bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Discovering fans and anti-fans among social media users based on their emotional reactions and comments
Authors: Chin Chih-Yu , Huang Wen-Yi
Published: March 2023

While audience profiling has been a critical concern in social media marketing, little research has used a systematic methodology to identify fans and anti-fans in social media communities. This study aimed to develop a fan and anti-fan detection model by analysing social media users’ mood responses and comments on fan page posts. The sentiment analysis of comments was conducted using a bidirectional long short-term memory (LSTM) model. A total of 83 posts, 849,820 emoticons and 216,688 comments were collected from two different fan pages over 14 days. Results showed that the proposed model, combining emotional reaction analysis and sentiment analysis of their comments, exhibited better fan and anti-fan identification capability than the single-dimensional behaviour model. It exhibited 96% accuracy, 100% precision and 93% recall in terms of community management. This study provides a novel, accurate and efficient way to identify fans and anti-fans that can help form more targeted marketing strategies for social media managers in a cost-effective manner.
Expertise, translation, and pandemics
Authors: Au Larry
Published: March 2023

Sociologists have much to learn from recent anthropological accounts of expertise in global health. This review surveys three recent ethnographies from Fearnley (2020), Keck (2020), and Porter (2019) to examine how global pushes for biosecurity and zoonotic disease surveillance are unfolding in the global periphery. Collectively, these accounts of global health programs in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and Vietnam show how global forms of expertise are translated into local contexts, running up against resistance and creating new alternate networks of expertise to overcome these barriers. While this focus on translation examines how practices of biosecurity originating from the Global North are implemented elsewhere and are transformed in the process, in preparation for future pandemics, global health experts should also consider how to collect, assemble, and translate local expertise so that it is legible to global science and policymakers faraway.
Nonoperative Management, Repair, or Reconstruction of the Medial Collateral Ligament in Combined Anterior Cruciate and Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries—Which Is Best? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Shultz Christopher L. , Poehlein Emily , Morriss Nicholas J. , Green Cynthia L. , Hu Jessica , Lander Sarah , Amoo-Achampong Kelms , Lau Brian C.
Published: March 2023

Background:

Combined injury of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the medial collateral ligament (MCL) is a common injury pattern and accounts for 20% of all ligamentous knee injuries. Despite advancements in surgical technique, there is no up-to-date consensus regarding the superiority of nonoperative versus operative management in higher-grade MCL tears of combined ACL-MCL injuries.

Purpose:

To interpret recent literature on treatment options and to provide an updated evidence-based approach for management of combined ACL-MCL knee injuries.

Study Design:

Systematic review and meta-analysis; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

We performed a systematic review on outcomes following treatment of concomitant ACL and MCL injuries. A computerized search was conducted in PubMed, Embase.com , and Scopus.com . Authors independently assessed eligible studies and screened titles and abstracts. Articles reporting on patients with concomitant ACL and MCL injuries with or without concomitant procedures were included. Data regarding study design, sample size, patient age and sex, length of follow-up, timing of surgery, indications, surgical methods, concomitant procedures, outcomes, and complications were recorded. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and functional outcomes, including Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, International Knee Documentation Committee scores, Lysholm and Tegner scores, and range of motion, were estimated via meta-analysis and compared statistically by surgical approach.

Results:

In total, 18 studies were included in the systematic review with level 1 to level 4 evidence, with a total of 1,534 cases, were included in the systematic review. Of these, 16 studies with sufficient statistical reporting including 997 cases with sufficient follow-up were included in meta-analysis. Three different approaches to combined ACL-MCL injuries were identified: ACL reconstruction with (1) nonoperative MCL, (2) MCL repair, and (3) MCL reconstruction. There was no statistical difference between nonoperative versus surgically managed MCL injuries for PROs, range of motion at final follow up, or quadriceps strength.

Conclusion:

Reconstruction of combined injury in a delayed fashion facilitates return of range of motion and may allow time for low-grade MCL tears to heal. If residual valgus or anteromedial rotatory laxity remains after a period of rehabilitation, then concomitant surgical management of ACL and MCL injuries is warranted. Avulsion MCL injuries and Stener-type lesions may benefit from early repair techniques.
Persistence of Nocturnality in Decapitated and Bisected Flatworms
Authors: Omond Shauni E. T. , Lesku John A.
Published: March 2023

The ability of flatworms to regenerate entire brain structures, and indeed much of their body from mere fragments of the whole animal, presents the unique opportunity to observe the development of day-night rhythms in adult animals. In many animals, young are arrhythmic, and their species-specific timing of activity develops as the animal matures. In this study, we created two flatworm cohorts, housed in isolation, that were regenerating either (1) the brain in a decapitated animal, or (2) major body structures in a bisected, tailless animal. In this way, we observed how bisection influenced the level of activity and diel rhythmicity, and how these developed as each flatworm regenerated. Here, we demonstrate that intact flatworms were predominantly active at night, with peaks in activity seen in the hours after lights-off and before lights-on. While decapitated and tailless flatworms could still move, both were less active than the original animal, and both segments retained a nocturnal lifestyle. Furthermore, decapitated flatworms, once regenerated, again showed a U-shaped pattern of nocturnal activity reminiscent of the two night-time peaks seen in the original animal. These results could be used to further investigate how regeneration may affect motor control and motor output, or to further investigate the presence of a clock in the flatworm brain.
Asian Healthcare Workers and Their Experiences of Racism in North America: A Scoping Review
Authors: Louie-Poon Samantha , Chiu Patrick , Kung Janice Y.
Published: March 2023

Background

The rising rates of anti-Asian sentiments has recently been called into question by several community activists and scholars. While this collective work has heightened awareness to address anti-Asian racism, the experiences of Asian healthcare workers in particular remains limited.

Purpose

To map the existing literature on anti-Asian racism experienced by Asian healthcare workers in North American healthcare settings, identify gaps in the current literature base, and inform future areas of anti-Asian racism research.

Methods

A scoping review following Arksey and O'Malley’s (2005) methodology with updated guidance by Levac et al. (2010) and Peters et al. (2020) was undertaken.

Findings

A total of 3565 articles from database searches were identified from eight databases, with 64 full text articles screened and 15 articles included in this review. Anti-Asian racism amongst healthcare workers has been conceptualized, studied, and understood in three broad categories: levels of racism, descriptions of anti-Asian racism, and the impact of racism. In 60% of the included articles, interpersonal level of racism was solely studied, while 40% articles simultaneously studied interpersonal and institutional levels of racism. Anti-Asian racism was described through three key perspectives: otherness, inferior professional status, and general racial discrimination. Lastly, the impact of Asian healthcare workers’ experiences of anti-Asian racism was studied by exploring the impact on mental health and barriers to career advancement.

Conclusion

Despite the presence of anti-Asian racism, the limited literature examining the complexities of the experiences of anti-Asian racism for Asian healthcare workers is concerning. Future scholarship requires further investigation that comprehensively explores the multiple pathways of anti-Asian racism, the contestation of monolithic stereotypes, and how Asian healthcare workers negotiate both hypervisibility and invisibility within healthcare spaces.
Machine Learning for Opportunistic Screening for Osteoporosis and Osteopenia Using Knee CT Scans
Authors: Sebro Ronnie , Elmahdy Mahmoud
Published: March 2023

Purpose

To predict whether a patient has osteoporosis/osteopenia using the attenuation of trabecular bone obtained from knee computed tomography (CT) scans.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of 273 patients who underwent contemporaneous knee CT scans and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) within 1 year. Volumetric segmentation of the trabecular bone of the distal femur, proximal tibia, patella, and proximal fibula was performed to obtain the bone CT attenuation. The data was randomly split into training/validation (78%) and test (22%) datasets and the performance in the test dataset were evaluated. The predictive properties of the CT attenuation of each bone to predict osteoporosis/osteopenia were assessed. Multivariable support vector machines (SVM) and random forest classifiers (RF) were used to predict osteoporosis/osteopenia.

Results

Patients with a mean age (range) of 67.9 (50–87) years, 85% female were evaluated. Seventy-seven (28.2%) of patients had normal bone mineral density (BMD), 140 (51.3%) had osteopenia, and 56 (20.5%) had osteoporosis. The proximal tibia had the best predictive ability of all bones and a CT attenuation threshold of 96.0 Hounsfield Units (HU) had a sensitivity of .791, specificity of .706, and area under the curve (AUC) of .748. The AUC for the SVM with cubic kernel classifier (AUC = .912) was better than the RF classifier (AUC = .683, P < .001) and better than using the CT attenuation threshold of 96.0 HU at the proximal tibia (AUC = .748, P = .025).

Conclusions

Opportunistic screening for osteoporosis/osteopenia can be performed using knee CT scans. Multivariable machine learning models are more predictive than the CT attenuation of a single bone.
How Do Religious and Political Beliefs Predict COVID-19 Vaccination Behavior Among U.S. College Students? A Study Using the Health Belief Model
Authors: Chen Yixin
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Predicting COVID-19 vaccination behavior among U.S. college students using the Health Belief Model (HBM).

Design

Cross-sectional survey.

Setting

Online.

Sample

A convenience sample of students in a public university in the U.S. (N = 411).

Measures

Demographics; COVID-19 vaccination behavior as outcome variable; HBM variables (perceived threat of COVID-19, perceived individual benefit of vaccination, perceived community benefit of vaccination, perceived vaccine-safety barrier, perceived vaccination-cost barrier [time and effort], self-efficacy), and fear of COVID-19 as proximal predictors; religious beliefs and political beliefs as distal predictors. Questions/items measuring all variables in the survey data collection were taken from relevant and peer-reviewed publications and were modified to reflect the context of COVID-19.

Analysis

Structural equation modeling (SEM).

Results

The model fit the data very well (χ2/df = 2.27/5 = .45, p = .810; RMSEA = .000). Perceived individual benefit (β = .489, p < .001), perceived vaccine-safety barrier (β = −.151, p = .001), perceived vaccination-cost barrier (β = −.152, p < .001), and political beliefs (β = −.094, p = .029) are significant predictors of vaccination behavior. Effects of religious beliefs are completely, and effects of political beliefs are partially mediated by perceived individual benefit and the two barrier variables.

Conclusion

Perceived individual benefit, the two barrier variables, and political beliefs are direct predictors, while religious beliefs are an indirect predictor, of COVID-19 vaccination behavior, suggesting that the HBM can effectively inform strategies to promote vaccination. Political beliefs are a much stronger predictor than religious beliefs. Students who are more religious or conservative tend to perceive less individual benefit and greater barriers to vaccination, making them less likely to get vaccinated. A limitation of this study is the disproportionate number of female participants (77.9%).
Implementation of clinical assistants in a pediatric oncology department: An impact analysis
Authors: Adroher Cristina , Calvo Celia , Pavon Laura , Casadevall Ricard , Alvarez Esther , Marsal Mariona , Lopez Francesc , Pons Miquel , del Castillo Manel , Morales Andres
Published: March 2023

Bureaucratic and administrative tasks associated with health care provision have historically fallen on health care professionals, which is one among the factors contributing to low job satisfaction and lower productivity. Incorporating new professional roles that help to better respond to the needs of both patients and professionals can increase the quality and efficiency of service provision. This article aims to evaluate the impact of the clinical assistant’s introduction in the Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona Children’s Hospital’s pediatric oncology department, in terms of (i) displacement of activity loads carried out by this new professional role and the consequent time freed up for physicians, (ii) physicians’ satisfaction and (iii) efficiency of the new care model. This is an observational and retrospective study using administrative data based on the type of activity performed by clinical assistants and the measurement of the time freed up in favor of the physicians. The potential skill mix productivity increase, survey of physicians’ satisfaction, and reduction in costs with the new model was analyzed. During the first year of its implementation in the pediatric oncology department, clinical assistants have performed 13,553 requests (69% of the total), representing a total saving of 266.83 hours or 6.67 workweeks of 40 hours. They performed 74% of outpatient surgical requests in the oncology department, 87% of day hospital requests and 54% of total requests in the outpatient consultations area. Physicians are overall satisfied with the new role and think they can use the time gained to do other things such as research or improving the quality of care. The role change allows reducing the cost per request by 56% in relation to the conventional model. In conclusion, the introduction of clinical assistants in the oncology department could be efficient to the extent that it displaces a significant part of the bureaucratic and administrative tasks previously performed by health care professionals and thus enables to reduce the cost of these processes. This delegation allows them to work more closely to the maximum of their competences and the physicians to have more time for higher added value clinical tasks and increase professional satisfaction.
Numerical solution of spacecraft pursuit-Evasion-Capture game based on progressive shooting method
Authors: Liao Tian , Li Shunli , Chen Xinlong , Zhu Mengping
Published: March 2023

The time optimal pursuit-evasion-capture (PEC) game problem for two spacecraft with continuous constant thrust is studied, which is a typical and considerable game scenario in practice. Progressive Shooting Method (PSM) is proposed to solve the PEC game in this paper. The method solves the problem in two stages. First-shooting settles a simplified problem by substituting CW dynamics to simple dynamics, while second-shooting settles the original problem with the results of first-shooting. For first-shooting, an analytic initial guess construction method based on prior information is proposed, in which vague adjoint variables are expressed by quantities with clear physical meanings. Through qualitative analysis for the optimal trajectory, the quantities are approximately estimated and then analytic expressions of an initial guess are constructed. The proposed method provides an instructive way to deal with the difficulty that an initial guess is hard to provide for an optimal control problem based on indirect-method. Numerical results show that a PEC game can be solved by the proposed method with well convergence and high computational efficiency.
A systematic review of literature on human libraries: Objectives, benefits, and challenges
Authors: Safdar Muhammad , Siddique Nadeem , Khan Muhammad Ajmal
Published: March 2023

This systematic review aims to collect and review, systematically the literature on human libraries to identify the purpose of managing human libraries, their benefits, and barriers. Another purpose of the study was to assess the quality level of studies conducted on human libraries. The study collected and screened the literature on the topic in the light of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines. The authors identified 1764 studies by searching five reputed databases and found 24 studies eligible for this review. The research employed Boynton and Greenhalgh (2004) guidelines to assess the quality of the reviewed literature. The study found that the major objective of human libraries is to share knowledge, arrange to get together opportunities, promote understanding and respect different cultures. Moreover, human libraries aim to combat prejudice and bridge differences through social dialog. The study also shares the barriers and benefits of managing human libraries. This is the first review in terms of its nature that collected and reviewed the literature on human libraries systematically. The review may facilitate library professionals to understand and implement the concept in libraries that can prove a game-changer for libraries when their (libraries) existence is being questioned in this digital era.
Outpatient administration of paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (TIP) for germ cell tumor
Authors: Schepers Allison J , Smith David C , McDevitt Rachel L
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The combination of paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (TIP) is frequently used for the treatment of metastatic germ cell tumors. Due to complex supportive care and infusion requirements, TIP is typically given in the inpatient setting. This analysis describes the development and implementation of a protocol for complete outpatient administration of TIP chemotherapy.

Methods

From July 2020 to June 2021, adults receiving TIP for germ cell tumor at University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center were evaluated for outpatient administration. The primary outcome was number of inpatient bed days saved by giving outpatient TIP chemotherapy, with the goal of giving 75% of TIP cycles outpatient. Patients receiving outpatient TIP were also assessed for chemotherapy dose reduction or delays and acute toxicities of kidney injury, encephalopathy, and hemorrhagic cystitis.

Results

From July 2020 to July 2021, three patients received 13 cycles of TIP. Ten cycles (77%) were administered in the outpatient setting, resulting in a savings of 50 inpatient bed days in one year. No patients required a dose reduction or delay in chemotherapy or experienced acute kidney injury, encephalopathy, or hemorrhagic cystitis during outpatient TIP treatment.

Conclusion

Despite logistic and supportive care challenges, TIP can be administered completely in the outpatient setting.
A Population-Based Study on Injury Risk and Disparities Among Children With ADHD
Authors: Shen Jiabin , Shi Junxin , Gauthier Lynne , Li Wenjun
Published: March 2023

Objective:

Impaired attention and inhibitory control put children with ADHD at potentially high risk of injury—one of the leading causes of disability in the general pediatric population. Existing research has yet to examine this important health risk using nationally representative samples. This population-based study aimed to address this gap.

Methods:

National estimates of injury occurrences were generated from 66,236 children in the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey 2010–2019 datasets. Multiple logistic regression models further examined the impact of injury type, age, race/ethnicity, sex, parental education, income, marital and insurance status on injury prevalence.

Results:

Compared to children without ADHD, those with ADHD have significantly higher injury prevalence ( OR = 1.20, 95% CI [1.07, 1.33]) across injury types and most sociodemographic subgroups.

Conclusions:

Children with ADHD are more likely to experience injury. Future research should investigate mechanisms of injury disparities to inform future preventive efforts.
EU-sentiment predicts the 2016 Dutch referendum vote on the EU’s association with Ukraine better than concerns about Russia or national discontent
Authors: Abts Koen , Etienne Tom , Kutiyski Yordan , Krouwel André
Published: March 2023

This article utilises large-N panel data to compare two theories of referendum voting behaviour in order to understand the ‘for’ or ‘against’ vote in the 2016 Dutch referendum on the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. It studies the extent to which voting behaviour was predicted by Eurosceptic attitudes and fear of upsetting Russia (issue-based theory), versus dissatisfaction with the Dutch government and general political discontent (second-order theory). Our findings indicate that issue-based determinants predict the referendum vote better than second-order predictors. However, Eurosceptic attitudes and government satisfaction both outperform concerns about the relationship with Russia as a predictor. We thus provide evidence that the issue-based and second-order approaches to explain voting in EU referendums are complementary, but not equal in explanatory strength.
Architectural space as an open, adaptable system: A design experiment
Authors: Tsoumpri Dimitra
Published: March 2023

Flexible and adaptable spaces have been a field of interest in western architecture since the 1930s and Modernism’s “Open plan.” Even though it started as a design problem, as cybernetics became a more active part of the design process, adaptable space became dependent on technology and mechanical systems. A lot of methods tend to diminish the role of architectural design and offer deterministic implementations that limit the user’s creative freedom and interaction with the adaptable system. This study explores how adaptable space can be approached through design and how adaptability can be implemented in existing spaces through a computational approach. The paper is structured in two parts, the analysis, and the concept method. The first part includes the literacy review and known architectural examples of adaptability. The second part focuses on proposing a design method for approaching adaptable spaces with a high degree of user creative freedom. The method is tested through a case study regarding the implementation of a spatial adaptable system in a 1970s apartment.
Intersectionality Policymaking Toolkit: Key Principles for an Intersectionality-Informed Policymaking Process to Serve Diverse Women, Children, and Families
Authors: Hull Shawnika J. , Massie Jenné S. , Holt Sidney L. , Bowleg Lisa
Published: March 2023

Health and economic inequities among U.S. racial/ethnic minority women and children are staggering. These inequities underscore a dire need for intersectionality-informed, social-justice-oriented maternal and child (MCH) policies and programs for U.S. women and children. In response, we developed the “Intersectionality Policymaking Toolkit: Key Principles for an Intersectionality Informed Policymaking Process to Serve Diverse Women, Children and Families” to assist U.S. policymakers/aides, practitioners, and other stakeholders in developing more equitable MCH policies/programs. This article describes the Toolkit development process and initial assessments of acceptability and feasibility for use in MCH policymaking. Between 2018 and 2021, we utilized the process that the World Health Organization (WHO) used to develop its WHO Surgical Safety Checklist to develop the content (e.g., case studies) and format (i.e., structure), make strategic decisions (e.g., core items, primary audiences, timing of utilization), test concepts, and receive feedback. We convened a 2-day planning meeting with experts (n = 8) in intersectionality, policymaking, and MCH to draft the Toolkit. Next, we convened half-day workshops with policymaking and program leadership and staff in Washington, DC, New Orleans, LA, and Santa Fe, NM, to refine the Toolkit (n = 37). Then we conducted an initial assessment of the Toolkits’ acceptability and feasibility using surveys (n = 21), followed by focus groups (n = 7). The resulting Toolkit distills Critical Race Theory’s and intersectionality’s most critical elements into a user-friendly modality to promote and enhance equitable MCH policies and programs for diverse U.S. women and families.
Evaluation of Radiation Sensitivity Differences in Mouse Liver Tumor Organoids Using CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Gene Mutation
Authors: Jeon Wan , Jung Se Yeon , Lee Chae Young , Kim Won-Tae , Kim Hyun , Jang Kyoung Won , Lim Heuijin , Lee Manwoo , Jeong Dong Hyeok , Kim Sung Dae , Kim In Ah , Choi Si Ho , Son Tae Gen , Kim Kyung Su
Published: March 2023

Background

To assess the radiosensitivity of liver tumors harboring different genetic mutations, mouse liver tumors were generated in vivo through the hydrodynamic injection of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/caspase 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) constructs encoding single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) targeting Tp53, Pten, Nf1, Nf2, Tsc2, Cdkn2a, or Rb1.

Methods

The plasmid vectors were delivered to the liver of adult C57BL/6 mice via hydrodynamic tail vein injection. The vectors were injected into 10 mice in each group. Organoids were generated from mouse liver tumors. The radiation response of the organoids was assessed using an ATP cell viability assay.

Results

The mean survival period of mice injected with vectors targeting Nf2 (4.8 months) was lower than that of other mice. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, and target sequencing analyses revealed that mouse liver tumors harbored the expected mutations. Tumor organoids were established from mouse liver tumors. Histological evaluation revealed marked morphological similarities between the mouse liver tumors and the generated tumor organoids. Moreover, IHC staining indicated that the parental tumor protein expression pattern was maintained in the organoids. The results of the ATP cell viability assay revealed that the tumor organoids with mutated Nf2 were more resistant to high-dose radiation than those with other gene mutations.

Conclusions

This study developed a radiation response assessment system for mouse tumors with mutant target genes using CRISPR/Cas9 and organoids. The Tp53 and Pten double mutation in combination with the Nf2 mutation increased the radiation resistance of tumors. The system used in this study can aid in elucidating the mechanism underlying differential intrinsic radiation sensitivity of individual tumors.
Oocyte cumulus complex quality and oviduct transportation velocity in systemic autoimmune disease model mice
Authors: Hosotani Marina , Ichii Osamu , Watanabe Takafumi , Kon Yasuhiro
Published: March 2023

Oocyte transportation by the oviduct involves the interaction between ciliated epithelial cells and cumulus cells. To determine whether the quality of cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) changes the transportation property of COCs, we compared the transportation velocity of COCs (TVC) by the infundibulum ex vivo with various combinations of infundibula and COCs collected from different mice. We used young and aged C57BL/6N and MRL/MpJ, and MRL/MpJ- Fas lpr/lpr mice as the strains with intact female reproductive function and the systemic autoimmune disease model exhibiting oocyte pick-up dysfunction owing to the morphofunctional abnormality of ciliated epithelium, respectively. The TVC of aged MRL strains was less than that of aged C57BL/6N mice, suggesting that aging affects the transportation of COCs in MRL strains. The TVC of aged MRL/MpJ- Fas lpr/lpr mice was the least among all examined combinations, whereas the TVC accelerated when the infundibulum or COCs were collected from other strains. These results indicate that the transportation property of COCs is determined not only by the ciliary function in the infundibulum but also by the properties of COCs.
Effectiveness of Brachial Plexus Blocks in Obesity: Secondary Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Ali Barkat , Palazzo Michelle D. , Tien Huey
Published: March 2023

Background:

Brachial plexus block for hand and upper extremity procedures in the obese presents a unique set of technical challenges. The authors examined how obesity affects procedural success, quality of anesthesia, and patient satisfaction.

Methods:

Secondary analysis of a randomized control trial comparing the retroclavicular versus supraclavicular brachial plexus block for distal upper extremity surgery was conducted. Patients were randomized to supraclavicular or retroclavicular brachial plexus block groups in the original trial. In this study, the authors dichotomized patients by obesity to compare differences in outcomes.

Results:

Sixteen of 117 patients (13.7%) were obese. The groups were statistically well balanced in terms of baseline and operative variables. Obese patients had increased imaging time 2.7 minutes (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.44-3.92) versus 1.9 minutes (95% CI, 1.64-2.16), P value = .05; needling time 6.6 minutes (95% CI, 5.17-7.95) versus 5.8 minutes (95% CI, 5.04-5.74), P = .02; and procedure time 9.3 minutes (95% CI, 7.04-11.46) versus 7.3 minutes (95% CI, 6.79-7.79), P = .01. Block success and complications were not statistically significant. The visual analog scores during the block, at 2 hours, and 24 hours after were not statistically different. Patient satisfaction score among obese patients was 9.1 (95% CI, 8.6-9.6) versus 9.2 (95% CI, 9.1-9.4), P = .63.

Conclusion:

Findings from this trial suggest that despite an increased procedural difficulty, the use of both supraclavicular and retroclavicular brachial plexus blocks is associated with comparable quality of anesthesia, similar complication profile, equal opioid requirements, and similar patient satisfaction in the obese.
‘Help us better understand our changing climate’: Exploring the discourse of Citizen Science
Authors: Pérez-Llantada Carmen
Published: March 2023

In this article I claim that online Citizen Science projects are exemplars of a digital genre that acts as text and medium. To support this claim I apply a previously proposed two-dimensional genre analytical model and develop empirical procedures to identify how ‘communicative purpose’ is realised by functional units/links, which in turn are realised by rhetorical strategies (verbal and visual) in two dimensions, the reading mode and the navigation mode. Empirical data show that this genre fulfils a set of distinct communicative purposes, namely to build credibility and trust in scientific research, to make specialised contents accessible to audiences with different levels of scientific literacy, to convey emotion and to build and maintain citizen-volunteers’ engagement. Such multifunctionality fulfils the social exigence of the genre, that is, supporting participatory science. The study contributes to the empirical characterisation of non-linear, multimodal genres taking into account the roles of text producer and text receiver.
Research Progress on the Anti-Tumor Mechanism and Reversal of Multidrug Resistance of Zuojin Pill and its Main Components, Evodiamine and Berberine
Authors: Wang Xinyi , Tang Gonghuan , Guo Hui , Ma Jingjing , Liu Dongmei , Wang Yuwei , Jin Ruyi , Li Zhi , Tang Yuping
Published: March 2023

Background

Cancer is one of the most serious diseases worldwide that threatens human health and leads to death. Chemotherapy is the main clinical method to treat tumors, but, despite the development of new chemotherapeutic drugs, the multidrug resistance (MDR) of cancer cells to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs remains a major cause of failure in cancer prevention and treatment. Therefore, overcoming this resistance has become a major challenge in cancer prevention and treatment.

Method

With the in-depth study of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) for the treatment of tumors, many such medicines have been found that can reverse MDR and enhance the sensitivity of chemotherapy. ZJW is a famous traditional medicine formula from China, recorded first in an ancient medicine book named Danxi Xinfa. It is composed of Huanglian and Wuzhuyu in a ratio of 6:1 by mass.

Conclusion

ZJW can inhibit proliferation, induce apoptosis, inhibit invasion and metastasis, and reverse MDR of tumor cells through multiple pathways and multiple targets. In this paper, we briefly review recent research on ZJW and its main components, evodiamine and berberine, in the anti-tumor mechanism and reversal of multidrug resistance.
Evaluation of automatic versus material test-based calibrations of concrete models for ballistic impact simulations
Authors: Antoniou Andria , Børvik Tore , Kristoffersen Martin
Published: March 2023

Concrete is used for protective structures all over the world. Accurate response estimates to a given threat is vital for designing such structures. Concrete models often require numerous input parameters for which sufficient experimental data can be challenging to obtain. Some models are accompanied by parameter generators which use the unconfined compression strength to extrapolate the remainder of the parameters based on experimental databases. This study investigates simulation of ballistic impact on high-strength concrete with 75 MPa nominal unconfined cylindrical compressive strength. The first objective is to investigate the accuracy parameter generators to produce input data for commonly used concrete material models. The second objective is to establish and evaluate a simplified parameter calibration procedure based on standard material experiments and data from the literature. The results employing parameter generators varied notably between the models while still giving decent ballpark estimates. The parameters obtained from inverse modelling of standardized material tests improved the results significantly. The findings of this study recommend caution when using automatic parameter generators. Although a detailed calibration of these concrete models is complicated, a simplified calibration gives reasonable predictions, making this the advisable approach for designing concrete protective structures.
Women’s descriptive representation and support for the inclusion of gender-related provisions in trade agreements
Authors: Park Seungbin , Shin Mi Jeong
Published: March 2023

Recent regional trade agreements (RTAs) tend to link gender and trade issues through gender-related provisions. This pattern is mostly observed in RTAs formed between global North and South countries. Despite a growing interest in gender-related provisions among countries, there have not been systematic studies on the formation of RTAs with these instruments. Our study underscores women’s descriptive representation. Female representatives care more about advancing women’s interests and improving their status than their male counterparts. Thus, we posit that when women’s political representation in a country’s legislature is high, it is more likely to support gender-related provisions. Focusing on RTAs between the European Union and democratic developing countries from 1997 and 2016, we find some support that women’s presence in the legislature affects trade policy outcomes. Countries with higher female representation in the legislature tend to join RTAs with gender-related provisions, but these countries do not increase their commitment to gender equality by adding multiple provisions on gender.
Does Ending a Posterior Construct Proximally at C2 Versus C3 Impact Patient Reported Outcomes in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy Patients up to 24 months After the Surgery?
Authors: Algarni Nizar , Dea Nicolas , Evaniew Nathan , McIntosh Greg , Jacobs Bradley W , Paquet Jérome , Wilson Jefferson R , Hall Hamilton , Bailey Christopher S , Weber Michael H , Nataraj Andrew , Attabib Najmedden , Rampersaud Y Raja , Cadotte David W , Stratton Alexandra , Christie Sean D , Fisher Charles G , Charest-Morin Raphaële
Published: March 2023

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Objective

The primary objective was to evaluate the impact of the upper instrumented level (UIV) being at C2 vs C3 in posterior cervical construct on patient reported outcomes (PROs) up to 24 months after surgery for cervical degenerative myelopathy (DCM). Secondary objectives were to compare operative time, intra-operative blood loss (IOBL), length of stay (LOS), adverse events (AEs) and re-operation.

Methods

Patients who underwent a posterior cervical instrumented fusion (3 and + levels) with a C2 or C3 UIV, with 24 months follow-up were analyzed. PROs (NDI, EQ5D, SF-12 PCS/MCS, NRS arm/neck pain) were compared using ANCOVA. Operative duration, IOBL, AEs, and re-operation were compared. Subgroup analysis was performed on patient presenting with pre-operative malalignment (cervical sagittal vertical axis ≥40 mm and/or T1slope- cervical lordosis >15°).

Results

173 patients were included, of which 41 (24%) had a C2 UIV and 132 (76%) a C3 UIV. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups for the changes in PROs up to 24 months. Subgroup analysis of patients with pre-operative malalignment showed a trend towards greater improvement in the NDI at 12 months with a C2 UIV ( P = .054). Operative time, IOBL and peri-operative AEs were more in C2 group ( P < .05). There was no significant difference in LOS and re-operation ( P > .05).

Conclusion

In this observational study, up to 24 months after surgery for posterior cervical fusion in DCM greater than 3 levels, PROs appear to evolve similarly.
Flexible work arrangements in family firms: A socioemotional wealth perspective
Authors: Stirpe Luigi
Published: March 2023

This study investigates the use and effects of Flexible Work Arrangements (FWAs) across family and non-family firms. Drawing on the Socioemotional Wealth (SEW) model, first, I theorise on family firms’ attitude towards FWAs. I anticipate that, although FWAs may deliver employee and organisational advantages, family firms are less likely to adopt them because they reduce employee visibility and presence, thus threatening their ability to control the workforce (i.e. an essential component of their SEW). Second, I extend application of the SEW model to the analysis of the influence of family on the effects of FWAs. I posit that the pursuit of control provides a less-than-optimal ground for these arrangements to thrive in family firms, thus reducing their workforce outcomes. The hypotheses proposed are tested via ordinary least square regressions on a sample of 781 highly diverse workplaces operating in different industries and sectors in the UK. The results obtained shed light on the stance family firms take when addressing workforce management decisions and offer novel insights into the distinctiveness of these firms as employers, supporting the view that they tend to be agentic towards the workforce. Importantly, the findings here also draw attention to critical challenges family firms may face when competing for talent, particularly at the current time when the shift towards flexible work is accelerating dramatically.
A complementary low-Schottky-barrier S/D-based nanoscale dopingless bidirectional reconfigurable field effect transistor with an improved forward current
Authors: Jin Xiaoshi , Zhang Shouqiang , Zhao Chunrong , Li Meng , Liu Xi
Published: March 2023

In this paper, a nanoscale dopingless bidirectional RFET (BRFET) is proposed. Unlike conventional BRFETs, the proposed BRFET uses two different metal materials to form two different types of Schottky barriers on the interface between the S/D and silicon. For one of the two metal forms, the Schottky barrier height between the conduction band of the semiconductor and one of the two metal materials is lower than half of the energy band gap. The Schottky barrier height between the valence band of the semiconductor and the other kind of the two metal materials is lower than half of the energy band gap of the semiconductor. Therefore, a complementary low Schottky barrier (CLSB) is formed. Therefore, more carriers from the source electrode can easily flow into the semiconductor region through thermionic emission in both n-mode and p-mode compared to conventional BRFET operation, which generates carriers through the band-to-band tunneling effect. Therefore, a larger forward current can be achieved by the proposed CLSB-BRFET. The performance of the CLSB-BRFET is investigated by device simulation and compared with that of the BRFET. The working principle is interpreted through an analysis based on energy band theory. The output characteristics and reconfigurable function are also investigated and verified.
Impairments in SHMT2 expression or cellular folate availability reduce oxidative phosphorylation and pyruvate kinase activity
Authors: Fiddler Joanna L. , Blum Jamie E. , Heyden Katarina E. , Castillo Luisa F. , Thalacker-Mercer Anna E. , Field Martha S.
Published: March 2023

Background

Serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2 (SHMT2) catalyzes the reversible conversion of tetrahydrofolate (THF) and serine-producing THF-conjugated one-carbon units and glycine in the mitochondria. Biallelic SHMT2 variants were identified in humans and suggested to alter the protein’s active site, potentially disrupting enzymatic function. SHMT2 expression has also been shown to decrease with aging in human fibroblasts. Immortalized cell models of total SHMT2 loss or folate deficiency exhibit decreased oxidative capacity and impaired mitochondrial complex I assembly and protein levels, suggesting folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism (FOCM) and the oxidative phosphorylation system are functionally coordinated. This study examined the role of SHMT2 and folate availability in regulating mitochondrial function, energy metabolism, and cellular proliferative capacity in both heterozygous and homozygous cell models of reduced SHMT2 expression. In this study, primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) were isolated from a C57Bl/6J dam crossed with a heterozygous Shmt2+/− male to generate Shmt2+/+ (wild-type) or Shmt2+/− (HET) MEF cells. In addition, haploid chronic myeloid leukemia cells (HAP1, wild-type) or HAP1 cells lacking SHMT2 expression (ΔSHMT2) were cultured for 4 doublings in either low-folate or folate-sufficient culture media. Cells were examined for proliferation, total folate levels, mtDNA content, protein levels of pyruvate kinase and PGC1α, pyruvate kinase enzyme activity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and mitochondrial function.

Results

Homozygous loss of SHMT2 in HAP1 cells impaired cellular folate accumulation and altered mitochondrial DNA content, formate production, membrane potential, and basal respiration. Formate rescued proliferation in HAP1, but not ΔSHMT2, cells cultured in low-folate medium. Pyruvate kinase activity and protein levels were impaired in ΔSHMT2 cells and in MEF cells exposed to low-folate medium. Mitochondrial biogenesis protein levels were elevated in Shmt2+/− MEF cells, while mitochondrial mass was increased in both homozygous and heterozygous models of SHMT2 loss.

Conclusions

The results from this study indicate disrupted mitochondrial FOCM impairs mitochondrial folate accumulation and respiration, mitochondrial formate production, glycolytic activity, and cellular proliferation. These changes persist even after a potentially compensatory increase in mitochondrial biogenesis as a result of decreased SHMT2 levels.
Genome-wide identification and comparative expression profiling of the WRKY transcription factor family in two Citrus species with different Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus susceptibility
Authors: Dai Wen-Shan , Peng Ting , Wang Min , Liu Ji-Hong
Published: March 2023

Background

Salicylic Acid (SA) is a pivotal phytohormone in plant innate immunity enhancement of triggered by various pathogens, such as Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the causal agent of Huanglongbing (HLB). WRKY is a plant specific transcription factor (TF) family, which plays crucial roles in plant response to biotic stresses. So far, the evolutionary history, functions, and expression patterns under SA treatment and CLas infection of WRKY family are poorly understood in Citrus, despite the release of the genome of several Citrus species. A comprehensive genomic and expressional analysis is worth to conduct for this family.

Results

Here, a genome-wide identification of WRKY TFs was performed in two Citrus species: Citrus sinensis (HLB-sensitive) and Poncirus trifoliata (HLB-tolerant). In total, 52 CsWRKYs and 51 PtrWRKYs were identified, whose physical and chemical properties, chromosome locations, phylogenetic relationships and structural characteristics were comparatively analyzed. Especially, expression patterns of these WRKY genes before and after SA treatment and CLas infection were compared. Based on this result, seven pairs of orthologous WRKY genes showing opposite expression patterns in two Citrus species were screened out. Moreover, two pairs of orthologous WRKY genes with significant differences in the number or type of stress-responsive cis-elements in the promoter regions were discovered. Subcellular localization and transcriptional activation activity assays revealed that these two pairs of orthologous genes are classic WRKY TFs localize in the nucleus and could function as transcriptional activators.

Conclusion

In this study, we systematically analyzed the genomic characterization of WRKY family in two Citrus species, together with the analyses of expression patterns under SA signaling and CLas infection. Our study laid a foundation for further study on the function of WRKY TFs in HLB response and SA signaling of Citrus.