bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
scGAC: a graph attentional architecture for clustering single-cell RNA-seq data
Authors: Cheng Yi , Ma Xiuli
Published: February 2022

Motivation

Emerging single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology empowers biological research at cellular level. One of the most crucial scRNA-seq data analyses is clustering single cells into subpopulations. However, the high variability, high sparsity and high dimensionality of scRNA-seq data pose lots of challenges for clustering analysis. Although many single-cell clustering methods have been recently developed, few of them fully exploit latent relationship among cells, thus leading to suboptimal clustering results.

Results

Here, we propose a novel unsupervised clustering method, scGAC (single-cell Graph Attentional Clustering), for scRNA-seq data. scGAC firstly constructs a cell graph and refines it by network denoising. Then, it learns clustering-friendly representation of cells through a graph attentional autoencoder, which propagates information across cells with different weights and captures latent relationship among cells. Finally, scGAC adopts a self-optimizing method to obtain the cell clusters. Experiments on 16 real scRNA-seq datasets show that scGAC achieves excellent performance and outperforms existing state-of-art single-cell clustering methods.

Availability and implementation

Python implementation of scGAC is available at Github (https://github.com/Joye9285/scGAC) and Figshare (https://figshare.com/articles/software/scGAC/19091348).

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
PreRBP-TL: prediction of species-specific RNA-binding proteins based on transfer learning
Authors: Zhang Jun , Yan Ke , Chen Qingcai , Liu Bin
Published: February 2022

Motivation

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play crucial roles in post-transcriptional regulation. Accurate identification of RBPs helps to understand gene expression, regulation, etc. In recent years, some computational methods were proposed to identify RBPs. However, these methods fail to accurately identify RBPs from some specific species with limited data, such as bacteria.

Results

In this study, we introduce a computational method called PreRBP-TL for identifying species-specific RBPs based on transfer learning. The weights of the prediction model were initialized by pretraining with the large general RBP dataset and then fine-tuned with the small species-specific RPB dataset by using transfer learning. The experimental results show that the PreRBP-TL achieves better performance for identifying the species-specific RBPs from Human, Arabidopsis, Escherichia coli and Salmonella, outperforming eight state-of-the-art computational methods. It is anticipated PreRBP-TL will become a useful method for identifying RBPs.

Availability and implementation

For the convenience of researchers to identify RBPs, the web server of PreRBP-TL was established, freely available at http://bliulab.net/PreRBP-TL.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Effect of modifying high-risk factors and prehabilitation on the outcomes of colorectal cancer surgery: controlled before and after study
Authors: Bojesen Rasmus D. , Grube Camilla , Buzquurz Fatima , Miedzianogora Rebecca E. G. , Eriksen Jens R. , Gögenur Ismail
Published: February 2022

Background

Low functional capacity, malnutrition, and anaemia are associated with an increased risk of complications after surgery. These high-risk indicators can be improved through preoperative interventions. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of screening for modifiable high-risk factors combined with targeted interventions on postoperative complications in patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery.

Methods

A controlled before-and-after study was conducted including patients with colorectal cancer undergoing elective curative surgery between August 2015 and October 2018, in two institutions (intervention and control hospital). The intervention consisted of a screening for anaemia, low functional capacity, and nutritional status and their implementation (iron supplementation, prehabilitation, nutritional supplements, and consultation with a dietician), for a minimum of 4 weeks before surgery. The primary outcome was a composite measure consisting of unplanned admission to the intensive care unit, complications with Clavien–Dindo score of 3a or above, length of hospital stay less than 10 days, readmission, or death within 30 days during the postoperative course.

Results

A total of 1591 patients were included for analysis with 839 at the intervention hospital and 752 at the control hospital. In a difference-in-difference analysis, adjusted for age, sex, smoking, stage of disease, ASA score, surgical approach, and surgical procedure, the intervention was associated with a 10.9 per cent (95 per cent c.i. 2.1 to 19.7 per cent) absolute risk reduction of a complicated postoperative course, primarily due to a reduction in severe complications.

Conclusion

The combined intervention of screening and prehabilitation was associated with a decreased risk of a complicated course, primarily in a reduction of severe complications.
Emergency general surgery: impact of distance and rurality on mortality
Authors: Wohlgemut Jared M. , Ramsay George , Bekheit Mohamed , Scott Neil W. , Watson Angus J. M. , Jansen Jan O.
Published: February 2022

Background

There is debate about whether the distance from hospital, or rurality, impacts outcomes in patients admitted under emergency general surgery (EGS). The aim of this study was to determine whether distance from hospital, or rurality, affects the mortality of emergency surgical patients admitted in Scotland.

Methods

This was a retrospective population-level cohort study, including all EGS patients in Scotland aged 16 years or older admitted between 1998 and 2018. A multiple logistic regression model was created with inpatient mortality as the dependent variable, and distance from hospital (in quartiles) as the independent variable of interest, adjusting for age, sex, co-morbidity, deprivation, admission origin, diagnosis category, operative category, and year of admission. A second multiple logistic regression model was created with a six-fold Scottish Urban Rural Classification (SURC) as the independent variable of interest. Subgroup analyses evaluated patients who required operations, emergency laparotomy, and inter-hospital transfer.

Results

Data included 1 572 196 EGS admissions. Those living in the farthest distance quartile from hospital had lower odds of mortality than those in the closest quartile (OR 0.829, 95 per cent c.i. 0.798 to 0.861). Patients from the most rural areas (SURC 6) had higher odds of survival than those from the most urban (SURC 1) areas (OR 0.800, 95 per cent c.i. 0.755 to 0.848). Subgroup analysis showed that these effects were not observed for patients who required emergency laparotomy or transfer.

Conclusion

EGS patients who live some distance from a hospital, or in rural areas, have lower odds of mortality, after adjusting for multiple covariates. Rural and distant patients undergoing emergency laparotomy have no survival advantage, and transferred patients have higher mortality.
Alpha-band power increases in posterior brain regions in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder after digital cognitive stimulation treatment: randomized controlled study
Authors: de Ramón Ignacio , Pacios Javier , Medina Rafael , Bouhaben Jaime , Cuesta Pablo , Antón-Toro Luis , Quintero Javier , Quiroga Antoni Ramos , Maestú Fernando
Published: February 2022

The changes triggered by pharmacological treatments in resting-state alpha-band (8–14 Hz) oscillations have been widely studied in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, to date, there has been no evidence regarding the possible changes in cognitive stimulation treatments on these oscillations. This paper sets out to verify whether cognitive stimulation treatments based on progressive increases in cognitive load can be effective in triggering changes in alpha-band power in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. With this objective, we compared a cognitive stimulation treatment (n = 12) to a placebo treatment (n = 14) for 12 weeks (36 sessions of 15 min) in child patients (8–11 years old) with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Two magnetoencephalographic recordings were acquired for all participants. In order to extract the areas with changes in alpha power between both magnetoencephalographic recordings, the differences in the power ratio (pre/post-condition) were calculated using an analysis of covariance test adjusted for the age variable. The results show an increase in the post-treatment alpha power in the experimental group versus the placebo group (P < 0.01) in posterior regions. In addition, these changes were related to measures of attention, working memory and flexibility. The results seem to indicate that cognitive stimulation treatment based on progressive increases in cognitive load triggers alpha-band power changes in children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the direction of their peers without this disorder.
Syndapin-2 mediated transcytosis of amyloid-β across the blood–brain barrier
Authors: M. Leite Diana , Seifi Mohsen , Ruiz-Perez Lorena , Nguemo Filomain , Plomann Markus , Swinny Jerome D. , Battaglia Giuseppe
Published: February 2022

A deficient transport of amyloid-β across the blood–brain barrier, and its diminished clearance from the brain, contribute to neurodegenerative and vascular pathologies, such as Alzheimer’s disease and cerebral amyloid angiopathy, respectively. At the blood–brain barrier, amyloid-β efflux transport is associated with the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1. However, the precise mechanisms governing amyloid-β transport across the blood–brain barrier, in health and disease, remain to be fully understood. Recent evidence indicates that the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 transcytosis occurs through a tubulation-mediated mechanism stabilized by syndapin-2. Here, we show that syndapin-2 is associated with amyloid-β clearance via low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 across the blood–brain barrier. We further demonstrate that risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid-β expression and ageing, are associated with a decline in the native expression of syndapin-2 within the brain endothelium. Our data reveals that syndapin-2-mediated pathway, and its balance with the endosomal sorting, are important for amyloid-β clearance proposing a measure to evaluate Alzheimer’s disease and ageing, as well as a target for counteracting amyloid-β build-up. Moreover, we provide evidence for the impact of the avidity of amyloid-β assemblies in their trafficking across the brain endothelium and in low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 expression levels, which may affect the overall clearance of amyloid-β across the blood–brain barrier.
‘Egg-cased heart’: a multimodality imaging approach to chronic constrictive pericarditis with egg-shell calcification: a case report
Authors: Sane Pratik Sudhir , Sankardas Ajit Mullasari , Bhardwaj Kambarnatham Srinivasan , Kurian and Valikapathalil Mathew
Published: February 2022

Background

Constrictive pericarditis (CP), also known as Pick’s disease, is a sequela of chronic inflammation of the pericardium. Pericardial calcification is a common occurrence in CP; however, extensive egg-shell like calcification is rare. Our case, highlights, how a multi-modality imaging in a middle aged female helped to diagnose chronic constrictive pericarditis (CCP) with egg-shell like calcification encasing the heart.

Case summary

Middle aged female with features of right heart failure, was diagnosed as CP based on two-dimensional echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. Computed tomography (CT) scan chest showed extensive egg-shell like calcification encasing the heart, suggestive of calcific CP. Subsequently, she underwent pericardiectomy, through median sternotomy approach and is currently on follow-up with asymptomatic cardiac status.

Discussion

Extensive pericardial calcification encasing the heart like an egg-shell is rare in CCP. Likelihood of incomplete pericardial resection is high in calcific CP and hence a median sternotomy is preferred over anterolateral thoracotomy. A preoperative non-contrast CT scan defines the thickness, anatomic extent the calcification and its adherence to myocardium and surrounding structures. A reconstructed volume-rendered image delineates the extent of calcification precisely, thus determining the optimum surgical approach. A multi-modality imaging in CP, especially in calcific CP, is thus of paramount importance.
Severe sphincter of Oddi spasm after cryoballoon ablation: a case report of an unusual complication after atrial fibrillation ablation
Authors: Hayashi Yusuke , Shimeno Kenji , Tamura Shota , Naruko Takahiko
Published: February 2022

Background 

Perioesophageal vagal nerve (VN) injury after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation remains an important complication. The VN provides parasympathetic innervation to the majority of the abdominal organs—including the stomach and the sphincter of Oddi (SO)—and regulates smooth muscle contraction. We present an unusual case of SO spasm induced by VN injury after cryoballoon ablation (CBA).

Case summary 

A 71-year-old woman presented to our institution with paroxysmal AF. The patient had a history of cholecystectomy and SO dysfunction. She had undergone CBA for AF. Immediately after the procedure, the patient developed epigastric pain. Computed tomography showed dilation of the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts, with the diameter of the common bile duct measuring ∼15.6 mm. Blood tests on postoperative Day 1 revealed severely elevated aminotransferase levels (aspartate aminotransferase, 3156 U/L; alanine aminotransferase, 2084 U/L; lactate dehydrogenase, 2279 U/L; total bilirubin 1.7 mg/dL).

Discussion 

It is known that VN denervation induces SO spasms. The right and left vagal trunks descend alongside the oesophagus, forming a perioesophageal plexus and innervating most of the gastrointestinal organs. In our case, SO spasm was induced as a result of the perioesophageal plexus injury caused by CBA. Underlying SO dysfunction and post-cholecystectomy also played an important role. Coupled with the absence of the gallbladder, which is the reservoir of bile juice and coordinator of SO, SO spasm caused severe elevation of the bile duct pressure. Care should be taken when performing AF ablation with regards to the stomach and the SO.
Capacity building in European health information systems: the InfAct peer assessment methodology
Authors: Bogaert Petronille , Verschuuren Marieke , Van Oyen Herman , van Oers Hans
Published: February 2022

Background

A Health Information System (HIS) assessment is an evaluation of the functioning of the main elements that compose a national HIS. Assessors from nine countries performed peer assessments of each other’s national HIS in the Joint Action on Health Information (InfAct). The aim of this study is to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the InfAct peer assessment methodology as well as the different steps involved in this assessment process.

Methods

Each peer assessment included a preparatory desk report, a country visit with semi-structured interviews with local stakeholders, a final report and a follow-up stakeholder meeting. A qualitative content analysis of the peer HIS assessment was performed based on 12 semi-structured interviews.

Results

The main advantage of the assessments is its informal atmosphere, high degree of objectiveness and its networking opportunities. Disadvantages are its informal request format and setting for recommendation uptake. The peer assessment helped the assessors to broaden their understanding of the assessed and their own HISs, to gain knowledge on how to carry out an HIS assessment and to practice their organization, communication, reporting and negotiation skills. All steps of the HIS assessment are essential and each contributes to the enriching experience of the participants.

Conclusion

The InfAct peer HIS assessment methodology strengthened capacity in national HISs by building up the knowledge and expertise in participating countries and as such addressed health information inequalities. This study confirms the value and relatively easy to implement methodology, and therefore recommends its wide and more systematic application across Europe.
Effect of high shear homogenization on quality characteristics of bael fruit pulp
Authors: Kamble Meenatai G , Singh Anurag , Kumar Prabhakar Pramod , Meghwal Murlidhar , Veer Singh Sukh , Chinchkar Ajay V
Published: February 2022

Response surface methodology was used to investigate the influence of high shear homogenization speed (A: 3000–12 000 r/min) and processing time (B: 30–120 min) on bael fruit pulp quality parameters. The experimental results were best fitted in the suggested quadratic model to delineate and envision the responses in terms of color (values of L*, meaning brightness to blackness, 100–0; a*, meaning green –a* to red +a*; and b*, meaning blue –b* to yellow +b), total soluble solids, ascorbic acid, viscosity, and β-carotene content with the highest coefficients of determination (R2) ranging from 0.80 to 0.99. Significant (P<0.05) change in the L* value, total soluble solids, ascorbic acid, and β-carotene content was found with change in homogenization speed. The interaction effect of homogenization showed a significant difference in a* value and total soluble solid content of the pulp. The best homogenization conditions were determined via multiple response optimization as 10 682 r/min speed and 43.18 min process time. The quality parameters of the pulp at optimized conditions were observed as L* 15.35, a* 4.51, b* 10.25, ascorbic acid 18.64 mg/100 g, viscosity 5349 cP, and β-carotene 4.14 μg/100 g. In addition, total phenolic content, flavonoid content, and antioxidant content of homogenized bael fruit pulp was found to significantly (P<0.05) increase from (83.76±1.24) to (119.21±1.35) mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 mL, (147.39±0.69) to (156.10±1.11) mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/100 mL, and (41.77%±0.60%) to (66.53%±0.41%), respectively. Consequently, this strategy could be used in fruit processing industries to process highly fibrous fruits and nonuniform-textured fruit pulp to avoid sedimentation while retaining functionality.
A-to-I mRNA editing controls spore death induced by a fungal meiotic drive gene in homologous and heterologous expression systems
Authors: Lohmar Jessica M , Rhoades Nicholas A , Patel Tejas N , Proctor Robert H , Hammond Thomas M , Brown Daren W
Published: February 2022

Spore killers are meiotic drive elements that can block the development of sexual spores in fungi. In the maize ear rot and mycotoxin-producing fungus Fusarium verticillioides, a spore killer called SkK has been mapped to a 102-kb interval of chromosome V. Here, we show that a gene within this interval, SKC1, is required for SkK-mediated spore killing and meiotic drive. We also demonstrate that SKC1 is associated with at least 4 transcripts, 2 sense (sense-SKC1a and sense-SKC1b) and 2 antisense (antisense-SKC1a and antisense-SKC1b). Both antisense SKC1 transcripts lack obvious protein-coding sequences and thus appear to be noncoding RNAs. In contrast, sense-SKC1a is a protein-coding transcript that undergoes A-to-I editing to sense-SKC1b in sexual tissue. Translation of sense-SKC1a produces a 70-amino-acid protein (Skc1a), whereas the translation of sense-SKC1b produces an 84-amino-acid protein (Skc1b). Heterologous expression analysis of SKC1 transcripts shows that sense-SKC1a also undergoes A-to-I editing to sense-SKC1b during the Neurospora crassa sexual cycle. Site-directed mutagenesis studies indicate that Skc1b is responsible for spore killing in Fusarium verticillioides and that it induces most meiotic cells to die in Neurospora crassa. Finally, we report that SKC1 homologs are present in over 20 Fusarium species. Overall, our results demonstrate that fungal meiotic drive elements like SKC1 can influence the outcome of meiosis by hijacking a cell’s A-to-I editing machinery and that the involvement of A-to-I editing in a fungal meiotic drive system does not preclude its horizontal transfer to a distantly related species.
Bayesian-based joint determination of earthquake hypocentres and 1-D velocity structures divided by a structural boundary
Authors: Shiina Takahiro , Kano Masayuki
Published: February 2022

We propose a Bayesian approach for jointly determining the locations of earthquake hypocentres and velocity structures in a region divided by a structural boundary, such as a fault zone. To accommodate the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method in a region containing lateral velocity contrast, we incorporated a data-driven station clustering scheme when estimating earthquake hypocentre locations, a 1-D velocity model assigned to each cluster and station corrections for traveltimes. The proposed method realizes the clustering of stations reflecting velocity structures beneath the station network in the framework of the MCMC method. We verified the performances of the proposed method using numerical experiments with different distributions of earthquake hypocentres relative to the structural boundary. The results demonstrated that the proposed method reconstructed earthquake hypocentre locations and velocity structures involving lateral contrast robustly to earthquake distributions. Additionally, the number of 1-D velocity models (the number of station clusters) was optimized by comparing resultant posterior probability proportional to distances between the observed and theoretical traveltimes. We also applied the proposed method to estimate the earthquake hypocentre locations and velocity structures around the source area of the 2004 Mid-Niigata prefecture earthquake, Japan, to examine the applicability of the proposed method to real observation data. The stations were divided into east and west clusters, coinciding with the lateral velocity variation related to the geological setting. Therefore, the proposed method accurately determines earthquake hypocentres in a region divided by a structural boundary without any knowledge regarding the geological structure.
Sarcopenia Is More Prevalent Among Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Undergoing Surgery and Predicts Progression to Surgery Among Medically Treated Patients
Authors: Campbell James P , Teigen Levi , Manski Scott , Blumhof Brian , Guglielmo Flavius F , Shivashankar Raina , Shmidt Eugenia
Published: February 2022

Background

Sarcopenia is common in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); however, estimates of its prevalence and impact on clinical outcomes are variable. This study sought to compare the prevalence of sarcopenia in IBD patients starting new biologics vs patients undergoing IBD surgeries, and its association with common clinical predictors of nutritional status, adverse events, and clinical outcomes.

Methods

This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study of IBD patients who had a computed tomography (CT) scan within 6 months prior to new biologic initiation (medical cohort) or IBD surgery (surgery cohort). The lowest sex-specific quartile of the total psoas area index at the L3 level defined sarcopenia. Prevalence and predictors of sarcopenia, performance of common clinical nutritional markers, and association with adverse events and clinical outcomes at 1 year were determined.

Results

A total of 156 patients were included (48% medical cohort, 52% surgery cohort). Sarcopenia was more common in the surgery cohort (32% vs 16%; P < .02). In the medical cohort, sarcopenia predicted need for surgery at 1 year (odds ratio, 4.75; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-20.57; P = .04). Low albumin and body mass index (BMI) were associated with the presence of sarcopenia; however, 24% of sarcopenic patients had both normal BMI and albumin.

Conclusions

Sarcopenia is more prevalent among IBD patients undergoing surgery and predicts the need for surgery in patients starting new biologic therapy. Low albumin and BMI were similar between cohorts, suggesting a unique role for sarcopenia as a relevant clinical marker of lean muscle mass depletion for surgically and medically treated IBD patients.
The effect of enriched accreted matter on the development of novae
Authors: Hillman Yael , Gerbi Maya
Published: February 2022

The development of a nova eruption is well known to be determined by the white dwarf (WD) mass and the rate at which it accretes mass from its donor. One of the advancements in this field is the understanding that the occurrence of a nova eruption depends on the presence of heavy elements in the envelope, and that the concentration of these elements is highly dependent on the time allotted for accretion. This results in many features of the eruption being correlated with the mass fractions of heavy elements in the ejected material, however, the accreted material is always assumed to be of solar metallicity. Here, we explored the entire range of accretion rates on to a 1.25 $\, \mathrm{M}_\odot$ WD for two cases of highly enriched accreted material and find enrichment to have an influence on certain features for high accretion rates, while the effect of enrichment on low accretion rates is negligible. We further find that the ignition of the thermonuclear runaway which is known to be dependent on the accumulation of a critical mass, is actually dependent on the accumulation of a critical amount of heavy elements.
Superinduction of immunosuppressive glioblastoma extracellular vesicles by IFN-γ through PD-L1 and IDO1
Authors: Jung Mi-Yeon , Aibaidula Abudumijiti , Brown Desmond A , Himes Benjamin T , Cumba Garcia Luz M , Parney Ian F
Published: February 2022

Background

Glioblastoma (GBM), the most common primary brain tumor, has a median survival of 15–16 months. Immunotherapy is promising but GBM-mediated immunosuppression remains a barrier. GBMs express the interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-responsive immunosuppressive molecules programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1). Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have also been implicated in GBM-mediated immunosuppression, in part through PD-L1. We therefore sought to determine if GBM IFN-γ exposure increased GBM EV-mediated immunosuppression and mechanisms underlying this.

Methods

Human GBM-derived cells were cultured in the presence/absence of IFN-γ. EVs were harvested. PD-L1, IDO1, and EV-associated protein expression was assessed. GBM EVs (+/−IFN-γ) were cultured with healthy donor monocytes. Immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) and nonclassical monocyte (NCM) frequency was determined. Impact of GBM (+/−IFN-γ) EV-treated monocytes on CD3/CD28-mediated T cell proliferation was assessed. The impact of PD-L1 and IDO1 knockdown in GBM EVs in this system was evaluated.

Results

IFN-γ exposure increased PD-L1 and IDO1 expression in GBM cells and EVs without altering EV size or frequency. IFN-γ-exposed GBM EVs induced more MDSC and NCM differentiation in monocytes and these monocytes caused more T cell inhibition than IFN-γ-naive GBM EVs. PD-L1 and/or IDO1 knockdown in GBM cells abrogated the immunosuppressive effects of IFN-γ-exposed GBM EVs on monocytes.

Conclusions

IFN-γ exposure such as might occur during an antitumor immune response results in superinduction of GBM EVs’ baseline immunosuppressive effects on monocytes. These effects are mediated by increased PD-L1 and IDO1 expression in GBM EVs. These data highlight mechanisms of GBM EV-mediated immunosuppression and identify therapeutic targets (PD-L1, IDO1) to reverse these effects.
Intraventricular Plus Systemic Antibiotic Therapy for Treating Polymyxin-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Ventriculitis: A Case Report
Authors: Wang Hao , Zhou Qian , Huang Kaiyuan , Yang Xiaofeng , Wen Liang
Published: February 2022

Background

Treating central nervous system (CNS) infections caused by extensively drug-resistant (XDR) gram-negative bacilli, such as carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, represents a significant clinical challenge. Polymyxin is occasionally used as a salvage treatment for this severe CNS infection. We report here a rare case of polymyxin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae ventriculitis, which was successfully treated with ventricular injections and intravenous antibiotics.

Methods

A 53-year-old male underwent a decompressive craniectomy and was referred to our hospital with cerebrospinal fluid incisional leakage and persistent fever.

Results

The minimum inhibitory concentration of polymyxin B in this patient increased from 2 to 4 μg/mL during the course of treatment. He was diagnosed with polymyxin-resistant XDR Klebsiella pneumoniae ventriculitis. We successfully treated the infection with intravenous ceftazidime/avibactam (CAZ/AVI) combined with ventricular injection of tigecycline according to cerebrospinal fluid microbiological culture.

Conclusions

CAZ/AVI combined with tigecycline may be an effective salvage treatment for CNS infections caused by polymyxin-resistant XDR Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Inequity in Telemedicine Use Among Patients with Cancer in the Deep South During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Shao Connie C , McLeod M Chandler , Gleason Lauren T , Dos Santos Marques Isabel C , Chu Daniel I , Wallace Eric L , Fouad Mona N , Reddy Sushanth
Published: February 2022

Background

Telemedicine use has increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. It remains unclear if its rapid growth exacerbates disparities in healthcare access. We aimed to characterize telemedicine use among a large oncology population in the Deep South during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective cohort study was performed at the only National Cancer Institute designated-cancer center in Alabama March 2020 to December 2020. With a diverse (26.5% Black, 61% rural) population, this southeastern demographic uniquely reflects historically vulnerable populations. All non-procedural visits at the cancer center from March to December 2020 were included in this study excluding those with a department that had fewer than 100 visits during this time period. Patient and clinic level characteristics were analyzed using t-test and Chi-square to compare characteristics between visit types (in-person versus telemedicine, and video versus audio within telemedicine). Generalized estimating equations were used to identify independent factors associated with telemedicine use and type of telemedicine use.

Results

There were 50 519 visits and most were in-person (81.3%). Among telemedicine visits, most were phone based (58.3%). Black race and male sex predicted in-person visits. Telemedicine visits were less likely to have video among patients who were Black, older, male, publicly insured, and from lower income areas.

Conclusions

Telemedicine use, specifically with video, is significantly lower among historically vulnerable populations. Understanding barriers to telemedicine use and preferred modalities of communication among different populations will help inform insurance reimbursement and interventions at different socioecological levels to ensure the continued evolution of telemedicine is equitable.
Neuroscience and Competitive Behavior
Authors: Balconi Michela , Angioletti Laura
Published: February 2022

Cognitive and social neuroscience may provide a wide range of neuroscientific tools and paradigms for the research on competitive behavior. Specifically, hyperscanning is a relatively new paradigm in neuroscience that involves capturing the brain activity of two or more participants engaged in a joint task, such as a competitive game, simultaneously. A brief overview of hyperscanning studies on competition and the intra-brain and inter-brain functional connectivity analysis have been here described. Taking inspiration from previous hyperscanning protocols, this chapter suggests that the neuroscientific study of competitive behavior could also be fruitfully explored in other real-life contexts, such as the educational field, the peer group, the sports field, and the organizational context.
Assessment of PTSD in Non-Western Cultures
Authors: Hall Brian J.
Published: February 2022

Assessment of mental ill health among non-Western populations provides a critical pathway to culturally relevant and appropriate models of treatment. Assessment within diverse cultural groups is complicated by a number of factors including differing illness beliefs, idioms of distress, and validity of assessment instruments. Diagnosing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in diverse populations requires cultural awareness, humility, and respect for alternative conceptualizations of suffering. Although PTSD is a commonly experienced disorder following traumatic exposure, for some populations, it may not be the essential diagnosis, or the most appropriate illness concept to capture posttraumatic reactions. This chapter highlights significant guideposts in the field of cross-cultural assessment that can encourage clinicians and researchers to adapt to the changing landscape of trauma assessment globally. A particular emphasis is given to cross-cultural scale adaptation, and how the dominant diagnostic systems incorporate culture.
Disability and Family Care Work over the Life
Course
Authors: Stevens J. Dalton
Published: February 2022

As rates of disability have risen over the last decade for all age groups, families have taken on more care responsibilities. Current theoretical frameworks of disability and care work are largely unconnected, limiting the ability of researchers to account for experiences of care work and receipt. How can sociologists blend these disparate theoretical and empirical literatures to develop a more comprehensive understanding of care work in the context of disability? This chapter proposes the Life Course Disability Care Work Integrated Model (LCDCW) as a potential theoretical framework informed by life course theory, a sociopolitical model of disability, and theories of care work that could unite the literatures. The model enables researchers to identify overlapping and unique structural and interpersonal barriers to care for care workers and care recipients in the context of disability. The chapter then reviews the empirical literature on people’s experiences with disability receiving and providing family care to highlight the framework’s usefulness, emphasizing the unique and shared contexts that shape care relationships and the problems that arise therein. The empirical literature review identifies that people with disability are providers and recipients of care, an essential link between disability and care work literatures. The conclusion summarizes the main contributions of the review, highlights existing gaps in the literature and opportunities for future research, and illustrates how disability and family care work scholarship can influence disability-related policy and programs.
Moral Responsibility, Alternative Possibilities, and Frankfurt Examples
Authors: Pereboom Derk
Published: February 2022

This chapter addresses the debate about whether moral responsibility for an action requires that the agent could have avoided that action, and thus had an alternative possibility available to her. The assumption that blameworthiness, in particular, requires that the agent could have done something that would have precluded her blameworthiness is widespread, and for a long time went unchallenged. But then in a 1969 article, Harry Frankfurt, using an intriguing type of example, argued that this assumption is false. This chapter surveys this challenge and debate to which it has given rise, which has the following structure. In response to the challenge from Frankfurt examples, defenders of the alternative-possibilities requirement have advanced a number of counterstrategies. One involves contending that despite initial impressions, the example does feature a relevant alternative possibility after all; John Fischer calls this the “flicker of freedom strategy.” Another is to argue that despite initial impressions, the example requires causal determinism in the actual causal history of the action in order to secure the absence of alternatives, and this counts against the intuition that the agent in the example is morally responsible. These objections have given rise to Frankfurt examples designed to address the objections. The chapter provides a critical appraisal of these moves in the debate.
Responsibility and Distributive Justice
Authors: Arneson Richard
Published: February 2022

Distributive justice principles specify what is a fair distribution of benefits and burdens across individual persons (and other beings as well, but this complication is set aside). Some distributive justice principles require provision of assistance to those who suffer misfortune and are worse off than others or badly off in absolute terms. Does one’s eligibility for receipt of such assistance vary, to some degree, independently of instrumental considerations, depending on the extent to which one is reasonably held responsible for coming to be in need of it? This chapter explores some answers to this question. One Yes answer holds that having had reasonable alternative courses of action that would have reduced the risk of suffering misfortune reduces the obligations of others to alleviate one’s plight. Another Yes answer holds that being morally deserving or undeserving affects the strength of one’s claim to assistance. These answers appear in luck egalitarian accounts of distributive justice. Two types of the No answer are distinguished. One type holds that distributive justice principles that call for aid to the unfortunate should be insensitive to the extent to which one is prudentially or morally responsible for becoming unfortunate and that it is bad moralism to think otherwise. Another type expresses free will skepticism, challenging the assumption that individuals are in fact variously responsible (or alternatively that we can ever know them to be variously responsible) for choosing and acting in ways that might land them in predicaments from which they need to be rescued.
Legal Responsibility
Authors: Shaw Elizabeth
Published: February 2022

This chapter draws attention to a question that has been paid insufficient attention to in the legal philosophical literature on the criminal responsibility of psychopaths: Who should bear the burden of proving that they are or are not responsible and to what standard? It provides some reasons for thinking that raising a reasonable doubt as to psychopaths’ capacity for moral understanding should be enough to justify exempting them from criminal responsibility and punishment. (Although it may still of course be necessary to hospitalize or treat them—if effective treatments can be developed—to prevent them from harming others.) This chapter summarizes relevant research on psychopathy and discusses an interpretation of this research that is consistent with at least some psychopaths being entitled to an excuse based on their impaired emotional capacities. Since, in some cases, there may be enough evidence to raise a reasonable doubt concerning the criminal responsibility of individuals with psychopathy, this chapter proposes that it should be decided on a case-by-case basis whether someone diagnosed with psychopathy should be excused from criminal responsibility.
Responsibility and Situationism
Authors: Warmke Brandon
Published: February 2022

This chapter explores the relationship between an agent’s moral responsibility for their actions and the situations in which an agent acts. Decades of research in psychology are sometimes thought to support situationism, the view that features of an agent’s situation greatly influence their behavior in powerful and surprising ways. Such situational features might therefore be thought to threaten agents’ abilities to act freely and responsibly. This chapter begins by discussing some relevant empirical literature on situationism. It then surveys several ways of construing the situationist threat to moral responsibility as reducible to worries about determinism, manipulation, or luck. It is then argued that the best way to understand the situationist challenge is as a threat to reasons-responsiveness. A common strategy for responding to the situationist threat to reasons-responsiveness—the so-called modal response—is discussed. The chapter then defends a view called pessimistic realism: While the situationist literature puts human agency in an unflattering light, it does not show that agents’ reasons-responsiveness capacities are generally undermined by situational features. Several objections both to the modal strategy and to pessimistic realism are discussed. The chapter concludes with three thoughts concerning future directions.
Moral Responsibility for Implicit Bias and the Impact of Social Categorization
Authors: Sie Maureen
Published: February 2022

This article discusses the empirical research on implicit bias in the domain of social categorization and the philosophical reflection on what the research tells us about our responsibility for actions influenced or caused by it. It distinguishes reflections (1) on the implicit nature of these biases in relation to the agential control required for moral responsibility; and (2) on the harm implicit biases allegedly do, such as microaggressions, epistemic injustice, shooter bias, and evaluation bias. With respect to (1), it argues that the empirical literature is inconclusive on whether implicit biases undermine backward-looking responsibility. With respect to (2), it argues that our increased knowledge about the harm implicit biases do, understandably inspires forward-looking accounts of moral responsibility. However, it also argues that with respect to the harm implicit biases do, not all harm done is easy address or remedy, for example because not all harm done can be classified as a wrong done by one individual to another. What to do about these harms, is a complex, difficult issue, and an issue on which we might disagree with one another. Ironically, so the chapter points out, if the research on implicit bias is correct, not everyone will be treated as an equal participant in a public discussion of opposing ideas. The chapter concludes that the empirical research on implicit bias is of interest to discussions about moral responsibility and provides us with ample reason to be vigilant with respect to our widespread inclination to categorize one another socially.
Experimental Philosophy and Moral Responsibility
Authors: Björnsson Gunnar
Published: February 2022

Can experimental philosophy help us answer central questions about the nature of moral responsibility, such as the question of whether moral responsibility is compatible with determinism? According to reasoning behind the Condorcet Jury Theorem (CJT), it might: If individual judges independently track the truth with even modest reliability, this reliability can quickly aggregate as the number of judges goes up. This chapter asks whether preconditions for such aggregation hold with respect to folk attributions of responsibility to deterministic scenarios, and whether it has consequences for philosophical method. Section 1 introduces the basic assumptions behind the CJT. Section 2 looks at the distribution of responsibility attributions in recent empirical studies. Section 3 looks at evidence concerning folk reliability, including evidence supporting two error theories for folk compatibilism—the No Matter What and Indeterminist Intrusion hypotheses—and one error theory for folk incompatiblism—the Bypassing hypotheses. It is argued that data undermines the first two error theories and suggests that only a limited class of judgments are subject to the third. Section 4 explains how conditional error theories can change the support of a position without begging the question. Section 5 asks whether the intricacies of the compatibilism question should lead us to deny that the folk are even modestly reliable in their judgments. Section 6 suggests that even if they are, their judgments will often not be independent enough to add much to the judgments of professional philosophers. Section 7 concludes.
Care Ethics, Philosophy of Technology, and Robots in Humanitarian Action
Authors: van Wynsberghe Aimee
Published: February 2022

This chapter aims to embed the care ethics discourse within the philosophy of technology through an examination of an underexplored context in which both care and technology play a principal role: the humanitarian context. Through an analysis of two scenarios in which robots can be applied in humanitarian action, this chapter emphasizes what technological evaluations look like when the focus for evaluation is not the human condition, or an individual (their character traits or their ability to engage with the environment), or a technology, but is instead the ability to create or maintain a reciprocal relationship between caregiver and care receiver. In so doing, this chapter shows the value of discussing care in relation to the philosophy of technology, while also aiming to inspire more philosophical contributions on the application of robots in humanitarian action.
Performative Labor among Balkan Romani Wedding Musicians
Authors: Silverman Carol
Published: February 2022

This chapter explores the relationship among value, money, and the challenges of embodied, artistic, and interpersonal professional musical labor for Balkan Romani wedding musicians. Via discourse and events in North Macedonia and Bulgaria, it examines the multiple strands of exchange between performers and patrons. Four case studies show how musicians debate their art and labor and how tipping is negotiated at weddings and a youth dance. The chapter focuses on how musicians strategize their artistry to produce affective states and how this in turn procures income, impacts their personhood and status, and accomplishes social transformations in Romani communities.
Berkeley’s Theory of Language
Authors: Pearce Kenneth L.
Published: February 2022

According to the ideational theory of meaning held by most seventeenth- and eighteenth- century European philosophers, meaningful words signify ideas in the mind of the speaker. This view was famously rejected by Berkeley. Some interpreters hold that in rejecting this view Berkeley meant merely to carve out some exceptions to the general principle that meaningful words stand for ideas. Others attribute to Berkeley the view that, rather than signifying ideas, words signify speaker intentions. Finally, some interpreters attribute to Berkeley a use theory of language similar to the later Wittgenstein. This chapter provides an overview of this interpretive debate and a defense of the use theory interpretation.
Berkeley on Common Sense
Authors: Bordner S. Seth
Published: February 2022

Debate surrounds whether Berkeley’s philosophy is a defense of, or merely consistent with, common sense, as well as what Berkeley means by “common sense.” This chapter defends a view that synthesizes elements of recent approaches: by “common sense” Berkeley means primarily the (de re) belief that the things immediately perceived are the real things, characteristically held by the vulgar and exemplified by vulgar ways of speech. In holding that it is a natural belief, this view is consistent with recent accounts that identify common sense with the proper use of our cognitive faculties as well as those accounts that identify it with (some) commonly held propositions.