthma mortality in Nigeria. This study aimed to ascertain the clinical presentations and predictors of acute severe asthma mortality in rural Southwestern Nigeria.

Methods

A retrospective observational study using a data form and a standardized questionnaire was used to review the 124 patients admitted at Emergency Department between January 2015 and December 2019. The data were analyzed using SPSS Version 22.0. The results were presented in descriptive and tabular formats. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of asthma mortality and a p-value <.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

A total of 124 patients were studied. The acute severe asthma mortality was 4.8% and its predictors were older age (Crude odds Ratio (COR), 14.857; 95% CI: 2.489–88.696, p < .001), Tobacco smoking (COR, 6.741; 95% CI: 1.170–38.826, p = .016), more than three co-morbidities (COR, 2.750; 95% CI: 1.147–26.454, p = 0.012), diabetes mellitus (COR, 13.750; 95% CI: 2.380–79.433, p < .001), Human Immunodeficiency virus (COR, 117.000; 95% CI: 9.257–1479.756, p < .001), ≥2 days before presentation (COR, 7.440; 95% CI: 1.288–42.980, p = .039), and Short-acting-B2-agonists overuse (COR, 7.041; 95% CI: 1.005–62.165, p = .044).

Conclusion

The mortality rate was 4.8% and its predictors were older age patients, tobacco smoking, multiple co-morbidities, diabetes mellitus, HIV, SP02 <90%, delay presentation, and Short-acting-B2-agonists over use, The study showed that there is high prevalence of asthma mortality in rural Southwestern Nigeria. The findings may be used to plan for asthma preventions and control programs in rural settings, and may also provide an impetus for prospective research on these outcomes.
A defect detection system of glass tube yarn based on machine vision
Authors: Bao Junmin , Jing Junfeng , Xie Yaohua
Published: January 2023

Tube yarn is also called glass fiber spun yarn. Due to the excellent properties of glass fiber, various industrial products based on glass fiber are used in a variety of industries. As the most obvious factor affecting the quality of products, quality detection of glass fiber yarns is very important for companies. Due to traditional defect detection relies on the experience and subjective factors of workers, which makes many different views on the same defect. Some traditional methods limit the solution to specific types of defects and do not accurately detect various defects. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive defect detection system of tube yarn via combining machine vision and deep learning methods. In whole system, we inspect the weight through a weight sensor firstly. Then, we propose a multi-scale cross-fusion attention module to improve the MobileNetV2, and combine with machine vision image feature extraction method for hairiness detection. Finally, the modified MobileNetV2 network is used as the backbone of YOLOX network, making the YOLOX is lighter and achieve more efficiently stain detection of tube yarn. Then, the detection results are used to determine whether the glass tube yarn has passed. In addition, we establish an effective and sufficient amount of tube yarn defects dataset. The experimental results show that the proposed hairiness detection algorithm achieve 96% accuracy with 160+ FPS, and the surface stain detection algorithm achieve 0.89 mAP with 71+ FPS on the tube yarn dataset. The system is efficient, precise, and can be applied to actual production.
Clinical trial design and analysis for comparing three treatments with intra-individual right- and left-hand data
Authors: Machida Ryunosuke , Sakamaki Kentaro , Kuchiba Aya
Published: January 2023

Background:

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy can occur in the right and left hand. Studies on prevention treatments for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy have largely adopted either self-controlled designs or parallel designs to compare two preventive treatments. When three treatment options (two experimental treatments and a control treatment) are available, both designs can be extended. However, no clinical trials have adopted a self-controlled design to compare three prevention treatments for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. The incomplete block crossover design for more than two treatments can be extended to compare three treatments in the self-controlled design. In simple extension, some of the participants receive two experimental treatments in both hands; however, it may be difficult to administer different experimental treatments in both hands for practical reasons, such as a concern for the different types of unexpected adverse events. This study proposes a design and analysis method appropriate for the situation where only one experimental treatment is provided to each participant.

Methods:

We assume clinical trials to compare each of the two experimental treatments ( E1 and E2) with the control treatment ( C) and between two experimental treatments only when both experimental treatments are superior to the control treatment. We propose a self-controlled design, which equally randomizes to four arms to adjust for the dominant hand effect: Arm 1: E1 for right hand, C for left hand; Arm 2: C for right hand, E1 for left hand; Arm 3: E2 for right hand, C for left hand; and Arm 4: C for right hand, E2 for left hand. We compare operating characteristics of the proposed design with the three-arm parallel design in which the same treatment is performed in both hands by participants. We also assess three proposed analysis methods for comparisons between experimental treatments in the self-controlled design under several conditions of correlations between right and left hands using simulation studies.

Results:

The simulation studies showed that the proposed design was more powerful than the three-arm parallel design when correlation was 0.3 or higher. For comparisons between experimental treatments, the methods based on the regression model, including the outcome of hands with C as a covariate, had the highest power under modest to high correlation among the analysis methods in the self-controlled design.

Conclusion:

The proposed design can improve the power for comparing between two experimental treatments and the control treatment. Our design is useful in situations where it is undesirable for participants to receive different experimental treatments in both hands for practical reasons.
Head injury
Authors: Burrell Alexander , Embury-Young Ysabelle
Published: January 2023

Head injury is common, and clinical presentations vary in severity and underlying pathology. Most patients can be safely managed in primary care. Clinicians working in the community should be able to differentiate between patients who can be reassured with appropriate safety-netting advice, and those who require urgent transfer to the emergency department for further assessment. This article covers the assessment and management of head injuries in adults and children including safeguarding, criteria for onward referral, and post-head injury advice.
Atypical fibrous histiocytomas and pleomorphic fibroma-type lesions in a patient with li-fraumeni syndrome
Authors: M Logaswari , Koh Mark JA , Sittampalam Kesavan
Published: January 2023

Atypical fibrous histiocytomas are an uncommon but benign variant of dermatofibroma where the neoplastic cells can feature cytological atypia constituted by prominent nuclear enlargement, pleomorphism and multinucleated giant cells. Though these can have a degree of atypia, they have a benign course and a failure to recognize these tumors as benign can lead to misdiagnosis and overtreatment, particularly in patients with Li-Fraumeni syndrome who are known to be predisposed to various malignancies. Here, we report a patient with atypical fibrous histiocytomas and multiple pleomorphic fibroma-type lesions in the setting of Li-Fraumeni syndrome.
Experience and Attitudes Toward Telehealth in Student-Run Free Clinics (SRFC)
Authors: Luong Hanna N. , Shahin Ahmad , Porter Katherine R. , Chavez Augustine
Published: January 2023

Introduction/Objectives:

Telehealth services expanded during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Student-run free clinics (SRFC) deliver important health care services to underserved populations, who may face barriers to telehealth use. This study characterizes telehealth usage, experiences, and attitudes among individuals working in SRFCs.

Methods:

In November 2021, a survey adapted from the COVID-19 Healthcare Coalition Telehealth Impact Physician Survey was sent to all registrants who identified themselves as students at the 2020 Society of Student-Run Free Clinics Annual Conference.

Results:

Thirty-eight individuals of 576 registrants (7%) representing 21 of 88 (24%) SRFCs completed the survey. Twenty-one (58%) individuals reported using telehealth in their clinic. Those that did not cited lack of infrastructure as a barrier (eg, broadband, Internet challenges, technology investments), were more likely to serve homeless (P  = .01), and less likely to serve non-English speaking populations (P  = .02). There were increases in telehealth and decreases in in-person visits after March 11, 2020 though changes did not reach statistical significance. At least 15 (68%) wanted to continue chronic disease management, preventative care, and mental/behavioral health via telehealth after COVID-19. Most felt that telehealth was easy to use and improved the health, safety, and timeliness of care of patients, but not work satisfaction or access to care. Difficulty accessing physical devices, Internet, and data was the most-cited barrier to maintaining and accessing telehealth.

Conclusions:

Nearly all participants cited significant benefits and barriers to telehealth that impacted perceived access to care and sustainability. SRFCs’ experiences may be modulated by their underserved populations and role in student education. Addressing barriers, particularly patient- and clinic-level technology challenges, could work to improve inequities in telehealth uptake.
The unexpected consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on maritime crime: Evidence from Indonesia and Nigeria
Authors: Gold Aaron , Phayal Anup , Prins Brandon
Published: January 2023

The economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating. Job losses, negative growth rates, and increased poverty have all followed rising infection rates. The economic costs have been especially challenging for many piracy-prone countries. The international monetary fund anticipates sizable unemployment increases in many Indo-Pacific countries. Deeper and more durable economic damage may materialize in some West African countries. Often, negative economic shocks produce surges in crime, both on land and at sea. The present study evaluates the effects of COVID-19 on maritime pirate attacks in two countries, Nigeria, located in the Gulf of Guinea, and Indonesia, located in the Indo-Pacific. We employ monthly and quarterly data on government measures to prevent infection, sea-piracy incidents, and economic conditions to explore whether the subsequent economic fallout produced more maritime crime. We do not find clear evidence of this relationship in Indonesia. However, COVID-19-induced stringency measure does appear to have increased sea-piracy incidents in Nigeria.
Health aid for states with dissimilar foreign policy preferences, a tool for peace?
Authors: Hwang Wonjae , Hwang Jeeseon
Published: January 2023

Due to its exigency and humanitarian nature, health aid is less political and thus less vulnerable to domestic and international criticism than other types of foreign aid. Ironically, this makes health aid an effective policy tool for donors to cultivate or improve relations with recipients that have divergent foreign policy preferences from donors. This implies that health problems caused by pandemics/epidemics and associated health aid can create an opportunity to ameliorate historically troubled relationships between states. By examining the link between bilateral health aid flows and differences in foreign policy preferences between 24 donors and their recipients from 1990 to 2017, this paper presents findings that support this claim. The theoretical arguments and empirical findings of this paper offer novel insights into the politics of health aid.