bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Different Associations of Systolic Blood Pressure and Body Mass Index With Cardiac Structure and Function in Young Children
Authors: Wu Yujian , Li Zhuoyan , Du Bowen , Ye Yujiao , Wang Hualin , Niu Yiwei , Chen Sun , Wu Yurong , Jin Hong , Zhang Xi , Wang Jian , Sun Kun
Published: October 2022

Background:

Both elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) and excess weight can lead to early cardiovascular organ damage in children. In this study, we investigated whether there is a difference in the associations of SBP and body mass index (BMI) with cardiovascular structure and function in 4-year-old children.

Methods:

In 1474 children (52.3% males) from the Shanghai Birth Cohort, physical examination and echocardiography were performed. Standardized linear regression models were used to evaluate the associations of BMI
Z
score and SBP
Z
score with cardiovascular parameters and to compare the strengths of these associations.

Results:

The incidence of SBP elevation significantly increased in overweight children. SBP was positively related to heart rate, left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction and fraction shortening (β=1.824 [95% CI, 1.014–2.634], 0.579 [0.294–0.864], and 0.480 [0.257–0.704], respectively). BMI
Z
score was positively associated with LV mass index (β=1.225 [0.863–1.587]) and the risk of LV hypertrophy (odds ratio=1.428 [1.157–1.761]) but negatively related to measures of systolic function, including LV ejection fraction, LV fraction short, and global longitudinal strain (β=−0.417 [−0.735 to −0.099], −0.302 [−0.551 to −0.053], and −0.392 [−0.621 to −0.163], respectively). No noteworthy additive or multiplicative interactions between BMI and SBP were detected.

Conclusions:

Elevations in both BMI and SBP were related to cardiac structure and function in children as young as 4 years old. Elevated SBP was associated with increased heart rate and LV ejection at the early stage of BP elevation. BMI showed a closer relationship with left heart diameters and geometry than SBP.
Role of Uromodulin in Salt-Sensitive Hypertension
Authors: Mary Sheon , Boder Philipp , Padmanabhan Sandosh , McBride Martin W. , Graham Delyth , Delles Christian , Dominiczak Anna F.
Published: October 2022

The exclusive expression of uromodulin in the kidneys has made it an intriguing protein in kidney and cardiovascular research. Genome-wide association studies discovered variants of uromodulin that are associated with chronic kidney diseases and hypertension. Urinary and circulating uromodulin levels reflect kidney and cardiovascular health as well as overall mortality. More recently, Mendelian randomization studies have shown that genetically driven levels of uromodulin have a causal and adverse effect on kidney function. On a mechanistic level, salt sensitivity is an important factor in the pathophysiology of hypertension, and uromodulin is involved in salt reabsorption via the NKCC2 (Na
+
-K
+
-2Cl
−
cotransporter) on epithelial cells of the ascending limb of loop of Henle. In this review, we provide an overview of the multifaceted physiology and pathophysiology of uromodulin including recent advances in its genetics; cellular trafficking; and mechanistic and clinical studies undertaken to understand the complex relationship between uromodulin, blood pressure, and kidney function. We focus on tubular sodium reabsorption as one of the best understood and pathophysiologically and clinically most important roles of uromodulin, which can lead to therapeutic interventions.
GSDMD (Gasdermin D) Mediates Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy and Generates a Feed-Forward Amplification Cascade via Mitochondria-STING (Stimulator of Interferon Genes) Axis
Authors: Han Jibo , Dai Shanshan , Zhong Lingfeng , Shi Xiaowen , Fan Xiaoxi , Zhong Xin , Lin Wante , Su Lan , Lin Shuang , Han Bingjiang , Xu Jianjiang , Hong Xia , Huang Weijian , Ye Bozhi
Published: October 2022

Background:

Cardiac hypertrophy is initially an adaptive response of cardiomyocytes to neurohumoral or hemodynamic stimuli. Evidence indicates that Ang II (angiotensin II) or pressure overload causes GSDMD (gasdermin D) activation in cardiomyocytes and myocardial tissues. However, the direct impact of GSDMD on cardiac hypertrophy and its underlying mechanisms are not fully understood.

Methods and Results:

In this study, we examined the aberrant activation of GSDMD in mouse and human hypertrophic myocardia, and the results showed that GSDMD deficiency reduced Ang II or pressure overload–induced cardiac hypertrophy, dysfunction, and associated cardiomyocyte pyroptosis in mice. Mechanistically, Ang II–mediated GSDMD cleavage caused mitochondrial dysfunction upstream of STING (stimulator of interferon genes) activation in vivo and in vitro. Activation of STING, in turn, potentiated GSDMD-mediated cardiac hypertrophy. Moreover, deficiency of both GSDMD and STING suppressed cardiac hypertrophy in cardiac-specific GSDMD-overexpressing mice.

Conclusions:

Based on these findings, we propose a mechanism by which GSDMD generates a self-amplifying, positive feed-forward loop with the mitochondria-STING axis. This finding points to the prospects of GSDMD as a key therapeutic target for hypertrophy-associated heart diseases.
Fingolimod Does Not Reduce Infarction After Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Mice During Active or Inactive Circadian Phases
Authors: Mandeville Emiri T. , Li Wenlu , Quinto-Alemany David , Zhang Fang , Esposito Elga , Nakano Takafumi , Mandeville Joseph B. , Lee Janice , Park Ji Hyun , Arai Ken , Waeber Christian , Lizasoain Ignacio , Moro María Ángeles , Lo Eng H.
Published: October 2022

Background:

It has been reported that the S1P (sphingosine 1-phosphate) receptor modulator fingolimod reduces infarction in rodent models of stroke. Recent studies have suggested that circadian rhythms affect stroke and neuroprotection. Therefore, this study revisited the use of fingolimod in mouse focal cerebral ischemia to test the hypothesis that efficacy might depend on whether experiments were performed during the inactive sleep or active wake phases of the circadian cycle.

Methods:

Two different stroke models were implemented in male C57Bl/6 mice—transient middle cerebral artery occlusion and permanent distal middle cerebral artery occlusion. Occlusion occurred either during inactive or active circadian phases. Mice were treated with 1 mg/kg fingolimod at 30- or 60-minute postocclusion and 1 day later for permanent and transient middle cerebral artery occlusion, respectively. Infarct volume, brain swelling, hemorrhagic transformation, and behavioral outcome were assessed at 2 or 3 days poststroke. Three independent experiments were performed in 2 different laboratories.

Results:

Fingolimod decreased peripheral lymphocyte number in naive mice, as expected. However, it did not significantly affect infarct volume, brain swelling, hemorrhagic transformation, or behavioral outcome at 2 or 3 days after transient or permanent focal cerebral ischemia during inactive or active circadian phases of stroke onset.

Conclusions:

Outcomes were not improved by fingolimod in either transient or permanent focal cerebral ischemia during both active and inactive circadian phases. These negative findings suggest that further testing of fingolimod in clinical trials may not be warranted unless translational studies can identify factors associated with fingolimod’s efficacy or lack thereof.
Multimodal multilayer network centrality relates to executive functioning
Authors: Breedt Lucas C. , Santos Fernando A. N. , Hillebrand Arjan , Reneman Liesbeth , van Rootselaar Anne-Fleur , Schoonheim Menno M. , Stam Cornelis J. , Ticheler Anouk , Tijms Betty M. , Veltman Dick J. , Vriend Chris , Wagenmakers Margot J. , van Wingen Guido A. , Geurts Jeroen J. G. , Schrantee Anouk , Douw Linda
Published: October 2022

Executive functioning (EF) is a higher order cognitive process that is thought to depend on a network organization facilitating integration across subnetworks, in the context of which the central role of the fronto-parietal network (FPN) has been described across imaging and neurophysiological modalities. However, the potentially complementary unimodal information on the relevance of the FPN for EF has not yet been integrated. We employ a multilayer framework to allow for integration of different modalities into one ‘network of networks.’ We used diffusion MRI, resting-state functional MRI, MEG, and neuropsychological data obtained from 33 healthy adults to construct modality-specific single-layer networks as well as a single multilayer network per participant. We computed single-layer and multilayer eigenvector centrality of the FPN as a measure of integration in this network and examined their associations with EF. We found that higher multilayer FPN centrality, but not single-layer FPN centrality, was related to better EF. We did not find a statistically significant change in explained variance in EF when using the multilayer approach as compared to the single-layer measures. Overall, our results show the importance of FPN integration for EF and underline the promise of the multilayer framework toward better understanding cognitive functioning.
Sex differences in multilayer functional network topology over the course of aging in 37543 UK Biobank participants
Authors: Mijalkov Mite , Veréb Dániel , Jamialahmadi Oveis , Canal-Garcia Anna , Gómez-Ruiz Emiliano , Vidal-Piñeiro Didac , Romeo Stefano , Volpe Giovanni , Pereira Joana B.
Published: October 2022

Aging is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders, with considerable societal and economic implications. Healthy aging is accompanied by changes in functional connectivity between and within resting-state functional networks, which have been associated with cognitive decline. However, there is no consensus on the impact of sex on these age-related functional trajectories. Here, we show that multilayer measures provide crucial information on the interaction between sex and age on network topology, allowing for better assessment of cognitive, structural, and cardiovascular risk factors that have been shown to differ between men and women, as well as providing additional insights into the genetic influences on changes in functional connectivity that occur during aging. In a large cross-sectional sample of 37,543 individuals from the UK Biobank cohort, we demonstrate that such multilayer measures that capture the relationship between positive and negative connections are more sensitive to sex-related changes in the whole-brain connectivity patterns and their topological architecture throughout aging, when compared to standard connectivity and topological measures. Our findings indicate that multilayer measures contain previously unknown information on the relationship between sex and age, which opens up new avenues for research into functional brain connectivity in aging.
Three new species of the Neurigona orbicularis species group from Brazil (Diptera: Dolichopodidae)
Authors: DA SILVA PAULO CESAR , CAPELLARI RENATO S. , OLIVEIRA SARAH S.
Published: October 2022

The Neurigona orbicularis species group (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) is recorded from Brazil for the first time, and three new species are described and illustrated, including figures of the male genitalia: N. lopesi sp. nov. (Tocantins and Goiás, Cerrado biome), N. papaveroi sp. nov. (Mato Grosso, Cerrado biome) and N. tingua sp. nov. (Rio de Janeiro, Atlantic Forest biome). Additionally, N. orbicularis Becker, previously known only from the type-locality in Paraguay, is newly recorded from the Brazilian States of Mato Grosso do Sul (Pantanal biome) and São Paulo (Atlantic Forest biome) and its hypopygium is also illustrated. An updated identification key to males of the orbicularis-group is provided.
First record of the intertidal dwarf bug family Omaniidae from China, with description of a new species (Heteroptera: Leptopodomorpha)
Authors: LUO JIU-YANG , WANG YAN-HUI , CHEN PING-PING , XIE QIANG
Published: October 2022

A new intertidal dwarf bug, Corallocoris xishaensis Luo, Wang & Chen sp. nov., from Xisha Islands of South China Sea is described, and is the first record of the family Omaniidae Cobben, 1970 from China. The new species can be distinguished from its allied Austro-Oriental species C. marksae (Woodward, 1958) by the colour of its body and legs, and the genitalic structures of both sexes. Photographs of the habitus, head, thorax, abdomen, appendages and genitalic structures are provided, additional scanning electron micrographs of the body surface are presented as well. A key to all the species of Omaniidae and distributional maps based on the known records for all species of this family are provided.
Responses of Global Atmospheric Energy Transport to Idealized Groundwater Conditions in a General Circulation Model
Authors: Lan Chia-Wei , Hwang Yen-Ting , Chien Rong-You , Ducharne Agnès , Lo Min-Hui
Published: October 2022

The representation of groundwater dynamics in land surface models and their roles in global precipitation variations has received attention in recent years. Studies have revealed the overall higher soil moisture but rather diverse precipitation changes after incorporating the groundwater component in climate models. However, groundwater effects on large-scale atmospheric energy transport, the fundamental atmospheric variable regulating Earth’s climate, have not been explored thoroughly. In this study, a pair of idealized experiments corresponding to contrast globally fixed water table depths by AMIP-type simulations in the Community Earth System Model was conducted. In the wet (shallow water table) experiments, an increased meridional surface temperature gradient makes the mean meridional energy transports and Hadley circulation stronger than dry (deep water table) experiments over the tropics. Such energy transport changes are primarily attributed to the dynamic contribution (intensified Hadley circulation). The wet experiments make the simulated world be like an aquaplanet simulation with less land–sea temperature contrast and the enhancement (reduction) of mean meridional circulation (stationary eddies) energy transports. Furthermore, the South Asian monsoon circulation in the wet experiment shows a southward shift in the premonsoon season (April–June) and slight weakening in the mature phase (July and August). This study explores the impacts of the soil conditions caused by various water table depths on global energy transport and has further implications for climate model developments and experiment designs.
Employers’ Perceptions of Challenges and Strategies in Hiring, Retaining, and Promoting Employees With Physical Disabilities
Authors: Munsell Elizabeth G. S. , Kudla Angelika , Su Han , Wong Jasin , Crown Deborah , Capraro Pamela , Trierweiler Robert , Park Mirang , Heinemann Allen W.
Published: October 2022

Disability is a common component of human diversity, yet people with disabilities (PWD) are underrepresented in the workplace despite known benefits to PWD and companies alike. There is an urgent need to promote inclusion of PWD in the workplace. The purpose of this study was to explore employer-perceived challenges and strategies for employing, retaining, and promoting people with physical disabilities (PWPD) and to describe the policies, supports, and job accommodations they provide to PWPD. We administered a cross-sectional, online survey to employers in the Midwestern United States ( n = 53). Employers had an average of 8.5 years of experience in their job roles and represented diverse industries and company sizes. Employers provide a range of job accommodations; however, many reported lacking comprehensive disability policies such as training managers on how to support PWPD, providing employee resource groups for PWPD, and having a specific job accommodation fund. Major challenges reported by employers were related to lacking competencies in supporting employees with physical disabilities. However, employers endorsed the utility of strategies to address these challenges, including providing education and training and increasing buy-in from leadership. Study findings inform employers on ways to best support PWPD and improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
An improved algorithm for three-dimensional reconstruction of nonwoven microstructures by using multi-focus images
Authors: Li Chengzu , Zhang Honghua , He Xinyang , Liu Qi , Dong Gaige , Wang Rongwu
Published: October 2022

The filtration performance of nonwovens, such as virus protection and air purification, depends largely on their microstructure, that is, their internal structure. With the development of manufacturing techniques, nonwovens can be produced with complex microstructures to deliver low air resistance and high filtration efficiency. Therefore, it seems important to reconstruct an accurate three-dimensional (3D) model to describe the various microstructures for performance evaluation and product development. Multi-focus image fusion is one of the most effective ways used for the 3D nonwoven reconstruction. However, the overlapping and crossing of fibers in multi-focus images taken on an optional microscope make 3D fiber reconstruction incomplete and discontinuous.

In this study, we developed a novel fiber segmentation and 3D nonwoven reconstruction algorithm to restore fiber continuity. The fiber web image was firstly thinned into the fiber mid-axis or skeleton, and fiber fragments were detected by searching the intersections. The features, such as the angle and depth, of each fiber fragment were obtained using Harris corner detection. A cluster technique was used to group the head-points of the fiber fragments that have similar features into one cluster. All fiber fragments in the same cluster are fitted with a polynomial curve to form a complete fiber in the 3D space. The experimental results show that this new method is suitable for the reconstruction of nonwovens with complex structures, such as fiber bonding or crossing, and can automatically detect and connect fiber fragments in 3D space. It provides an effective way for the subsequent simulation/evaluation of filtration characteristics.
Is this question going to be closed? Answering question closibility on Stack Exchange
Authors: Roy Pradeep Kumar , Singh Jyoti Prakash , Banerjee Snehasish
Published: October 2022

Community question answering sites (CQAs) are often flooded with questions that are never answered. To cope with the problem, experienced users of Stack Exchange are now allowed to mark newly posted questions as closed if they are of poor quality. Once closed, a question is no longer eligible to receive answers. However, identifying and closing subpar questions takes time. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to develop a supervised machine learning system that predicts question closibility, the possibility of a newly posted question to be eventually closed. Building on extant research on CQA question quality, the supervised machine learning system uses 17 features that were grouped into four categories, namely, asker features, community features, question content features and textual features. The performance of the developed system was tested on questions posted on Stack Exchange from 11 randomly chosen topics. The classification performance was generally promising and outperformed the baseline. Most of the measures of precision, recall, F1-score and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were above 0.90 irrespective of the topic of questions. By conceptualising question closibility, the article extends previous CQA research on question quality. Unlike previous studies, which were mostly limited to programming-related questions from Stack Overflow, this one empirically tests question closibility on questions from 11 randomly selected topics. The set of features used for classification offers a framework of question closibility that is not only more comprehensive but also more parsimonious compared with prior works.
Trends in policy development for reading culture in the context of the fourth industrial revolution and digital transformation in Vietnam
Authors: Tung Son Le
Published: October 2022

The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the trend of digital transformation have created many changes, brought many values, and also posed many challenges in formulating and perfecting policies on culture in general and policies to develop reading culture in particular. Through the analysis of secondary data, especially current policies on the development of reading culture, analytical research assesses the compatibility between current policies and the requirements of cultural development, people orient creating a learning society in the context of the fourth industrial revolution and the trend of digital transformation; Research to identify and analyze 03 trends in developing policies to develop reading culture in Vietnam, assess the content and inadequacies in current policies, thereby, propose approaches and solutions to policy implications to promote a reading culture to develop towards creating a learning society in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the trend of digital transformation.
Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence, Hate Speech, and Terrorism: A Risk Assessment on the Rise of the Incel Rebellion in Canada
Authors: Chan Esli
Published: October 2022

With the proliferation of the internet, emerging groups such as the men's rights movement involuntary celibate (incel) community have new ways to reproduce real-world harm and gender-based violence (GBV) against women. This study conducts a critical discourse and semantic analysis of the incels.co webpage and the Alek Minassian van attack using the Violent Extremism Risk Assessment and the Cyber Extremism Risk Assessment tool. It reveals that Canadian violent extremism frameworks minimize online GBV as a form of extremism. GBV, which extends from online to offline realities, is not captured in theoretical frameworks for terrorism and hate speech.
Temporal macular thinning and vessel density correlation in children and young adults with sickle cell disease
Authors: Monteiro Catarina , Vivas Maria , Almeida Júlio , Ramalho Mário , Mota Mafalda , Teixeira Susana , Prieto Isabel
Published: October 2022

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a recent noninvasive imaging technology that has proved to provide a comprehensive evaluation of retinal vascular abnormalities in adult patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). However, the pediatric population remains less studied. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the correlation between temporal vessel density (VD) in OCTA and temporal macular thinning in optical coherence tomography (OCT) in children and young adults with SCD. We reviewed medical records, OCT and OCTA (Spectralis®) scans from a sample of 32 eyes from 16 patients (7 female + 9 male) under 25 years old. The OCT macular thickness data and OCTA image data were processed using Python 3.9 programming language, and statistical analysis was performed. Pearson Correlation Coefficient between macular thickness and VD for inner and outer temporal areas was 0.47 (p-value = 0.006) and 0.74 (p-value < 0.001), respectively. A t-test was also performed to prove that there is a statistically significant VD difference in patients with higher and lower macular thickness (p < 0.001). These results show that children with outer temporal macular thinning on OCT have lower outer temporal VD on OCTA suggesting that microvascular insults may lead to chronic ischemic changes in the inner retinal layers.
Scaling Up Change: A Critical Review and Practical Guide to Harnessing Social Norms for Climate Action
Authors: Constantino Sara M. , Sparkman Gregg , Kraft-Todd Gordon T. , Bicchieri Cristina , Centola Damon , Shell-Duncan Bettina , Vogt Sonja , Weber Elke U.
Published: October 2022

Anthropogenic carbon emissions have the potential to trigger changes in climate and ecosystems that would be catastrophic for the well-being of humans and other species. Widespread shifts in production and consumption patterns are urgently needed to address climate change. Although transnational agreements and national policy are necessary for a transition to a fully decarbonized global economy, fluctuating political priorities and lobbying by vested interests have slowed these efforts. Against this backdrop, bottom-up pressure from social movements and shifting social norms may offer a complementary path to a more sustainable economy. Furthermore, norm change may be an important component of decarbonization policies by accelerating or strengthening the impacts of other demand-side measures. Individual actions and policy support are social processes—they are intimately linked to expectations about the actions and beliefs of others. Although prevailing social norms often reinforce the status quo and unsustainable development pathways, social dynamics can also create widespread and rapid shifts in cultural values and practices, including increasing pressure on politicians to enact ambitious policy. We synthesize literature on social-norm influence, measurement, and change from the perspectives of psychology, anthropology, sociology, and economics. We discuss the opportunities and challenges for the use of social-norm and social-tipping interventions to promote climate action. Social-norm interventions aimed at addressing climate change or other social dilemmas are promising but no panacea. They require in-depth contextual knowledge, ethical consideration, and situation-specific tailoring and testing to understand whether they can be effectively implemented at scale. Our review aims to provide practitioners with insights and tools to reflect on the promises and pitfalls of such interventions in diverse contexts.
Dynamics of the thermally radiative and chemically reactive flow of Sisko fluid in a tapered channel
Authors: Abbas Zaheer , Rafiq Muhammad Yousuf , Khaliq Sabeeh , Ali Amjad
Published: October 2022

This paper addresses the analysis of chemical reaction for peristaltic movement of electrically conducting Sisko fluid in an asymmetric tapered channel with velocity slip condition. An incompressible Sisko fluid saturates the porous medium. Modified Darcy’s law has been employed for the porous medium effect. The impacts of thermal radiation and viscous dissipation are also taken into account. The resultant non-linear expressions are solved based on the approximation of lubrication theory. Such consideration is significant to predict human physiological characteristics especially in blood flow problems. The analytical outcomes for velocity, streamlines, pressure gradient, and temperature equations are found by utilizing the regular perturbation technique. The graphical illustrations are provided to explain the impressions of numerous emerging parameters on flow fields. The significant results of the current studies are that fluid velocity enhances for Darcy number and Sisko fluid parameter.
Analysis of the axial force distribution characteristics of multistage pumps and its correlation with hydraulic property
Authors: Chen Qian , Lihuan Yang , Zhipeng Qi , Congxin Yang
Published: October 2022

As the centrifugal pump is running, the fluid usually flows into the impeller along pump shaft, and the fluid flows out radially by the force of the impeller. The force is mutual, so the impeller is also subjected to the reaction force of the fluid, but the distribution of this force on the blades is uneven. In addition, the front and rear shrouds of the impeller are asymmetric, which are the main causes of axial force. This paper adopts numerical calculation method studying the mechanism of axial force of impeller at all stages of multistage pump at various working conditions, and exploring the formation mechanism of shroud pressure differential force and blade twisting axial force and its variation laws of similarities and differences, analyzing the steady state and transient characteristics between axial force and hydraulic property of double-casing multistage pump. The results show that the rotational angular velocity of the fluid in the front and rear pump chamber at each stage impeller is distributed along the axial direction in three regions, the regions are pump body boundary layer, core region, and impeller boundary layer. The working surface and back surface of the blade twist have the high and low axial force area, and its distribution is staggered, at the same number of stages, the greater the flow rate, the smaller the blade twisting axial force. The shroud pressure differential force with the increase of impeller stages presents a linear increasing trend, conforms to the principle of linear superposition of cover pressure differential force. The total axial force pulsation of multi-stage pump is related to the number of secondary impeller blades, its primary frequency coincides with the secondary impeller blade frequency, increasing the flow rate can reduce the multi-stage pump axial force pulsation amplitude. The pulsation period of single-stage impeller head and efficiency are related to the number of impeller blades, the smaller the number of impeller stages, the stronger the pressure dynamic, and static interference effect of the impeller inlet and outlet. Rotation of the secondary impeller causes dynamic and static interference, which is the main reason for the pulsation of the axial force coefficient in double-casing multistage pumps, the pulsation intensity is related to the periodic generation and shedding of the blade vortex. The results of the study can be used as a reference for optimizing the axial force of double-casing multistage pumps.
Effects of a short-term in-season break on repeated-sprint ability, jump height and locomotor performance in small-sided games in female soccer players
Authors: Rodríguez-Fernández Alejandro , Rodríguez-Marroyo José A , Vaquera Alejandro , Villa Vicente José G , Clemente Filipe M
Published: October 2022

The current study aimed to analyse the effects of an in-season break period (2-week) on specific performance in amateur young female soccer players. Twelve female soccer players completed four assessment sessions, two before (BD-d1 and BD-d2) and two after (AD-d1 and AD-d2) a 2-week in-season break detraining period (both separated by 24 h). In each session, players completed a repeated sprint ability test (repeated sprint ability = 8 sprints of 30 m with 25 s of recovery), a countermovement jump test and locomotor performance in small-sided games (small-sided games = 3 sets of 5 min in a 5 vs. 5). Players exhibited a significant decrease in mean of repeated sprint ability (mean time of 8 sprints, p = 0.000, effect size = 2.04) and countermovement jump ( p = 0.009, effect size = 1.39) performance between BD-d1 and AD-d1. The percentage of change between BD-d1 and BD-d2 from AD-d1 and AD-d2 shows significant differences ( p = 0.05, effect size = 1.12) in best of repeated sprint ability (best time of 8 sprints) but not ( p = 0.517, effect size = 0.31) in mean of repeated sprint ability. Significantly less high-intensity acceleration was performed in BD-d2 and AD-d2 from BD-d1 ( p = 0.003, effect size = 3.21 and p = 0.002, effect size = 3.25, respectively). Only a 2-week in-season break inactivity was sufficient to decrease mean of repeated sprint ability and countermovement jump performance but not the best of repeated sprint ability. Therefore, it is necessary to apply specific training strategies to prevent decreases in performance in female soccer players in specific periods of the season.
Ideology, Polarization, and News Culture: The Secular-Islamist Tension in Turkish Journalism
Authors: Aşık Ozan
Published: October 2022

What role does political ideology play in the production of news in a contentious cultural context? To address this question, this article investigates how Turkish Islamic conservative journalists produced and circulated representations of two dramatic uprisings in 2013: the Gezi Park protests in Turkey and the military coup in Egypt. I chose these two cases because the Islamic political bias and activism that shaped the production of news about these two events are symptomatic of the way in which Islamism as a political ideology instrumentalizes news making. Based on newsroom ethnography conducted at an Islamic national mainstream television channel in Turkey between 2011 and 2014, the article demonstrates how Islamism shapes the ways in which Islamic conservative journalists interpreted and articulated the two events in the newsroom, and represented them in news coverage. In this context, journalistic practice gains an ideological character when the journalists utilize journalistic representations as strategic instruments to advance the political agenda of Islamic conservatives against secular forces in Turkey. As the polarization between Islamic and secular groups is based on cultural distinctions, I argue that the political ideology determining journalistic practices is defined not only by party affiliations or socioeconomic class positions but also by the common cultural ways of living and thinking of journalists who work and live as members of a sociocultural group. Islamic ideology serves as a social cement that creates bonds among the IslamicTV journalists as a sociocultural group, and a degree of unity and common purpose in their professional practices.
Diagnostic dilemma in a patient with nasopharyngeal tuberculosis: A case report and literature review
Authors: Penjor Dorji , Pradhan Birendra
Published: October 2022

Tuberculosis remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally, with a global total of about 10 million people falling ill with it in 2020. Until the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, tuberculosis was the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis is a rare type of extrapulmonary tuberculosis that may be either primary or secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis. Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis may be mistaken for nasopharyngeal carcinoma as both conditions may present with a nasopharyngeal mass and cervical lymph node enlargement. We present a case of nasopharyngeal tuberculosis secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis who presented without any nasal or respiratory symptoms. The patient presented with a cervical lymph node enlargement and a nasopharyngeal mass was detected on nasal endoscopy. Fine needle cytology from the cervical node and the initial biopsy report from the nasopharyngeal mass were not confirmatory, causing a diagnostic dilemma. A repeat biopsy from the nasopharyngeal mass with the demonstration of caseating granuloma and acid-fast bacilli in the specimen pointed to the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal tuberculosis. The patient responded well to the standard 6-month anti-tubercular regimen. Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis may mimic nasopharyngeal carcinoma and a repeat biopsy may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis.
Secular Sciences in an Era of Cultural Change: India, 1206–1526—A Survey
Authors: Habib Irfan
Published: October 2022

The establishment of the Delhi Sultanate, 1206, marked the infusion of a new cultural stream to which the religiously neutral term ‘Persianate’ is now attached. Indeed, it added to Sanskrit another language of learning in India, namely, Persian. The change, however, was not just one of an addition to India’s list of literary languages. There was a recognisable extension of knowledge (and area of reflection) alongside the intrusion of an external language. The present article attempts a survey of the developments in different aspects of science (including practical activity related to it) during the period of the Sultanate (1206–1526), considered in two parts, according to the respective languages of the texts, namely, Sanskrit and Persian.
Book review: Shalva Weil (ed.), The Jews of Goa
Authors: Habib Irfan
Published: October 2022

Shalva Weil (ed.), The Jews of Goa (New Delhi: Primus Books), 2020, 325 pp., ₹1295 (Hb).
Syed Ahmad Khan in the Punjab
Authors: Grewal J.S. , Malhotra Karamjit K.
Published: October 2022

As a Muslim majority province in British India (the other being Bengal), the Punjab was crucial to Syed Ahmad Khan’s programme of education and progress of Muslims as a qaum (community) under the patronage of the British government. The article analyses Syed Ahmad Khan’s speeches during his visits to the Punjab in 1873 and 1883–84 and discusses his response to the formation of the Indian National Congress in 1885. The last section deals with the bearing of Syed Ahmad Khan’s activity on communalisation of popular consciousness, especially in the Punjab. Evidently, his ideas and strategies evolved with changing political contexts.
Covid-19 Front-Liners: Experiences of Palliative Care Providers in a Tertiary Hospital
Authors: Okyere Joshua , Mensah Adwoa Bemah Boamah , Kissah-Korsah Kwaku
Published: October 2022

Introduction

In “normal” times, palliative care (PC) service delivery is confronted with many challenges thereby making access to care difficult. Now, we are in the era of COVID-19 where the healthcare ecology is radically changed. During this process of radical transformation, there are some ramification of COVID-19 on PC service delivery. Yet, there is a paucity of empirical evidence to support this claim.

Objective

We explored PC providers’ perspectives on delivering PC services in the era of COVID-19.

Methods

Using an exploratory descriptive qualitative approach, we conducted face-to-face and telephone interviews with seven PC service providers at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana. Haase's adaptation of Colaizzi's method was employed as the analysis strategy.

Results

Two main themes emerged: ramifications and adaptations. The ramifications of COVID-19 on PC service delivery included changes in care relationship, perceived increased responsibilities, psychological distress, shortage of medicines, and treatment delays. In an attempt to mitigate the challenges posed by COVID-19 on PC service delivery, the following mechanisms adaptations were made: halting of service provision, resorting to tele-consultation, adopting shift system and reducing number of appointments, and adoption of infection prevention and control strategies.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that COVID-19 has substantial ramification of PC service delivery. In conclusion, priority should be given to the training of healthcare workers on emergency preparedness for future pandemics. Also, continuous professional development would be needed in order build PC service providers’ skills and capacity to effectively utilize tele-consultation in PC service delivery.
A randomised trial of anti-GM-CSF otilimab in severe COVID-19 pneumonia (OSCAR)
Authors: Patel Jatin , Bass Damon , Beishuizen Albertus , Bocca Ruiz Xavier , Boughanmi Hatem , Cahn Anthony , Colombo Hugo , Criner Gerard J. , Davy Katherine , de-Miguel-Díez Javier , Doreski Pablo A. , Fernandes Sofia , François Bruno , Gupta Anubha , Hanrott Kate , Hatlen Timothy , Inman Dave , Isaacs John D. , Jarvis Emily , Kostina Natalia , Kropotina Tatiana , Lacherade Jean-Claude , Lakshminarayanan Divya , Martinez-Ayala Pedro , McEvoy Charlene , Meziani Ferhat , Monchi Mehran , Mukherjee Sumanta , Muñoz-Bermúdez Rosana , Neisen Jessica , O'Shea Ciara , Plantefeve Gaëtan , Schifano Lorrie , Schwab Lee E. , Shahid Zainab , Shirano Michinori , Smith Julia E. , Sprinz Eduardo , Summers Charlotte , Terzi Nicolas , Tidswell Mark A. , Trefilova Yuliya , Williamson Russell , Wyncoll Duncan , Layton Mark
Published: October 2022

Background

Granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and dysregulated myeloid cell responses are implicated in the pathophysiology and severity of COVID-19.

Methods

In this randomised, sequential, multicentre, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, adults aged 18–79 years (Part 1) or ≥70 years (Part 2) with severe COVID-19, respiratory failure and systemic inflammation (elevated C-reactive protein/ferritin) received a single intravenous infusion of otilimab 90 mg (human anti-GM-CSF monoclonal antibody) plus standard care (NCT04376684). The primary outcome was the proportion of patients alive and free of respiratory failure at Day 28.

Results

In Part 1 (n=806 randomised 1:1 otilimab:placebo), 71% of otilimab-treated patients were alive and free of respiratory failure at Day 28versus67% who received placebo; the model-adjusted difference of 5.3% was not statistically significant (95% CI −0.8–11.4%, p=0.09). A nominally significant model-adjusted difference of 19.1% (95% CI 5.2–33.1%, p=0.009) was observed in the predefined 70–79 years subgroup, but this was not confirmed in Part 2 (n=350 randomised) where the model-adjusted difference was 0.9% (95% CI −9.3–11.2%, p=0.86). Compared with placebo, otilimab resulted in lower serum concentrations of key inflammatory markers, including the putative pharmacodynamic biomarker CC chemokine ligand 17, indicative of GM-CSF pathway blockade. Adverse events were comparable between groups and consistent with severe COVID-19.

Conclusions

There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients alive and free of respiratory failure at Day 28. However, despite the lack of clinical benefit, a reduction in inflammatory markers was observed with otilimab, in addition to an acceptable safety profile.
Circulating dipeptidyl peptidase 3 and bio-adrenomedullin levels are associated with impaired outcomes in critically ill COVID-19 patients: a prospective international multicentre study
Authors: van Lier Dirk , Deniau Benjamin , Santos Karine , Hartmann Oliver , Dudoignon Emmanuel , Depret François , Plaud Benoit , Laterre Pierre-Francois , Mebazaa Alexandre , Pickkers Peter
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Dipeptidyl peptidase-3 (DPP3) is a protease involved in the degradation of several cardiovascular mediators. Adrenomedullin (bio-ADM) is a peptide essential for regulation of endothelial barrier function. In different shock-pathologies, both biomarkers are associated with disease severity, organ dysfunction and mortality. Associations with outcome in critically ill COVID-19 patients are unknown. The objectives of the present study were to investigate associations of bio-ADM and “circulating DPP3” (cDPP3) with short-term outcome in critically ill COVID-19 patients (n=80).

Methods

A multicentre prospective cohort study was performed. The primary end-point was 28-day mortality. Secondary end-points included different severities of acute kidney injury (AKI).

Results

cDPP3 levels were mainly associated with 28-day mortality; Area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROCs) of 0.69 (0.56–0.82, p=0.023), 0.77 (0.64–0.90, p<0.001) and 0.81 (0.65–0.96, p<0.001) at admission, day 3 and day 7, respectively. In contrast, bio-ADM levels were mainly associated with AKI, with AUROCs of 0.64 (0.51–0.77, p=0.048), 0.75 (0.64–0.86, p<0.001) and 0.83 (0.74–0.93, p<0.001) for day 1, 3 and 7, respectively. Interestingly, patients with high levels of both cDPP3 and bio-ADM at day 7 had an additionally increased risk of 28-day mortality (hazard ratio 11.8; 95% CI 2.5–55.3, p<0.001).

Conclusions

cDPP3 and bio-ADM responses were associated with short-term mortality and AKI in critically ill COVID-19 patients, respectively. These findings suggest that treatment with specific antibodies modulating cDPP3 or bio-ADM-related pathways may improve outcome of COVID-19.
Feasibility of transbronchial lung cryobiopsy in patients with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support
Authors: Wang Shiyao , Zhou Guowu , Feng Yingying , Zhang Yi , Tian Ye , Gu Sichao , Wu Xiaojing , Li Meiyuan , Feng Yiming , Wang Dan , Li Ying , Tian Zheng , Zhao Ling , Li Min , Chen Wenhui , Huang Xu , Zhan Qingyuan
Published: October 2022

Background

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) is essential life support in patients with severe acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure. However, biopsies should be considered for some patients with unknown aetiology. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) in such patients.

Methods

All patients with acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure of unknown aetiology who underwent TBLC with VV-ECMO support were retrospectively reviewed. Patients’ characteristics, ventilation settings, procedure parameters, complications, pathological diagnosis and survival were summarised and analysed.

Results

Eight female and five male patients with VV-ECMO support underwent TBLC. The median age was 58 (interquartile range (IQR) 38–67) years old. Concurrent diseases were present in 10 of the 13 patients, seven of which were immunosuppressed. The median time between biopsy and VV-ECMO establishment was 2.0 (IQR 0.5–6.5) days. No patient died from the procedure. Neither pneumothorax nor severe bleeding occurred in any of the patients. Five of the 13 patients experienced moderate bleeding, and all bleeding events were successfully controlled with prophylactic balloon blockers. Pathological diagnosis by TBLC was obtained in all patients, and the diagnosis of diffuse alveolar damage was made in nine of them.

Conclusions

In patients with VV-ECMO support, the TBLC procedure is generally safe when standardised bleeding prophylaxis is in place. TBLC contributes to identifying underlying aetiologies in patients with acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure of unknown aetiology.
New-onset and relapsed liver diseases following COVID-19 vaccination: a systematic review
Authors: Alhumaid Saad , Al Mutair Abbas , Rabaan Ali A. , ALShakhs Fatemah M. , Choudhary Om Prakash , Yong Shin Jie , Nainu Firzan , Khan Amjad , Muhammad Javed , Alhelal Fadil , Al Khamees Mohammed Hussain , Alsouaib Hussain Ahmed , Al Majhad Ahmed Salman , AL-Tarfi Hassan Redha , ALyasin Ali Hussain , Alatiyyah Yaqoub Yousef , Alsultan Ali Ahmed , Alessa Mohammed Essa , Alessa Mustafa Essa , Alissa Mohammed Ahmed , Alsayegh Emad Hassan , Alshakhs Hassan N. , Al Samaeel Haidar Abdullah , AlShayeb Rugayah Ahmed , Alnami Dalal Ahmed , Alhassan Hussain Ali , Alabdullah Abdulaziz Abdullah , Alhmed Ayat Hussain , AlDera Faisal Hussain , Hajissa Khalid , Al-Tawfiq Jaffar A. , Al-Omari Awad
Published: October 2022

Background

Liver diseases post-COVID-19 vaccination is extremely rare but can occur. A growing body of evidence has indicated that portal vein thrombosis, autoimmune hepatitis, raised liver enzymes and liver injuries, etc., may be potential consequence of COVID-19 vaccines.

Objectives

To describe the results of a systematic review for new-onset and relapsed liver disease following COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods

For this systematic review, we searched Proquest, Medline, Embase, PubMed, CINAHL, Wiley online library, Scopus and Nature through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses PRISMA guideline for studies on the incidence of new onset or relapsed liver diseases post-COVID-19 vaccination, published from December 1, 2020 to July 31, 2022, with English language restriction.

Results

Two hundred seventy-five cases from one hundred and eighteen articles were included in the qualitative synthesis of this systematic review. Autoimmune hepatitis (138 cases) was the most frequent pathology observed post-COVID-19 vaccination, followed by portal vein thrombosis (52 cases), raised liver enzymes (26 cases) and liver injury (21 cases). Other cases include splanchnic vein thrombosis, acute cellular rejection of the liver, jaundice, hepatomegaly, acute hepatic failure and hepatic porphyria. Mortality was reported in any of the included cases for acute hepatic failure (n = 4, 50%), portal vein thrombosis (n = 25, 48.1%), splanchnic vein thrombosis (n = 6, 42.8%), jaundice (n = 1, 12.5%), raised liver enzymes (n = 2, 7.7%), and autoimmune hepatitis (n = 3, 2.2%). Most patients were easily treated without any serious complications, recovered and did not require long-term hepatic therapy.

Conclusion

Reported evidence of liver diseases post-COIVD-19 vaccination should not discourage vaccination against this worldwide pandemic. The number of reported cases is relatively very small in relation to the hundreds of millions of vaccinations that have occurred and the protective benefits offered by COVID-19 vaccination far outweigh the risks.