bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving the Detection of Multilingual South African Abusive Language via Skip-gram Using Joint Multilevel Domain Adaptation
Authors: Oriola Oluwafemi , Kotzé Eduan
Published: December 2023

The distinctiveness and sparsity of low-resource multilingual South African abusive language necessitate the development of a novel solution to automatically detect different classes of abusive language instances using machine learning. Skip-gram has been used to address sparsity in machine learning classification problems but is inadequate in detecting South African abusive language due to the considerable amount of rare features and class imbalance. Joint Domain Adaptation has been used to enlarge features of a low-resource target domain for improved classification outcomes by jointly learning from the target domain and large-resource source domain. This article, therefore, builds a Skip-gram model based on Joint Domain Adaptation to improve the detection of multilingual South African abusive language. Contrary to the existing Joint Domain Adaptation approaches, a Joint Multilevel Domain Adaptation model involving adaptation of monolingual source domain instances and multilingual target domain instances with high frequency of rare features was executed at the first level and adaptation of target-domain features and first-level features at the next level. Both surface-level and embedding word features were used to evaluate the proposed model. In the evaluation of surface-level features, the Joint Multilevel Domain Adaptation model outperformed the state-of-the-art models with accuracy of 0.92 and F1-score of 0.68. In the evaluation of embedding features, the proposed model outperformed the state-of-the-art models with accuracy of 0.88 and F1-score of 0.64. The Joint Multilevel Domain Adaptation model significantly improved the average information gain of the rare features in different language categories and reduced class imbalance.
TinyPredNet: A Lightweight Framework for Satellite Image Sequence Prediction
Authors: Dai Kuai , Li Xutao , Lin Huiwei , Jiang Yin , Chen Xunlai , Ye Yunming , Xian Di
Published: December 2023

Satellite image sequence prediction aims to precisely infer future satellite image frames with historical observations, which is a significant and challenging dense prediction task. Though existing deep learning models deliver promising performance for satellite image sequence prediction, the methods suffer from quite expensive training costs, especially in training time and GPU memory demand, due to the inefficiently modeling for temporal variations. This issue seriously limits the lightweight application in satellites such as space-borne forecast models. In this article, we propose a lightweight prediction framework TinyPredNet for satellite image sequence prediction, in which a spatial encoder and decoder model the intra-frame appearance features and a temporal translator captures inter-frame motion patterns. To efficiently model the temporal evolution of satellite image sequences, we carefully design a multi-scale temporal-cascaded structure and a channel attention-gated structure in the temporal translator. Comprehensive experiments are conducted on FengYun-4A (FY-4A) satellite dataset, which show that the proposed framework achieves very competitive performance with much lower computation cost compared to state-of-the-art methods. In addition, corresponding interpretability experiments are conducted to show how our designed structures work. We believe the proposed method can serve as a solid lightweight baseline for satellite image sequence prediction.
NNC-GCN: Neighbours-to-Neighbours Contrastive Graph Convolutional Network for Semi-Supervised Classification
Authors: Xiao Feng , Liu Youfa , Shao Jia
Published: December 2023

Contrastive learning (CL) is a popular learning paradigm in deep learning, which uses contrastive principle to learn low-dimensional embeddings, and has been applied in Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) successfully. Existing works of contrastive multi-view GNNs usually focus on point-to-point contrastive learning strategies. However, they neglect the local information in neighbors, which brings isolated positive samples. The quality of selected positive samples is hard to evaluate, and these samples may lead to invalid contrastiveness. Therefore, we propose a simple and efficient neighbors-to-neighbors contrastive graph neural network (NNC-GCN), which constructs a consistent multi-view by using the topologies of original input graphs. Moreover, we raise a new learning problem of unlabeled data base on these constructed multi-view topologies and propose a loss function NNC-InfoNCE to guide its learning process. The NNC-InfoNCE is an improved version of InfoNCE, which can be adapted to neighborhood-level contrast learning. Specifically, the neighborhoods and the remaining nodes of the selected anchor are weighted and treated as positive and negative sample sets. The experimental results show that our method is effective on public benchmark datasets.
Ibn-Ginni: An Improved Morphological Analyzer for Arabic
Authors: Nazih Waleed , Fashwan Amany , El-Gendy Amr , Hifny Yasser
Published: December 2023

Arabic is a morphologically rich language, which means that the Arabic language has a complicated system of word formation and structure. The affixes in the Arabic language (i.e., prefixes and suffixes) can be added to root words to generate different meanings and grammatical functions. These affixes can indicate aspects such as tense, gender, number, case, person, and more. In addition, the meaning and function of words can be modified in Arabic using an internal structure known as morphological patterns. Computational morphological analyzers of Arabic are vital to developing Arabic language processing toolkits. In this article, we introduce a new morphological analyzer (Ibn-Ginni) that inherits the speed and quality of the Buckwalter Arabic Morphological Analyzer (BAMA). The BAMA has poor coverage of the classical Arabic language. Hence, the coverage of classical Arabic is improved by using the Alkhalil analyzer. Although it is slow, it was used to generate a huge number of solutions for 3 million unique Arabic words collected from different resources. These word form-based solutions were converted to stem-based solutions, refined manually, and added to the database of BAMA, resulting in substantial improvements in the quality of the analysis. Hence, Ibn-Ginni is a hybrid system between BAMA and Alkhalil analyzers and may be considered an efficient large-scale analyzer. The Ibn-Ginni analyzer analyzed 0.6 million more words than the BAMA analyzer. Therefore, our analyzer significantly improves the coverage of the Arabic language. Besides, the Ibn-Ginni analyzer is high speed at providing solutions, the average time to analyze a word is 0.3 ms. Using a corpus designed for benchmarking Arabic morphological analyzers, our analyzer was able to find all solutions for 72.72% of the words. Moreover, the analyzer did not provide all possible morphological solutions for 24.24% of the words. The analyzer and its morphological database are publicly available on GitHub.

1
Characterization of gene expression in the kidney of renal tubular cell-specific NFAT5 knockout mice
Authors: Ono Makoto , Izumi Yuichiro , Maruyama Kosuke , Yasuoka Yukiko , Hiramatsu Akiko , Aramburu Jose , López-Rodríguez Cristina , Nonoguchi Hiroshi , Kakizoe Yutaka , Adachi Masataka , Kuwabara Takashige , Mukoyama Masashi
Published: December 2023

TSS-Seq analysis of the kidney from renal tubular cell-specific NFAT5 KO mice uncovered novel genes that are possibly regulated by NFAT5 in the kidney under physiological conditions. The study further implied disorders of innate and adaptive immune systems in NFAT5 KO mice, thereby exacerbating renal fibrosis at pathological states. Our results may implicate the involvement of renal tubular NFAT5 in the progression of renal fibrosis. Further studies would be worthwhile for the development of novel therapy to treat chronic kidney disease.
Physiological responses to 9 hours of heat exposure in young and older adults. Part III: Association with self-reported symptoms and mood state
Authors: McGarr Gregory W. , Meade Robert D. , Notley Sean R. , Akerman Ashley P. , Richards Brodie J. , McCourt Emma R. , King Kelli E. , McCormick James J. , Boulay Pierre , Sigal Ronald J. , Kenny Glen P.
Published: December 2023

Despite experiencing greater cumulative thermal strain during 9 h of passive heat exposure, older adults reported similar heat-related symptoms and lower mood disturbance than young adults. Furthermore, self-reported symptoms and mood disturbance were lower in older adults with common age-associated health conditions than young adults and healthy age-matched counterparts. Perceptual responses to heat in older adults can underestimate their level of thermal strain compared with young adults, which may contribute to their increased heat vulnerability.
Study on the Upper Limit of Roof Failure in Soft Rock Roadway
Authors: Zhang Jie , Gao Shoushi , He Yifeng , Yang Tao , Li Tong , Yan Yihui , Sun Jianping
Published: December 2023

This study addresses the issue of large deformation in soft rock roadways, using the 50213 tailgate of Guantun Coal Mine as a case study. Field investigations were conducted to assess the condition of roadway bolts, anchor cables, and the internal damage characteristics of the surrounding rock. The upper bound method of limit analysis in plastic mechanics was utilized to construct a failure model for the surrounding rock and derive the upper limit solution of roof failure by integrating the principle of virtual work and variational extremum theorem. Physical similarity simulations were employed to investigate the fracture distribution and evolution law of the surrounding rock. Based on the deformation and instability mechanism of the roadway, optimized support parameters for soft rock roadways were proposed and verified through numerical simulation. The results indicate that the surrounding rock of the sharp corner of the roadway is initially destroyed and develops upward with increasing stress. The interconnected horizontal separation cracks at the anchorage end of the anchor cable and shear fracture zones at the two corners ultimately lead to the overall instability of the anchorage arch. Furthermore, the theoretical calculation boundary exhibited significant similarity with the failure evolution law and distribution pattern. Following the adoption of the optimized support scheme, roof subsidence decreased by 46.7% compared to the original scheme, and the amount of movement on both sides decreased by 36.2%. The control effect of the surrounding rock was favorable, and its internal stability was significantly improved, thereby effectively resolving the issue of large deformation in soft rock roadways.
The Polysaccharide from Dendrobium officinale Can Improve Mice with Sjögren’s Syndrome by Regulating BAFF and Fas Expressions
Authors: Zhu Pengpeng , Ou Guoteng , Zhou Ting , Zhu Wenwen , Sun Wei , Wei Xueping , Huang Rongrong , Jing Junsong , Zhang Sheng , Hu Jingjin , Li Yuanyuan , Liu Hua , Shen Tangbiao , Zhao Zhengrong , Wu Yueguo
Published: December 2023

Exploring herbs and their compounds for potential drugs is a significant research focus due to the incurable nature of Sjögren’s syndrome (SS), a prevalent chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease. Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide (DOP) has demonstrated diverse biological effects, particularly in immunomodulation. Nonetheless, limited research has been conducted on DOP concerning the treatment of SS. This research aims to examine the impacts of DOP on experimental SS (ESS) mice and its possible mechanisms. An ESS animal model was established using the immune induction method. Besides the control group, ESS mice were randomly assigned to the model (distilled water), the HCQ (60 mg/kg), the DOP (43 mg/kg), the DOP (130 mg/kg), and the DOP (390 mg/kg) groups. Drugs were treated for three weeks. The findings indicated that DOP enhanced saliva production of ESS mice and diminished lymphocyte infiltration and foci in the submandibular gland (SMG). DOP also significantly downregulated the mRNA content of proinflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-17) and the expression of genes and proteins of apoptotic factors (Bax and Caspase-3). Furthermore, DOP downregulated the BAFF and BAFF receptor (BAFFR) as well as Fas and Fas ligand (Fas-L) expressions in the SMG. Our study demonstrates that DOP may reduce inflammation and apoptosis by inhibiting BAFF/BAFFR and Fas/Fas-L signaling, thus producing therapeutic effects in ESS mice.
Fig S4 from Pharmacodynamic Analysis of BTK Inhibition in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treated with Acalabrutinib
Authors: Alsadhan Anfal , Cheung Jean , Gulrajani Michael , Gaglione Erika M. , Nierman Pia , Hamdy Ahmed , Izumi Raquel , Bibikova Elena , Patel Priti , Sun Clare , Covey Todd , Herman Sarah E.M. , Wiestner Adrian
Published: December 2023

Flow cytometry gating strategy for CD69 after in vitro stimulation.
Supplemental Figure 3 from Absence of Cytomegalovirus in Glioblastoma and Other High-grade Gliomas by Real-time PCR, Immunohistochemistry, and In Situ Hybridization
Authors: Holdhoff Matthias , Guner Gunes , Rodriguez Fausto J. , Hicks Jessica L. , Zheng Qizhi , Forman Michael S. , Ye Xiaobu , Grossman Stuart A. , Meeker Alan K. , Heaphy Christopher M. , Eberhart Charles G. , De Marzo Angelo M. , Arav-Boger Ravit
Published: December 2023

IHC controls for tissue immunogenicity. IHC for vimentin (A) shows diffuse positivity and Ki-67 (B) shows widespread nuclear staining in a representative tumor sample. Original magnifications x 200.
Data from Absence of Cytomegalovirus in Glioblastoma and Other High-grade Gliomas by Real-time PCR, Immunohistochemistry, and In Situ Hybridization
Authors: Holdhoff Matthias , Guner Gunes , Rodriguez Fausto J. , Hicks Jessica L. , Zheng Qizhi , Forman Michael S. , Ye Xiaobu , Grossman Stuart A. , Meeker Alan K. , Heaphy Christopher M. , Eberhart Charles G. , De Marzo Angelo M. , Arav-Boger Ravit
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Purpose: Reports of cytomegalovirus (CMV) detection in high-grade gliomas (HGG)/glioblastoma have been conflicting. We undertook a comprehensive approach to determine the presence or absence of CMV in tissue, plasma, and serum of HGG patients.

Experimental Design: In a retrospective arm, 25 fresh frozen tissues from glioblastoma patients were tested for CMV by real-time PCR. Tissue microarrays from 70 HGG patients were tested by IHC and 20 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) glioblastoma tissues by IHC and chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH), targeting CMV-encoded IE1/2 and pp65. In a prospective arm, 18 patients with newly diagnosed HGG provided tissue and blood samples.

Results: All retrospectively collected tissues were negative for CMV by all methods. In the prospective cohort, 18 patients with newly diagnosed HGG provided blood samples at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up. Of 38 plasma specimens, CMV DNA was detected in 3 of 18 samples at baseline and 1 of 20 follow-up samples. Serum CMV IgG was positive in 8 of 15 (53%) of patients. Among the FFPE samples tested in the prospective arm, all were negative for CMV by IHC, CISH, and PCR.

Conclusions: Utilizing 6 highly sensitive assays with three orthogonal technologies on multiple specimens and specimen types, no evidence for CMV in glioblastoma tissues was found. Our findings call for multicenter blinded analyses of samples collected from different geographical areas with agreed upon study designs and determination of causality or lack thereof of CMV in HGG/glioblastoma for future guidance on the necessary antiviral and/or CMV-based therapies. Clin Cancer Res; 23(12); 3150–7. ©2016 AACR.
PI3KCIIα-Dependent Autophagy Program Protects From Endothelial Dysfunction and Atherosclerosis in Response to Low Shear Stress in Mice
Authors: Nasr Mouin , Fay Alexis , Lupieri Adrien , Malet Nicole , Darmon Anne , Zahreddine Rana , Swiader Audrey , Wahart Amandine , Viaud Julien , Nègre-Salvayre Anne , Hirsch Emilio , Monteyne Daniel , Perez-Morgà David , Dupont Nicolas , Codogno Patrice , Ramel Damien , Morel Etienne , Laffargue Muriel , Gayral Stephanie
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND:

The ability to respond to mechanical forces is a basic requirement for maintaining endothelial cell (ECs) homeostasis, which is continuously subjected to low shear stress (LSS) and high shear stress (HSS). In arteries, LSS and HSS have a differential impact on EC autophagy processes. However, it is still unclear whether LSS and HSS differently tune unique autophagic machinery or trigger specific autophagic responses in ECs.

METHODS:

Using fluid flow system to generate forces on EC and multiscale imaging analyses on ApoE
−/−
mice whole arteries, we studied the cellular and molecular mechanism involved in autophagic response to LSS or HSS on the endothelium.

RESULTS:

We found that LSS and HSS trigger autophagy activation by mobilizing specific autophagic signaling modules. Indeed, LSS-induced autophagy in endothelium was independent of the class III PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) VPS34 (vacuolar sorting protein 34) but controlled by the α isoform of class II PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase class II α [PI3KCIIα]). Accordingly, reduced PI3KCIIα expression in ApoE
−/−
mice (ApoE
−/−
PI3KCIIα
+/−
) led to EC dysfunctions associated with increased plaque deposition in the LSS regions. Mechanistically, we revealed that PI3KCIIα inhibits mTORC1 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1) activation and that rapamycin treatment in ApoE
−/−
PI3KCIIα
+/−
mice specifically rescue autophagy in arterial LSS regions. Finally, we demonstrated that absence of PI3KCIIα led to decreased endothelial primary cilium biogenesis in response to LSS and that ablation of primary cilium mimics PI3KCIIα-decreased expression in EC dysfunction, suggesting that this organelle could be the mechanosensor linking PI3KCIIα and EC homeostasis.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our data reveal that mechanical forces variability within the arterial system determines EC autophagic response and supports a central role of PI3KCIIα/mTORC1 axis to prevent EC dysfunction in LSS regions.
Comprehensive Integration of Multiple Single-Cell Transcriptomic Data Sets Defines Distinct Cell Populations and Their Phenotypic Changes in Murine Atherosclerosis
Authors: Sharma Disha , Worssam Matthew D. , Pedroza Albert J. , Dalal Alex R. , Alemany Haizea , Kim Hyun-Jung , Kundu Ramendra , Fischbein Michael P. , Cheng Paul , Wirka Robert , Quertermous Thomas
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND:

The application of single-cell transcriptomic (single-cell RNA sequencing) analysis to the study of atherosclerosis has provided unique insights into the molecular and genetic mechanisms that mediate disease risk and pathophysiology. However, nonstandardized methodologies and relatively high costs associated with the technique have limited the size and replication of existing data sets and created disparate or contradictory findings that have fostered misunderstanding and controversy.

METHODS:

To address these uncertainties, we have performed a conservative integration of multiple published single-cell RNA sequencing data sets into a single meta-analysis, performed extended analysis of native resident vascular cells, and used in situ hybridization to map the disease anatomic location of the identified cluster cells. To investigate the transdifferentiation of smooth muscle cells to macrophage phenotype, we have developed a classifying algorithm based on the quantification of reporter transgene expression.

RESULTS:

The reporter gene expression tool indicates that within the experimental limits of the examined studies, transdifferentiation of smooth muscle cell to the macrophage lineage is extremely rare. Validated transition smooth muscle cell phenotypes were defined by clustering, and the location of these cells was mapped to lesion anatomy with in situ hybridization. We have also characterized 5 endothelial cell phenotypes and linked these cellular species to different vascular structures and functions. Finally, we have identified a transcriptomically unique cellular phenotype that constitutes the aortic valve.

CONCLUSIONS:

Taken together, these analyses resolve a number of outstanding issues related to differing results reported with vascular disease single-cell RNA sequencing studies, and significantly extend our understanding of the role of resident vascular cells in anatomy and disease.
Imaging the Retinal Vascular Mural Cells In Vivo: Elucidating the Timeline of Their Loss in Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Huang Bonnie B. , Fukuyama Hisashi , Burns Stephen A. , Fawzi Amani A.
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND:

Vascular mural cells (VMCs) are integral components of the retinal vasculature with critical homeostatic functions such as maintaining the inner blood-retinal barrier and vascular tone, as well as supporting the endothelial cells. Histopathologic donor eye studies have shown widespread loss of pericytes and smooth muscle cells, the 2 main VMC types, suggesting these cells are critical to the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR). There remain, however, critical gaps in our knowledge regarding the timeline of VMC demise in human DR.

METHODS:

In this study, we address this gap using adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy to quantify retinal VMC density in eyes with no retinal disease (healthy), subjects with diabetes without diabetic retinopathy, and those with clinical DR and diabetic macular edema. We also used optical coherence tomography angiography to quantify capillary density of the superficial and deep capillary plexuses in these eyes.

RESULTS:

Our results indicate significant VMC loss in retinal arterioles before the appearance of classic clinical signs of DR (diabetes without diabetic retinopathy versus healthy, 5.0±2.0 versus 6.5±2.0 smooth muscle cells per 100 µm;
P
<0.05), while a significant reduction in capillary VMC density (5.1±2.3 in diabetic macular edema versus 14.9±6.0 pericytes per 100 µm in diabetes without diabetic retinopathy;
P
=0.01) and capillary density (superficial capillary plexus vessel density, 37.6±3.8 in diabetic macular edema versus 45.5±2.4 in diabetes without diabetic retinopathy;
P
<0.0001) is associated with more advanced stages of clinical DR, particularly diabetic macular edema.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results offer a new framework for understanding the pathophysiologic course of VMC compromise in DR, which may facilitate the development and monitoring of therapeutic strategies aimed at VMC preservation and potentially the prevention of clinical DR and its associated morbidity. Imaging retinal VMCs provides an unparalleled opportunity to visualize these cells in vivo and may have wider implications in a range of diseases where these cells are disrupted.
Effects of Contact Force on Lesion Size During Pulsed Field Catheter Ablation: Histochemical Characterization of Ventricular Lesion Boundaries
Authors: Nakagawa Hiroshi , Castellvi Quim , Neal Robert , Girouard Steven , Laughner Jacob , Ikeda Atsushi , Sugawara Masafumi , An Yoshimori , Hussein Ayman A. , Nakhla Shady , Taigen Tyler , Srounbek Jakub , Kanj Mohamed , Santangeli Pasquale , Saliba Walid I. , Ivorra Antoni , Wazni Oussama M.
Published: December 2023

Background:

Effects of contact force (CF) on lesion formation during pulsed field ablation (PFA) have not been well validated. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between average CF and lesion size during PFA using a swine-beating heart model.

Methods:

A 7F catheter with a 3.5-mm ablation electrode and CF sensor (TactiCath SE, Abbott) was connected to a PFA system (CENTAURI, Galvanize Therapeutics). In 5 closed-chest swine, biphasic PFA current was delivered between the ablation electrode and a skin patch at 40 separate sites in right ventricle (28 Amp) and 55 separate sites in left ventricle (35 Amp) with 4 different levels of CF: (1) low (CF range of 4–13 g; median, 9.5 g); (2) moderate (15–30 g; median, 21.5 g); (3) high (34–55 g; median, 40 g); and (4) no electrode contact, 2 mm away from the endocardium. Swine were sacrificed at 2 hours after ablation, and lesion size was measured using triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining. In 1 additional swine, COX (cytochrome c oxidase) staining was performed to examine mitochondrial activity to delineate reversible and irreversible lesion boundaries. Histological examination was performed with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson trichrome staining.

Results:

Ablation lesions were well demarcated with triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining, showing (1) a dark central zone (contraction band necrosis and hemorrhage); (2) a pale zone (no mitochondrial activity and nuclear pyknosis, indicating apoptosis zone); and a hyperstained zone by triphenyl tetrazolium chloride and COX staining (unaffected normal myocardium with preserved mitochondrial activity, consistent with reversible zone). At constant PFA current intensity, lesion depth increased significantly with increasing CF. There were no detectable lesions resulting from ablation without electrode contact.

Conclusions:

Acute PFA ventricular lesions show irreversible and reversible lesion boundaries by triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining. Electrode-tissue contact is required for effective lesion formation during PFA. At the same PFA dose, lesion depth increases significantly with increasing CF.
Calculating Relative Lung Perfusion Using Fluoroscopic Sequences and Image Analysis: The Fluoroscopic Flow Calculator
Authors: Barak-Corren Yuval , Herz Christian , Lasso Andras , Dori Yoav , Tang Jessica , Smith Christopher L. , Callahan Ryan , Rome Jonathan J. , Gillespie Matthew J. , Jolley Matthew A. , O’Byrne Michael L.
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND:

Maldistribution of pulmonary blood flow in patients with congenital heart disease impacts exertional performance and pulmonary artery growth. Currently, measurement of relative pulmonary perfusion can only be performed outside the catheterization laboratory. We sought to develop a tool for measuring relative lung perfusion using readily available fluoroscopy sequences.

METHODS:

A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients with conotruncal anomalies who underwent lung perfusion scans and subsequent cardiac catheterizations between 2011 and 2022. Inclusion criteria were nonselective angiogram of pulmonary vasculature, oblique angulation ≤20°, and an adequate view of both lung fields. A method was developed and implemented in 3D Slicer’s SlicerHeart extension to calculate the amount of contrast that entered each lung field from the start of contrast injection and until the onset of levophase. The predicted perfusion distribution was compared with the measured distribution of pulmonary blood flow and evaluated for correlation, accuracy, and bias.

RESULTS:

In total, 32% (79/249) of screened studies met the inclusion criteria. A strong correlation between the predicted flow split and the measured flow split was found (
R
2
=0.83;
P
<0.001). The median absolute error was 6%, and 72% of predictions were within 10% of the true value. Bias was not systematically worse at either extreme of the flow distribution. The prediction was found to be more accurate for either smaller and younger patients (age 0–2 years), for right ventricle injections, or when less cranial angulations were used (≤20°). In these cases (n=40), the prediction achieved
R
2
=0.87, median absolute error of 5.5%, and 78% of predictions were within 10% of the true flow.

CONCLUSIONS:

The current study demonstrates the feasibility of a novel method for measuring relative lung perfusion using conventional angiograms. Real-time measurement of lung perfusion at the catheterization laboratory has the potential to reduce unnecessary testing, associated costs, and radiation exposure. Further optimization and validation is warranted.
Arterial Thromboembolism in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc Score 1: A Nationwide Study
Authors: Østergaard Lauge , Olesen Jonas Bjerring , Petersen Jeppe Kofoed , Nielsen Lukas Schak , Kristensen Søren Lund , Schou Morten , Køber Lars , Fosbøl Emil
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND:

Oral anticoagulation is suggested in patients with atrial fibrillation and a CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc score ≥1 (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years, diabetes, stroke, vascular disease, age 65–74 years, and sex score). To assess granular differences within CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc 1, the incidence of arterial thromboembolism according to CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc 1 subgroups was examined.

METHODS:

The Danish National Patient Registry and the Danish Prescription Registry were linked on a nationwide level to identify patients with atrial fibrillation from 2000 to 2021 without oral anticoagulation and categorized according to CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc score: CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc 0 (male and female subjects); CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc 1 (hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, vascular disease, and age 65–74 years); or CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc 2 (age ≥75 years without other risk factors). Female sex was not considered a risk factor in any risk group. The outcome was arterial thromboembolism (ischemic stroke, embolism of extremity, or transient cerebral ischemia). Study groups were compared using Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS:

We included 26 701 patients with a CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc 0 score; 22 915 with CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc 1 (1483 patients with heart failure, 9066 with hypertension, 843 with diabetes, 770 with vascular disease, and 10 753 who were 65 to 74 years of age); and 14 525 patients with CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc 2 (≥75 years of age without other risk factors). With a median of 1 year of observation time, the cumulative incidence of arterial thromboembolism was 0.6% (n=154 [95% CI, 0.6%–0.8%]), 1.4% (n=16 [95% CI, 0.8%–2.2%]), 1.9% (n=141 [95% CI, 1.6%–2.2%]), 1.7% (n=12 [95% CI, 0.9%–2.9%]), 2.0% (n=13 [95% CI, 1.1%–3.4%]), 2.3% (n=187 [95% CI, 2.0%–2.7%]), and 4.4% (n=533 [95% CI, 4.1%–4.8%]) for CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc 0, heart failure, hypertension, diabetes, vascular disease, age 65 to 74 years (CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc 1), and age ≥75 years (CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc 2), respectively. No statistically significant difference was identified among subgroups of CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc 1 (
P
=0.15 for difference).

CONCLUSIONS:

For patients with atrial fibrillation, all subgroups of CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc 1 were associated with lower incidence of arterial thromboembolism compared with age ≥75 years without other risk factors (ie, CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc 2) and a higher incidence compared with CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc 0. No statistically significant difference was identified between the subgroups of CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc 1. These findings support current recommendations that patients within this intermediate risk group could be identified with a similar risk of arterial thromboembolism.
Saudi Foreign Policy Over Three Centuries: A Study of Constants
Authors: al-Khathlan Saleh M.
Published: December 2023

This paper aims to study Saudi foreign policy since the beginning of Saudi contact with the outside world during the 18th century, to determine the degree of continuity and change therein and to see if there was a pattern or patterns that distinguished it, despite the changes in the internal and external contexts, the different personalities involved, the growth of capabilities, as well as the difference in challenges. To accomplish this, the goals and determinants of Saudi foreign policy are presented as well as the most significant writings on the subject in order to assess the conclusions reached. Emphasis is placed on reading the features of Saudi foreign policy during the period following the unification of the Kingdom, since it is the longest time span and the most diverse and mature period.
New occurrences of the liverwort Treubia insignis (Treubiaceae, Marchantiophyta) from the southern Philippines and insights into its distribution and habitat preferences
Authors: BRINDA JOHN C. , SALAS DARYL S. , YORONG AIMANUELZON P. , LUBOS LESLEY C. , BALANSAG GIO V. , SHEVOCK JAMES R.
Published: December 2023

Treubia insignis, previously known for the Philippines from a single collection obtained in 1913, is rediscovered just over a century later, this time from the southern Philippines. Habitat preference, at least in the southern Philippines, is along riparian corridors of small streams in high-quality montane hardwood tropical rainforests.
New insights into the genus Stoneobryum (Bryophyta: Orthotrichaceae) based on recent collections of the two known species
Authors: LARA FRANCISCO , DRAPER ISABEL , GARILLETI RICARDO
Published: December 2023

The morphological traits of the two known species of the genus Stoneobryum are reexamined based on newly collected materials. Observations on the Australian species, S. bunyaense, are derived from a recent collection made at the type locality, where it has been rediscovered. Those of S. mirum are based on recent field collections from numerous locations in eastern South Africa. Comprehensive descriptions of both species and illustrations of their key morphological characters are provided. The new data complement and correct previously available descriptions, especially the original one for the type species of the genus, S. bunyaense. Stoneobryum arises as a highly differentiated genus, well characterized by sporophytic and gametophytic characters. Its two species are very similar, but nevertheless certainly distinct; an identification key is provided.
Warburgiella spinososeta (Bryophyta: Sematophyllaceae): a new moss species from Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi
Authors: HE SI , FLYNN TIM
Published: December 2023

Warburgiella spinososeta is described and illustrated as a new moss species and a new genus record from Hawaiʻi. The new species is morphologically similar to W. cupressinoides and W. leptorhynchoides to some extent, but it differs in having entirely smooth, strongly thick-walled, porose laminal cells, a strikingly spinose upper seta, and a campanulate-cucullate calyptra with a papillose apex and an entire base.
LTH 4. Literatura Taxonomica Herpetologica. 4. Year 1759
Authors: DUBOIS ALAIN , FRÉTEY THIERRY
Published: December 2023

This paper presents the analysis of the single work published in 1759 that contains classifications of amphibians and reptiles, by Linnaeus. The nomenclatural status of the herpetological nomina in this work, particularly regarding their availability and taxonomic allocation, is clarified.
Successful Treatment With the Oral Factor Xa Inhibitor Edoxaban in Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia With Thrombosis
Authors: Porres-Aguilar Mateo , Najera Carolina , Mares Adriana C. , Benzidia Ilham , Prakash Swathi , Crichi Benjamin
Published: December 2023

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia with thrombosis (HITT) is a rare immune reaction to the drug heparin that causes increased blood clotting, putting patients at risk for arterial and venous thromboembolism which can have severe consequences. We present a case of HITT successfully treated with the direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC), edoxaban. A 56-year-old man had surgery to remove a colorectal mass. After discharge, he developed chest discomfort, shortness of breath, and low oxygen levels and was diagnosed with a right-sided lobar pulmonary embolism. His platelet count dropped, his tests confirmed a diagnosis of HITT, and he was initially treated with fondaparinux. After showing clinical and laboratory improvement, he was switched to edoxaban. Despite being diagnosed with colonic adenocarcinoma during follow-up, the patient's platelet count returned to normal, and he did not experience any more blood clots or serious bleeding events. The use of DOACs like edoxaban as potential therapies for HITT is promising; further research is being conducted to evaluate their effectiveness, safety, and potential benefits for treating this acquired high-risk thrombophilia.
“It’s Not a System of Care”: Black Youth’s Stories of Family Separation and Anti-Black Racism in Ontario’s Child Welfare System
Authors: Edwards Travonne , Kiara Clarke Monique , Laylor Andre
Published: December 2023

The Black family unit and community plays a critical role in Black youths’ self-development, cultural socialization, and ability to navigate the impacts of structural anti-Black racism embedded in Canadian society. However, Black families are at an increased risk of separation from their children in Ontario’s child welfare system. Utilizing anti-Black racism theory, this study investigates the narratives of 27 Black Caribbean youth in the Greater Toronto Area with lived experience in out-of-home care. Using a narrative inquiry as a methodological approach, the findings reveal that Black youth in out-of-home care experienced: (1) social, psychological, and cultural isolation; (2) the disregard of their hygiene and unique hair needs and; (3) a critical conscious awareness of anti-Black racism. Recommendations for practice, research, and policy are discussed to adequately respond to the needs of Black children and their families.
Ultimate bearing capacity analysis and bio-inspired optimization design of marine composite T-joint
Authors: Shen Wei , Wang Yuqiang , Yang Junliu , Xu Shuangxi , Dong Qin
Published: December 2023

Sandwich composites are widely used in aviation, aerospace and marine engineering fields because of their excellent comprehensive properties. However, it is difficult to accurately predict the ultimate performance of sandwich composite structures because of their complex failure modes and uncoordinated damage processes. In this paper, the ultimate load, progressive failure process and failure mode of sandwich composite T-joints under three-point bending and lateral bending loads are predicted and verified by using an improved progressive damage analysis program. Moreover, the bio-inspired optimization of the composite T-joint is carried out, and the corner shape and material combination of the T-joint are designed and optimized based on the contour of the flange bone of the bird. The main factors affecting the bearing capacity of T-joint are further discussed, and a reasonable and feasible bio-inspired optimization scheme is obtained, which provides some reference for the design of marine composite T-joint.
The Current Status of Bereavement Care in Chinese Emergency Departments: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Peng Yingxin , Wu Haoming , Tao Junjie , Wang Yuchuan , Zhang Min , Huang Ping
Published: December 2023

Understanding the current status and challenges of bereavement care will help facilitate the development of bereavement care in the emergency department. However, little is known about the status of bereavement care in Chinese emergency departments and nurses' perceptions of bereavement care. We used a self-made questionnaire to survey 124 head nurses and 870 emergency nurses in 21 hospitals in Jiangsu Province in September 2023. Among 124 emergency departments, 78 (62.90%) emergency departments provided bereavement care strategies, and the most frequent strategy was a waiting room, relevant information on funeral arrangements and the establishment of a relatively secluded environment conducive to the solace of the patient’s family, or the provision of a dedicated farewell chamber. Emergency nurses believed that bereavement care is important but difficult to implement, with support resources, environment and human resources being the main challenges. In the future, further attention should be paid to the development of bereavement care in the emergency department, and the implementation of bereavement care should be supported in terms of policies, funds, resources and personnel.
Projected Destination Image of Beijing on Instagram: A Sequential Research Design
Authors: Zhan Lingxue , Cheng Mingming , Zhu Jingjie , Wang Xiaowei
Published: December 2023

Using a sequential research design combining image analytics and Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), this research examines Beijing’s projected destination image and its impacts on social media engagement on Instagram. Deep learning algorithms and convolutional neural networks were used to analyze the images. The image analytic findings show that Beijing’s projected destination image includes: (1) multiple urban and country landscapes; (2) a mixture of modernity and tradition; (3) a range of activities in a dynamic city and (4) cuisine—a variety of traditional Chinese food. QCA identified three paths that lead to high engagement, including “building” and “sky,” “building” and “event,” “sky,” and “event.” This research advances the destination image literature by empirically establishing the relationship between destination image labels and social media engagement. Further, it offers a new configurational perspective for constructing projected destination image by delineating how DMOs effectively increase social media engagement through image semantic content configurations.
Reported speech uses in children with and without developmental language disorder
Authors: Crespo Allende Nina , Silva Maria Luisa , Sepúlveda Toro Jeannette , Alvarado Barra Carola
Published: December 2023

This study compares the use of reporting speech devices (RS) in narrative retells by Spanish-speaking children with (and without) Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). We assessed 50 7-year-old children (25 with DLD and 25 with TD) and analyzed the narrative retells’ length and the RS forms introduced by children. In addition, we considered the Type of Reported Speech linguistic mechanism (TRSm) and the Type of Voice Assignment (TVA). Neither the number of RS sequences introduced, narrative retells’ length, nor the number of original sequences exhibit significant differences between both groups. We found a mean correlation among groups’ differences and TRSm (Spearman: 0356 rho>: 0011). Although both groups behave in a very similar way in some indicators, we found slight differences that characterize different communicative profiles for DLD and TD. The results have implications for planning DLD language interventions, mainly in those designed to improve DLD grammar and narrative usages.
Staying in Control? Youth Reformatories, Social Fears and Social Change Under Francoism
Authors: Nuq Amélie
Published: December 2023

This article explores continuity and change in Spain's reformatories. Looking at legal and normative documentation, we could argue, on the one hand, that the Franco dictatorship (1939–1975) found little need to change how the reformatories worked. The juvenile court system, on which they depended, displayed strong similarities to those operating elsewhere in the West, and my empirical study of 2,300 personal and administrative records indicates that the reformatories were always characterized by archaic practices and were chronically underfunded throughout Francoism. On the other hand, after analysing the evolving profiles of adolescents confined under Francoism, we can see the connections with both specific processes of regime-sanctioned change from the end of the 1950s – in particular massive, accelerated, internal rural-to-urban migration – and the goal of the dictatorship of preserving a particular form of social order by maintaining tight control of those sectors of the population it considered a danger (i.e., predominantly marginalized, male adolescents living on the edges of Spain's cities – in the shanty towns ( chabolas) or poor suburbs ( banlieues)). The article also looks at how families from different social classes interacted with the reformatories to achieve their own goals, which overlapped with the dictatorship's while remaining partly distinct.
Prisons in Transition? The Prison System During and After the Political Transition from the Francoist Dictatorship
Authors: Lorenzo Rubio César
Published: December 2023

This article explores the chronology of change in the Spanish prison system, especially during the transition from the Francoist dictatorship (1975–1982). It indicates how the incarcerated population had come to reflect Francoism's management of social change (including via an increasing use of preventive detention). By the early 1970s, political activists represented a minority of those incarcerated, although a minority that had grown steadily again from the late 1960s. The article discusses relations between the different groups of inmate, the rapidly-deteriorating conditions inside the gaols, and the emergence in the early transition period (1976) of prison protests (COPEL) led by common prisoners whose main objective was inclusion in the gaol amnesty then being proposed as part of the exit strategy from dictatorship. The article analyzes the reactive rather than proactive response to COPEL of Spain's transitional governments, composed of reformist Francoists, and the eventual outcome in a prison reform law in 1979. The article assesses the law's limited practical effect inside the gaols, because of severe budgetary restrictions combined with Spain's rising prison population – the latter mirroring developments across Western democracies generally.
Lateral compression behavior of expanded polypropylene foam-filled carbon fiber reinforced polymer and aluminum/carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite tubes: An experimental study
Authors: Yalçın Muhammet Muaz , İskender Özsoy Mehmet
Published: December 2023

This study investigates the energy-absorbing capability of the circular cross-section carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and Aluminum/CFRP (Al/CFRP) composite tubular structures under quasi-static lateral compression. The CFRP composite tubes were manufactured with the 6, 8, and 10 layers to observe the thickness effect. A specially designed and manufactured polymer mold was used to manufacture identical CFRP composite tubes. Expanded polypropylene (EPP) foam with densities of 30 kg/m3, 60 kg/m3, and 75 kg/m3 was chosen as a filler material to enhance the energy absorption and efficiency because of its superior properties of high strength-to-weight ratio. The experiments revealed that the carbon fiber layer number directly affected CFRP and Al/CFRP composite tubes' force and the absorbed energy values. The increase in the maximum and average force values is more evident than in the Al/CFRP tubes due to using aluminum tubes constraining the effect of the carbon woven part. Additionally, EPP foam filling significantly contributes to the tubes' absorbed energy. The absorbed energy increased proportional to the foam density, and the 10-layer Al/CFRP tube filled with 75 kg/m3 sample absorbed the highest energy value as 257 J. However, considering the crashworthiness parameters (i.e., specific energy absorption, crush force efficiency, and work effectiveness), the best sample combination did not absorb the highest energy. Although the 6-layer CFRP composite tube absorbed the lowest energy, it has higher specific energy absorption and work effectiveness. According to the crashworthiness parameters, the best efficiency was obtained in the 10-layer composite tubes filled with 75 kg/m3.
An Extensive Reading Intervention for Emergent Bilingual Students With Significant Reading Difficulties in Middle School
Authors: Capin Philip , Miciak Jeremy , H. Bhat Bethany , Roberts Greg , Steinle Paul K. , Fletcher Jack , Vaughn Sharon
Published: December 2023

This U.S. study evaluated the effects of a reading intervention for emergent bilingual students with significant reading difficulties in Grades 6 and 7 within a multisite randomized controlled trial. Emergent bilinguals were randomized to a researcher-provided intervention ( n = 171) or business-as-usual comparison condition ( n = 169). Results on a measure of word reading indicated significant differences favoring treatment after Year 1; however, there were no significant differences between groups on standardized measures of reading comprehension. Initial English vocabulary knowledge moderated reading comprehension scores at the beginning of the second year of intervention, indicating that students’ response to instruction varied as a function of their initial English language proficiency. The discussion focuses on interpreting these findings with an emphasis on improving the effectiveness of interventions for secondary grade emergent bilinguals with significant reading difficulties.