bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel Treatment Options in Childhood Bone Diseases
Authors: Jazbinšek Sončka , Koce Maša , Kotnik Primož
Published: March 2022

Background: Several novel treatment options have recently become available in childhood bone diseases. The purpose of this article is to provide an update on some of the therapeutic agents used in the treatment of pediatric osteoporosis, X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets, and achondroplasia (ACH). Summary: Vitamin D3 and Ca supplementation remains the basis of childhood osteoporosis treatment. Bisphosphonate (BP) therapy is the main antiresorptive therapeutic option, while denosumab, a human monoclonal IgG2 antibody with high affinity and specificity for a primary regulator of bone resorption – RANKL, represents a possible alternative. Its potent inhibition of bone resorption and turnover process leads to continuous increase of bone mineral density throughout the treatment also in the pediatric population. With a half-life much shorter than BPs, its effects are rapidly reversible upon discontinuation. Safety and dosing concerns in children remain. Novel treatment options have recently become available in two rare bone diseases. Burosumab, a monoclonal antibody against FGF-23, has been approved for the treatment of children with X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets older than 1 year. It presents an effective, more etiology-based treatment for rickets compared to conventional therapy, without the need for multiple daily oral phosphate supplementation. Its long-term efficacy and safety are currently being investigated. After years of anticipation, a novel treatment option for ACH has become available. C-type natriuretic peptide analog vosoritide effectively increases proportional growth and has a reasonable safety profile in children >2 years. Its effect on other features of the disease and the final height is yet to be determined. Several other treatment options for ACH exploring different therapeutic approaches are currently being investigated. Key Messages: Denosumab is effective in the treatment of childhood-onset osteoporosis; however, further studies are necessary to determine the optimal treatment protocol. Burosumab is more etiology-based and convenient in comparison to conventional treatment of X-linked hypophospha­-temic rickets in children and adults. Vosoritide importantly changes the natural course of achondroplasia, at least in the short term.
Capsaicin Attenuates Arterial Calcification Through Promoting SIRT6-Mediated Deacetylation and Degradation of Hif1α (Hypoxic-Inducible Factor-1 Alpha)
Authors: Luo Dongling , Li Wenxin , Xie Changming , Yin Li , Su Xiaoyan , Chen Jie , Huang Hui
Published: March 2022

Background:

Sustained Hif1α (hypoxic-inducible factor-1 alpha) accumulation plays a central role in osteogenic transdifferentiation and subsequent calcification. Capsaicin, the potent agonist of TRPV1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1), was found to mitigate hypoxic-related injury and reverse phenotypic switch of vascular smooth muscle cells. However, its role in arterial calcification and the underlying mechanisms remain unexplored.

Methods:

We used data from Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis to examine the association of coronary artery calcification and chili consumption. Chronic kidney disease mice and high phosphate–induced vascular smooth muscle cells calcification models were established to investigate the anticalcification effect of capsaicin, evaluated by calcium deposition and changes in phenotype markers.

Results:

Chili consumption was negatively correlated with coronary artery calcification and conferred a smaller progression burden during follow-up. Capsaicin reduced calcium deposition and osteogenic transdifferentiation both in vivo and in vitro. Using siTRPV1 (small interfering RNA and the antagonist of TRPV1), the anticalcification effect of capsaicin was abrogated. Hif1α was increased in phosphate-treated vascular smooth muscle cells and its degradation was accelerated by capsaicin. Retaining Hif1α stability using cobalt chloride (CoCl
2
) or MG132 abolished the protective effect of capsaicin. We further identified an increased expression of SIRT6 (Sirtuin 6) in response to capsaicin and confirmed the physical interaction between SIRT6 and Hif1α. Acetylated Hif1α was decreased, whereas hydroxylated Hif1α was increased under capsaicin treatment. Using immunohistochemistry analysis, we observed increased SIRT6 and reduced Hif1α in both SIRT6 transgenic and capsaicin-treated chronic kidney disease mice.

Conclusions:

Capsaicin facilitates deacetylation and degradation of Hif1α by upregulating SIRT6, which inhibits osteogenic transdifferentiation and protects against arterial calcification. These data highlight a promising therapeutic target for the management of arterial calcification.
Prediction and Judgment: Why Artificial Intelligence Increases the Importance of Humans in War
Authors: Goldfarb Avi , Lindsay Jon R.
Published: March 2022

Recent scholarship on artificial intelligence (AI) and international security focuses on the political and ethical consequences of replacing human warriors with machines. Yet AI is not a simple substitute for human decision-making. The advances in commercial machine learning that are reducing the costs of statistical prediction are simultaneously increasing the value of data (which enable prediction) and judgment (which determines why prediction matters). But these key complements—quality data and clear judgment—may not be present, or present to the same degree, in the uncertain and conflictual business of war. This has two important strategic implications. First, military organizations that adopt AI will tend to become more complex to accommodate the challenges of data and judgment across a variety of decision-making tasks. Second, data and judgment will tend to become attractive targets in strategic competition. As a result, conflicts involving AI complements are likely to unfold very differently than visions of AI substitution would suggest. Rather than rapid robotic wars and decisive shifts in military power, AI-enabled conflict will likely involve significant uncertainty, organizational friction, and chronic controversy. Greater military reliance on AI will therefore make the human element in war even more important, not less.
Defending the United States: Revisiting National Missile Defense against North Korea
Authors: Sankaran Jaganath , Fetter Steve
Published: March 2022

North Korea has made significant strides in its attempt to acquire a strategic nuclear deterrent. In 2017, it tested intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and completed a series of nuclear test explosions. These may provide North Korea with the technical foundation to deploy a nuclear-armed ICBM capable of striking the United States. The Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) missile defense system is intended to deter North Korean nuclear coercion and, if deterrence fails, to defeat a limited North Korean attack. Despite two decades of dedicated and costly efforts, however, the GMD system remains unproven and unreliable. It has not demonstrated an ability to defeat the relatively simple and inexpensive countermeasures that North Korea can field. The GMD system has suffered persistent delays, substantial cost increases, and repeated program failures because of the politically motivated rush to deploy in the 1990s. But GMD and other U.S. missile defense efforts have provoked serious concerns in Russia and China, who fear it may threaten their nuclear deterrents. Diplomacy and deterrence may reassure Russia and China while constraining North Korea's nuclear program. An alternate airborne boost-phase intercept system may offer meaningful defense against North Korean missiles without threatening the Russian or Chinese deterrents.
Comparison of the Representational Power of Random Forests, Binary Decision Diagrams, and Neural Networks
Authors: Kumano So , Akutsu Tatsuya
Published: March 2022

In this letter, we compare the representational power of random forests, binary decision diagrams (BDDs), and neural networks in terms of the number of nodes. We assume that an axis-aligned function on a single variable is assigned to each edge in random forests and BDDs, and the activation functions of neural networks are sigmoid, rectified linear unit, or similar functions. Based on existing studies, we show that for any random forest, there exists an equivalent depth-3 neural network with a linear number of nodes. We also show that for any BDD with balanced width, there exists an equivalent shallow depth neural network with a polynomial number of nodes. These results suggest that even shallow neural networks have the same or higher representation power than deep random forests and deep BDDs. We also show that in some cases, an exponential number of nodes are required to express a given random forest by a random forest with a much fewer number of trees, which suggests that many trees are required for random forests to represent some specific knowledge efficiently.
Taxonomic revision of the Neotropical Augiades Hübner, [1819] (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae)
Authors: SIEWERT RICARDO RUSSO , LEMES JOSÉ RICARDO ASSMANN , MIELKE OLAF HERMANN HENDRIK , CASAGRANDE MIRNA MARTINS
Published: March 2022

The Neotropical skipper genus Augiades Hübner, [1819] (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) is revised. Neotypes are designated for Hesperia vespasius Fabricius, 1793, and Phareas epimethea Plötz, 1883. Lectotypes are designated for Papilio crinisus Cramer, 1780, and Lignyostola crinisus var. bicolor Mabille & Boullet, 1919. Illustrations of adults and male and female genitalia, distribution maps, and an identification keys are provided for all taxa.
Crosnierocaris athanasoides gen. et sp. nov., a new deep-water alpheid shrimp from the Mozambique Channel (Malacostraca: Decapoda: Caridea)
Authors: ANKER ARTHUR
Published: March 2022

A new alpheid shrimp genus, Crosnierocaris gen. nov., is established for Crosnierocaris athanasoides sp. nov., a very peculiar shrimp possibly associated with decomposing sea grass accumulations in deeper water. The type series of C. athanasoides sp. nov. was collected in the Mozambique Channel, north of Grande Glorieuse Island, at a depth of 240–255 m. The new genus presents a unique combination of morphological features, including the very long, slender rostrum armed with a subdistal ventral tooth; the pterygostomial angle projecting as a strong sharp tooth; the third to fifth pleura with their distoventral margins armed with two to four small teeth, a unique feature within the Alpheidae; the sixth pleuron with an articulated plate; the eyes largely exposed dorsally and laterally; the first pereiopods (chelipeds) feebly enlarged in both sexes, stouter but shorter than walking legs; the first pereiopod carpus with rows of short serrulate setae on its mesial surface; the second pereiopod carpus with five subdivisions; the third to fifth pereiopods with meri armed with stout cuspidate setae; the uropodal diaeresis with a strongly dentate lateral portion; and the complete gill-exopod formula, with mastigobranchs on coxae of the third maxilliped and first to fourth pereiopods. Within alpheid shrimps, the rostrum of C. athanasoides sp. nov. is one of the longest relative to the total body length, often reaching half of the carapace length. The phylogenetic position of Crosnierocaris gen. nov. within the Alpheidae remains to be determined, but based on its morphological characters, the new genus appears to be closest to Athanas Leach, 1814, especially in the configuration of the frontal area of the carapace, and Potamalpheops Powell, 1979, for instance, in the armature of the uropodal diaeresis and walking legs, as well as the presence of setal rows on the cheliped carpus. The new genus also shares several morphological features with Yagerocaris Kensley, 1988, which represents one of the least derived lineages within the family Alpheidae.
Maxwelleus, a new genus of Curculionidae from the Himalayas, with two new species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae: Euderini)
Authors: MEREGALLI MASSIMO
Published: March 2022

The new genus Maxwelleus, with two new species, M. tibetanus (China, Tibet) and M. birmanus (Myanmar [Burma]), is described and illustrated. The new genus is immediately recognized by large body size (12.5-13.8 mm), pronotum with a distinct transverse groove or constriction behind apex and elytra with narrow but distinct transverse patches of yellow scales. A key to the species is given.
Modulation of North Atlantic Polar Low Activity and Associated Flow Patterns by Sudden Stratospheric Warmings
Authors: Chang Chuan-Chieh , Wang Zhuo , Walsh John , Stoll Patrick J.
Published: March 2022

Polar lows (PLs) are intense maritime mesoscale cyclones that can pose hazards to coastal communities and marine operation in the Arctic. This study examines the impacts of sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs) on PL activity in the subarctic North Atlantic. The 20 days following SSWs are characterized by tropospheric circulation anomalies resembling the negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation. PL activity decreases significantly over the Labrador Sea, which can be attributed to the infrequent occurrence of low static stability and strong environmental baroclinicity, as well as reduced surface turbulent heat fluxes. These results suggest that a skillful prediction of SSWs can improve the extended-range forecast of PL activity over the Labrador Sea. For the Nordic seas, the results imply that the spatial structure of an SSW event is important for the PL modulation through different tropospheric circulation patterns. Situations with increased PL frequency in the Nordic seas are characterized by SSWs centered close to northern Greenland occurring over a smaller area, and a tropospheric response featuring enhanced cold-air outbreaks over the Norwegian Sea. Conversely, PL activity is suppressed over the Nordic seas when the SSW favors the formation of a tropospheric anticyclone above Greenland and Scandinavia.

Significance Statement

This study investigates the relationships between polar lows (PLs) and sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs) over the subarctic North Atlantic. A better understanding of the effect of SSWs on PL development has the potential to improve extended-range forecasts of PLs. It is shown that SSWs are responsible for the significantly suppressed regional PL activity over the Labrador Sea, suggesting that SSWs can serve as a predictor for the extended-range forecast of PLs over this region. Following SSW events, the thermodynamic state of atmosphere becomes more stable over the Labrador Sea and hinders the convective development of PLs. For the northern Nordic seas, the impacts of SSWs on PL activity are sensitive to the spatial structure of stratospheric warming.
Do Advisories, Warnings, or Color Coding Matter to Risk Perception and Precautionary Decisions?
Authors: Gulacsik Gala , Joslyn Susan L. , Robinson John , Qin Chao
Published: March 2022

There are lingering questions about the effectiveness of the watch, warning, and advisory system (WWA) used to convey weather threats in the United States. Recently there has been a shift toward alternative communication strategies such as the impact-based forecast. The study reported here compared users’ interpretation of a color-coded impact-based prototype designed for email briefings, to a legacy WWA format. Participants, including emergency managers and members of the public, saw a weather briefing and rated event likelihood, severity, damage, and population affected. Then they recommended emergency response actions. Each briefing described the severity of the weather event and the degree of impact on population and property. In one condition a color-coded impacts scale was added to the text description. In another, an advisory and/or warning was added to the text description. These were compared with the text-only control. Both emergency managers and members of the public provided higher ratings for event likelihood, severity, damage, and population affected and recommended a greater response for higher impact levels regardless of format. For both groups, the color-coded format decreased ratings for lower-impact events. Among members of the public, the color-coded format also led to increases for many ratings and greater response at higher levels relative to the other two conditions. However, the highest ratings among members of the public were in the WWA condition. Somewhat surprisingly, the only effect of the WWA format on emergency managers was to reduce action recommendations, probably because of the inclusion of the “advisory” in some briefings.
Causes of Foreign-Imposed Regime Change: The Signal of Economic Expropriation
Authors: Villa Danielle , Arnon Daniel , Reiter Dan
Published: March 2022

Why do major powers attempt foreign-imposed regime change (FIRC)? This article builds on existing security theory, proposing that a major power looks for signals that a government might exit that major power’s international hierarchy and/or enter an adversary’s hierarchy. Major powers are more likely to attempt FIRC against states that signal shifting preferences. The article tests the theory on American FIRC attempts from 1947 to 1989, covert and overt, failed and successful, proposing that when a hierarchy member or neutral state engaged in economic expropriation, this signaled possible exit from the US hierarchy and/or entry into the Soviet hierarchy, making a US FIRC attempt against that state more likely. It also presents an alternative theory, that economic special interests drove US FIRC attempts. Using new data on expropriations, the article supports the security theory, as expropriations by US hierarchy members made FIRC attempts more likely, but does not support the special interests theory.
Clinical validation of the Aarhus Side effect Assessment Questionnaire(ASAQ)
Authors: Kølbæk Pernille , Thorgaard Mette Viller , Grooss Amalie Schnegelsberg , Selvanathan Thusitha , Larsen Sofie Fly , Speed Maria , Dines David , Østergaard Søren Dinesen
Published: March 2022

Background:

Psychotropic medications are essential in the treatment of mental illness. Unfortunately, these medications are associated with side effects that may reduce adherence to treatment and quality of life. Therefore, systematic screening for side effects is fundamental to optimize treatment with psychotropic medications. Self-report of side effects is a practical alternative to time-consuming clinical assessments. We developed the Aarhus Side effect Assessment Questionnaire (ASAQ) in an attempt to strike the balance between extensive coverage of side effects and reasonable application time.

Aim:

The aim of the study was to validate the ASAQ using the clinician-rated Udvalg for Kliniske Undersøgelser (UKU) Side Effect Scale as gold standard reference.

Methods:

A total of 122 inpatients and outpatients—mainly with psychotic (39%) and affective disorders (43%)—receiving treatment with psychotropic medication completed the ASAQ and the World Health Organization–Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5) and were subsequently rated on the UKU by trained raters.

Results:

Using the UKU as the gold standard reference, the ASAQ demonstrated sensitivity values >75% for 77% of its 30 items (ranging from 37% for cutaneous disturbances to 98% for increased sweating) and specificity values >75% for 47% of its 30 items (ranging from 28% for reduced sleep to 98% for micturition disturbances). While 17% of the participants considered discontinuing their medication, 24% had recently refrained from taking their medication as prescribed. A negative correlation was found between the ASAQ and the WHO-5 and total scores (Pearson’s correlation coefficient = –0.44).

Conclusions:

The self-reported ASAQ seems to be a sensitive tool for detecting side effects of psychotropic medications.
BenchBot environments for active robotics (BEAR): Simulated data for active scene understanding research
Authors: Hall David , Talbot Ben , Bista Suman Raj , Zhang Haoyang , Smith Rohan , Dayoub Feras , Sünderhauf Niko
Published: March 2022

We present a platform to foster research in active scene understanding, consisting of high-fidelity simulated environments and a simple yet powerful API that controls a mobile robot in simulation and reality. In contrast to static, pre-recorded datasets that focus on the perception aspect of scene understanding, agency is a top priority in our work. We provide three levels of robot agency, allowing users to control a robot at varying levels of difficulty and realism. While the most basic level provides pre-defined trajectories and ground-truth localisation, the more realistic levels allow us to evaluate integrated behaviours comprising perception, navigation, exploration and SLAM. In contrast to existing simulation environments, we focus on robust scene understanding research using our environment interface (BenchBot) that provides a simple API for seamless transition between the simulated environments and real robotic platforms. We believe this scaffolded design is an effective approach to bridge the gap between classical static datasets without any agency and the unique challenges of robotic evaluation in reality. Our BenchBot Environments for Active Robotics (BEAR) consist of 25 indoor environments under day and night lighting conditions, a total of 1443 objects to be identified and mapped, and ground-truth 3D bounding boxes for use in evaluation. BEAR website: https://qcr.github.io/dataset/benchbot-bear-data/ .
Epidemiology and Revision Rates of Pediatric ACL Reconstruction in New York State
Authors: Brodeur Peter G. , Licht Aron H. , Modest Jacob M. , Testa Edward J. , Gil Joseph A. , Cruz Aristides I.
Published: March 2022

Background:

There are limited epidemiologic data examining the incidence of pediatric anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) over the past decade.

Purpose:

To examine statewide population trends in the incidence of ACLR in a pediatric population.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

Inpatient and outpatient claims for pediatric patients who underwent ACLR between 2009 and 2017 were identified in the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database via International Classification of Diseases (ICD), Revision 9, Clinical Modification; ICD, Revision 10, Clinical Modification and Procedural Classification System; or Current Procedural Terminology codes. New York population data for each year between 2009 and 2017 were used from the New York State Department of Health to calculate the rates of ACLR per 100,000 people aged 3 to 19 years and determine the 95% confidence limits. The rates were then stratified by age, sex, and insurance. Two-year rates of revision and contralateral ACLR were also analyzed by sex.

Results:

Between 2009 and 2017, 20,170 pediatric ACLRs were identified. The rates of pediatric ACLR increased steadily from 49.3 per 100,000 in 2009 (95% CI, 47.2-51.4) to a peak of 61.0 (95% CI, 58.6-63.4) in 2014 and decreased to 51.8 (95% CI, 49.6-54.1) by 2017. The age group 15 to 17 years had the highest rates of ACLR of all age groups, peaking at 198.5 (95% CI, 188.3-208.7) per 100,000. Analysis by sex showed that ACLR rates between males and females were not different. Males had a 2-year ipsilateral revision rate of 4.3%, while females had a rate of 3.3% ( P = .0001). Females had a contralateral ACLR rate of 4.0%, while males had a rate of 2.6% ( P = .0002).

Conclusion:

Pediatric ACLR rates continued to rise until 2014, but there was a demonstrable decrease in rates after 2014. This decline in pediatric ACLR may point to the efficacy of injury prevention programs or changes in practice management. The high revision rate in males and high contralateral surgery rate in females can help guide patient counseling for return to play and complication risk.

Clinical Relevance:

This study showed that ACLR in pediatric patients may be decreasing in recent years. There were differences in revision and contralateral ACLR by sex.
Revisiting the Gender Revolution: Time on Paid Work, Domestic Work, and Total Work in East Asian and Western Societies 1985–2016
Authors: Kan Man-Yee , Zhou Muzhi , Kolpashnikova Kamila , Hertog Ekaterina , Yoda Shohei , Jun Jiweon
Published: March 2022

We analyze time use data of four East Asian societies and 12 Western countries between 1985 and 2016 to investigate the gender revolution in paid work, domestic work, and total work. The closing of gender gaps in paid work, domestic work, and total work time has stalled in the most recent decade in several countries. The magnitude of the gender gaps, cultural contexts, and welfare policies plays a key role in determining whether the gender revolution in the division of labor will stall or continue. Women undertake more total work than men across all societies: The gender gap ranges from 30 minutes to 2 hours a day. Our findings suggest that cultural norms interact with institutional contexts to affect the patterns of gender convergence in time use, and gender equality might settle at differing levels of egalitarianism across countries.
Image recognition of limited and imbalanced samples based on transfer learning methods for defects in welds
Authors: Zhang Zaifang , Liu Wei , Sun Xiwu
Published: March 2022

Welding quality inspection is critical to the quality control of the welding structure. Traditional manual detection requires experienced workers and the method is time-consuming. Currently, deep learning has made great progress in the field of image recognition. However, in terms of industrial defect detection, the contradiction between huge computational parameters and limited imbalanced samples still exists, which makes the deep learning method unable to play its role to the maximum extent. In this case, a combination of deep learning methods and transfer learning methods is considered to improve the performance of the model on limited and imbalanced data sets. The VGG16 model, which is pre-trained on a large number of source data sets, is fine-tuned on our target data sets. In this paper, a new DTN-VGG16 structure is proposed, in which a Global Average Pooling (GAP) layer, Batch Normalization (BN) layer, and Soft-max classifier are added on top of the frozen pre-training model, which can effectively reduce the number of parameters and accelerate the convergence speed of the model. In addition, focal loss function is used to replace the commonly used multi-class cross entropy loss function. By adjusting the parameters of the loss function, the training process has better convergence. Experimental results show that DTN-VGG16 has better performance than other traditional machine learning methods and deep learning models. And the proposed model has good robustness and generalization performance when valid on the real data of aerospace welding seams which is difficult to learn.
Complex contraception provision during the COVID-19 pandemic, how did sexual health services fare?
Authors: Datsenko Anna , Marriott Amelia , Shaw Jessica , Patel Raj , Foley Elizabeth
Published: March 2022

Background

This study evaluated whether sexual health services (SHS) across the UK could meet the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health (FSRH) standard for access by being able to offer an appointment for a long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) fitting within 2 weeks of initial contact.

Methods

SHSs offering LARCs were identified using the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) clinic database. During October 2020, all clinics open for more than 1 day a week were contacted by telephone. The researcher posed as a 20-year-old woman in a regular heterosexual relationship who was using condoms and requesting a contraceptive implant. Data collected included the time to wait to appointment and whether clinics offered bridging methods of contraception during any delay in appointment. It was also noted whether a local COVID-19 restriction was in place at the time of the call. The information collected was coded, and data was analysed using chi-square tests in SPSSv27.

Results

Of the 218 contactable clinics, 51.4% ( n = 112) of clinics offered the patient an appointment within two weeks, and 66.1% ( n = 144) of clinics could offer appointments within four weeks. 7.3% ( n = 16) of clinics offered the patient adjunct bridging oral contraception until the time of appointment. Comparing the devolved nations, 11/17 (64.7%) clinics in Scotland, 8/13 (61.5%) clinics in Wales, 0/4 (0.0%) clinics in Northern Ireland and 93/182 (51.1%) clinics in England offered an appointment within two weeks with significant regional variation across England ( p = .005). No statistically significant difference was demonstrated in access between clinics with or without high-level COVID-19 restrictions ( p = .056).

Conclusion

The 2-week standard was met in just over half of the occasions, with significant variation across regions across the UK. The development of a national target for access may improve access to LARCs.
Boom and bust, Chinese style: Multi-task regulatory dilemma and China’s stock market crisis in 2015
Authors: Li Chen , Zheng Huanhuan
Published: March 2022

China’s stock market experienced a major boom and bust between 2014 and 2015, with profound implications on China’s financial stability and governance reforms. Drawing on the organizational studies literature on hybrids, this article analyses how the hybridization of multiple logics has shaped the regulatory incentives, policy process and market dynamics in the evolution of China’s stock market crisis in 2015. It argues that China’s stock market governance has been trapped by the multi-task regulatory dilemma with logic volatility endogenous to its hybrid regime, which poses fundamental constraints on China’s financial stability and regulatory effectiveness. It concludes by discussing the alternative approaches of managing hybridity with integration and differentiation strategies in China’s post-crisis financial governance reforms.
Understanding women’s empowerment in post-Covid Korea: A historical analysis
Authors: Jang Haeyoung , Kwon Seung-Ho
Published: March 2022

South Korea has been faced with a widening economic gender gap during the recent Covid-19 pandemic. To inform discussion of Korean women’s future following the pandemic, this article explores the country’s history of women’s empowerment. It identifies cultural, educational, economic, and political changes, and their long-term effects on women’s role and status. The analysis is based on data collected from Korea’s national statistical database and a review of relevant literature. Findings inform policy directions for advancing women’s economic empowerment in Korea and other countries following a similar development path and contribute to expanding our understanding of the factors and relations influencing women’s empowerment.
Interstitial pneumonitis associated with leuprorelin acetate for a prostate cancer: A case report
Authors: Villalba-Cuesta Paula Lucía , Álvaro-Vegue Carmen , Carrasco-Muñoz Carlos Girado , Gomis-Goti Carmen , García-Villa Adrián
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Androgen deprivation therapy remains the essential treatment for disseminated prostate cancer. Interstitial pneumonitis following this therapy has been documented for just a few cases. However, reported cases frequently describe the onset of symptoms after recent administration (days or a few weeks) of both GnRH analogues and androgen antagonists, which makes the precise individual impact of each treatment difficult to estimate.

Case report

This report presents a case of a 94-year-old patient with interstitial pneumonitis whose onset started three months after the first dose of leuprorelin and bicalutamide for a metastatic prostate cancer.

Management and outcome

Once other possible diagnosis were ruled out, empiric corticosteroid treatment was initiated within 48 h of the admission. A spectacular clinical and radiological improvement was observed after 3 doses of steroids, enabling the patient to recover his basal respiratory situation. We considered that the most probable cause was toxic interstitial pneumonitis induced by leuprorelin.

Discussion

To our knowledge, it describes the longest interval between last administration of antiandrogen therapy and the development of pneumonitis. This fact may support a direct relation with leuprorelin, whose serum levels remain high for months because of its long-acting depot formulation.
Emergency department use by persons with MS: A population-based descriptive study with a focus on infection-related visits
Authors: Graf Jonas , Ng Huah Shin , Zhu Feng , Zhao Yinshan , Wijnands José MA , Evans Charity , Fisk John D , Marrie Ruth Ann , Tremlett Helen
Published: March 2022

We described emergency department (ED) visits (all visits and infection-related) by persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) in British Columbia, Canada (1 April 2012 to 31 December 2017). We identified 15,350 MS cases using health administrative data; 73.4% were women, averaging 51.4 years at study entry. Over 4.9 years of follow-up (mean), 56.0% of MS cases visited an ED (mean = 0.6 visits/person/year; total = 37,072 visits). A diagnosis was documented for 25,698 (69.3%) ED visits, and 18.4% (4725/25,698) were infection-related. Inpatient admissions were reported for 20.4% (5238/25,698) of all and 29.2% (1380/4725) of infection-related ED visits. Findings suggest that the ED plays a substantial role in MS healthcare and infection management.
Improving medication adherence in patients with hypertension through pharmacist-led telehealth services
Authors: Velázquez Fuentes Melannie N , Shah Pooja , Hale Genevieve M
Published: March 2022

Background

Pharmacist-led telehealth services have resulted in improvements in several disease states, including diabetes and conditions requiring anticoagulation. Pharmacists who used telehealth methods to follow up with their patient have noticed an increase in medication adherence.

Methods

Using PubMed and EBSCO secondary databases, inclusion criteria were any peer-reviewed study design such as randomized controlled trials, literature reviews, systematic reviews, and cohort studies published within the last 10 years. Search terms included pharmacist, telemedicine, telehealth, cardiovascular disease, and medication adherence.

Results

Seventeen articles were reviewed. Most pharmacist interventions for patients with hypertension involving telemedicine, E-Health, or remote monitoring were performed in the outpatient setting. The primary target of most studies consisted of improving medication adherence.

Conclusion

Pharmacist services play an integral role in maintaining medication adherence among the hypertensive population. Telehealth is an effective method of communication with patients to ensure their health is maintained, minimizing barriers of access to care.
Effect of intake temperature and coolant temperature with injection strategy on gasoline compression ignition combustion stability under the idle condition
Authors: Wu Binyang , Zi Zhenyuan , Zou Xionghui , Li Jinze , Jin Shouying
Published: March 2022

The gasoline compression ignition (GCI) is deemed to be one of the effective ways to achieve efficient and clean combustion. However, the low in-cylinder temperature under idle and low-load conditions leads to certain problems, such as difficulties in the ignition and unstable combustion. In this paper, based on a refitted single-cylinder diesel engine, the combustion stability of the GCI mode under idling speed and low-load conditions was studied. The combustion stability and thermal efficiency were improved by adjusting the intake temperature, the coolant temperature and the injection strategy. During the test, the engine speed was set to 800 rpm at the idle condition and 1300 rpm at the low-load condition, and the gross indicated mean effective pressure was 5.5 bar. The injection mode of the fuel was direct injection with one injector. The results indicated that when the injection timing was −15°CA ATDC, and the intake temperature was increased from 50°C to 60°C under the idle condition; the gross indicated thermal efficiency (ITEg) was 39.7%, an increase of 8.5%. Under the low-load condition, increasing the coolant temperature can improve the combustion stability. Specifically, when the coolant temperature was increased from 70°C to 90°C and the injection timing was −27°CA ATDC, an ITEg of 52.1% can be realized.
Comparison of Solitaire and Neuroform Stenting for Coiling of Intracranial Bifurcation Aneurysms
Authors: Wan Hailin , Lu Gang , Huang Lei , Ge Liang , Jiang Yeqing , Zhang Xiaolong
Published: March 2022

Purpose

To compare the technical performance and outcomes of Solitaire and Neuroform stents for treatment of intracranial bifurcation aneurysms (IBAs).

Methods

IBAs treated by stent-assisted coiling using a Solitaire or Neuroform stent between October 2010 and December 2019 were retrospectively evaluated. Patient demographics, aneurysm information, treatment technique, periprocedural and device-related complications, parent artery angle change, along with initial and follow-up angiographic results were analyzed.

Results

One hundred twenty-one patients with 121 IBAs treated with Solitaire (n = 101) or Neuroform (n = 20) stent-assisted coiling were included. Aneurysm size, thrombotic and hemorrhagic complication rate, initial occlusion rate and in-stent stenosis between the two cohorts were not significantly different. Aneurysm location was significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.032). Jailing technique rate for coiling was significantly higher in the Solitaire than the Neuroform group (70.3% vs. 35.0%, p < 0.01). Follow-up DSA demonstrated a significantly lower recurrence rate for the Solitaire cohort (2.9% vs. 22.2%, p = 0.016). Parent artery angle changes, immediately post-operative and on follow-up were significantly greater in the Solitaire stent group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

For intracranial bifurcation aneurysms, Solitaire stent-assisted coiling achieved a significantly lower recurrence rate and induced more favorable parent artery angular remodeling than Neuroform stenting.
Post-emergency teleconsultations during COVID crisis: TELE-SCOPE tool's feedback and epidemiological analysis
Authors: Chavda Emmanuelle , Guedon-Moreau Laurence , Williatte Lina , Cordova Enrique
Published: March 2022

Introduction

The severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 pandemic spread quickly. Health professionals are facing new challenges and looking for new ways to provide care in the context of lockdown and physical distancing. The Saint Vincent de Paul Hospital has leveraged its recent post-emergency teleconsultation solution (TELE-SCOPE), to address some COVID situations. Thanks to the usual follow-up teleconsultation within 24 h after their emergency discharge and the introduction of an additional one six days after, the eligible patients are able to return home earlier. This article provides feedback on how teleconsultation helps manage such a crisis. We also present an analysis of the treated population.

Materials and methods

The study includes the cases of 239 patients presenting symptoms of COVID-19 infection with a COVID score <4 over a period from 16 March to 11 May 2020. These were patients from the emergency department (ED) or COVID units. We based our analysis on the patient's medical files and an individual survey.

Results

One hundred and eighty-four teleconsultations (with video) and 143 phone calls were carried out. By the end of the teleconsultations, 92.9% were getting better and did not need further follow-up, 5.9% were reconvened to the ED, and 2.5% were hospitalized. No patient died, nor did get hospitalized in intensive care. In total, 95.6% are strongly or rather satisfied with the care provided by teleconsultation and 87.7% of patients are ready to reuse TELE-SCOPE as a means of monitoring in the context of the epidemic.

Conclusion

The teleconsultations are efficient and safe to follow patients with confirmed or suspected non-severe COVID infection (COVID score <4) after discharge from the emergency room or hospitalisation. It protects the patients and practitioners. The patient's satisfaction is high.
COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Associated Factors among Unvaccinated Workers at a Tertiary Hospital in Southern Thailand
Authors: Li Guanjie , Zhong Yanxu , Htet Hein , Luo Yunyan , Xie Xizhuo , Wichaidit Wit
Published: March 2022

Background

Hospital workers are at high risk of COVID-19 infection which is now vaccine-preventable. However, vaccine refusals also occur among hospital workers, but the associated factors have not been described.

Objectives

To describe: (1) the level of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, and; (2) the extent that history of pre-pandemic vaccine hesitancy and health beliefs regarding COVID-19 were associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among workers at a tertiary hospital in southern Thailand.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study using a paper-based self-administered questionnaire at a tertiary hospital in south Thailand in April 2021 and used multivariable logistic regression to identify psychological-behavioral factors associated with vaccine acceptance.

Results

Of 359 workers invited to participate, 226 participants returned the questionnaires, 67% of whom reported willingness to accept the vaccine. Vaccine acceptance was associated with perceived severity of disease (Adjusted OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.04, 4.10), perceived harm from non-vaccination (Adjusted OR = 2.51, 95% CI = 1.27, 4.96), and lower expectation of vaccine efficacy (Adjusted OR = 3.80, 95% CI = 1.87, 7.71).

Conclusion

Most workers in this study were willing to accept the COVID-19 vaccine, and such acceptance was associated with components of the health belief model. However, the cross-sectional study design did not allow causal inference, and study data were all self-reported with no probing of the responses. These limitations should be considered as caveats in the interpretation of the study findings.
Expiratory flow limitation in a cohort of highly symptomatic COPD patients
Authors: Beech Augusta , Jackson Natalie , Dean James , Singh Dave
Published: March 2022

The question addressed by the study

Small airway collapse during expiration, known as expiratory flow limitation (EFL), can be detected using oscillometry and is associated with worse clinical outcomes in COPD. This study investigated the prevalence of EFL in a cohort of highly symptomatic patients, evaluated clinical and lung function characteristics of patients with EFL and studied the repeatability of EFL over 6 months.

Materials/patients and methods

70 patients were recruited. Clinical characteristics and lung function metrics were collected at baseline and 6 months. Impulse oscillometry was used to detect the presence of EFL. Patients were defined as EFLHigh(change in reactance measured at 5 Hz (ΔX5) ≥0.28 kPa·L−1·s−1); EFLIntermediate(ΔX50.1–0.27 kPa·L−1·s−1) and EFLNone(ΔX5<0.1 kPa·L−1·s−1).

Results

EFLHighwas present in 47.8% of patients at baseline. ΔX5showed excellent repeatability over 6 months (ρ=0.78, p<0.0001, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) 0.88), with the best repeatability observed in EFLNoneand EFLHighpatients (ICC 0.77 and 0.65, respectively). Compared to EFLNonepatients, EFLHighhad a higher body mass index, worse health-related quality of life and increased peripheral airway resistance. EFLIntermediatewas more variable over time with less severe physiological impairment.

Answer to the question

Overall, these data indicate that EFLHighis a common, and relatively stable, component of disease pathophysiology in highly symptomatic COPD patients. EFLHighwas also associated with worse quality of life and obesity.
Numerical Quantification Model and Experiment of External Force on Roller Hemming of Curved Edge Aluminium Alloy with Adhesive
Authors: Li Jianjun , Zhu Wenfeng , Wang Shunchao
Published: March 2022

Accurate quantification of external force is the key to improve the high-precision hemming of autobody closure panels. However, the mechanism of external force on forming quality of complex contour sheet metal with adhesive is not clear subjected to geometric curvature and materials. In the present study, taking the curved edge aluminum sheet as the research object, SPH (smooth particle hydrodynamics) is introduced to simulate the viscous adhesive, and the SPH-FEM (Finite element method) coupling model of adhesive and panels considering the viscosity-pressure effect is established. The numerical simulation of the roller hemming process is carried out, then the validity and reliability of the proposed method are verified by measuring the external force in real time using triaxial force sensor. The multi-step forming process and the effect of external force on the roll in/out, surface wave and plastic strain of aluminum alloy sheet under the viscosity-pressure effect are studied, and the relationship between process parameters and external force is discussed. Results show that the coupling SPH-FEM model can well reflect the hemming process of curved edge structure. The normal force is about 2–3 times of the tangential force in the pre and final hemming process. Compared with the case without adhesive, the surface wave of flange part of the hemming with adhesive is slightly larger. The normal force and the tangential force increase about 90 N and 30 N respectively, when the height increases by 1 mm. It provides an important basis for the accurate control of hemming trajectory and the improvement of manufacturing quality of autobody closure panels.