bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Awareness of Local Anaesthetic Systemic Toxicity (LAST) among Postgraduate Trainees
Authors: Jamaleddin Surani Shafiq Ali , Budiman Maryam , Azman Mawaddah , Abdul Rahman Raha
Published: November 2022

Introduction. Although uncommon, local anaesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) may impose fatal risk to the patients. We investigated the awareness of LAST and knowledge on local anaesthetics among our postgraduate trainees. Materials and Methods. A total of 134 postgraduate trainees from the departments of general surgery (Surgical), orthopaedic surgery (Ortho), otorhinolaryngology (ENT), obstetrics and gynaecology (OBGYN), as well as anaesthesiology and intensive care (Anaesth) were recruited. A validated questionnaire was used to assess awareness and knowledge. All participants attended a medical-education session and completed the questionnaire as preassessment and postassessment. Data were analysed, and comparisons between disciplines were conducted. Results. The trainees’ awareness of LAST was overall poor at preassessment which improved almost 6-folds at postassessment. Surprisingly, only 20 (45.5%) participants from the anaesthesiology group had awareness of LAST at preassessment, and none of the participants were from surgical, orthopaedic, and obstetrics and gynaecology departments. Preassessment scores were significantly higher in the anaesth group as compared to all other groups; with a difference in the average score for Anaesth vs Surgical of 3.46 (95%, CI:2.17, 4.74), Anaesth vs Ortho of 3.64 (95%, CI:2.64, 4.64), Anaesth vs ENT of 3.43 (95%, CI:2.20, 4.67), and Anaesth vs OBGYN of 6.93 (95%, CI:5.64, 8.21). However, there was no significant difference of awareness scores between all participants at postassessment scores. Conclusion. The overall level of awareness was poor. However, the implementation of an education session significantly improved the knowledge and awareness across all disciplines.
An Experimental Assessment into the Pressure and Thermal Efficacy of Chemically Synthesized Nanofluids in Computer Cooling Applications
Authors: Anish M. , Bency P. , Jayaprakash V. , Jayaprabakar J. , Joy Nivin , Sahaya Susmi S. K. , Arunkumar T.
Published: November 2022

In order to maintain ideal working conditions by reducing heat from the system, a certain mechanism must be put into place. This research aims to investigate the effects of nanofluids on the performance of microchannel heating components used in computer cooling methods. The mixture of 25% ethylene glycol and 75% alkaline water is used to create the working fluids in the experiment. The combination contains nanoparticles of SiC, TiO2, and ZnO. It is between 25 and 40°C, includes 0.25%–1.5% nanoparticles, and has a volume flow rate of 0.025–0.080 kg/s. The temperature of the central processing unit, the rate of heat transfer, pressure losses, and pumping power have all been researched in relation to the thermal properties of nanofluids and base fluids. Data show that SiC–EG/AW at 1.5% concentration and 0.080 kg/s has a 31% higher coefficient of heat transfer than the base fluid and a temperature that is 9% lower than that of the other nanofluids. This is due to the fact that SiC–EG/AW has the highest pumping force power and TiO2–EG/AW has the lowest pressure decrease. Because the nanofluid performs better than the basic fluid at cooling computers, a little boost in pumping force and pressure reduction may be acceptable.
Antiliver Fibrosis Formula of Fuzheng Huayu Alleviates Inflammatory Response
Authors: Chang Qing-Qi , Pan Yi-Feng , Yang Jia-Yi , Li Rong-Sheng , Yuan Chun-Lu , Liao Ya-Fang , Zhang Dan-Dan , Liu Cheng-Hai
Published: November 2022

Fuzheng Huayu’s (FZHY) formula ameliorated liver fibrosis in clinical and experimental practice. Based on the close link between fibrosis and inflammation, its anti-inflammatory effect and related mechanisms were explored in this present study. With the aid of the inflammatory macrophage model, FZHY significantly blocked nitrite accumulation without observable cytotoxicity due to its suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene and protein expressions in a concentration-depended manner. Proinflammatory mediators including IL-6, CD86, and CD40 were also restrained by FZHY. Interestingly, FZHY induced anti-inflammatory mediators heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) expressions simultaneously. Downregulation of iNOS and miR-155 and upregulation of PPAR-γ were also observed in CCl4-induced liver fibrosis mice upon FZHY administration. Mechanically, FZHY strikingly eliminated the phosphorylation of STAT1 and MAPK. Taken together, FZYH regulated the balance of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators partially via modulating STAT1/MAPK pathways and the miR-155/PPAR-γ axis.
Effects of Sevoflurane Laryngeal Mask Inhalation Combined with Intravenous Anesthesia on Perioperative Stress and Myocardial Injury in Elderly Patients with Acute Cholecystitis and Coronary Heart Disease
Authors: Jin Wei , Shen Xiaoxing , Jin Hongxu
Published: November 2022

Surgery is the first choice for the treatment of acute cholecystitis. To ensure the curative effect of surgery, laparoscopic anesthesia should be characterized by rapid induction, good analgesic effect, and rapid postoperative sobriety. With the aggravation of an aging population, acute cholecystitis combined with coronary heart disease is more common in the elderly. The selection of anesthesia protocols for these patients has become a hot topic in research. In this study, we selected 72 elderly patients with acute cholecystitis combined with coronary heart disease who were treated in our hospital from January 2019 to January 2022 to explore the effects of sevoflurane laryngeal mask inhalation combined with intravenous anesthesia on perioperative stress and myocardial injury in elderly patients with acute cholecystitis combined with coronary heart disease, in order to provide a scientific basis for the formulation of a surgical plan for elderly patients with acute cholecystitis combined with coronary heart disease.
Serial Gene Expression Profiling of Neural Stem Cells Shows Transcriptome Switch by Long-Term Physioxia from Metabolic Adaption to Cell Signaling Profile
Authors: Braunschweig Lena , Lanto Jennifer , Meyer Anne K. , Markert Franz , Storch Alexander
Published: November 2022

Oxygen is an essential factor in the cellular microenvironment with pivotal effects on neural development with a particular sensitivity of midbrain neural stem cells (NSCs) to high atmospheric oxygen tension. However, most experiments are still performed at atmospheric O2 levels (21%, normoxia), whereas mammalian brain tissue is physiologically exposed to substantially lower O2 tensions around 3% (physioxia). We here performed serial Affymetrix gene array analyses to detect expression changes in mouse fetal NSCs from both midbrain and cortical tissues when kept at physioxia compared to normoxia. We identified more than 400 O2-regulated genes involved in cellular metabolism, cell proliferation/differentiation, and various signaling pathways. NSCs from both regions showed a low number but high conformity of regulated genes (9 genes in midbrain vs. 34 in cortical NSCs; 8 concordant expression changes) after short-term physioxia (2 days) with metabolic processes and cellular processes being the most prominent GO categories pointing to cellular adaption to lower oxygen levels. Gene expression profiles changed dramatically after long-term physioxia (13 days) with a higher number of regulated genes and more diverse expression patterns when comparing the two NSC types (338 genes in midbrain vs. 121 in cortical NSCs; 75 concordant changes). Most prominently, we observed a reduction of hits in metabolic processes but an increase in biological regulation and signaling pointing to a switch towards signaling processes and stem cell maintenance. Our data may serve as a basis for identifying potential signaling pathways that maintain stem cell characteristics in cortical versus midbrain physioxic stem cell niches.
A Study on Wind Pressure Characteristics of a Large-Span Membrane Structure under the Fluctuating Wind in a Vertical Direction Based on a Large Eddy Simulation
Authors: Sun Fangjin , Tang Haoxuan , Lu Mingjin , Zhang Daming , Lu Chen
Published: November 2022

This paper reports the wind pressure characteristics on long-span roofs under fluctuating wind in a vertical direction based on a large eddy simulation (LES). Three types of roofs, i.e., saddle, wavy, and continuous arch roofs, are tested. First, the membrane structure canopy is measured, and the model is established for numerical simulation. The computational models and methods are verified by comparing the obtained wind pressure distributions on the roof with the measured results and numerical simulation results under other methods. Next, a numerical simulation is performed to understand not only the wind pressure and the wind speed time series but also the wind vibration responses and fluid-solid coupling. The effects of lateral fluctuating wind at different wind speeds on the wind-induced vibration response and wind pressure distribution of different membrane structures are studied. Based on the results, the wind pressure zones of the roofs are discussed. Furthermore, the original structures are optimized and numerically simulated considering the streamlined design concept to study the influence mechanism of fluctuating wind on the roof in more detail.
Definition of Guideline-Based Metrics to Evaluate AAL Ecosystem’s Usability
Authors: Romeiro Carlos , Araújo Pedro
Published: November 2022

The elderly population growth has posed several challenges which the current healthcare systems are incapable of handling. In the past few years, there has been a close collaboration between both the scientific and industry communities to provide feasible solutions capable of addressing the growing demands from people with special needs, namely, in terms of assistance and improvement of their overall life quality, which promoted to the development of the ambient assisted living (AAL). Despite the general consensus regarding its positive impact in the user’s daily life, several challenges compromise their overall adoption. As a consequence, the research undertaken so far focused over the mitigation of technical-related limitations, overshadowing user-related limitations, namely, the ecosystem’s usability. This article presents a parametrization of the literature guidelines, which provides the end-users a consistent and accurate way of using the heuristic methodology to assert the interface’s usability without relying in external entities with specialized know-how.
Agriculture Field Automation and Digitization Using Internet of Things and Machine Learning
Authors: Choudhury Sushabhan , Singh Rajesh , Gehlot Anita , Kuchhal Piyush , Akram Shaik Vaseem , Priyadarshi Neeraj , Khan Baseem
Published: November 2022

The real-time smart monitoring with intelligence highly gained significant attention for enhancing the productivity of the crop. Currently, IoT generates a lot of real-time data from the sensors, actuators, and identification technologies. However, extracting the meaningful insights from the data is necessary for realizing the intelligent ecosystem in agriculture. Based upon the previous studies, it is also identified that the limited studies have merely implemented machine learning (ML) on real-time data obtained through customized hardware with dedicated server. In this study, we have proposed a customized hand-held device that enables to deliver recommendations to the farmer on the basis of real-time data obtained through IoT hardware and ML. A three-layer structure is proposed in the study for realizing custom hardware with 2.4 GHz ZigBee and IoT sensors for the data acquisition, communication, and recommendation. As a part of real-time implementation, the calibration of the sensors is processed to form a real-time dataset with precision. The study evaluated four ML models and concluded that XGBoost has shown a better accuracy on the proposed dataset. The XGBoost recommended the crop based on selected parameters. The developed hand-held device can be customized with advance features with crop recommendations.
Preparation and Multitarget Anti-AD Activity Study of Chondroitin Sulfate Lithium in AD Mice Induced by Combination of D-Gal/AlCl3
Authors: Gao Debo , Li Pingli , Gao Fei , Feng Yangjun , Li Xiaolin , Li Delong , Li Yuqin , Xiao Yuliang
Published: November 2022

Previous studies have demonstrated that both CS and LiCl possess anti-Alzheimer’s disease (AD) activities. We prepared chondroitin sulfate-Li (CS-Li) and investigated its effect on AD and explored the possible mechanisms both in vitro and in vivo. We found that CS-Li could inhibit amyloid β (Aβ) aggregation and protect SH-SY5Y cells from Aβ1-42-induced cytotoxicity in vitro. In D-gal and AlCl3-induced AD mouse model, CS-Li improves the spatial learning and memory abilities of AD mice, reverses the nuclear pyknosis and cell edema, and increases the survival rate of neurons in hippocampus of mice. Moreover, CS-Li significantly increased the levels of GSH-Px, Na+/K+-ATPase, and ChAT and decreased the levels of MDA and AchE in AD mice. Western blot results demonstrated that CS-Li could decrease the hyperphosphorylation of tau (Ser396/Ser404) by regulating the expression of p-GSK-3β (Ser9) and PP2A and inhibit the expression of proinflammatory factors through inhibiting NF-κB nuclear translocation by activating the MAPK signaling pathways. In a word, CS-Li can delay AD development through multitarget processes, including Aβ aggregation inhibition, oxidative stress damage, tau hyperphosphorylation, and inflammatory response, thereby improves learning and memory abilities.
Selectively Targeting STAT3 Using a Small Molecule Inhibitor is a Potential Therapeutic Strategy for Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Chen Huang , Zhou Wenbo , Bian Aiwu , Zhang Qiansen , Miao Ying , Yin Xuan , Ye Jiangnan , Xu Shifen , Ti Chaowen , Sun Zhenliang , Zheng Jianghua , Chen Yihua , Liu Mingyao , Yi Zhengfang
Published: November 2022

Purpose:

Pancreatic cancer is the worst prognosis among all human cancers, and novel effective treatments are urgently needed. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) has been demonstrated as a promising target for pancreatic cancer. Meanwhile, selectively targeted STAT3 with small molecule remains been challenging.

Experimental Design:

To specifically identify STAT3 inhibitors, more than 1.3 million compounds were screened by structure-based virtual screening and confirmed with the direct binding assay. The amino acid residues that WB436B bound to were verified by induced-fit molecular docking simulation, RosettaLigand computations, and site-directed mutagenesis. On-target effects of WB436B were examined by microscale thermophoresis, surface plasmon resonance, in vitro kinase assay, RNA sequencing, and selective cell growth inhibition assessment. In vivo studies were performed in four animal models to evaluate effects of WB436B on tumor growth and metastasis. Kaplan–Meier analyses were used to assess survival.

Results:

WB436B selectively bound to STAT3 over other STAT families protein, and in vitro antitumor activities were improved by 10 to 1,000 fold than the representative STAT3 inhibitors. WB436B selectively inhibits STAT3-Tyr705 phosphorylation, STAT3 target gene expression, and the viability of STAT3-dependent pancreatic cancer cells. WB436B significantly suppresses tumor growth and metastasis in vivo and prolongs survival of tumor-bearing mice. Mechanistic studies showed that WB436B have unique binding sites located in STAT3 Src homology 2 domain.

Conclusions:

Our work presents the first-in-class selective STAT3 inhibitor WB436B as a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Circulating Exosomal PD-L1 at Initial Diagnosis Predicts Outcome and Survival of Patients with Osteosarcoma
Authors: Wang Jun , Guo Wei , Wang Xiaofang , Tang Xiaodong , Sun Xin , Ren Tingting
Published: November 2022

Purpose:

It is difficult to predict prognosis of patients with osteosarcoma at initial diagnosis due to lack of efficient prognostic parameters. We evaluated the relationship between level of circulating serum exosomal PD-L1 (Sr-exosomal PD-L1) at initial diagnosis and oncologic outcome during the follow-up.

Experimental Design:

Sixty-seven patients with newly diagnosed osteosarcoma were prospectively recruited. Fasting blood was collected and exosome isolation was performed using ultracentrifugation method. Evaluation of Sr-exosomal PD-L1 was performed respectively by immunogold labeling and ELISA method. Correlation between level of Sr-exosomal PD-L1 at initial diagnosis and clinical risk factors was assessed.

Results:

Mean follow-up was 46.7 months. Two-year and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were respectively 96.9% and 62.5%. Two-year and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates were respectively 85.0% and 31.4%. Results revealed a significantly positive association between high PD-L1 cargo of circulating exosomes and clinicopathologic disease markers such as pulmonary metastasis, multiple metastasis, and death. Patients who died of disease at final follow-up had higher level of Sr-exosomal PD-L1 at initial diagnosis, which compared with patients who were still alive at last follow-up. Patients in group of ≥14.23 pg/mL Sr-exosomal PD-L1 at initial diagnosis had inferior DFS compared with patients in group of <14.23 pg/mL at initial diagnosis. Patients in group of ≥25.96 pg/mL at initial diagnosis had poor OS compared with patients in group of <25.96 pg/mL at initial diagnosis.

Conclusions:

Use of liquid biopsy of circulating exosomal PD-L1 at initial diagnosis provides a robust means of predicting prognosis for patients with a newly diagnosed osteosarcoma.
Abstract P3034: Acute Reduction Of Cardiac Sodium Channel Nav1.5 Increases Mitochondrial Calcium And Rewires Cardiac Metabolism
Authors: zhang xiaoming , McLendon Jared , Anderson Ethan J , London Barry , Boudreau Ryan L
Published: November 2022

SCN5A
encodes the voltage-gated Na
+
channel Na
v
1.5, known for its role in cardiac conduction. However, we recently found unexpected links between lower
SCN5A
expression and increased non-arrhythmic death in heart failure (HF) patients. To test if lower
SCN5A
expression in mice causes worse HF, we subjected young heterozygous
SCN5A
null (
SCN5A
+/-
) mice to transverse aortic constriction (TAC), a model of cardiac hypertrophy progressing to HF. Surprisingly,
SCN5A
+/-
hearts resisted TAC-induced hypertrophy and showed gene expression changes consistent with metabolic inflexibility [i.e. maintained fatty acid oxidation (FAO), blunted shift to glycolysis]. Given published roles for Na
+
in mitochondrial redox biology and metabolism, we assessed related phenotypes in SCN5A
+/-
mice. We found that aged
SCN5A
+/-
mouse hearts show increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and transcriptomic changes indicative of elevated FAO and lower glycolysis. Metabolomics data revealed perturbed glycolytic flux in
SCN5A
+/-
mouse hearts, and cardiomyofiber respiration assays showed that these hearts maintain elevated FAO after insulin. We assessed if acute reduction of Na
v
1.5 in mouse hearts (by AAV:Cre in
SCN5A
-flox mice) elicits metabolic changes. Both
SCN5A
+/fl
and
SCN5A
fl/fl
mouse hearts at 3 weeks post-AAV:Cre injection (vs. AAV:GFP) showed robust dampening of mitochondrial gene expression and altered metabolite profiles, including decreases in several fatty acids. We explored the possibility that these observations may relate to mitochondrial Na
+
/Ca
2+
imbalance. We found that acute reduction of myocardial Na
v
1.5 expression in mice leads to reduced mitochondrial Na
+
/Ca
2+
exchanger (Nclx) protein levels, supporting potential crosstalk between these proteins, which is consistent with recent data suggesting that inward Na
+
via Na
v
1.5 primes Nclx to promote Ca
2+
efflux from nearby mitochondria. Indeed, we found that acute silencing of Na
v
1.5 expression leads to increased mitochondrial Ca
2+
in cardiomyocytes. Overall, these data further highlight an important Na
v
1.5 interface with mitochondrial biology and support the notion that reduced Na
v
1.5 levels triggers ROS accumulation and metabolic imbalances in heart, which may exacerbate HF in patients.
Simplification Is Not Dominant in the Evolution of Chinese Characters
Authors: Han Simon J. , Kelly Piers , Winters James , Kemp Charles
Published: November 2022

Linguistic systems are hypothesised to be shaped by pressures towards communicative efficiency that drive processes of simplification. A longstanding illustration of this idea is the claim that Chinese characters have progressively simplified over time. Here we test this claim by analyzing a dataset with more than half a million images of Chinese characters spanning more than 3,000 years of recorded history. We find no consistent evidence of simplification through time, and contrary to popular belief we find that modern Chinese characters are higher in visual complexity than their earliest known counterparts. One plausible explanation for our findings is that simplicity trades off with distinctiveness, and that characters have become less simple because of pressures towards distinctiveness. Our findings are therefore compatible with functional accounts of language but highlight the diverse and sometimes counterintuitive ways in which linguistic systems are shaped by pressures for communicative efficiency.
The Animal-Riding Lute Player: a Lens on Gender and Ethnicity in Art and Texts
Authors: Furniss Ingrid
Published: November 2022

This paper explores the theme of the horse- and camel-riding lute player appearing in Chinese art and texts as early as the Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE). Such works reflect the expansion of trade with Central Asian peoples in late Han, when texts first mention the introduction of lutes by steppe peoples who themselves played them on horseback. Many subsequent texts, poems, and works of art, particularly during the Tang dynasty (618-907), expand on this idea, highlighting not only the instrument’s steppe origins and association with non-Han men but also elite Han women, particularly those sent to the border regions as diplomatic brides. Drawing primarily on Tang writings and works of art, this paper examines issues of gender, social status, ethnicity and the complex meanings of the lute-playing, camel-riding theme and its depiction in art.
Agricultural Domestic Support Reforms at the wto: An Assessment of the Proportional Reduction Approach
Authors: Sharma Sachin Kumar , Das Abhijit , Mathur Paavni , Lahiri Teesta , Neogi Suvayan
Published: November 2022

Domestic support reforms remain an unresolved and contentious issue in the wto agricultural negotiations. There are proposals to halve the current global trade-distorting domestic support entitlements by 2030, where members would have to undertake reductions proportionate to their existing domestic support entitlements. This study critically examines the implications of the proportional reduction approach on the policy space of 164 wto members to support their farmers. The results show that this approach fails to address the issues and concerns of developing members regarding domestic support reforms, and these members would be required to undertake higher reduction commitments than their developed counterparts. Additionally, the per-farmer entitlement for developed members would remain massive under this approach. Contrary to general belief, the least developed countries would lose half of their flexibility to support their farmers. Further, the proposed approach would dilute the existing special and differential treatment for developing, and least developed, members.
Between Reality and Society: Lee Kuohsiu’s Far Away from Home
Authors: Wang Wei-chih
Published: November 2022

This paper presents the argument that the practice of modern theatre constitutes a crucial method for reorienting the particular traumas of the Chinese diaspora in contemporary Taiwan. In particular, it offers a close reading of Far Away from Home (西出陽關, Xichu yangguan, 1988) by Taiwanese playwright Lee Kuohsiu (李國修, 1955‒2013) and its performance archive of 2004. Lee deploys theatre as a negotiating space in which to reflect the social formations, identities, and history of Taiwan in the late 1980s—a period that saw Taiwan’s complicated relationship with China become the subject of intense scrutiny as the Cold War came to an end and the pressures of rapid globalisation mounted.
Relationship Between Serum Endocan Levels and Other Predictors of Endothelial Dysfunction in Obese Women
Authors: Mercantepe Filiz , Baydur Sahin Serap , Cumhur Cure Medine , Karadag Zakir
Published: November 2022

Endocan, or endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 (ESM-1), is a potential inflammatory marker implicated in endothelial dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between serum endocan levels and the presence and severity of endothelial dysfunction, and the relationships with serum intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), adiponectin (a marker of inflammation), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels, and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in obese subjects. Serum endocan, ICAM-1, adiponectin, hsCRP levels, and cIMT were evaluated in 76 obese women (BMI > 30 kg/m2) and 53 controls (BMI < 25 kg/m2). ICAM-1 ( P = .01), hs-CRP (p < 0.001), and cIMT ( p < .001) were significantly higher, while adiponectin ( P = .006) was significantly lower, in obese women compared with the controls. Serum endocan levels were similar between the obese (470.5 ± 171.3 pg/mL) and controls (471.9 ± 146.3 pg/mL) ( P = .732). There was no correlation between serum endocan values and the endothelial dysfunction markers, hsCRP (r = −.021), ICAM-1 (r = −.054), adiponectin (r = .113), or cIMT (r = −.060) in obesity. Endocan is not a suitable marker of endothelial dysfunction in the context of obesity. More research is required to evaluate the role of endocan in the regulation of inflammatory processes in obesity.
Introduction to the Special Issue on Qualitative Criminology and Victimology
Authors: Kokkalera Stuti Subbaiah , Gonzalez Cassandra Mary Frances , Williams Jason M.
Published: November 2022

Crime & Delinquency invited submissions for a special issue on Qualitative Criminology and Victimology in 2021. This double special issue aimed to amplify qualitative methodologies in criminology, criminal justice, and victimology research. The diverse range of articles and commentaries draw on a variety of qualitative methods to advance the discipline.
Racialized Backlash: A State-Level Analysis of Black Women’s Homicide Victimization by Black Men, White Men, and Police
Authors: Boyle Kaitlin M. , Jones P’trice , Mancik Ashley M.
Published: November 2022

Violence against Black women has been overshadowed by gender-based violence against white women and police violence against Black men. We account for how the intersection of racism and sexism produce unique vulnerabilities for Black women in our examination of their homicide victimization committed by Black and white men (Supplementary Homicide Reports, 1986–2019) and by police (Fatal Encounters, 2000–2019). As predicted, analyses show curvilinear relationships between Black women’s relative socioeconomic status to and their homicide victimization by Black men. Further, when Black women hold a greater number of political positions, they are more likely to be killed by white men and police. Thus, Black women’s victimization reflects their vulnerabilities within, and perceived threats to, both gender and racial hierarchies.
The dynamics of worship
Authors: Shepherd John
Published: November 2022

Mediaeval liturgies embodied the understanding that the offering of worship became united with Christ’s perfect offering to the Father and was therefore deemed to be as acceptable to God as though it had been offered by Christ himself. It was an offering of worship that embraced the arts. Their beauty and the sense of transcendence that they created revealed the beauty and transcendence of the divine. This understanding of worship changed dramatically with the reformers of the mid-sixteenth century. They insisted that the incorporation of any human offering into Christ’s perfect and once-only offering illegitimately compromised the purpose and effect of his sacrificial death. Instead, the proper offering consisted of a thankful remembrance of Christ’s only perfect and acceptable offering. Moreover, this offering needed to be an offering, not of the body, being inherently corrupt, but of the spirit. Since there was now no prospect of incorporation with the divine, any idea of worship creating a sense of transcendence or of experiencing heaven on earth was futile. So there developed an intense opposition to any works of art whose purpose was to invest worship with the means of facilitating such a union of the human and the divine. These works were now dismissed as idolatrous and an impediment to true worship. From the early seventeenth century this position, so fervently embraced by the reformers, began to be significantly revised and developed, even allowing for a significant rehabilitation of the pre-reformed understanding.
Difficulties experienced by South African adolescents during COVID-19 lockdown: implications for early mental health interventions
Authors: Pillay Jace
Published: November 2022

Adolescence is characterized as a period of great physical, psychological, social, and behavioral challenges which often impacts on the mental health of adolescents. Prior research has demonstrated the mental health of adolescents to be further complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in isolation during the strictest lockdown period. As such, the primary purpose of this study was to identify the difficulties of South African adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected through a questionnaire completed by 4230 grade 4 to 12 learners from two provinces in South Africa (Mpumalanga, North-West) and analyzed with chi-square, Cramer’s V, Bayesian, and the odds ratio tests. Participants self-reported on the difficulties they experienced during the strictest part of the COVID-19 lockdown period which could possibly impact on their mental health. The results indicate that fear was the most prominent difficulty experienced, but it must be viewed as a comorbidity with anxiety, stress, and depression. A significant finding was that the difficulties experienced were gender, age, and school level specific. The results indicate that mental health practitioners working with adolescents who experienced such difficulties should adopt a multilevel systems approach in supporting the mental health of adolescents during crisis situations like the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. More importantly, early mental health interventions should take gender, age, and primary and secondary school levels into consideration for effectiveness since the difficulties highlighted in this study are likely to impact on the mental health of learners.
Oriental Despotism and the Limits of Doux Commerce, from Montesquieu to Raynal
Authors: Yoon Kate
Published: November 2022

According to one interpretation, Montesquieu believed that laws should be suited to the particular physical and moral characteristics of a nation, and that political change should not be abruptly imposed. However, as Montesquieu nonetheless condemned despotism, he argued that change in despotic regimes should happen gradually through the noncoercive alternative of doux commerce. My aim is to challenge this interpretation of Montesquieu in two ways. First of all, Montesquieu was far more skeptical about the possibility of political change; so strong was his physical determinism that Montesquieu himself thought that despotic states could not be reformed, even through commerce. Second, even though successors of Montesquieu—such as the Abbé Raynal—did view the use of force in reforming despotic states as futile and preferred commerce as a benign alternative, they had to acknowledge that even commerce could not take root in those supposedly despotic states without coercion. The two most representative doux commerce theorists of the eighteenth century, when confronted with the prevailing trope of Oriental despotism, were far less optimistic about the civilizing effect of commerce than today’s interpretations suggest. My reading of The Spirit of the Laws and The History of the Two Indies suggests the limits of turning to eighteenth-century doux commerce ideals to theorize political reform in so-called despotic governments today.
Assuring Quality of Pedestrian Behavior Results Derived From Simulation Models Applied to Airport Terminals
Authors: Vieira Diogo José , da Silva Evandro José , Alves Claudio Jorge Pinto , Borille Giovanna Miceli Ronzani
Published: November 2022

Computer simulation is an important tool nowadays in the design and assessment of airport terminals and other transport hubs, reducing costs, speeding up decision-making, and bringing new perspectives on scenarios targeted on either legacy or disruptive technologies. Concepts such as agent-based modelling, floor field cellular automata and social force models support a range of software technologies available in easy-to-use packages, allowing complex pedestrian behavior to be modelled in a variety of situations. On the other hand, old challenges concerning model verification and validation can potentially hamper the benefits associated with pedestrian microsimulation, leading to untrustworthy results depicted through appealing screen animations. This research aims to deliver a systematization of verification and validation procedures in pedestrian simulation models applied to the airport terminal. Acknowledging that this research is not exhaustive, categories of tests are proposed, along with measures for their assessment. Regarding pedestrian traffic diagrams, solutions for data treatment are proposed and tested, including a novel approach to the delineation of the steady-state regime. The proposed methods were tested with experimental data and agent-based modelling simulation data, demonstrating the feasibility of the procedures, along with certain cautions on their usage.
Derivation of the toxicological threshold of silicon element in the extractables and leachables from the pharmaceutical packaging and process components
Authors: Hao Pengchao , Wang Yingying , Sun Xiongfei , Wang Jinhui , Zhang Leshuai W.
Published: November 2022

Silicon is one of the most monitored elements in extractables and leachables studies of pharmaceutical packaging systems and related components. There is a need to review and evaluate toxicological thresholds of silicon because of its direct contact with drug products (DP) especially a liquid form of DP with the widely used pharmaceutical packaging systems made of silicon materials like glass and silicone. It is required by regulatory authorities to test silicon content in DP; however, there are no official guidelines on the toxicology of silicon that are currently available, yet the knowledge of toxicological thresholds of silicon is critical to justify the analytical limit of quantification (LOQ). Therefore, we reviewed the toxicity of silicon to derive a toxicological threshold by literature review of toxicity studies of both inorganic and organic silicon compounds. Oral toxicity is low for inorganic silicon like silicon dioxide or organic silicon polymers such as silicone tube/silicone oil (polydimethylsiloxane, or namely, PDMS as the major ingredient). In comparison, inhalational toxicity of silicon dioxide leads to pulmonary silicosis or even lung cancer. When orally administered, the toxicity of silicon dioxide, glass, polymers, or PDMS oligomers varies depending on their morphology, molecular weight (MW), and degrees of polymerization. PDMS with high MW has minimal toxic symptoms with non-detectable degradation/elimination by both intraperitoneal and subcutaneous administration routes, while exposure to either PDMS or small molecule dimethyl silicone compounds by the intravenous administration route may lead to death. We here determined a general parenteral permitted daily exposure (PDE) of 93 μg/day for inorganic silicon element and 100 μg/day for organic silicon element by reviewing toxicological data of both forms of silicon. In conclusion, this work provides evidence for pharmaceutical companies and regulatory agencies on the PDEs of silicon elements in pharmaceutical packaging and process components through a variety of administration routes.
Experimental investigation on thermomechanical behavior of glass fiber reinforced polymer composites
Authors: I Infanta Mary Priya , A Arul Jeya Kumar , Senthil Ramalingam
Published: November 2022

This research focuses on the mechanical and thermal characterization of vacuum-assisted resin transfer moulded epoxy-based glass fiber-reinforced composites. Mechanical testing, including tensile and flexural tests, and heat dissipation analysis under the applied load, are used to analyse the prepared specimens. A thermal imaging camera is used to measure temperature changes to determine energy release, which significantly impacts the composite's surface energy in terms of heat. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis were used to examine the thermal stability and decomposition properties. It is noted that the glass transition temperature is 371.15°C, and the decomposition temperature is 380.90°C. Under a scanning electron microscope, the fractured specimens are examined for failure analysis. According to these results, the manufactured composite is suitable for various structural engineering applications.
Effect of International Commodity Price Shocks on Public Finances in Africa
Authors: Da Dakpoulé , Diarra Mahamadou
Published: November 2022

This paper empirically investigates the macroeconomic responses to commodity price shocks with a focus on fiscal variables in a sample of thirty-three African commodity-dependent countries. Using the heterogeneous panel structural vector autoregressive (SVAR) approach developed by Pedroni, we find that government revenues as well as government expenditures react to commodity export prices shock. However, there is a large degree of heterogeneity across countries. Following country characteristics, we find that the response of fiscal variables is higher for countries dependent on extractive commodities than those dependent on agricultural ones. We also highlight the benefits of flexible exchange rate regimes for accommodating external shocks and ensuring macroeconomic stability, which in turn is beneficial to government revenue mobilization. Our results suggest that the African government should seize commodities as an opportunity and increase their efforts in revenue mobilization during price booms and make a productive investment to isolate their finances from commodity price collapses.
Secondary ethnographic analysis: Thinking about things
Authors: Dennis Alex
Published: November 2022

There is a fruitful tension in ethnomethodological work. On the one hand, real-world data are used to rein in analytical privilege. On the other, conceptual discussions necessarily take place in a more open analytical space. Describing settings in detail and thinking about things in the abstract are both essential components of the ethnomethodological project. What ethnographies might consist in complicates this picture. Garfinkel initially deflated the concept of ‘ethnography’, using it to refer to how all members of society make sense of their world. Sacks, on the other hand, initially construed his sociological project as a more rigorous form of professional ethnography. Ethnographic methods rightly remain an important tool for ethnomethodological analyses. They provide an empirical grounding for analysis and facilitate ‘thinking about things’ in a more open manner than some other forms of data. This paper argues that ethnographic analyses more generally can be used as ethnomethodological resources, (re)introducing the idea that others’ fieldwork and analyses are legitimate resources for ethnomethodological work. Some materials from Elijah Anderson’s classic ethnography A Place on the Corner are used to illustrate the possibilities taking this approach might offer.
Air pollution: What is it and what we must do
Authors: Seaton Anthony
Published: November 2022

There is widespread misunderstanding of air pollution and its effects in the media. This relates to the complexities of studying and reporting on the issue – multiple different associated pollutants and diverse reported toxic effects. This article explains what air pollution is and how it may affect health, from heart to brain. It then explains, using Scotland as an example, how pollution can be reduced to levels at which public health effects become small but that, because of its close causative link with climate change, both government action and, especially, our individual responses to the issue are still urgently necessary. The medical profession is urged to set an example by reducing personal carbon footprints.
Implementation of Indigenous Food Tax Policies in Stores on Navajo Nation
Authors: Etsitty Sean O. , John Brianna , Greenfeld Alex , Alsburg Robert , Egge Malyssa , Sandman Sharon , George Carmen , Curley Cameron , Curley Caleigh , de Heer Hendrik D. , Begay Gloria , Jumbo-Rintila Shirleen , Ashley Martin E. , Yazzie Del , Antone-Nez Ramona , Shin Sonya Sunhi , Bancroft Carolyn
Published: November 2022

In 2014, the Navajo Nation Healthy Diné Nation Act (HDNA) was enacted and permanently approved in 2020; HDNA places a 2% surtax on unhealthy foods and beverages, while other 2014 legislation exempted healthy food items from the 6% regular sales tax. Little is known about Navajo Nation store manager/owner perspectives toward the HDNA and how best to support stores to implement the legislation. Purposive sampling was used to ensure a balanced sample of correct HDNA implementers, incorrect HDNA implementers, and stores which made healthy store changes over the past 6 years. Three community-based interviewers collected surveys by phone or in-person. Frequency of closed-ended questions was quantified, and open-ended responses were coded using thematic analysis. Of 29 identified sample stores, 20 were interviewed to reach saturation. Eleven of 20 stores made changes improving their healthy food environments. Barriers included lack of equipment (6/20) and low consumer demand (5/20). Facilitators included consumer awareness and increased produce supply options (5/20). Sixteen of 20 stores supported HDNA continuation. Facilitators to HDNA implementation included orientation and informational materials (6/20) and promotion of tax-free items (5/20). Barriers included confusion about the tax (6/20) and tax exemption (5/20). Suggestions for support included printed materials (6/20) and store training (5/20). HDNA benefits included greater awareness of healthy choices among staff (7/20) and customer-community members (2/20). Most managers and owners expressed receiving support for healthy store changes and HDNA, but also identified a need for added resources and support. Findings inform legislative action to promote timely and appropriate uptake of HDNA, and support equitable, healthy food systems.
Corruption and Self-Sabotage in Sporting Competitions – An Experimental Approach to Match-Fixing Behavior and the Influence of Deterrence Factors
Authors: Giel Thomas , Dallmeyer Sören , Memmert Daniel , Breuer Christoph
Published: November 2022

This study investigates match-fixing employing a 2-player contest in an experimental setting. Subjects compete in a real-effort task and are bribed onetime to self-sabotage. Based on Becker’s deterrence hypothesis, the effectiveness of deterrent factors is analyzed via different treatments applying an expected utility framework. Results show that the majority of participants do not maximize their monetary payoff, that increasing detection probability has a higher deterring effect on bribe acceptance compared to severity of monetary punishment, and that participants with lower performance levels were more likely to accept bribes. Implications are derived for sport governing bodies to operate against match-fixing.
Mitral Valve Re-Repair Due to Chordal Pseudo-Elongation Through Repeated Right Anterior Minithoracotomy
Authors: Celmeta Bleri , Miceli Antonio , Ferrarini Matteo , Glauber Mattia
Published: November 2022

Objective:

We aim to show the step-by-step surgical technique of mitral valve re-repair by means of a repeated right anterior minithoracotomy in a case of a procedure-related early mitral valve repair failure due to left ventricular positive remodeling and chordal pseudo-elongation.

Methods:

The patient was readdressed to our institution for an early severe mitral valve regurgitation, less than a year after performing a right minithoracotomy mitral valve repair (42-mm annular ring implantation, P2 triangular resection, and P2 neochord positioning). The mechanism was attributed to a positive left ventricle remodeling and neochordal pseudo-elongation. Therefore, we decided to perform a mitral valve re-repair in a redo minimally invasive cardiac surgery. We describe in a video-guided step-by-step fashion the surgical procedure, from the reopening of the right anterior minithoracotomy to the surgical strategy chosen to address the re-repair, guided by the mechanism of the previous repair failure.

Results:

We replaced the previously implanted ring with a smaller one and positioned a new polytetrafluoroethylene 4-0 neochord at the P2 level. The patient was discharged home on the fifth postoperative day after an uneventful hospital stay. Predischarge echocardiogram demonstrated undetectable residual mitral valve regurgitation. At 3-month follow-up, echocardiographic and clinical data were encouraging. At 9-month follow-up, the patient endorsed no recurrence of cardiologic symptoms.

Conclusions:

Redo minimally invasive cardiac surgery is a viable option even in case of a mitral valve re-repair due to previous repair failure, especially when procedure related in degenerative mitral disease. Combining the benefits of mitral valve re-repair with those of a minimally invasive surgery may optimize short-term and long-term outcomes.
Advancements in the prevention of hepatitis B recurrence by nucleos(t)ide analogue monotherapies after liver transplantation
Authors: Man Xie , Wei Rao
Published: November 2022

Previous studies have shown that the recurrence rate of HBV (hepatitis B virus) after liver transplantation (LT) can be as high as 80% without any preventive measures. Therefore, prevention of HBV recurrence after LT is always an essential part of clinical work worldwide. The NAs that have been approved for HBV treatment include lamivudine, adefovir dipivoxil, entecavir (ETV), and telbivudine, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). They are often combined with HBIG to prevent HBV recurrence after LT clinically. However, NAs with a higher genetic barrier, such as ETV, TDF, and TAF, can improve liver function by strongly inhibiting HBV replication and reducing the risks of HBV resistance. Recently, some NAs with a higher genetic barrier, such as ETV, TDF, and TAF, have been adopted as monotherapy for preventing the recurrence of hepatitis B after LT in multiple organ transplant centres and have achieved effective outcomes. This article aims to review the advances for NAs monotherapy in prophylaxis for HBV recurrence after LT.