bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential Regulation of NK Cell Receptors in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Lee Le Jie , Hassan Norfarazieda , Idris Siti Zuleha , Subbiah Suresh Kumar , Seow Heng Fong , Mohtaruddin Norhafizah , Chang Kian Meng , Osman Raudhawati , Ibrahim Hishamshah Mohd , Nathan Sheila , Abdullah Maha
Published: May 2022

Cancer immunotherapies are preferred over conventional treatments which are highly cytotoxic to normal cells. Focus has been on T cells but natural killer (NK) cells have equal potential. Concepts in cancer control and influence of sex require further investigation to improve successful mobilization of immune cells in cancer patients. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a hematological malignancy mainly of B cell (B-ALL) and T cell (T-ALL) subtypes. Influence of ALL on NK cell is still unclear. Targeted next-generation sequencing was conducted on 62 activating/inhibitory receptors, ligands, effector, and exhaustion molecules on T-ALL (6 males) and normal controls (NC) (4 males and 4 females). Quantitative PCR (q-PCR) further investigated copy number variation (CNV), methylation index (MI), and mRNA expression of significant genes in T-ALL (14 males), NC (12 males and 12 females), and B-ALL samples (

N
=
12

males and 12 females). Bioinformatics revealed unique variants particularly rs2253849 (T>C) in KLRC1 and rs1141715 (A>G) in KLRC2 only among T-ALL (allele frequency 0.8-1.0). Gene amplification was highest in female B-ALL compared to male B-ALL (KLRC2, KLRC4, and NCR3,

p
<
0.05

) and lowest in male T-ALL cumulating in deletion of KLRD1 and CD69. MI was higher in male ALL of both subtypes compared to normal (KIR2DL1-2 and 4 and KIR2DS2 and 4,

p
<
0.05

) as well as to female B-ALL (KIR3DL2 and KIR2DS2,

p
<
0.05

). mRNA expressions were low. Thus, ALL subtypes potentially regulated NK cell suppression by different mechanisms which should be considered in future immunotherapies for ALL.
Pell Collocation Method for Solving the Nonlinear Time–Fractional Partial Integro–Differential Equation with a Weakly Singular Kernel
Authors: Taghipour M. , Aminikhah H.
Published: May 2022

This article focuses on finding the numerical solution of the nonlinear time–fractional partial integro–differential equation. For this purpose, we use the operational matrices based on Pell polynomials to approximate fractional Caputo derivative, nonlinear, and integro–differential terms; and by collocation points, we transform the problem to a system of nonlinear equations. This nonlinear system can be solved by the fsolve command in Matlab. The method’s stability and convergence have been studied. Also included are five numerical examples to demonstrate the veracity of the suggested strategy.
Analysis of Bonding Performance of Grouting Corrugated Pipes in Fabricated Bridge Structures
Authors: Yang Sanqiang , Dai Zeyu , Yang Xiang , Zhou Tong , Tang Lanjun
Published: May 2022

Prefabricated bridge structures are highly popularized due to their simple construction, economy, and environmental protection. Relying on the prefabricated prestressed concrete box girder bridge project of Rongwu Expressway Section 6, this research studies the structural mode of grouting bellows and the mechanical properties of joints under different design parameters. The laboratory test was carried out by adjusting the two design parameters of aperture ratio and material properties, and the test data of joint mechanical properties under the influence of different factors were analyzed with the help of grey relational theory. The result goes like this: when the size of the metal bellows is certain, the aperture ratio becomes smaller, the internal space of the specimen becomes smaller, the internal restraint is weakened, and the bonding performance of the reinforcement becomes worse. When D/d = 2.6, the performance of the specimen is better. Comparing the grouting materials with different characteristics, the performance of the metal bellows specimen increases with the enhancement of the properties of the grouting material, but as the aperture ratio becomes smaller, the influence of the grouting material on the performance of the specimen becomes weaker. The comprehensive analysis is carried out with the grey relational theory and the correlation degree of the influence of the two factors on the specimen, and the correlation degrees

γ

1

=
0.66

and

γ

2

=
0.67

are obtained. Both of them have a strong correlation with the performance of the specimen, and the degree of influence is roughly similar. Based on the engineering application requirements and related design requirements, the construction method of selecting 100 MPa high-strength grouting material which is higher than the general standard, 65 mm corrugated pipe, and 22 mm steel bar is finally put forward. This research relies on engineering theoretical and experimental studies, which provide important theoretical support and technical guarantee for the research on the joint structure of prefabricated structures.
Hermite-Hadamard and Schur-Type Inequalities for Strongly
h
-Convex Fuzzy Interval Valued Functions
Authors: Yang Putian , Zhang Shiqing
Published: May 2022

The concept of fuzzy theory was developed in 1965 and becomes an acknowledged research subject in both pure and applied mathematics and statistics, showing how this theory is highly applicable and productive in many applications. In the present study, we introduced the definition of fuzzy interval valued strongly

h

-convex function and investigated some of its properties. We established Hermite-Hadamard and Schur-type inequalities for the class of fuzzy interval valued strongly

h

-convex function.
L-Carnitine Alleviates the Myocardial Infarction and Left Ventricular Remodeling through Bax/Bcl-2 Signal Pathway
Authors: Li Hao-Ran , Zheng Xiao-Ming , Liu Yan , Tian Jing-Hui , Kou Jie-Jian , Shi Jun-Zhuo , Pang Xiao-Bin , Xie Xin-Mei , Yan Yu
Published: May 2022

Purpose. L-carnitine (LC) is considered to have good therapeutic potential for myocardial infarction (MI), but its mechanism has not been clarified. The aim of the study is to elucidate the cardioprotective effects of LC in mice following MI and related mechanisms. Methods. ICR mice were treated with LC for 2 weeks after induction of MI with ligation of left anterior descending artery. Electrocardiographic (ECG) recording and echocardiography were used to evaluate cardiac function. H&E staining, TTC staining, and Masson staining were performed for morphological analysis and cardiac fibrosis. ELISA and immunofluorescence were utilized to detect biomarkers and inflammatory mediators. The key proteins in the Bax/Bcl-2 signaling pathway were also examined by Western blot. Results. Both echocardiography and histological measurement showed an improvement in cardiac function and morphology. Biomarkers such as LDH, NT-proBNP, cTnT, and AST, as well as the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, were decreased in plasma of mice receiving LC treatment after myocardial injury. In addition, the expression of α-SMA as well as the key proteins in the Bax/Bcl-2 signaling pathway in cardiac myocardium were much lower in mice with LC treatment compared to those without after MI. Conclusions. Our data suggest that LC can effectively ameliorate left ventricular (LV) remodeling after MI, and its beneficial effects on myocardial function and remodeling may be attributable at least in part to anti-inflammatory and inhibition of the Bax/Bcl-2 apoptotic signaling pathway.
Fabric Defect Segmentation System Based on a Lightweight GAN for Industrial Internet of Things
Authors: Li Bo , Zou Yongkai , Zhu Rongbo , Yao Wei , Wang Jun , Wan Shaohua
Published: May 2022

Machine vision systems based on deep learning play an important role in the industrial Internet of things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0 applications, especially for product quality monitoring. Fabric defect detection is an important task in the industrial production of textiles and is crucial for product quality assurance. In actual production, the detection of many small and weak target defects remains challenging. Furthermore, industrial production requires high production rates and small model sizes in practice. This study proposes a lightweight segmentation system that meets real-time industrial production requirements. Herein, first, the defect sample image was repaired based on the image repair mechanism of the generative adversarial network model. Then, the difference between the defect sample and the repaired sample was obtained and subsequent processing, such as denoising and enhancement, was done. Finally, the defect areas were segmented. Our model was specifically designed for the segmentation of weak and small defects. This was achieved through adversarial training, optimization of an objective function, and image processing. Experimental comparisons show that the intersection over union of the three different datasets is 77.84%, 77.85%, and 73.6% and that our model is superior to the conventional semantic segmentation model. Furthermore, our model has good image restoration quality with a low mean absolute error and high structural similarity index. Additionally, our model is lightweight, has good real-time performance, and is suitable for applications in the IIoT and industrial production lines, such as embedded systems.
Nonlinear Mixed Convective Bidirectional Dynamics of Double Stratified Radiative Oldroyd-B Nanofluid Flow with Heat Source/Sink and Higher-Order Chemical Reaction
Authors: Ahmad Iftikhar , Faisal Muhammad , Loganathan K. , Kiyani Muhammad Zaheer , Namgyel Ngawang
Published: May 2022

Little is known in the literature about the concept of nonuniform heat source/sink and higher-order chemical reaction for the dynamics of Oldroyd-B nanoparticles. Therefore, the present article addresses the nonuniform heat source/sink and higher-order chemical reaction features in nonlinear mixed convection bidirectional MHD dynamics of Oldroyd-B nanoparticles with thermal radiation aspects through porous space. Stratification effects for both the temperature and concentration setups are also used in the mathematical model with the significance of random movement and thermodiffusion of nanoparticles. Shape-preserving transformations have been employed to convert the transport equations into solvable forms. An innovative analytical tactic, namely, homotopy analysis method, has been adopted to find the solution of the modeled problem. Behaviors of pertinent parameters on thermal and concentration profiles have been discussed through various graphs. Inspection of heat/mass transport against appropriate varieties of pertinent parameters has been made and explained physically. Thermal profile is augmented with the higher estimations of space and temperature-dependent heat source/sink links. Concentration profile is diminished with the augmentation of higher-order chemical reaction parameter. Sherwood number is improved with the estimation of

0
≤

β

t

≤
100

and is reduced with the growth of

0
≤

β

c

≤
100

. Nusselt number is declined with the upgraded amounts of

0
≤

N

b

≤
3

and

0
≤

N

t

≤
5

.
The Tumor Immune Profile of Murine Ovarian Cancer Models: An Essential Tool for Ovarian Cancer Immunotherapy Research
Authors: Rodriguez Galaxia M. , Galpin Kristianne J.C. , Cook David P. , Yakubovich Edward , Maranda Vincent , Macdonald Elizabeth A. , Wilson-Sanchez Juliette , Thomas Anjali L. , Burdette Joanna E. , Vanderhyden Barbara C.
Published: May 2022

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most lethal gynecologic cancer with an imperative need for new treatments. Immunotherapy has had marked success in some cancer types; however, clinical trials studying the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of EOC benefited less than 15% of patients. Given that EOC develops from multiple tissues in the reproductive system and metastasizes widely throughout the peritoneal cavity, responses to immunotherapy are likely hindered by heterogeneous tumor microenvironments (TME) containing a variety of immune profiles. To fully characterize and compare syngeneic model systems that may reflect this diversity, we determined the immunogenicity of six ovarian tumor models in vivo, the T and myeloid profile of orthotopic tumors and the immune composition and cytokine profile of ascites, by single-cell RNA sequencing, flow cytometry, and IHC. The selected models reflect the different cellular origins of EOC (ovarian and fallopian tube epithelium) and harbor mutations relevant to human disease, including Tp53 mutation, PTEN suppression, and constitutive KRAS activation. ID8-p53−/− and ID8-C3 tumors were most highly infiltrated by T cells, whereas STOSE and MOE-PTEN/KRAS tumors were primarily infiltrated by tumor-associated macrophages and were unique in MHC class I and II expression. MOE-PTEN/KRAS tumors were capable of forming T-cell clusters. This panel of well-defined murine EOC models reflects some of the heterogeneity found in human disease and can serve as a valuable resource for studies that aim to test immunotherapies, explore the mechanisms of immune response to therapy, and guide selection of treatments for patient populations.

Significance:

This study highlights the main differences in the immunogenicity and immune composition found in six different models of orthotopic ovarian cancer as an essential tool for future preclinical investigations of cancer immunotherapy.
Plasmatic circRNAs Panel to Predict the Risk of Macrosomia in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Sun Wenping , Wang Pinghua , Wang Shenglan
Published: May 2022

Objectives: Fetal macrosomia and its associated complications are the most frequent and serious morbidities for infants associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). In this study, we aimed to determine the expression of circulating circRNAs in humans, which may be promising biomarkers for the diagnosis of GDM or predicting the macrosomia in GDM patients. Design: A multi-stage validation and risk score formula analysis was applied for validation. Participants/Materials, Setting, Methods: A total of 26 circRNAs previously reported highly expressed in placenta tissues or umbilical cord blood of GDM patients during the pregnancy were enrolled. We recruited a total of 200 patients with GDM with or without macrosomia, 200 healthy pregnant woman, and 200 healthy volunteers. Results: We discovered that four circRNAs including circRNA_1030, circRNA_23658, circRNA_0009049, and circRNA_32231 were upregulated in plasmatic samples of patients with GDM with or without macrosomia in training set and validation set compared with the healthy pregnant woman and healthy volunteers. Further receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis in risk score formula indicated a high diagnostic ability and area under ROC curve value (AUC) of 0.950 and 0.815 in training set and validation set for predicting GDM from controls group, for predicting macrosomia from GDM, the AUC was 0.975 and 0.820, respectively. The four circRNAs were further investigated with stable expression in human plasma samples. Limitations: The study was limited by larger scale of sample validation and the detailed mechanism investigation. Conclusion: The circRNA_1030, circRNA_23658, circRNA_0009049, and circRNA_32231 might be the potential biomarkers for predicting the GDM and macrosomia during the perinatal period.
Role of Epigenetic Therapy in the Modulation of Tumor Growth and Migration in Human Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Cells with Neuroendocrine Differentiation
Authors: Dicitore Alessandra , Bacalini Maria Giulia , Saronni Davide , Gaudenzi Germano , Cantone Maria Celeste , Gelmini Giulia , Grassi Elisa Stellaria , Gentilini Davide , Borghi Maria Orietta , Di Blasio Anna Maria , Persani Luca , Garagnani Paolo , Franceschi Claudio , Vitale Giovanni
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Neuroendocrine transdifferentiation (NED) of prostate cancer (PC) cells is associated with the development of resistance to antiandrogen therapy and poor prognosis in patients with castration-resistant PC (CRPC). Many of the molecular events, involved in NED, appear to be mediated by epigenetic mechanisms. In this study, we evaluated the antitumor activity and epigenetic modulation of 2 epigenetic drugs, such as the demethylating agent 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (AZA) and the methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), in 2 human CRPC cell lines with NED (DU-145 and PC-3). Methods: The effects of AZA and SAM on cell viability, cell cycle, apoptosis, migration, and genome-wide DNA methylation profiling have been evaluated. Results: Both drugs showed a prominent antitumor activity in DU-145 and PC-3 cells, through perturbation of cell cycle progression, induction of apoptosis, and inhibition of cell migration. AZA and SAM reversed NED in DU-145 and PC-3, respectively. Moreover, AZA treatment modified DNA methylation pattern in DU-145 cells, sustaining a pervasive hypomethylation of the genome, with a relevant effect on several pathways involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell migration, in particular Wnt/β-catenin. Conclusions: A relevant antitumor activity of these epigenetic drugs on CRPC cell lines with NED opens a new scenario in the therapy of this lethal variant of PC.
Acute Liver Failure after Treatment with Rivaroxaban for Aortic Thrombosis Associated with COVID-19 Infection and Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Gene Polymorphism (C677T)
Authors: Jukic Ivana , Bozic Dorotea , Lalovac Milos , Pavicic Ivelja Mirela , Radic Mislav , Sundov Zeljko , Vukovic Jonatan
Published: May 2022

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has become associated with prothrombotic state that could lead to severe arterial thrombotic complications. In the case of severe COVID-19 infection, hepatic dysfunction has been observed in more than 50% of patients. In this article, we present a case of aortic thrombosis associated with COVID-19 infection and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism (C677T) treated with rivaroxaban resulting in acute liver failure with fatal outcome.
Developmental Characteristics of the Glomerular and Tubular Portion of the Nephron in the Human Foetal Kidney Cortex: Morphometrical and Immunohistochemical Analysis
Authors: Antic Milorad , Dakovic Bjelakovic Marija , Petrovic Aleksandar , Bjelakovic Marko , Radenkovic Goran , Zivkovic Nikola , Krstic Miljan , Antic Vladimir
Published: May 2022

This study aimed to morphometrically examine the development of glomeruli and tubules in the kidney cortex of human foetuses at different gestational ages (GAs). We also investigated the expression of the proliferation marker Ki-67 and apoptosis-related markers Bcl-2 and Bax during nephrogenesis using immunohistochemistry. Kidney samples from 38 human foetuses of both sexes with GA ranging from 13 to 40 weeks were analysed. The samples were divided into 7 groups based on GA, each corresponding to 1 lunar month. Foetal kidneys showed a spatiotemporal gradient of nephron differentiation with the transient stages of nephron anlage located in the nephrogenic zone and immature nephrons located in the subjacent maturation zone. In the inner cortex, nephrons establish the morphological characteristics of definitive nephrons. The average area, perimeter, and Feret’s diameter of the glomeruli formed within the kidney cortex gradually decreased up to a period of 29–32 weeks of gestation and subsequently increased until a period of 37–40 weeks. There was a weak negative correlation with GA. In contrast, the areal density of glomeruli increased up to a period of 21–24 weeks and then gradually decreased until a period of 37–40 weeks, showing a moderate negative correlation with GA. The average area of renal tubules slightly decreased until a period of 21–24 weeks of gestation and then gradually increased until a period of 36–40 weeks, showing a moderate positive correlation with GA. The average areal density of renal tubules increased significantly until a period of 21–24 weeks of gestation, remained relatively constant until a period of 33–36 weeks, and then increased significantly at 36–40 weeks. There was a strong positive correlation with GA. Our results showed that Ki-67 was expressed in numerous cells of the metanephric mesenchyme, pretubular aggregates, renal vesicles, comma-shaped bodies, and early S-shaped bodies. During subsequent development and the spatial expansion of nephrons towards the mature zone, the expression of Ki-67 was markedly reduced. Similarly, Bcl-2 was strongly expressed in induced nephrogenic progenitor cells, pretubular aggregates, renal vesicles, and comma-shaped bodies. As vascularisation and maturation of the nephron proceeded, Bcl-2 staining became less intense and limited to the parietal layer of the Bowman’s capsule and renal tubules. Weak Bax expression was observed in individual scattered cells within segments of the nephrons at all developmental stages. In the mature zone, more intense Bax staining was observed in the renal tubules.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Promotes Human Uterine Leiomyoma Cell Proliferation via PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway
Authors: Wang Cuicui , Sun Yuan , Cong Shuo , Zhang Feiyue
Published: May 2022

The present research aimed to evaluate the expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in uterine leiomyoma, and explore its relationship with the occurrence and development of uterine leiomyoma and potential signal pathways. qRT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used for estimating the levels of IGF-1 in human uterine leiomyoma compared to myometrium. The expression of cell proliferation and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins in uterine leiomyoma cells was evaluated by western blot. Cell viability analysis was performed by CCK-8 assay. Lentivirus infection was used for IGF-1 overexpression and knockdown in uterine leiomyoma cells. The IGF-1 expression level was elevated in human uterine leiomyomas compared to myometrium. IGF-1 promoted the cell viability of human uterine leiomyoma cells. Overexpression of IGF-1 induced the expression of pro-proliferation markers including c-Myc, PCNA, and cyclin D1 in uterine leiomyoma cells. IGF-1 elevated the phosphorylation levels of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR, thus modifying PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in uterine leiomyoma cells. IGF-1 promotes proliferation of human uterine leiomyoma cells via PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.
Conflito com a lei e sexismo: percepções de adolescentes de Sergipe (Brasil)
Authors: Lins Araújo Costa Luiza , De Oliveira Ramalho Diniz Fernanda Cristina , Rosas Torres Ana Raquel , Garcia Dias Ana Cristina , Seixas da Rocha Carolina
Published: May 2022

El objetivo de este estudio es investigar cómo adolescentes, privadas de libertad, perciben la situación de conflicto con la ley y el sexismo. Participaron cuatro adolescentes que cumplían medida socioeducativa de privación de libertad en Sergipe (Brasil). Se realizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas, interpretadas mediante análisis de contenido temático. Surgieron dos categorías: "diferencias de género en la infracción: la transgresión como característica masculina" y "diferencias de género en la medida socioeducativa: la obediencia como característica femenina", indicando el impacto del género en la percepción de estas adolescentes. En conjunto, los resultados muestran que la atención al género y la relación entre conflicto con la ley y sexismo son aspectos fundamentales para lograr los ideales de la legislación brasileña, que es respetar las especificidades de las adolescentes en una protección integral e igualitaria.
Palabras clave: Adolescente en conflicto con la ley; medidas socioeducativas; género; sexismo.
Cadernos aplicados de turismo: comunicação de destinos turísticos - Volume 1
Authors:   Universidade de São Paulo. Escola de Comunicações e Artes, Bignami Rosana , Solha Karina ,   Universidade de São Paulo. Escola de Comunicações e Artes, Sakaguchi Jéssica ,   Universidade de São Paulo. Escola de Comunicações e Artes
Published: May 2022

A experiência e a expertise adquiridas no âmbito do Curso de Turismo da ECA/USP apresentam um grande potencial de contribuição para o aprimoramento da gestão do turismo nos municípios paulistas. A partir dessa percepção e compromisso, o grupo de pesquisa Centro de Estudos de Turismo e Desenvolvimento. Social - CETES propôs a criação desta Coleção, intitulada “Cadernos Aplicados de Turismo". A Coleção é ao mesmo tempo informação, conhecimento e escuta, pois pode se tornar um canal de comunicação e interação, no qual os leitores possam acompanhar, avaliar e sugerir aprimoramentos, abordagens e mesmo temáticas e ideias. Esse volume, Comunicação de Destinos Turísticos, propõe estimular a reflexão a respeito do papel da comunicação no desenvolvimento de destinos turísticos sustentáveis. Compreende-se que a Comunicação, além de ser um processo de transmissão de mensagens, pressupõe a escuta para o diálogo, uma vez que essa transmissão tem como objetivo garantir que seu conteúdo se torne comum a dois interlocutores. Para isso ocorrer é preciso que haja abertura para compreender, assimilar, participar da ideia, ou seja, dialogar.
Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Children and Adolescents: 2022 Update: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Authors: Flynn Joseph T. , Urbina Elaine M. , Brady Tammy M. , Baker-Smith Carissa , Daniels Stephen R. , Hayman Laura L. , Mitsnefes Mark , Tran Andrew , Zachariah Justin P. ,   on behalf of the Atherosclerosis, Hypertension, and Obesity in the Young Committee of the American Heart Association Council on Lifelong Congenital Heart Disease and Heart Health in the Young; Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention; Council on Epidemiology and Prevention; Council on Hypertension; and Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health
Published: May 2022

Use of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in children and adolescents has markedly increased since publication of the last American Heart Association scientific statement on pediatric ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in 2014. In addition, there has also been significant expansion of the evidence base for use of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in the pediatric population, including new data linking ambulatory blood pressure levels with the development of blood pressure–related target organ damage. Last, additional data have recently been published that enable simplification of the classification of pediatric ambulatory monitoring studies. This scientific statement presents a succinct review of this new evidence, guidance on optimal application of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in the clinical setting, and an updated classification scheme for the interpretation of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in children and adolescents. We also highlight areas of uncertainty where additional research is needed.
Stroke Severity and Early Ischemic Changes Predict Infarct Growth Rate and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Large‐Vessel Occlusion
Authors: Quispe‐Orozco Darko , Sequeiros Joel M. , Farooqui Mudassir , Zevallos Cynthia B. , Mendez‐Ruiz Alan , Dajles Andres , Kobsa Jessica , Prasad Ayush , Petersen Nils , Ortega‐Gutierrez Santiago
Published: May 2022

Background

The infarct growth rate (IGR) measures ischemic stroke progression and varies among patients. Clinicoradiological phenotypes of IGR are poorly understood. We evaluated the association of presentation stroke severity and early ischemic changes with infarct progression in patients who underwent successful thrombectomy.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort observational study of consecutive endovascular therapy patients with anterior circulation large‐vessel occlusion strokes and successful reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Ischemia≥2b) from 2 comprehensive stroke centers. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and Alberta Stroke Program Early CT [Computed Tomography] Score (ASPECTS) were scored at admission. IGR was defined as the final infarct volume after endovascular therapy divided by the time from stroke onset to successful reperfusion. We used the Youden J index to identify the optimal IGR cutoff to stratify fast and slow progressors. A multivariate logistic regression was used to identify variables associated with a fast IGR and clinical outcomes.

Results

A total of 212 patients were included in the study. The optimal IGR threshold was 3.2 mL/h, and 135 patients (63.6%) were classified as fast progressors. Presentation National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (odds ratio [OR], 1.12; 95% CI, 1.06–1.19) and ASPECTS (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.41–0.73) were accurate predictors of a fast IGR after adjusting for significant confounders. For each 1‐point increase in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission, the likelihood of being a fast progressor increased by 12%; for each 1‐point increase in ASPECTS, the likelihood of being a fast progressor decreased by 44%. In the early window (≤6 hours), all patients with ASPECTS <7 were identified as fast progressors.

Conclusions

This study shows that National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score and ASPECTS at presentation could predict fast versus slow IGR in patients receiving endovascular therapy.
A Special Role of Syllables, But Not Vowels or Consonants, for Nonadjacent Dependency Learning
Authors: Weyers Ivonne , Mueller Jutta L.
Published: May 2022

Successful language processing entails tracking (morpho)syntactic relationships between distant units of speech, so-called nonadjacent dependencies (NADs). Many cues to such dependency relations have been identified, yet the linguistic elements encoding them have received little attention. In the present investigation, we tested whether and how these elements, here syllables, consonants, and vowels, affect behavioral learning success as well as learning-related changes in neural activity in relation to item-specific NAD learning. In a set of two EEG studies with adults, we compared learning under conditions where either all segment types (Experiment 1) or only one segment type (Experiment 2) was informative. The collected behavioral and ERP data indicate that, when all three segment types are available, participants mainly rely on the syllable for NAD learning. With only one segment type available for learning, adults also perform most successfully with syllable-based dependencies. Although we find no evidence for successful learning across vowels in Experiment 2, dependencies between consonants seem to be identified at least passively at the phonetic-feature level. Together, these results suggest that successful item-specific NAD learning may depend on the availability of syllabic information. Furthermore, they highlight consonants' distinctive power to support lexical processes. Although syllables show a clear facilitatory function for NAD learning, the underlying mechanisms of this advantage require further research.
How do preschool to year 6 educators prevent and cope with occupational violence from students?
Authors: Stevenson David J , Neill James T , Ball Kayla , Smith Rebecca , Shores Melena C
Published: May 2022

Student violence directed at school educators appears to be increasing, thus it is important to identify practical strategies that educators use to prevent and cope with occupational violence. This observational study surveyed 369 government primary school staff in the Australian Capital Territory. Sixty per cent of respondents reported abusive language, 42% physical aggression, and 43% experienced other threatening behaviour from students at least weekly. More than one-third of respondents rated the impact of these experiences as moderate or higher. The most effective prevention strategies, according to respondents, were the educator’s response to the threat, focusing on the student’s needs, working collaboratively, and using antecedent control. The most effective coping strategies were debriefing, self-care, and work support. The most helpful sources of support were workplace colleagues, partners, school leaders, and friends. This study offers a solution-focused perspective about what works in preventing and coping with occupational violence from educators’ points of view.
Do Not Forget the “How” along with the “What”: Improving the Transparency of Sustainability Reports
Authors: Tang Samuel , Higgins Colin
Published: May 2022

Summary

Considerable resources are invested in producing sustainability reports, yet few organizations reap the transparency benefits they promise. This article explores the way ten leading global fashion companies use a combination of data visualization and placement, stakeholder-driven interactive content, and multi-media and immersive content to build the trust necessary to improve their reporting and transparency. While few organizations have the resources of the global fashion giants, this article proposes a four-stage framework that guides managers through a step-change of systematic and targeted improvement.
Natural Scene Virtual Reality as a Behavioral Health Countermeasure in Isolated, Confined, and Extreme Environments: Three Isolated, Confined, Extreme Analog Case Studies
Authors: Anderson Allison , Stankovic Aleksandra , Cowan Devin , Fellows Abigail , Buckey Jay
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Isolated, confined, extreme (ICE) environments are accompanied by a host of stress-inducing circumstances: operational pressure, interpersonal dynamics, limited communication with friends and family, and environmental hazards. We evaluated the effectiveness of attention-restoration-therapy-based immersive Virtual Reality (VR) in three ICE environments: the Canadian Forces Station—Alert (CFS Alert), the 12-month HI-SEAS IV expedition, and the 8-month HI-SEAS V expedition.

Methods

Thirty-one individuals (29 male, 2 female) at CFS Alert, and 12 total crewmembers (7 male, 5 female, six crewmembers per sessions) at HI-SEAS participated. All participants viewed immersive VR scenes, but scene content varied by deployment. Data collection included pre- and post-intervention surveys and semi-structured post-mission interviews. Survey data were analyzed by scene content within each analog using nonparametric approaches.

Results

Acceptability and desirability of the VR content varied significantly by ICE analog, as well as by participants within a given analog. The two initial exploratory protocols enabled a more directed study in HI-SEAS V to identify the importance of differences in scene content.

Discussion

Use and perceived utility of the VR varied considerably across participants, indicating that psychological support needs to be individualized. Overall, natural scene VR was broadly considered restorative, but after long periods of isolation, dynamic and familiar scenes including those with people were also appealing. Immersive, nature-based VR was highly valued by some, but not all participants, suggesting that this intervention tool holds promise for use in ICE settings but needs to be tailored to the setting and individual.
Single-payer Health Care: Financial Implications for a Physician
Authors: Bryant Daniel C.
Published: May 2022

When considering proposed reforms of the U.S. health care system, some physicians dismiss the single-payer model (Medicare for All or state-based universal health care proposals) out of concern that their reimbursement and thus their income would be reduced. This study is an effort to quantitate that concern in the case of state-based plans and, in so doing, to suggest a template for evaluating the financial consequences for physicians of single-payer health care reform in general. To put the data into concrete, practical terms, I envision a hypothetical primary care physician's practice and develop its plausible financial components in the present multi-payer system and in five proposed state-based, single-payer systems. The calculations reveal that in all five single-payer plans evaluated, the hypothetical physician's Total Net Income (take-home pay) would exceed that in the current multi-payer system. Whether these results apply to actual practices or not, they suggest that, when considering the financial impact of single-payer reform on their practices, physicians should consider all the financial consequences of such reform, not just the proposed reimbursement level. More quantitative analyses of these important financial variables in different practice settings must be pursued.
Re-examining the Kuznets Curve Hypothesis for South Asian Countries: New Evidences
Authors: Ali Majid , Tariq Muhammad , Azam Khan Muhammad
Published: May 2022

This study re-examines the validity of Kuznets curve hypothesis for six South Asian countries, namely, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, India, and Bangladesh, over the period 1991–2018. The Pooled Mean Group (PMG) technique results in the short and long run reveal an S-shaped curve relationship between income inequality and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita for all countries, that is, negative at the beginning, positive after the first turning point (GDP per capita level, US$473), and negative after the second turning point (GDP per capita level, US$3827) when GDP per capita reaches the maximum level. In contrast, the country-specific results show, that the first and second turning points of GDP per capita are US$468 and US$2298 for India, US$445 and US$1408 for Pakistan, US$450 and US$9045 for Bhutan, and US$925 and US$6836 for Sri Lanka, which support the validity of the S-shaped curve. Moreover, the results also show the existence of N-shaped curve with GDP per capita (i.e. first and second) turning points of US$473 and US$2864 for Bangladesh and US$105 and US$3568 for Nepal. The findings suggest that income inequality gaps in Asian countries seem to be conditional on the levels of GDP per capita. In this regard, expansionary fiscal policy, specifically in the form of government spending, promotion of exports and employment, and price stability can play a vital role in increasing the GDP per capita levels and narrowing the income inequlaity gaps in the selected Asian countries.
Enhancement of fiber attenuation and filtration quality via electrostatic-induction-assisted melt blowing
Authors: Zou Fangdong , Li Yifei , Meng Lin , Chen Mingjing , Sun Xiaoxia , Li Zhimin , Wang Xinhou
Published: May 2022

Melt-blown nonwovens with smaller fiber diameters and fewer roping defects are good candidates for air filtration. However, there have been few publications of experimental work reducing the fiber diameter and improving the roping defects of melt-blown nonwovens at the same time. Here, we reported an electrostatic-induction-assisted melt-blowing (EIMB) process by introducing an induced electrostatic field to the conventional MB process. The EIMB process is based on a commercial process without interfering or charging the polymer jet before spinning. Therefore, the production efficiency of the EIMB process is the same as the conventional MB process. The numerical simulation method was employed to investigate the effects of the electrode width on the melt-blown airflow field since the electrode width is a critical parameter that affects the stability of the MB airflow field. Benefiting from the introduction of the electrostatic field, melt-blown nonwovens with smaller fiber diameters and fewer roping defects were obtained using the EIMB technology. Compared to the conventional MB process, the EIMB process dramatically improved the filtration performance and reduced the energy consumption.
Effects of Virginia’s 2019 Medicaid Expansion on Health Insurance Coverage, Access to Care, and Health Status
Authors: Lyu Wei , Wehby George L.
Published: May 2022

Virginia expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act beginning in January 2019, which substantially increased income eligibility up to 138% of the federal poverty level (FPL) for both childless adults and parents. In this study, we examined the effects of Virginia’s Medicaid expansion in 2019 on health insurance coverage, access to care, and health status by employing a difference-in-differences and a synthetic control design. The study included data on health insurance from the 2016–2020 American Community Survey (ACS) and data on access to care and health status come from the 2016–2020 Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System (BRFSS). The samples from ACS and BRFSS were limited to non-elderly adults with income below 138% of the FPL. Separate models were estimated for individuals below 100% of FPL, and those within 100–138% of FPL. The Virginia Medicaid expansion was associated with a 9–11 percentage-point increase in Medicaid coverage rate and a 7–8 percentage-point increase in the insured rate among individuals below 100% FPL, in the first two years of expansion. There was a larger increase in Medicaid coverage among individuals within 100–138% of FPL which also led to a larger increase in the insured rate in 2020. Both income groups showed no changes in private coverage after the expansion in Virginia. We also found a decline in delaying necessary medical visits due to cost for individuals below 100% FPL in 2019 and for individuals within 100–138% FPL in 2020. There was overall no discernable change in health status outcomes. Virginia’s 2019 Medicaid expansion substantially increased insurance coverage among poor adults with suggestive early evidence for improved access. The findings highlight the missed opportunity for other states that have not yet decided to expand their Medicaid programs to improve coverage and access among their low-income individuals.
Watch Out for Burnout in COVID-19: A Greek Health Care Personnel Study
Authors: Mavrovounis Georgios , Mavrovouni Debbie , Mermiri Maria , Papadaki Paraskevi , Chalkias Athanasios , Zarogiannis Sotirios , Christodoulou Nikolaos , Gourgoulianis Konstantinos , Pantazopoulos Ioannis
Published: May 2022

The aim of the current study was to examine the mental well-being of healthcare personnel (HCP) working in COVID-19 units in Greece and to calculate the prevalence of burnout (BO) amongst them. A questionnaire based on the Maslach Burnout Inventory for Medical Personnel was utilized between February 21st, 2021 and March 5th, 2021. A total of 190 HCP responded to the questionnaire, of which 73.7% were nurses and midwives. The mean age of the participants was 38.3 (8.4) years. Overall, 71.6% of the participants had a high BO score, while 20.5% had a moderate and 7.9% had a low BO score. Night shifts in COVID-19 wards and job dissatisfaction were significantly associated with a high BO score ( P = .03 and P < .0001, respectively). The majority of HCP working in COVID-19 wards in Greece is experiencing high levels of overall BO and emotional exhaustion.
State-Building 101: Hard Lessons From Afghanistan
Authors: Miklaucic Michael
Published: May 2022

The American war in Afghanistan was originally an act of retaliation and retribution. Over time it assumed the moral burden of state-building. The state-building effort however was undermined by inadequate planning, inadequate knowledge, and inadequate understanding of the complexity and difficulty of the state-building process. Ultimately, the Afghanistan state-building effort failed. The commentary assumes the premise that even in an era of great power competition, the West cannot escape the challenge of state-building as fragile and failing states will continue to threaten global security. The commentary suggests a set of considerations for those responsible for the inevitable state-building challenges of the future.
Assessment of the social quality of life and the physical activity of adult celiac disease patients following a gluten-free diet in Lebanon
Authors: Bouery Priscilla , Attieh Randa , Sacca Lea , Sacre Yonna
Published: May 2022

To date, the primary and only treatment recommended for effective management of celiac disease (CD) is adherence to a strict gluten-free diet (GFD) which entails a new approach to eating that affects the social quality of life (QoL) and physical activity (PA) of patients. This cross-sectional study aimed at assessing the social QoL and PA of adult Lebanese CD patients aged between 18 and 59 years old who are following a GFD. An online CD questionnaire was administered to 136 Lebanese celiac participants on a GFD. The findings of this study show a significant association between celiac patients following a GFD and their social QoL (P-value = 0.0001). The results also showed a significant association between the same population and their PA (p-value = 0.0001). Further awareness-raising and learning activities about gluten-free products are needed to improve the adherence to a strict GFD to facilitate its availability to the Lebanese population.
Socially Responsible Marketing: A Moving Target in Need of a Normative-Ethical Doctrine
Authors: Nill Alexander
Published: May 2022

A recent article by Laczniak and Shultz (2021), which appeared in the Journal of Macromarketing, conceptually explores a possible framework towards a doctrine of Socially Responsible Marketing (SRM). Using a normative versus positive and a macro versus micro approach the article lays the intellectual groundwork for a meaningful definition of and roadmap towards SRM. The definition is broad enough to withstand the ever-changing economic, political and ideological conditions of a society and specific enough to be meaningful.
Injury Severity Analysis for Large Truck-Involved Crashes: Accounting for Heterogeneity
Authors: Azimi Ghazaleh , Rahimi Alireza , Asgari Hamidreza , Jin Xia
Published: May 2022

This study explores the crash injury severity of large truck-involved crashes, where the truck driver was identified as the at-fault driver. The paper focuses on vehicle-in-motion crashes that occurred on Florida’s state highways between 2007 and 2016. A random parameter ordered logit (RPOL) model was developed to identify random parameters and interaction effects. Results indicated that not using restraint systems, running a red light, wrong-way driving, failing to yield the right of way, tire or brake defects, and dark conditions had positive associations with higher levels of crash injury severity. The random variables—straight alignment, paved shoulders, and unpaved shoulders—showed significant random effects among the observations. For straight alignment, running red lights, following too closely, vision obstruction caused by fixed objects, and vision obstruction caused by fog were the sources of heterogeneity. Unpaved shoulders, running red lights, wrong-way driving, and the presence of parked or stopped vehicles were found as interaction effects. Results showed that accounting for heterogeneity and interaction effects significantly improved the goodness of fit of the model. This study provides more comprehensive knowledge of the influencing factors of large truck crashes by considering the role of heterogeneity and its potential sources in crash injury severity.