bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of Fuzzy Fractional Nonlinear Equal Width Equation in the Sense of Novel Operator
Authors: Naeem Muhammad , Khammash Ahmed A. , Mahariq Ibrahim , Laouini Ghaylen , Kafle Jeevan
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we designed an algorithm by applying the Laplace transform to calculate some approximate solutions for fuzzy fractional-order nonlinear equal width equations in the sense of Atangana-Baleanu-Caputo derivatives. By analyzing the fuzzy theory, the suggested technique helps the solution of the fuzzy nonlinear equal width equations be investigated as a series of expressions in which the components can be effectively recognised and produce a pair of numerical results with the uncertainty parameters. Several numerical examples are analyzed to validate convergence outcomes for the given problem to show the proposed method’s utility and capability. The simulation outcomes reveal that the fuzzy iterative transform method is an effective method for accurately and precisely studying the behavior of suggested problems. We test the developed algorithm by three different problems. The analytical analysis provided that the results of the models converge to their actual solutions at the integer-order. Furthermore, we find that the fractional derivative produces a wide range of fuzzy results.
Seismic Fragility Analysis of the Reinforced Concrete Continuous Bridge Piers Based on Machine Learning and Symbolic Regression Fusion Algorithms
Authors: Zhu Hanbo , Miao Changqing
Published: December 2021

In the fragility analysis, researchers mostly chose and constructed seismic intensity measures (IMs) according to past experience and personal preference, resulting in large dispersion between the sample of engineering demand parameter (EDP) and the regression function with IM as the independent variable. This problem needs to be solved urgently. Firstly, the existing 46 types of ground motion intensity measures were taken as a candidate set, and the composite intensity measures (IMs) based on machine learning methods were selected and constructed. Secondly, the modified Park–Ang damage index was taken as EDP, and the symbolic regression method was used to fit the functional relationship between the composite intensity measures (CIMs) and EDP. Finally, the probabilistic seismic demand analysis (PSDA) and seismic fragility analysis were performed by the cloud‐stripe method. Taking the pier of a three‐span continuous reinforced concrete hollow slab bridge as an example, a nonlinear finite element model was established for vulnerability analysis. And the composite IM was compared with the linear composite IM constructed by Kiani, Lu Dagang, and Liu Tingting. The functions of them were compared. The analysis results indicated that the standard deviation of the composite IM fragility curve proposed in this paper is 60% to 70% smaller than the other composite indicators which verified the efficiency, practicality, proficiency, and sufficiency of the proposed machine learning and symbolic regression fusion algorithms in constructing composite IMs.
Institutional Teaching Innovation under the Demand of Internet + PE
Authors: Na Dongxia
Published: December 2021

In order to study the effectiveness of student-based teaching methods, this study uses open-ended and closed-ended questionnaires to collect qualitative results and studies by collecting different types of data, including quantitative data of the body mass index. The results show that the biggest difference from the traditional teaching strategy is that the internet teaching model can help to improve personal communication ability and better develop interpersonal relationship. At the same time, through social interaction in e-learning, learners can cultivate their ability to find and solve problems, collect, analyze, and use information, and learn to share and cooperate. The research of the project can provide some reference ideas and theoretical basis for follow-up research.
A Microfluidic Cancer-on-Chip Platform Predicts Drug Response Using Organotypic Tumor Slice Culture
Authors: Chakrabarty Sanjiban , Quiros-Solano William F. , Kuijten Maayke M.P. , Haspels Ben , Mallya Sandeep , Lo Calvin Shun Yu , Othman Amr , Silvestri Cinzia , van de Stolpe Anja , Gaio Nikolas , Odijk Hanny , van de Ven Marieke , de Ridder Corrina M.A. , van Weerden Wytske M. , Jonkers Jos , Dekker Ronald , Taneja Nitika , Kanaar Roland , van Gent Dik C.
Published: December 2021

Optimal treatment of cancer requires diagnostic methods to facilitate therapy choice and prevent ineffective treatments. Direct assessment of therapy response in viable tumor specimens could fill this diagnostic gap. Therefore, we designed a microfluidic platform for assessment of patient treatment response using tumor tissue slices under precisely controlled growth conditions. The optimized Cancer-on-Chip (CoC) platform maintained viability and sustained proliferation of breast and prostate tumor slices for 7 days. No major changes in tissue morphology or gene expression patterns were observed within this time frame, suggesting that the CoC system provides a reliable and effective way to probe intrinsic chemotherapeutic sensitivity of tumors. The customized CoC platform accurately predicted cisplatin and apalutamide treatment response in breast and prostate tumor xenograft models, respectively. The culture period for breast cancer could be extended up to 14 days without major changes in tissue morphology and viability. These culture characteristics enable assessment of treatment outcomes and open possibilities for detailed mechanistic studies.

Significance:

The Cancer-on-Chip platform with a 6-well plate design incorporating silicon-based microfluidics can enable optimal patient-specific treatment strategies through parallel culture of multiple tumor slices and diagnostic assays using primary tumor material.
Abdominopelvic FLASH Irradiation Improves PD-1 Immune Checkpoint Inhibition in Preclinical Models of Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Eggold Joshua T. , Chow Stephanie , Melemenidis Stavros , Wang Jinghui , Natarajan Suchitra , Loo Phoebe E. , Manjappa Rakesh , Viswanathan Vignesh , Kidd Elizabeth A. , Engleman Edgar , Dorigo Oliver , Loo Billy W. , Rankin Erinn B.
Published: December 2021

Treatment of advanced ovarian cancer using PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockade shows promise; however, current clinical trials are limited by modest response rates. Radiotherapy has been shown to synergize with PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in some cancers but has not been utilized in advanced ovarian cancer due to toxicity associated with conventional abdominopelvic irradiation. Ultrahigh-dose rate (FLASH) irradiation has emerged as a strategy to reduce radiation-induced toxicity, however, the immunomodulatory properties of FLASH irradiation remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that single high-dose abdominopelvic FLASH irradiation promoted intestinal regeneration and maintained tumor control in a preclinical mouse model of ovarian cancer. Reduced tumor burden in conventional and FLASH-treated mice was associated with an early decrease in intratumoral regulatory T cells and a late increase in cytolytic CD8+ T cells. Compared with conventional irradiation, FLASH irradiation increased intratumoral T-cell infiltration at early timepoints. Moreover, FLASH irradiation maintained the ability to increase intratumoral CD8+ T-cell infiltration and enhance the efficacy of αPD-1 therapy in preclinical models of ovarian cancer. These data highlight the potential for FLASH irradiation to improve the therapeutic efficacy of checkpoint inhibition in the treatment of ovarian cancer.
Treatment of Sleep Apnea with Positive Airway Pressure and Its Association with Diastolic Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Al-Sadawi Mohammed , Saeidifard Farzane , Kort Smadar , Cao Kerry , Capric Violeta , Salciccioli Louis , Al-Ajam Mohammad , Budzikowski Adam S.
Published: December 2021

Background: This meta-analysis assessed the effect of long-term (>6 weeks) noninvasive positive airway pressure (PAP) on diastolic function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: We searched the databases for randomized clinical trials including Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and EBSCO CINAHL from inception up to December 20, 2019. The search was not restricted to time, publication status, or language. Two independent investigators screened the studies and extracted the data, in duplicate. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane collaboration tools. Results: A total of 2,753 abstracts were resulted from literature search. A total of 9 randomized clinical trials assessing the effect of long-term (>6 weeks) PAP on diastolic function in patients with OSA including 833 participants were included. The following echo parameters were found in treated patients: a decrease in deceleration time (−39.49 ms CI [−57.24, −21.74]; p = 0.000), isovolumic relaxation time (−9.32 ms CI [−17.08, −1.57]; p = 0.02), and the ratio of early mitral inflow velocity to mitral annular early diastolic velocity (−1.38 CI [−2.6, −0.16]; p = 0.03). However, changes in left-atrial volume index and the ratio of early to late mitral inflow velocities were not statistically different. The risk of bias was mild to moderate among the studies. Conclusion: Our results suggest that chronic treatment of moderate to severe OSA with noninvasive PAP is associated with improvement in echocardiographic findings of diastolic dysfunction.
Significance of Low Maternal Serum Β-hCG Levels in the Assessment of the Risk of Atypical Chromosomal Abnormalities
Authors: Wijngaard Robin , Casals Elena , Mercadé Imma , Laguna Javier , Madrigal Irene , Badenas Celia , Borrell Antoni , Rodriguez-Revenga Laia
Published: December 2021

Introduction: The introduction of prenatal cell-free DNA as a screening test has surpassed traditional combined first-trimester screening (cFTS) in the detection of common trisomies. However, its current limitation in detecting only common trisomies is affecting the diagnostic yield for other clinically significant chromosomal abnormalities. Methods: In efforts to optimize the detection of fetuses with genetic abnormalities, we have analyzed the relationship between the cFTS risk score and biomarkers with atypical chromosomal abnormalities. Furthermore, we have evaluated the impact of prenatal cell-free DNA screening on the detection of chromosomal abnormalities in our population. For these purposes, we performed a retrospective study of 877 singleton pregnancies who underwent chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) between 2013 and 2020 and for whom cFTS data were available. Results: The results demonstrated that low levels of free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) (≤0.37 multiples of the median) and increased fetal nuchal translucency (NT) (≥3.5 mm) were statistically associated with the presence of atypical chromosomal abnormalities. In fact, the risk of pathogenic CMA results increased from 6 to 10% when fetal NT was increased and from 6 to 20% when a low serum β-hCG level was detected in the high-risk cFTS group. Moreover, our results showed that altered serum levels of β-hCG can have a substantial impact on the early detection of clinically relevant copy number variants. Discussion/Conclusion: Traditional cFTS can potentially identify a substantial proportion of atypical chromosomal aberrations, and women with increased NT or low maternal serum β-hCG levels are at increased risk of having pathogenic CMA results. Our results may help clinicians and women decide whether invasive testing or prenatal cell-free DNA screening testing is more appropriate for each situation.
Sexismo científico: o viés de gênero na produção científica da Universidade de São Paulo
Authors: Oliveira-Ciabati Livia , Santos Luciane Loures , Hsiou Annie Schmaltz , Sasso Ariane Morassi , Castro Margaret , Souza João Paulo
Published: December 2021

OBJETIVO Investigar desigualdades de gênero na produção científica de docentes da Universidade de São Paulo. MÉTODOS A população consiste em professores(as) da Universidade de São Paulo. O repositório Web of Science foi a fonte das métricas de publicação. Selecionamos as medidas: total de publicações e citações, média de citações por ano e por item, índice H e histórico de citações entre 1950 e 2019. Usamos o nome do(a) docente como um proxy para a identidade de gênero. Usamos estatísticas descritivas para caracterizar as métricas. Avaliamos o efeito tesoura selecionando os(as) professores(as) com índice H alto. A série histórica de citações foi projetada até 2100. Realizamos análises para a população geral e subgrupos de tempo de trabalho: menos de 10 anos, de 10 a 20 anos e 20 anos ou mais. RESULTADOS Dos 8.325 docentes, incluímos 3.067 (36,8%). Dentre os incluídos, 1.893 (61,7%) eram professores e 1.174 (38,28%) professoras. O gênero masculino apresentou valores mais altos nas métricas de publicação (média de artigos: M = 67,0 versus F = 49,7; média de citações/ano: M = 53,9 versus F = 35,9) e índice H (M = 14,5 versus F = 12,4). Entre os 100 indivíduos com maior índice H (≥ 37), 83% são do gênero masculino. Na série histórica de citações, a curva masculina cresce mais rápido, abrindo uma diferença entre os grupos com afastamento confirmado pela projeção. DISCUSSÃO A produção científica na Universidade de São Paulo está sujeita a um viés de gênero. Dois terços do corpo docente são do gênero masculino, e as contratações das últimas décadas perpetuam esse padrão. A grande maioria dos membros com alto impacto no corpo docente é do sexo masculino. CONCLUSÃO Nossas análises sugerem que a Universidade de São Paulo não superará a desigualdade de gênero na produção científica sem uma ação afirmativa substancial. O desenvolvimento não acontece por acaso, mas por meio de escolhas afirmativas, decisivas e de longo prazo.
Diagnóstico, tratamento e notificação da sífilis durante a gestação em Goiás, de 2007 a 2017
Authors: Oliveira Iana Mundim de , Oliveira Rívert Paulo Braga , Alves Rosane Ribeiro Figueiredo
Published: December 2021

OBJETIVO Analisar a evolução das notificações da sífilis durante a gestação em relação à classificação clínica, ao diagnóstico e ao tratamento no estado de Goiás, entre 2007 e 2017. MÉTODOS Estudo de série temporal com análise de dados fornecidos pela Secretaria Estadual de Saúde de Goiás. Foram analisadas as variáveis relacionadas ao diagnóstico e tratamento das gestantes e seus parceiros, e sua tendência evolutiva ao longo dos anos. Utilizou-se estatística descritiva, cálculo de porcentagens e verificação das tendências de aumento e diminuição por meio do teste de Cochran-Armitage com nível de significância α = 0,05. RESULTADOS Ao todo, 7.774 casos foram notificados no período. A maior porcentagem das notificações ocorreu no segundo trimestre de gestação (39,8%) e correspondeu à sífilis primária (34,1%). O tratamento prescrito com maior frequência foi a penicilina benzatina em dose de 7,2 milhões (43,8%). Entre 2007 e 2017, observou-se tendência crescente nas porcentagens de notificações de sífilis latente (14,1% para 30,7%), secundária (5,2% para 19%) e terciária (4,4% para 11,4%), assim como no tratamento com penicilina benzatina em dose de 7,2 milhões (19,3% para 59,6%). Tendência decrescente foi observada nas porcentagens de notificação de sífilis primária (43,4% para 22,1%) e nos demais esquemas de tratamento. CONCLUSÕES Houve aumento no número de notificações de sífilis latente em gestantes e no tratamento com penicilina na dose de 7.200.000 UI. Também foi observado aumento na completitude dos dados da ficha de notificação nas variáveis de classificação clínica e tratamento, sugerindo melhora no processo de notificação.
Unspliced XBP1 Counteracts β-Catenin to Inhibit Vascular Calcification
Authors: Yang Liu , Dai Rongbo , Wu Hao , Cai Zeyu , Xie Nan , Zhang Xu , Shen Yicong , Gong Ze , Jia Yiting , Yu Fang , Zhao Ying , Lin Pinglan , Ye Chaoyang , Hu Yanhua , Fu Yi , Xu Qingbo , Li Zhiqing , Kong Wei
Published: December 2021

Background:

Vascular calcification is a prevalent complication in chronic kidney disease and contributes to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. XBP1 (X-box binding protein 1), existing as the XBP1u (unspliced XBP1) and XBP1s (spliced XBP1) forms, is a key component of the endoplasmic reticulum stress involved in vascular diseases. However, whether XBP1u participates in the development of vascular calcification remains unclear.

Methods:

We aim to investigate the role of XBP1u in vascular calcification. XBP1u protein levels were reduced in high phosphate–induced calcified vascular smooth muscle cells, calcified aortas from mice with adenine diet-induced chronic renal failure, and calcified radial arteries from patients with chronic renal failure.

Results:

Inhibition of XBP1u rather than XBP1s upregulated in the expression of the osteogenic markers Runx2 (runt-related transcription factor 2) and Msx2 (msh homeobox 2), and exacerbated high phosphate–induced vascular smooth muscle cell calcification, as verified by calcium deposition and Alizarin red S staining. In contrast, XBP1u overexpression in high phosphate–induced vascular smooth muscle cells significantly inhibited osteogenic differentiation and calcification. Consistently, smooth muscle cell–specific XBP1 deficiency in mice markedly aggravated the adenine diet- and 5/6 nephrectomy-induced vascular calcification compared with that in the control littermates. Further interactome analysis revealed that XBP1u is bound directly to β-catenin, a key regulator of vascular calcification, via amino acid (aa) 205-230 in its C-terminal degradation domain. XBP1u interacted with β-catenin to promote its ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation and thus inhibited β-catenin/TCF (T-cell factor)-mediated Runx2 and Msx2 transcription. Knockdown of β-catenin abolished the effect of XBP1u deficiency on vascular smooth muscle cell calcification, suggesting a β-catenin-mediated mechanism. Moreover, the degradation of β-catenin promoted by XBP1u was independent of GSK-3β (glycogen synthase kinase 3β)–involved destruction complex.

Conclusions:

Our study identified XBP1u as a novel endogenous inhibitor of vascular calcification by counteracting β-catenin and promoting its ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation, which represents a new regulatory pathway of β-catenin and a promising target for vascular calcification treatment.
BBSome: a New Player in Hypertension and Other Cardiovascular Risks
Authors: Zhao Yuying , Rahmouni Kamal
Published: December 2021

The BBSome is an octameric protein complex involved in Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS), a human pleiotropic, autosomal recessive condition. Patients with BBS display various clinical features including obesity, hypertension, and renal abnormalities. Association studies have also linked the
BBS
genes to hypertension and other cardiovascular risks in the general population. The BBSome was originally associated with the function of cilia, a highly specialized organelle that extend from the cell membrane of most vertebrate cells. However, subsequent studies have implicated the BBSome in the control of a myriad of other cellular processes not related to cilia including cell membrane localization of receptors and gene expression. The development of animal models of BBS such as mouse lines lacking various components of the BBSome and associated proteins has facilitated studying their role in the control of cardiovascular function and deciphering the pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for the cardiovascular aberrations associated with BBS. These studies revealed the importance of the neuronal, renal, vascular, and cardiac BBSome in the regulation of blood pressure, renal function, vascular reactivity, and cardiac development. The BBSome has also emerged as a critical regulator of key systems involved in cardiovascular control including the renin-angiotensin system. Better understanding of the influence of the BBSome on the molecular and physiological processes relevant to cardiovascular health and disease has the potential of identifying novel mechanisms underlying hypertension and other cardiovascular risks.
Impaired Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Synthesis Induces Preeclampsia by Deactivating Trophoblastic YAP (Yes-Associated Protein) Through S1PR2 (Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor-2)-Induced Actin Polymerizations
Authors: Liao Jiujiang , Zheng Yangxi , Hu Mingyu , Xu Ping , Lin Li , Liu Xiyao , Wu Yue , Huang Biao , Ye Xuan , Li Sisi , Duan Ran , Fu Huijia , Huang Jiayu , Wen Li , Fu Yong , Kilby Mark D. , Kenny Louise C. , Baker Philip N. , Qi Hongbo , Tong Chao
Published: December 2021

Incomplete spiral artery remodeling, caused by impaired extravillous trophoblast invasion, is a fundamental pathogenic process associated with malplacentation and the development of preeclampsia. Nevertheless, the mechanisms controlling this regulation of trophoblast invasion are largely unknown. We report that sphingosine-1-phosphate synthesis and expression is abundant in healthy trophoblast, whereas in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia the placentae are associated with reduced sphingosine-1-phosphate and lower SPHK1 (sphingosine kinase 1) expression and activity. In vivo inhibition of sphingosine kinase 1 activity during placentation in pregnant mice led to decreased placental sphingosine-1-phosphate production and defective placentation, resulting in a preeclampsia phenotype. Moreover, sphingosine-1-phosphate increased HTR8/SVneo (immortalized human trophoblst cells) cell invasion in a Hippo-signaling–dependent transcriptional coactivator YAP (Yes-associated protein) dependent manner, which is activated by S1PR2 (sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor-2) and downstream RhoA (Ras homolog gene family, member A)/ROCK (Rho-associated protein kinase) induced actin polymerization. Mutation-based YAP-5SA (S61A, S109A, S127A, S164A, S381A) demonstrated that sphingosine-1-phosphate activation of YAP could be either dependent or independent of Hippo signaling. Together, these findings suggest a novel pathogenic pathway of preeclampsia via disrupted sphingosine-1-phosphate metabolism and signaling-induced, interrupted actin dynamics and YAP deactivation; this may lead to potential novel intervention targets for the prevention and management of preeclampsia.
Prognostic Value of Changes in Aortic Stiffness for Cardiovascular Outcomes and Mortality in Resistant Hypertension: a Cohort Study
Authors: Cardoso Claudia R.L. , Salles Gil F.
Published: December 2021

The prognostic importance of changes in aortic stiffness for the occurrence of adverse cardiovascular outcomes and mortality has never been investigated in patients with resistant hypertension. We aimed to evaluate it in a prospective cohort of 442 resistant hypertension individuals. Changes in aortic stiffness were assessed by 2 carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV) measurements performed over a median time interval of 4.7 years. Multivariate Cox analysis examined the associations between changes in CF-PWV (evaluated as continuous variables and categorized into quartiles and as increased/persistently high or reduced/persistently low) and the occurrence of total cardiovascular events (CVEs), major adverse CVEs, and cardiovascular/all-cause mortalities. During a median follow-up of 4.1 years after the second CF-PWV measurement, there were 49 total CVEs (42 major adverse CVEs) and 53 all-cause deaths (32 cardiovascular). As continuous variables, increments in absolute and relative changes in CF-PWV were associated with higher risks of CVEs and major adverse CVEs occurrence, but not of mortality. Divided into quartiles of CF-PWV changes, risks increased in the third and fourth quartile subgroups in relation to the reference first quartile subgroup (those with greatest CF-PWV reductions) for all outcomes. Patients who either increased or persisted with high CF-PWV had excess risks of cardiovascular morbidity/mortality, with hazard ratios ranging from 2.7 to 3.0, in relation to those who reduced or persisted with low CF-PWV values. In conclusion, reducing or preventing progression of aortic stiffness was associated with significant cardiovascular protection in patients with resistant hypertension, suggesting that it may be an additional clinical target of antihypertensive treatment.
Machine Learning Automated Detection of Large Vessel Occlusion From Mobile Stroke Unit Computed Tomography Angiography
Authors: Czap Alexandra L. , Bahr-Hosseini Mersedeh , Singh Noopur , Yamal Jose-Miguel , Nour May , Parker Stephanie , Kim Youngran , Restrepo Lucas , Abdelkhaleq Rania , Salazar-Marioni Sergio , Phan Kenny , Bowry Ritvij , Rajan Suja S. , Grotta James C. , Saver Jeffrey L. , Giancardo Luca , Sheth Sunil A.
Published: December 2021

Background:

Prehospital automated large vessel occlusion (LVO) detection in Mobile Stroke Units (MSUs) could accelerate identification and treatment of patients with LVO acute ischemic stroke. Here, we evaluate the performance of a machine learning (ML) model on CT angiograms (CTAs) obtained from 2 MSUs to detect LVO.

Methods:

Patients evaluated on MSUs in Houston and Los Angeles with out-of-hospital CTAs were identified. Anterior circulation LVO was defined as an occlusion of the intracranial internal carotid artery, middle cerebral artery (M1 or M2), or anterior cerebral artery vessels and determined by an expert human reader. A ML model to detect LVO was trained and tested on independent data sets consisting of in-hospital CTAs and then tested on MSU CTA images. Model performance was determined using area under the receiver-operator curve statistics.

Results:

Among 68 patients with out-of-hospital MSU CTAs, 40% had an LVO. The most common occlusion location was the middle cerebral artery M1 segment (59%), followed by the internal carotid artery (30%), and middle cerebral artery M2 (11%). Median time from last known well to CTA imaging was 88.0 (interquartile range, 59.5–196.0) minutes. After training on 870 in-hospital CTAs, the ML model performed well in identifying LVO in a separate in-hospital data set of 441 images with area under receiver-operator curve of 0.84 (95% CI, 0.80–0.87). ML algorithm analysis time was under 1 minute. The performance of the ML model on the MSU CTA images was comparable with area under receiver-operator curve 0.80 (95% CI, 0.71–0.89). There was no significant difference in performance between the Houston and Los Angeles MSU CTA cohorts.

Conclusions:

In this study of patients evaluated on MSUs in 2 cities, a ML algorithm was able to accurately and rapidly detect LVO using prehospital CTA acquisitions.
Impact of Local Atmospheric Intraseasonal Variability on Mean Sea Ice State in the Arctic Ocean
Authors: Liang Xi , Liu Chengyan , Yu Lejiang , Losch Martin , Zhang Lujun , Li Xichen , Zhao Fu , Tian Zhongxiang
Published: December 2021

The Arctic atmosphere shows significant variability on intraseasonal time scales of 10–90 days. The intraseasonal variability in the Arctic sea ice is clearly related to that in the Arctic atmosphere. It is well known that the Arctic mean sea ice state is governed by the local mean atmospheric state. However, the response of the Arctic mean sea ice state to the local atmospheric intraseasonal variability is unclear. The Arctic atmospheric intraseasonal variability exists in both the thermodynamical and dynamical variables. Based on a sea ice–ocean coupled simulation with a quantitative sea ice budget analysis, this study finds that 1) the intraseasonal atmospheric thermodynamical variability tends to reduce sea ice melting through changing the downward heat flux on the open water area in the marginal sea ice zone, and the intraseasonal atmospheric dynamical variability tends to increase sea ice melting by a combination of modified air–ocean heat fluxes, ice–ocean heat fluxes, and sea ice deformation; 2) the intraseasonal atmospheric dynamical variability increases summertime sea ice concentration in the Beaufort Sea and the Greenland Sea but decreases summertime sea ice concentration along the Eurasian continent in the East Siberia–Laptev–Kara Seas, resulting from the joint effects of the modified air–ocean heat fluxes, ice–ocean heat fluxes, and the sea ice deformation, as well as the mean sea ice advection due to the changes of sea ice drift. The large spread in sea ice in the CMIP models may be partly attributed to the different model performances in representing the observed atmospheric intraseasonal variability. Reliable modeling of atmospheric intraseasonal variability is an essential condition in correctly projecting future sea ice evolution.
Adiabatic and Diabatic Signatures of Ocean Temperature Variability
Authors: Holmes R. M. , Sohail T. , Zika J. D.
Published: December 2021

Anthropogenically induced radiative imbalances in the climate system lead to a slow accumulation of heat in the ocean. This warming is often obscured by natural modes of climate variability such as El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which drive substantial ocean temperature changes as a function of depth and latitude. The use of watermass coordinates has been proposed to help isolate forced signals and filter out fast adiabatic processes associated with modes of variability. However, how much natural modes of variability project into these different coordinate systems has not been quantified. Here we apply a rigorous framework to quantify ocean temperature variability using both a quasi-Lagrangian, watermass-based temperature coordinate and Eulerian depth and latitude coordinates in a free-running climate model under preindustrial conditions. The temperature-based coordinate removes the adiabatic component of ENSO-dominated interannual variability by definition, but a substantial diabatic signal remains. At slower (decadal to centennial) frequencies, variability in the temperature- and depth-based coordinates is comparable. Spectral analysis of temperature tendencies reveals the dominance of advective processes in latitude and depth coordinates while the variability in temperature coordinates is related closely to the surface forcing. Diabatic mixing processes play an important role at slower frequencies where quasi-steady-state balances emerge between forcing and mixing in temperature, advection and mixing in depth, and forcing and advection in latitude. While watermass-based analyses highlight diabatic effects by removing adiabatic variability, our work shows that natural variability has a strong diabatic component and cannot be ignored in the analysis of long-term trends.

Significance Statement

Quantifying the ocean warming associated with anthropogenically induced radiative imbalances in the climate system can be challenging due to the superposition with modes of internal climate variability such as El Niño. One method proposed to address this issue is the analysis of temperature changes in fluid-following (or “watermass”) coordinates that filter out fast adiabatic processes associated with these modes of variability. In this study we compare a watermass-based analysis with more traditional analyses of temperature changes at fixed depth and latitude to show that even natural modes of climate variability exhibit a substantial signal in watermass coordinates, particularly at decadal and slower frequencies. This natural variability must be taken into account when analyzing long-term temperature trends in the ocean.
First Step Next and homeBase: A Comparative Efficacy Study of Children With Disruptive Behavior
Authors: Frey Andy J. , Small Jason W. , Seeley John R. , Walker Hill M. , Feil Edward G. , Lee Jon , Lissman Dana Cohen , Crosby Shantel , Forness Steven R.
Published: December 2021

Disruptive behavior disorders in childhood are increasingly pervasive and associated with numerous, negative long-term outcomes. The current study examined whether adding a brief, home-visitation intervention to an existing, multi-component (child and teacher) intervention, would improve social-emotional and behavioral outcomes for young children with challenging behavior in home and school settings who required intensive support. A total of 379 teacher-parent-student triads were screened for elevated levels of behavioral risk in school and home settings and then randomly assigned to school only intervention (i.e., teacher and student components), home only intervention (i.e., parent), both combined, or business-as-usual control conditions. We examined baseline and posttest outcomes across prosocial behavior, problem behavior, and academic domains. The results demonstrated substantial support for the teacher and child-focused condition and combined conditions, and modest support for the parent-focused condition. The study advances the literature by increasing the knowledge base related to these interventions implemented alone and in combination.
The Citizenship Amendment Act 2019: An Insight through Constitutional and Secularism Perspective
Authors: Nagarwal Narender
Published: December 2021

The primary endeavor of this paper is to illuminate the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 through the constitution and human rights jurisprudence perspective. In this paper, an attempt has been made to propose a different interpretation of the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 which not only infracts constitutional values but also legalized the hate against minorities, especially Muslims. India—as a nation state—has always cherished and remained concerned about its secular and democratic character. Since independence, India has maintained its global position as a responsible and humane society to protect minorities’ rights and social justice. Shockingly, the legislative development that had taken place in the recent past has questioned India’s commitment toward the certain principle of human rights, democratic values, and secularism which are the hallmark of the Constitution of India. The Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 has put religion as a pre-requisite qualification if someone is desirous to apply for Indian citizenship which is purely a violation of the basic ethos of the constitution. The idea of India as envisioned by the framers of the Indian constitution as a democratic, secular, and socialist state and anything that contrary to its basic structure is unconstitutional. The contentious legislation whether unconstitutional or not needs to be examined through the prism of constitutional law and fundamental norms of human rights. In this research exercise, a modest attempt is made to examine all merits and demerits of this antagonistic citizenship legislation. Throughout the paper, the effort has been given to sustain the notion that India cannot be a republic founded on discrimination, hate, and a pervasive sense of fear.
“Place Making” and “Place Attachment” as Key Concepts in Understanding and Confronting Contemporary Urban Evictions: The Case of Givat-Amal, Tel Aviv
Authors: Bigon Liora , Bitton Yifat , Langenthal Edna
Published: December 2021

This article expands on the usability of the concepts of “place making” and “place attachment” as recently developed in urban studies research in the context of housing insecurity of marginalized communities in today’s neo-liberal city. Particularly, against the growing threat of urban evictions, the article utilizes a transdisciplinary approach, showing the relevance of both concepts for (a) a better understanding of bottom-up processes of spatial production and attempts to create a sense of place on the part of such communities, and (b) offering an innovative legal strategy for doing justice to these communities in terms of their compensation rights, especially where a title to land has not been registered on a private basis. These issues are critically examined on the site-related case of the Givat-Amal quarter in Tel Aviv, Israel. This district is now under actual final threat of forced evictions following seven conflicted decades with the state, municipal authorities and private entrepreneurs. Our transdisciplinary study is based on qualitative methodologies in human geography such as fieldwork, visual evidence, and interviews, with a glimpse into philosophy. It is equally based on revisiting “traditional” legal property rights through the lens of post-liberal human rights analysis. The argument can apply to many situations of forced evictions across Africa, Latin America, and the West itself.
A Framework for a Structured Approach for Formulating a Trauma-Informed Environment
Authors: Erickson Melissa , Harvey Trish
Published: December 2021

A case study was implemented in one rural district as it transitioned to a trauma-informed environment. A theoretical framework based on the literature framed the data collection around the seven themes of awareness, positive culture, intentional instruction, restorative practice, self-care, mental health support services, and professional development. The collected data from surveys, observations, document analysis and a focus group were used to determine strengths and areas for improvement in implementing trauma-informed practices at the case study site.
Outsourcing the enforcement of modern slavery: Overcoming the limitations of a market-based disclosure model
Authors: Harris Hannah , Nolan Justine
Published: December 2021

Recent legislative efforts to address modern slavery emphasise corporate disclosure as the primary regulatory tool. New modern slavery disclosure laws harden the expectation that business will conduct itself responsibly; however, they are founded on a soft approach to enforcement which is essentially outsourced to the market. This paper questions the effectiveness of this disclosure-based enforcement mechanism, which primarily relies on a narrowly defined concept of ‘the market’ as the basis for its regulatory strategy. Drawing on comparisons with alternative legislative enforcement frameworks to counter foreign bribery and illegal logging, this paper highlights the opportunities and limitations of reliance on market forces for regulation and suggests a path forward for enhancing the modern slavery enforcement approach.
Attitudes of Oncology Nurses Towards Care of Dying Patients and the Principles of Dying with Dignity and Their Views on Good Death
Authors: Uzunkaya Oztoprak Pinar , Terzioglu Fusun
Published: December 2021

This study investigated oncology nurses’ attitudes toward caring for dying patients, their principles of dying with dignity, and their views on good death. This descriptive study included 257 oncology nurses working at two university hospitals, an educational research hospital and a state hospital in Turkey. Data were collected using the descriptive characteristics information form, the Frommelt Attitudes toward Care of the Dying scale, the Assessment Scale of Attitudes toward the Principles of Dying with Dignity, and the Good Death Scale. The nurses obtained mean scores of 99.53 ± 7.76 on the Frommelt Attitudes toward Care of the Dying scale, 26.84 ± 12.45 on the Assessment Scale of Attitudes toward the Principles of Dying with Dignity, and 57.23 ± 7.48 on the Good Death Scale. The nurses’ personal and professional characteristics influenced their attitudes toward caring for dying patients, the principles of dying with dignity, and their views on good death.
A look back: Ongoing dilemmas for rural schools
Authors: Preston Teresa
Published: December 2021

The December 1983 Kappan featured the story of Clinch School in Hawkins County, Tennessee, a small rural school with a student body of 161 students in 12 grades. Teresa Preston explains how the story of the community’s fight to keep this school open and under local control is illustrative of the dilemmas surrounding rural schools that have been covered in Kappan for a century. Articles have grappled with whether schools should focus on encouraging students to stay in rural communities, how to ensure that schools are large enough to provide adequate programs but small enough to reflect the immediate community, and what role parent and community preferences should play in improvement plans for rural schools.
Rural communities need better state education policies
Authors: Arsen David , Delpier Tanner , Gensterblum Annie , Jacobsen Rebecca , Stamm Alexandra
Published: December 2021

The specific needs of rural schools and communities have received limited attention from state policy makers, and many state programs have only added to the challenges that school districts in rural areas face. Michigan State University researchers surveyed and interviewed rural superintendents in Michigan to learn more about their situations. Superintendents identified teacher recruitment and retention, the need for mental health services, limited broadband access, and insufficient funding as their most pressing challenges. The researchers note that addressing these challenges will require state leaders to pay specific attention to rural needs and develop rural-conscious education policies.
How educational intermediaries connect research and practice
Authors: Malin Joel R.
Published: December 2021

Indirect routes to strengthening research-practice connections, through intermediaries or knowledge brokers, have received little emphasis in discussions of education research and practice. Joel Malin compares direct and indirect approaches to making these connections and considers how indirect actors are situated in the education system and what roles and functions they perform. He describes some of the well-known intermediaries, assesses the effects of their efforts, and offers ideas for moving forward.
Four principles for assessing student-directed projects
Authors: Brennan Karen , Blum-Smith Sarah , Haduong Paulina
Published: December 2021

Student-directed projects are a promising approach to supporting powerful learning, yet uncertainty about how to assess these projects presents a barrier to widespread incorporation in K-12 classrooms. Drawing on interviews with computer science teachers and an interdisciplinary literature review, Karen Brennan, Sarah Blum-Smith, and Paulina Haduong offer four principles to guide assessment of student-directed projects: recognizing the individuality of the learner, illuminating process, engaging multiple perspectives, and cultivating capacity for personal judgment. They describe the research behind these principles and provide and example of what they look like in practice.
Partnerships to offer advanced learning for all students
Authors: Hammerness Karen , MacPherson Anna , Gupta Preeti , Jackson Tramia , Chaffee Rachel
Published: December 2021

Out-of-school programs can offer personalized and meaningful learning experiences that deepen students’ knowledge and cater to their passions and interests, but it has been a painful reality that many such programs have been available only to students and families with privilege and resources. Karen Hammerness, Anna MacPherson, Preeti Gupta, Tramia Jackson, and Rachel Chaffee describe how the Science Research Mentoring Consortium in New York City gives students from underserved communities opportunities to engage in STEM activities alongside researchers at sites throughout the city. Students with a strong interest in and aptitude for science take classes after school or on weekends and conduct their own research with the support of mentors. The authors share the principles that undergird the program and that can be applied to similar mentoring partnership programs in other disciplines.
First person: West side (teaching) story
Authors: McIntosh Kevin M.
Published: December 2021

A white, midwestern teacher reflects on the lessons he learned from his Latinx students while teaching Romeo and Juliet on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in the 1990s. While Romeo and Juliet was an easier sell than he expected, the class had a different reaction to West Side Story.
On leadership: When activists speak with sound and fury
Authors: Starr Joshua P.
Published: December 2021

School board meetings have become increasingly contentious in recent months, but, as Josh Starr explains, the tactics activists are using are not new. During his career as a district leader, he saw parents and other members of the public approach school boards with constant demands that their particular concerns receive attention. When these issues are on the fringe or outside the board’s purview, yet activists engage in increasingly outrageous behavior, leaders develop the habit of tuning out public voices, which serves no one.
The first complete chloroplast genome sequences in Resedaceae: Genome structure and comparative analysis
Authors: Alzahrani Dhafer , Albokhari Enas , Abba Abidina , Yaradua Samaila
Published: December 2021

Caylusea hexagyna and Ochradenus baccatus are two species in the Resedaceae family. In this study, we analysed the complete plastid genomes of these two species using high-throughput sequencing technology and compared their genomic data. The length of the plastid genome of C. hexagyna was 154,390 bp while that of O. baccatus was 153,380 bp. The lengths of the inverted repeats (IR) regions were 26,526 bp and 26,558 bp, those of the large single copy (LSC) regions were 83,870 bp and 83,023 bp; and those of the small single copy (SSC) regions were 17,468 bp and 17,241 bp in C. hexagyna and O. baccatus, respectively. Both genomes consisted of 113 genes: 79 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes and 4 rRNA genes. Repeat analysis showed that the plastid genome included all types of repeats, with more frequent occurrences of palindromic sequences. Comparative studies of SSR markers showed that there were 256 markers in C. hexagyna and 255 in O. baccatus; the majority of the SSRs in these plastid genomes were mononucleotide repeats (A/T). All the clusters in the phylogenetic tree had high support. This study reported the first complete plastid genomes of the genera Caylusea and Ochradenus and the first for the Resedaceae family.
Effect of an Infertility Counseling Education Program on Education Satisfaction and Counseling Competency of Nurses
Authors: Park Jummi , Shin Nayeon
Published: December 2021

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of an infertility counseling education program on education satisfaction and counseling competency of nurses. The study used a one-group pretest–posttest design. Participants were 135 nurses in Korea. Data on demographic characteristics on education satisfaction, and counseling competency were collected. After participating in the infertility counseling education program, the level of counseling competency increased significantly over that before participating in the infertility counseling education program. The infertility counseling education program improved the counseling competency of the participating nurses. Use of such an infertility counseling education program is recommended when nurses counsel patients facing infertility. It is necessary to repeat this study in the future to clarify the effects of these counseling education programs.
Traumatic lung herniation due to Cow's kick
Authors: Güldoğan Esra Soyer , Akdağ Tuba
Published: December 2021

Lung herniation, where the lung and its visceral and parietal components protrude outwards from a defect in the chest wall, is not common. It is most commonly secondary to blunt or penetrating trauma. The diagnosis is difficult, as the presentation differs according to aetiology. Ultrasound or CT scanning help in diagnosis and treatment planning. We present a 70-year-old female patient with lung herniation following a cow's kick on the thorax.
Efficacy and safety of intrapleural streptokinase in tubercular empyema thoracis – old wine in new wineskin
Authors: Goel Rishabh , Singh Gajendra Vikram , Shadrach Benhur Joel , Deokar Kunal , Kumar Santosh , Rajput Karamvir Singh
Published: December 2021

Tubercular empyema thoracis continues to be one of the leading causes of morbidity in low-income countries. Despite antitubercular therapy (ATT) and thoracostomy, empyema drainage is hampered by multiple septations, loculations, debris, and blood clots leading to complications. In a comparative experimental study to estimate the efficacy and safety of intrapleural streptokinase (IPSTK) in tubercular empyema, 30 cases of chronic multiloculated tubercular empyema were compared by radiological improvement by chest radiography, duration and volume of fluid drained, and degree of dyspnoea according to the modified Borg scale, depending on whether streptokinase was used or not. The former scored on all counts; we therefore conclude that intrapleural streptokinase is a safe, efficacious intervention in tubercular empyema. It decreases morbidity and reduces the need for surgery.