bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surgical Survival Benefits With Different Metastatic Patterns for Stage IV Extrathoracic Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A SEER-Based Study
Authors: Chao Ce , Qian Yongxiang , Li Xihao , Sang Chen , Wang Bin , Zhang Xiao-ying
Published: September 2021

Background:

With the knowledge of oligometastases, primary surgery plays an increasingly vital role in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. We aimed to evaluate the survival benefit of primary surgery based on metastatic patterns.

Materials and Methods:

The selected patients with stage IV extrathoracic metastatic (m1b) non-small cell lung cancer between 2010 and 2015 were included in a retrospective cohort study from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Multiple imputation was used for the missing data. Patients were divided into 2 groups depending on whether surgery was performed. After covariate balancing propensity score (CBPS) weighting, multivariate Cox regression models and Kaplan-Meier survival curve were built to identify the survival benefit of different metastatic patterns.

Results:

Surgery can potentially increase the overall survival (OS) (adjusted HR: 0.68, P < 0.001) of non-small cell lung cancer. The weighted 3-year OS in the surgical group was 16.9%, compared with 7.8% in the nonsurgical group. For single organ metastasis, surgery could improve the survival of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Meanwhile, no significant survival improvements in surgical group were observed in patients with multiple organ metastases.

Conclusion:

The surgical survival benefits for extrathoracic metastatic non-small cell lung cancer could be divided by metastatic pattern.
Differentiation of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma and Hepatic Lymphoma Based on Radiomics and Machine Learning in Contrast-Enhanced Computer Tomography
Authors: Xu Hanyue , Zou Xiuhe , Zhao Yunuo , Zhang Tao , Tang Youyin , Zheng Aiping , Zhou Xianghong , Ma Xuelei
Published: September 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the ability of texture parameters combining with machine learning methods in distinguishing intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICCA) and hepatic lymphoma (HL). Method: A total of 28 patients with HL and 101 patients with ICCA were included. A total of 45 texture features were extracted by the software LifeX from contrast-enhanced computer tomography (CECT) images and 38 of them were eligible. A total of 5 feature selection methods and 9 feature classification methods were used to build the best diagnostic models, combining with the 10-fold cross-validation to assess the accuracy of these models. The discriminative ability of each model was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic analysis. Result: A total of 45 predictive models were built by the cross combination of each selection and classification method to differentiate ICCA from HL. According to the results of test group, most of the models performed well with a large area under the curve (AUC) (>0.85) and high accuracy (>0.85). Random Forest (RF)_Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) (AUC  =  0.997, accuracy  =  0.969) was the best model among all the 45 models. Conclusion: Combining texture parameters from CECT with multiple machine learning models can differentiate ICCA and HL effectively, and RF_LDA performed the best in this process.
Using Subthreshold Vibratory Stimulation During Poststroke Rehabilitation Therapy: A Case Series
Authors: Vatinno Amanda A. , Hall Lucion , Cox Hannah , Fluharty Alison , Taylor Catilyn , Wease Alexandra , Davis Allison , Cain Shannon , Ramakrishnan Viswanathan , Woodbury Michelle , Seo Na Jin
Published: September 2021

Subthreshold vibratory stimulation to the paretic wrist has been shown to prime the sensorimotor cortex and improve 2-week upper extremity (UE) therapy outcomes. The objective of this work was to determine feasibility, safety, and preliminary efficacy of the stimulation over a typical 6-week therapy duration. Four chronic stroke survivors received stimulation during 6-week therapy. Feasibility/safety/efficacy were assessed at baseline, posttherapy, and 1-month follow-up. For feasibility, all participants wore the device throughout therapy and perceived the stimulation comfortable/safe. Regarding safety, no serious/moderate intervention-related adverse events occurred. For efficacy, all participants improved in Wolf Motor Function Test and UE use in daily living based on accelerometry and stroke impact scale. Mean improvements at posttherapy/follow-up were greater than the minimal detectable change/clinically important difference and other trials with similar therapy without stimulation. In conclusion, the stimulation was feasible/safe for 6-week use. Preliminary efficacy encourages a larger trial to further evaluate the stimulation as a therapy adjunct.
Modeling the Process by Which People Try to Explain Complex Things to Others
Authors: Klein Gary , Hoffman Robert , Mueller Shane , Newsome Emily
Published: September 2021

The process of explaining something to another person is more than offering a statement. Explaining means taking the perspective and knowledge of the Learner into account and determining whether the Learner is satisfied. While the nature of explanation—conceived of as a set of statements—has been explored philosophically and empirically, the process of explaining, as an activity, has received less attention. We conducted an archival study, looking at 73 cases of explaining. We were particularly interested in cases in which the explanations focused on the workings of complex systems or technologies. The results generated two models: local explaining to address why a device (such an intelligent system) acted in a surprising way, and global explaining about how a device works. The examination of the processes of explaining as it occurs in natural settings revealed a number of mistaken beliefs about how explaining happens, and what constitutes an explanation that encourages learning.
Overview of multi-phase switched reluctance motor drives for electric vehicles
Authors: Han Shouyi , Diao Kaikai , Sun Xiaodong
Published: September 2021

Switched reluctance motor (SRM) provide a potential candidate for electric vehicle (EV) applications due to rigid structure, potentially low production cost, the absence of permanent magnets, excellent power-speed characteristics, and high reliability and robustness. This paper aims to review the current research on the design, winding topologies, converter topologies, and control methods of switched reluctance motors (SRMs). Torque ripple and vibration are the main drawbacks of SRMs, which constrain their application. To conquer these drawbacks, multi-phase SRMs (MSRMs), optimum structure, and control methods of SRMs have been utilized over the past decades. In this paper, MSRMs with multiple combinations of stator/rotor poles and winding arrangements are investigated. Different converter topologies are compared, and a full-bridge converter is suitable for SRMs used in EVs. Torque sharing function, direct torque control, and direct instantaneous torque control are the main control methods to reduce the torque ripple of SRMs, which have been comprehensively summarized.
“It’s Not in Your Head”: Gaslighting, ‘Splaining, Victim Blaming, and Other Harmful Reactions to Microaggressions
Authors: Johnson Veronica E. , Nadal Kevin L. , Sissoko D. R. Gina , King Rukiya
Published: September 2021

Secondary microaggressions refer to the ways in which people of historically dominant groups negate the realities of people of marginalized groups. Gaslighting describes the act of manipulating others to doubt themselves or question their own sanity; people confronted for committing microaggressions deny the existence of their biases, often convincing the targets of microaggressions to question their own perceptions. ‘Splaining (derived from mansplaining/Whitesplaining) is an act in which a person of a dominant group speaks for or provides rationale to people of marginalized groups about topics related to oppression or inequity. Victim blaming refers to assigning fault to people who experience violence or wrongdoing and is used as a tool to discredit people of marginalized groups who speak out against microaggressions or any injustices. Finally, abandonment and neglect refer to a bystander’s failure to address or acknowledge microaggressions. Although these terms are commonly known among marginalized communities (and frequently used in popular media), there is a dearth in academic literature that substantiates these phenomena and relates them to microaggressions. The purpose of this article is to review these concepts in the psychological literature and to demonstrate the psychological harm caused by these behaviors on interpersonal and systemic levels.
Reviewing Racial Microaggressions Research: Documenting Targets’ Experiences, Harmful Sequelae, and Resistance Strategies
Authors: Spanierman Lisa B. , Clark D Anthony , Kim Yeeun
Published: September 2021

In this article, we review the theoretical and empirical literature on racial microaggressions from 2007 to 2020 ( N = 138 articles). First, we refine racial microaggressions theory and update the definition to address mischaracterizations in the literature and clarify the term (i.e., “micro” refers to microlevel interactions rather than degree of harm). Next, we used four superordinate categories (i.e., pathologizing differences, denigrating and pigeonholing, excluding or rendering invisible, and perpetuating color-blind racial attitudes) in which to situate racial microaggression themes from the extant literature. Moreover, we consolidated and renamed existing themes to privilege targets’ perspectives (e.g., facing assumptions of inferior status and enduring exoticization). We then synthesized qualitative and quantitative research that shows harmful sequelae of racial microaggressions (i.e., psychological and physiological symptoms). Extending prior research on coping with gendered racial microaggressions, we describe empirical findings on collective, resistance, and self-protective strategies to mitigate the harmful impact of racial microaggressions. We conclude with directions for future research.
Racial Microaggressions: Critical Questions, State of the Science, and New Directions
Authors: Williams Monnica T.
Published: September 2021

Racial microaggressions are an insidious form of racism with devastating mental-health outcomes, but the concept has not been embraced by all scholars. This article provides an overview of new scholarship on racial microaggressions from an array of diverse scholars in psychology, education, and philosophy, with a focus on new ways to define, conceptualize, and categorize racial microaggressions. Racism, along with its many forms and manifestations, is defined and clarified, drawing attention to the linkages between racial microaggressions and systemic racism. Importantly, the developmental entry points leading to the inception of racial bias in children are discussed. Theoretical issues are explored, including the measurement of intersectional microaggressions and the power dynamics underpinning arguments designed to discredit the nature of racial microaggressions. Also described are the very real harms caused by racial microaggressions, with new frameworks for measurement and intervention. These articles reorient the field to this pertinent and pervasive problem and pave the way for action-based responses and interventions. The next step in the research must be to develop interventions to remedy the harms caused by microaggressions on victims. Further, psychology must make a fervent effort to root out racism that prevents scholarship on these topics from advancing.
Measurement of Intersectional Microaggressions: Conceptual Barriers and Recommendations
Authors: Singh R. Sonia , Bhambhani Yash , Skinta Matthew D. , Torres-Harding Susan R.
Published: September 2021

Since Crenshaw coined the term “intersectionality” in 1989, researchers of bias have struggled with how to capture the complexity and intricacies of intersectional identities and microaggressions experienced by individuals holding these identities within the quantitative framework that dominates psychology. Although scholarship has grown in the exploration of experiences such as racialized sexual harassment, or sexual racism within queer and trans communities, there is no strong consensus on how this might be measured systematically in ways that allow for inferences regarding the experiences of populations of interest. With an emphasis on the experiences of queer and trans people of color, this article explores intersectional identities through three main points: First, we define what is meant by intersectionality and the real-world experiences that are important for advancing an understanding of microaggressions; second, we review the existing measures and their ability to capture the breadth and depth of the lived experience of those with intersectional identities; and third, we propose a framework for the development of a more accurate and comprehensive measure of microaggressions.
Pushing Back Against the Microaggression Pushback in Academic Psychology: Reflections on a Concept-Creep Paradox
Authors: Hodson Gordon
Published: September 2021

Echoing the 1960s, the 2020s opened with racial tensions boiling. The Black Lives Matter movement is energized, issuing pleas to listen to Black voices regarding day-to-day discrimination and expressing frustrations over the slow progress of social justice. However, psychological scientists have published only several opinion pieces on racial microaggressions, primarily objections, and strikingly little empirical data. Here I document three trends in psychology that coincide with the academic pushback against microaggressions: concept-creep concerns, especially those regarding expanded notions of harm; the expansion of right-leaning values in moral judgments (moral foundations theory); and an emphasis on prejudice symmetry, with the political left deemed equivalently biased against right-leaning targets (e.g., the rich, police) as the right is against left-leaning targets (e.g., Black people, women, LGBT+ people). Psychological scientists have ignored power dynamics and have strayed from their mission to understand and combat prejudice against disadvantaged populations, rendering researchers distracted and ill-equipped to tackle the microaggression concept. An apparent creep paradox, with calls to both reduce (e.g., harm) and expand (e.g., liberal prejudices, conservative moral foundations) concepts, poses a serious challenge to research on prejudice. I discuss the need for psychology to better capture Black experiences and to “tell it like it is” or risk becoming an irrelevant discipline of study.
After Pierce and Sue: A Revised Racial Microaggressions Taxonomy
Authors: Williams Monnica T. , Skinta Matthew D. , Martin-Willett Renée
Published: September 2021

Harvard psychiatrist Chester Pierce’s conception of “subtle and stunning” daily racial offenses, or microaggressions, remains salient even 50 years after it was introduced. Microaggressions were defined further by Sue and colleagues in 2007, and this construct has found growing utility as the deleterious effects of microaggressions on the health of people of color continues to mount. Many studies seek to frame microaggressions in terms of a taxonomic analysis of offender behavior to inform the assessment of and interventions for the reduction of racial microaggressions. This article proposes an expansion and refinement of Sue et al.’s taxonomy to better inform such efforts. We conducted a review of published articles that focused on qualitative and quantitative findings of microaggressions taxonomies ( N = 32). Sixteen categories of racial microaggressions were identified, largely consistent with the original taxonomy of Sue et al. but expanded in several notable ways. Building on our prior research, other researchers supported such new categories as tokenism, connecting via stereotypes, exoticization and eroticization, and avoidance and distancing. The least studied categories included the denial of individual racism from Sue et al., and newer categories included reverse-racism hostility, connecting via stereotypes, and environmental attacks. A unified language of microaggressions may improve understanding and measurement of this important construct.
The Logic of Microaggressions Assumes a Racist Society
Authors: Syed Moin
Published: September 2021

This commentary draws attention to core assumptions about the nature of society that underlie the current debate on microaggressions. For proponents of microaggression research, the starting assumption is one of a racist society. That is, microaggressions have their source and power within an inequitable, racially stratified society. In contrast, critics of microaggressions begin with the assumption of an equitable society, or at least would not endorse the assumption of a racist society. These two different starting assumptions lead to dramatically different conclusions about the concept of microaggressions. As long as these assumptions are not explicitly recognized, debates on methods, findings, and so on will never be reconciled.
Focusing the Lens to See More Clearly: Overcoming Definitional Challenges and Identifying New Directions in Racial Microaggressions Research
Authors: Mekawi Yara , Todd Nathan R.
Published: September 2021

Despite significant advances in research on racial microaggressions, key challenges remain regarding how to define and classify them. Resolving these challenges is necessary to reduce misunderstanding and the subsequent minimization of racial microaggression research. Our goals in this article are to discuss the definitional challenges, to discuss implications for the creation of taxonomies, and to offer directions for how a revised definition and corresponding taxonomies can be used to further racial microaggression research. Regarding our first aim, we assert that racial microaggressions are observable events that occur independently of intention (i.e., regardless of whether they are intentional or unintentional) or impact (i.e., regardless of how they are perceived by recipients). Moreover, we assert that racial microaggressions are most validly defined by people of color and can have different meanings on the basis of situational context. The second aim is to propose a refinement and expansion of racial microaggression taxonomies. Sue and colleagues’ taxonomy has been invaluable, yet other ways of classifying microaggressions and moving toward dimensional taxonomies are needed to advance scholarship. We highlight key dimensions related to the experience, perpetration, characteristics, and sociopolitical function of racial microaggressions that may be useful for future taxonomies. Overall, overcoming definitional challenges and expanding taxonomies holds potential to advance the literature on racial microaggression.
Deliberative process in sharing information with different audiences: Eye-tracking correlates
Authors: Martín-Luengo Beatriz , Myachykov Andriy , Shtyrov Yury
Published: September 2021

Research on conversational pragmatics demonstrates how interlocutors tailor the information they share depending on the audience. Previous research showed that, in informal contexts, speakers often provide several alternative answers, whereas in formal contexts, they tend to give only a single answer; however, the psychological underpinnings of these effects remain obscure. To investigate this answer selection process, we measured participants’ eye movements in different experimentally modelled social contexts. Participants answered general knowledge questions by providing responses with either single (one) or plural (three) alternatives. Then, a formal (job interview) or informal (conversation with friends) context was presented and participants decided either to report or withdraw their responses after considering the given social context. Growth curve analysis on the eye movements indicates that the selected response option attracted more eye movements. There was a discrepancy between the answer selection likelihood and the proportion of fixations to the corresponding option—but only in the formal context. These findings support a more elaborate decision-making processes in formal contexts. They also suggest that eye movements do not necessarily accompany the options considered in the decision-making processes.
Forgetting tracked by recognition of pictures
Authors: Laming Donald
Published: September 2021

Thirty-three participants viewed 1,000 pictures for 6 s each. Recognition was tested after 10 different intervals of time by mixing 100 of the original 1,000 with 100 new pictures. Participants judged each test picture “Old” or “New” on a 6-point scale. The unequal-variance recognition model is reinterpreted to estimate the probability of retrieval of an original (1,000) picture after each lapse of time. A second model then relates those different estimates of accessibility to the lapse of time, taking into account the interference on each test from pictures presented in preceding tests. Studies of category judgement explain (a) why the model distributions are normal, (b) why the operating characteristics are asymmetric, (c) why they are curvilinear, and (d) why the asymmetry decreases with lapse of time, this to justify a particular estimate of accessibility (probability of retrieval). Nine candidate functions are shown to the accessibilities. The underlying relation is a power law, but the exponent is poorly determined by the data (−1.5, −0.5), as also is the offset from the temporal origin. Comparisons with previous work identify two different relationships with respect to lapse of time: The retrieval of a unique image shows an approximately reciprocal loss, whereas a decrease in the amount of material reproduced by recall, recognition, or other method is approximately logarithmic. The present experiment exhibits both relationships, depending on whether specific account is taken of the effects of interference or, alternatively, interference is entirely ignored.
Victims or intruders? Refugee portrayals in the news in Turkey, Bulgaria and the UK
Authors: Ozdora-Aksak Emel , Connolly-Ahern Colleen , Dimitrova Daniela
Published: September 2021

News shapes audiences’ views of people and events beyond their immediate physical environment. Since the mass migration of refugees from Syria represents one of the worst humanitarian crises in modern history, its news coverage necessarily shaped the way global audiences understood the crisis. This qualitative study employs critical discourse analysis (CDA), specifically Van Leeuwen’s Discourse and Practice: New Tools for Critical Discourse Analysis (2008) as a social practice approach, to reveal and compare the discursive strategies used in the print media coverage of the Syrian refugees in three European countries: Turkey, Bulgaria and the UK. The findings show significant differences in the discourse used to describe the refugees and different approaches in terms of contextualization, spaces and actions depicted in the media coverage in each country. The study reveals the ongoing dialogue between journalistic practice and political decision making in three countries impacted to varying extents by the ongoing crisis.
Dupuytren’s disease: using needles more across the world
Authors: Warwick David , NM Werker Paul , Pess Gary , Hirata Hitoshi , Hunter-Smith David J
Published: September 2021

In this article we take an international perspective on the use of needles, either percutaneous needle fasciotomy (PNF) or Clostridial Collagenase Histiolyticum (CCH), in treating Dupuytren’s Disease (DD). Worldwide, PNF is now used more frequently. The CCH has been withdrawn from non-USA markets, which lessens its use. Different patients have different preferences, while different surgeons have different skills and opinions. The surgeon should fully consider the patient’s preference and should also, in view of the scarcity of surgical resource and the potential hazard of surgery, reconsider and expand the use of a needle rather than an operation. In the future, a cheaper, yet equally safe and effective alternative to CCH, will provide a useful clinical tool for those cords, which, in the surgeon’s personal Venn diagram, are too challenging for PNF, but the patient does not want to have surgery.
The stigma of digital amputation: a survey of amputees with analysis of risk factors
Authors: Bettlach Carrie Roth , Gibson Ella , Daines John M. , Payne Emma R. , Vuong Linh N. , Merrill Corinne M. , Pet Mitchell A.
Published: September 2021

The purpose of this study was to quantify the stigma associated with digital amputation and examine factors associated with it. One hundred and sixty-four digital amputees completed the Neurological Quality of Life-Stigma questionnaire and a battery of Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System instruments. Multivariable analysis examined factors associated with stigma experience. The mean observed stigma score of 47 (SD 8, range 36–64) was similar to the mean value of the normal population. Younger age, a worker’s compensation claim and depression were each independently associated with a more severe experience of stigma after digital amputation. Socioeconomic variables, anatomical details and mechanism of injury were not independently associated with stigma. Digital amputation is not highly stigmatizing overall. Surgeons should consider referring at-risk patients to a mental health provider for support during the coping and adjustment process after amputation.

Level of evidence: III
Identification of high-performance volleyball players from anthropometric variables and psychological readiness: A machine-learning approach
Authors: Musa Rabiu Muazu , Abdul Majeed Anwar P.P. , Suhaimi Muhammad Zuhaili , Abdullah Mohamad Razali , Mohd Razman Mohd Azraai , Abdelhakim Deboucha , Abu Osman Noor Azuan
Published: September 2021

Modern indoor volleyball has evolved into a high-level strength sport and is seen as one of the most popular open-skilled team sports. The nature of the sport as an open-based skill requires players to have a high degree of both psychological skill and physical ability to cope with the sport’s externally and internally induced pace. The purposes of this study were to examine the essential basic anthropometric variables, as well as competition and practice psychological readiness, that could provide a performance edge and identify high and low-performance players based on the parameters. The anthropometric variables of height, weight, and age were assessed, while the test for performance strategies instrument was used to evaluate competition and practice psychological readiness skills of the players. The players’ performances were analyzed in real-time during a volleyball tournament. The Louvain clustering algorithm was used to determine the performance class of the players with reference to the variables evaluated. A total of 45 players were ascertained as high-performance volleyball players (HVP), while 20 players were deemed as low-performance volleyball players (LVP) via the clustering analysis technique. The logistic regression classifier was used to classify the performance of the players. Nonetheless, owing to the skewed representation between the HVP and LVP during the training of the model, the Synthetic Minority Oversampling TEchnique (SMOTE) was employed to artificially increase the minority class dataset to avoid the overfitting notion upon classification. It was shown from the study that, through the machine learning pipeline developed, an excellent identification of the HVP and LVP could be attained. The findings could be invaluable to coaches and other relevant stakeholders in team preparation and the selection of high-performance players in volleyball.
Considering the Long-Term Transformative Impact of Creativity Training on the Work and Lives of Teachers
Authors: Groman Jennifer
Published: September 2021

The purpose of this study is to examine teacher perceptions of the long-term transformative impact of Piirto’s Creativity Model and personal creativity exploration on teachers. Creativity training has been part of Ashland University’s Talent Development program for over 20 years using Piirto’s creativity model. The course encompasses multiple models of creativity, including the Torrance Incubation Model and Creative Problem Solving; however, significant time focuses on teachers’ own creativity through activities such as thoughtlogs, a Meditation Day field trip, and a personal creativity project. This study examines alumni perceptions of personal creativity exploration on their teaching lives. Data were collected through surveys and interviews. Questions include course memories, perception of the course’s impact on teaching and personal transformation. Results show that the course models community and group trust, and teachers increased understanding and valuing of their own creativity and that of students.
Cocktail Method: Effect of the Bletilla striata Extracts on CytochromeP450 Activity in Rat
Authors: Huang Yong , Zhou Zu-Ying , Gong Zi-Peng , Li Yue-Ting , Chen Si-Ying , Pan Jie , Wang Yong-Lin , Wang Ai-Min , Lan Yan-Yu , Liu Ting , Zheng Lin
Published: September 2021

Bletilla striata is a dried tuber of B striata (Thunb.) Reichb.f. of Orchidaceae plant, which is mainly used for hemoptysis, vomiting blood, trauma bleeding, sore swollen poison, and cracked skin. There have been few research reports on the effect of this herb on cytochrome P450 (CYP), therefore, the study was aimed to investigate the effects of the B striata extracts on the activity of 6 subtypes (CYP2D6, 1A2, 2C19, 2E1, 3A4, and 2C9) using a cocktail method. The B striata extracts were administrated to rats in 0.21 or 0.63 g/kg once a day for 7 or 14 days. The 3 control groups were used to ensure the accuracy of the results. Subsequently, a cocktail of tolbutamide, chlorzoxazone, midazolam, metoprolol, omeprazole, and caffeine was injected. A ultra performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometer was developed and validated to investigate the concentration of the probes and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated to investigate the effects of the extracts on the activity of 6 enzymes under different doses and different dosing periods. The results suggested that the B striata extracts could induce the activities of CYP2D6, 1A2, and 2C19 and could inhibit the activities of CYP2E1, 3A4, and 2C9. When used in combination with drugs that are metabolized by CYP2D6, 1A2, 2C19, 2E1, 3A4, and 2C9, appropriate dose adjustments were needed to avoid toxic side effects caused by drug interactions.
A Standardized Aframomum melegueta Seed Extract Regulates Browning of White Adipose Tissue in High-Fat Diet Model Mice
Authors: Sudeep Heggar Venkataramana , Ramanaiah Illuri , Amritha Raj , Naveen Puttaswamy , Gouthamchandra Kuluvar , Shyamprasad Kodimule
Published: September 2021

Thermogenesis-mediated energy expenditure is a promising strategy to combat obesity. Aframomum melegueta commonly known as grains of paradise (GP) is a popular spice with medicinal attributes in promoting health. We have demonstrated the thermogenic effects of a standardized A melegueta seed extract (AMSE) containing not <10% 6-paradol in high fat diet-fed (HFD) mice. The 6-week oral ingestion of 20 and 40 mg/kg AMSE significantly limited the weight gain, improved the brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity in HFD mice. Interestingly, AMSE markedly induced the beige adipocytes in epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT). AMSE treatment led to the upregulation of marker proteins i.e., uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma-coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) in eWAT and BAT. Our findings add to the current understanding of the thermogenic potentials of GP seed extract and report that the extract can stimulate the browning of WATs in addition to enhanced BAT activity. AMSE requires clinical validation to be explored as a dietary supplement/functional ingredient with thermogenic effect in food and beverages.
Characterization by HPLC of p-Hydroxybenzyl Alcohol Biotransformation to Gastrodin In Vivo
Authors: Cheng Lijun , Deng Yang
Published: September 2021

Gastrodin (GAS) and its aglycone, p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (HBA), are both bioactive compounds extracted from Gastrodia elata Blume (GEB). In the current Chinese pharmacopoeia, they are regarded as quality control markers for GEB. In this study, we developed a high-performance liquid chromatography method coupled with a diode array detector to quantify GAS and HBA concentrations in plasma following oral ingestion by rats. For the first time, GAS was detected in vivo after HBA administration. GAS and HBA both had similar pharmacological effects, but the influence of the glucose moiety resulted in different pharmacokinetic characteristics. In this study, the effects of GAS and HBA at different administration durations were investigated in zebrafish larvae. These compounds were found to induce a sedative effect but had different onset times. In conclusion, a biotransformation of HBA to GAS could be observed in the rats. This may be a new insight into the pharmacokinetic characteristics of these bioactive compounds and also relates to the different ways in which they take effect.
Revisiting Healing Environments: Islamic Interior Elements in Hospital Rooms in North Africa
Authors: Gashoot Moamer M.
Published: September 2021

Background:

A predominant notion among researchers is that hospital room design and decor are subject to the designer’s expression of self, which is contrary to evidence-based studies showing that design and decor can impact patient health. The aim of this study was to examine whether improvement in quality of healthcare provided in hospitals could be achieved through the convergence of expertise of healthcare professionals and hospital room designers.

Methods:

This was a prospective study to identify the impact of hospital interior design features with a focus on single occupancy rooms. Volunteers were recruited through advertisements and the study was conducted at the Tripoli Medical Center. Responses were analyzed using a three-dimensional computer-aided design software to help respondents accurately map their preferences and visualize outcomes.

Results:

Participants preferred an aesthetically pleasing hospital room environment that included art and bright colors, window views, and the need for personalization, technology, mobility, and flexibility, all of which improved satisfaction and happiness. Of these, participants’ preference for technology as a cause for satisfaction and happiness was a novel finding.

Conclusion:

Designers of hospital room interiors should plan and create an appealing single occupancy room for increasing user satisfaction and patient wellness.
Stroke Incidence and Outcome in a Population With COVID-19
Authors: Alkhalifah Moayd M. , Banda Ramzi , Alqudihy Shukri , Qureshi Shireen , Al-Tawfiq Jaffar A.
Published: September 2021

Background and Purpose:

COVID-19 is associated with systemic thromboembolism including stroke. The study evaluated the 30-days stroke incidence in SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive patients and described the outcome of such patients.

Methods:

This is a retrospective study of consecutive patients with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test between March 1st, 2020 and August 30th, 2020. The study included COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized and had a stroke within 30 days from the positive PCR test.

Results:

During the study period, there were 4301 patients with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test. Of those, 1786 patients (41.5%) were hospitalized and 4 patients developed a stroke within 30 days. The 30-days stroke incidence was 0.09% and 0.2% of all and hospitalized patients, respectively. The mean age of stroke patients was 78 years and 2 died during the same hospitalization. The 4 patients had comorbidities, one had pre-existing atrial fibrillation and all had ischemic stroke.

Conclusion:

This study showed a low 30-day incidence of stroke among COVID-19 patients.
Secondary Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Causing Hemorrhagic Encephalomyelitis and Spinal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Case Report
Authors: Woodward Matthew R. , Ferris Margaret S. , Rivell Guillermo , Malone Laura , Dutta Tara M. , Ahmad Haroon , Morris Nicholas A.
Published: September 2021

We are writing to present an interesting and novel case from our practice of a patient who presented with altered mental status and a rapidly progressive paraplegia as well as high fevers and pancytopenia. A bone marrow biopsy was diagnostic of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and MRI showed hemorrhagic encephalitis and spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage. This case demonstrates the diverse neurological symptoms with which HLH presents, including spinal cord pathology. The astute neurologist should consider this diagnosis in the appropriate clinical context and diagnosis may require imaging to the complete neuraxis.
Open Source Software for Automatic Subregional Assessment of Knee Cartilage Degradation Using Quantitative T2 Relaxometry and Deep Learning
Authors: Thomas Kevin A. , Krzemiński Dominik , Kidziński Łukasz , Paul Rohan , Rubin Elka B. , Halilaj Eni , Black Marianne S. , Chaudhari Akshay , Gold Garry E. , Delp Scott L.
Published: September 2021

Objective

We evaluated a fully automated femoral cartilage segmentation model for measuring T2 relaxation values and longitudinal changes using multi-echo spin-echo (MESE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We open sourced this model and developed a web app available at https://kl.stanford.edu into which users can drag and drop images to segment them automatically.

Design

We trained a neural network to segment femoral cartilage from MESE MRIs. Cartilage was divided into 12 subregions along medial-lateral, superficial-deep, and anterior-central-posterior boundaries. Subregional T2 values and four-year changes were calculated using a radiologist’s segmentations (Reader 1) and the model’s segmentations. These were compared using 28 held-out images. A subset of 14 images were also evaluated by a second expert (Reader 2) for comparison.

Results

Model segmentations agreed with Reader 1 segmentations with a Dice score of 0.85 ± 0.03. The model’s estimated T2 values for individual subregions agreed with those of Reader 1 with an average Spearman correlation of 0.89 and average mean absolute error (MAE) of 1.34 ms. The model’s estimated four-year change in T2 for individual subregions agreed with Reader 1 with an average correlation of 0.80 and average MAE of 1.72 ms. The model agreed with Reader 1 at least as closely as Reader 2 agreed with Reader 1 in terms of Dice score (0.85 vs. 0.75) and subregional T2 values.

Conclusions

Assessments of cartilage health using our fully automated segmentation model agreed with those of an expert as closely as experts agreed with one another. This has the potential to accelerate osteoarthritis research.
General Caspase Inhibition in Primary Chondrogenic Cultures Impacts Their Transcription Profile Including Osteoarthritis-Related Factors
Authors: Vesela Barbora , Zapletalova Martina , Svandova Eva , Ramesova Alice , Doubek Jaroslav , Lesot Hervé , Matalova Eva
Published: September 2021

Objective

The knowledge about functions of caspases, usually associated with cell death and inflammation, keeps expanding also regarding cartilage. Active caspases are present in the growth plate, and caspase inhibition in limb-derived chondroblasts altered the expression of osteogenesis-related genes. Caspase inhibitors were reported to reduce the severity of cartilage lesions in osteoarthritis (OA), and caspase-3 might represent a promising biomarker for OA prognosis. The objective of this investigation was to decipher the transcriptomic regulation of caspase inhibition in chondrogenic cells.

Design

Limb-derived chondroblasts were cultured in the presence of 2 different inhibitors: Z-VAD-FMK (FMK) and Q-VD-OPH (OPH). A whole transcriptome RNA sequencing was performed as the key analysis.

Results

The analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in the expression of 252 genes in the FMK samples and 163 genes in the OPH samples compared with controls. Conversely, there was a significant decrease in the expression of 290 genes in the FMK group and 188 in the OPH group. Among the top up- and downregulated genes (more than 10 times changed), almost half of them were associated with OA. Both inhibitors displayed the highest upregulation of the inflammatory chemokine Ccl5, the most downregulated gene was the one for mannose receptors Mrc1.

Conclusions

The obtained datasets pointed to a significant impact of caspase inhibition on the expression of several chondro-/osteogenesis-related markers in an in vitro model of endochondral ossification. Notably, the list of these genes included some encoding for factors associated with cartilage/bone pathologies such as OA.
Does Danger Level Affect Bystander Intervention in Real-Life Conflicts? Evidence From CCTV Footage
Authors: Lindegaard Marie Rosenkrantz , Liebst Lasse Suonperä , Philpot Richard , Levine Mark , Bernasco Wim
Published: September 2021

In real-life violence, bystanders can take an active role in de-escalating conflict and helping others. Recent meta-analytical evidence of experimental studies suggests that elevated danger levels in conflicts facilitate bystander intervention. However, this finding may lack ecological validity because ethical concerns prohibit exposing participants to potentially harmful situations. Using an ecologically valid method, based on an analysis of 80 interpersonal conflicts unobtrusively recorded by public surveillance cameras, the present study confirms that danger is positively associated with bystander intervention. In the presence of danger, bystanders were 19 times more likely to intervene than in the absence of danger. It extends this knowledge by discovering that incremental changes in the severity level of the danger (low, medium, and high), however, were not associated with bystander intervention. These findings confirm the importance of further investigating the role of danger for bystander intervention, in larger samples, and involving multiple types of real-life emergencies.
To keep or divest a division: Canon’s strategy in an oligopolistic market
Authors: Redegeld-Geenen Mara , Kruis Anne-Marie , Sneller Lineke
Published: September 2021

The issue in this teaching case is the future of the Lithography Division of Canon. The case is situated in 2015 when this division represents around 7.5% of the company’s assets, 13.8% of its sales, and 10% of its capital expenditures. The division is loss-making. This issue is faced by two persons in the organization: the CEO and the CFO of Canon. The CEO would like to keep the division, while the CFO prefers to divest it. The case is particularly interesting because of the market structure: the division operates in the lithography market, which is a clear example of an oligopoly. The case can be used in Strategy, Technology, or Digital Business courses in MSc or MBA programs. The learning objectives of the case are (1) combining information provided via academic journals with facts from the case and the collective knowledge and creativity of a team of students, (2) analyzing the collected information and building a case with strong arguments, (3) creating a convincing strategic plan including a persuasive presentation, and (4) practicing the skills of presenting. The information provided in this case is based on the annual reports of Advanced Semiconductor Materials Lithography (ASML), Canon, and Nikon, and on other publicly available information on the lithography industry. The case itself is fictional. The authors are not aware of any discussions within Canon about the future of the company’s lithography division.
Comparative analysis of the effectiveness of narrow-spectrum versus broad-spectrum antibiotics for the treatment of childhood pneumonia
Authors: Demeke Chilot Abiyu , Adinew Getnet Mequanent , Abebe Tamrat Befekadu , Gelaye Abebech Tewabe , Gemeda Sisay G/Hana , Yimenu Dawit Kumilachew
Published: September 2021

Objectives:

The main objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of empiric treatment with narrow-spectrum therapy versus broad-spectrum therapy for children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) at the University of Gondar Referral Hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia.

Methods:

Institutional-based retrospective chart review was conducted at the University of Gondar Referral Hospital (GURH) pediatrics ward from 1 February 2016 to 30 April 2016. The collected data were entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Descriptive statistics were done to present the basic features and summary of the data set. In addition, binary logistics and multivariable logistic regression analysis were conducted to test for an association between the dependent and independent variables. A P value of <0.05 was taken to declare statistical significance at a 95% confidence interval.

Result:

A total of 147 patients with CAP were included in the study. Seven different treatment regimens were employed for the 147 children hospitalized. About 63 (42.9%) of the study participants received a narrow-spectrum antibiotic and 84 (57.1%) received a broad-spectrum antibiotic. There was no significant difference between the broad and narrow spectrum treatment groups in main treatment outcomes. The median length of stay (LOS) for the study population was 3 days. The median LOS was shorter among those receiving narrow-spectrum therapy compared with those receiving broad-spectrum therapy. Treatment dose and duration of therapy were significantly associated with treatment outcome (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.003), respectively.

Conclusion:

The effectiveness of narrow-spectrum therapy is similar to that of broad-spectrum therapy for children hospitalized with CAP. Treatment regimens for children with community-acquired pneumonia should be selected based on their safety profile and their tendency for antibiotic resistance.
Exploring the Relationship Between Extended 3Ps and Store Choice: Moderating Role of Consumer Demographics
Authors: Bansal Ajay , Gupta Rahul
Published: September 2021

This study is an attempt to bridge the link between factors representing stores’ decision boundaries and consumers’ decision-making criteria. It also explores the impact of consumer demographic variables on the relationship between the influence of extended 3Ps (process, people and physical evidence) and store choice. Around 290 responses were found suitable for further statistical refinements through a structured survey. After carrying out the reliability and validity properties of the data, structure equation modelling was applied. The findings of the study revealed that individual demographics (income, age and gender) moderated the relationship between the extended 3Ps and consumer store choice for shopping (in this study example of shopping smartphone). However, occupation and education were found to have no different influence by separate segments of population. Also, all demographics have an interpretation for marketers, which are discussed in the conclusion section. The framework used in this article opens up new vistas for research on exploring different consumer segments and service decision-making in retail marketing.