bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contrast media timing optimization for coronary CT angiography: a retrospective validation study in swine
Authors: Hubbard Logan , Malkasian Shant , Zhao Yixiao , Abbona Pablo , Molloi Sabee
Published: October 2022

Objectives

The objective was to retrospectively develop a protocol in swine for optimal contrast media timing in coronary CT angiography (CCTA).

Methods

Several dynamic acquisitions were performed in 28 swine (55 ± 24 kg) with cardiac outputs between 1.5 and 5.5 L/min, for 80 total acquisitions. The contrast was injected (1mL/kg, 5mL/s, Isovue 370), followed by dynamic scanning of the entire aortic enhancement curve, from which the true peak time and aortic and coronary enhancements were recorded as the reference standard. Each dataset was then used to simulate two different CCTA protocols—a new optimal protocol and a standard clinical protocol. For the optimal protocol, the CCTA was acquired after bolus tracking-based trigging using a variable time delay of one-half the contrast injection time interval plus 1.5 s. For the standard protocol, the CCTA was acquired after bolus tracking-based triggering using a fixed time delay of 5 s. For both protocols, the CCTA time, aortic enhancement, coronary enhancement, and coronary contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were quantitatively compared to the reference standard measurements.

Results

For the optimal protocol, the angiogram was acquired within −0.15 ± 0.75 s of the true peak time, for a mean coronary CNR within 7% of the peak coronary CNR. Conversely, for the standard CCTA protocol, the angiogram was acquired within −1.82 ± 1.71 s of the true peak time, for a mean coronary CNR that was 23% lower than the peak coronary CNR.

Conclusions

The optimal CCTA protocol improves contrast media timing and coronary CNR by acquiring the angiogram at the true aortic root peak time.

Key Points

• This study in swine retrospectively developed the mathematical basis of an improved approach for optimal contrast media timing in CCTA.

• By combining dynamic bolus tracking with a simple contrast injection timing relation, CCTA can be acquired at the peak of the aortic root enhancement.

• CCTA acquisition at the peak of the aortic root enhancement should maximize the coronary enhancement and CNR, potentially improving the accuracy of CT-based assessment of coronary artery disease.
Lifetime reductions and read-out oscillations due to imperfect initial level preparations of atoms in a long-lived DLCZ-like quantum memory
Authors: Wang Minjie , Wang Shengzhi , Xu Zhongxiao , Ma Tengfei , Li Ya , Li Shujing , Wang Hai
Published: October 2022

Entanglement between a spin-wave qubit (memory qubit) and a photonic qubit is a basic building block for quantum repeaters. Duan-Lukin-Cirac-Zoller (DLCZ) scheme, which generates spin waves via spontaneous Raman scattering (SRS) of Stokes photons in atomic ensemble, provides a promising way to generate such entanglement. In a recent work [arXiv: 2006.05631, accepted by communications physics], DLCZ-like quantum memory that generates long-lived atom-photon entanglement has been experimentally demonstrated, where magnetic-field-insensitive (MFI) coherence is used to store spin waves. For realizing such MFI spin-wave storage, the atoms have to be initially prepared in a specific Zeeman sublevel, which is achieved by applying optical pumping lasers. Here, we demonstrate the memory lifetimes for the cases that the atoms are perfectly and imperfectly prepared in the specific Zeeman level, respectively. The experimental results show that the spin waves associated with magnetic-field-sensitive (MFS) and MFI coherences will be simultaneously created for the case that the atoms are imperfectly prepared in the Zeeman sublevel. Thus, the read outs will experience decay oscillations due to interferences between the two spin waves and the memory lifetime will be shorten due to dephasing of MFS coherence. A detailed theoretical analysis has been developed for explaining the experimental results. The present work will help one to understand decoherence of spin waves (SWs) and then enable one to obtain optimal lifetime of the entanglement storage in the cold atoms.
Routine application of the Lymph2Cx assay for the subclassification of aggressive B-cell lymphoma: report of a prospective real-world series
Authors: Zamò Alberto , Gerhard-Hartmann Elena , Ott German , Anagnostopoulos Ioannis , Scott David W. , Rosenwald Andreas , Rauert-Wunderlich Hilka
Published: October 2022

The subclassification of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) into germinal center B-cell-like (GCB) and activated B-cell-like (ABC) subtypes has become mandatory in the 2017 update of the WHO classification of lymphoid neoplasms and will continue to be used in the WHO 5th edition. The RNA-based Lymph2Cx assay has been validated as a reliable surrogate of high-throughput gene expression profiling assays for distinguishing between GCB and ABC DLBCL and provides reliable results from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) material. This test has been previously used in clinical trials, but experience from real-world routine application is rare. We routinely applied the Lymph2Cx assay to day-to-day diagnostics on a series of 147 aggressive B-cell lymphoma cases and correlated our results with the immunohistochemical subclassification using the Hans algorithm and fluorescence in situ hybridization findings using break-apart probes for MYC, BCL2, and BCL6. The routine use of the Lymph2Cx assay had a high technical success rate (94.6%) with a low rate of failure due to poor material and/or RNA quality. The Lymph2Cx assay was discordant with the Hans algorithm in 18% (23 of 128 cases). Discordant cases were mainly classified as GCB by the Hans algorithm and as ABC by Lymph2Cx (n = 11, 8.6%). Only 5 cases (3.9%) were classified as non-GCB by the Hans algorithm and as GCB by Lymph2Cx. Additionally, 5.5% of cases (n = 7) were left unclassified by Lymph2Cx, whereas they were defined as GCB (n = 4) or non-GCB (n = 3) by the Hans algorithm. Our data support the routine applicability of the Lymph2Cx assay.
Clinical and radiological outcome 1-year after cervical total disc replacement using the Signus ROTAIO – Prosthesis
Authors: Lang Anna , Lener Sara , Grassner Lukas , Abramovic Anto , Thomé Claudius , Päsler Dennis , Lehmberg Jens , Schär Ralph , Hartmann Sebastian
Published: October 2022

Introduction

The instantaneous center of rotation (iCOR) of a motion segment has been shown to correlate with its total range of motion (ROM). Importantly, a correlation of the correct placement of cervical total disc replacement (cTDR) to preserve a physiological iCOR has been previously identified. However, changes of these parameters and the corresponding clinical relevance have hardly been analyzed. This study assesses the radiological and clinical correlation of iCOR and ROM following cTDR.

Materials/methods

A retrospective multi-center observational study was conducted and radiological as well as clinical parameters were evaluated preoperatively and 1 year after cTDR with an unconstrained device. Radiographic parameters including flexion/extension X-rays (flex/ex), ROM, iCOR and the implant position in anterior–posterior direction (IP ap), as well as corresponding clinical parameters [(Neck Disability Index (NDI) and the visual analogue scale (VAS)] were assessed.

Results

57 index segments of 53 patients treated with cTDR were analyzed. Pre- and post-operative ROM showed no significant changes (8.0° vs. 10.9°;p > 0.05). Significant correlations between iCOR and IP (Pearson’sR: 0.6;p < 0.01) as well as between ROM and IP ap (Pearson’sR: − 0.3;p = 0.04) were identified. NDI and VAS improved significantly (p < 0.01). A significant correlation between NDI and IP ap after 12 months (Pearson’sR: − 0.39;p < 0.01) was found.

Conclusion

Implantation of the tested prosthesis maintains the ROM and results in a physiological iCOR. The exact position of the device correlates with the clinical outcome and emphasize the importance of implant design and precise implant positioning.
Does leaf mass per area (LMA) discriminate natural pine populations of different origins?
Authors: Buraczyk Włodzimierz , Tulik Mirela , Konecka Agata , Szeligowski Henryk , Czacharowski Marcin , Będkowski Mateusz
Published: October 2022

Tree provenance trials are believed to be a valuable tool for assessing the adaptive potential of a population to a changing environment and ultimately for predicting the populations that are best adapted to global warming. Here, the phenotypic plasticity of morphometric traits of needles and lateral shoots of pines growing in a provenance plot in central Poland was examined to assess the inter- and intra-population variability. No significant differences were found in the measured and counted morphometric features, i.e., needle length (NL), cumulative needles length (CNL), thickness (ST), volume (SV) and shoot density (SD), number of needles per 5 cm fragment of shoot (NN), dry weight of needles (NDW) and shoot (SDW), thickness of bark (BT) and wood (WT), pith diameter (PD), and needle dry mass per area (LMA) among three pine populations while accounting for their region of origin (inter-population variability). In terms of the above-mentioned features, individual populations differed significantly from each other, except for NN and ST. We also noticed a positive, significant relationship between LMA and ST in all studied populations and based on Euclidean distances of measurable or counted traits, three population groups were identified. We concluded that LMA, which is commonly used to quantify leaf structure, is helpful in differentiating intra-population variability.
An electro-mechanical dynamic model for flexoelectric energy harvesters
Authors: Thai Tran Quoc , Zhuang Xiaoying , Rabczuk Timon
Published: October 2022

Flexoelectricity is a universal electro-mechanical coupling effect that occurs in dielectrics of all symmetric groups and becomes dominant at the micro- and nano-scales. It plays an important role in evaluating micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) such as energy harvesters which convert vibrational energy to electric energy. At finer length scales, micro-inertia effects significantly contribute to the behavior of flexoelectric materials due to the mechanical dispersion. Hence, to properly characterize the vibrational behavior of MEMS, a reliable theoretical approach is required accounting for all possible phenomena that affect the output of the system such as voltage or power density. In this work, we present a consistent (dynamic) model and associated computational framework for flexoelectric structures to study the characteristics of the vibrational behavior of energy harvesters showing the dominance of the flexoelectric effect at micro- and nano-scales. In this context, we quantify the impact of the micro-inertia length scale and the flexoelectric dynamic parameter on both frequency and time responses of energy harvesters.
Strukturierte Qualifizierung Sozialer Arbeit im Bereich Palliative Care
Authors: Lehmann Denise , Schütte-Bäumner Christian , Neupert Ingo , Kiepke-Ziemes Susanne
Published: October 2022

Der Beitrag beleuchtet die generalistischen Bildungsstrukturen Sozialer Arbeit und die daraus resultierenden Erfordernisse für ein reflexives, professionelles Handeln im Bereich Palliative Care im Sinne einer strukturierten Qualifizierung sowie im Verständnis eines lebenslangen Lernens mit entsprechend kontinuierlicher Kompetenzentwicklung.
Tolerance for ambiguity, reappraisal, and suppression mediate the relationship between problematic internet use and procrastination
Authors: Emadi Chashmi Seyed Javad , Hasani Jafar , Kuss Daria J. , Griffiths Mark D. , Shahrajabian Fatemeh
Published: October 2022

The current scientific literature lacks studies on the relationship between problematic internet use (PIU) and procrastination, especially regarding the mediating mechanisms underlying this relationship. The present study examined the association between procrastination and PIU, as well as determining the mediating roles of tolerance for ambiguity, reappraisal, and suppression. The conceptual model was tested using data collected from 434 Iranian college students. The participants completed a number of psychometric scales assessing procrastination, PIU, tolerance for ambiguity, reappraisal, and suppression. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized model. Results showed that PIU, tolerance for ambiguity, and suppression were positively associated with procrastination, and that there was a negative association between reappraisal and procrastination. Moreover, the mediation analysis indicated that tolerance for ambiguity, reappraisal, and suppression fully mediated the association between PIU and procrastination. However, it is also possible to interpret the results as suggesting that PIU is unimportant as a predictor for procrastination once mediators are controlled for.
PTRH2 is Necessary for Purkinje Cell Differentiation and Survival and its Loss Recapitulates Progressive Cerebellar Atrophy and Ataxia Seen in IMNEPD Patients
Authors: Picker-Minh Sylvie , Luperi Ilaria , Ravindran Ethiraj , Kraemer Nadine , Zaqout Sami , Stoltenburg-Didinger Gisela , Ninnemann Olaf , Hernandez-Miranda Luis R. , Mani Shyamala , Kaindl Angela M.
Published: October 2022

Hom
ozygous variants in the peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase 2 gene (PTRH2) cause infantile-onset multisystem neurologic, endocrine, and pancreatic disease. The objective is to delineate the mechanisms underlying the core cerebellar phenotype in this disease. For this, we generated constitutive (Ptrh2LoxPxhCMVCre, Ptrh2−/− mice) and Purkinje cell (PC) specific (Ptrh2LoxPxPcp2Cre, Ptrh2ΔPCmice) Ptrh2 mutant mouse models and investigated the effect of the loss of Ptrh2 on cerebellar development. We show that Ptrh2−/− knockout mice had severe postnatal runting and lethality by postnatal day 14. Ptrh2ΔPC PC specific knockout mice survived until adult age; however, they showed progressive cerebellar atrophy and functional cerebellar deficits with abnormal gait and ataxia. PCs of Ptrh2ΔPC mice had reduced cell size and density, stunted dendrites, and lower levels of ribosomal protein S6, a readout of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway. By adulthood, there was a marked loss of PCs. Thus, we identify a cell autonomous requirement for PTRH2 in PC maturation and survival. Loss of PTRH2 in PCs leads to downregulation of the mTOR pathway and PC atrophy. This suggests a molecular mechanism underlying the ataxia and cerebellar atrophy seen in patients with PTRH2 mutations leading to infantile-onset multisystem neurologic, endocrine, and pancreatic disease.
Leveraging learning experience design: digital media approaches to influence motivational traits that support student learning behaviors in undergraduate online courses
Authors: Wong Joseph T. , Hughes Bradley S.
Published: October 2022

Higher education may benefit from investigating alternative evidence-based methods of online learning to understand students’ learning behaviors while considering students’ social cognitive motivational traits. Researchers conducted an in situ design-based research (DBR) study to investigate learner experience design (LXD) methods, deploying approaches of asynchronous video, course dashboards, and enhanced user experience. This mixed-methods study (N = 181) assessed associations of students’ social cognitive motivational traits (self-efficacy, task-value, self-regulation) influencing their learning behaviors (engagement, elaboration, critical thinking) resulting from LXD. Social cognitive motivational traits were positively predictive of learning behaviors. As motivational factors increased, students’ course engagement, usage of elaboration, and critical thinking skills increased. Self-efficacy, task-value, and self-regulation explained 31% of the variance of engagement, 47% of the explained variance of critical thinking skills, and 57% of the explained variance in the usage of elaboration. As a predictor, task-value beliefs increased the proportion of explained variance in each model significantly, above self-efficacy and self-regulation. Qualitative content analysis corroborated these findings, explaining how LXD efforts contributed to motivations, learning behaviors, and learning experience. Results suggest that mechanisms underpinning LXD and students’ learning behaviors are likely the result of dynamically catalyzing social cognitive motivational factors. The discussion concludes with the LXD affordances that explain the positive influences in students’ social cognitive motivational traits and learning behaviors, while also considering constraints for future iterations.
Air plasma-sprayed high-entropy (Y0.2Yb0.2Lu0.2Eu0.2Er0.2)3Al5O12 coating with high thermal protection performance
Authors: Wang Kailun , Zhu Jinpeng , Wang Hailong , Yang Kaijun , Zhu Yameng , Qing Yubin , Ma Zhuang , Gao Lihong , Liu Yanbo , Wei Sihao , Shu Yongchun , Zhou Yanchun , He Jilin
Published: October 2022

High-entropy rare-earth aluminate (Y0.2Yb0.2Lu0.2Eu0.2Er0.2)3Al5O12 (HE-RE3Al5O12) has been considered as a promising thermal protection coating (TPC) material based on its low thermal conductivity and close thermal expansion coefficient to that of Al2O3. However, such a coating has not been experimentally prepared, and its thermal protection performance has not been evaluated. To prove the feasibility of utilizing HE-RE3Al5O12 as a TPC, HE-RE3Al5O12 coating was deposited on a nickelbased superalloy for the first time using the atmospheric plasma spraying technique. The stability, surface, and cross-sectional morphologies, as well as the fracture surface of the HE-RE3Al5O12 coating were investigated, and the thermal shock resistance was evaluated using the oxyacetylene flame test. The results show that the HE-RE3Al5O12 coating can remain intact after 50 cycles at 1200 °C for 200 s, while the edge peeling phenomenon occurs after 10 cycles at 1400 °C for 200 s. This study clearly demonstrates that HE-RE3Al5O12 coating is effective for protecting the nickel-based superalloy, and the atmospheric plasma spraying is a suitable method for preparing this kind of coatings.
Feature selection based on self-information and entropy measures for incomplete neighborhood decision systems
Authors: Yuan Meng , Xu Jiucheng , Li Tao , Sun Yuanhao
Published: October 2022

For incomplete datasets with mixed numerical and symbolic features, feature selection based on neighborhood multi-granulation rough sets (NMRS) is developing rapidly. However, its evaluation function only considers the information contained in the lower approximation of the neighborhood decision, which easily leads to the loss of some information. To solve this problem, we construct a novel NMRS-based uncertain measure for feature selection, named neighborhood multi-granulation self-information-based pessimistic neighborhood multi-granulation tolerance joint entropy (PTSIJE), which can be used to incomplete neighborhood decision systems. First, from the algebra view, four kinds of neighborhood multi-granulation self-information measures of decision variables are proposed by using the upper and lower approximations of NMRS. We discuss the related properties, and find the fourth measure-lenient neighborhood multi-granulation self-information measure (NMSI) has better classification performance. Then, inspired by the algebra and information views simultaneously, a feature selection method based on PTSIJE is proposed. Finally, the Fisher score method is used to delete uncorrelated features to reduce the computational complexity for high-dimensional gene datasets, and a heuristic feature selection algorithm is raised to improve classification performance for mixed and incomplete datasets. Experimental results on 11 datasets show that our method selects fewer features and has higher classification accuracy than related methods.
School Performance and Young Adult Crime in a Brazilian Birth Cohort
Authors: Martins Rafaela Costa , Gonçalves Helen , Blumenberg Cauane , Könsgen Bruno , Houvèssou Gbènankpon M. , Carone Caroline , Gil Jesus David , Lautenschläger Priscila , Wehrmeister Fernando C. , Menezes Ana Maria Baptista , Murray Joseph
Published: October 2022

Poor school performance may increase the risk of crime and violence via effects on self-esteem, risky behaviours, peer networks, and perceived stakes in society. Despite very high rates of violence in Latin America, no longitudinal research has addressed this issue in the region. Two aspects of educational performance (grade repetition and school completion) were examined during adolescence in a population-based Brazilian birth cohort study (n = 3584). Violent and non-violent crime were measured at age 22 years in confidential self-reports; sociodemographic, family, and individual confounders were measured between birth and age 11 years, and potential mediators were measured at age 18 years. The prevalence of violent and non-violent crimes at 22 years was 8.2% and 3.3%, respectively, referring to acts in the previous twelve months. For youth repeating school grades three times or more, the odds of violent crime were 2.4 (95%CI: 1.6–3.6) times higher than for those who had not repeated any school grade. Youth completing school had a lower risk for both violent (OR = 0.5; 95%CI: 0.4–0.7) and non-violent crime (OR = 0.3; 95%CI: 0.2–0.5), compared to those who did not finish school by the expected age. The protective effect of completing school was independent of the number of grades previously repeated. In conclusion, repeating school grades was associated with increased risk for crime; however, successfully managing to complete school by the expected age was an important protective factor against crime, even after multiple grade repetitions.
Incentivization matters: a meta-perspective on dictator games
Authors: Grech Philip D. , Nax Heinrich H. , Soos Adrian
Published: October 2022

Dictator game experiments come in three flavors: plain vanilla with strictly dichotomous separation of dictator and recipient roles, an interactive alternative whereby every subject acts in both roles, and a variant thereof with role uncertainty. We add information regarding which of these three protocols was used to data from the leading meta-study by Engel (Exp Econ 14(4):583–610, 2011) and investigate how these variations matter. Our meta-regressions suggest that interactive protocols with role duality compared with standard protocols, in addition to being relevant as a control for other effects, render subjects’ giving less generous but more efficiency-oriented. Our results help organize existing findings in the field and indicate sources of confounds.
CUBCO+: prediction of protein complexes based on min-cut network partitioning into biclique spanned subgraphs
Authors: Omranian Sara , Nikoloski Zoran
Published: October 2022

High-throughput proteomics approaches have resulted in large-scale protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks that have been employed for the prediction of protein complexes. However, PPI networks contain false-positive as well as false-negative PPIs that affect the protein complex prediction algorithms. To address this issue, here we propose an algorithm called CUBCO+ that: (1) employs GO semantic similarity to retain only biologically relevant interactions with a high similarity score, (2) based on link prediction approaches, scores the false-negative edges, and (3) incorporates the resulting scores to predict protein complexes. Through comprehensive analyses with PPIs from Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Homo sapiens, we show that CUBCO+ performs as well as the approaches that predict protein complexes based on recently introduced graph partitions into biclique spanned subgraphs and outperforms the other state-of-the-art approaches. Moreover, we illustrate that in combination with GO semantic similarity, CUBCO+ enables us to predict more accurate protein complexes in 36% of the cases in comparison to CUBCO as its predecessor.
Numerical simulation of viscoelastic fluid–structure interaction benchmarks and their application to the human eye
Authors: Drobny Alexander , Friedmann Elfriede
Published: October 2022

We present a numerical solution method for time-dependent viscoelastic fluid–structure interaction employing the arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian framework. The derived monolithic variational formulation is discretized in time using the shifted Crank–Nicolson scheme and in space using the finite element method. For the linearisation we employ Newton’s method with exact Jacobians. The viscoelastic fluid is modelled either using the Oldroyd-B or a Burgers-type model. The elastic structures are non-linear hyperelastic materials. We validate the implementation on benchmark problems and numerically analyse the convergence for global mesh refinement and adaptive mesh refinement using the dual-weighted residual method. Furthermore we numerically analyse the influence of the viscoelasticity of the fluid on typical goal functionals like the drag, the lift and the displacement. The derived numerical solution method is applied to ophthalmology where we analyse the interaction of the viscoelastic vitreous with its surrounding elastic structures.
Spatio-temporal monitoring of potentially toxic elements in Lagos harbour water and its health risk implications
Authors: Basheeru Kazeem A. , Adekola Folahan A. , Abdus-Salam Nasir , Okoro Hussein K.
Published: October 2022

Continuous discharge of industrial and domestic inputs from various processes into the Lagos lagoon has significantly affected the quality of the aquatic environment, as a result of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) being released into the harbour during anthropogenic activities. This study involved monitoring the concentration and distribution of heavy metals in Lagos harbour during the dry and wet seasons. The PTEs can pose a serious ecological threat to the marine environment as well as human beings when the level of priority metals like cadmium, lead, and chromium is beyond World Health Organization (WHO) limits of 0.003, 0.05, and 0.1 mg/L, respectively. The shipping activities within the harbour play a significant role in the generation of these toxic metals. The diverse nature of these metals coexisting with their oxidation states in aquatic environments and their bioaccumulation influences the toxicity of PTEs towards the living organism. The quantification of these metals with highly selective and accurate instrumentation is imperative. Ion-selective exchangers and other functionalized composite nanomaterial are critical for harbour water remediation because of the high risk that could be associated with prolonged exposure to these toxic elements especially when the carcinogenic risk value is greater than 1 × 10−6 mg/kg/day.
Concept-Based Label Distribution Learning for Text Classification
Authors: Li Hui , Huang Guimin , Li Yiqun , Zhang Xiaowei , Wang Yabing
Published: October 2022

Text classification is a crucial task in data mining and artificial intelligence. In recent years, deep learning-based text classification methods have made great development. The deep learning methods supervise model training by representing a label as a one-hot vector. However, the one-hot label representation cannot adequately reflect the relation between an instance and the labels, as labels are often not completely independent, and the instance may be associated with multiple labels in practice. Simply representing the labels as one-hot vectors leads to overconfidence in the model, making it difficult to distinguish some label confusions. In this paper, we propose a simulated label distribution method based on concepts (SLDC) to tackle this problem. This method captures the overlap between the labels by computing the similarity between an instance and the labels and generates a new simulated label distribution for assisting model training. In particular, we incorporate conceptual information from the knowledge base into the representation of instances and labels to address the surface mismatching problem when instances and labels are compared for similarity. Moreover, to fully use the simulated label distribution and the original label vector, we set up a multi-loss function to supervise the training process. Expensive experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of SLDC on five complex text classification datasets. Further experiments also verify that SLDC is especially helpful for confused datasets.
Rescue Activity of a Civilian Helicopter Emergency Medical Service in the Western Cape, South Africa: A 5-Year Retrospective Review
Authors: Park-Ross Jocelyn Frances , Howard Ian , Hodkinson Peter
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Helicopter search and rescue (SAR) in Africa is conducted primarily by military organizations. Since 2002, the Western Cape of South Africa has had a dedicated contracted civilian helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) conducting air ambulance, terrestrial, and aquatic rescue. To our knowledge, this is the first description of the operations of an African helicopter rescue service.

Methods

A 5-y retrospective review of the terrestrial and aquatic helicopter rescue activity of a civilian-operated HEMS in the Western Cape, South Africa, from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2016, was conducted. Data were extracted from the organization’s operational database, aviation documents, rescue reports, and patient care records. Patient demographics and activity at the time of rescue, temporal and geographical distribution, crewing compositions, patient injury, triage, clinical interventions, and rescue techniques were analyzed.

Results

A total of 581 SAR missions were conducted, of which 451 were terrestrial and 130 were aquatic rescues. The highest volume of rescues was conducted within the urban Cape Peninsula. Hoisting using a rescue harness was the most common rescue technique used. A total of 644 patients were rescued, with no or minor injuries representing 79% of the sample. Trauma (33%, 196/644) was the most common medical reason for rescue, with lower limb trauma predominant (15%, 90/644). The most common clinical interventions performed were intravenous access (n=108, 24%), spinal immobilization (n=92, 21%), splinting (n=76, 17%), and analgesia administration (n=58, 13%).

Conclusions

The rescue techniques utilized are similar to those described in high-income settings. Uninjured patients comprised the majority of the patients rescued.
Caste, Knowledge, and Power
Authors: Sunandan K. N.
Published: October 2022

Caste, Knowledge, and Power investigates the transformations of caste practices in twentieth century India and the role of knowledge in this transformation and in the continuing of these oppressive practices. The author situates the domination and subordination in the domain of knowledge production in India not just in the emergence of colonial modernity but in the formation of colonial–Brahminical modernity.
It engages less with the marginalization of the oppressed castes in the modern institutions of knowledge production which has already been discussed widely in the scholarship. Rather, the author focuses on how the modern colonial–Brahminical concept of knowledge invalidated many other forms of knowing practices and how historically caste domination transformed from the claims of superiority in acharam (ritual hierarchy) to the claims of superiority in possession of knowledge.
Behavioural prompts to increase early filing of tax returns: a population-level randomised controlled trial of 11.2 million taxpayers in Indonesia
Authors: Persian Ruth , Prastuti Gitarani , Adityawarman  , Bogiatzis-Gibbons Daniel , Kurniawan Muhammad Hakim , Subroto Gatot , Mustakim Muhammad , Scheunemann Laurenz , Gandy Kizzy , Sutherland Alex
Published: October 2022

In Indonesia, as in other countries, a large proportion of tax returns are filed at the last minute. In a population-wide randomised controlled trial (n= 11,157,069), we evaluated the impact of behavioural email prompts on the proportion of annual tax returns filed at least two weeks before the deadline; and overall filing rate. In two control conditions, taxpayers either received no email or an email used in prior years, emphasising regulatory information. The five treatments informed by behavioural science were (1) a simplified version of the existing email, emphasising early filing; (2) the simplified version with additional guidance on filing taxes; (3) the simplified version with a planning prompt and option to sign up for email reminders; (4) a version combining treatments 1, 2 and 3; and (5) an email appealing to national pride. Compared to the no-email control, all emails led to a statistically significant increase in early and overall filing rates. The planning email (3) was the most effective, increasing early filling from 34.9% to 37% (b2.07 percentage points (pp), p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.97–2.17pp), and overall filing from 65.6% to 66.7% (b1.10pp, p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.99–1.19pp).
The Pantheon+ analysis: Improving the redshifts and peculiar velocities of Type Ia supernovae used in cosmological analyses
Authors: Carr Anthony , Davis Tamara M. , Scolnic Dan , Said Khaled , Brout Dillon , Peterson Erik R. , Kessler Richard
Published: October 2022

We examine the redshifts of a comprehensive set of published Type Ia supernovae, and provide a combined, improved catalogue with updated redshifts. We improve on the original catalogues by using the most up-to-date heliocentric redshift data available; ensuring all redshifts have uncertainty estimates; using the exact formulae to convert heliocentric redshifts into the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) frame; and utilising an improved peculiar velocity model that calculates local motions in redshift-space and more realistically accounts for the external bulk flow at high-redshifts. We review 2607 supernova redshifts; 2285 are from unique supernovae and 322 are from repeat-observations of the same supernova. In total, we updated 990 unique heliocentric redshifts, and found 5 cases of missing or incorrect heliocentric corrections, 44 incorrect or missing supernova coordinates, 230 missing heliocentric or CMB frame redshifts, and 1200 missing redshift uncertainties. The absolute corrections range between$10^{-8} \leq \Delta z \leq 0.038$, and RMS$(\Delta z) \sim 3{\times 10^{-3}}$. The sign of the correction was essentially random, so the mean and median corrections are small:$4{\times 10^{-4}}$and$4{\times 10^{-6}}$respectively. We examine the impact of these improvements for$H_0$and the dark energy equation of statewand find that the cosmological results change by$\Delta H_0 = -0.12\,\mathrm{km\,s}^{-1}\mathrm{Mpc}^{-1}$and$\Delta w = 0.003$, both significantly smaller than previously reported uncertainties for$H_0$of 1.0$\mathrm{km\,s}^{-1}\mathrm{Mpc}^{-1}$andwof 0.04 respectively.
Reshaping the figure of the Shudra: Tukaram Padwal’s Jatibhed Viveksar (Reflections on the Institution of Caste)
Authors: Jaywant Ketaki
Published: October 2022

This article argues that the genealogy of modern anti-caste critique is incomplete without a contextualized and close reading of Jatibhed Viveksar, a nineteenth-century Marathi-language text written under the pseudonym Ek Hindu (‘One Hindu’ or ‘A Hindu’). One of the first lower-caste commentaries in the Marathi print-world, the treatise clearly departed from the earlier iterations of non-Brahman caste politics in western India and laid the groundwork for what later came to be known as the ‘anti-caste movement’. I demonstrate how Jatibhed Viveksar engaged with preceding expressions of caste politics in western India by disputing two commonly deployed concepts in early modern caste controversies: first, the received proscriptions against varna sankara (or the intermixing of castes) and, second, the idea that the Shudras were the progeny of the ‘moral failure’ of varna sankara. Ek Hindu argued that not just the Shudras, but the Brahmans too have mixed-caste ancestors and thus cannot claim purity of lineage. Moreover, the author wrested the Shudras from a constellation of negative meanings by deploying the ‘Aryan invasion narrative’; he represented them as indigenous heroes who were vanquished by the Aryan-Brahmans. The conceptual innovations, intellectual sources, and frames of thought mobilized by Jatibhed Viveksar have significantly shaped the common sense of the ensuing articulations of anti-caste politics.
Subject matters: Imperialism and the constitution of International Relations
Authors: Kristensen Peter Marcus
Published: October 2022

This article contributes to the critical historical research that has demythologised the ‘noble origins’ of the International Relations discipline (IR) by exposing its imperial, colonial, and racist legacies. Where most critical historiographies have unveiled the centrality of racialised and imperialist ontologies in individual thinkers and theories, this article traces imperialist origins of international thought by reconstructing its impact on administrative-institutional infrastructures. Specifically, it interrogates the most systematic and institutionalised attempt to define the ‘subject matter’ of IR under the International Studies Conference (ISC) organised by the International Institute of Intellectual Cooperation (IIIC) of the League of Nations. Through a parallel reading of the archives from ISC's ‘administrative meetings’ and ‘study meetings’, the article contends that the seemingly academic discussions on the subject matter of IR in the ‘administrative meetings’ were in fact intertwined with the imperialist-colonial politics central to ‘study meetings’. The article thus not only challenges IR's conventional history, but its historical ontologies by revealing how race and empire were central to the constitution of its very subject matter and its early institutionalisation.
Bioethics Forum of Cardiology in the Young. Quo Vadis?
Authors: Mavroudis Constantine , Jacobs Jeffrey P.
Published: October 2022

The Editorial Board of Cardiology in the Young has recently discussed the need for a Bioethics Forum and has given authorisation to proceed with its creation. Herein, we provide the organisational structure and launch process to introduce properly this interesting and timely endeavour. By this communication, we are establishing this Bioethics Forum of Cardiology in the Young. We hope to attract manuscripts concerning timely bioethical subjects and to offer the readership the opportunity to respond to these topics with supporting or opposing views as appropriate. New articles regarding timely topics will be written by the readership, as well as by invited authors, and these articles will be published. We hope to stimulate interactive discussion concerning the published manuscripts, and these manuscripts and the associated discussions will be open to all interested parties.
Spatial and Temporal Patterns in Atmospheric Deposition of Dissolved Organic Carbon
Authors: Liptzin Daniel , Boy Jens , Campbell John L. , Clarke Nicholas , Laclau Jean‐Paul , Godoy Roberto , Johnson Sherri L. , Kaiser Klaus , Likens Gene E. , Karlsson Gunilla Pihl , Markewitz Daniel , Rogora Michela , Sebestyen Stephen D. , Shanley James B. , Vanguelova Elena , Verstraeten Arne , Wilcke Wolfgang , Worrall Fred , McDowell William H.
Published: October 2022

Atmospheric deposition of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to terrestrial ecosystems is a small, but rarely studied component of the global carbon (C) cycle. Emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and organic particulates are the sources of atmospheric C and deposition represents a major pathway for the removal of organic C from the atmosphere. Here, we evaluate the spatial and temporal patterns of DOC deposition using 70 data sets at least one year in length ranging from 40° south to 66° north latitude. Globally, the median DOC concentration in bulk deposition was 1.7 mg L−1. The DOC concentrations were significantly higher in tropical (<25°) latitudes compared to temperate (>25°) latitudes. DOC deposition was significantly higher in the tropics because of both higher DOC concentrations and precipitation. Using the global median or latitudinal specific DOC concentrations leads to a calculated global deposition of 202 or 295 Tg C yr−1 respectively. Many sites exhibited seasonal variability in DOC concentration. At temperate sites, DOC concentrations were higher during the growing season; at tropical sites, DOC concentrations were higher during the dry season. Thirteen of the thirty‐four long‐term (>10 years) data sets showed significant declines in DOC concentration over time with the others showing no significant change. Based on the magnitude and timing of the various sources of organic C to the atmosphere, biogenic VOCs likely explain the latitudinal pattern and the seasonal pattern at temperate latitudes while decreases in anthropogenic emissions are the most likely explanation for the declines in DOC concentration.
Return From Dormancy: Rapid Inflation and Seismic Unrest Driven by Transcrustal Magma Transfer at Mt. Edgecumbe (L’úx Shaa) Volcano, Alaska
Authors: Grapenthin Ronni , Cheng Yitian , Angarita Mario , Tan Darren , Meyer Franz J. , Fee David , Wech Aaron
Published: October 2022

In April 2022, a seismic swarm near Mt. Edgecumbe in southeast Alaska suggested renewed activity at this transform fault volcano, which was last active ≈800 years ago. Previously, thin rhyolitic tephras were deposited 5 and 4 ka. Satellite radar data from 2014 to 2022 resolves line‐of‐sight rapid inflation up to 7.1 cm/yr beginning in August 2018. Bayesian modeling suggests a transcrustal system of a deflating (−0.528 km3) dipping sill at 20 km depth recharging a magma chamber at 10 km (0.222 km3). A near‐vertical conduit could capture the volume difference without noticeable surface deformation. Reanalyzed seismicity, recorded 25 km away, shows increases since July 2019. Magma ascent through ductile material and brittle strain release in a stressed overburden could explain the time delay. Cloud‐native open data and workflows enabled discovery and analysis of this signal within days after going unnoticed for >3 years.
Possible Increase of Air Temperature by Irrigation
Authors: Li Huazhen , Lo Min‐Hui , Ryu Dongryeol , Peel Murray , Zhang Yongqiang
Published: October 2022

Irrigation cools near surface air temperature by increasing evapotranspiration from wetter soil. However, elevated evapotranspiration can also increase atmospheric albedo and enhance the local greenhouse effect via increased atmospheric water vapor. Their net effects on daily air temperature remains controversial. Here we show that in several considered regions, Northwest India and Central Valley of California, irrigation could result in warmer air temperature if night‐time warming is stronger than daytime cooling by irrigation. During the daytime, air temperature reduces through evaporative cooling and reduced solar radiation from increased atmospheric albedo outweighing the local greenhouse effect. At night‐time, the increased atmospheric water vapor by irrigation tends to make a stronger local greenhouse effect that increases night‐time temperature. Our results highlight the possible increase of air temperature by irrigation and the importance of considering sub‐daily processes when assessing the impact of irrigation on daily air temperature and temperature related socioeconomic phenomena.
mTORC1 signaling pathway integrates estrogen and growth factor to coordinate vaginal epithelial cells proliferation and differentiation
Authors: Wan Shuo , Sun Yadong , Fu Jiamin , Song Hongrui , Xiao Zhiqiang , Yang Quanli , Wang Sanfeng , Yu Gongwang , Feng Peiran , Lv Wenkai , Luo Liang , Guan Zerong , Liu Feng , Zhou Qinghua , Yin Zhinan , Yang Meixiang
Published: October 2022

The mouse vaginal epithelium cyclically exhibits cell proliferation and differentiation in response to estrogen. Estrogen acts as an activator of mTOR signaling but its role in vaginal epithelial homeostasis is unknown. We analyzed reproductive tract-specific Rptor or Rictor conditional knockout mice to reveal the role of mTOR signaling in estrogen-dependent vaginal epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation. Loss of Rptor but not Rictor in the vagina resulted in an aberrant proliferation of epithelial cells and failure of keratinized differentiation. As gene expression analysis indicated, several estrogen-mediated genes, including Pgr and Ereg (EGF-like growth factor) were not induced by estrogen in Rptor cKO mouse vagina. Moreover, supplementation of EREG could activate the proliferation and survival of vaginal epithelial cells through YAP1 in the absence of Rptor. Thus, mTORC1 signaling integrates estrogen and growth factor signaling to mediate vaginal epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation, providing new insights into vaginal atrophy treatment for post-menopausal women.
Tumor extracellular vesicles mediate anti-PD-L1 therapy resistance by decoying anti-PD-L1
Authors: Chen Jiming , Yang Jie , Wang Wenhui , Guo Danfeng , Zhang Chengyan , Wang Shibo , Lu Xinliang , Huang Xiaofang , Wang Pingli , Zhang Gensheng , Zhang Jing , Wang Jianli , Cai Zhijian
Published: October 2022

PD-L1+ tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (TEVs) cause systemic immunosuppression and possibly resistance to anti-PD-L1 antibody (αPD-L1) blockade. However, whether and how PD-L1+ TEVs mediate αPD-L1 therapy resistance is unknown. Here, we show that PD-L1+ TEVs substantially decoy αPD-L1 and that TEV-bound αPD-L1 is more rapidly cleared by macrophages, causing insufficient blockade of tumor PD-L1 and subsequent αPD-L1 therapy resistance. Inhibition of endogenous production of TEVs by Rab27a or Coro1a knockout reverses αPD-L1 therapy resistance. Either an increased αPD-L1 dose or macrophage depletion mediated by the clinical drug pexidartinib abolishes αPD-L1 therapy resistance. Moreover, in the treatment cycle with the same total treatment dose of αPD-L1, high-dose and low-frequency treatment had better antitumor effects than low-dose and high-frequency treatment, induced stronger antitumor immune memory, and eliminated αPD-L1 therapy resistance. Notably, in humanized immune system mice with human xenograft tumors, both increased αPD-L1 dose and high-dose and low-frequency treatment enhanced the antitumor effects of αPD-L1. Furthermore, increased doses of αPD-L1 and αPD-1 had comparable antitumor effects, but αPD-L1 amplified fewer PD-1+ Treg cells, which are responsible for tumor hyperprogression. Altogether, our results reveal a TEV-mediated mechanism of αPD-L1-specific therapy resistance, thus providing promising strategies to improve αPD-L1 efficacy.
The unquantified mass loss of Northern Hemisphere marine-terminating glaciers from 2000–2020
Authors: Kochtitzky William , Copland Luke , Van Wychen Wesley , Hugonnet Romain , Hock Regine , Dowdeswell Julian A. , Benham Toby , Strozzi Tazio , Glazovsky Andrey , Lavrentiev Ivan , Rounce David R. , Millan Romain , Cook Alison , Dalton Abigail , Jiskoot Hester , Cooley Jade , Jania Jacek , Navarro Francisco
Published: October 2022

In the Northern Hemisphere, ~1500 glaciers, accounting for 28% of glacierized area outside the Greenland Ice Sheet, terminate in the ocean. Glacier mass loss at their ice-ocean interface, known as frontal ablation, has not yet been comprehensively quantified. Here, we estimate decadal frontal ablation from measurements of ice discharge and terminus position change from 2000 to 2020. We bias-correct and cross-validate estimates and uncertainties using independent sources. Frontal ablation of marine-terminating glaciers contributed an average of 44.47 ± 6.23 Gt a−1 of ice to the ocean from 2000 to 2010, and 51.98 ± 4.62 Gt a−1 from 2010 to 2020. Ice discharge from 2000 to 2020 was equivalent to 2.10 ± 0.22 mm of sea-level rise and comprised approximately 79% of frontal ablation, with the remainder from terminus retreat. Near-coastal areas most impacted include Austfonna, Svalbard, and central Severnaya Zemlya, the Russian Arctic, and a few Alaskan fjords.