bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Impact of the COVID-19 Associated AKI: The Relationship between Kidney Recovery and Mortality in a 10-Month Follow-Up Cohort Study
Authors: Hadadi Azar , Farrokhpour Hossein , Rashedi Sina , Kafan Samira , Sotoudehnia Mehran , Rahimzadeh Hormat , Tabatabaei Seidzia , Razeghi Effat , Aghsaeifard Ziba
Published: April 2022

Introduction: Coronavirus-2019 disease (COVID-19)-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) and its short and mid-term effect on kidney has been well established in the previous literature, indicating a high number of AKI in hospitalized patients associated with high rates of mortality, followed by high rates of unresolved kidney injury at the time of discharge. However, the long-term impact of AKI and its resulting lack of recovery at the time of discharge has not been investigated. Herein, we sought to explore the possible relationship between AKI and unresolved kidney injury and post-discharge mortality. Method: In this cohort study, patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who survived until discharge were followed for a median of 9.6 months. AKI during hospitalization based on the staging according to Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria and kidney injury status at discharge and other comorbidities and mortality during the follow-up period were recorded. The desired association was investigated using Cox proportional hazards regression after adjustment for potential confounders. Result: Among 1,017 discharged patients, 298 patients (29.3%) experienced AKI during hospitalization according to KDIGO criteria, of whom 178 patients (59.7%) were diagnosed with unresolved kidney injury at the time of discharge. After adjusting for potential confounders, Cox regression indicated that AKI stage 3 (hazard ratio (HR): 4.56, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.89–10.99, p = 0.001) and unresolved kidney injury at the time of discharge (HR: 2.09, 95% CI: 1.18–3.73, p = 0.011) were significantly associated with mortality during the post-discharge period. Additionally, Kaplan-Meier curves for overall survival indicated an increased risk of mortality in patients with stage 2, stage 3 AKI, and unresolved kidney injury at the time of discharge (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Overall, it was shown that patients with COVID-19 who develop AKI, mainly stage 2 and 3, and patients with unresolved kidney injury at the time of discharge, were at an increased risk of mortality, even after hospitalization for an extended period of time.
Paedarium subauratum (Blanchard, 1943) comb. nov. (Diptera, Tachinidae) parasitoid of the Southern armyworm Spodoptera eridania (Stoll): taxonomic redescription and biology, with notes on the genus Paedarium Aldrich, 1926
Authors: Toma Ronaldo , Takahashi Tamara Akemi
Published: April 2022

We provide a taxonomic note on Paedarium Aldrich, 1926, with new generic synonyms, Neopaedarium Blanchard, 1943 syn. nov. and Velardemyia Valencia, 1972 syn. nov., and new combinations resulting from these synonyms, Paedarium ica (Valencia, 1972) comb. nov. and Paedarium subauratum (Blanchard, 1943) comb. nov. Paedarium punctipennis Walker, 1857, is considered an unplaced species of Voriini. A redescription of P. subauratum and notes on its biology are given. A key for species of the genus Paedarium is provided.
Dante e Firenze: la rottura di un cordone ombelicale
Authors: Baggio Adriana Tulio
Published: April 2022

Questo articolo propone un'interpretazione ad un episodio della Divina Commedia che ha avuto luogo nel Canto XVI dell'Inferno e che viene considerato "nodo ermeneutico" da uno dei commentatori di Dante Alighieri (MATTALIA, 1980 [1960]). Trattasi del momento in cui Virgilio chiede a Dante di sciogliere la corda che tiene alla vita in modo che, con essa, possano attirare il mostro Gerione ed ottenere il suo aiuto per portarli in un'altra bolgia del settimo cerchio. Questo episodio si trova più o meno a cavallo di diversi punti di svolta nel percorso di Dante: da pauroso a coraggioso, da dipendente ad autonomo, da bambino a maturo, da compiacente a inflessibile. Invece Virgilio – quello che chiede a Dante di rilasciare la corda – è spesso associato al ruolo materno. Suggeriamo, quindi, che la corda possa rappresentare il cordone ombelicale che si rompe tra Dante e Virgilio perché cresca il primo. E, seguendo avanti nell'interpretazione allegorica, che tale rottura venga a rappresentare quella di Dante con sua madre Firenze, avvenuta a causa dell'esilio. È con questa rottura che Dante raggiungerà effettivamente la maturità emotiva e intellettuale che lo collocherà nella tradizione culturale dell'Occidente.
Dante Alighieri e Lima Barreto: possibilidades de intersecções e diálogos
Authors: Possamai Jackeline Maria Beber , Gaspari Silvana de
Published: April 2022

A proposição deste artigo é a de abordar o Limbo como conceito que remete às noções de suspensão, exceção, inclusão e exclusão. Tal abordagem tem por objetivo o diálogo desse conceito e suas implicações com a obra de Lima Barreto, por este descrever, em livros como O Cemitério dos Vivos e Diário Íntimo, fatos presenciados no hospital de alienados, onde o autor esteve internado por duas vezes ao longo de sua breve vida. Seguindo com a percepção de afinidades entre Dante Alighieri e Lima Barreto, para o desenvolvimento desta pesquisa, acreditamos ser o pensamento dialético o ponto que mais os aproxima, e, portanto, o motivo para aprofundarmos as nossas reflexões. A dialética na literatura, segundo nosso ponto de vista, pode se concretizar pela abordagem de temas que aludem ao coletivo. Neste sentido, os dois escritores, cada qual no seu tempo, se mostram singulares ao se expressarem imbuídos de criticidade. Cada qual expressando conceitos como inclusão e exclusão de acordo com suas percepções da realidade e do mundo no qual viviam, fazendo de suas vidas matéria para suas produções literárias. Autores como Giorgio Agamben, Walter Benjamin, Raul Antelo, Natalino Sapegno e Michel Foucault são alguns dos pesquisadores que nos auxiliam na construção teórica que embasa a análise aqui apresentada.
Sodium Levels and Outcomes Following Endovascular Thrombectomy for Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Hong Jae Beom , Diprose William K. , Wang Michael T.M. , Barber Peter Alan
Published: April 2022

Background

Hyponatremia has been associated with worse outcomes in patients with ischemic stroke. Previous studies measured sodium levels at variable times after stroke onset. Patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy have sodium levels measured close to stroke onset. Our aim was to evaluate the association between admission sodium levels and outcome following endovascular thrombectomy.

Methods

Consecutive patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy with admission sodium levels were identified from a prospective registry. The primary outcome was functional independence, defined as a modified Rankin scale score of 0, 1, or 2 at 3 months. Secondary outcomes included early neurological recovery (reduction in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score ≥8 points from baseline or score of 0–1 at 24 hours), ordinal shift of modified Rankin scale scores at 3 months, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, 7‐day mortality, and 3‐month mortality.

Results

A total of 710 patients were included (42.5% women; mean±SD age, 66.4±14.9 years). The mean±SD admission sodium level was 139±3 mmol/L. Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated that higher admission sodium level (per 1‐mmol/L increase) was an independent predictor of functional independence (odds ratio [OR], 1.06 [95% CI, 1.01–1.11];
P
=0.03), early neurological recovery (OR, 1.07 [95% CI, 1.01–1.13];
P
=0.02), and 3‐month modified Rankin scale scores (OR, 0.94 [95% CI, 0.89–0.99];
P
=0.02). The Youden optimal prognostic cutoff for functional independence was an admission sodium level of ≥136 mmol/L (
P
=0.04). There were no associations between sodium levels and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, 7‐day mortality, or 3‐month mortality.

Conclusions

Admission sodium levels are an independent predictor of functional outcomes following endovascular thrombectomy. Whether admission sodium levels would be of value in decision‐support tools for endovascular thrombectomy should be evaluated in future studies.
Complex Adaptation in Audio Feedback Networks for the Synthesis of Music and Sounds
Authors: Sanfilippo Dario
Published: April 2022

This article presents recent outcomes of the author's research on musical complex adaptive systems (CASs). The first part focuses on the concepts of adaptation and complexity within the framework of CASs and suggests a rigorous placing of the concepts within the musical domain. This analysis involves a distinction of the notions of context and information between the engineering field of information theory and the philosophical one of radical constructivism. I conclude this section by showing that, in this approach, information and context are mutually determining.

Then, I introduce a technique related to the notion of evolvability in biology and genetic algorithms and that has significantly increased the complexity and long-term variety in music systems during autonomous evolutions. This technique distributes adaptation across higher levels and allows the system to reorganize the relationships among its agents and their structure circularly while interpreting and constructing its context.

To conclude, an autonomous live performance piece from 2019–2020, “Constructing Realities (Homage to Heinz von Foerster),” which implements the theories mentioned above, is described, showing DSP processes and techniques that relate to evolvability, autopoiesis, fitness, and complexity through agent-based modeling. This article is accompanied by a companion article discussing the technical aspects of information processing algorithms, which are an essential part for the implementation of music CASs: “Time-Domain Adaptive Algorithms for Low- and High-Level Audio Information Processing.”
Time-Domain Adaptive Algorithms for Low- and High-Level Audio
Information Processing
Authors: Sanfilippo Dario
Published: April 2022

In this paper, we present a set of time-domain algorithms for the low- and high-level analysis of audio streams. These include spectral centroid, noisiness, and spectral spread for the low level, and dynamicity, heterogeneity, and complexity for the high level. The low-level algorithms provide a continuous measure of the features and can operate with short analysis frames. The high-level algorithms, on the other hand, are original designs informed both perceptually and by complexity theory for the analysis of musically meaningful information, both in short sounds or articulated streams with long-term nontrivial variations.

These algorithms are suitable for the implementation of real-time audio analysis in diverse live performance setups that require the extraction of information from several streams at the same time. For example, the low-level algorithms can be deployed in large audio networks of adaptive agents, or in small-to-large ensembles for the analysis of various characteristics of the instruments for computer-assisted performance. Furthermore, the high-level algorithms can be implemented as part of fitness functions in music systems based on evolutionary algorithms that follow musically-informed criteria, or as analysis tools to assess the quality of some of the characteristics of a musical output.

Musical applications of these algorithms can be found in a companion paper in this issue of Computer Music Journal: “Complex Adaptation in Audio Feedback Networks for the Synthesis of Music and Sounds.”
Future Thermodynamic Impacts of Global Warming on Landfalling Typhoons and Their Induced Storm Surges to the Pearl River Delta Region as Inferred from High-Resolution Regional Models
Authors: Chen Jilong , Tam Chi Yung , Wang Ziqian , Cheung Kevin , Li Ying , Lau Ngar-Cheung , Lau Dick-Shum Dickson
Published: April 2022

Possible thermodynamic effects of global warming on the landfalling typhoons that affect South China and their associated storm surges over Pearl River Delta region are investigated, using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model and the Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes (SLOSH) model based on the pseudo–global warming (PGW) technique. Twenty intense historical TCs that brought extreme storm surges to Hong Kong since the 1960s are selected and replicated by the 3-km WRF Model, with the outputs to drive the SLOSH model in storm surge simulation. The tracks, intensities, storm structure, and induced storm surges are well simulated. The PGW technique is then used to build a warmer background climate for the 20 selected TCs in the period of 2075–99 under the RCP8.5 scenario. To obtain a better adjusted warming environment, a pre-PGW adjustment method is developed. Comparing the same TCs in PGW experiments and historical runs, the TC lifetime peak (landfall) intensity can be intensified by about 9% ± 8% (12% ± 13%), with a ∼3% increase of TC peak intensity per degree of SST warming being inferred. The TCs are projected to be more compact, with the radius of maximum wind (RMW) reduced by ∼7% ± 10%. TC precipitation is also expected to increase, with the extreme precipitation within the eyewall strengthened by 22% ± 12%. All the above characters have passed the Student’s t test at 0.05 significance level. Finally, the projected induced storm surges near the Hong Kong waters are not significantly tested, although a weak storm surge height increase tendency is revealed.
Changes in Interannual Tropical Atlantic–Pacific Basin Interactions Modulated by a South Atlantic Cooling
Authors: Losada Teresa , Rodríguez-Fonseca Belén , Mechoso C. Roberto , Mohino Elsa , Castaño-Tierno Antonio
Published: April 2022

Although tropical interbasin interactions at interannual time scales are presently receiving much attention, their controlling factors and variations on longer time scales are under debate. Tropical convection plays a crucial role in the occurrence and nonstationarity of them. In this paper, we investigate the dependence of interannual tropical Atlantic–Pacific basin interactions on convection-related features of the tropical oceans’ climatology, especially the ITCZ position. We contrast a CGCM control simulation with an experiment in which tropical convection is modified by an artificial perturbation outside the tropics that reduces the incident shortwave radiation in a region of the South Atlantic. Based on previous work, this modification is expected to shift in latitude the climatological position of the simulated ITCZ. The experiment shows altered Walker circulations, stronger interannual variability over the tropical oceans, a westward extension of the Atlantic Niño pattern and of convection, and shallower thermocline in the Pacific, making the basin more sensitive to both local and remote perturbations. As a consequence, the experiment shows enhanced interannual Atlantic–Pacific basin interactions at the equator, and weaker teleconnections between the north tropical Atlantic and the equatorial Pacific. The latter seems to occur because the impact of the warm Atlantic SST anomalies is offset by the presence of warm SST anomalies in El Niño region. Despite the uncertainties raised because the simulations are relatively short, we conclude that this work presents a potential explanation for the long-term changes in the tropical basin interactions and offers a novel and useful methodology for their analysis.
Observational Constraints on Southern Ocean Cloud-Phase Feedback
Authors: Wall Casey J. , Storelvmo Trude , Norris Joel R. , Tan Ivy
Published: April 2022

Shortwave radiative feedbacks from Southern Ocean clouds are a major source of uncertainty in climate projections. Much of this uncertainty arises from changes in cloud scattering properties and lifetimes that are caused by changes in cloud thermodynamic phase. Here we use satellite observations to infer the scattering component of the cloud-phase feedback mechanism and determine its relative importance by comparing it with an estimate of the overall temperature-driven cloud feedback. The overall feedback is dominated by an optical thinning of low-level clouds. In contrast, the scattering component of cloud-phase feedback is an order of magnitude smaller and is primarily confined to free-tropospheric clouds. The small magnitude of this feedback component is a consequence of counteracting changes in albedo from cloud optical thickening and enhanced forward scattering by cloud particles. These results indicate that shortwave cloud feedback is likely positive over the Southern Ocean and that changes in cloud scattering properties arising from phase changes make a small contribution to the overall feedback. The feedback constraints shift the projected 66% confidence range for the global equilibrium temperature response to doubling atmospheric CO2 by about +0.1 K relative to a recent consensus estimate of cloud feedback.

Significance Statement

Understanding how clouds respond to global warming is a key challenge of climate science. One particularly uncertain aspect of the cloud response involves a conversion of ice particles to liquid droplets in extratropical clouds. Here we use satellite data to infer how cloud-phase conversions affect climate by changing cloud albedo. We find that ice-to-liquid conversions increase cloud optical thickness and shift the scattering angles of cloud particles toward the forward direction. These changes in optical properties have offsetting effects on cloud albedo. This finding provides new insight about how changes in cloud phase affect climate change.
Estimation of Horizontal Turbulent Diffusivity from Deep Argo Float Displacements
Authors: Sévellec F. , Verdière A. Colin de , Kolodziejczyk N.
Published: April 2022

We use an analog method, based on displacements of Argo floats at their parking depth (nominally located around 1000 dbar) from the ANDRO dataset, to compute continuous, likely trajectories and estimate the Lagrangian dispersion. From this, we find that the horizontal diffusivity coefficient has a median value around 500 m2 s−1 but is highly variable in space, reaching values from 100 m2 s−1 in the gyre interior to 40 000 m2 s−1 in a few specific locations (in the Zapiola Gyre and in the Agulhas Current retroflection). Our analysis suggests that the closure for diffusivity is proportional to eddy kinetic energy (or square of turbulent velocity) rather than (absolute) turbulent velocity. It is associated with a typical turbulent time scale of 4–5.5 days, which is noticeably quite constant over the entire globe, especially away from coherent intense currents. The diffusion is anisotropic in coherent intense currents and around the equator, with a primary direction of diffusion consistent with the primary direction of horizontal velocity variance. These observationally based horizontal diffusivity estimations, and the suggested eddy kinetic energy closure, can be used for constraining, testing, and validating eddy turbulence parameterization.
Hybrid Cloud Detection Algorithm Based on Intelligent Scene Recognition
Authors: Li Fang-Fang , Zuo Hui-Min , Jia Ying-Hui , Wang Qi , Qiu Jun
Published: April 2022

All-sky images derived from ground-based imaging equipment have become an important means of recognizing and quantifying cloud information. Accurate cloud detection is a prerequisite for obtaining important cloud information from an all-sky image. Existing cloud segmentation algorithms can achieve high accuracy. However, for different scenes, such as completely cloudy with obscured sun and partly cloudy with unobscured sun, the use of specific algorithms can further improve segmentation. In this study, a hybrid cloud detection algorithm based on intelligent scene recognition (HCD-ISR) is proposed. It uses suitable cloud segmentation algorithms for images in different scenes recognized by ISR, so as to utilize the various algorithms to their full potential. First, we developed an ISR method to automatically classify the all-sky images into three scenes. In scene A, the sky is completely clear; in scene B, the sky is partly cloudy with unobscured sun; and in scene C, the sun is completely obscured by clouds. The experimental results show that the ISR method can correctly identify 93% of the images. The most suitable cloud detection algorithm was selected for each scene based on the relevant features of the images in that scene. A fixed thresholding (FT) method was used for the images in scene C. For the most complicated scene, that is, scene B, the clear-sky background difference (CSBD) method was used to identify cloud pixels based on a clear-sky library (CSL). The images in the CSL were automatically filtered by ISR. Compared to FT, adaptive thresholding (AT), and CSBD methods, the proposed HCD-ISR method has the highest accuracy (95.62%). The quantitative evaluation and visualization results show that the proposed HCD-ISR algorithm makes full use of the advantages of different cloud detection methods, and is more flexible and robust.
A hybrid analog-ensemble, convolutional-neural-network method for post-processing precipitation forecasts
Authors: Sha Yingkai , Gagne II David John , West Gregory , Stull Roland
Published: April 2022

An ensemble precipitation forecast post-processing method is proposed by hybridizing the Analog Ensemble (AnEn), Minimum Divergence Schaake Shuffle (MDSS), and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) methods. This AnEn-CNN hybrid takes the ensemble mean of Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS) 3-hourly precipitation forecasts as input and produces bias-corrected, probabilistically calibrated, and physically realistic gridded precipitation forecast sequences out to 7-days. The AnEn-CNN hybrid post-processing is trained on the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis version 5 (ERA5), and verified against station observations across British Columbia (BC), Canada, from 2017 to 2019. The AnEn-CNN hybrid produces more skillful forecasts than a quantile-mapped GEFS baseline and other conventional AnEn methods, with a roughly 10% increase in Continuous Ranked Probability Skill Score. Further, it outperforms other AnEn methods by 0-60% in terms of Brier Skill Score (BSS) for heavy precipitation periods across disparate hydrological regions. Longer forecast lead times exhibit larger performance gains. Verification against 7-day accumulated precipitation totals for heavy precipitation periods also demonstrates that precipitation sequences are realistically reconstructed. Case studies further show that the AnEn-CNN hybrid scheme produces more realistic spatial precipitation patterns and precipitation intensity spectra. This work pioneers the combination of conventional statistical post-processing and neural networks, and is one of only a few studies pertaining to precipitation ensemble post-processing in BC.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Anticoagulating an Adolescent with Post-Tonsillectomy Massive PE: A Case Report
Authors: Shimomura Aoi , Smith Sullivan , Darki Amir , Kamberos Natalie , Charous Steven
Published: April 2022

Objectives:

To report a case of a morbidly obese 17-year-old boy who presented 4 days post-tonsillectomy with acute deep venous thromboses and a massive pulmonary embolism. To describe a protocol and decision-making tree for providing anticoagulation in the immediate post-tonsillectomy period.

Methods:

A chart review and review of the literature.

Results:

The patient ultimately did well and had no bleeding from the tonsil beds or further thromboembolic complications. A review of the literature revealed no available data regarding the safety of anticoagulation in the immediate post-tonsillectomy period.

Conclusions:

We propose that if anticoagulation is needed within 14 days of tonsillectomy, submaximal anticoagulation with a reversible and titratable anticoagulant may be optimal. A multidisciplinary team approach is needed for these complex cases. Future reporting and investigation of anticoagulation post-tonsillectomy is needed.
Restless in an Unequal World: Economic Inequality Fuels the Desire for Wealth and Status
Authors: Wang Zhechen , Jetten Jolanda , Steffens Niklas K.
Published: April 2022

Building on theories explaining social outcomes of economic inequality, our research examined the psychological impact of inequality on the desire for wealth and status. Our studies provide both experimental (Studies 1 and 3, Ns = 321 and 596) and correlational (Study 2; N = 141,477 from 73 countries and regions) evidence that higher inequality heightens people’s desire for wealth and status. Notably, this effect of inequality on desire is independent of the influence of societal wealth. Moreover, our results reveal social class differences in why inequality fuels motivations: Lower-class individuals are more likely to respond to higher inequality with a heightened desire reflecting self-improvement concerns, whereas upper-class individuals are more likely to respond with a heightened desire reflecting social comparison concerns. These findings suggest that higher inequality creates an environment of restlessness in which both the poor and the rich feel obliged to seek wealth and status, albeit for different reasons.
Financial Integration and Economic Performance: Comparative Evidence from SADC and ECOWAS Regions
Authors: Onah Benjamin U.
Published: April 2022

This paper examined the impact of financial integration on economic growth in Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries over the period 1993–2013. Using the Panel ARDL PMG Model developed by Pesaran and Shin, other control variables (trade openness, inflation, government expenditure, and institutional quality) were captured in the model. It was found that there is a significant and positive impact of financial integration on economic growth in the ECOWAS region in the long run. Whereas, even after controlling for necessary variables, financial integration exacerbates negative and insignificant effects in determining economic growth in the SADC region, both in the short run and long run. The insignificant and negative impact of financial integration on the region’s economic growth was attributed to several possible factors, including the low level of financial development in the SADC region, which is unconnected with the poor level of governance, unstable and fragile financial stability, or low creditworthiness, that are prevalent in developing countries like those in SADC countries. The findings suggest, amongst others, that increasing financial integration could improve the productive capacity of the economy, including more investments and the efficient allocation of capital, thus enhancing economic growth in these regions. This paper sheds new insights on a better evaluation of the past and present theorizing on the subjects of financial integration and economic growth, especially in comparing the separate effects on the economies of the SADC and ECOWAS countries.
Protective effects of apigenin on methylmercury-induced behavioral/neurochemical abnormalities and neurotoxicity in rats
Authors: Yadav Rajeshwar Kumar , Mehan Sidharth , Sahu Rakesh , Kumar Sumit , Khan Andleeb , Makeen Hafiz Antar , Al Bratty Mohammed
Published: April 2022

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a neurotoxin that induces neurotoxicity and cell death in neurons. MeHg increases oligodendrocyte death, glial cell activation, and motor neuron demyelination in the motor cortex and spinal cord. As a result, MeHg plays an important role in developing neurocomplications similar to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Recent research has implicated c-JNK and p38MAPK overactivation in the pathogenesis of ALS. Apigenin (APG) is a flavonoid having anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and c-JNK/p38MAPK inhibitory activities. The purpose of this study is to determine whether APG possesses neuroprotective effects in MeHg-induced neurotoxicity in adult rats associated with ALS-like neuropathological alterations. In the current study, the neurotoxin MeHg causes an ALS-like phenotype in Wistar rats after 21 days of oral administration at a dose of 5 mg/kg. Prolonged administration of APG (40 and 80 mg/kg) improved neurobehavioral parameters such as learning memory, cognition, motor coordination, and grip strength. This is mainly associated with the downregulation of c-JNK and p38MAPK signaling as well as the restoration of myelin basic protein within the brain. Furthermore, APG inhibited neuronal apoptotic markers (Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3), restored neurotransmitter imbalance, decreased inflammatory markers (TNF- and IL-1), and alleviated oxidative damage. As a result, the current study shows that APG has neuroprotective potential as a c-JNK and p38MAPK signaling inhibitor against MeHg-induced neurotoxicity in adult rats. Based on these promising findings, we suggested that APG could be a potential new therapeutic approach over other conventional therapeutic approaches for MeHg-induced neurotoxicity in neurobehavioral, molecular, and neurochemical abnormalities.
Ventricular-arterial coupling in systemic lupus erythematosus women without cardiovascular risk factors
Authors: Sciatti Edoardo , Cavazzana Ilaria , Franceschini Franco , Vizzardi Enrico
Published: April 2022

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by endothelial dysfunction, arterial stiffness, and myocardial impairment. We aimed at analyzing the ratio between carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) as a new index to approximate ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC) in women with SLE and without cardiovascular risk factors. Half cases had impaired GLS and consequently a hampered ratio. We thus suggest referring SLE patients early to a CV prevention program.
COVID-19 disruption to cervical cancer screening in England
Authors: Castanon Alejandra , Rebolj Matejka , Pesola Francesca , Pearmain Philippa , Stubbs Ruth
Published: April 2022

Introduction

In England, routine invitations for cervical screening were reduced between April 2020 and June 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We quantify the impact of COVID-19 disruptions on attendance and excess diagnoses of cervical cancer (CC).

Methods

Using Public Health England CC screening data on laboratory samples received in 2018 as a baseline we quantify the reduction in screening attendances due to the COVID-19 pandemic between April 2020 and March 2021 for women aged 25–64. We model the impact on excess CC diagnoses assuming once invitations resume 87.5% of women attend within 12 months and 12.5% delay screening for 3 or 5 years (depending on age).

Results

The number of samples received at laboratories was 91% lower than expected during April, 85% during May and 43% during June 2020 compared to the same period in 2018. Although on average laboratories received 12.6% more samples between August 2020 and April 2021 than over the same months in 2018, by April 2021 there was a short fall of 200,949 samples (6.4% fewer than in 2018). An excess of 41 CC (4.0 per 100,000 women with a maximum screening delay of 12 months) are predicted to occur among the estimated 1,024,794 women attending this screening round with a delay. An excess of 60 CC (41.0 per 100,000 women) are predicted to occur among the estimated 146,391 women who do not attend this screening round.

Conclusion

Prompt restoration of cervical screening services limited the impact on excess CC diagnoses. However, in 2020 a 6.4% shortfall of screening samples was observed. Every effort should be made to reassure these women that services are open and safe to attend.
AI4IO: A suite of AI-based tools for IO-aware scheduling
Authors: Wyatt Michael R , Herbein Stephen , Gamblin Todd , Taufer Michela
Published: April 2022

Traditional workload managers do not have the capacity to consider how IO contention can increase job runtime and even cause entire resource allocations to be wasted. Whether from bursts of IO demand or parallel file systems (PFS) performance degradation, IO contention must be identified and addressed to ensure maximum performance. In this paper, we present AI4IO (AI for IO), a suite of tools using AI methods to prevent and mitigate performance losses due to IO contention. AI4IO enables existing workload managers to become IO-aware. Currently, AI4IO consists of two tools: PRIONN and CanarIO. PRIONN predicts IO contention and empowers schedulers to prevent it. CanarIO mitigates the impact of IO contention when it does occur. We measure the effectiveness of AI4IO when integrated into Flux, a next-generation scheduler, for both small- and large-scale IO-intensive job workloads. Our results show that integrating AI4IO into Flux improves the workload makespan up to 6.4%, which can account for more than 18,000 node-h of saved resources per week on a production cluster in our large-scale workload.
Keratitis following descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK): Clinical features and outcome in early vs late presentation
Authors: Soni Tanvi , Das Sujata , Alluri Himabindu , Priyadarshini Smruti Rekha , Sahu Srikant K , Mitra Sanchita
Published: April 2022

Objective

To compare the clinical presentation, risk factors, causative organisms, and final outcome of early- and late- onset microbial keratitis following Descemet's Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSEK).

Materials And Methods

In a retrospective, comparative, case series, twenty-three (10 early-onset keratitis, 13 late-onset keratitis) cases were included for analysis from a single centre tertiary eye care setup. Data about demography, indication, clinical features, and outcome were collected for both the groups. Comparison of clinical presentation, risk factors, microbiology and final outcome were carried out.

Results

The most common indication was failed graft. While all patients with late-onset keratitis presented with ulcerative keratitis, 60% of early-onset keratitis presented with ulcerative keratitis. Four patients in the early-onset group had interface keratitis. Associated endophthalmitis was more in the early-onset compared to the late-onset group. Early-onset interface keratitis cases are mostly associated with donor-related infection. Gram-positive bacteria were the most common organisms isolated from both early- and late- onset infection. Major surgical procedures in both early- and late- onset keratitis included lenticule removal ( n = 4) and therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty ( n = 5).

Conclusions

Failed graft is a major risk factor in post-DSEK keratitis. Interface keratitis and endophthalmitis are commonly observed in early-onset keratitis. A majority of the patients need surgical intervention.
Management of presumed candida endophthalmitis during the COVID-19 pandemic: Case report and review of the literature
Authors: Fossataro Federica , Martines Francesco , Neri Piergiorgio , Allegri Pia , Pece Alfredo
Published: April 2022

Purpose

To report the management of a case of candida endophthalmitis following intubation for SARS-CoV-2 ARDS, during the first lockdown, underlining consequently the limited access to the gold standard of care.

Methods

Case report.

Results

We have described the case of a 56-year-old Hispanic man who developed bilateral Candida endophthalmitis after one month of hospitalization in the intensive care unit for severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Multimodal imaging was obtained. Full serological screening for infection was done resulting negative. A diagnostic vitrectomy was impossible due to the limited access at the surgery room. Diagnosis of presumed candida endophthalmitis was made, according to a highly qualified center, and therapy with intravenous liposomal amphotericin B was administered. At three months, we observed lack of vitreous opacities and atrophic scars with no active lesions.

Conclusions

Diagnosis of candida endophthalmitis was a challenge in this pandemic scenario, given the impossibility of performing a diagnostic vitrectomy. Therefore, it was mainly based on patient's clinical manifestations, multimodal imaging and on unanimity of collegiality between our hospital and the highly specialized center.
Police use of facial recognition technology: The potential for engaging the public through co-constructed policy-making
Authors: Hill Dallas , O’Connor Christopher D , Slane Andrea
Published: April 2022

In the face of rapid technological development of investigative technologies, broader and more meaningful public engagement in policy-making is paramount. In this article, we identify police procurement and use of facial recognition technology (FRT) as a key example of the need for public input to avoid undermining trust in law enforcement. Specifically, public engagement should be incorporated into police decisions regarding the acquisition, use, and assessment of the effectiveness of FRT, via an oversight framework that incorporates citizen stakeholders. Genuine public engagement requires sufficient and accurate information to be openly available at the outset, and the public must be able to dialogue and discuss their perspectives and ideas with others. The approach outlined in this article could serve as a model for addressing policy development barriers that often arise in relation to privacy invasive technologies and their uses by police.
Perceptions of police performance in a rapid-growth community
Authors: Huynh Carol M
Published: April 2022

The purpose of this study was to assess citizens’ perceptions of police performance in a small, rural community that is experiencing rapid population growth. This unique setting differs from other cities and towns because of the pressure that it places on local police to respond quickly and effectively to rapid social changes. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to gather 380 surveys completed by residents living in Williston, North Dakota during the fall of 2015. The findings revealed that, in general, residents believed that the police were doing a good job addressing community concerns; however, the analysis also revealed that such views were impacted by previous victimization experiences and fear of victimization. In addition, the results indicated that participant sex was significantly related to the perceived ability of police to maintain order on the streets, whereas marital status and the frequency of reading the regional newspaper were significantly related to the perceived ability of police to control crime in the neighborhood.
Increasing the accuracy of clinching process simulations by modeling the friction as a function of local joining process parameters
Authors: Rossel Moritz , Meschut Gerson
Published: April 2022

In this study, an innovative friction model is used to improve the quality of clinching process simulations. Consequently, the future over dimensioning can be reduced. Furthermore, the improved prediction quality of the joining process simulation leads to an improvement in the simulation of load-bearing capacity as well. In this way, the entire sampling process can be performed virtually without any experimental investigations. This will contribute to the advancement of lightweight construction in the automotive industry. In this work, the frictional behavior is studied in dependence on the local joining process parameters. As a reference for the numerical investigations, clinch joints by means of a die with fixed geometry are joined. Additionally, a hardness mapping is performed on the microsection of the clinch joints. It shows the local strain hardening, which correlates with the forming degree in the simulation. Based on the occurring contacts and the local joining process parameters in the joining process simulation, the test matrix for the experimental friction tests is defined. The friction tests are carried out on a compression-torsion-tribometer. This type of tribometer is able to apply high interface pressures above the initial yield stress due to the specimen encapsulation. Besides, the pure joining part contact, the contact between the joining part and joining tool can be tested as well. The experimental test setup offers the possibility to evaluate the influences of temperature, relative velocity, interface pressure, and frictional stroke independently. Based on the results of the experimental friction tests, a friction model is created. The resulting friction model is integrated into the numerical joining process simulation via a subroutine. To validate the quality of the new friction modeling, the results of simulations are compared with the experiments in terms of load-stroke diagrams, joint geometry, and hardness mappings on the microsection.
“Seven Days in Lockdown”: A Performance Autoethnography of Physical Activity and Mental Health
Authors: Carless David
Published: April 2022

COVID-19 increased anxiety levels worldwide. Significant mental health consequences are becoming evident across society, from children to seniors. The pandemic left millions of people out of work or unable to work. It simultaneously increased stress levels for many who remained in work. It made day-to-day life worse—much worse—for a lot of people. I was not immune to these difficulties. Yet, paradoxically, I found that lockdown also offered circumstances to support a degree of recovery or healing. This performance autoethnography draws on diary excerpts I wrote during lockdown in 2020 to explore how various forms of physical activity can help mental health. It offers an alternative perspective on a question that researchers have investigated for decades: When it comes to mental health recovery, what actually works?
Role of lncRNA AGAP2-AS1 in Breast Cancer Cell Resistance to Apoptosis by the Regulation of MTA1 Promoter Activity
Authors: Wu Minhua , Wen Limu , Zhou Yuxin , Wu Weizhu
Published: April 2022

Introduction Breast cancer (BC) is a common malignant tumor affecting women across the world. LncRNAs are frequently implicated in the course of BC. The current study set out to determine the specific effect of lncRNA AGAP2-AS1 on BC cell resistance to apoptosis. Methods AGAP2-AS1 expression patterns in BC tissues and cells were evaluated. si-AGAP2-AS1 was transfected into MCF-7 cells, followed by the assessment of cell proliferation and apoptosis. In addition to detection of MTA1 expression patterns, the binding relation between AGAP2-AS1 and HuR was verified using RNA pull-down and RNA immunoprecipitation. Next, the regulation enrichment of AGAP2-AS1- and HuR to H3K27ac recruitment in the MTA1 promoter was analyzed. MCF-7 cell resistance to apoptosis was observed after the combined experiment of histone deacetylase inhibitor M344 and si-AGAP2-AS1. Lastly, xenografts tumors were established to detect tumor weight and volume, tumor apoptosis and growth as well as expression of AGAP2-AS1 and MTA1. Results AGAP2-AS1 was overexpressed in BC tissues and cells, and AGAP2-AS1 silencing inhibited cell proliferation but facilitated apoptosis. Physiologically, AGAP2-AS1 bound to HuR to stabilize its own expression, and AGAP2-AS1-HuR complex upregulated H3K27ac levels in the MTA1 promoter region to elevate MTA1 promoter activity and MTA1 expression. H3K27ac upregulation partially-annulled the promotive effect of si-AGAP2-AS1 on BC apoptosis by upregulating MTA1. si-AGAP2-AS1 in vivo inhibited MTA1 expression to enhance apoptosis and suppress tumor growth. Conclusion Collectively, our findings indicated that AGAP2-AS1 bound to HuR to stabilize its own expression, and AGAP2-AS1-HuR complex enhanced H3K27ac levels in the MTA1 promoter region to improve MTA1 promoter activity and MTA1 expression in BC cells, so as to augment BC cell resistance to apoptosis.
Finite element analysis of the mechanical behavior of a bi-hexagon grid structure
Authors: Qu Xiaobin , Yao Yingxue
Published: April 2022

The space grid structure is widely used in large-span and large-scale buildings due to its excellent stiffness and lightweight. However, the joint connection is complicated since many struts emanate from one joint. In this paper, we proposed a novel joint connection with five struts and a space grid structure called the bi-hexagon grid structure (BHGS). The mechanical behavior of the proposed grids was investigated by comparing different double-layer and multi-layer grids by virtue of the Ansys parameter design language. The results show that the proposed structure can significantly reduce material consumption and improve installation efficiency. The comparison results also show the BHGS has a good stress distribution under uniform surface loads. However, the deformation is slightly large, which is acceptable considering the practical application. A configuration method and mechanical behaviors of a double-layer dome based on the bi-hexagon grid structure were presented as a particular application as well as the structural optimization. In addition, an assembly strategy was further given to realize the modular design.
Dengue-Associated Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis With Severe Multiorgan Complications—A Case Report
Authors: Agrawal Rahul , Agrawal Prabha , Madhuri Sudha , Singh Thakur Abhijit
Published: April 2022

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare life-threatening syndrome characterized by pathologic immune hyperactivation, extreme inflammation, and multiorgan involvement with variable cytopenias. We report a case of a 53-year-old male with no known comorbidities, who presented with unrelenting dengue fever, pancytopenia, high ferritin levels, and multiple organ dysfunction with progressive clinical deterioration despite treatment. Based on the clinicolaboratory findings, he was diagnosed as dengue-associated HLH on day 6 of admission. As per HLH treatment protocol, he was started on immunosuppressants and showed significant improvement. In dengue patients with severe disease, prolonged hospital stay, persistent cytopenia, and multiorgan dysfunction out of proportion to the plasma leakage phase should prompt a high index of suspicion for the possibility of infection-triggered HLH. Although prompt diagnosis and early initiation of therapy is the key to prevent irreversible end organ damage and mortality, the hindrance lies in its rarity in adults, variable clinical presentation, and nonspecific laboratory findings.