bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A simple technique to repair distal and mid-shaft hypospadias using a de-epithelialized Byars’ flap
Authors: Li Jiaqiang , Li Shoulin , Yang Zhilin , Ke Zhicong , Zhang Tiejun , Yin Jianchun
Published: August 2022

Objective

To describe standard and modified de-epithelialized Byars’ flap techniques in tubularized incised plate urethroplasty and evaluate postoperative outcomes.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated data for 404 primary hypospadias repair patients who underwent standard (Group A) or modified (Group B) urethroplasty between January 2016 and 2021. Group B’s data were analyzed to evaluate whether our modified technique was effective for all hypospadias types.

Results

There was no difference in the ratio of different hypospadias types between Groups A (n = 145) and B (n = 259). Median follow-up duration was 35 months. Fistula occurred in 19 patients in Group A and 12 in Group B (statistically significant difference). The total complication rate was statistically significantly different between the groups. In Group B, 3/142 patients with distal hypospadias developed urethrocutaneous fistula vs 4/95 with mid-shaft hypospadias and 5/22 with proximal hypospadias. No difference was noted between the distal and mid-shaft groups. Significant differences were observed when comparing distal and mid-shaft groups with the proximal group; total complication rates were similar. Glans dehiscence and meatal stenosis rates were similar between Groups A and B, and among the hypospadias phenotypes.

Conclusion

Our modified procedure is simple to perform and yields excellent results in distal and mid-shaft hypospadias repair.
Privacy engineering and the techno-regulatory imaginary
Authors: Rommetveit Kjetil , van Dijk Niels
Published: August 2022

The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), in force since 2018, has introduced design-based approaches to data protection and the governance of privacy. In this article we describe the emergence of the professional field of privacy engineering to enact this shift in digital governance. We argue that privacy engineering forms part of a broader techno-regulatory imaginary through which (fundamental) rights protections become increasingly future-oriented and anticipatory. The techno-regulatory imaginary is described in terms of three distinct privacy articulations, implemented in technologies, organizations, and standardizations. We pose two interrelated questions: What happens to rights as they become implemented and enacted in new sites, through new instruments and professional practices? And, focusing on shifts to the nature of boundary work, we ask: What forms of legitimation can be discerned as privacy engineering is mobilized for the making of future digital markets and infrastructures?
Expression of HER2/NEU in newly diagnosed metastatic carcinoma prostate on TRUS biopsy specimen and its clinical correlation and progression
Authors: Abhishek Anand , Sarkar Debansu , Kumar Pal Dilip
Published: August 2022

Background:

Prostate cancer development and progression to androgen-independent disease is correlated with increased expression of growth factors and receptors capable of establishing autocrine and/or paracrine growth-stimulatory loops. Overexpression of the Her2/neu receptor tyrosine kinase has been associated with the progression to androgen independence in prostate cancer cells.

Objective:

Our primary aim was to investigate the frequency of HER2/neu amplification in prostate biopsy specimens in newly diagnosed metastatic carcinoma prostate and its correlation to progression of androgen independent carcinoma.

Materials and Methods:

In our study, expression of HER2/neu was carried out by immunohistochemical analysis in TRUS biopsy specimen of newly diagnosed metastatic carcinoma prostate.

Results:

Out of 36 patients, seven (19.4%) showed her2neu overexpression on immunohistochemical staining. Five out of seven (71%) were associated with higher histological grade >7 at diagnosis ( p < 0.05). Her2neu overexpression was not significantly associated with age and serum PSA at diagnosis. However progression to castration resistant stage was not dependant on Her2/neu status ( p > 0.05).

Conclusion:

Overexpression of her2/neu was associated with high grade carcinoma prostate at diagnosis, however progression to castration resistant stage was not related with her2neu expression.
Pediatric Headache Experience During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: DiSabella Marc , Pierce Emily , McCracken Emily , Ratnaseelan Aarane , Vilardo Lauren , Borner Kelsey , Langdon Raquel , Fletcher Angela A.
Published: August 2022

Objective

Headache disorders are exceedingly common in children and adolescents. The association between headaches, emotional stress, and disruptions in daily routines are well established. The goal of this study is to compare the experiences of patients with a preexisting diagnosis of a primary headache disorder in terms of headache frequency and severity, lifestyle techniques for headache prevention, screen use, and mood from before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Patients evaluated by the Headache Clinic at Children’s National Hospital between Summer 2020 and Winter 2021 were enrolled in a patient registry. Patients completed a questionnaire examining changes in headache characteristics and lifestyle factors since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results

A total of 107 patients completed the survey. Since the pandemic’s onset, patients reported decreased physical activity (n = 59, 55%), increased frequency of chronic headaches from 40% (N = 42) to 50% (N = 54), and increased constant daily headaches from 22% (n = 24) to 36% (n = 38). Patients reported worsened anxiety (n = 58, 54%), mood (n = 50, 47%), and workload (n = 49, 46%). Sixty-one percent (n = 65) of patients reported using screens for school for more than 6 hours per day. The majority (n = 67, 63%) of patients indicated that they would prefer attending in-person school, with 14% (n = 15) responding that they preferred online school.

Conclusion

Since the COVID-19 pandemic’s onset, pediatric headache patients have experienced increasing headache frequency, worsening anxiety and mood, decreased physical activity, and increased screen usage. Although this study is limited by sample size and observational design, future population-based studies will further elucidate the impact of this pandemic on pediatric headache.
Numerical and experimental analysis of ball screw accuracy reliability with time delay expansion under non-constant operating conditions
Authors: Liu Zhifeng , Yang Hang , Hun Lianming , Qi Baobao , Lin Zhiwen , Chen Chuanhai
Published: August 2022

A ball screw (BS) is a key functional component for precision machining equipment, medical instruments, and intelligent manufacturing production lines. The accuracy reliability of a ball screw plays a key role in the functioning of all such equipment. Since the operating conditions have time-dependent characteristics, the non-constant operating conditions affect the BS accuracy decay. In this paper, the numerical modeling and analysis of the BS accuracy decay are considered under non-constant operating conditions. The BS accuracy reliability under single and multiple non-constant operating conditions is investigated. The experimental findings on accuracy decay under non-constant operating conditions validate the proposed analysis. The average relative error of accuracy decay between the theoretical and the experimental findings is estimated at 10% (in the range of 10.15%–12.66%). The error is evaluated under the three different amplitudes operating conditions, including AL (non-constant axial load), FR (non-constant feed rate), and AL plus FR. The results show that the accuracy decay prediction model successfully predicts the BS accuracy reliability under non-constant operating conditions.
Chasing Unknown Bandits: Uncertainty Guidance in Learning and Decision Making
Authors: Speekenbrink Maarten
Published: August 2022

In repeated decision problems for which it is possible to learn from experience, people should actively seek out uncertain options, rather than avoid ambiguity or uncertainty, in order to learn and improve future decisions. Research on human behavior in a variety of multiarmed-bandit tasks supports this prediction. Multiarmed-bandit tasks involve repeated decisions between options with initially unknown reward distributions and require a careful balance between learning about relatively unknown options (exploration) and obtaining high immediate rewards (exploitation). Resolving this exploration-exploitation dilemma optimally requires considering not only the estimated value of each option, but also the uncertainty in these estimations. Bayesian learning naturally quantifies uncertainty and hence provides a principled framework to study how humans resolve this dilemma. On the basis of computational modeling and behavioral results in bandit tasks, I argue that human learning, attention, and exploration are guided by uncertainty. These results support Bayesian theories of cognition and underpin the fundamental role of subjective uncertainty in both learning and decision making.
Book review: Adrian Athique and Vibodh Parthasarathi (Eds). 2020. Platform Capitalism in India
Authors: Guha Suryansu
Published: August 2022

Adrian Athique and Vibodh Parthasarathi (Eds). 2020. Platform Capitalism in India. Springer International Publishing, 331 pages.
Minimally Invasive Chevron-Akin for Correction of Moderate and Severe Hallux Valgus Deformities: Clinical and Radiologic Outcomes With a Minimum 2-Year Follow-up
Authors: de Carvalho Kepler Alencar Mendes , Baptista Andre Donato , de Cesar Netto Cesar , Johnson Anne H. , Dalmau-Pastor Miki
Published: August 2022

Background:

The minimally invasive chevron-Akin (MICA) technique has already demonstrated efficacy compared with other known surgical treatments for mild to moderate hallux valgus (HV). MICA combines percutaneous osteotomies with the benefits of modern, rigid internal fixation. The aim of study was to evaluate the radiographic parameters, clinical improvement, and potential complications in moderate to severe HV cases, operated using the MICA technique.

Methods:

Retrospective study including 70 feet with HV operated using the MICA technique. The AOFAS hallux MTP-IP score and radiographics for HV evaluation were applied preoperatively, and after 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years of follow-up. The following radiographic parameters were measured: metatarsophalangeal hallux valgus angle (HVA), distal metatarsal articular angle (DMAA), interphalangeal angle (IPA), and intermetatarsal angle (IMA).

Results:

The average preoperative VAS pain score was 8.2 ± 1.5, which improved to 1.2 ± 2.2 at 24 months. The mean preoperative IMA was 14.8 ± 3.6 degrees compared with a mean of 7.5 ± 2.1 degrees ( P < .01) at 24 months. The preoperative HVA value averaged 30.4 ± 9.8 degrees and at 6 months postoperatively 11.1 ± 6.8 degrees ( P < .01), which remained stable until measured at 24 months. The mean preoperative DMAA was 16.3 ± 8.6 degrees and at the 6-month follow-up was 7.8 ± 5.4 degrees ( P < .01). The mean preoperative IPA was 7.63 ± 4.4 degrees compared with a mean of 6.28 ± 3.5 degrees ( P > .05) at 24 months. Complications included painful hardware (14.28%), neuropathic pain (2.85%), and loss of correction (4.28%).

Conclusion:

In this retrospective review from a single center, we found the MICA technique to be an effective procedure for correcting moderate to severe HV, with a low rate of recurrence and an acceptable rate of complications. Patients undergoing the surgical procedure in our series showed a significant reduction in radiographic parameters and a significant improvement in clinical scores, maintaining these results over time.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, retrospective study.
Elevated transaminases and development of cardiomyopathy in a 32-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer after treatment with ribociclib followed by palbociclib
Authors: Watts Christina , Nadori Karin
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 inhibitors, ribociclib and palbociclib, are associated with reports of transaminitis and adverse cardiac events.

Case report

The patient is a previously healthy 32-year-old female diagnosed with estrogen receptor-positive, progesterone receptor-positive, and human epidermal growth factor 2 negative metastatic breast cancer. From July to September 2021, the patient was initiated on ribociclib followed by palbociclib for metastatic breast cancer. She subsequently experienced two episodes of transaminitis and was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy.

Management and outcome

The patient experienced transaminitis 2 weeks after the initiation of ribociclib resulting in discontinuation. When rechallenged with palbociclib, the patient experienced transaminitis within 1 week of initiation, which resulted in discontinuation. Approximately 1 month after palbociclib discontinuation, the patient was diagnosed with congestive heart failure with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 24%.

Discussion

To our knowledge, there are few case studies investigating cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 inhibitor rechallenge following transaminitis. Prior literature suggests that transaminitis with cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 inhibitors is not a class effect, but this case report suggests otherwise. This report presents a rare case of cardiomyopathy and transaminitis following the administration of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 inhibitors, ribociclib and palbociclib.
Effects of the tip structure of temporary indwelling catheters on blood recirculation at various blood flow rates and diameters of the mock blood vessel
Authors: Sato Yukihiro , Yanagisawa Katsuya , Hachitani Yusuke , Ueki Shunichi , Kurihara Yoshitaka , Kobayashi Kozue , Kokubo Kenichi
Published: August 2022

Aims:

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of the tip structure of the catheters used for hemodialysis on blood recirculation at varying blood flow rates and diameters of the mock blood vessel in a well-defined in vitro experimental system, focusing on reverse connection mode.

Methods:

A mock circulatory circuit was created with silicon tubing (15 or 20 mm), a circulatory pump, connected through the catheter to dialysis circuit and dialyzer attached to dialysis machine. The tip of the inserted catheter was fixed to the center of the silicone tube, and 3 L of pig blood was poured into the blood side of the dialyzer and the recirculation rates were measured at blood flow rates of 100, 150, and 200 mL/min. Five types of commercially available catheters were used: (A) Argyle™, (B) Gentle Cath™ (Hardness gradient type), (C) Gentle Cath™, (D) Niagara™, and (E) Power-Trialysis®.

Results:

In the case of reverse connection mode, (1) the recirculation rates were lower in the catheter with a relatively large side hole (catheter C, 17%), catheters with a greater distance between the end hole and side hole (catheters C and D, 25%), and catheter with a symmetrical tip structure (catheter E, 10%) as compared with those in catheters A and B (40% and 25%); (2) increase of the blood flow rate in the dialysis machine was associated with a reduced recirculation rate; and (3) a wider inner diameter of the mock blood vessel and faster flow rate in the vessel were associated with a reduced recirculation rate.

Conclusion:

The lowest recirculation was observed with the catheter with symmetrical holes, which produces a helical blood flow line that does not intersect with the blood streamline flowing out to the blood supply hole.
Economic crisis, global financial cycles and state control of finance: public development banking in Brazil and South Africa
Authors: Naqvi Natalya
Published: August 2022

In the aftermath of recent crisis, national governments across the global south increasingly see state ownership and control of finance as a vital public policy tool. What explains variation in state control of finance in the wake of crisis? Interventionist policies can elicit disinvestment or exit threats from private financial actors if they limit profitability. When disinvestment threats are credible, policymakers may rule out reform for fear of devastating economic consequences. I argue that the credibility of disinvestment threats is conditioned by two key variables, the resilience of the national economy to capital flight, which affects the level of damage capital flight will inflict, and global financial liquidity, which can be used to undercut domestic disinvestment threats. These arguments are developed through comparative case studies of cross-national and over-time variation in the scale and scope of public development banking in Brazil and South Africa in the wake of the 2008 crisis.
Do healthy habits regulate the relationship between psychosocial dysfunction by COVID-19 and bidimensional mental health?
Authors: Rico-Bordera Pilar , Falcó Raquel , Vidal-Arenas Verónica , Piqueras José Antonio
Published: August 2022

COVID-19 has affected mental health and well-being. Lifestyles are relevant to understand the impact of psychosocial dysfunctions. The objective was to examine the role of healthy habits in the relations between psychosocial dysfunction and psychological well-being/distress during COVID-19. Participants completed measures of psychosocial dysfunction, healthy habits, life satisfaction, well-being, depression, and anxiety symptoms. Psychosocial dysfunction was associated with distress symptoms, while health habits were associated with well-being. Healthy habits were mediators: greater psychosocial dysfunction was associated with less healthy habits, which in turn were associated with lower overall well-being, and greater depression. Programs addressing healthy habits can be of great utility.
Autistic experiences of applied behavior analysis
Authors: Anderson Laura K
Published: August 2022

Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability affecting individuals across their entire lifespan. Autistic individuals have differences from nonautistic people (sometimes called allistic or neurotypical people) in social skills, communication, and atypical interests and/or repetitive behaviors. Approximately 1 in 59 children are born autistic, leading to over 3.5 million autistic Americans. Applied behavior analysis is one of the first and most common interventions recommended for autistic children. However, autistic self-advocates argue that applied behavior analysis damages their mental health and treats them as though they are a problem to be fixed. This phenomenological qualitative study examined seven autistic individuals who received applied behavior analysis interventions as children to understand what autistic adults perceive as the costs and benefits of applied behavior analysis interventions, how they feel about the applied behavior analysis interventions they received, and what recommendations autistic adults have for the future of applied behavior analysis. The findings include: Autistic adults remember traumatic events from applied behavior analysis, do not believe that they should be made to behave like their peers, gained some benefits but suffered significant negative long-term consequences, believe that applied behavior analysis is an unethical intervention, and recommend that applied behavior analysis practitioners listen to autistic people and consider using interventions in place of applied behavior analysis.

Lay Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability affecting individuals across their entire lifespan. Autistic individuals have differences from nonautistic people (sometimes called allistic or neurotypical people) in social skills, communication, and atypical interests and/or repetitive behaviors. Applied behavior analysis is one of the first and most common interventions recommended for autistic children. However, autistic individuals argue that applied behavior analysis damages their mental health and treats them as though they are a problem to be fixed. This study examined the experiences of seven autistic individuals who received applied behavior analysis interventions as children to understand what autistic adults think about their applied behavior analysis interventions, how they feel about the applied behavior analysis interventions they received, and what recommendations autistic adults have for the future of applied behavior analysis. The findings include: Autistic adults remember traumatic events from applied behavior analysis, do not believe that they should be made to behave like their peers, gained some benefits but suffered significant negative long-term consequences, believe that applied behavior analysis is an unethical intervention, and recommend that applied behavior analysis practitioners listen to autistic people and consider using interventions in place of applied behavior analysis.
Making sense of penal difference: Political cultures and comparative penology
Authors: Brangan Louise
Published: August 2022

In this paper I argue that if we are to make sense of why punishment differs between jurisdictions, then we should focus on the political cultures that shape penal practices. Political culture is conceived of here as a ‘practical consciousness’, made up of implicit and express cultural values and political commitments. Using the comparative case studies of Ireland and Scotland (from 1970–1990s), the paper tries to show that by taking the time to recover and interpret the beliefs and ideas that frame penal policymaking, we will be better able to illuminate and make sense of cross-national penal patterns. And using the leverage of cross-national contrast and analysis, we can also better understand punishment and its place in each society.
Asserting the right to care – Birth parents’ arguments in newborn care orders
Authors: Juhasz Ida Benedicte
Published: August 2022

Removing a newborn from his or her birth parents’ care is arguably a stark display of state power into the family. This study explores birth parents’ engagement with care proceedings in all ( N = 177) newborn care orders in Norway between 2012 and 2016. The study asks which arguments parents use to assert their care rights, their focus, and whether arguments differ depending on the parents’ risks.

Applying the defence dichotomy and seeing arguments as accounts, the analysis revealed parents primarily both justifying and excusing risks, and in two-thirds of cases rationalizing their care rights. Parents primarily denied harm and pinpointed (failed) service provision efforts, as well as excused their situation by claiming sufficient change and placing blame on i.e. child welfare services. Rationalizations did not defend parenting as such, but claimed normalcy and deservingness, as well as echoing concerns raised. Arguments were primarily parent- and service-focused. Parents with substance use risks blamed significantly less than parents with personality risks, and parents with intellectual disability risks demanded significantly more leeway as ‘new parents’ than parents with personality risks.

The study reflects how a marginalized demographic similarly, comprehensively, and most often unsuccessfully, engages with the child welfare system. The arguments reveal both alignment and misalignment in understandings of acceptable state intervention and responsibilities. It points to the dire need for knowledge about parents’ actual understanding of child welfare services, as well as clear communication and feedback between parents, their legal counsel, and social workers in assessments and service provision.
Non-reference genome transposable elements (TEs) have a significant impact on the progression of the Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Kõks Sulev , Pfaff Abigail L , Singleton Lewis M , Bubb Vivien J , Quinn John P
Published: August 2022

The pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex process of the interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Studies on the genetic component of PD have predominantly focused on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using a cross-sectional case–control design in large genome-wide association studies. This approach while giving insight into a significant portion of the genetics of PD does not fully account for all the genetic components resulting in missing heritability. In this study, we approached this problem by focusing on the non-reference genome transposable elements (TEs) and their impact on the progression of PD using a longitudinal study design within the Parkinson’s progression markers initiative (PPMI) cohort. We analyzed 2886 Alu repeats, 360 LINE1 and 128 SINE-VNTR-Alus (SVAs) that were called from the whole-genome sequence data which are not within the reference genome. The presence or absence of these non-reference TE variants is known as a retrotransposon insertion polymorphism, and measuring this polymorphism describes the impact of TEs on the traits. The variations for the presence or absence of the non-reference TE elements were modeled to align with the changes in the 114 outcome measures during the five-year follow-up period of the PPMI cohort. Linear mixed-effects models were used, and many TEs were found to have a highly significant effect on the longitudinal changes in the clinically important PD outcomes such as UPDRS subscale II, UPDRS total scores, and modified Schwab and England ADL scale. In addition, the progression of several imaging and functional measures, including the Caudate/Putamen ratio and levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD) were also significantly affected by the TEs. In conclusion, this study identified the overwhelming effect of the non-reference TEs on the progression of PD and is a good example of the impact the variations in the “junk DNA” have on complex diseases.
Importance of patient engagement in the conduct of pragmatic multicenter randomized controlled trials: The ADAPTABLE experience
Authors: Marquis-Gravel Guillaume , Faulkner Madelaine , Merritt Greg , Farrehi Peter , Zemon Nadine , Robertson Holly R , Jones W Schuyler , Kraschnewski Jennifer
Published: August 2022

Background/Aims

Actively engaging patient partners in the conduct of trials is crucial to ensure the studies answer genuine, patient-centered, unmet clinical needs, and to facilitate participant recruitment and retention. The aim of this article is to demonstrate the feasibility of patient engagement within a large pragmatic multicenter randomized controlled trial, specifically for the purposes of dissemination of study information/updates and to favorize recruitment and retention.

Methods

In the patient-centric, pragmatic ADAPTABLE randomized trial, transparent and timely dissemination of information on the study updates to the trial participants was undertaken to create meaningful engagement and to facilitate retention. A national panel of patient partners, the Adaptors, were directly involved in this information dissemination strategy, and study participants were engaged both nationally and locally to design recruitment methods iteratively during the conduct of the trial. All Adaptors had a lived experience with cardiovascular disease.

Results

Adaptors attended bi-weekly meetings facilitated by the director of the study’s patient-powered research network. They drafted and/or edited newsletters and ad hoc educational information written in a lay-friendly manner for study participants, which were regularly distributed to the ADAPTABLE community, in addition to online forums where participants could share their experience of their involvement in ADAPTABLE. To spur recruitment, a patient-driven initiative was to draft letters sharing their story, which were distributed by the local study teams. Patient partners thought that using patients’ voice to provide their perspectives on why they believed this project was important would be more engaging for prospective participants than traditional approaches.

Conclusions

ADAPTABLE’s experience has demonstrated the feasibility of engaging patients as partners in the conduct of a large-scale, multi-center, pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Future trials should embrace and iteratively improve this model by engaging patient partners as early as study protocol development and funding applications, and quantify its impact on the effectiveness and value of the trial.
Characterisation of deep dorsal horn projection neurons in the spinal cord of the Phox2a::Cre mouse line
Authors: Kókai Éva , Alsulaiman Wafa AA , Dickie Allen C , Bell Andrew M , Goffin Luca , Watanabe Masahiko , Gutierrez-Mecinas Maria , Todd Andrew J
Published: August 2022

Projection neurons belonging to the anterolateral system (ALS) underlie the perception of pain, skin temperature and itch. Many ALS cells are located in laminae III-V of the dorsal horn and the adjacent lateral white matter. However, relatively little is known about the excitatory synaptic input to these deep ALS cells, and therefore about their engagement with the neuronal circuitry of the region. We have used a recently developed mouse line, Phox2a::Cre, to investigate a population of deep dorsal horn ALS neurons known as “antenna cells”, which are characterised by dense innervation from peptidergic nociceptors, and to compare these with other ALS cells in the deep dorsal horn and lateral white matter. We show that these two classes differ, both in the density of excitatory synapses, and in the source of input at these synapses. Peptidergic nociceptors account for around two-thirds of the excitatory synapses on the antenna cells, but for only a small proportion of the input to the non-antenna cells. Conversely, boutons with high levels of VGLUT2, which are likely to originate mainly from glutamatergic spinal neurons, account for only ∼5% of the excitatory synapses on antenna cells, but for a much larger proportion of the input to the non-antenna cells. VGLUT1 is expressed by myelinated low-threshold mechanoreceptors and corticospinal axons, and these innervate both antenna and non-antenna cells. However, the density of VGLUT1 input to the non-antenna cells is highly variable, consistent with the view that these neurons are functionally heterogeneous.
How Do People Come to Judge What Is “Reasonable”? Effects of Legal and Sociological Systems on Human Psychology
Authors: Spruill Mikaela , Lewis Neil A.
Published: August 2022

How do people decide what is reasonable? People often have to make those judgments, judgments that can influence tremendously consequential decisions—such as whether to indict someone in a legal proceeding. In this article, we take a situated cognition lens to review and integrate findings from social psychology, judgment and decision-making, communication, law, and sociology to generate a new framework for conceptualizing judgments of reasonableness and their implications for how people make decisions, particularly in the context of the legal system. We theorize that differences in structural and social contexts create information asymmetries that shape people’s priors about what is and is not reasonable and how they update their priors in the face of new information. We use the legal system as a context for exploring the implications of the framework for both individual and collective decision-making and for considering the practical implications of the framework for inequities in law and social policy.
Fisetin Inhibits Trypsin Activity and Suppresses the Growth of Colorectal Cancer in Vitro and in Vivo
Authors: Li Lin , Wang Min , Yang Hongyan , Li Yuting , Huang Xiaoling , Guo Jialiang , Liu Zheng
Published: August 2022

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignant tumor with high incidence and bad prognosis. Therapies, which are more safe and effective, are urgently needed. Trypsin is proved to be crucial to cancer proliferation and migration, therefore, it is possible to control cancers by modulating its activity. Fisetin is a flavone with trypsin inhibition properties that was screened from more than 45 compounds derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, the effects and mechanisms of fisetin on CRC have not been well investigated. In this study, we evaluated the effects of fisetin on 2 different CRC cell lines. Fisetin remarkably inhibited CRC cell proliferation and migration, as well as induced cell apoptosis and Go/G1 phase arrest in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanistic studies revealed that these effects were mediated partially through signaling pathways involving cell cycle regulators p21, p27, cyclinD1, and NF kappa B (NF-κB) p65. Administration of fisetin also significantly suppressed the tumor growth in tumor-bearing NOD/Shi-scid-IL2R gamma (null) (NOG) mice that had been inoculated with human HCT116 cells. Fisetin at the given dosage did not induce significant acute or chronic toxicity in rats. These data provide a potential therapeutic strategy for CRC.
Video Analysis of Pectoralis Major Injuries in Professional Australian Football Players
Authors: Schwab Laura , Warby Sarah , Davis Katherine , Campbell Peter , Hoy Simon , Zbeda Robert , Hoy Gregory
Published: August 2022

Background:

There is little evidence regarding the mechanisms of pectoralis major (PM) injury and player outcomes in Australian Football League (AFL) players.

Purposes/Hypothesis:

The study aims were to investigate (1) the mechanisms of PM muscle injury in elite AFL players via video analysis and (2) the player profile, method of management, and clinical outcomes of the PM injuries sustained. We hypothesized that the majority of PM tears would occur in outer-range PM positions (hyperextension of the glenohumeral joint).

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

We analyzed video of the precipitating event for traumatic PM injuries during AFL competition or training over a 20-year period (2002-2021). The footage was analyzed by 4 experienced assessors, and the following were evaluated: mechanism of injury, injury variables (arm position, initial contact point, visual awareness, and use of taping), player characteristics (age at the time of injury, hand dominance, and history of injury), injury profile (location and size of tear), method of management (operative vs nonoperative), patient outcomes (time to return to full senior training/match play), and complication rates.

Results:

The mean ± standard deviation age of the players was 26.5 ± 3.1 years (range, 21-32 years). Overall, 22 PM injuries were identified in the AFL injury database for a rate of 1.1 per year; 16 of these injuries had accompanying video footage. We identified 3 mechanisms for PM injury: horizontal hyperextension (62.5%), hyperflexion-abduction (25.0%), and horizontal adduction (sustained tackling; 12.5%). The most common site of the tear was the insertion point of the sternocostal head (91.0%). Twenty players (91.0%) required surgical repair, with 75% undergoing surgery within 1 week (range, 0-26 weeks). The mean return to competition for the surgical repair group was 11.1 weeks (range, 8-15 weeks). The rerupture rate was 5.0% (1 repair; <4 weeks postoperatively in 2004).

Conclusion:

PM tears in elite male AFL players were due to 1 of 3 distinct mechanisms: horizontal hyperextension, hyperflexion-abduction, and horizontal adduction (sustained tackling). Players returned to play on average 11 weeks after injury. Knowledge regarding mechanisms of injury, player profile, and return-to-sport timelines is important for appropriate medical management and provides potential areas to target for prevention of PM injuries.
Embodying Memory: Intersections Between Sri Lankan Performance Art and Prosthetic Memory
Authors: Constantine R. Shannon
Published: August 2022

In positing that memories acquired through visual media can impact subjectivity and alter worldview, prosthetic memory relies on an individual’s ability to build connections with the experiences of another. As an art form that foregrounds the body and relies on visuality to develop spectatorship as an affective, relational process, performance art lends itself to being analysed as a means of prosthetic memory. This article engages with three performances by the Sri Lankan performance artist Bandu Manamperi to address the interpretive intersection of the two fields, drawing on Memory Studies, Performance Studies and the Kristevan abject. Analysing interview data and photographic documentation of the performances, I explore how the affective links built through performance contribute to the creation of empathetic, relational understandings of the performing body, especially when the body presents as a violated or abject entity, and how space and cultural memory frame performance and guide viewing. I conclude that as a visceral signifier and carrier of personal memory in performance art, the body interacts with audiences’ experiential archives to impact subjectivity and influence worldview, thereby suggesting that analysing performance art reinforces and extends the tenets of Landsberg’s theories and that prosthetic memory merits further scholarship in relation to the visual arts.
Adsorption of crystal violet on kaolinite clay: kinetic and equilibrium study using non-linear models
Authors: Boukhemkhem Ali , Aissa-Ouaissi-Sekkouti Bamhammed , Bedia Jorge , Belver Carolina , Molina Carmen B.
Published: August 2022

This work studied the efficiency of Tamazert kaolinite clay for adsorbing the cationic dye crystal violet from an aqueous solution in a batch system. The kinetics of the process and the equilibrium of adsorption were studied using non-linear models. The characterization of Tamazert kaolinite clay showed that it has structural, textural and surface properties that are suitable for adsorption. The effects of various process parameters such as contact time, initial dye concentration, initial pH, adsorbent dose and temperature were tested. The kinetic study using non-linear regression showed that the pseudo-second order model best fitted the experimental data. The intra-particle model was also used to estimate the contribution of intra-particle diffusion to this process. The adsorption isotherms were fitted to Freundlich, Langmuir and Redlich–Peterson models, showing that the adsorption is limited to a monolayer with a monolayer adsorption capacity of 44.2 mg g–1. The thermodynamic study indicated that the process is exothermic, spontaneous and accompanied by a decrease in entropy.
Engineering clay minerals to manage the functions of soils
Authors: Yu Menghan , Tariq Sarwar Muhammad , Yang Huaming
Published: August 2022

Clay minerals are essential components of soil systems and understanding their role in soil structure and function is critical for soil environmental quality management and sustainable agricultural development. An in-depth study of clay minerals and the development of related materials is essential for a complete understanding and effective management of soil systems. This review is a detailed compilation of relevant studies over the past decade in this area, focusing on an overview of clay minerals and their modified materials and their regulation of soil structure and function. We focus on the direct influence of clay minerals on the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils, such as soil structure, soil fertility, plant growth, soil microbial activity and soil carbon sequestration. Finally, we concluded by summarizing the existing issues with clay mineral materials in soil improvement and by outlining potential future development trends and strategies.
Obesity, leptin and host defence ofStreptococcus pneumoniae: the case for more human research
Authors: Hales Caz , Burnet Laura , Coombs Maureen , Collins Andrea M. , Ferreira Daniela M.
Published: August 2022

Pneumococcal pneumonia is the leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia. Obesity is a risk factor for pneumonia. Host factors play a critical role in susceptibility to pulmonary pathogens and outcome from pulmonary infections. Obesity impairs innate and adaptive immune responses, important in the host defence against pneumococcal disease. One area of emerging interest in understanding the complex relationship between obesity and pulmonary infections is the role of the hormone leptin. There is a substantive evidence base supporting the associations between obesity, leptin, pulmonary infections and host defence mechanisms. Despite this, there is a paucity of research that specifically focuses onStreptococcus pneumoniae(pneumococcal) infections, which are the leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia hospitalisations and mortality worldwide. Much of the evidence examining the role of leptin in relation toS. pneumoniaeinfections has used genetically mutated mice. The purpose of this mini review is to explore the role leptin plays in the host defence ofS. pneumoniaein subjects with obesity and posit an argument for the need for more human research.
Deconvolution of tumor composition using partially available DNA methylation data
Authors: He Dingqin , Chen Ming , Wang Wenjuan , Song Chunhui , Qin Yufang
Published: August 2022

Background

Deciphering proportions of constitutional cell types in tumor tissues is a crucial step for the analysis of tumor heterogeneity and the prediction of response to immunotherapy. In the process of measuring cell population proportions, traditional experimental methods have been greatly hampered by the cost and extensive dropout events. At present, the public availability of large amounts of DNA methylation data makes it possible to use computational methods to predict proportions.

Results

In this paper, we proposed PRMeth, a method to deconvolve tumor mixtures using partially available DNA methylation data. By adopting an iteratively optimized non-negative matrix factorization framework, PRMeth took DNA methylation profiles of a portion of the cell types in the tissue mixtures (including blood and solid tumors) as input to estimate the proportions of all cell types as well as the methylation profiles of unknown cell types simultaneously. We compared PRMeth with five different methods through three benchmark datasets and the results show that PRMeth could infer the proportions of all cell types and recover the methylation profiles of unknown cell types effectively. Then, applying PRMeth to four types of tumors from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we found that the immune cell proportions estimated by PRMeth were largely consistent with previous studies and met biological significance.

Conclusions

Our method can circumvent the difficulty of obtaining complete DNA methylation reference data and obtain satisfactory deconvolution accuracy, which will be conducive to exploring the new directions of cancer immunotherapy. PRMeth is implemented in R and is freely available from GitHub (https://github.com/hedingqin/PRMeth).
The effect of a training webinar on decreasing inter-observer variability in making a radiologic diagnosis of bronchiectasis
Authors: Green O’Neil , Knee Alexander , Patino Angelica , Modahl Lucy , Liautaud Sybille
Published: August 2022

Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis is a clinically important disease with an estimated 340,000–522,000 persons living with the disease and 70,000 being diagnosed annually. The radiographic diagnosis remains a pivotal part of recognizing the disease due to its protean clinical manifestations. As physicians are sensitized to this disease, a greater proportion of patients are being diagnosed with mild to moderate bronchiectasis. Despite the established use of CT chest as the main tool for making a radiologic diagnosis of bronchiectasis, the literature supporting the process of making that diagnosis is somewhat sparse. Concurrently, there has been an increased trend to have Web-based radiologic tutorials due to its convenience, the ability of the learner to set the pace of learning and the reduced cost compared to in-person learning. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this trend. We wanted to look carefully at the effect of a Web-based training session on interrater reliability. Agreement was calculated as percentages and kappa and prevalence adjusted kappa calculated. We found that a single Web-based training session had little effect on the variability and accuracy of diagnosis of bronchiectasis. Larger studies are needed in this area with multiple training sessions.
Predictive factors contributing to prolonged recovery in patients after Fontan operation
Authors: Song Yixiao , Wang Liping , Zhang Mingjie , Chen Xi , Pang Yachang , Liu Jiaqi , Xu Zhuoming
Published: August 2022

Background

Prolonged recovery is a severe issue in patients after Fontan operation. However, predictive factors related to this issue are not adequately evaluated. The present study aimed to investigate potential predictive factors which can predict Fontan postoperative recovery.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the perioperative medical records of patients with Fontan surgery between January 2015 and December 2018, and divided patients with > 75%ile cardiac intensive care unit stay into prolonged recovery group. The others were assigned to standard recovery group. Patients that died or underwent a Fontan takedown were excluded. Statistical analysis was performed to compare data difference of the two groups.

Results

282/307 cases fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Seventy patients were considered in prolonged recovery and 212 patients were defined as standard recovery. Pre- and intra-operative data showed a higher incidence of heterotaxy syndrome, longer cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp time in the prolonged recovery group. Postoperative information analysis displayed that ventilation time, oxygen index after extubation, hemodynamic data, inotropic score (IS), drainage volume, volume resuscitation, pulmonary hypertension (PH) treatment, and surgical reintervention were significantly different between the two groups. Higher IS postoperatively, and PH treatment and higher fluid resuscitation within two days were independent predictive factors for prolonged recovery in our multivariate model. C-statistic model showed a high predictive ability in prolonged recovery by using the three factors.

Conclusions

Ventilation time, higher IS in postoperative day, and PH treatment and higher fluid resuscitation within two days were independent risk factors and have a high predictability for Fontan prolonged recovery.