bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diet Control and Swimming Exercise Ameliorate HFD-Induced Cognitive Impairment Related to the SIRT1-NF-κB/PGC-1α Pathways in ApoE-/- Mice
Authors: Wei Wei , Lin Zhicheng , Xu PeiTao , Lv Xinru , Lin Libin , Li Yongxu , Zhou Yangjie , Lu Taotao , Xue Xiehua
Published: March 2023

High-fat diet- (HFD-) induced neuroinflammation may ultimately lead to an increased risk of cognitive impairment. Here, we evaluate the effects of diet control and swimming or both on the prevention of cognitive impairment by enhancing SIRT1 activity. Twenty-week-old ApoE-/- mice were fed a HFD for 8 weeks and then were treated with diet control and/or swimming for 8 weeks. Cognitive function was assessed using the novel object recognition test (NORT) and Y-maze test. The expression of sirtuin-1 (SIRT1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the hippocampus was measured by western blotting. The levels of fractional anisotropy (FA), N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr) ratio, choline (Cho)/Cr ratio, and myo-inositol (MI)/Cr ratio in the hippocampus were evaluated by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) using 7.0-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Our results showed that cognitive dysfunction and hippocampal neuroinflammation appeared to be remarkably observed in apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-/- mice fed with HFD. Diet control plus swimming significantly reversed HFD-induced cognitive decline, reduced the time spent exploring the novel object, and ameliorated spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze test. Compared with the HFD group, ApoE-/- mice fed diet control and/or subjected to swimming had an increase in FA, NAA/Cr, and Cho/Cr; a drop in MI/Cr; elevated expression levels of SIRT1, PGC-1α, and BDNF; and inhibited production of proinflammatory cytokines, including NF-κB p65, IL-1β, and TNF-α. SIRT1, an NAD+-dependent class III histone enzyme, deacetylases and regulates the activity of PGC-1α and NF-κB. These data indicated that diet control and/or swimming ameliorate cognitive deficits through the inhibitory effect of neuroinflammation via SIRT1-mediated pathways, strongly suggesting that swimming and/or diet control could be potentially effective nonpharmacological treatments for cognitive impairment.
Headache in Pediatric Moyamoya Disease after Revascularization Surgery
Authors: Yang Jeyul , Kim Seung-Ki , Chu Min Kyung , Rho Young-Il , Phi Ji Hoon , Lee Seo-Young
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Patients with moyamoya disease (MMD) often have headaches after successful revascularization surgery. We aimed to characterize headache in surgically treated MMD patients and elucidate its clinical meaning and pathophysiology. Methods: Headache and related symptoms were surveyed using structured questionnaires in pediatric MMD patients with follow-up for 6 months or longer after indirect revascularization surgery. Clinical information including initial presentation, surgical method, and outcome was collected from medical records. Surgical outcomes were assessed clinically and by perfusion imaging. We defined “headache associated with MMD” as the headache accompanied by a transient ischemic attack or provoked by hyperventilation. Other headaches were further classified based on the diagnostic criteria of the International Headache Society-3. We analyzed the characteristics of “headache associated with MMD” and newly developed headache after surgery. Results: Among 90 participants, 65 (72.2%) had headaches within the last year before survey, including 28 (43.1%) with “headaches associated with MMD,” 10 (15.3%) with probable migraines, 2 (3.1%) with infrequent episodic tension-type headaches, and 4 (6.2%) with probable tension-type headaches. Headache quality was pulsatile in 27 (41.5%) patients and pressing or tightening in 27 (41.5%) patients. Nausea or vomiting was accompanied in 30 (46.2%) patients. Headache upon awakening was reported in 37 (57.8%) patients. Headache disturbed daily life in 12 (18.5%) patients. Among the 32 (35.6%) patients who suffered headache during both the pre- and postoperative period, the headache quality was similar in 27 (84.4%) patients, and its severity decreased in 24 (75.0%) and did not change in 8 (25.0%) patients. Twelve (13.3%) patients experienced newly developed headaches after surgery. Among them, six (50.0%) were classified as having “headaches associated with MMD.” They were predominantly electric shock-like or stabbing in 5 (45.6%) patients and nondisturbing in all patients. All 90 patients achieved improvement of ischemic symptoms after surgery. Conclusion: Headaches often persist or newly develop after revascularization surgery in MMD patients. Accompanying nausea or vomiting and occurrence upon awakening are characteristic features. Postoperative headache does not necessarily imply insufficient disease control.
Neonatal Diagnosis of Alveolar Capillary Dysplasia via Rapid Genomic Sequencing: A New Gold Standard?
Authors: Thompson Whitney S. , Bendel-Stenzel Ellen M. , Lanpher Brendan C. , Arteaga Grace M. , Stetson Raymond C. , Mavis Stephanie C.
Published: March 2023

Classic alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of pulmonary veins (ACDMPV) is a rare congenital lung disorder presenting in the early neonatal period with refractory hypoxemic respiratory failure and pulmonary hypertension. No curative treatment is currently available. Although definitive diagnosis is obtained by histology, lung biopsy is often challenging in unstable, critically ill neonates. Molecular diagnosis has been achieved with chromosomal microarray and targeted gene sequencing; however, each of these modalities can be limited by turnaround time, coverage of the genome, and inability to detect all pathogenic variant types for ACDMPV. We present a case of ACDMPV diagnosed via rapid genome sequencing and posit that rapid genomic sequencing, including both rapid exome and genome sequencing, has an expanding role in severe neonatal respiratory failure as a comprehensive and noninvasive approach to timely diagnosis.
Relações de gênero e trabalho das mulheres na Cadernos de Psicologia Social e do Trabalho: um balanço de suas duas primeiras décadas (1998-2018)
Authors: Melo Jéssika Sonaly Vasconcelos Barbosa de , Rodrigues Joyce Cristina , Lara Maria Fernanda Aguilar , Aragusuku Henrique Araujo
Published: March 2023

A relação entre trabalho e gênero tem se apresentado como um frutífero campo de estudos nas ciências sociais e humanas. O crescente interesse por essa relação também está presente na Psicologia. Em especial, no campo da Psicologia Social do Trabalho as análises sobre os processos de trabalho são articuladas com dimensões fundamentais para a compreensão do funcionamento da sociedade, tais como raça, classe e gênero. Neste trabalho, por meio de uma revisão de caráter narrativo, buscamos descrever e analisar como o trabalho das mulheres e as relações de gênero têm sido investigados nos artigos publicados na revista Cadernos de Psicologia Social do Trabalho. Para isso, levantamos os artigos publicados nessa revista de 1998 a 2018, selecionando um corpus total de 72 artigos. Nossa análise foi dividida em duas etapas: na primeira, abarcamos uma análise descritiva do corpus, e na segunda, realizamos uma profunda análise qualitativa. Os resultados da análise descritiva apontaram que houve um aumento no número total de publicações que abordam questões de gênero e uma diminuição no número proporcional em relação ao total de artigos publicados. Com base na análise qualitativa, argumentamos que ainda existem desafios teóricos e metodológicos a serem superados para que a temática se consolide na psicologia social do trabalho.
Convolution Neural Network Algorithm for Shockable Arrhythmia Classification Within a Digitally Connected Automated External Defibrillator
Authors: Shen Christine P. , Freed Benjamin C. , Walter David P. , Perry James C. , Barakat Amr F. , Elashery Ahmad Ramy A. , Shah Kevin S. , Kutty Shelby , McGillion Michael , Ng Fu Siong , Khedraki Rola , Nayak Keshav R. , Rogers John D. , Bhavnani Sanjeev P.
Published: March 2023

Background

Diagnosis of shockable rhythms leading to defibrillation remains integral to improving out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest outcomes. New machine learning techniques have emerged to diagnose arrhythmias on ECGs. In out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest, an algorithm within an automated external defibrillator is the major determinant to deliver defibrillation. This study developed and validated the performance of a convolution neural network (CNN) to diagnose shockable arrhythmias within a novel, miniaturized automated external defibrillator.

Methods and Results

There were 26 464 single‐lead ECGs that comprised the study data set. ECGs of 7‐s duration were retrospectively adjudicated by 3 physician readers (N=18 total readers). After exclusions (N=1582), ECGs were divided into training (N=23 156), validation (N=721), and test data sets (N=1005). CNN performance to diagnose shockable and nonshockable rhythms was reported with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, F1, and sensitivity and specificity calculations. The duration for the CNN to output was reported with the algorithm running within the automated external defibrillator. Internal and external validation analyses included CNN performance among arrhythmias, often mistaken for shockable rhythms, and performance among ECGs modified with noise to mimic artifacts. The CNN algorithm achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.995 (95% CI, 0.990–1.0), sensitivity of 98%, and specificity of 100% to diagnose shockable rhythms. The F1 scores were 0.990 and 0.995 for shockable and nonshockable rhythms, respectively. After input of a 7‐s ECG, the CNN generated an output in 383±29 ms (total time of 7.383 s). The CNN outperformed adjudicators in classifying atrial arrhythmias as nonshockable (specificity of 99.3%–98.1%) and was robust against noise artifacts (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve range, 0.871–0.999).

Conclusions

We demonstrate high diagnostic performance of a CNN algorithm for shockable and nonshockable rhythm arrhythmia classifications within a digitally connected automated external defibrillator.

Registration

URL:
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03662802
; Unique identifier: NCT03662802
Cardiovascular Risk Prediction in Men and Women Aged Under 50 Years Using Routine Care Data
Authors: van Os Hendrikus J. A. , Kanning Jos P. , Bonten Tobias N. , Rakers Margot M. , Putter Hein , Numans Mattijs E. , Ruigrok Ynte M. , Groenwold Rolf H. H. , Wermer Marieke J. H.
Published: March 2023

Background

Prediction models for risk of cardiovascular events generally do not include young adults, and cardiovascular risk factors differ between women and men. Therefore, this study aimed to develop prediction models for first‐ever cardiovascular event risk in men and women aged 30 to 49 years.

Methods and Results

We included patients aged 30 to 49 years without cardiovascular disease from a Dutch routine care database. Outcome was defined as first‐ever cardiovascular event. Our reference models were sex‐specific Cox proportional hazards models based on traditional cardiovascular predictors, which we compared with models using 2 predictor subsets with the 20 or 50 most important predictors based on the Cox elastic net model regularization coefficients. We assessed the C‐index and calibration curve slopes at 10 years of follow‐up. We stratified our analyses based on 30‐ to 39‐year and 40‐ to 49‐year age groups at baseline. We included 542 141 patients (mean age 39.7, 51% women). During follow‐up, 10 767 cardiovascular events occurred. Discrimination of reference models including traditional cardiovascular predictors was moderate (women: C‐index, 0.648 [95% CI, 0.645–0.652]; men: C‐index, 0.661 [95%CI, 0.658–0.664]). In women and men, the Cox proportional hazard models including 50 most important predictors resulted in an increase in C‐index (0.030 and 0.012, respectively), and a net correct reclassification of 3.7% of the events in women and 1.2% in men compared with the reference model.

Conclusions

Sex‐specific electronic health record‐derived prediction models for first‐ever cardiovascular events in the general population aged <50 years have moderate discriminatory performance. Data‐driven predictor selection leads to identification of nontraditional cardiovascular predictors, which modestly increase performance of models.
Thiamine for the Treatment of Cardiac Arrest–Induced Neurological Injury: A Randomized, Blinded, Placebo‐Controlled Experimental Study
Authors: Vammen Lauge , Johannsen Cecilie Munch , Baltsen Cecilie Dahl , Nørholt Casper , Eggertsen Mark , Mortensen Signe , Vormfenne Lasse , Povlsen Amalie , Donnino Michael W. , Løfgren Bo , Andersen Lars W. , Granfeldt Asger
Published: March 2023

Background

Thiamine supplementation has demonstrated protective effects in a mouse model of cardiac arrest. The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of thiamine in a clinically relevant large animal cardiac arrest model. The hypothesis was that thiamine reduces neurological injury evaluated by neuron‐specific enolase levels.

Methods and Results

Pigs underwent myocardial infarction and subsequently 9 minutes of untreated cardiac arrest. Twenty minutes after successful resuscitation, the pigs were randomized to treatment with either thiamine or placebo. All pigs underwent 40 hours of intensive care and were awakened for assessment of functional neurological outcome up until 9 days after cardiac arrest.

Nine pigs were included in both groups, with 8 in each group surviving the entire intensive care phase. Mean area under the curve for neuron‐specific enolase was similar between groups, with 81.5 μg/L per hour (SD, 20.4) in the thiamine group and 80.5 μg/L per hour (SD, 18.3) in the placebo group, with an absolute difference of 1.0 (95% CI, −57.8 to 59.8;
P
=0.97). Likewise, there were no absolute difference in neurological deficit score at the end of the protocol (2 [95% CI, −38 to 42];
P
=0.93). There was no absolute mean group difference in lactate during the intensive care period (1.1 mmol/L [95% CI, −0.5 to 2.7];
P
=0.16).

Conclusions

In this randomized, blinded, placebo‐controlled trial using a pig cardiac arrest model with myocardial infarction and long intensive care and observation for 9 days, thiamine showed no effect in changes to functional neurological outcome or serum levels of neuron‐specific enolase. Thiamine treatment had no effect on lactate levels after successful resuscitation.
NOTCH2NLC
GGC Repeat Expansion in Patients With Vascular Leukoencephalopathy
Authors: Liao Yi-Chu , Wei Cheng-Yu , Chang Fu-Pang , Chou Ying-Tsen , Hsu Shao-Lun , Chung Chih-Ping , Mizuguchi Takeshi , Matsumoto Naomichi , Yet Shaw-Fang , Lee Yi-Chung
Published: March 2023

Background:

Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID), caused by GGC (guanine-guanine-cytosine) repeat expansion in
NOTCH2NLC
, has several clinical and radiological features akin to cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD). The present study tested the hypothesis that
NOTCH2NLC
GGC expansion may contribute to cSVD.

Methods:

One hundred and ninety-seven unrelated patients with genetically unsolved vascular leukoencephalopathy without
NOTCH3
,
HTRA1
, and mitochondrial m.3243A>G mutations and 730 healthy individuals were screened for
NOTCH2NLC
GGC repeat expansion using repeat-primed polymerase chain reaction, fragment analysis, Southern blot analysis, or nanopore sequencing with Cas9 (CRISPR associated protein 9)-mediated enrichment. The clinical and neuroimaging features of the patients were compared between individuals with and without
NOTCH2NLC
GGC repeat expansion.

Results:

Six of the 197 (3.0%) patients with unsolved vascular leukoencephalopathy and none of the controls carried the GGC repeat expansion (
P
=0.00009). Skin biopsy of 1 patient revealed eosinophilic, ubiquitin-positive, and p62-positive intranuclear inclusions in the cells of sweat gland and capillary, providing pathologic evidence for the involvement of small vessels in NIID. For the 6 patients, gait disturbance and cognitive decline were common manifestations with a median onset age of 65 (59–69) years. They all had multiple neuroimaging features suggestive of cSVD, including diffuse white matter hyperintensities, lacunes, and enlarged perivascular space in all 6 patients, cerebral microbleeds in 5, and old intracerebral hemorrhage in 4. Four patients had linear hyperintensity in the corticomedullary junction on diffusion-weighted imaging—the characteristic neuroimaging feature of NIID. There was no difference in the severity of cSVD imaging features between the patients with and without the GGC expansion but more pronounced brain atrophy in the patients with the GGC expansion.

Conclusions:

NOTCH2NLC
GGC repeat expansion accounted for 3% of genetically unsolved Taiwanese vascular leukoencephalopathy cases after excluding participants with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarct and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CARASIL), and mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). NIID should be considered in patients manifesting cSVD, especially in those with characteristic neuroimaging feature of NIID.
Body Mechanics, Optimality, and Sensory Feedback in the Human Control of Complex Objects
Authors: Razavian Reza Sharif , Sadeghi Mohsen , Bazzi Salah , Nayeem Rashida , Sternad Dagmar
Published: March 2023

Humans are adept at a wide variety of motor skills, including the handling of complex objects and using tools. Advances to understand the control of voluntary goal-directed movements have focused on simple behaviors such as reaching, uncoupled to any additional object dynamics. Under these simplified conditions, basic elements of motor control, such as the roles of body mechanics, objective functions, and sensory feedback, have been characterized. However, these elements have mostly been examined in isolation, and the interactions between these elements have received less attention. This study examined a task with internal dynamics, inspired by the daily skill of transporting a cup of coffee, with additional expected or unexpected perturbations to probe the structure of the controller. Using optimal feedback control (OFC) as the basis, it proved necessary to endow the model of the body with mechanical impedance to generate the kinematic features observed in the human experimental data. The addition of mechanical impedance revealed that simulated movements were no longer sensitively dependent on the objective function, a highly debated cornerstone of optimal control. Further, feedforward replay of the control inputs was similarly successful in coping with perturbations as when feedback, or sensory information, was included. These findings suggest that when the control model incorporates a representation of the mechanical properties of the limb, that is, embodies its dynamics, the specific objective function and sensory feedback become less critical, and complex interactions with dynamic objects can be successfully managed.
Strong Allee Effect Synaptic Plasticity Rule in an Unsupervised Learning Environment
Authors: Kwessi Eddy
Published: March 2023

Synaptic plasticity, or the ability of a brain to change one or more of its functions or structures at the synaptic level, has generated and is still generating a lot of interest from the scientific community especially from neuroscientists. These interests went into high gear after empirical evidence was collected that challenged the established paradigm that human brain structures and functions are set from childhood and only modest changes were expected beyond. Early synaptic plasticity rules or laws to that regard include the basic Hebbian rule that proposed a mechanism for strengthening or weakening of synapses (weights) during learning and memory. This rule, however, did not account for the fact that weights must have bounded growth over time. Thereafter, many other rules that possess other desirable properties were proposed to complement the basic Hebbian rule. In particular, a desirable property in a synaptic plasticity rule is that the ambient system must account for inhibition, which is often achieved if the rule used allows for a lower bound in synaptic weights. To that regard, in this letter, we propose such a synaptic plasticity rule that is inspired by the Allee effect, a phenomenon often observed in population dynamics. We show that properties such as synaptic normalization, competition between weights, decorrelation potential, and dynamic stability are satisfied. We show that in fact, an Allee effect in synaptic plasticity can be construed as an absence of plasticity.
Ecuadorian Children’s Willingness to Protect Endangered Species – Identifying Behavioral Predictors in a Biodiversity Hotspot
Authors: Büscher Milan , Stein Lea , Durán María Elisa , Cazar María-Elena , Hillebrand Philip , Schlünder Susanne , Fiebelkorn Florian
Published: March 2023

The loss of biodiversity is a problem that particularly affects biodiversity hotspots. Children play a crucial role in the conservation of endangered species. One important prerequisite for conservation behavior is the willingness to protect endangered animal species. The present study investigated the influence of several variables on Ecuadorian children’s willingness to protect domestic endangered animal species (N = 154; MAge = 8.57; SD = 0.55; 48.1% female). Gender, caring beliefs (a subdimension of the wildlife value orientation), dispositional empathy with endangered animals, and threat perception of the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) toward humans were strong predictors of the willingness to protect them. Conversely, psychological distance, and threat perception of both the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) and the jaguar (Panthera onca) had no significant influence on willingness to protect. However, their effects may be indirect. The results of this study are relevant for biodiversity conservation and educators in schools.
A Latin Chrysostom Collection, the Semi-Pelagian Controversy, and Sixth-century Rome
Authors: Dossey Leslie
Published: March 2023

In 1894 Germain Morin identified a collection of 31 Pseudo-Chrysostomic sermons as the work of a single late antique Latin author. Although widely read in the Middle Ages, there is still little consensus about where or when this author wrote. Morin himself originally proposed sixth-century Naples, Adalbert de Vogüé noticed parallels with the Rule of the Master, and, most recently, Jean-Paul Bouhot and Francois Leroy have argued for fifth-century North Africa. This paper explores the collection’s contextual clues, pre-baptismal liturgy, and anti-Arian and anti-Pelagian theology to make a case for considering it the product of clerical circles within Ostrogothic Rome. The author may have been writing during the Second Semi-Pelagian Controversy (519–529 CE), perhaps in direct dialogue with Fulgentius of Ruspe. He displays an attitude towards human free will that is surprisingly similar to Boethius’s and may have been a member of the circles of Boethius, Proba, and the deacon John in the early 520s.
Social-Cultural Impacts of Development Projects: Expansion of Morogoro Highway in Tanzania
Authors: Kilonzo Rehema , Haule Kelvin
Published: March 2023

Land is one of the contentious development and political issue facing Tanzania and many Sub Saharan African countries. Most of these issues focus on the privatization of land as a result of neo-liberal economic reforms, evictions and conflicts generated. To understand development as a concept and its outcome, arguments in this paper are drawn from the study that explored socio-cultural impacts of the construction of Morogoro highway in Tanzania. Further, the paper makes an analysis of the land patterns and the meanings people attach to the land. Finally, we make an analysis of the social movements established by people in response to evictions along the highway. The study was conducted along Morogoro highway in Dar es Salaam and Pwani regions. It employed mainly qualitative approach, where archival information from NBS, Our World Data, indepth interviews, focus group discussions and observations were used. Key findings indicate that there is a gap between the meanings assigned to development projects and the socio-cultural configurations attached to land. This has resulted into myriad conflicts and evictions. A central argument in this paper is that for the land development program to be meaningful, there is a need to involve all land actors in the process.
Coronavirus Counter-Measures, The Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community and Domestic Legal Requirements
Authors: Musokwa Irene
Published: March 2023

This article examines the coronavirus counter-measures adopted by East African states from a legal perspective. The focus is whether the adopted measures infringe on the provisions of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community (EAC) and domestic legislations, including the countries’ constitutional provisions. The legal recourse for East African citizens in instances where domestic remedies have failed will be examined in light of the role of the judicial organ of the East African Community, the East African Court of Justice (EACJ). An examination will be made on protection of human rights under the EAC Treaty and the jurisdiction of the EACJ in adjudicating on allegations of human rights violation. This contribution will proceed to debate on the existing relationship between international law and domestic laws; whether international law is superior to domestic law and whether international bodies can entertain a complaint by an individual or an institution on violation of human rights where redress has not been exhaustively sought through domestic legal systems.
COVID-19 or Existing Volatilities? Implications of COVID-19 on Violence in East Africa
Authors: Walwa William J.
Published: March 2023

This paper examines the implications of COVID-19 on violence in the traditional East African countries: Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. The paper asserts that while episodes of violence increased during the pandemic, such episodes cannot be understood in isolation from the local context, which was already volatile before the pandemic. COVID-19 sparked the already existing conflicts and violence in different ways: Firstly, it increased state crimes – as it was exploited by repressive states and governments to legitimize clampdown of political opponents and civilians. Secondly, extremist groups exploited the fears and discontents caused by the pandemic to infuse violent narratives targeting a marginalized population affected by the pandemic, and finally, threats and attacks from extremist groups increased – as governments were preoccupied dealing with socio-economic and health problems caused by the pandemic. Thus, the extent to which the pandemic can cause violence is dependent on the context itself. Violent episodes increased in the East African context since it was already volatile before the pandemic.
Serbia and Montenegro and the Situation in Crete in 1897
Authors: Knežević Saša
Published: March 2023

This article looks into the political stance and diplomatic activities of Serbia and Montenegro during the Cretan crisis at the end of the nineteenth century. At the time, no agreement was reached between Greece and the other Balkan states on any joint action due to mutually intertwined territorial and political claims. The Balkan states were trying to promote their individual political goals, either with the Sublime Porte or with the European Great Powers. Serbia, with support from Montenegro, required that the Porte grant church and school autonomy to the population in the northern districts of Ottoman Macedonia. Seeking to resolve the contentious issues with the Porte, Montenegro played a prominent role in the international gendarmerie mission in Crete from 1897 to 1899. The article is based on historical documents from the State Archives of Serbia and Montenegro, as well as the press of the time.
Transparency and Information Asymmetry in Financial Markets
Authors: Bar Aharon Daniel
Published: March 2023

The paper deals with the application of aspects of behavioral finance in the context of investor protection reflected in EU financial regulation which puts an emphasis on disclosure requirements. Traditionally, financial regulatory frameworks maintain a status que assumption of “rational investors” contained within neoclassical economic theory, however reoccurring financial incidents have exposed a critical flaw in this understanding, consequently requiring a further examination of behavioral aspects within the context of financial regulation. It remains ambiguous how regulators may best use findings from behavioral finance to address flaws in their investor protection tools. Furthermore, neither expanding disclosure obligations nor enforcing a tougher paternalistic approach may suffice in their intent.
Tectonic Memories: Film, Geology and Archives in Diana Vidrașcu’s Volcano: What Does a Lake Dream? (2019)
Authors: Ashworth Toby
Published: March 2023

This article explores the recording by documentary film of the imperceptible longue-durée of tectonic processes alongside the radical eventhood of volcanic eruption. Through an analysis of Romanian filmmaker Diana Vidrașcu’s Volcano: What Does a Lake Dream? (2019), I re-animate Gilles Deleuze’s discussion of islands to explore the temporal, philosophical, and mediatic implications of volcanic eruption, island formation, and the volcanic archive. I argue that in the film’s effort to reassert human memories of the tectonic alongside those of the landscape, it performs an incomplete reconciliation of the coeval processes and materialities of human and nonhuman, refusing to silence the human histories and archival excesses that are subsumed by narratives that emphasise the longue-durée of geological time.
Chiloschista densiflora (Orchidaceae), a distinctive species newly recorded from Xizang, China
Authors: WEN YING-YING , MA CHONG-BO , ZHANG TIAN-KAI , WANG XI-LONG , CHEN WEN-SHUAI , YANG BO-YUN , JIN XIAO-HUA
Published: March 2023

Chiloschista densiflora (Orchidaceae), a new record of flora of China, is described and illustrated based on materials from Motuo, Xizang. Morphologically, Chiloschista densiflora is characterized by middle lobe with a pubescent callus ranging from base to apex, two conical calli at base, short and stocky column.
Revision of the Therates fruhstorferi complex (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae)
Authors: MATALIN ANDREY V. , WIESNER JÜRGEN
Published: March 2023

The taxonomic structure of the Therates fruhstorferi species complex (sensu lato) within the batesi-species group is revised. The lectotypes and paralectotypes of Therates fruhstorferi W. Horn, 1902 and Therates fruhstorferi sauteri W. Horn, 1912 are designated. Therates biserratus Tan, Mo, Liang, 1991 and T. vitalisi ida Mandl, 1954 are restored from the synonyms of T. vitalisi W. Horn, 1913 as the separate species and subspecies, respectively while T. sauteri is considered as a separate species, but not as a subspecies of T. fruhstorferi. Three species and two subspecies are described as new: T. fruhstorferi australis ssp. n.—from southern Vietnam; T. pseudovitalisi sp. n.—from northern Laos; T. pseudovitalisi tibetana ssp. n.—from eastern Tibet, China; T. hunanensis sp. n.—from the Chinese Province Hunan; T. ziyardamensis sp. n.—from northern Myanmar. An identification key and distribution map of the species of Therates fruhstorferi complex are provided.
Robotic Systematic Portal Lymphadenectomy. Description of Surgical Technique
Authors: Younos Ahmed , Touadi Melissa , Ross Sharona , Sucandy Iswanto
Published: March 2023

Portal lymphadenectomy is an integral part of gallbladder, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and perihilar cholangiocarcinoma resection to improve staging and prognostication. This is also believed by many oncologists to potentially serve as therapy to remove cancer containing nodes. While the current guideline requires removal of at least 6 portal lymphnodes, many surgeons face technical difficulty in performing the systematic portal lymphadenectomy especially in minimally invasive fashion. The anatomical complexity of biliovascular structures within the porta hepatis contributes to this technical challenge. In this video, we demonstrate our robotic technique of systematic portal lymphadenectomy for the treatment of gallbladder cancer.
Ligature-Induced Periodontitis Drives Colorectal Cancer: An Experimental Model in Mice
Authors: Shi Y.T. , He J.M. , Tong Z.A. , Qian Y.J. , Wang Q.W. , Jia D.J.C. , Zhu W.J. , Zhao Y.X. , Cai B.B. , Chen S.J. , Si M.S.
Published: March 2023

Periodontitis is a prevalent inflammatory oral disease associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Experimental animal models are critical tools to investigate the effects and mechanisms of periodontitis on colorectal cancer. Several murine periodontitis models have been used in research, including oral gavage, periodontal pathogen injection, and ligature models. The role of experimental periodontitis caused by silk ligation in colorectal cancer remains unclear. In this study, we used an experimental periodontitis model on a colitis-associated colorectal cancer model and a spontaneous model, respectively. We observed the promotion of colorectal cancer in ligature-induced periodontitis mice compared to those control mice in 2 different models, as assessed by tumor number, tumor size, and tumor load. Since bacterial dysbiosis is an important feature of periodontitis, we next analyzed the oral and gut microbiomes using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. We found that the experimental periodontitis model reshaped the microbial community in the oral cavity and gut. In addition, we found a higher extent of programmed death 1 (PD-1)–positive CD8+ T-cell infiltration in tumor samples of the periodontitis group than in controls by immunofluorescence staining. Regarding the potential molecular mechanism, we transplanted the fecal microbiota of the periodontitis patient into mice and observed a tumor-promoting effect in the periodontitis group, assessed by tumor volume and tumor weight, together with a low level of INF-γ+ CD8+ T-cell infiltration in subcutaneous tumor mice. Taken together, we show that ligature-induced periodontitis model promotes colorectal cancer by microbiota remodeling and suppression of the immune response.
Marijuana Policies in Drug Treatment Courts
Authors: Lu Ruibin
Published: March 2023

Drug treatment courts are challenged by the ongoing trend of marijuana legalization. In states where it is legal for adult citizens to consume marijuana for medical and recreational purposes, treatment courts need to determine whether participants should be allowed to consume or possess marijuana. By analyzing the written policies of treatment courts in states that have legalized recreational and medical marijuana, this study explores how treatment courts address such challenges. The review shows a large percentage of drug treatment courts have yet to clearly communicate their marijuana policies with the participants in writing. However, among the drug treatment courts that have established marijuana-specific policies, the vast majority of courts continue to ban the use of marijuana while a few courts allow medical marijuana use on an individual basis.
How buses alleviate unemployment and poverty: Lessons from a natural experiment in Clayton County, GA
Authors: Li Fei , Wyczalkowski Christopher Kajetan
Published: March 2023

Many studies have documented the linkage between public transportation and economic outcomes, though there is relatively little empirical evidence on the consequences of losing existing transit services, especially bus services, which disproportionately serve low-income populations. We investigate the impacts of bus access on poverty and employment using a natural experiment in Clayton County, GA, where the local bus transit was terminated between 2010 and 2015. Using a difference-in-difference approach, we find substantial increases in poverty and unemployment rates in affected neighbourhoods during the five-year period. Our findings suggest both the spatial mismatch hypothesis, which predicts the reduction in transit access can lead to reductions in job accessibility and employment, and the residential sorting hypothesis, which states that poor households gravitate towards neighbourhoods with better transit access, could be at play. Overall, we find strong evidence that disruptions in bus transit could have significant adverse impacts on neighbourhood economic outcomes. Our findings underscore the need for federal and local public transportation funding to help improve job access, alleviate poverty, and maintain neighbourhood stability.
Otomastoiditis Caused by Nocardia Farcinica: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Li Feifan , Wang Jun , Chen Chengfang , Yang Huiming , Man Rongjun , Yu Shudong
Published: March 2023

Nocardia farcinica usually infects people with impaired immune status and usually manifests in the lungs. Otomastoiditis caused by Nocardia infection is extremely rare, with only 4 cases reported to date. This report describes a case of otomastoid N. farcinica infection in an immunocompetent patient. The case was a 10-month-old immunocompetent infant who presented with an approximately 3-month history of right ear discharge for which treatment with various antibiotics had not resulted in significant improvement. Multiple cultures of secretions and pathologic examination failed to identify the causative organism. The patient then underwent right mastoidectomy. Finally, metagenomic next-generation sequencing identified the pathogen to be N. farcinica. The patient was infection-free at the 6-month follow-up but had developed labyrinthitis ossificans. Otomastoid Nocardia infection has characteristic clinical features, namely, formation of a large amount of granulation tissue and coexistence of bone destruction and new bone formation. Traditionally, Nocardia is challenging to diagnose. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing of lesions is helpful. Complete local debridement and free drainage are key to treatment.
Attitudes and Self-Efficacy of Preservice Teachers Toward Teaching Gifted and Talented Students
Authors: Opoku Maxwell Peprah , Nketsia William , Amponteng Michael , Mprah Wisdom Kwadwo , Kumi Emmanuel Opoku
Published: March 2023

Teacher training is fundamental to the success of gifted and talented education (GATE). Unfortunately, in sub-Saharan Africa, which is still in the early stages of practicing inclusive education, knowledge about GATE is limited because preservice teacher training programs have yet to prioritize this subject area. The aim of this exploratory study was to examine the attitudes and self-efficacy of 304 preservice teachers regarding GATE at three education colleges in Ghana. Using Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior as a framework, the results show a positive association between attitude and self-efficacy, with the latter emerging as a significant predictor of the former. Other background variables—such as gender, knowledge of inclusive education policy, specialization, and level of study—provide insights into the attitudes and self-efficacy of preservice teachers. Also discussed is the need for teacher training institutions to introduce training courses and develop culturally responsive policies, guidelines, and strategies for GATE.
Strategic Change in a Pluralistic Context: Change leader sensegiving
Authors: Day Lisa , Balogun Julia , Mayer Michael
Published: March 2023

Research points to the challenge of delivering strategic change in pluralistic contexts. We explore this challenge through a real-time, qualitative case study of the implementation of strategic change in a post-1992 United Kingdom university. Our findings enable us to account for how a change leader can create sensegiving and sensemaking opportunities that influence others to engage in activities that facilitate change implementation through an orchestrated meetings-based process and which also leads to change action consistent with intended goals. In doing so we contribute to research on strategic change in pluralistic organizations, research on strategy meetings and research on change leader sensegiving.
A Meta-Analysis of Behavior Interventions for Students With Emotional-Behavioral Disorders in Self-Contained Settings
Authors: Gersib Jenna A. , Mason Sarah
Published: March 2023

Students with emotional-behavioral disorders (EBDs) often learn in alternative classroom settings to provide more intensive instruction that meets their educational needs. Although research has demonstrated promise for several behavior intervention practices in general education settings, the generalizability of these practices to more restricted environments is unknown. Thus, this meta-analysis aimed to examine the class-wide behavior interventions tested in self-contained learning environments for students with EBDs. Studies investigating behavioral interventions in alternative elementary settings were systematically screened. Fifteen studies with 20 effect sizes met inclusion criteria and results from each study were synthesized. An estimated average effect was calculated ( g = 0.93, SE = 0.16), demonstrating that tested interventions are typically effective in self-contained learning environments to improve student behaviors. A thematic analysis and multi-level meta-regression were conducted to determine which elements are most beneficial to students in these unique learning environments. Results indicated that interventions that included relational supports, such as daily parent communication, differentially benefited students ( B = 1.26, SE = 0.15). Limitations include the small number of studies meeting inclusion criteria that have investigated behavior interventions in self-contained settings and the need for improved research quality. Implications suggest support for adapting standardized practice elements, such as group contingencies, to improve student behaviors in multiple learning environments.
Free vibration response of bidirectional functionally graded rotating micro-disk under mechanical and thermal loading
Authors: Pal Suman , Das Debabrata
Published: March 2023

The present work studies the free vibration response of functionally graded rotating micro-disks subjected to transverse pressure and thermal loading based on the modified couple stress theory. The disk material is considered to be functionally graded along the radial and thickness directions, and its properties are assumed to be temperature-dependent following the Touloukian model. The mathematical formulation is based on an energy functional involving the von Kármán type non-linearity, in which appropriate displacement derivatives and its conjugate stress measures are used to define the strain energy of the micro-disk. The minimum potential energy principle is employed to develop the governing equations for determining the deformed configuration of the micro-disk under combined centrifugal, pressure and thermal loading. Further, the governing equations for free vibratory motion of the micro-disk are derived following Hamilton’s principle and incorporating the tangent stiffness of the deformed micro-disk. The governing equations are discretized and solved employing the Ritz method. The mathematical model is successfully validated with different reduced problems available in the literature. The influence of rotational speed, transverse pressure, thermal loading, size-dependent thickness and volume fraction indices are investigated for a wide range of parametric values. Some illustrative mode shapes along with the contour have also been presented. The present study is first of its kind and the presented results would definitely serve as benchmarks for any further study in this field.
Redefining Trochlear Dysplasia: Normal Thresholds Vary by Measurement Technique, Landmarks, and Sex
Authors: Tanaka Miho J. , Sodhi Alisha , Wadhavkar Isha , Kane Kylynn , Velasquez Hammerle Maria V. , Mangudi Varadarajan Kartik , Tornetta Paul
Published: March 2023

Background:

Trochlear dysplasia is a known risk factor for patellar instability. Multiple radiographic measurements exist to assess trochlear morphology, but the optimal measurement technique and threshold for instability are unknown.

Purpose:

To describe the optimal measurements and thresholds for trochlear dysplasia on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that can identify knees with patellar instability in male and female patients.

Study Design:

Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Knee MRI scans of patients with patellar instability were compared with those of age- and sex-matched controls. Measurements of the sulcus angle, lateral trochlear inclination (LTI), and trochlear depth were performed on axial images using bony and cartilaginous landmarks. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed, with the area under the curve (AUC) describing the accuracy of each diagnostic test. Optimal cutoff values were calculated to distinguish between knees with and without patellar instability. AUC and cutoff values were reported for each measurement as well as for male and female subgroups.

Results:

A total of 238 knee MRI scans were included in this study (138 female, 100 male; age range, 18-39 years). Trochlear depth measurements had the greatest diagnostic value, with AUCs of 0.79 and 0.82 on bone and cartilage, respectively. All measurements (sulcus angle, LTI, trochlear depth) on bone and cartilage had an AUC ≥0.7 (range, 0.70-0.86), with optimal cutoff values of 145° (bone) and 154° (cartilage) for the sulcus angle, 17° (bone) and 13° (cartilage) for LTI, and 4 mm (bone) and 3 mm (cartilage) for trochlear depth. Optimal cutoff values in female patients varied from those in male patients for all measurements except for cartilaginous trochlear depth.

Conclusion:

Normal thresholds for trochlear dysplasia varied based on the use of bony versus cartilaginous landmarks. Cartilaginous trochlear depth measurements had the greatest ability to identify knees with patellar instability. Furthermore, optimal cutoff values for all measurements except for cartilaginous trochlear depth differed between female and male patients. These findings suggest that sex-specific parameters of normal values may be needed in the assessment of risk factors for patellofemoral instability.
A study of post-processing for AFP-fabricated thermoplastic composites with void content and air permeability characterization
Authors: Karimi Sasan , Louyeh Pouya Y , Barzegar Ali , Yildiz Mehmet , Sas Hatice S
Published: March 2023

Improving the quality of fiber-reinforced composite laminates using out-of-autoclave techniques has been a challenge for a long time. The recent trends toward the replacement of autoclave processes with out-of-autoclave processes for thermoplastic composites still lack a compressive recipe. This study first develops an understanding of the integrated effect of the automated fiber placement (AFP) lay-up process parameters (compaction force and lay-up velocity) and the type of post-processing: i) autoclave and ii) vacuum bag only (VBO) processing with two vacuum hold times, 2 and 24 h. The void content results highlight the potential of the VBO process to replace the autoclave with an improved void content of VBO with 24 vacuum hold times. Then, this result has been correlated with the morphology of voids after the AFP lay-up as isolated or connected via air permeability characterization. This study reveals that the high air permeability to effective porosity ratio of samples after AFP lay-up which is achievable with low compaction force facilitates the air removal mechanism during the VBO process with sufficient vacuum hold times.