bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blockchain-Based Secure Localization against Malicious Nodes in IoT-Based Wireless Sensor Networks Using Federated Learning
Authors: Gebremariam Gebrekiros Gebreyesus , Panda J. , Indu S.
Published: January 2023

Wireless sensor networks are the core of the Internet of Things and are used in healthcare, locations, the military, and security. Threats to the security of wireless sensor networks built on the Internet of Things (IoT-WSNs) can come from a variety of sources. This study proposes secure attack localization and detection in IoT-WSNs to improve security and service delivery. The technique used blockchain-based cascade encryption and trust evaluation in a hierarchical design to generate blockchain trust values before beacon nodes broadcast data to the base station. Simulation results reveal that cascading encryption and feature assessment measure the trust value of nodes by rewarding each other for service provisioning and trust by removing malicious nodes that reduce localization accuracy and quality of service in the network. Federated machine learning improves data security and transmission by merging raw device data and placing malicious threats in the blockchain. Malicious nodes are classified through federated learning. Federated learning combines hybrid random forest, gradient boost, ensemble learning,

K

-means clustering, and support vector machine approaches to classify harmful nodes via a feature assessment process. Comparing the proposed system to current ones shows an average detection and classification accuracy of 100% for binary and 99.95% for multiclass. This demonstrates that the suggested approach works well for large-scale IoT-WSNs, both in terms of performance and security, when utilizing heterogeneous wireless senor networks for the providing of secure services.
Understanding the Green Procurement Behavior of Household Appliance Manufacturing Industry: An Empirical Study of the Enablers
Authors: Zhou Fuli , Si Dongge , Tiwari Sunil
Published: January 2023

Green procurement, as a crucial green supply chain practice, contributes to sustainability achievement and reduces carbon emissions by selecting sustainable suppliers or outsourcing partners. The green procurement of household appliance manufacturing can reduce carbon emissions from the source and increase the competitiveness of products. To help better understand the driving powers and influential mechanism of green purchasing behavior for household appliance manufacturers, the green procurement mechanism is investigated by presenting an empirical study considering both endogenous and exogenous factors. A survey-based questionnaire is designed, and a semistructured interview is conducted for data collection. Besides, the structural equation model (SEM) approach is employed to test the supposed hypotheses and proposed assumptions based on the collected 529 questionnaire responses. The empirical results show that exogenous driving powers are more inclined to encourage household appliance manufacturers to perform green procurement strategy compared with endogenous factors. Additionally, the business strategy, governmental regulations, and customer awareness show greater influence on green purchasing behavior, while the corporate culture, production system, and suppliers have little impact. Taxation policies, environmental awareness, and green strategies are the three main driving factors for promoting green procurement from the governmental, individual, and organizational dimensions. This empirical study assists to investigate potential factors affecting green purchasing behavior and helps to disclose the influential mechanisms from a systematic viewpoint. Results derived from the empirical analysis could assist to achieve sustainability by better understanding green purchasing behavior and better promoting green procurement strategies.
Better than RECIST and Faster than iRECIST: Defining the Immunotherapy Progression Decision Score to Better Manage Progressive Tumors on Immunotherapy
Authors: Belkouchi Younes , Talbot Hugues , Lassau Nathalie , Lawrance Littisha , Farhane Siham , Feki-Mkaouar Rahma , Hadchiti Joya , Dawi Lama , Vibert Julien , Cournède Paul-Henry , Cousteix Clara , Mazza Camille , Kind Michele , Italiano Antoine , Marabelle Aurelien , Ammari Samy , Champiat Stephane
Published: January 2023

Purpose:

The objective of the study is to propose the immunotherapy progression decision (iPD) score, a practical tool based on patient features that are available at the first evaluation of immunotherapy treatment, to help oncologists decide whether to continue the treatment or switch rapidly to another therapeutic line when facing a progressive disease patient at the first evaluation.

Experimental Design:

This retrospective study included 107 patients with progressive disease at first evaluation according to RECIST 1.1. Clinical, radiological, and biological data at baseline and first evaluation were analyzed. An external validation set consisting of 31 patients with similar baseline characteristics was used for the validation of the score.

Results:

Variables were analyzed in a univariate study. The iPD score was constructed using only independent variables, each considered as a worsening factor for the survival of patients. The patients were stratified in three groups: good prognosis (GP), poor prognosis (PP), and critical prognosis (CP). Each group showed significantly different survivals (GP: 11.4, PP: 4.4, CP: 2.3 months median overall survival, P < 0.001, log-rank test). Moreover, the iPD score was able to detect the pseudoprogressors better than other scores. On the validation set, CP patients had significantly worse survival than PP and GP patients (P < 0.05, log-rank test).

Conclusions:

The iPD score provides oncologists with a new evaluation, computable at first progression, to decide whether treatment should be continued (for the GP group), or immediately changed for the PP and CP groups. Further validation on larger cohorts is needed to prove its efficacy in clinical practice.
The Impact of Anticoagulation on Indwelling Pleural Catheter Removal due to Pleurodesis in Patients with Malignant Pleural Effusion
Authors: Tellez Garcia Eduardo , Ost David , Grosu Horiana B.
Published: January 2023

Background: A well-recognized therapy to improve the symptoms of patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE), indwelling pleural catheters (IPCs) can also achieve spontaneous pleurodesis. Chemical pleurodesis is associated with a significant pro-coagulation and fibrinolytic environment. Hence, anticoagulation could theoretically interfere with this process. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate if anticoagulation can interfere with successful spontaneous pleurodesis in patients treated with IPC. Methods: This was a cohort study of all patients with MPE treated with IPC. The primary objective was to determine if anticoagulant use after IPC placement decreased the rate of spontaneous pleurodesis. The secondary objective was to identify other factors associated with spontaneous pleurodesis. We used a Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard model and a direct acyclic graph to identify variables associated with time to spontaneous pleurodesis. Results: Of the included 410 patients, 210 patients (51.2%) achieved pleurodesis and had their IPC removed. We found no association between anticoagulation and likelihood of pleurodesis. Multivariate analyses revealed that prior chemotherapy, ECOG score of 2–4 were associated with unsuccessful pleurodesis, while chemotherapy or radiotherapy after IPC placement remained associated with increased likelihood of spontaneous pleurodesis. Conclusions: We failed to demonstrate an association between anticoagulation and pleurodesis. We found that better performance status and chemotherapy or radiotherapy after IPC placement can increase the rate of pleurodesis and catheter removal.
Clinical Features, Genetic Findings, and Risk Stratification in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy: Data From a Brazilian Cohort
Authors: Quintella Sangiorgi Olivetti Natália , Sacilotto Luciana , Wulkan Fanny , D’Arezzo Pessente Gabrielle , Lombardi Peres de Carvalho Mariana , Moleta Danilo , Tessariol Hachul Denise , Veronese Pedro , Hardy Carina , Pisani Cristiano , Wu Tan Chen , Vieira Marcelo Luiz Campos , de França Lucas Arraes , de Souza Freitas Matheus , Rochitte Carlos Eduardo , Bueno Sávia Christina , Bastos Lovisi Vitor , Krieger José Eduardo , Scanavacca Maurício , da Costa Pereira Alexandre , da Costa Darrieux Francisco
Published: January 2023

Background:

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), a rare inherited disease, causes ventricular tachycardia, sudden cardiac death, and heart failure (HF). We investigated ARVC clinical features, genetic findings, natural history, and the occurrence of life-threatening arrhythmic events (LTAEs), HF death, or heart transplantation (HF-death/HTx) to identify risk factors.

Methods:

The clinical course of 111 consecutive patients with definite ARVC, predictors of LTAE, HF-death/HTx, and combined events were analyzed in the entire cohort and in a subgroup of 40 patients without sustained ventricular arrhythmia before diagnosis.

Results:

The 5-year cumulative probability of LTAE was 30% and HF-death/HTx was 10%. Predictors of HF-death/HTx were reduced right ventricle ejection fraction (HR: 0.93;
P
=0.010), HF symptoms (HR: 4.37;
P
=0.010), epsilon wave (HR: 4.99;
P
=0.015), and number of leads with low QRS voltage (HR: 1.28;
P
=0.001). Each additional lead with low QRS voltage increased the risk of HF-death/HTx by 28%. Predictors of LTAE were prior syncope (HR: 1.81;
P
=0.040), number of leads with T wave inversion (HR: 1.17;
P
=0.039), low QRS voltage (HR: 1.12;
P
=0.021), younger age (HR: 0.97;
P
=0.006), and prior ventricular arrhythmia/ventricular fibrillation (HR: 2.45;
P
=0.012). Each additional lead with low QRS voltage increased the risk of LTAE by 17%. In patients without ventricular arrhythmia before clinical diagnosis of ARVC, the number of leads with low QRS voltage (HR: 1.68;
P
=0.023) was independently associated with HF-death/HTx.

Conclusions:

Our study demonstrated the characteristics of a specific cohort with a high prevalence of arrhythmic burden at presentation, male predominance, younger age and HF severe outcomes. Our main results suggest that the presence and extension of low QRS voltage can be a risk predictor for HF-death/HTx in ARVC patients, regardless of the arrhythmic risk. This study can contribute to the global ARVC risk stratification, adding new insights to the international current scientific knowledge.
Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blocker Prevents Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Progression in Osteoprotegerin‐Deficient Mice via Upregulation of Angiotensin (1–7)
Authors: Karasaki Kohei , Kokubo Hiroki , Bumdelger Batmunkh , Kaji Nobuchika , Sakai Chiemi , Ishida Mari , Yoshizumi Masao
Published: January 2023

Background

Angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs) have been shown to limit the growth of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), but their efficacy is controversial. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the protective effect of ARBs against AAA progression.

Methods and Results

Olmesartan, an ARB, was administered to wild‐type and
osteoprotegerin
‐knockout (
Opg
‐KO) mice starting 2 weeks before direct application of CaCl
2
to aortas to induce AAA. The protective effect of olmesartan against AAA in wild‐type and
Opg
‐KO mice was compared at 6 weeks after AAA induction. Olmesartan prevented AAA progression in
Opg
‐KO mice, including excessive aortic dilatation and collapse of tunica media, but not in wild‐type mice. Deficiency of the
Opg
gene is known to cause excessive activation of the tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis‐inducing ligand–induced c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase/matrix metalloproteinase 9 pathway, resulting in prolonged AAA progression. Olmesartan attenuated the upregulation of phosphorylated c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase and matrix metalloproteinase 9 expression in the aortic wall of
Opg
‐KO mice. In cultured vascular smooth muscle cells, tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis‐inducing ligand–induced c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase phosphorylation and matrix metalloproteinase 9 expression were inhibited by angiotensin (1–7), the circulating levels of which are increased by ARBs. Furthermore, administering an angiotensin (1–7) antagonist to
Opg
‐KO mice diminished the protective effect of olmesartan against AAA progression.

Conclusions

Olmesartan prevented AAA progression in
Opg‐
KO mice by upregulating angiotensin (1–7), suggesting that angiotensin (1–7) may be a key factor that mediates the protective effect of ARBs.
Gender and Working Roles in Television Commercials: A Comparison between Japanese and Thai Television Commercials
Authors: Pongsapitaksanti Piya
Published: January 2023

The research objective is to examine the similarities and differences of gender and working roles in Japanese and Thai television commercials. The research methodology focuses on content analysis. Seven hundred and sixty advertisements shown during 2016 in Japan and Thailand were analyzed. As a result, this comparative content analysis suggests a possible reversal from traditional patterns in the literature. Though the proportion of working women in Thailand is higher than the proportion in Japan, the proportions of working women in Japanese and Thai television commercials are insignificantly different. Moreover, this research result reveals the new appearance of non-stereotypical gender images in terms of the type of gender and working roles in commercials in these two Asian nations. These research findings support the supposition of a decrease in gender stereotyping in advertisements and suggest progress in stereotyped portrayals in advertising.
Integrative taxonomy revealing a troglobitic new genus of Diplommatinidae from Jiangxi, China (Gastropoda: Caenogastropoda: Cyclophoroidea)
Authors: CHEN ZHE-YU , LYU ZHI-TONG , CHEN HUI-MING
Published: January 2023

A new subterranean diplommatinid snail is described and illustrated from Jiangxi, China. The species is diagnosed by its cylindrical-fusiform shell and absence of internal columellar lamellae and parietal folds. The morphological and molecular phylogenetic characterization of the new species supports the erection of a new genus, Sohtsuia Z.-Y. Chen, gen. nov. A molecular phylogeny of representative East Asian continental species of Diplommatina Benson, 1949 is provided and the relationships of the new genus are discussed. Sohtsuia diting sp. nov. is described as new species.
India’s GST Paradigm and the Trajectory of Fiscal Federalism: An Analysis with Special Reference to Kerala
Authors: Joseph K. J. , Kumary L. Anitha
Published: January 2023

Since the design and implementation of GST is often perceived as a difficult task, especially in developing countries with federal constitutional structures, the introduction of GST in India in 2017 has been considered a great achievement. Against this background, this article explored the characteristics of India’s GST paradigm from a fiscal federal perspective, its implementation and the tax performance of States under GST. The Indianized GST paradigm, built on the edifice of GST Council and three key pillars of revenue neutrality, tax sharing between the Centre and the States and the provision for GST compensation, has been designed towards fostering cooperative federalism. Our analysis revealed that the revenue neutrality has not been ensured and there were also issues with tax sharing and GST compensation. Both the edifice and the pillars of GST, therefore, were fraught with fault lines in both the design and implementation. Tax effort of the States did not increase indicating that GST has not been helpful in improving the revenue position of the States. Although India’s GST paradigm was destined to foster cooperative federalism the outcomes appear to lead us towards coercive federalism.

JEL Codes: H71, H73, H77
Fear of COVID-19, Coronavirus Anxiety, COVID-19 Burnout, and Resilience: Examining Psychometric Properties of COVID-19 Burnout Scale in Urdu
Authors: Yıldırım Murat , Ashraf Farzana
Published: January 2023

This research examined the associations between resilience, fear of COVID-19, coronavirus anxiety and COVID-19 burnout. The study also aimed to validate the COVID-19 Burnout Scale (COVID-19-BS) in Urdu. Participants included 812 Pakistani young adults (55.7% males; mean age 26.4 ± 8.7 years). Results supported a one-factor solution for the COVID-19-BS with high reliability. Mediation analysis showed that resilience mediated the relationships between fear of COVID-19 and coronavirus anxiety with COVID-19 burnout. The study provided preliminary evidence that fear of COVID-19 and coronavirus anxiety might be significant risk factors for burnout among the Pakistani general population, and resilience might mitigate the impacts of these factors.
Understanding the Relationship Between Peer Support and Grief/Growth in Chinese Shidu Parents: The Roles of Internalized Stigma and Stigma Resistance
Authors: Zhou Ningning , Ren Fei , Shi Guangyuan , Wang Jianping
Published: January 2023

In China, families who have lost their only child are called shidu families. Support from similar others, or peer support, can help bereaved individuals adapt by reducing negative consequences and promoting positive changes. However, no research has examined the mechanism that mediates the effect of peer support on postloss adaptation. This article investigates the mediating roles of internalized stigma and stigma resistance in the relationship between peer support and grief/growth among Chinese shidu parents. In total, 208 shidu parents completed the required measurements. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. The results showed that peer support was negatively related to grief symptoms and positively linked with posttraumatic growth by reducing internalized stigma. The mediating effect existed only for informational support. The mediating role of stigma resistance was not significant. These findings provide valuable information for the mechanism of peer support and promote the development of interventions.
The purpose of military force and the Obama doctrine: no fighting for face
Authors: Ghalehdar Payam
Published: January 2023

The scholarly debate about the Obama doctrine has focused on the extent of military force in Obama’s foreign policy. Offering both a novel definition of presidential doctrines and a reinterpretation of the Obama doctrine, this article shifts the focus from the extent to the purpose of force. More specifically, it claims that the Obama doctrine is better described as a general unwillingness to fight for a reputation for resolve. Unlike most of his predecessors, Obama did not consider the US military as a tool for projecting firmness. Instead, his decisions concerning the use of force were dominated by material considerations, be it in limited or expansive military operations. To illustrate Obama’s refusal to fight for face, the article examines three prominent decision points during the Obama presidency – the 2009 surge in Afghanistan, the 2011 intervention in Libya, and Obama’s reaction to the Syrian regime’s use of chemical weapons in 2013.
Paracoccidioidomycosis and Addison's syndrome – case report
Authors: Lazzaretti Glória Sulczinski , Sena Letícia Maria de Conto , Corrêa Allex , Navarini Daniel , Marcolan Ana Maria , Reichert Paulo Roberto
Published: January 2023

Paracoccidioidomycosis is caused by a fungus ( Paracoccidioides brasiliensis), which is endemic to Brazil. It is most frequently found in the lungs, with haematogenous and lymphatic spread. The condition is more prevalent in men, between 30 and 60 years old, commonly rural workers. It is the third leading cause of death among chronic infectious diseases today. The systemic disease has an insidious and nonspecific course, with adrenal involvement being observed in 5% of cases and requiring the destruction of 80% of the glands for symptoms of adrenal insufficiency to appear. Isolated involvement of this gland is quite rare. In this case report, however, our patient presented wasting and adrenal insufficiency with isolated adrenal involvement by the fungus.
Unmet Care Needs and Related Factors of Lung Transplant Patients at Home
Authors: Zhang Luyao , Li Qiufang , Gao Peiyu , Xu Rui , Lian Shali , Han Shuangrong
Published: January 2023

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship among unmet care needs, social support, and anxiety in patients with lung transplantation. We conducted a cross-sectional study; 173 lung transplant patients who met the inclusion criteria completed questionnaires including the Organ Transplant Recipient Care Needs Scale, the Perceived Social Support Scale, and the Anxiety Self-Rating Inventory. Pearson’s correlations and multiple linear regression analyses were used to test the relationship between the selected variables. The results showed a moderate level of unmet care needs at home for lung transplant patients. Education level, transplant-related complications, perceived social support, and anxiety were significantly correlated with unmet care needs of lung transplant patients at home ( p < .05), explaining 23.8% of the total variance for unmet care needs. Further research is required to explore interventions to reduce the level of unmet care needs of lung transplant patients.
Instrumental music teachers’ development of feedback across the lifespan: A qualitative study
Authors: de Bruin Leon R
Published: January 2023

Feedback is a powerful influence on learning and achievement in the instrumental music lesson, though this impact may render positive as well as negative implications to learning. The impact of feedback is thus foundational to the ways music teachers impart knowledge, skill, planning, reflection, and student motivation. This article provides an analysis of feedback- feed up-feed forward concepts through a musical instruction lens, and reviews evidence related to the impact of feedback given on student learning and achievement. A qualitative investigation of Australian instrumental music teachers working in secondary schools, this study analyses cohorts of novice, developing and expert level teachers, progressing through initial theory-practice constructs, towards development and expertise of personalised and experientially dynamic feedback episodes. Expert level teachers reflect on a wider palette of approaches, with wisdom, passion, and the capacity for accommodating diverse learners and differentiated strategies. Discursive analysis of constructivist and student-centred approaches that infuse with explicit instruction are used to offer implications to how feedback can be used to enhance enduring learning and teaching in instrumental music studios and classrooms. It provides insights into teacher growth, knowledge, and development of instrumental music teachers in the profession across the lifespan.
When Harry, the human, met Sally, the software robot: Metaphorical sensemaking and sensegiving around an emergent digital technology
Authors: Techatassanasoontorn Angsana A , Waizenegger Lena , Doolin Bill
Published: January 2023

Robotic process automation (RPA) is often used in organisational digitalisation efforts to automate work processes. RPA, and the software robots at its heart, is an equivocal and contentious technology. Adopting the products of theorising approach, this study views metaphors as central sensemaking and sensegiving devices that shape the interpretation of RPA among stakeholders towards a preferred reality of ways of seeing and experiencing software robots. The empirical materials are drawn from research in three Australasian organisations that have implemented RPA. Grounding our analysis in the domains-interaction model, we identified three root metaphors: person, robot and tool, their constitutive conceptual metaphors, and intended use as heuristics devices. Our findings show that metaphor is a powerful device that employees rely on to make sense of their experiences with a new digital technology that can potentially shape their roles, work practices and job design. In addition, managers and automation team members intentionally leverage metaphors to shape others’ perceptions of a software robot’s capabilities and limitations, its implication for human work and its expanding benefits for organisations over time, among others. Metaphor as a precursor to more formal theory provides scholars with a vocabulary to understand disparate experiences with an emergent automation technology that can be further developed to generate a theory of seeing automation and working with automated agents.
Prolactin in headache and migraine: A systematic review of clinical studies
Authors: Al-Karagholi Mohammad Al-Mahdi , Kalatharan Veberka , Ghanizada Hashmat , Gram Christian , Dussor Gregory , Ashina Messoud
Published: January 2023

Objective

To systemically review clinical studies investigating the role of prolactin and its receptors in headache and migraine.

Background

Migraine prevalence is more common in women compared to men. As prolactin is a crucial regulator of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis, prolactin and its receptors might contribute to signaling mechanisms underlying migraine.

Methods

In this systematic review, we searched PubMed and EMBASE with the terms: prolactin, hyperprolactinemia, macroprolactinemia, hypoprolactinemia, migraine, headache, head pain and trigeminal pain pathway for clinical studies investigating prolactin signaling in headache and migraine. Two reviewers independently screened 841 articles for population, intervention, comparison, outcome, and study design. Studies were restricted to the English language and were excluded if they had a nonexperimental methodology.

Results

Nineteen clinical studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative and quantitative analysis. The main findings were that serum prolactin levels were found to be higher in individuals with migraine compared to healthy controls, and prolactinomas (prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas) were correlated with higher incidence of headache in otherwise healthy individuals and migraine attacks in individuals with migraine.

Conclusion

Considerable evidence suggests a key role of prolactin and its receptors in migraine pathophysiology. Further randomized and placebo-controlled clinical studies targeting prolactin signaling are needed to further clarify influences of prolactin in migraine attack initiation.
High serum leptin and adiponectin levels as biomarkers of disease progression in Egyptian patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Kamel Shaimaa M , Abdel Azeem (Abd Elazeem) Mervat E (Mervat I ) , Mohamed Rabab A , Kamel Mahmoud M , Abdel Aleem (Abdelaleem) Enas A
Published: January 2023

Objectives: Leptin and adiponectin are adipose-derived immune modulators (adipokines) that may contribute to SLE pathology and symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the associations of serum adiponectin and leptin with clinical manifestations and disease activity in SLE patients. Methods: This is a case control study, where 70 SLE patients and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled from the Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Department of Beni-Suef University Hospital from June 2020 till April 2022. The SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) and Systemic Lupus International Collaborative clinics/America Collage of Rheumatology damage index were used to assess disease severity. Laboratory parameters including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and serum concentrations of antinuclear antibody (ANA), anti-double stranded DNA, complement 3 and 4, lipids, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured and compared between SLE and control groups. Serum adiponectin and leptin were also measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Results: Compared to healthy controls, SLE patients exhibited significantly greater serum leptin (21.1 vs 3.9 ng/mL, p < 0.001) and adiponectin (18.1 vs 4.8 ng/mL, p < 0.001), and both values were positively correlated with SLEDAI scores ( p = 0.048 and 0.042). Higher serum leptin was significantly associated with lupus nephritis (LN) ( p = 0.048) as well as greater body mass index ( p = 0.010), ESR ( p = 0.002), serum CRP ( p = 0.003), total cholesterol ( p = 0.013), and uric acid ( p = 0.002), while higher adiponectin was significantly associated with LN ( p = 0.046). Conclusion: Serum leptin and adiponectin levels are associated with the clinical and pathological manifestations of SLE, suggesting direct involvement in disease progression and utility as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Vomiting in Neonates: A Persistent Problem
Authors: Garg Pankaj , Kulshreshta Rajeev , Hemrajani Satyen K
Published: January 2023

Vomiting is a common problem encountered during neonatal period. It is important to differentiate between true vomiting and regurgitation, as regurgitation may be a normal phenomenon encountered in infants upto 6 months of age. Vomiting occurs due to a number of different causes which vary in severity from milder causes like gastroesophageal reflux to severe lifethreatening causes like NEC. Further, the physician needs to diffrentiate surgical causes of vomiting with the help of history, clinical features as well as certain investigations. Assessment of minute details from the history as volume, frequency and colour of vomitus may help in differentiating between medical and surgical causes of vomitings in neonate. It is also very important also for the physician to judiciously use the investigations that can help in deciding the further course and prognosis of the infant presenting with vomitings.
Neonatal Pustular Lesions: Sometimes Serious Sometimes Not
Authors: Dhar Sandipan , Banerjee Raghubir
Published: January 2023

Pustular lesions in the neonate are often benign and transient like erythema toxicum neonatorum, neonatal acne, infantile acropustulosis, transient neonatal pustular melanosis and feeding blisters. The infective causes like bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic infections need prompt intervention and management.
Nudge in perspective: A systematic literature review on the ethical issues with nudging
Authors: Kuyer Paul , Gordijn Bert
Published: January 2023

In this article, we systematically review the literature on the ethics of nudging. Since the publication of the book Nudge by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein in 2008, a rich literature has been developed on the question whether it is ethical to nudge people. This is an important area for research as nudges are commonly used by governments and private corporations to alter the behaviour of citizens and consumers. In order to gain a complete overview of this literature, we conduct a systematic search of academic sources. We investigate which ethical issues with nudging are discussed. We find four major ethical issues, namely worries regarding 1) autonomy, 2) welfare, 3) long-term adverse effects, and 4) democracy and deliberation. We discuss each ethical issue by highlighting how it is defined, what the critique constitutes, what its sub-issues are, and which defences of nudging have been argued for. In this way, the systematic literature review provides a comprehensive overview of the literature on the ethics of nudging to date. The results of our systematic review contribute to a better understanding of the ethical issues with nudging, as well as of the current state of the literature on these topics.
Optimization of ultrasonic-assisted osmotic dehydration as a pretreatment for microwave drying of beetroot (Beta vulgaris)
Authors: Memis Habibe , Bekar Fevzi , Guler Cagri , Kamiloğlu Aybike , Kutlu Naciye
Published: January 2023

The aim of this study was to optimize drying conditions during ultrasonic-assisted osmotic dehydration and subsequent microwave drying of red beetroot using the Box-Behnken design. For this purpose, ultrasonic-assisted osmotic dehydration was performed at different ultrasonic powers (50, 75, and 100 W), sonication times (20, 40, and 60 min), and salt concentrations (0%, 15%, and 30%). The subsequent drying procedures were conducted with 231, 518, and 805 W microwave power. The best condition was selected as 5.15% salt concentration, 20 min sonication time, 50 W ultrasonic power, and 716.45 W microwave power. The responses obtained under optimum conditions were determined as 68.06%, 9.54 mg GAE/g dm, 28.23, 42.66, and 3.08 for DPPH• % inhibition, total phenolic content, L*, a*, and b* values, respectively. While favorable impacts on color were detected for the applied pretreatments, the DPPH• scavenging activities of the dried beetroot were determined to be more significant after ultrasonic-assisted osmotic dehydration. Furthermore, the drying kinetics of beetroot were evaluated according to the Midilli et al. model. When the fit to the model was investigated, it was compatible at R2 > 0.90 level. As a result, the ultrasonic-assisted osmotic dehydration pretreatment performed before the microwave drying method preserved the quality characteristics of beetroot samples and was successfully applied.
Multi-drug Resistance, β-Lactamases Production, and Coexistence of blaNDM-1 and mcr-1 in Escherichia coli Clinical Isolates From a Referral Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal
Authors: Bhusal Bhimarjun , Yadav Bindeshwar , Dawadi Prabin , Rijal Komal Raj , Ghimire Prakash , Banjara Megha Raj
Published: January 2023

The ability of pathogenic Escherichia coli to produce carbapenemase enzymes is a characteristic that allows them to resist various antibiotics, including last-resort antibiotics like colistin and carbapenem. Our objectives were to identify rapidly developing antibiotic resistance (AR), assess β-lactamases production, and detect mcr-1 and blaNDM-1 genes in the isolates. A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in a referral hospital located in Kathmandu from November 2019 to December 2020 using standard laboratory and molecular protocols. Among 77 total E. coli isolates, 64 (83.1%) of them were categorized as MDR. Phenotypically 13 (20.3%) colistin-resistant, 30 (46.9%) ESBL and 8 (12.5%) AmpC producers, and 5 (7.8%) ESBL/AmpC co-producers were distributed among MDR- E. coli. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) against the majority of MDR isolates were exhibited at 1 g/L. Of these 77 E. coli isolates, 24 (31.2%) were carbapenem-resistant. Among these carbapenem-resistant bacteria, 11 (45.9%) isolates were reported to be colistin-resistant, while 15 (62.5%) and 2 (8.3%) were MBL and KPC producers, respectively. Out of 15 MBL producers, 6 (40%) harbored blaNDM-1, and 8 (61.5%) out of 13 colistin-resistant pathogens possessed mcr-1. The resistance by colistin- and carbapenem were statistically associated ( P < .001). However, only 2 (18.2%) of the co-resistant bacteria were found to have both genes. Our study revealed the highly prevalent MDR and the carbapenem-resistant E. coli and emphasized that the pathogens possess a wide range of capabilities to synthesize β-lactamases. These findings could assist to expand the understanding of AR in terms of enzyme production.
Gunnar Inghe: A founding father of Scandinavian social medicine and still highly relevant
Authors: Diderichsen Finn , Janlert Urban
Published: January 2023

Gunnar Inghe (1910–1977) was a founding father of Scandinavian social medicine and the first editor of the Scandinavian Journal of Social Medicine. He worked as a physician for social care clients in Stockholm from 1944 to 1961 and was professor in social medicine from 1961 to 1975. We (F.D. and U.J.) were his last two PhD students. As we were recollecting the 50-year history of the Scandinavian Journal of Public Health in 2022, it became evident to us how relevant Gunnar Inghe’s work, 45 years after his death, still is for today’s social medicine, population health research and policy in Scandinavia. We shall explain why with five examples of Inghe’s work: reproductive health, health of paupers, foundation of the discipline, international solidarity and collaboration between medical and social care.
Clinical Features and Prognostic Factors of Cervical Clear Cell Adenocarcinoma: A Retrospective Analysis of 74 Cases from a Tertiary Hospital
Authors: Liu Yue , Shi Xiaohua , Yang Jiaxin , Zhou Huimei , Peng Peng , Cao Dongyan
Published: January 2023

The retrospective study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics, primary treatment, and prognosis of cervical clear cell adenocarcinoma in a tertiary referral center. The medical data of cervical clear cell adenocarcinoma patients treated in our institution between 1993 and 2020 were reviewed. Their clinical characteristics and information on treatment and follow-up were collected. Seventy-four cases were included. Six early-stage patients successfully preserved their fertility. Forty-five patients underwent a radical hysterectomy. Patients with pathological risk factors all received adjuvant treatment including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and chemoradiation. Fifteen patients without risk factors underwent surveillance and five patients received adjuvant chemotherapy for poorly differentiated disease. Twenty cases had radiation for primary treatment. Six of them underwent surgery after chemoradiotherapy, and five had pathological residual disease, including three who had pathological risk factors. The median follow-up interval was 36 months, with a 3-year OS and PFS rate of 82.4% and 81.4%, respectively. No recurrence or death was observed in patients with fertility-sparing treatment. FIGO stage was prognostic factors of PFS ( P = .001) and OS( P = .006) and lymph node status was that of PFS ( P = .023). FIGO stage and lymph node status were prognostic factors for survival. Fertility-sparing treatment is a safe option for young patients in early stage. Early-stage patients without risk factors may benefit from postoperative surveillance. Occult tumor after chemoradiotherapy is common, and surgical resection is recommended when operable residual disease is detected.
Methods and Ethics in Qualitative Research Exploring Young Children’s Voice: A Systematic Review
Authors: Sun Yihan , Blewitt Claire , Edwards Susan , Fraser Alexandra , Newman Shannon , Cornelius Julia , Skouteris Helen
Published: January 2023

Young children have rights; they are agents and active constructors of their social worlds. Despite well-established theoretical foundations, the ‘methods’ and ‘ethics’ of qualitative research to elicit young children’s voice require further exploration to ensure young children are central to our research endeavors. This systematic review examined studies that sought to capture young children’s (3–6 years) voice in Early Childhood Education and Care settings. Fifty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Interview was found to be the most common strategy; this is often coupled with other child-friendly methods. Findings suggest that young children are increasingly listened to; however, there appears to be a need to further promote children’s agency and the inclusion of assent-seeking as an ongoing process. Gaps in methods supporting the inclusion of children with additional needs and Indigenous children are also evident. In addition, advancing non-permanent methods of meaning making to support children’s participation appears ripe for methodological innovation.
Perioperative therapeutic antibiotics are beneficial to prevent exacerbation of limb-associated infection after bypass surgery in patients with critical limb-threatening ischemia and foot infection score of ≥1
Authors: Matsubara Yutaka , Kawanami Shogo , Kinoshita Go , Kurose Shun , Shinichiro Yoshino , Morisaki Koichi , Furuyama Tadashi , Yoshizumi Tomoharu
Published: January 2023

Objective

Postoperative limb infection is associated with a poor prognosis and a low amputation-free survival rate after surgical revascularization in patients with critical limb-threatening ischemia. The Global Vascular Guidelines 2019 recommend antibiotic therapy for patients with deep space foot infection or wet gangrene; however, no study is cited as evidence for this recommendation. The present study was performed to offer new evidence supporting the use of perioperative therapeutic antibiotics in patients with critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) undergoing surgical revascularization.

Methods

This single-center retrospective study was performed in Kyushu University Hospital and involved patients with CLTI who underwent surgical revascularization from 2003 to 2021. Ampicillin/sulbactam and cefazolin were defined as preventive antibiotics, and other types were defined as therapeutic antibiotics. Postoperative limb-associated infection was defined as an increased foot infection (fI) score in the Wound, Ischemia, and foot Infection (WIfI) classification system after surgical revascularization. The association between perioperative antibiotic therapy and postoperative limb-associated infection was assessed.

Results

Among 286 limbs of 263 patients with CLTI, 27 (9%) limbs developed postoperative limb-associated infection after surgical revascularization. The fI scores were significantly higher in the patients with than without postoperative limb-associated infection (1.0 ± 0.2 vs 0.4 ± 0.1, respectively; p = 0.0033), indicating that an fI score of ≥1 was a risk factor for postoperative limb-associated infection. Perioperative therapeutic antibiotics significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative limb-associated infection compared with preventive antibiotics (0.0% vs. 44.8%, respectively; p = 0.0028) in the patients with CLTI who had an fI score of ≥1 after bypass surgery, although perioperative therapeutic antibiotics were not effective for patients with an fI score of 0.

Conclusion

Perioperative therapeutic antibiotics for patients with an fI score of ≥1 are beneficial for reducing the incidence of postoperative limb-associated infection after surgical revascularization.
Effect of cognitive style on time-based prospective memory
Authors: Yunfei Guo , Jiaqun Gan , Mingyuan Wang , Xiaoqi Ji , Yongxin Li
Published: January 2023

Field-independent and field-dependent individuals have different reference patterns and cognitive processing preferences. Field-independent individuals tend to rely on internal capabilities and use internal references to process information, while field-dependent individuals mainly rely on external references and focus on external information. Individuals with two cognitive styles have different attention patterns to perform time-based prospective memory (TBPM) tasks, with different effects on their TBPM performance. This study explored the influence of field-independent and field-dependent cognitive styles on TBPM. In Experiment 1, the attention load was manipulated by the difficulty of the ongoing task. The results showed that the field-independent individuals performed better than the field-dependent individuals only under a low-difficulty condition, indicating that the field-independent individuals had advantages in TBPM but were easily affected by the attention load. Experiment 2 further introduced external reminders to provide individuals with more external information and reduce individual attention consumption in internal time information processing to manipulate attention load. The results showed that external cues eliminated the difference between field-independent and field-dependent individuals in TBPM.
Resisting the urge to calculate: The relation between inhibitory control and perceptual cues in arithmetic performance
Authors: Closser Avery Harrison , Chan Jenny Yun-Chen , Ottmar Erin
Published: January 2023

Subtle visual manipulations to the presentation of mathematical notation influence the way that students perceive and solve problems. While there is a consistent impact of perceptual cues on students’ problem-solving, other cognitive skills such as inhibitory control may interact with perceptual cues to affect students’ arithmetic problem-solving performance. We present an online experiment in which college students completed a version of the Stroop task followed by arithmetic problems in which the spacing between numbers and operators was either congruent (e.g., 2 + 3×4) or incongruent (e.g., 2+3 × 4) to the order of precedence. We found that students were comparably accurate between problem types but might have spent longer responding to problems with congruent than incongruent spacing. There was no main effect of inhibitory control on students’ performance on these problems. However, an exploratory analysis on a combined performance measure of accuracy and response time revealed an interaction between problem type and inhibitory control. Students with higher inhibitory control performed better on congruent versus incongruent problems, whereas students with lower inhibitory control performed worse on congruent versus incongruent problems. Together, these results suggest that the relation between inhibitory control and arithmetic performance may not be straightforward. Furthermore, this work advances perceptual learning theory and contributes new findings on the contexts in which perceptual cues, such as spacing, influence arithmetic performance.
Targeting lipid metabolism in metastatic prostate cancer
Authors: Scheinberg Tahlia , Mak Blossom , Butler Lisa , Selth Luke , Horvath Lisa G.
Published: January 2023

Despite key advances in the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa), a proportion of men have de novo resistance, and all will develop resistance to current therapeutics over time. Aberrant lipid metabolism has long been associated with prostate carcinogenesis and progression, but more recently there has been an explosion of preclinical and clinical data which is informing new clinical trials. This review explores the epidemiological links between obesity and metabolic syndrome and PCa, the evidence for altered circulating lipids in PCa and their potential role as biomarkers, as well as novel therapeutic strategies for targeting lipids in men with PCa, including therapies widely used in cardiovascular disease such as statins, metformin and lifestyle modification, as well as novel targeted agents such as sphingosine kinase inhibitors, DES1 inhibitors and agents targeting FASN and beta oxidation.
Admissibility of Evidence in EPPO Proceedings
Authors: Brodowski Dominik
Published: January 2023

The issue of cross-border admissibility of evidence is a recurring theme of European Criminal Justice, and continues to be perceived as a decisive obstacle hindering the effective prosecution and adjudication of crime. In spite of this, the EPPO Regulation does not include an extensive framework guaranteeing the cross-border admissibility of evidence. In this article, it is argued that this lacuna is far less worrisome than it seems: the boundaries set out by EU primary law, in particular Article 325(4) TFEU and the Charter of Fundamental Rights (CFR), as well as the opportunity of the ECJ to judge on these boundaries, allow for a sufficient convergence of national laws and practices on the (in-)admissibility of evidence.
Inter-team coordination in multiteam systems: Mechanisms, transitions, and precipitants
Authors: Wagner John A
Published: January 2023

Coordination among the teams of a multiteam system is necessary in order to initiate and maintain inter-team interdependence. In turn, coordinated interdependence is required if the teams in a multiteam system are to work together toward a common outcome and succeed as an organized entity. A literature review indicates that multiteam research has indicated that three basic coordination mechanisms—mutual adjustment, direct supervision, and standardization—are used to coordinate interdependence among teams. The review also reveals that multiteam systems research has seldom examined transitions among inter-team coordination mechanisms and has rarely investigated precipitants that trigger mechanism transitions. In light of this finding, this article describes theorized transitions and identifies precipitant factors likely to stimulate these transitions. It concludes that transitions and precipitants merit significant attention in future multiteam systems research in order to render a more complete understanding of inter-team coordination.