bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Myrtenol Ameliorates Recognition Memories’ Impairment and Anxiety-Like Behaviors Induced by Asthma by Mitigating Hippocampal Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Rats
Authors: Bejeshk Mohammad Abbas , Aminizadeh Amir Hashem , Jafari Elham , Motamedi Sina , Zangiabadi Iman , Ghasemi Ahmad , Fathi Mazyar , Nezhadi Akram , Akhgarandouz Faezeh , Bejeshk Fatemeh , Mohammadi Leila , Mohammadi Fatemeh , Rajizadeh Mohammad Amin
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Asthma is related to neurochemical alterations which affect brain functions and lead to anxiety and cognitive dysfunctions. Myrtenol has sparked considerable interest due to its pharmacological effects, especially for the remediation of chronic disorders. Thus, the present research was designed to evaluate the impacts of myrtenol on anxiety-like behaviors, cognitive declines, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the hippocampus of asthmatic rats. Methods: Rats were allocated to five groups: control, asthma, asthma/vehicle, asthma/myrtenol, and asthma/budesonide. Asthma was elicited in the rats by ovalbumin, and the animals were then exposed to myrtenol inhalation. Anxiety-like behavior and memory were assessed by elevated plus maze (EPM) and novel object and location recognition tests. Interleukins (interleukin-6, -17, and -10), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and oxidative stress biomarkers such as malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the hippocampus were assessed by the ELISA method. Results: The levels of IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α, and MDA decreased, but GPX, SOD, and TAC levels increased in the hippocampus of asthmatic animals due to myrtenol inhalation. Conclusion: Myrtenol diminished asthma-induced anxiety-like behaviors and cognitive deficits in asthmatic rats; these effects might have been typically mediated by a reduction in inflammation and oxidative stress.
Using Component-Resolved Diagnosis to Characterize the Sensitization to Specific Cat and Dog Allergens in Patients with Allergic Respiratory Diseases in Catalonia, Spain
Authors: Roger Albert , Lazo Carlota , Arias Noelia , Quirant Bibiana , Albert Nereida , Gómez Mireia , Schayman Waleska
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Sensitization to cat and dog allergens is common in patients with allergic respiratory diseases. The study objective was to determine the prevalence of immunoglobulin E (IgE) sensitization to specific cat and dog allergens using component-resolved diagnosis (CRD) in patients with allergic respiratory diseases plus cat and/or dog sensitization. Methods: We included 87 patients aged 8–62 years, diagnosed with allergic asthma and/or rhinitis plus cat and/or dog sensitization, and attended at the allergy section of a tertiary hospital in Badalona (Catalonia, Spain). We used CRD to determine IgE sensitization to specific cat/dog allergens and skin prick tests (SPTs) to determine differences between diagnostic test results. Results: Patients were monosensitized to cats (20.7%) or dogs (3.4%) or sensitized to both (75.9%). The highest positive allergen rates were for Fel d 1 (91.7%) and Fel d 4 (41%) in patients sensitized to cat allergens and for Can f 5 (80%) and Can f 1 (70%) in those sensitized to dog allergens. CRD and SPT results differed somewhat: 16.1% and 27.6% of patients CRD positive for cat or dog sensitization, respectively, were SPT negative, and 6.9% SPT positive for dog sensitization were CRD negative. Few statistically significant relationships were found between any allergen components and any respiratory disease characteristic or contact with furry animals. Conclusions: CRD may be used to determine the prevalence of IgE sensitization to specific cat and dog allergens in patients with allergic respiratory diseases plus cat and/or dog sensitization. As SPT may not correctly identify all patients sensitized to cats and dogs, our results support the use of CRD.
Erythema Multiforme and COVID-19: A Case Report and Deep Insight
Authors: Eid Mustafa Mahmood
Published: January 2023

There are several differences in illness presentation in clinical practice. Because diseases are ever-evolving, a single negative test cannot totally exclude the presence of a disease. The most frequent etiologies of erythema multiforme (EM), a prevalent mucocutaneous condition, are herpes infection and the use of numerous medicines. As a novel virus, SARS-CoV-2 is not often the primary differential for EM eruptions. This case represents a young female patient who presented solely with EM symptoms involving the distal parts of her upper and lower extremities after a positive swab for SARS-CoV-2. The condition improved with symptomatic treatment, and there were no major complications.
Identifying the Basic Dimensions of Medication-Triggered Impulsive Compulsive Behaviours in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Edelstyn Nicky , Di Rosa Elisa , Martini Alice
Published: January 2023

Background: This review article integrates findings from published behavioural and neuroimaging studies of impulsive-compulsive behaviours (ICBs) in Parkinson’s disease, with the aim of identifying the basic correlates of these problematic and distressing behaviours. The underlying premise is that for any feature to be a reliable marker of ICBs, it should be evident across multiple levels of analyses. When changes are evident only at one level, but not in the others, their reliability as indicators of ICBs should be questioned. Summary: To this end, we draw on the conclusions from three published systematic reviews of dopamine metabolic processes in the striatum, functional magnetic resonance imaging and cognitive, affective, and motivational assessments of medicated Parkinson’s patients with and without ICBs (ICB+ and ICB−, respectively). The key findings are as follows: ICB+ showed abnormal dopaminergic of the striatum, including the brain network supporting reward processing. Fronto-striatal connectivity was also reduced. These findings are consistent with the broader evidence of psychological dysfunction, evident on assessments of cognitive control (goal-driven behaviour, impulsivity), reward-driven decision-making (temporal discounting, gambling), and elevated rates of self-report negative affect (anxiety, depression, anhedonia). The implications of these findings are discussed with reference to the research domain criteria and, relatedly, directions for future research. Key Messages: The identification of markers of ICB that allow early diagnosis, monitoring, and optimisation of therapy is an ambitious goal. And whilst we have pulled together a number of convergent findings identified using different paradigms, we are still some distance off understanding the mechanism(s) that increase vulnerability to ICB. It is our hope that this review spurs future studies to further investigate the interaction between motivation and cognition with the twin aims of identifying markers of ICB that have both clinical utility and function as outcome measures in therapeutic clinical trials.
Rationale for a New Classification of Solutes of Interest in Chronic Kidney Disease and Hemodialysis
Authors: Reis Thiago , Hutchison Colin , de Assis Rocha Neves Francisco , Zawadzki Bruno , Zanella Monica , Ronco Claudio , Rosner Mitchell H.
Published: January 2023

A hallmark of chronic kidney disease is the retention of solutes that normally are eliminated by the kidneys. The current classification defines uremic toxins based on molecular weight and protein affinity. The retention of solutes is already detected in the early stages of the disease when patients are pauci-symptomatic or asymptomatic but the role of therapies to retard the loss of kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease (e.g., modulators of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors) in reducing uremic toxins is poorly understood. Most of the research evaluating the impact of therapies to lower serum concentrations of those toxic compounds is carried out in patients with kidney failure already undergoing kidney replacement therapy. The removal of those molecules relies in physicochemical mass transfer phenomena, i.e., adsorption, diffusion, and convection. In the past 2 decades, the rise and broad adoption of blood purification strategies with enhanced convective properties, such as high-volume online hemodiafiltration and expanded hemodialysis, considerably amplified the ability to mechanically extract middle molecules (molecular weight >0.5 kDa) from the blood compartment. Nonetheless, the classification of uremic toxins has not evolved in parallel with dialysis advancements. Mounting evidence demonstrates the link between middle molecules with uremic symptoms, cardiovascular and mortality risks. An urgent need for updating the classification exists. Defining the causative relationship between specific solutes and specific clinical outcomes will promote the development of targeted therapies. In parallel, the inclusion of new pertinent dimensions to the classification like the influence of new dialysis membranes, sorbents, and intestinal chelators in the concentration of uremic toxins would improve the understanding of the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease, setting the pace for future research in nephrology.
Diagnosis, Workup, Risk Reduction of Transient Ischemic Attack in the Emergency Department Setting: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Authors: Amin Hardik P. , Madsen Tracy E. , Bravata Dawn M. , Wira Charles R. , Johnston S. Claiborne , Ashcraft Susan , Burrus Tamika M. , Panagos Peter D. , Wintermark Max , Esenwa Charles ,   on behalf of the American Heart Association Emergency Neurovascular Care Committee of the Stroke Council and Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease
Published: January 2023

At least 240 000 individuals experience a transient ischemic attack each year in the United States. Transient ischemic attack is a strong predictor of subsequent stroke. The 90-day stroke risk after transient ischemic attack can be as high as 17.8%, with almost half occurring within 2 days of the index event. Diagnosing transient ischemic attack can also be challenging given the transitory nature of symptoms, often reassuring neurological examination at the time of evaluation, and lack of confirmatory testing. Limited resources, such as imaging availability and access to specialists, can further exacerbate this challenge. This scientific statement focuses on the correct clinical diagnosis, risk assessment, and management decisions of patients with suspected transient ischemic attack. Identification of high-risk patients can be achieved through use of comprehensive protocols incorporating acute phase imaging of both the brain and cerebral vasculature, thoughtful use of risk stratification scales, and ancillary testing with the ultimate goal of determining who can be safely discharged home from the emergency department versus admitted to the hospital. We discuss various methods for rapid yet comprehensive evaluations, keeping resource-limited sites in mind. In addition, we discuss strategies for secondary prevention of future cerebrovascular events using maximal medical therapy and patient education.
Nationally Certified Stroke Centers Outperform Self-Attested Stroke Centers in the Florida Stroke Registry
Authors: Marulanda Erika , Bustillo Antonio , Gutierrez Carolina M. , Rose David Z. , Jameson Angus , Gardener Hannah , Alkhachroum Ayham , Zhou Lili , Ying Hao , Dong Chuanhui , Foster Dianne , Hanel Ricardo , Mehta Brijesh , Mokin Maxim , Mueller-Kronast Nils , Landreth Mark , Sand Charles , Romano Jose G. , Rundek Tatjana , Asdaghi Negar , Sacco Ralph L.
Published: January 2023

Background:

The Florida Stroke Act, signed into law in 2004, set criteria for Comprehensive Stroke Centers (CSC). For a set time period, Florida hospitals were permitted to either receive national certification (NC) or could self-attest (SA) as fulfilling CSC criteria. The aim of this project was to evaluate the quality of ischemic stroke care in NC versus SA stroke centers in Florida, using well-known, guideline-driven ischemic stroke outcome metrics.

Methods:

A total of 37 CSCs (74% of Florida CSCs) in the Florida Stroke Registry from January 2013 through December 2018 were analyzed, including 19 SA CSCs and 18 NC (13 CSCs and 5 Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center). Hospital- and patient-level characteristics and stroke metrics were evaluated, adjusting for demographics, medical comorbidities, and stroke severity.

Results:

A total of 78 424 acute ischemic stroke cases, 36 089 from SA CSCs and 42 335 from NC CSC/Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Centers were analyzed. NC centers had older patients (73 [61–83] versus 71 [60–81];
P
<0.001) with more severe strokes (median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of 5 versus 4;
P
<0.001). NC had higher intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator utilization (15% versus 13%;
P
<0.001), endovascular treatment (10% versus 7%;
P
<0.001) and faster median door-to-computed tomography (23 minutes [11–73] versus 31 [12–78];
P
<0.001), door-to-needle (37 minutes [26–50] versus 45 [34–58];
P
<0.001) and door-to-puncture times (77 minutes [50–113] versus 93 [62–140];
P
<0.001). In adjusted analysis, patients arriving to NC hospitals by 3 hours were more likely to get intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator in the 3- to 4.5-hour window (adjusted odds ratio, 1.87 [95% CI, 1.30–2.68];
P
=0.001) and more likely to be treated with intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator within 45 minutes (adjusted odds ratio, 1.61 [95% CI, 1.04–2.50];
P
=0.04) compared with SA CSCs.

Conclusions:

Among Florida-Stroke Registry CSCs, acute ischemic stroke performance and treatment measures at NC centers are superior to SA CSCs. These findings have implications for stroke systems of care in Florida and support legislation updates requiring NC and removal of SA claims.
Functionalization of Gold Nanostars with Melamine for Colorimetric Detection of Uric Acid
Authors: Dandu Sai Snigdha , Joshi Dharaben J. , Park Tae Jung , Kailasa Suresh Kumar
Published: January 2023

Gold nanostars (AuNSs) are synthesized using a seed-mediated growth method. The synthesized AuNSs solution is stable and shows a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) band in the visible range, which is confirmed using ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy. Furthermore, the as-synthesized AuNSs were functionalized with melamine and used as a sensor for the colorimetric detection of uric acid (UA). The detection mechanism could be assessed through various analytical techniques such as UV–Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and transmission electron microscopic techniques. These methods exhibited a good linear regression between the absorption ratio of LSPR band of melamine–AuNSs and the concentration of UA (0–120 µM), with the detection limit of 8.50 nm. As a result, UA was quantitatively detected in biofluids by using melamine-AuNSs as a colorimetric sensor, revealing melamine–AuNSs–based colorimetric approach which could be used as a simple platform for UA assay in biofluids.
Establishment of reference intervals for plasma metanephrines in seated position measured by LC-MS/MS and assessment of diagnostic performance in pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma
Authors: Lin Yuxin , Wang Meihua , Cao Yingping
Published: January 2023

Background

The use of supine reference intervals instead of the corresponding seated reference intervals for seated plasma-free metanephrines (MNs) in pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma (PPGL) screening has been controversial in recent years. Each clinical laboratory should choose the optimal sampling posture and diagnostic strategy according to local conditions.

Methods

The reference population consisted of 736 cases aged 14–92 years old and the validation population consisted of 1068 patients aged 8–87 years old. Seated MNs were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and the reference intervals and diagnostic cut-off values were established and the diagnostic performance compared with reference intervals established in a supine position.

Results

There was no correlation between seated plasma MNs and age ( p > 0.05) and there were differences in MNs among the various disease groups ( p < 0.05). MNs were different in gender ( p < 0.0001). The upper reference limit (URL) established in this study had the same sensitivity (100%) and better specificity (94.6% vs 83.5%) compared with the published age-adjusted supine reference intervals. The proportion of suspected patients with MNs within the URL-2×URL range was lower using seated reference intervals compared to supine intervals (5.3% vs 15.7%).

Conclusion

Using the corresponding seated reference intervals for seated plasma MNs can reduce the unnecessary re-examinations of suspected patients with slightly elevated MNs. The cut-off value established by seated plasma MNs has good diagnostic performance in PPGL. Use of seated sampling is an acceptable practice and is more convenient and economical than supine sampling.
‘Now you will understand what it is like to be confined’: Did COVID-19 lockdowns affect perceptions about long-term psychiatric hospitalizations? A report from Argentina
Authors: Fernandez Marina Ayelén , Ares Lavalle Guadalupe , Murlender Liza , Agrest Martin , Ardila-Gómez Sara Elena
Published: January 2023

Background:

Lockdowns have been one of the government’s primary measures to control COVID-19, especially during the initial waves of the pandemic, but there is concern on the impact of lockdowns on people’s mental health. Confinement is still today the reality of many people with severe mental illness in many places of the world.

Objective:

Given that the general population experienced confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic, we sought to explore if that affected perceptions about long-term psychiatric hospitalizations.

Methods:

About 134 residents from middle-class neighborhoods in urban settings in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, were surveyed. Participants were asked if they felt emotionally affected by the pandemic and lockdown, and about their perceptions of long-term psychiatric hospitalizations. Association between personal emotional impact by the pandemic or lockdown with perceptions about long-term psychiatric hospitalization were analyzed using chi-square test. Qualitative analysis of pandemic and lockdown effects was held.

Results:

Respondents tended to overlap the emotional effects of the pandemic and the lockdown. Some responses explicitly referred to confinement. No association was observed between emotional impact by the pandemic or lockdown and perceptions about long-term psychiatric hospitalization among the sample. The general population’s perceptions of long-term psychiatric hospitalization do not appear to be affected by the first-hand experience of confinement, which suggest persistence of stigma, and the need to reconsider public policies and actions that attempt to impact on it.
Trading Blame: Drawing Boundaries around the Righteous, Deserving and Vulnerable in Times of Crisis
Authors: Foster Jordan , Pettinicchio David , Maroto Michelle , Holmes Andy , Lukk Martin
Published: January 2023

Symbolic boundaries shape how we see and understand both ourselves and those around us. Amid periods of crisis, these boundaries can appear more salient, sharpening distinctions between ‘us’ and ‘them’ and reinforcing inequalities in the social landscape. Based on 50 in-depth interviews about pandemic experiences among Canadians with disabilities and chronic health conditions, we examine how this community distinguishes between the ‘deserving’ and ‘undeserving’, and how emotions related to blame and resentment inform the boundaries they draw. We find that people with disabilities and chronic health conditions drew boundaries based on unequal health statuses and vulnerabilities and between those who are and are not legitimately entitled to government aid. Underlying these dimensions are a familiar set of moral tropes that respondents use to assert their own superiority and to inveigh their frustrations. Together, they play an important role in solidifying boundaries between groups, complicating public perceptions of policy responses to crisis.
‘A prospective case control study to evaluate shock index for identifying patients at risk of clinically important malaria in refugee settings’
Authors: Kuhrt Katy , Seed Paul T , Shennan Andrew H
Published: January 2023

Bidibidi Refugee Settlement's 223,000 refugees are vulnerable to malaria due to crowded conditions and limited healthcare access. Early identification and referral of suspected cases is key to reduce morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the shock index (heart rate/ systolic blood pressure) for detection of abnormal vital signs, calculated by the CRADLE Vital Signs Alert device, which can be used in routine patient blood pressure and heart rate assessment by non-medically trained Voluntary Health Team workers. The single most frequent diagnosis causing shock was malaria, and thus the device was useful to detect severe cases (as well as discovering other cases), after calculating appropriate shock indices.
Feedback-aided PD-type iterative learning control for time-varying systems with non-uniform trial lengths
Authors: Guan Shanglei , Zhuang Zhihe , Tao Hongfeng , Chen Yiyang , Stojanovic Vladimir , Paszke Wojciech
Published: January 2023

In most implementations of iterative learning control (ILC) for trajectory tracking, it is usually required that the trial lengths of different iterations are uniform. However, this requirement may not always be ensured in practical applications. In this paper, a feedback-aided PD-type ILC design for time-varying systems with non-uniform trial lengths is proposed. Although the actual trial lengths are non-uniform, the designed update sequences provide uniform full-length signals for the update process. Meanwhile, information from the most recent valid iterations can be better used than the mechanisms that compensate with hypothesized data, such as zero. Their recursive generation also reduces the storage burden compared to search strategies. The feedback error signal can be additionally used as part of the correction term to improve the system performance compared to the traditional open-loop approaches. Under a deterministic model, the main convergence results are obtained by combining the [Formula: see text]-norm technique with the inductive analysis approach. At last, a linear numerical simulation and a nonlinear single-joint robot simulation are performed, respectively, to show that the proposed design can achieve the asymptotic tracking of the desired trajectories for time-varying systems with non-uniform trial lengths.
‘Forgiveness’ in Building Bridges With Muslims: An Intertextual Analysis of the Joseph's Narrative
Authors: Hyun Hanna
Published: January 2023

Joseph's story in Genesis 37–50 is well-known among Christians. It is similar to the Torah's account of Yōsef's life. The Islamic version celebrates the triumph of the virtuous. In contrast, the biblical narrative highlights the unwavering loyalty of Joseph to his family and forgiveness; an account that could serve as a model for coexistence and fostering harmonious interfaith relations. In this article, the Qurʾānic story of al-Yῡsuf, as well as the Jewish and Christian interpretations of the same story, are used for an intertextual interpretation. Drawing from the idea of ‘from the foreign to the familiar,’ the author describes Joseph's story in Islamic, Jewish and Christian traditions in that sequence. Joseph's story, she suggests, has valuable lessons for the Jews, Christians and Muslims who are connected with each other in a sense through this common narrative; she argues that an intertextual reading of similar narratives in their traditional sources has promise for building bridges between them.
Social Support and Strain from Different Relationship Sources: Their Additive and Buffering Effects on Psychological Well-Being in Adulthood
Authors: Shin Huiyoung , Gyeong Sunjeong
Published: January 2023

The present study examined the main and interactive effects of relationship-specific (i.e., spouses, friends, parents, and children) social support and strain on positive (happiness and well-being) and negative (loneliness and depressive symptoms) psychological well-being, and whether the associations varied by age and gender. A dataset was collected from 1033 adults (20–69 years; 50.1% female) from South Korea regarding social support and strain and indicators of psychological well-being. Results revealed that spousal and friend support was associated with enhanced happiness and well-being and reduced loneliness, whereas spousal and friend strain was associated with heightened depressive symptoms. Relationship-specific social support and strain showed interactive effects. Social support from parents and spouses buffered the adverse effects of social strain on psychological well-being, but their protective effects diminished when they experienced high levels of parental or spousal strain. These patterns were dependent on age and gender, with protective effects of friend support being greater for younger adults and women than for older adults and men.
Nd:Yag laser combined with injection sclerotherapy in the treatment of reticular veins and telangiectasias (CLaCS method): A triple-blind randomized clinical trial comparing two sclerosing agents associated with same laser patterns
Authors: Fonseca Marcos M , Mocelin Faberson João , Grill Marcelo Halfen , Gianesini Sergio , Miyake Kasuo , Argenta Rodrigo , Pereira Adamastor H
Published: January 2023

Background

Cryo-Laser & Cryo-Sclerotherapy (CLaCS) is a technique which combines thermal sclerotherapy and injection sclerotherapy. Telangiectasias and small varicosities are targeted by a transdermal laser and right after receive injection sclerotherapy. A cooling device blows −20°C air onto the skin and needle in a pre-, parallel-, and post-fashion.

Objective

Our objective was to establish if there is a difference in result and complications by varying the sclerosing agent but keeping the same ND:Yag long pulse laser parameters in the treatment of small varicosities.

Methods

Fifty five patients were enrolled prospectively and randomized to two groups; in the group 1 dextrose 75% was the sclerosing agent used in combination with the ND:Yag long pulse laser and, in the group 2, the same laser technique was used but the sclerosing agent was polidocanol 0.3% and dextrose 67%.

Results

The results were evaluated 30 days after the treatment by the patients and for blinded evaluators using before and after standardized photos with and without augmented reality. In the patient’s perspective and in the blinded evaluation of the regular photos, no differences between the groups were found. Both groups had low rates of hyperpigmentation and bruising with no statistical difference. Patients treated with polidocanol had less pain after the treatment and a better clearance rate in the photos with augmented reality. No major complications were found.

Conclusion

The treatment of small varicosities with CLaCS using Dextrose 75% or polidocanol 0.3% and Dextrose 67.5% is a safe and effective procedure and both sclerosing agents can be used with similar results. Possibly, in the polidocanol group more nonvisible reticular veins were cleared, but the implication of this find is not clear.
Schlieren and mie-scattering visualization of an evaporating spray under marine diesel engine conditions
Authors: Liu Rui , Huang Li , Ma Yue , Ju Dehao , Feng Mingzhi , Lu Xingcai
Published: January 2023

Due to the critical influence on combustion, extensive research has been carried out to deepen the understanding of diesel spray evolution. However, for the greater share of land-based diesel engines, most of the studies have focused on the injectors with small nozzle diameter and rare studies can be found on marine diesel engines, which has a larger mass flow rate and longer injection duration with large nozzle diameter. In this study, the influence of injection pressure, ambient temperature, ambient density and nozzle diameter on spray morphology for medium speed marine diesel engine injectors (with nozzle diameter up to 0.53 mm) were investigated under various non-reacting but evaporative conditions. The experiments were performed via a highly enhanced constant volume chamber (highest temperature of 900 K and highest pressure of 8 MPa) with an optical window diameter of 205 mm. Liquid and vapor penetration of sprays were recorded by Mie-scattering and schlieren optical configurations respectively. Results show that the vapor penetration velocity is mainly affected by injection pressure. Ambient temperature has the most significant effect on liquid penetration length, but less effect can be found on the vapor penetration velocity. Given the obvious deviation from heavy duty engine sprays, the empirical correlations for liquid penetration length and vapor spray evolution are updated to fit the spray characteristics of medium speed marine diesel engine injectors, which is helpful to understand the spray behavior for large nozzle diameter injector under marine diesel engine conditions.
Fiscal support and carbon productivity of agriculture—Empirical evidence from China
Authors: Xu Ning , Zhang Wenjie , Li Haoran , Chen Wanxu
Published: January 2023

In the context of global climate change, improving agricultural carbon productivity is an important channel to cope with climate change, reduce agricultural carbon emissions and maintain agricultural growth. For a long time, agricultural development in China mainly depends on the government's fiscal expenditure. However, does fiscal support helps to promote carbon productivity of agriculture? This question remains to be answered. Using a set of panel data covering 31 provinces and cities from 2003 to 2019, this study empirically explores the impact of agricultural fiscal support on agricultural carbon productivity in China. Benchmark regression results indicate that after controlling other influential factors, regional fiscal expenditure on agricultural has a significantly positive impact on agricultural carbon productivity. In addition, the promotion impacts of fiscal support on agricultural technological innovation and scale operation efficiency are two effective channels by which to help promote agricultural carbon productivity. By using a panel threshold regression model, we find that there exists a nonlinear relationship between fiscal support and agricultural carbon productivity. The input of agricultural machinery and chemical fertilizer are two threshold variables. Further, this causal linkage between fiscal support and agricultural carbon productivity exists differences because of the different levels of agricultural carbon productivity and regions. Our research provides Chinese theoretical basis and practical reference for improvement of agricultural carbon productivity from the perspective of fiscal expenditure.
Effects of electroacupuncture at ST36 and BL20 on the diabetic rat testis
Authors: Kizilay Gulnur , Ersoy Onur , Bozer Cuneyt , Demirtas Selim , Cikmaz Selman , Yılmaz Ali
Published: January 2023

Objective:

We aimed to evaluate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at ST36 and BL20 on the testicular tissues in a rat model of diabetes and to explore the mechanisms of action.

Methods:

A total of 34 male Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated to a control group (n = 10), diabetes (D) group (n = 12) or diabetes + acupuncture (DA) group (n = 12). To model diabetes, rats in groups D and DA received an intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of 35 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) dissolved in citrate buffer (pH = 4.5; 0.1 M) after 2 weeks of high-fat diet administration. Under xylazine/ketamine anesthesia, stainless steel needles (30 mm × 0.25 mm) were inserted bilaterally at ST36 and BL20. The needles were connected to an EA device via cables, and EA was applied for 30 min (15 Hz frequency and 0.2–1 mA intensity) twice a week for 5 weeks.

Results:

The effects of EA at ST36 and BL20 on blood glucose levels and body weight, biochemical parameters, histopathological, morphometric and immunohistochemical findings, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) analysis were evaluated. A significant decrease was detected in DA versus D groups in blood glucose levels, basement membrane thickness and apoptotic cell/tubule indices. In addition, there was a significant increase in the Johnsen scores, seminiferous tubule diameters, serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone, proliferation indices, and sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG) and insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) immunoreactivities.

Conclusion:

EA had multiple positive effects on blood glucose homeostasis and testicular structure/function in this rat model of diabetes. EA may be effective at preventing or eliminating histopathological damage in the diabetic testis.
Over a decade of an eating disorders treatment program: Where to from here?
Authors: Phillipou Andrea , Jenkins Zoe M , Newton J Richard , Gwee Karen , Rossell Susan L , Castle David J
Published: January 2023

Objective

Currently available treatments for eating disorders lack efficacy resulting in poor outcomes for patients. In this paper, we describe a number of issues that we have identified in our clinical service, which are not unique to our treatment program.

Conclusions

The issues described are common among eating disorder services worldwide and need to be addressed in order to move the field forward. We provide a number of solutions and research areas that need greater focus so that we are able to improve the efficacy of eating disorder treatment services.
Predictors of adverse outcomes in aged patients critically ill with COVID-19: a retrospective study
Authors: Rockstrom Matthew , Balaban Eric , Fakhri Shoaib , Peterson Ryan A , Jin Ying , Jolley Sarah E , Erlandson Kristine M , Hippensteel Joseph A
Published: January 2023

Older patients represent an inordinate proportion of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and ICU mortality associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this retrospective cohort study, we examine 198 patients, aged 18 years or older, admitted to the ICU from March to June 2020. We aim to understand the relationships between age, number of comorbidities, and independent living prior to admission on outcomes of mortality, length of stay, renal failure, respiratory failure, and shock. In this cohort, we find that overall mortality was associated with respiratory failure severity (for every decrease of P:F by 50, odds ratio (OR) 2.98 (1.65–6.08)), acute renal failure (OR 4.61 (1.2–19.7)), and age 65 or greater (OR: 3.7 (1.86–7.36)). Surprisingly, increasing age was associated with less severe respiratory failure (R = 0.22, p < 0.01). When adjusting for pre-existing chronic kidney disease, age was not associated with development of acute kidney injury (OR: 1.01 (0.99–1.03)). While chronologic age is associated with mortality, it is not associated independently with severe end organ damage. This is consistent with growing evidence suggesting that a complex interplay between multimorbidity, immunosenescence, and physiologic age is primarily responsible for the vulnerability to COVID-19.
Clinical presentation, treatment and outcome in 23 cats with laryngeal or tracheal lymphoma
Authors: Rodriguez-Piza Ignasi , Borrego Juan Francisco , Treggiari Elisabetta , Verganti Sara , Priestnall Simon L , Lara-Garcia Ana
Published: January 2023

Objectives

Feline primary laryngeal or tracheal lymphoma (PLTL) is an uncommon extranodal presentation. Information on long-term survival is scarce, although some small case series describe this being achieved with multiagent protocols; an accurate outcome for cats with PLTL is yet to be determined. The aim of this study was to gather information on the clinical presentation, response to treatment and outcome in a large case series of feline PLTL.

Methods

This retrospective multicentre study included cats with a cytological or histopathological confirmation of PLTL. Histopathology samples, when available, were reassessed for grade and immunophenotype. Clinical (age, signalment, retroviral status, presence of anaemia, clinical signs, location and therapy type) and outcome (response, progression-free survival [PFS] and overall survival [OS]) variables were recorded. Survival analyses to assess the impact of variables on PFS and OS were performed.

Results

Twenty-three cases were included; cats had a median age of 11 years (range 2–16) and the male:female ratio was 3.6:1. Common clinical signs at presentation included increased respiratory effort (74%) and abnormal upper respiratory tract sounds (48%). Immunophenotyping was performed in 48% of cases and all were B cell. Debulking surgery was performed in 26% of cases. All cats received chemotherapy, COP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisolone; 39%), CHOP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin and prednisolone; 44%) and other protocols (17%); 35% had a partial response and 65% a complete response. Median PFS and OS were 909 days (range 23–1484) and 909 days (range 23–2423), respectively. Complete response was associated with longer PFS ( P <0.001) and OS ( P = 0.012). Pretreatment with steroids was associated with longer OS ( P = 0.003). No other variable was found to be significant.

Conclusions and relevance

PLTL in cats is mostly of a B-cell phenotype, could be of a low-to-medium grade, and may respond to surgical and medical treatment with a longer survival time than has previously been reported.
Online support groups for carers of people living with dementia: An investigation of videoconferencing support groups in lockdown
Authors: McLoughlin Bethany , Atherton Helen , MacArtney John , Dale Jeremy
Published: January 2023

Background

This study aimed to explore the experiences of carers of people living with dementia who participated in videoconferencing support groups during the COVID-19 pandemic to investigate their preferences and experiences with online, hybrid, and face-to-face support.

Methods

This convergent mixed methods design study utilised an online questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Interviews took place over videoconferencing software and were analysed through thematic analysis. Participants were recruited from support groups based in the UK and Ireland.

Results

39 carers of people living with dementia completed the questionnaire and 16 carers participated in interviews. Participants found videoconferencing support groups more convenient, but face-to-face groups more enjoyable. Participants who had found it difficult to access face-to-face groups prior to COVID-19 expressed more positive perceptions of videoconference-based groups. Many felt that hybrid groups would make it easier for more people to attend. However, some carers described lacking the resources and technological skills to participate in online support groups effectively. Some suggested making IT training available may improve the capacity of carers to access support online.

Conclusion

Videoconferencing support groups can be an appropriate way of supporting carers of people with dementia, especially for those who do not have access to face-to-face support groups. However, face-to-face support remains important to carers and should be made available when it can be implemented safely. Hybrid support groups could allow for increased accessibility while still providing the option of face-to-face contact for those who prefer it or are not adept with technology.
Value Creation Through an Emotional Management Program Adapted to the Needs of a Group of Adult Learners
Authors: Bruno Luana , Iborra Alejandro , García-Varela Ana Belén
Published: January 2023

Most emotional intervention programs are based on remedial approaches designed to improve one’s emotional management. However, few programs have aimed at promoting developmental changes not to mention value creation processes regarding their coping with emotional experiences. Accordingly, we implement and evaluate an emotional intervention program based on the specific needs of the participants. Nineteen Secondary School teachers volunteered through 5 sessions of 4 hours each. After the intervention, a follow-up was carried out by means of a discussion group and a post-test, using the Bar-On ICE questionnaire. Most emotional intelligence factors increased significantly their scores in the post-test. It is discussed to what extent there is evidence of a transformational change in the participants attributed to the developmental value creation intervention.
Word-association norms for 1,100 French words with varying levels of concreteness
Authors: Lakhzoum Dounia , Izaute Marie , Ferrand Ludovic
Published: January 2023

The organisation of concepts in the mental lexicon is a widely studied research topic in experimental psychology. For instance, several studies have shown that whereas concrete concepts are organised according to semantic similarity, abstract concepts are organised according to verbal association. However, these results are not systematically replicated, mainly due to a lack of normative database especially in French. To that end, we introduce a French word-association database for 1,100 cues with varying levels of concreteness from abstract to concrete concepts. Analyses from the word-association task revealed stronger association strength for concrete concepts compared with abstract concepts. Additional results showed that cues tend to elicit responses of a similar level of concreteness. The database will be useful for investigators interested in French verbal associations for abstract and concrete concepts. The data (available on OSF https://osf.io/dhuqs/ ) introduce responses organised according to association strength and provides cue concreteness.
Is She A Woman?: Alternative Critical Frameworks for Understanding Cross-Dressing and Cross-Gender Casting on the Victorian Stage
Authors: Eltis Sos
Published: January 2023

As the study of nineteenth-century theatre has expanded over the decades, the extent and popularity of cross-dressing and cross-gender casting on the Victorian stage is being revealed. Yet there is an enduring tendency in Victorian theatre criticism to situate transvestite performances within broad-brush assumptions of binary attitudes towards gender amongst theatre audiences. Universalised gender norms and assumptions of binary thinking have long been discarded in critical analysis of Victorian fiction, and their lingering influence on Victorian theatre studies has arguably been unhelpful. Building on the vital pioneering work of Jacky Bratton, this article will focus on the careers of Louisa Cranstoun Nisbett and Mary Anne Keeley, two prominent and acclaimed mid-century actresses, drawing on reviews, memoirs, and commentaries on their performances to attempt to construct alternative theories for how they were viewed and understood. The critical and popular success of their performances and the language and ideas employed by reviewers and commentators to record and explain them reveal far more flexible, multiple, fluid, complex, and imaginative attitudes to gender roles and identities than allowed for in established critical narratives.
‘Revolution of space’, autogestion, and appropriation of nature in Henri Lefebvre’s political and revolutionary project
Authors: Pereira Cláudio Smalley Soares
Published: January 2023

This commentary engages with Napoletano et al.'s analysis of the relationship between society and nature in the work of Henri Lefebvre. I present some reflections on the nexuses between the production of space, autogestion, and the appropriation of nature. I maintain that the politics of space is not separate from the politics of nature. Autogestion is fundamental to construct a revolutionary project to ‘change life’ that includes a new society–nature relationship in the context of the ‘revolution of space’.
Strategic stories: weaponized or worldmaking?
Authors: Hartley John
Published: January 2023

The deployment of strategic stories, that is, stories designed to prevail over adversaries, is at work in domestic politics as well as in diplomacy. In both cases, the strategy has two aims: to create a division between ‘us’ and ‘them’, and at the same time to ascribe moral supremacy to ‘our side’ while posing ‘their side’ as an existential threat. Strategic storytelling specialises in discrimination and foe creation, but the nature of the actors involved has changed in the digital era. Now, ‘we’ and ‘they’ are organised into decentralised and mediated classes based on common identities, enabling collective action at planetary scale (e.g. climate activism, gender and ethnic justice, far-right extremism). At the same time, media platforms and news organisations are part of the apparatus by which strategic narratives are weaponised for warfare. Thus, I argue, digital media analysis needs to understand the ‘strategic turn’ in storytelling, and its deployment by states and ‘non-state actors’ alike, in this case, news media. Alternative models of worldmaking, in which popular culture acts as a pedagogic platform for class formation and activism, enter an ecology in which narrative is already a weapon of war – where it’s aircraft carriers, all the way down.
Ethical Considerations Regarding Financial Incentives in Plastic Surgery-Related Health Research
Authors: Gallo Lucas , Gallo Matteo , Yuan Morgan , Voineskos Sophocles H. , Avram Ronen , McRae Mark H. , McRae Matthew C. , Coroneos Christopher J. , Schwartz Lisa , Thoma Achilles
Published: January 2023

Introduction: To recruit enough patients to achieve adequate statistical power in clinical research, investigators often rely on financial incentives. The use of these incentives, however, remains controversial as they may cause patients to overlook risks associated with research participation. This concern is amplified in the context of plastic surgery where aesthetic procedures are often more desirable and are not typically covered by public or private insurance plans. Despite this, the ethical debate regarding the use of incentives has largely been absent from plastic surgery journals; therefore, efforts to summarize the existing literature in the context of plastic surgery are necessary. Methods: A narrative review of the peer-reviewed published literature was performed to identify existing articles pertaining to financial incentives in plastic surgery-related health research. Results: While incentives have the potential to improve sample sizes and promote the recruitment of under-represented patient populations, undue inducement and biased recruitment are possible. At present, there exists a paucity of empirical evidence to substantiate this. Efforts should be taken by investigators and research ethics boards (REBs) to limit the potential negative impacts of monetary compensation. Investigators should place reasonable limits on the value of incentives as well as select models associated with lower risks of undue influence and enrollment bias. When financial remuneration is offered, additional care should be taken by investigators to ensure participants are adequately informed of the risks associated with research participation. Conclusion: Current best practice recommendations suggest that proposals submitted to REBs justify the incentives used. Information regarding incentives should also be included within study consent forms and communicated as part of the informed consent process.