bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Meta-Analysis of Elderly Lower Body Strength: Different Effects of Tai Chi Exercise on the Knee Joint-Related Muscle Groups
Authors: Yang Yuan , Li Jia-hui , Xu Nan-Jun , Yang Wei-Yi , Liu Jun
Published: December 2021

Importance. Tai Chi exercise mostly involves muscle fitness with biological, biomechanical, and psychosomatic medicine in elderly rehabilitation. Increased incidents related to elderly muscle fitness deficiency tend to be an urgent public health issue. However, there is a controversy on the effects of Tai Chi exercise on muscle fitness, especially the lower body strength of the elderly. Objective. To determine whether lower body strength such as keen extension and flexion strength may be improved by Tai Chi exercise in older adults from the perspective of evidence-based medicine. Methods. Databases of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched up to July 1, 2021. Randomized clinical trials are adopted to compare Tai Chi exercise with sedentary behavior or other low intensity exercise in terms of influence on lower body strength rehabilitation, especially keen extension and flexion strength in people aged over 60. A meta-analysis was performed to discuss outcomes of lower body strength, knee muscle strength, and knee extension/flexion strength. Results. A total of 25 randomized trials involving 1995 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria. (1) Tai Chi exercise significantly improved elderly lower body strength (−0.54, [−0.81, −0.28],

p
<
0.00001

, I2 = 74%), but there was no differential improvement in the strength of the knee joints (0.10, [−0.02, 0.23],

p
=
0.11

, I2 = 34%). (2) Elderly individual lower body strength declined with age, while this trend was suppressed by Tai Chi exercise (−0.35, [0.14, 0.56],

p
=
0.001

, I2 = 70%). (3) Although Tai Chi exercise did no significantly improve the large muscle group of knee joint extensor like quadriceps femoris (3.15, [−0.69, 6.99],

p
=
0.24

, I2 = 26%), it showed marked enhancement to the strength of deep small muscle group of knee joint flexor (10.25, [6.90, 13.61],

p
<
0.00001

, I2 = 0%). The heterogeneity might be caused by distinguished measurements of muscle strength. Therefore, Tai Chi exercise specifically enhanced some certain muscle strength of knee joints and improved muscle fitness rehabilitation as well as function activity for elderly. Conclusions. In this RCT meta-analysis, Tai Chi exercise has positive effects on lower body strength of elderly. Although no obvious improvement on the knee extensor is observed, it may be used as a rehabilitation treatment for training stable deep muscle groups to improve the knee flexion strength significantly.
Catalan Transform of
k
-Balancing Sequences
Authors: Patra Asim , Kaabar Mohammed K. A.
Published: December 2021

In this work, the Catalan transformation (CT) of

k

-balancing sequences,

B

k
,
n

n
≥
0

, is introduced. Furthermore, the obtained Catalan transformation

C

B

k
,
n

n
≥
0

was shown as the product of lower triangular matrices called Catalan matrices and the matrix of

k

-balancing sequences,

B

k
,
n

n
≥
0

, which is an

n
×
1

matrix. Apart from that, the Hankel transform is applied further to calculate the determinant of the matrices formed from

C

B

k
,
n

n
≥
0

.
Associations between Alcohol Consumption Patterns and Risk of Multiple Myeloma: A Nationwide Cohort Study in South Korea
Authors: Jeon Keun Hye , Jeong Su-Min , Shin Dong Wook , Han Kyungdo , Kim Dahye , Yoo Jung Eun , Choi Taewoong
Published: December 2021

Background:

Among the potential modifiable risk factors, the association between alcohol consumption and the risk of multiple myeloma remains controversial. We investigated the effects of weekly average alcohol consumption and drinking pattern on the risk of multiple myeloma using a nationwide representative database.

Methods:

We identified 11,737,467 subjects who participated in the Korean National Health Screening Program in 2009 and 2010. Cox regression analyses were performed to calculate the risk of multiple myeloma according to weekly alcohol consumption, drinking frequency, and amount per session.

Results:

During a mean follow-up period of 6.8 years after a one-year time lag, 6,981 subjects (3,921 men and 3,060 women) were diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Compared with nondrinkers, all drinkers were at a significantly lower risk for multiple myeloma. The risk of multiple myeloma was reduced in a dose-dependent manner: mild drinkers [adjusted HR (aHR), 0.89; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.84–0.95], moderate drinkers (aHR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.76–0.91), and heavy drinkers (aHR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.69–0.85). Furthermore, both drinking frequency and amount per drinking session showed inverse association with the risk of multiple myeloma.

Conclusions:

Our large population-based study suggested an inverse dose-dependent association between total average alcohol consumption and the risk of multiple myeloma, and drinking frequency and amount per drinking session seemed to not differ in their relative contribution to the risk of multiple myeloma.

Impact:

On the basis of the unprecedentedly large number of study population analyzed in this study, our study provides solid epidemiologic evidence of alcohol consumption on multiple myeloma risk.
Urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin Levels and Prostate Cancer Risk among Men in the Multiethnic Cohort
Authors: Vaselkiv Jane B. , Cheng Iona , Chowdhury-Paulino Ilkania M. , Gonzalez-Feliciano Amparo G. , Wilkens Lynne R. , Hauksdóttir Alda M. , Eiriksdottir Gudny , Le Marchand Loïc , Haiman Christopher A. , Valdimarsdóttir Unnur , Mucci Lorelei A. , Markt Sarah C.
Published: December 2021

Background:

The circadian hormone melatonin has anticancer properties, and prior studies suggest a positive association between low melatonin and prostate cancer risk. The purpose of this study was to examine urinary melatonin levels and prostate cancer in a racially/ethnically diverse cohort.

Methods:

We conducted a nested case–control study, including 1,263 prostate cancer cases and 2,346 controls, sampled from participants in the Multiethnic Cohort Study with prediagnostic urine samples assayed for 6-sulfatoxymelatonin, the primary melatonin metabolite. Conditional logistic regression was used to examine the association between melatonin levels and the development of prostate cancer outcomes (all incident cases, advanced, lethal, high-grade, and aggressive), overall and by race/ethnicity.

Results:

Among 1,263 cases, 135 were advanced stage, 101 were lethal cases, and 282 were high-grade disease. Median melatonin levels were similar in controls [17.12 ng/mL; interquartile range (IQR), 19.78] and cases (17.93 ng/mL; IQR, 19.76), and we found no significant association between urinary melatonin levels and prostate cancer risk overall or in any clinical or racial subgroup.

Conclusions:

In this diverse cohort, there was no significant association between melatonin and any prostate cancer outcome, nor were there any differences by racial/ethnic group.

Impact:

These results do not support a strong association between melatonin levels and risk of prostate cancer.
Implementation of Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction Using One-Way Endobronchial Valves: A Retrospective Single-Centre Cohort Study
Authors: Posthuma Rein , Vaes Anouk W. , Walraven Kim H. M. , Sardari Nia Peyman , Schreiber Jan U. , Gietema Hester A. , Wesseling Geertjan , Wouters Emiel F. M. , Vanfleteren Lowie E. G. W.
Published: December 2021

Background: Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) using 1-way endobronchial valves (EBV) has become a guideline treatment in patients with advanced emphysema. Evidence from this minimally invasive treatment derives mainly from well-designed controlled trials conducted in high-volume specialized intervention centres. Little is known about real-life outcome data in hospitals setting up this novel treatment and which favourable conditions are required for a continuous successful program. Objectives: In this study, we aim to evaluate the eligibility rate for BLVR and whether the implementation of BLVR in our academic hospital is feasible and yields clinically significant outcomes. Method: A retrospective evaluation of patients treated with EBV between January 2016 and August 2019 was conducted. COPD assessment test (CAT), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), residual volume (RV), and 6-min walking test (6MWT) were measured at baseline and 3 months after intervention. Paired sample t tests were performed to compare means before and after intervention. Results: Of 350 subjects screened, 283 (81%) were not suitable for intervention mostly due to lack of a target lobe. The remaining 67 subjects (19%) underwent bronchoscopic assessment, and if suitable, valves were placed in the same session. In total, 55 subjects (16%) were treated with EBV of which 10 did not have complete follow-up: 6 subjects had their valves removed because of severe pneumothorax (n = 2) or lack of benefit (n = 4) and the remaining 4 had missing follow-up data. Finally, 45 patients had complete follow-up at 3 months and showed an average change ± SD in CAT −4 ± 6 points, FEV1 +190 ± 140 mL, RV −770 ± 790 mL, and +37 ± 65 m on the 6MWT (all p < 0.001). After 1-year follow-up, 34 (76%) subjects had their EBV in situ. Conclusion: Implementing BLVR with EBV is feasible and effective. Only 16% of screened patients were eligible, indicating that this intervention is only applicable in a small subset of highly selected subjects with advanced emphysema, and therefore a high volume of COPD patients is essential for a sustainable BLVR program.
Mast Cell Tryptase Potentiates Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation
Authors: Pejler Gunnar , Alanazi Sultan , Grujic Mirjana , Adler Jeremy , Olsson Anna-Karin , Sommerhoff Christian P. , Rabelo Melo Fabio
Published: December 2021

Previous research has indicated an intimate functional communication between mast cells (MCs) and neutrophils during inflammatory conditions, but the nature of such communication is not fully understood. Activated neutrophils are known to release DNA-containing extracellular traps (neutrophil extracellular traps [NETs]) and, based on the known ability of tryptase to interact with negatively charged polymers, we here hypothesized that tryptase might interact with NET-contained DNA and thereby regulate NET formation. In support of this, we showed that tryptase markedly enhances NET formation in phorbol myristate acetate-activated human neutrophils. Moreover, tryptase was found to bind vividly to the NETs, to cause proteolysis of core histones and to cause a reduction in the levels of citrullinated histone-3. Secretome analysis revealed that tryptase caused increased release of numerous neutrophil granule compounds, including gelatinase, lactoferrin, and myeloperoxidase. We also show that DNA can induce the tetrameric, active organization of tryptase, suggesting that NET-contained DNA can maintain tryptase activity in the extracellular milieu. In line with such a scenario, DNA-stabilized tryptase was shown to efficiently degrade numerous pro-inflammatory compounds. Finally, we showed that tryptase is associated with NET formation in vivo in a melanoma setting and that NET formation in vivo is attenuated in mice lacking tryptase expression. Altogether, these findings reveal that NET formation can be regulated by MC tryptase, thus introducing a novel mechanism of communication between MCs and neutrophils.
A Prediction Model to Discriminate Small Choroidal Melanoma from Choroidal Nevus
Authors: Zabor Emily C. , Raval Vishal , Luo Shiming , Pelayes David E. , Singh Arun D.
Published: December 2021

Objective: This study aimed to develop a validated machine learning model to diagnose small choroidal melanoma. Design: This is a cohort study. Subjects, Participants, and/or Controls: The training data included 123 patients diagnosed as small choroidal melanocytic tumor (5.0–16.0 mm in largest basal diameter and 1.0 mm–2.5 mm in height; Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study criteria). Those diagnosed as melanoma (n = 61) had either documented growth or pathologic confirmation. Sixty-two patients with stable lesions classified as choroidal nevus were used as negative controls. The external validation dataset included 240 patients managed at a different tertiary clinic, also with small choroidal melanocytic tumor, observed for malignant growth. Methods: In the training data, lasso logistic regression was used to select variables for inclusion in the final model for the association with melanoma versus choroidal nevus. Internal and external validation was performed to assess model performance. Main Outcome Measures: The main outcome measure is the predicted probability of small choroidal melanoma. Results: Distance to optic disc ≥3 mm and drusen were associated with decreased odds of melanoma, whereas male versus female sex, increased height, subretinal fluid, and orange pigment were associated with increased odds of choroidal melanoma. The area under the receiver operating characteristic “discrimination value” for this model was 0.880. The top four variables that were most frequently selected for inclusion in the model on internal validation, implying their importance as predictors of melanoma, were subretinal fluid, height, distance to optic disc, and orange pigment. When tested against the validation data, the prediction model could distinguish between choroidal nevus and melanoma with a high discrimination of 0.861. The final prediction model was converted into an online calculator to generate predicted probability of melanoma. Conclusions: To minimize diagnostic uncertainty, a machine learning-based diagnostic prediction calculator can be readily applied for decision-making and counseling patients with small choroidal melanoma.
Validation of Sonographic Fronto-Occipital Ratio Based on Anatomical Landmarks Compared to MR/CT-Derived Indexes in Children with Chiari II and Ventriculomegaly
Authors: Retrouvey Michele , Vossough Arastoo , Zandifar Alireza , Bellah Richard D. , Heuer Gregory G. , Flibotte John , Tierradentro-Garcia Luis O. , Saade-Lemus Sandra , Kim Jorge Du Ub , Back Susan J. , Kaplan Summer L.
Published: December 2021

Introduction: Ultrasound (US)-based indexes such as fronto-occipital ratio (FOR) can be used to obtain an acceptable estimation of ventricular volume. Patients with colpocephaly present a unique challenge due to the shape of their ventricles. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the validity and reproducibility of the modified US-FOR index in children with Chiari II-related ventriculomegaly. Methods: In this retrospective study, we evaluated Chiari II patients younger than 1 year who underwent head US and MR or CT scans for ventriculomegaly evaluation. MR/CT-based FOR was measured in the axial plane by identifying the widest diameter of frontal horns, occipital horns, and the interparietal diameter (IPD). US-based FOR (US-FOR) was measured using the largest diameter based on the following landmarks: frontal horn and IPD in the coronal plane at the level of the foramen of Monro, IPD just superior to the Sylvian fissures, and occipital horn posterior to the thalami and inferior to the superior margins of the thalami. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to evaluate inter-rater reliability, and Pearson correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman plots were applied to assess agreement between US and other two modalities. Results: Sixty-three paired US and MR/CT exams were assessed for agreement between US-FOR and MR/CT-FOR measurements. ICC showed an excellent inter-rater reliability for US-FOR (ICC = 0.99, p < 0.001) and MR/CT-FOR (ICC = 0.99, p < 0.001) measurements. The mean (range) values based on US-FOR showed a slight overestimation in comparison with MR/CT-FOR (0.51 [0.36–0.68] vs. 0.46 [0.34–0.64]). The Pearson correlation coefficient showed high cross-modality agreement for the FOR index (r = 0.83, p < 0.001). The Bland-Altman plot showed excellent concordance between US-FOR and MR/CT-FOR with a bias of 0.05 (95% CI: −0.03 to 0.13). Conclusion: US-FOR in the coronal plane is a comparable tool for evaluating ventriculomegaly in Chiari II patients when compared with MR/CT-FOR, even in the context of colpocephaly.
Trends of Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with First-Line Sorafenib in Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Brown Timothy J. , Gupta Arjun , Sedhom Ramy , Beg Muhammad S. , Karasic Thomas B. , Yarchoan Mark
Published: December 2021

Background: Sorafenib has consistently served as the control arm in multiple randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating novel therapies for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for more than a decade. Analyzing trends in clinical outcomes of patients treated with sorafenib for the same indication over time offers the opportunity for unique insight into the evolution of clinical trial conduct and potential non-drug factors impacting outcomes. Methods: We identified RCTs in patients with treatment-naïve advanced HCC where sorafenib was compared to another systemic therapy or placebo. We extracted trial-level demographic, clinicopathologic, and outcome data (overall survival [OS], progression-free survival [PFS], objective response rate [ORR], and duration of therapy). Sample-weighted linear regression was used to identify temporal trends with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: Sixteen RCTs (9 phase III and 7 phase II) enrolling 4,086 patients treated with sorafenib were included in the analysis. Included trials enrolled patients from 2005 to 2019. OS has significantly improved by 4.5 months from 2005 to 2019 (p = 0.048) over time. Thirteen studies provided data on PFS using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1, with no significant change over time (p = 0.69). ORR assessed by RECIST 1.1 has significantly improved by 6.0% over time (p = 0.003). Median duration of therapy with sorafenib has decreased by 53% since the enrollment of the first clinical trial in 2005, from 23.1 weeks to 12.2 weeks (p = 0.0037). There was no significant change in patient demographics were identified over time to explain the OS findings. Conclusion: The median OS of patients with advanced HCC treated with sorafenib has improved significantly over 15 years. At the same time, the median duration of therapy with sorafenib has decreased. The reason for these findings was not explained by changing demographics of patients enrolled in these trials and has implications for ongoing clinical trials.
Impact of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus on Bone Health in Children
Authors: Janner Marco , Saner Christoph
Published: December 2021

This paper gives an overview of the impact of type 1 diabetes on bone health in children and adolescents. Firstly, we analyse studies using dual X-ray absorptiometry to assess bone mineral content and bone mineral density. Then, we discuss modern, non-invasive techniques including peripheral quantitative computer tomography (pQCT) and high-resolution pQCT for the detailed assessment of bone health aspects including bone mass, bone geometry, bone microarchitecture, and bone strength. Thereafter, we explore some of the mechanisms that are responsible for diabetic bone disease in children, like low bone turnover and high sclerostin levels. Finally, we summarize some of the evidence for the importance of microvascular disease in the pathophysiology of diabetic bone disease.
Teatralidade e carnavalização. Zé Pereira no final do séc. XIX
Authors: Faria Marcelo , Camargo Robson
Published: December 2021

Este artigo é parte de projeto de doutorado que investiga a carnavalização, as performances e as teatralidades luso-brasileiras nas manifestações que se intitulam Zé Pereiras. O texto examina as crônicas de Vieira Fazenda (1847-1917) e de Luís Edmundo (1878-1961), cronistas do final do séc. XIX no Brasil. A análise busca aproximar os conceitos da teoria Bakhtiniana de análise do carnaval aos Zé Pereiras. Procura compreender a criação do personagem Zé Pereira, sua existência no carnaval brasileiro e o processo de higienização das festas de ruas.
Contos baldios
Authors: Marciano Márcio
Published: December 2021

A seção Criação tem por objetivo publicar textos e materiais inéditos de escritores e/ou artistas, fotógrafos, desenhistas, além de documentos inéditos encontrados no Arquivo do IEB-USP. Neste número, são publicados três Contos baldios, de Márcio Marciano. Dramaturgo e encenador, Marciano fundou a Companhia do Latão, em São Paulo, e o Coletivo de Teatro Alfenim, em João Pessoa. Atualmente é consultor da Academia Paraibana de Cinema. Nas palavras do crítico José Antonio Pasta (2017, p. 22), seu trabalho artístico “tem o vezo de procurar resolver os problemas, não ao aliviá-los, obviando o que neles é obstáculo, mas, ao contrário, incrementando a sua dificuldade, extremando-a, até que ela passe no seu outro”.
Primeira República e Era Vargas: reflexões para a compreensão da atualidade
Authors: Santos Fábio Alexandre dos
Published: December 2021

A obra resenhada é o segundo volume da Coleção Novos Estudos de História Econômica do Brasil e se dedica a pensar no complexo período que vai da Primeira República ao fim da Era Vargas. Seus artigos expressam essa complexidade dialogando com o conjunto das dinâmicas do sistema capitalista que marcaram a economia mundial no período, além de proporem reflexões que inevitavelmente nos trazem para os problemas do presente. Da cultura cafeeira e dos efeitos dela decorrentes à proibição de garçonetes trabalharem à noite, suas problemáticas nos convidam a pensar o processo de acumulação no Brasil, suas peculiaridades e o que somos.
A aplicação da Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados na saúde
Authors: Botelho Marcos César , Camargo Elimei Paleari do Amaral
Published: December 2021

Motivado pela adoção do Regulamento Geral sobre a Proteção de Dados pela União Europeia, o legislador brasileiro aprovou a Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados, expressamente tornando a proteção de dados pessoais um direito fundamental e reconhecendo a existência de uma categoria de dados específica, denominada de dados pessoais sensíveis, cujo conceito abarca os dados relativos à saúde e que recebem tratamento específico desse diploma legal. O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar como a Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados trata a proteção de dados relativos à saúde. Para tanto, utilizando método dedutivo e análise bibliográfica, o estudo foi dividido em duas partes. Na primeira foi exposto o conceito jurídico de dados trazido pela Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados, bem como a definição legal de dados sensíveis. Na segunda parte discutiu-se como essa lei trata os dados relativos à saúde. De modo geral, conclui-se que, com a entrada em vigor da Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados, profissionais da saúde, clínicas médicas, hospitais e centros de saúde, entre outros, que realizarem tratamento de dados pessoais sensíveis relacionados à saúde deverão adotar medidas para adaptar tais atividades à legislação o mais brevemente possível, a fim de evitar sanções que podem ir desde a aplicação de multas pecuniárias até a proibição do uso de dados pessoais sensíveis.
Genotype and Cardiac Outcomes in Pediatric Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Khan Rabia S. , Pahl Elfriede , Dellefave‐Castillo Lisa , Rychlik Karen , Ing Alexander , Yap Kai Lee , Brew Casey , Johnston Jamie R. , McNally Elizabeth M. , Webster Gregory
Published: December 2021

Background

Pediatric dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a well‐known clinical entity; however, phenotype–genotype correlations are inadequately described. Our objective was to provide genotype associations with life‐threatening cardiac outcomes in pediatric DCM probands.

Methods and Results

We performed a retrospective review of children with DCM at a large pediatric referral center (2007–2016), excluding syndromic, chemotherapy‐induced, and congenital heart disease causes. Genetic variants were adjudicated by an expert panel and an independent clinical laboratory. In a cohort of 109 pediatric DCM cases with a mean age at diagnosis of 4.2 years (SD 5.9), life‐threatening cardiac outcomes occurred in 47% (42% heart transplant, 5% death). One or more pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants were present in 40/109 (37%), and 36/44 (82%) of pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants occurred in sarcomeric genes. The frequency of pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants was not different in patients with familial cardiomyopathy (15/33 with family history versus 25/76 with no family history,
P
=0.21).
TTN
truncating variants occurred in a higher percentage of children diagnosed as teenagers (26% teenagers versus 6% younger children,
P
=0.01), but life‐threatening cardiac outcomes occurred in both infants and teenagers with these
TTN
variants. DCM with left ventricular noncompaction features occurred in 6/6 patients with
MYH7
variants between amino acids 1 and 600.

Conclusions

Sarcomeric variants were common in pediatric DCM. We demonstrated genotype‐specific associations with age of diagnosis and cardiac outcomes. In particular,
MYH7
had domain‐specific association with DCM with left ventricular noncompaction features. Family history did not predict pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants, reinforcing that genetic testing should be considered in all children with idiopathic DCM.
Transient Hypogonadism Is Associated With Heart Rate–Corrected QT Prolongation and Torsades de Pointes Risk During Active Systemic Inflammation in Men
Authors: Lazzerini Pietro Enea , Cantara Silvia , Bertolozzi Iacopo , Accioli Riccardo , Salvini Viola , Cartocci Alessandra , D’Errico Antonio , Sestini Fausta , Bisogno Stefania , Cevenini Gabriele , Capecchi Matteo , Laghi‐Pasini Franco , Castagna Maria Grazia , Acampa Maurizio , Boutjdir Mohamed , Capecchi Pier Leopoldo
Published: December 2021

Background

Systemic inflammation and male hypogonadism are 2 increasingly recognized “nonconventional” risk factors for long‐QT syndrome and torsades de pointes (TdP). Specifically, inflammatory cytokines prolong, while testosterone shortens the heart rate–corrected QT interval (QTc) via direct electrophysiological effects on cardiomyocytes. Moreover, several studies demonstrated important interplays between inflammation and reduced gonad function in men. We hypothesized that, during inflammatory activation in men, testosterone levels decrease and that this enhances TdP risk by contributing to the overall prolonging effect of inflammation on QTc.

Methods and Results

We investigated (1) the levels of sex hormones and their relationship with inflammatory markers and QTc in male patients with different types of inflammatory diseases, during active phase and recovery; and (2) the association between inflammatory markers and sex hormones in a cohort of male patients who developed extreme QTc prolongation and TdP, consecutively collected over 10 years. In men with active inflammatory diseases, testosterone levels were significantly reduced, but promptly normalized in association with the decrease in C‐reactive protein and interleukin‐6 levels. Reduction of testosterone levels, which also inversely correlated with 17‐β estradiol over time, significantly contributed to inflammation‐induced QTc prolongation. In men with TdP, both active systemic inflammation and hypogonadism were frequently present, with significant correlations between C‐reactive protein, testosterone, and 17‐β estradiol levels; in these patients, increased C‐reactive protein and reduced testosterone were associated with a worse short‐term outcome of the arrhythmia.

Conclusions

During systemic inflammatory activation, interleukin‐6 elevation is associated with reduced testosterone levels in males, possibly deriving from an enhanced androgen‐to‐estrogen conversion. While transient, inflammatory hypotestosteronemia is significantly associated with an increased long‐QT syndrome/TdP risk in men.
SATIN ALMA GÜCÜ PARİTESİNİN GEÇERLİLİĞİNİN SINANMASI: OECD ÜLKELERİ ÖRNEĞİ
Authors: COŞKUN Nuran , BALLI Esra
Published: December 2021

Bu çalışmada satın alma gücü paritesinin geçerliliği
18 OECD ülkesi ve Avrupa Birliği ülkeleri için OECD veri tabanından elde edilen
nominal döviz kuru ve tüketici fiyat endeksi ile 2000-2017 aralığı esas
alınarak aylık verilerle test edilmiştir. 
Analizde kullanılan reel döviz kuru serisindeki kırılmaların varlığı ve
serinin yatay kesit bağımlılığa sahip olması nedeniyle Carrion-I Silvestre,
Castro ve Lopez Bazo (2005) PANKPSS birim kök testi kullanılmıştır. Birim kök
test sonuçlarına göre, reel döviz kuru serisi durağan olup, OECD ülkelerinde
mutlak satın alma gücü paritesi geçerlidir. Diğer yandan, analizlere nominal
döviz kuru serisi ve satın alma gücü paritesi birinci farkta durağan olduğundan
Westerlund (2006) çok kırılmalı eşbütünleşme ile devam edilmiştir. Eşbütünleşme
test sonuçları da OECD ülkelerinde uzun dönemde Satın Alma Gücü Paritesinin
geçerliliğini desteklemektedir.
Novelty Detection: A Perspective from Natural Language Processing
Authors: Ghosal Tirthankar , Saikh Tanik , Biswas Tameesh , Ekbal Asif , Bhattacharyya Pushpak
Published: December 2021

The quest for new information is an inborn human trait and has always been quintessential for human survival and progress. Novelty drives curiosity, which in turn drives innovation. In Natural Language Processing (NLP), Novelty Detection refers to finding text that has some new information to offer with respect to whatever is earlier seen or known. With the exponential growth of information all across the Web, there is an accompanying menace of redundancy. A considerable portion of the Web contents are duplicates, and we need efficient mechanisms to retain new information and filter out redundant information. However, detecting redundancy at the semantic level and identifying novel text is not straightforward because the text may have less lexical overlap yet convey the same information. On top of that, non-novel/redundant information in a document may have assimilated from multiple source documents, not just one. The problem surmounts when the subject of the discourse is documents, and numerous prior documents need to be processed to ascertain the novelty/non-novelty of the current one in concern. In this work, we build upon our earlier investigations for document-level novelty detection and present a comprehensive account of our efforts toward the problem. We explore the role of pre-trained Textual Entailment (TE) models to deal with multiple source contexts and present the outcome of our current investigations. We argue that a multipremise entailment task is one close approximation toward identifying semantic-level non-novelty. Our recent approach either performs comparably or achieves significant improvement over the latest reported results on several datasets and across several related tasks (paraphrasing, plagiarism, rewrite). We critically analyze our performance with respect to the existing state of the art and show the superiority and promise of our approach for future investigations. We also present our enhanced dataset TAP-DLND 2.0 and several baselines to the community for further research on document-level novelty detection.
Testing the Dimensionality of Policy Shocks
Authors: Li Jia , Todorov Viktor , Zhang Qiushi
Published: December 2021

This paper provides a nonparametric test for deciding the dimensionality of a policy shock as manifest in the abnormal change in asset returns’ stochastic covariance matrix, following the release of a macroeconomic announcement. We use high-frequency data in local windows before and after the event to estimate the covariance jump matrix and then test its rank. We find a one-factor structure in the covariance jump matrix of the yield curve resulting from the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy shocks before the 2007–2009 financial crisis. The dimensionality of policy shocks increased afterwards because of the use of unconventional monetary policy tools.
Violence and Financial Decisions: Evidence from Mobile Money in Afghanistan
Authors: Blumenstock Joshua E. , Callen Michael , Ghani Tarek , Gonzalez Robert
Published: December 2021

We provide evidence that violence reduces the adoption and use of mobile money in three separate empirical settings in Afghanistan. First, analyzing nationwide mobile money transaction logs, we find that users exposed to violence reduce use of mobile money. Second, using panel survey data from a field experiment, we show that subjects expecting violence are significantly less likely to respond to random inducements to use mobile money. Finally, analyzing nationwide financial survey data, we find that individuals expecting violence hold more cash. Collectively, this evidence suggests that violence can impede the growth of formal financial systems.
Governance Challenges and Opportunities for the International Labour Organization in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Trebilcock Anne
Published: December 2021

The International Labour Organization has confronted several governance challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This article looks at the impact of the pandemic on both the internal operations of this unique tripartite UN Specialized Agency and on the ILO’s substantive work on labour market and social protection governance. It explores how international labour standards and their monitoring offer human rights pointers for addressing the crisis. The article highlights interaction (not always coherent) between the ILO and other organizations in connection with COVID-19 and economic recovery. It foreshadows initiatives on how to ‘build back better,’ with the ILO again seeking a strengthened multilateral role in support of its social justice mandate, as informed by resolutions adopted by the International Labour Conference. The article also touches on the pandemic’s impact on the functioning of the ILO Administrative Tribunal, which adjudicates employment disputes for many international organizations.
The Rule of Law and Good Governance at the United Nations during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Ahlborn Christiane
Published: December 2021

This contribution discusses how the United Nations (UN) adapted to the working conditions under the COVID-19 pandemic while respecting the rule of law and good governance at different levels. The article first examines what the rule of law means in the UN context. On this basis, the article then considers the different COVID-19-related emergency measures taken by the UN with a focus on four of the UN principal organs: the Secretariat, the Security Council, the General Assembly, and the International Court of Justice. Overall, the UN has succeeded in maintaining public trust, including the trust of its member states, in responding to and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic because it continued to respect standards of good governance and the rule of law during the pandemic. Moreover, the UN has learned important lessons that will allow it to adapt even better to future emergencies.
Re-Evaluating Triage in International Justice during COVID-19 – Complying with the Rule of Law?
Authors: Ippolito Francesca
Published: December 2021

This article addresses the challenges (and responses thereto) for those international institutions devoted to mandatory monitoring the individuals’ protection of fundamental rights during and after the COVID pandemic. It covers the practice of several of the main regional (European, Inter-American and African) judicial and quasi-judicial human rights bodies in a comparative overview with the UN human rights monitoring bodies and the International Criminal Court. The interesting medical metaphor of ‘triage’ (i.e., designing a system of priorities to maximize impact, during an emergency) is used to discuss the measures taken to preserve the rule of law, both in their internal functioning as well as in promoting the rule of law within national legal orders when monitoring the States’ compliance with international human rights obligations and guidelines about COVID-19. While overall, procedures in the different bodies were developed to ensure that the rule of law is maintained, which makes it easier to respond to similar crises in the future, the pandemic also sheds light on the need to revisit some substantive concepts in human rights law.
Synagogue as Infrastructure in Everyday Life of Batumi Jewish Community
Authors: Abakelia Nino
Published: December 2021

The subject under scrutiny is Sephardic and Ashkenazi synagogues in Batumi (the Black Sea Region of Georgia) that reveal both universal and culturally specific forms. The paper is based on ethnographic data gathered during fieldwork in Batumi, in 2019, and on the theoretical postulates of anthropology of infrastructure. The article argues that the Batumi synagogues could be viewed and understood as ‘infrastructure’ in their own right, as they serve as objects through which other objects, people, and ideas operate and function as a system. The paper attempts to demonstrate how the sacred edifices change their trajectory according to modern conditions and how the sacred place is inserted and coexists inside a network of touristic infrastructure.
Baptizing into Kin
Authors: Gurchiani Ketevan
Published: December 2021

Based on ethnographic fieldwork in a multi-ethnic village in Georgia, this paper shows how everyday peace is continuously reaffirmed in the tradition of inviting Muslim godparents to baptize Christian children. The Muslim godparents perform the roles of the chosen Christians while at the same time remaining Muslim. Hybrid local lay-religious practices around the ritual of christening are analyzed within a larger cultural semiotics that allows reciprocity of perspectives and, specifically in this context, enables the recruitment of non-Christians into the role of godparent. Religion serves as a ground for asserting peace.
Informal Networks in the Black Sea Region
Authors: Darchiashvili Mariam
Published: December 2021

In 2014, local community members nailed a pig’s head to the door of a Muslim boarding house in Kobuleti, a small town in Adjara, to argue that ‘this is a Christian place.’ They expressed fears about the building owner, who was thought to be of Turkish origin. Enlargement of the boarding house was perceived as a possible Islamization of the town and an increase of transborder flows in the region. In this article, I examine the agency of the boarding houses in Adjara through human and non-human actors. At the same time, I look at the legal responses of the state and official structures for controlling informalities embedded in the boarding houses’ networks.
Exploring the Role of Overt Attention Allocation During Time Estimation: an Eye Movement Study
Authors: Ogden Ruth S. , Turner Frederieke , Pawling Ralph
Published: December 2021

Cognitive models of time perception propose that perceived duration is influenced by how quickly attention is orientated to the to-be-timed event and how consistently attention is sustained on the to-be-timed event throughout its presentation. Insufficient attention to time is therefore associated with shorter more variable representations of duration. However, these models do not specify whether covert or overt attentional systems are primarily responsible for paying attention during timing. The current study sought to establish the role of overt attention allocation during timing by examining the relationship between eye movements and perceived duration. Participants completed a modified spatial cueing task in which they estimated the duration of short (1400 ms) and long (2100 ms) validly and invalidly cued targets. Time to first fixation and dwell time were recorded throughout. The results showed no significant relationship between overt sustained attention and mean duration estimates. Reductions in overt sustained attention were however associated with increases in estimate variability for the long target duration. Overt attention orientation latency was predictive of the difference in the perceived duration of validly and invalidly cued short targets but not long ones. The results suggest that overt attention allocation may have limited impact on perceived duration.
Inhabiting the Space Between Search and Research
Authors: Hassouna Silvia
Published: December 2021

This article explores the connections between personal and research journeys as a central aspect of positionality and reflexivity. It develops in conversation with ethnographies produced by feminist, diasporic and ‘halfie’ researchers. Based on fieldwork extracts from my doctoral research with Palestinian museums in the West Bank, I discuss the possibility of using our vulnerabilities to displace discourses that portray research participants as ‘those in need’. I use the concept of bahth, in Arabic ‘to search, to seek, to pursue’, as a means to connect personal and research journeys. Building on Naeem Inayatullah’s notion of the insecure self, I suggest that inhabiting the research/search boundary requires stressing one’s lacks and vulnerabilities. This is not a call on reflexivity for its own sake but a means to unsettle assigned roles with research participants, even if only in provisional and contextual ways.
Convective and Turbulent Motions in Nonprecipitating Cu. Part II: LES Simulated Cloud Represented by a Starting Plume
Authors: Pinsky Mark , Eytan Eshkol , Koren Ilan , Khain Alexander
Published: December 2021

The dynamic structure of a small trade wind cumulus (Cu) is analyzed using a novel approach. Cu developing in a shear-free environment is simulated by 10-m-resolution LES model with spectral bin microphysics. The aim is to clarify the dynamical nature of cloud updraft zone (CUZ) including entrainment and mixing in growing Cu. The validity of concept stating that a cloud at developing state can be represented by a parcel or a jet is tested. To investigate dynamical entrainment in CUZ performed by motions with scales larger than the turbulence scales, the modeled fields of air velocity were filtered by wavelet filter that separated convective motions from turbulent ones. Two types of objects in developing cloud were investigated: small volume ascending at maximal velocity (point parcel) and CUZ. It was found that the point parcel representing the upper part of cloud core is adiabatic. The motion of the air in this parcel ascending from cloud base determines cloud-top height. The top-hat (i.e., averaged) values of updraft velocity and adiabatic fraction in CUZ are substantially lower than those in the point parcel. Evaluation of the terms in the dynamical equation typically used in 1D cloud parcel models show that this equation can be applied for calculation of vertical velocities at the developing stage of small Cu, at least up to the heights of the inversion layer. Dynamically, the CUZ of developing cloud resembles the starting plume with the tail of nonstationary jet. Both the top-hat vertical velocity and buoyancy acceleration linearly increase with the height, at least up to the inversion layer. An important finding is that lateral entrainment of convective (nonturbulent) nature has a little effect on the top-hat CUZ velocity and cannot explain the vertical changes of conservative variablesqtandθl. In contrast, entrained air lifting inside CUZ substantially decreases top-hat liquid water content and its adiabatic fraction. Possible reasons of these effects are discussed.

Significance Statement

(i) The study improves the understanding of the effects of lateral entrainment and mixing. (ii) The study shows the dominating role of the convective-scale motions in cloud microphysics and dynamics. (iii) The comparison of results of 10-m-resolution large-eddy simulations with a simple cloud model allows evaluating validity of current schemes of convective parameterization.
Global Distribution and Interannual Variation in the Winter Halocline
Authors: Ueno Hiromichi , Oda Masato , Yasui Katsura , Dobashi Ryo , Mitsudera Humio
Published: December 2021

The distribution and interannual variation in the winter halocline in the upper layers of the World Ocean were investigated via analyses of hydrographic data from the World Ocean Database 2013 using a simple definition of the halocline. A halocline was generally observed in the tropics, equatorward portions of subtropical regions, subarctic North Pacific, and Southern Ocean. A strong halocline tended to occur in areas where the sea surface salinity (SSS) was low. The interannual variation in halocline strength was correlated with variation in SSS. The correlation coefficients were usually negative: the halocline was strong when the SSS was low. However, in the Gulf of Alaska in the northeastern North Pacific, the correlation coefficient was positive. There, halocline strength was influenced by interannual variation in Ekman pumping.
‘Healthy Children, Healthy Planet’: A pilot school-based educational intervention
Authors: Costarelli Vassiliki , Michou Maria , Svoronou Eleni , Koutava Nancy , Symvoulidou Marina , Anastasiou Katia , Abeliotis Konstadinos
Published: December 2021

Objectives:

Healthy and sustainable eating should be encouraged in children. This study aimed to create, apply and evaluate the effectiveness of a specially designed, school-based educational programme to promote healthy and sustainable eating in children.

Design:

Pilot, school-based educational intervention, aimed at promoting health and sustainable eating patterns in children.

Setting:

Four schools (two primary schools and two kindergartens) in Attica, Greece.

Method:

The 3-month, pilot intervention consisted of a teacher training session, an educational package (11 teaching sessions, 1 session/per week), 3 separate parents and teachers’ educational sessions, and 2 teacher feedback meetings. In total, 290 children (intervention group n = 230, control group n = 60) aged 5–11 years old from four schools in Attica, Greece, participated in the study. Parents completed a specially designed questionnaire before and after the intervention, assessing children’s anthropometric characteristics, children’s adherence to a Mediterranean Diet (MD) and physical activity levels, together with usual eating and food waste behaviours in the household.

Results:

Children’s adherence to a MD was not significantly affected by the educational intervention. However, there was a significant increase in children’s fruit consumption, with 48% of the children eating at least two portions of fruit per day after the intervention. With respect to the food sustainability behaviours of the household, the intervention group threw away less food and, in particular, fewer fresh fruit and less bread, following the intervention.

Conclusion:

There is evidence that the educational programme can positively affect certain healthy eating behaviours in participating children.