bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New Old World Andrena species, with a focus on Turkey (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae)
Authors: WOOD THOMAS JAMES
Published: April 2023

Andrena is the second most speciose genus of bees, but much taxonomic work is still required to describe taxa from its centre of diversity—the Old World Mediterranean basin including Turkey to Central Asia—as well as to resolve nomenclatural issues. An additional 16 new species discovered in museum collections are described here: Andrena (Taeniandrena) laevicorpus spec. nov. and Andrena (Ulandrena) graciliata spec. nov. from Cyprus; Andrena (Taeniandrena) taedium spec. nov. from Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, and Iran; Andrena (incertae sedis) maharashtra spec. nov. from India; Andrena (Leimelissa) claves spec. nov. from Kazakhstan; Andrena (Hoplandrena) cephalgia spec. nov. from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan; Andrena (Habromelissa) angustula spec. nov. from Mongolia; Andrena (Tarsandrena) palliata spec. nov. from Mongolia & China; and Andrena (Graecandrena) peculiaris spec. nov., Andrena (incertae sedis) colatorium spec. nov., Andrena (incertae sedis) discordia spec. nov., Andrena (incertae sedis) orichalcum spec. nov., Andrena (Melandrena) nox spec. nov., Andrena (Margandrena) cilicia spec. nov., Andrena (Notandrena) ayna spec. nov., and Andrena (Notandrena) taurus spec. nov. from Turkey. A lectotype is designated for Andrena (Avandrena) heterodoxa Pérez, 1903 sp. resurr. which is recognised as the senior synonym of A. (Avandrena) siciliana Warncke, 1980 syn. nov. Andrena (Andrena) bulgariensis Warncke, 1965 is synonymised syn. nov. with A. (Andrena) inconstans Morawitz, 1877. Andrena (Hoplandrena) schoenitzeri Gusenleitner, 1998 is synonymised syn. nov. with A. (Hoplandrena) rosae Panzer, 1801. Andrena (Truncandrena) medeninensis usura Warncke, 1967 is synonymised syn. nov. with A. (Truncandrena) pareklisiae Mavromoustakis, 1957. The female of A. (Chlorandrena) tricuspidata Scheuchl, 2010 and the males of A. (Poecilandrena) adjacens Morawitz, 1875, A. (Aciandrena) palmyriae Wood, 2021, and A. (Tarsandrena) sarydzhasi Osytshnjuk, 2005 are described for the first time. Lectotypes are designated for Andrena (Melandrena) metallica Radoszkowski, 1876 (=Andrena metallescens Cockerell, 1906) and Andrena (Leimelissa) mimetes Cockerell, 1929. Eighteen additional Andrena species are reported from Turkey for the first time, emphasising its status as the likely centre of diversity for this hyper-speciose genus.
Revision of the Metarbelodes Strand, 1909 genus-group
(Lepidoptera: Cossoidea: Metarbelidae) with descriptions of two new genera and 33 new species from high elevations of eastern and southern Africa
Authors: LEHMANN INGO , ZAHIRI REZA , HUSEMANN MARTIN
Published: April 2023

The African genus-group Metarbelodes Strand, 1909 of the family Metarbelidae comprises three genera: the monotypic Metarbelodes; Zambezia, gen. nov. with five new species (i.e., Zambezia diredaouaensis sp. nov.; Zambezia madambae sp. nov.; Zambezia jennyhuntae sp. nov.; Zambezia durrellbarnesi sp. nov.; Zambezia darrelplowesi sp. nov.); and Lukeniana, gen. nov. with 28 new species (i.e., Lukeniana enaiposha sp. nov.; Lukeniana raymondrevellii sp. nov.; Lukeniana rajaeii sp. nov.; Lukeniana tubiraensis sp. nov.; Lukeniana lutztoepferi sp. nov.; Lukeniana madrandelei sp. nov.; Lukeniana friederikebauerae sp. nov.; Lukeniana chapmani sp. nov.; Lukeniana michaelgrzimeki sp. nov.; Lukeniana kammeri sp. nov.; Lukeniana timdavenporti sp. nov.; Lukeniana mzuzuensis sp. nov.; Lukeniana mbalaensis sp. nov.; Lukeniana robplowesi sp. nov.; Lukeniana hausmanni sp. nov.; Lukeniana lenzi sp. nov.; Lukeniana stueningi sp. nov.; Lukeniana utaheidenreichae sp. nov.; Lukeniana georgeadamsoni sp. nov.; Lukeniana mikerobertsi sp. nov.; Lukeniana andreashempi sp. nov.; Lukeniana kakamegaensis sp. nov.; Lukeniana jankiellandi sp. nov.; Lukeniana bergsteni sp. nov.; Lukeniana carolae sp. nov.; Lukeniana stevecollinsi sp. nov.; Lukeniana butleri sp. nov.; Lukeniana kollhorsti sp. nov.), plus Lukeniana obliqualinea (Bethune-Baker, 1909), new comb. Metarbelodes is recorded only from the Bvumba Mountains in eastern Zimbabwe; Zambezia is represented by one species in the northern escarpment of the Harar Plateau (East-Central Ethiopia) and four species on the Southern African Plateau and the adjacent Bvumba Mountains; and Lukeniana occurs near the northern edge of the Southern African Plateau, but primarily in areas associated with the East African Rift System (EARS; both the Western and Eastern Branch). We provide detailed descriptions and images of all species and the first identification key. This revision represents the first comprehensive taxonomic treatment of the group and provides the basis for future work on this rare and cryptic, but diverse group of moth.
Revision of the South American stiletto fly genera Entesia Oldroyd and Melanothereva Malloch, with the description of a new genus (Therevidae: Agapophytinae)
Authors: WINTERTON SHAUN L. , IRWIN MICHAEL E.
Published: April 2023

The South American members of the stiletto fly subfamily Agapophytinae (Diptera: Therevidae) occur in the South American Transition Zone, predominantly in Chile and southwestern Argentina. The four agapophytine genera described from this region are Entesia Oldroyd, 1968; Melanothereva Malloch 1932; Pachyrrhiza Philippi, 1865; and more recently, Sigalopella Irwin & Winterton, 2020. Here we revise Melanothereva and Entesia and describe the new monotypic genus Pachylopella. Keys to South American Agapophytinae genera and species of Melanothereva and Entesia are provided.
Characteristic Dermatoscopic Features of Hyperpigmented Macules on the Faces of Young Children
Authors: Lai Sha , Lu Yao , Huang Xulei , Ji Qiuqin
Published: April 2023

The aim was to describe the characteristic dermatoscopic features of hyperpigmented macules on the faces of young children. Sixteen patients with typical clinical presentations of hyperpigmented macules on the faces of young children were included in this study. The lesions were evaluated using a dermatoscope. The clinical and dermatoscopic features were analyzed and summarized. There were 12 boys and 4 girls enrolled in the study. The hyperpigmented macules had an age of onset ranging from 1 to 18 months (mean, 6.12 months). The hyperpigmentation was distributed on the forehead and/or temple, as follows: forehead (n = 8 [50%]); temple (n = 3 [18.8%]); and both sites (n = 5 [31.2%]). Fifteen patients (93.7%) had pseudoreticular pigmentation, 1 patient (6.3%) had reticular pigment with pseudoreticular pigment, and 100% had erythema and linear/branching vessels. Light brown pseudoreticular pigment and linear vessels were shown to be the 2 major dermatoscopic manifestations of hyperpigmented macules on the faces of young children.
Distributive Unfairness, National Pride, and Willingness to Fight: Evidence From Taiwan
Authors: Wu Wen-Chin
Published: April 2023

How does income distribution affect citizens’ willingness to defend their country? In this article, I argue that perceived unfair income distribution reduces citizens’ attachment to their country and inhibits their willingness to fight. Using mediation analysis with data collected by the World Values Survey in Taiwan in 2019, I find that perceived distributive unfairness reduces non-rich citizens’ willingness to fight for their country via dampening their national pride, a key element in psychological attachment to national identity. This finding suggests that distributive unfairness threatens national security and contributes to the literature on the perils of economic inequality.
Why do Post-Civil War Countries Fast-Track Gender Quotas? The Case of Nepal
Authors: Badal Adhik
Published: April 2023

The rise in women’s legislative representation is globally evident. Both developed and developing countries have implemented gender quotas to address women’s political underrepresentation. But in recent decades, postwar developing countries have been at the forefront of quota adoption. This article examines why postwar developing countries fast-track1 the adoption of gender quotas after the civil war. By analyzing the case of Nepal, this study shows that war-induced gender disruption and women’s deep-rooted and persistent activism combined with the support of the international community enabled Nepali women to enter new political spaces after the war. Moreover, it illustrates that international influences alone may not be sufficient to promote gender quotas in postwar societies without a mobilization by the national women’s movement.
Predictability Associated With Reduction in Phonetic Signals Without Semantics—The Case of Glossolalia
Authors: Link Samantha , Tomaschek Fabian
Published: April 2023

Glossolalia can be regarded as an instance of speech production in which practitioners produce syllables in seemingly random sequences. However, a closer inspection of glossalalia’s statistical properties reveals that sequences show a Zipfian pattern similar to natural languages, with some syllables being more probable than others. It is well established that statistical properties of sequences are implicitly learned, and that these statistical properties correlate with changes in kinematic and speech behavior. For speech, this means that more predictable items are phonetically shorter. Accordingly, we hypothesized for glossolalia that if practitioners have learned a serial pattern in glossolalia in the same manner as in natural languages, its statistical properties should correlate with its phonetic characteristics. Our hypothesis was supported. We find significantly shorter syllables associated with higher syllable probabilities in glossolalia. We discuss this finding in relation to theories about the sources of probability-related changes in the speech signal.
Exclusionary Logics: Constructing Disability and Disadvantaging Disabled Academics in the Neoliberal University
Authors: Remnant Jennifer , Sang Katherine , Calvard Tom , Richards James , Babajide Olugbenga (Abraham)
Published: April 2023

Contemporary academia features managerialism and neoliberal thinking, consequent of an increasingly dominant market logic. This article draws on interviews with disabled academics, line managers, human resources professionals, estates staff, health and safety staff, and trade union representatives, alongside university policy documents, to discuss the impact of this logic on the experiences of disabled academics. Understandings of disability across professional groups were divorced from institutional rhetoric of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, aligning more clearly with market logic, manifest in performance management and idealised notions of academic work. Unlike students, disabled academics are required to navigate hostile policies and procedures. Their diagnoses are used in points of dispute relating to performance, or as an obstruction to dismissal tolerated out of legal obligation. This article illustrates the need for a change in university institutional logics to undo the damaging limitations of following market models of education.
Clinical characteristics of nasolacrimal duct obstruction after iodine therapy in differentiated thyroid cancer patients
Authors: Li Na , Zhang Wanchun
Published: April 2023

Objective

To analyze the clinical characteristics of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) after Iodine-131 (131I) therapy and provide guidance for clinical decision-making.

Methods

Thirty-one DTC patients with NLDO were retrospectively enrolled from the Nuclear Medicine Department of Shanxi Bethune Hospital during follow-up of 131I therapy between June 2018 and March 2021. Eight hundred and seventy-one thyroid cancer patients during this period without NLDO after 131I therapy were enrolled as the control group. Clinical characteristics, including sex, age, dose, anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (TGAb), and metastatic lesions, were analyzed by χ2 test and logistic multifactor regression.

Results

In the NLDO group and without NLDO group, there were statistically significant differences in gender, age, dose, and whether there was metastasis. Among the NLDO group, the proportion of women, age >55 years old, dose >5.55 GBq, and the presence of metastasis was higher, and the difference was statistically significant; There was no significant difference in the proportion of TGAb positive and negative patients based on 131I therapy (χ2 = 0.27, P = .782).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that sex (2.59), age (1.45), dose (2.36), and metastatic lesions (1.93) were all statistically significant influential factors of NLDO after iodine therapy. Significant differences were found in the incidence of NLDO between the number of treatment courses (χ2 = 23.541, P < .001). Prevalence rate of repeat radioiodine therapy (2 times or 3 times and more) is higher than 1 time.

Conclusion

Women patients over 55 who had metastatic lesions, and received a dose >5.55 GBq, were more likely to have NLDO. When determining therapeutic doses of 131I, doctors should weigh multiple factors and then give appropriate dosage and suggest that high risk populations be referred for appropriate ophthalmic surgical consultation, for timely diagnosis and therapy.
Perspectives of health professionals on physical activity and sedentary behaviour in hospitalised adults: A systematic review and thematic synthesis
Authors: Alsop Tahlia , Woodforde James , Rosbergen Ingrid , Mahendran Niruthikha , Brauer Sandra , Gomersall Sjaan
Published: April 2023

Objective

To explore health professionals’ perspectives on physical activity and sedentary behaviour of hospitalised adults to understand factors that contribute to these behaviours in this environment.

Data sources

Five databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and CINAHL) were searched in March 2023.

Review methods

Thematic synthesis. Included studies explored perspectives of health professionals on the physical activity and/or sedentary behaviour of hospitalised adults using qualitative methods. Study eligibility was assessed independently by two reviewers and results thematically analysed. Quality was assessed using the McMaster Critical Review Form and confidence in findings assessed using GRADE-CERQual.

Results

Findings from 40 studies explored perspectives of over 1408 health professionals from 12 health disciplines. The central theme identified was that physical activity is not a priority in this setting due to the complex interplay of multilevel influences present in the interdisciplinary inpatient landscape. Subthemes, the hospital is a place for rest, there are not enough resources to make movement a priority, everyone's job is no one's job and policy and leadership drives priorities, supported the central theme. Quality of included studies was variable; critical appraisal scores ranged from 36% to 95% on a modified scoring system. Confidence in findings was moderate to high.

Conclusion

Physical activity in the inpatient setting is not a priority, even in rehabilitation units where optimising function is the key. A shift in focus towards functional recovery and returning home may promote a positive movement culture that is supported by appropriate resources, leadership, policy, and the interdisciplinary team.
Signatures of exposure to childhood trauma in young adults in the structure and neurochemistry of the superior temporal gyrus
Authors: Hepsomali Piril , Machon Sandra , Barker Holly , Lythgoe David J , Hugdahl Kenneth , Gudbrandsen Maria , Allen Paul
Published: April 2023

Background:

Childhood trauma (CT) has been linked to increased risk for mental illness in adulthood. Although work in experimental animals has shown that early life stressors can affect inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmission in adult rodents, with possible excitotoxic effects on local grey matter volumes (GMV), the neurobiological mechanisms that mediate this relationship in humans remain poorly understood.

Aim:

To examine glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolite concentrations and potential excitotoxic effects on GMV, in adults who experienced CT.

Methods:

Fifty-six young adults ( Mage = 20.41) were assigned to High CT ( n = 29) and Low CT ( n = 27) groups (by using the CT questionnaire) and underwent magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to measure temporal lobe metabolite concentrations and volumetric imaging to measure GMV.

Results:

Glutamate concentrations did not differ between groups; however, relative to the Low CT group, participants in the High CT group had reduced GABA concentrations in the left superior temporal gyrus (STG) voxel. Furthermore, logistic regression showed that participants with low left STG GABA concentrations and low left STG volumes were significantly more likely to be in the high CT group.

Conclusions:

This study provides the first evidence that both low GABA concentrations and its interaction with GMV in the left STG are associated with high levels of CT and suggest that altered inhibitory neurotransmission/metabolism may be linked to a lower GMV in the left STG in adults who experienced CT. Future studies are warranted to establish if utilizing these measures can stratify clinical high-risk and predict future clinical outcomes in high CT individuals.
Construction and evaluation of an aging-associated genes-based model for pancreatic adenocarcinoma prognosis and therapies
Authors: Zhao Junjie , Guan Kelei , Xing Jiyuan
Published: April 2023

Objectives: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is a highly malignant tumor. Despite extensive research, the precise role of aging-related genes in the initiation, microenvironment regulation, and progression of PAAD remains unclear.

Methods: Patients with PAAD were selected from the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC), and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohorts and the cell senescence-associated genes were obtained from CellAge. ConsensusClusterPlus was utilized for cluster identification. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis was performed to construct a prognosis prediction model.

Results: We identified three clusters (C1, C2, and C3) based on aging-associated gene profiles. The C1 cluster had a shorter overall survival time, advanced clinical grades, lower immune ESTIMATE score, and tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) score than the C3 subgroup. Moreover, signaling pathways for cell cycle activation were enriched in the C1 cluster. We also identified eight hub genes and constructed a risk model. The high cellular senescence-related signature (CSRS) score subtype exhibited poor prognosis, advanced clinical grades, M2 macrophage infiltration, higher immune checkpoint gene expression, and lower immunotherapeutic benefits.

Conclusion: Our risk score model shows high prediction accuracy and survival prediction ability in individual clinical prognosis and pre-immunotherapy evaluation.
Overlap Between Exposure to Suicidal Behavior and Indirect Interpersonal Violence: Evidence for a More Integrated Approach to Violence Research
Authors: Mitchell Kimberly J. , Banyard Victoria , Ybarra Michele
Published: April 2023

This study examines the overlap between indirect exposure to forms of interpersonal violence and suicidal behavior, and the impact of the co-occurrence of these exposures on indicators of depressed mood and substance use among adolescents. Participants were a national sample of 3,917 youth aged 14–15 years, recruited online between June 2018 and March 2020, including an oversample of sexual and gender minority youth. Eight in ten (81.3%) youth reported exposure to indirect interpersonal violence and/or suicidal behavior in their lifetimes: 39.5% reported only interpersonal violence exposure, 5.9% only suicidal behavior exposure, and 35.9% reported both. Youth who reported exposure to interpersonal violence were almost three times more likely (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.78, p < .001) to also report suicidal behavior exposure. Compared with youth having no indirect violence exposure, those with only interpersonal violence exposure were 2.25 times more likely ( p < .001), those with only exposure to suicidal behavior 2.93 times more likely ( p < .001), and those with both were 5.63 times more likely to report recent depressed mood. The unadjusted odds of any substance use was significantly elevated for each type of indirect violence exposure, with the highest odds seen among youth with dual interpersonal violence and suicide exposure (OR = 4.87, p < .001). For both outcomes, significant findings remained but were attenuated after adjusting for demographic characteristics, non-victimization adversity exposure, and cumulative direct victimization. Findings suggest that the combination of exposure to interpersonal violence and suicidal behavior appears to be particularly impactful. Results highlight that assessment of trauma exposure among adolescents needs to be more comprehensive and include not only direct and indirect interpersonal violence, but also knowledge of other people’s suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Physico-mechanical properties of sand-plastic interlocking paving brick
Authors: Nnorom Onyekachi Onyinyechi , Onuegbu Genevive Chinyere , Nwanonenyi Simeon Chukwudozie
Published: April 2023

Interlocking paving bricks were produced with plastic wastes and sand using heating technique without other cementing or binding agent and water. Waste single-use plastics - polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and low density polyethylene (LDPE) sachet water films used respectively were sourced from dump site, washed, air dried, melted and mixed with sand of not more than 2 mm particle size to produce interlocking paving brick (IPB). Sand-plastic mix ratios of 1:1, 1:3 and 3:1 and metal mould of 190 × 90 × 90 mm dimension were used. The compressive strength, flexural tensile strength, abrasion and water-absorption test results showed that IPB from LDPE-sand composite has better mechanical performance than IPB from PET-sand composite for all the mix ratios. The IPB from LDPE-sand composite of 3:1 mix ratio had a compressive strength of 31.11 N/mm2 and water absorption of 0.33% of its dry weight whereas its PET counterpart had compressive strength of 13.1 N/mm2 and water absorption of 0.5%. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and abrasion results also showed that LDPE had better compatibility with sand particles. Waste single-use plastics can be used to produce high quality interlocking paving brick without cement and water and as well reduce the menace of waste PET bottles and LDPE films in our environment.
Risk factors for mortality in 1528 Brazilian childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients
Authors: Sakamoto Ana P , Silva Clovis A , Pita Ana C , Trindade Vitor C , Islabao Aline G , Fiorot Fernanda J , Lopes Sandra RM , Pereira Rosa MR , Saad-Magalhaes Claudia , Russo Gleice CS , Len Claudio A , Prado Rogerio do , Campos Lucia MA , Aikawa Nadia E , Appenzeller Simone , Ferriani Virginia PL , Silva Marco F , Felix Marta , Fonseca Adriana R , Assad Ana PL , Sztajnbok Flavio R , Santos Maria C , Bica Blanca E , Sena Evaldo G , Moraes Ana J , Fraga Melissa M , Robazzi Teresa C , Spelling Paulo F , Scheibel Iloite M , Cavalcanti Andre S , Matos Erica N , Guimaraes Luciano J , Santos Flavia P , Mota Licia MH , Bonfa Eloisa , Terreri Maria T
Published: April 2023

Objectives

To identify associations between mortality in cSLE patients and their characteristics: clinical and laboratory features, disease activity and damage scores, and treatment; to evaluate risk factors associated with mortality in cSLE; and to determine the most frequent causes of death in this group of patients.

Methods

We performed a multicenter retrospective cohort using data from 1,528 cSLE patients followed in 27 pediatric rheumatology tertiary centers in Brazil. Patients’ medical records were reviewed according to a standardized protocol, in which information regarding demographic and clinical features, disease activity and damage scores, and treatment were collected and compared between deceased cSLE patients and survivors. Univariate and multivariate analyses by Cox regression model were used to calculate risk factors for mortality, whereas survival rates were analyzed by Kaplan–Meier plots.

Results

A total of 63/1,528 (4.1%) patients deceased, 53/63 were female (84.1%), median age at death was 11.9 (9.4–13.1) years and median time interval between cSLE diagnosis and death was 3.2 (0.5–5.3) years. Sepsis was the main cause of death in 27/63 (42.8%) patients, followed by opportunistic infections in 7/63 (11.1%), and alveolar hemorrhage in 6/63 (9.5%) patients. The regression models resulted in neuropsychiatric lupus (NP-SLE) (HR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.48–4.42) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) (HR = 4.33, 95% CI = 2.33–4.72), as risk factors significantly associated with mortality. Overall patient survival after cSLE diagnosis at 5, 10, and 15 years were 97%, 95.4%, and 93.8%, respectively.

Conclusions

This study confirmed that the recent mortality rate in cSLE in Brazil is low, but still of concern. NP-SLE and CKD were the main risk factors for mortality, indicating that the magnitude of these manifestations was significantly high.
Weight Loss During Neoadjuvant Therapy Is Associated With Poor Response Among the Patients With Gastrointestinal Cancer: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis
Authors: Bu Zhaoting , Jiang Yuting , Luo Shanshan , He Xinxin , Qin Haiquan , Tang Weizhong
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The aim of the current study was to identify the relationship between body composition changes during neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) and the treatment efficiency of NAT in gastrointestinal cancer (GC) patients.

Methods

From January 2015 to July 2020, 277 GC patients treated with NAT had included for retrospective analysis. The body mass index (BMI) and computed tomography (CT) imaging before and after NAT were recorded. The BMI change optimal cut-off value were calculated by ROC curve. Balancing essential characteristic variables using propensity score matching (PSM) method. Exploring the association between BMI changes and tumor response to NAT using logistic regression analysis. The survival outcome of matched patients between different BMI change groups was compared.

Results

A cutoff point of BMI change >2% during NAT was defined as BMI loss. Among the 277 patients, 110 (39.7%) patients showed BMI change with a loss after NAT. In total, 71 pairs of patients were selected for further analysis. The median follow-up time was 22 months (range 3 to 63 months). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses in matched cohort showed that BMI change was a prognostic factor for tumor response after NAT in GC patients (odds ratio (OR), .471; 95% confidence interval (CI), .233-.953; P = .036). In addition, patients who experienced BMI loss after NAT showed worse overall survival than those who had BMI gain or stable.

Conclusion

BMI loss during NAT probably may has negative effects on NAT efficiency and survival for gastrointestinal cancer patients. It is necessary to monitor and maintain weight for patients during treatment.
Struggles over social rights: Restricting access to social assistance for EU citizens
Authors: Mantu Sandra , Minderhoud Paul
Published: April 2023

The legal category under which EU citizens exercise their right to free movement – worker, jobseeker, student or economically inactive - determines access to social rights in the host state and leads to differential inclusion in the welfare state. The right to equal treatment in relation to welfare entitlements has been subject to constant litigation before the European Court of Justice, leading to the refinement of the conditions under which migrant EU citizens can access welfare and the implications of such requests for their right to reside in an EU state. Moreover, while the conditions of access to an EU host state's welfare system are set at the EU level, the delivery of welfare takes place at the national and local levels, making national administrations and bureaucrats important actors in the governance of welfare. The aim of this article is to tease out the relationship between different levels of jurisdiction in the governance of access to the welfare state. We rely on data from 11 Member States in which we monitored the application of the relevant EU legislation and case law during the time frame 2016–2020. The main trends we discern are a growing interdependence between immigration and welfare authorities and a move towards the systematic control of all EU applicants for social assistance in several states. We argue that these developments are facilitated by the turn in the CJEU's jurisprudence that limits entitlement to welfare for economically inactive EU citizens and emphasises conditionality and legal residence as the main axes determining access to the welfare state.
Differential Associations of Mobility With Fronto-Striatal Integrity and Lesion Load in Older Adults With and Without Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Wagshul Mark E. , Foley Frederick W. , Chaudhary Kapil , Lipton Michael L. , Motl Robert W. , Izzetoglu Meltem , Hernandez Manuel E. , Picone Mary Ann , Holtzer Roee
Published: April 2023

Background

Mobility impairment is common in older persons with multiple sclerosis (MS), and further compounded by general age-related mobility decline but its underlying brain substrates are poorly understood.

Objective

Examine fronto-striatal white matter (WM) integrity and lesion load as imaging correlates of mobility outcomes in older persons with and without MS.

Methods

Fifty-one older MS patients (age 64.9 ± 3.7 years, 29 women) and 50 healthy, matched controls (66.2 ± 3.2 years, 24 women), participated in the study, which included physical and cognitive test batteries and 3T MRI imaging session. Primary imaging measures were fractional anisotropy (FA) and WM lesion load. The relationship between mobility impairment, defined using a validated short physical performance battery cutoff score, and neuroimaging measures was assessed with stratified logistic regression models. FA was extracted from six fronto-striatal circuits (left/right): dorsal striatum (dStr)-to-anterior dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (aDLPFC), dStr-to-posterior DLPFC, and ventral striatum (vStr)-to-ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC).

Results

Mobility impairment was significantly associated with lower FA in two circuits, left dStr-aDLPFC ( P = .003) and left vStr-VMPFC ( P = .004), in healthy controls but not in MS patients ( P > .20), for fully adjusted regression models. Conversely, in MS patients but not in healthy controls, mobility impairment was significantly associated with greater lesion volume ( P < .02).

Conclusions

Comparing older persons with and without MS, we provide compelling evidence of a double dissociation between the presence of mobility impairment and two neuroimaging markers of white matter integrity, fronto-striatal fractional anisotropy, and whole brain lesion load.
The safety profile of single antiplatelet therapy with flow diverters: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Senol Yigit Can , Orscelik Atakan , Ghozy Sherief , Kobeissi Hassan , Arul Santhosh , Bilgin Cem , Kadirvel Ramanathan , Kallmes David F
Published: April 2023

Background

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is frequently used in treating cerebral aneurysms with flow diverters (FDs), whereas single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT) is used mostly with coated FDs and in ruptured aneurysms. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the safety profile of SAPT in FDs.

Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, OVID Embase, OVID Medline, and Scopus were searched to 1st November 2022. Outcomes of interest included ischemic and hemorrhagic complications, conversion to DAPTs, and in-stent stenosis rates under long-term SAPT. SAPT is divided into aspirin (ASA) vs. non-ASA group (ticagrelor or prasugrel). Subgroup analysis was performed for ruptured vs. non-ruptured aneurysms and coated vs. non-coated FDs. All data were analyzed using R software version 4.2.2.

Results

Twelve studies with 240 total patients (43 patients in the ASA group and 197 patients in the non-ASA group) were included in our meta-analysis. The pooled ischemic occlusion rate was 9.8% (95% CI = 4.87−18.95: p-value = 0.09) for SAPTs. The ASA group had significantly higher ischemic complication rates compared to the non-ASA group (20.8% vs. 6.3%, respectively, p-value = 0.02). The pooled hemorrhagic complication rate was 3.5% (95% CI = 1.38−8.81: p-value > 0.99). The hemorrhagic rates of ASA group were 9.3%% (95% CI = 3.54−22.30) over the non-ASA group 2.1% (95% CI = 0.58−7.54) ( p-value > 0.99). The overall in-stent stenosis rate was 2.3% (95% CI = 1.06−5.14: p-value > 0.99). The ischemic complication rates were comparable between coated vs non-coated FDs (10.7% vs. 5.5% p-value = 0.39). In stent stenosis rate were 1.9% (95% CI = 0.72−4.96) in coated FDs over 4.4% (95% CI = 1.11−16.11) ( p-value = 0.32). The ruptured and non-ruptured groups also showed comparable results in terms of ischemic (17.6% vs. 7.1% respectively, p-value = 0.24) and hemorrhagic complications (9.8% vs. 1.1%, respectively, p-value = 0.08).

Conclusions

Flow diverter treatment under ASA monotherapy resulted in relatively high ischemic complication rates. However, SAPT with prasugrel or ticagrelor monotherapy is promising for coated FDs and ruptured aneurysm treatments. Given the overall small sample size and also the likely presence of known and unknown biases regarding choice of antiplatelet therapy between groups, larger cohort studies are needed to evaluate SAPT treatment outcomes.
On Legal and Legitimate Wars in the Transforming Public Sphere: Social Contract Theory’s Confusion about War Declarations
Authors: Barker Chris
Published: April 2023

This paper examines the discursive conditions that make war legal and legitimate. In the Post-World War II period, when countries do not declare war, the gap between legality and legitimacy has widened, and wars are often neither. While other studies of war-declaring typically focus on the relations between states, this paper focuses on relations between citizen and government. In the absence of discursive declarations of war, it is unclear whether citizens are able to consent to war-making decisions. The paper surveys communicative blockages and suggests areas in which improved communication could make war legal and legitimate.
Is statin therapy after ischaemic stroke associated with increased intracerebral hemorrhage? The association may be dependent on intensity of statin therapy
Authors: Yang Ruotong , Wu Junhui , Yu Huan , Wang Siyue , Chen Hongbo , Wang Mengying , Qin Xueying , Wu Tao , Wu Yiqun , Hu Yonghua
Published: April 2023

Background:

There has been concern that statin therapy may be associated with an increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We investigated whether the intensity and type of statin therapy instituted after ischemic stroke (IS) were associated with risk of future ICH in a region of northern China with a high incidence of stroke.

Methods:

Newly diagnosed IS patients who were not treated with lipid-lowering drugs in the Beijing Employee Medical Claims Data database from 2010 to 2017 were included. The primary exposure variable was any statin prescription within 1 month of the first documented stroke diagnosis. High-intensity statin therapy was defined as atorvastatin ⩾ 80 mg, simvastatin ⩾ 80 mg, pravastatin ⩾ 40 mg, and rosuvastatin ⩾ 20 mg per day or equivalent combination. An adjusted Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) for ICH during follow-up in groups exposed and not exposed to statins.

Results:

Of 62,252 participants with IS and 628 ICH readmissions were recorded during a median follow-up of 3.17 years. The risk of ICH among statin users (N = 43,434) was similar to that among nonusers (N = 18,818) with an adjusted HR and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.86 (0.73, 1.02). Compared with non-statin therapy, patients with low/moderate-intensity therapy had a lower risk of ICH (0.62: 0.52, 0.75), while patients with high-intensity therapy had a substantially higher risk (2.12: 1.72, 2.62). For patients with different types of statin therapy, adherence to rosuvastatin had the lowest risk of ICH compared to adherence to atorvastatin (0.46: 0.34, 0.63), followed by simvastatin (0.60: 0.45, 0.81).

Conclusion:

In patients with IS, any statin therapy was not associated with an increased risk of ICH. However there appeared to be differential risk according to the dose of statin with high-intensity statin therapy being associated with an increased risk of ICH, while low/moderate-intensity therapy was associated with a lower risk.
Mitigating and bordering: The dual nature of Canadian collateral consequences of conviction
Authors: Dao Lili
Published: April 2023

Roughly, 13% of Canada’s adult population has some kind of criminal record. Collateral consequences stemming from a criminal record are wide-ranging, from formal restrictions to more informal forms of exclusions. In this article, I argue that Canada exhibits a distinct and dual approach with regard to collateral consequences. A commitment to principles, such as human dignity, rehabilitation, proportionality and individualisation in sentencing, especially by the courts, has increasingly mitigated the impact of collateral consequences in many areas. Yet, these interventions to limit collateral consequences have been far more uncommon for immigration-related collateral consequences, where the impact of a criminal conviction has only expanded in the last decades. This suggests the centrality of the criminalisation of migration in Canada’s bordering regime and its role in drawing boundaries between desirable and undesirable migrants. This dual nature of collateral consequences also sends a message about who is, and who is not, deserving of second chances.
An international review and normative examination of the collateral consequences of criminal record disclosures for domestic abuse
Authors: Hadjimatheou Katerina
Published: April 2023

Domestic abuse disclosure schemes allow members of the public to request and receive information from police about the criminal histories of their partners, if they are at risk of abuse. In doing so, they open new pathways for disclosure of criminal record information beyond the spheres of employment and access to public services. This article reviews existing domestic abuse disclosure schemes and addresses their normative implications. Specifically, it examines the extent to which moral and legal criticisms that are frequently levelled at other kinds of criminal record checks apply equally to domestic abuse disclosure schemes. It is argued that, while domestic abuse disclosure schemes are less susceptible to criticisms of unfair disadvantage or disproportionate punishment than employer checks or other forms of third-party disclosure, they sit uneasily with respect for the moral agency and dignity of people with histories of abuse. These insights reveal the limits of a one-size-fits-all approach to analysis of criminal record disclosures, highlighting the need for more granular, crime-specific research in this field.
The treatment principles and targets for intestinal Behcet’s disease
Authors: He Kun , Wu Dong
Published: April 2023

Behcet’s disease (BD) is a chronic and recurrent systemic vasculitis involving large, medium and small blood vessels as well as arteries and veins. BD with predominant gastrointestinal manifestations is diagnosed as intestinal BD, which is associated with severe complications such as massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage, perforation, and obstruction. Recently, treat-to-target (T2T) strategies have been successfully used in many chronic diseases and been suggested in the management of BD, while there are no related reviews about the global treatment strategy including treatment principles and targets for intestinal BD in detail. Herein, we review the treatment principles from the aspects of departments of Rheumatology and Gastroenterology. In addition, treatment targets of intestinal BD are reviewed from three aspects such as evaluable markers, effective markers and potency-ratio markers. Some definitions and conceptions from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) bring us reference and enlightenments.
Controversies in the management of active Charcot neuroarthropathy
Authors: Gooday Catherine , Hardeman Wendy , Poland Fiona , Woodburn Jim , Dhatariya Ketan
Published: April 2023

Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN) was first described over 150 years ago. Despite this there remains uncertanity around the factors that contribute to its development, and progression. This article will discuss the current controversies around the pathogenesis, epidemiology, diagnosis, assessment and management of the condition. The exact pathogenesis of CN is not fully understood, and it is likely to be multifactorial, with perhaps currently unknown mechanisms contributing to its development. Further studies are needed to examine opportunities to help screen for and diagnose CN. As a result of many of these factors, the true prevalence of CN is still largely unknown. Almost all of the recommendations for the assessment and treatment of CN are based on low-quality level III and IV evidence. Despite recommendations to offer people with CN nonremovable devices, currently only 40–50% people are treated with this type of device. Evidence is also lacking about the optimal duration of treatment; reported outcomes range from 3 months to more than a year. The reason for this variation is not entirely clear. A lack of standardised definitions for diagnosis, remission and relapse, heterogeneity of populations, different management approaches, monitoring techniques with unknown diagnostic precision and variation in follow-up times prevent meaningful comparison of outcome data. If people can be better supported to manage the emotional and physical consequences of CN, then this could improve people’s quality of life and well-being. Finally, we highlight the need for an internationally coordinated approach to research in CN.
Primary retropharyngeal leiomyosarcoma in a young cat
Authors: Jaworski Janusz , Harper Aaron , Crosby-Durrani Hayley , Hall Jon
Published: April 2023

Case summary

An Oriental Shorthair cat, aged 1 year and 6 months, developed progressive stridor and a palpable right ventral cervical mass. Fine-needle aspiration of the mass was inconclusive, while thoracic radiography and CT showed no evidence of metastasis. There was initial improvement in stridor with oral doxycycline and prednisolone treatment, but it recurred 4 weeks later and excisional biopsy was performed. Histopathology with immunohistochemistry diagnosed leiomyosarcoma with incomplete surgical margins. Adjunctive radiation therapy was declined. Repeated physical examination and CT 7 months postoperatively documented no evidence of mass recurrence.

Relevance and novel information

This is the first reported case of retropharyngeal leiomyosarcoma in a young cat with no evidence of local reoccurrence 7 months following an excisional biopsy.
Testing domain knowledge and risk of bias of a large-scale general artificial intelligence model in mental health
Authors: Heinz Michael V. , Bhattacharya Sukanya , Trudeau Brianna , Quist Rachel , Song Seo Ho , Lee Camilla M. , Jacobson Nicholas C.
Published: April 2023

Background

With a rapidly expanding gap between the need for and availability of mental health care, artificial intelligence (AI) presents a promising, scalable solution to mental health assessment and treatment. Given the novelty and inscrutable nature of such systems, exploratory measures aimed at understanding domain knowledge and potential biases of such systems are necessary for ongoing translational development and future deployment in high-stakes healthcare settings.

Methods

We investigated the domain knowledge and demographic bias of a generative, AI model using contrived clinical vignettes with systematically varied demographic features. We used balanced accuracy (BAC) to quantify the model’s performance. We used generalized linear mixed-effects models to quantify the relationship between demographic factors and model interpretation.

Findings

We found variable model performance across diagnoses; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, alcohol use disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, binge eating disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder showed high BAC (0.70 ≤ BAC ≤ 0.82); bipolar disorder, bulimia nervosa, barbiturate use disorder, conduct disorder, somatic symptom disorder, benzodiazepine use disorder, LSD use disorder, histrionic personality disorder, and functional neurological symptom disorder showed low BAC (BAC ≤ 0.59).

Interpretation

Our findings demonstrate initial promise in the domain knowledge of a large AI model, with performance variability perhaps due to the more salient hallmark symptoms, narrower differential diagnosis, and higher prevalence of some disorders. We found limited evidence of model demographic bias, although we do observe some gender and racial differences in model outcomes mirroring real-world differential prevalence estimates.
Communicating radiation dose in medical imaging: How to best inform our patients?
Authors: Salerno Sergio , Nardi Cosimo , Pace Mario , Rabiolo Lidia , Flammia Federica , Loverre Francesco , Matranga Domenica , Granata Claudio , Tomà Paolo , Colagrande Stefano
Published: April 2023

Background

The newly adopted European directive DE59/2013 mandates adequate patient information in procedures involving ionising radiation. Patient interest in knowing about their radiation dose and an effective communication method for dose exposure remain poorly investigated.

Purpose

This study is aimed at investigating both patient interest in radiation dose and an effective method to communicate radiation dose exposure.

Material and methods

The present analysis is based on a multi-centre cross-sectional data collection involving 1,084 patients from four different hospitals ‒ two general and two paediatric hospitals. Anonymous questionnaires were administered, consisting of an initial overview of radiation use in imaging procedures, a patient data section, and an explanatory section providing information in four modalities.

Results

1009 patients were included in the analysis, with 75 refusing participation; 173 participants were relatives of paediatric patients. Initial information provided to patients was considered comprehensible. The information modality with symbols was considered the most readily understandable format by patients, with no appreciable differences in comprehension attributable to social or cultural background. The modality including dose numbers and diagnostic reference levels was preferred by patients with higher socio-economic background. The option ‘None of those’ was selected by one-third of our sample population, composed of four different clusters: female, over 60 years old, unemployed, and from low socio-economic backgrounds.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated a high level of interest amongst patients in knowing about radiation dose exposure. Pictorial representations were well understood by patients from a variety of different ages and education levels. However, a universally comprehensible model of communicating radiation dose information remains to be elucidated.