bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifying the Drivers Behind the Dissemination of Online Misinformation: A Study on Political Attitudes and Individual Characteristics in the Context of Engaging With Misinformation on Social Media
Authors: Morosoli Sophie , Van Aelst Peter , Humprecht Edda , Staender Anna , Esser Frank
Published: August 2022

The increasing dissemination of online misinformation in recent years has raised the question which individuals interact with this kind of information and what role attitudinal congruence plays in this context. To answer these questions, we conduct surveys in six countries (BE, CH, DE, FR, UK, and US) and investigate the drivers of the dissemination of misinformation on three noncountry specific topics (immigration, climate change, and COVID-19). Our results show that besides issue attitudes and issue salience, political orientation, personality traits, and heavy social media use increase the willingness to disseminate misinformation online. We conclude that future research should not only consider individual’s beliefs but also focus on specific user groups that are particularly susceptible to misinformation and possibly caught in social media “fringe bubbles.”
Did Jesus Die by Suffocation?: An Appraisal of the Evidence
Authors: McGovern Thomas W. , Kaminskas David A. , Fernandes Eustace S.
Published: August 2022

A majority of medical and lay articles regarding crucifixion, and specifically the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, now state that suffocation was the primary cause of death from crucifixion. An in-depth analysis reveals that this theory is based on a form of torture unrelated to crucifixion and that no evidence directly linking suffocation to crucifixion has been published. Indeed, a thorough review of available ancient evidence from literature, artwork, graffiti, and modern archeology and re-enactment studies reveals no evidence in favor of suffocation and much evidence against suffocation as the cause of death in typically-portrayed crucifixions, and particularly for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Researchers are encouraged to look elsewhere for the most likely cause or causes of death from crucifixion. It may be time to abandon the idea that suffocation was the primary cause of death in crucifixion.
Fusion of Lidar and Aerial Imagery to Map Wetlands and Channels via Deep Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Xu Haiqing , Toman Elizabeth Myers , Zhao Kaiguang , Baird John
Published: August 2022

Wetlands and channels provide significant ecological and societal services. Mapping their locations and types at high resolution remains a challenge for scientific communities and regulatory agencies. In the U.S.A., the National Wetland Inventory (NWI) provides the best nationwide wetland maps, but the NWI for some locations has not been updated for up to four decades and includes omission errors. To address these problems, we developed a deep learning framework for identifying wetlands and channels from lidar point clouds and 1 m aerial images. Both deep learning and terrain analysis were applied to classify wetlands and identify channels. The deep learning classifier was a convolutional neural network that utilized both image color information and lidar-derived canopy height. When tested on a 94 km2 Ohio watershed, the method achieved a classification accuracy of 85.6%. Compared with the NWI maps, the results included 76% more forested wetlands by area and 168% more channels by length. It was also found that only leaf-off images were useful for detecting forested wetlands and typical commission errors (i.e., false positives) were attributed to tree shadows. The study demonstrates the advantages of combining lidar structural and aerial spectral information over the use of each alone and exemplifies the utility of deep learning as an effective means to leverage open-source data for high resolution mapping of wetlands.
Critic or cheerleader? Editorial cartoons during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic
Authors: Baumgartner Jody C , Kassab Hanna
Published: August 2022

An examination of editorial cartoons about the Coronavirus pandemic during the first 6 months finds that subjects and topics followed developments in the spread of the pandemic and public health and safety responses and mirrored those found in news coverage. More, messages generally reflected largely consensual establishment views of the crisis and official health and safety responses. Cartoonists seemed to adopt the role of cheerleader for government policy and efforts to grapple with the pandemic.
Remote Work and Changes in Organizational HR Practices During Corona Pandemic: A Study from Bangladesh
Authors: Shahriar Shamsul Huq Bin , Alam M. Sayeed , Arafat Sayed , Khan Md. Mahfuzur Rahman , Nur J. M. Ekram Hossain , Khan Syful Islam
Published: August 2022

This study aims to offer insightful knowledge on organizational members’ real-life experience of working in a ‘new normal’ environment and explores changes in organizational HR practices and the future of work culture during this pandemic. Applying the qualitative methodology through implementing an in-depth interview technique, this study revealed subjective insights on pandemic impacts within diverse organizations and their coping strategies, that is, remote work practices and technological adaptations. The study found out that HR functionalities powered by different online tools and remote work or flexible roster duties are ensuring employee betterment and organizational productivity at the same time. Pandemic countermeasure oriented or transformed HR practices like online training and e-recruitment are keeping the workforce steady in this distressing time, but the ‘new normal’ lifestyle and evolved work environment, practices are putting much stress on and changing the dimension of work policies like employee well-being, compensation, leave, and so on, through isolation, quarantine and strict health guideline type issues.
Safety Assessment of Low-Flow Oxygenation Device: Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Sánchez-Ayllón Francisca , Segura-Alba Oscar , dos Santos-Bezerril Manacés , Rojo-Rojo Andrés , Melendreras-Ruiz Rafael , Alcázar-Artero Mireia , José Pujalte-Jesús Maria , Luis Díaz-Agea José
Published: August 2022

The objective of this study was to verify the feasibility of using an Oxygenation Device with Reservoir and Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (ODRPEEP; DORPEEP in Spanish) and to analyze its safety with respect to mask leaks and carbon dioxide retention measured upon expiration. A quasi-experimental pilot study was designed with eight volunteers in two experiments to determine the degree of leaks from the device, according to the observation of water vapor particle diffusion, on the one hand, and of thermal images on the other. The results from this study showed that the mask from the DORPEEP© device at is tightest fit provided an adequate seal, although not fully airtight. In the thermal images and in the experiment with water vapor in our study, dispersions were mainly observed in the lower area in individuals with a beard. The DORPEEP© device was shown to have only slight leaks.
“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Power”: A 25-year Strategic Advocacy Voyage of an Environmental NGO in China
Authors: Zhuang Hao , Zinda John A. , Lassoie James P.
Published: August 2022

Advocacy by civil society organizations such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is especially challenging in a constraining political context. The Government of China has invited such organizations to assist in addressing emergent environmental problems while also limiting political challenges from them. NGOs need to respond to these political externalities strategically. This paper navigates a quarter-century advocacy voyage by an iconic Chinese environmental NGO—Friends of Nature—discussing how the organization adapted to meet internal organization challenges within a dynamic, restrictive political environment. We found two major strategic pathways: first, diminishing dependency on influential individual leaders by building institutional competence and reputation; second, strategic specialization in litigation that anticipates opportunities that might emerge as state policies shift, and actively shaping niches to exert impact. This study adds historical insights on an NGO’s evolution in China that can benefit other civil society organizations that face significant political, social, or legal challenges.
Real-World Analysis of Thromboembolic Events and Mortality of COVID-19 Outpatients in the United States
Authors: Peacock W. Frank , Crawford James M. , Chen Yen-Wen (Cindy) , Ashton Veronica , Campbell Alicia K. , Milentijevic Dejan , Spyropoulos Alex C.
Published: August 2022

Limited data are available on thromboembolic events (TEEs) and mortality in outpatients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This retrospective, observational cohort study identified non-hospitalized COVID-19 outpatients (01/21/2020-01/07/2021) using de-identified Optum® COVID-19 Electronic Health Records data. Patient characteristics, occurrence of TEEs, all-cause mortality, and anticoagulant or thrombolytic medication use were evaluated. Of 1,246,067 patients with COVID-19 diagnosis, 141 471 met entry criteria. Mean (standard deviation [SD]) age was 46.1 (17.2) years, 56.8% were female, 72.9% Caucasian, 11.2% African American, and 11.1% Hispanic. Comorbidity burden was low (mean [SD] Quan-Charlson comorbidity index score of 0.43 [1.10]); however, of those with body mass index data, half were obese. During the follow-up period, a TEE occurred in 1.4%, with the proportion of patients with ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism being similar (approximately 0.4% each). All-cause mortality was 0.7%. Medications included corticosteroids (13.7%), anticoagulants (4.9%), and antiplatelets (2.9%). Overall, in this large cohort analysis, certain demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who experienced TEEs were identified and may help guide management decisions and future clinical trials for COVID-19 outpatients.
The impact of low-carbon policy on green manufacturing development
Authors: Liu Qian , Liang Weiming , Chan Charlie , Cao Yuqiang , Lu Meiting
Published: August 2022

In September 2020, China announced its intentions to reach peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 (known as the ‘30–60’ greenhouse gas reduction goals). With a focus on China’s pilot low-carbon city initiative, this paper adopts the difference-in-differences approach to examine the effect of low-carbon policies on the green development of China’s manufacturing industry. The findings show that the implementation of low-carbon policies could significantly reduce pollutants and improve productivity. The results hold after a battery of robustness tests. Further analysis shows that the effect of low-carbon policies on the emissions reduction of larger taxpayers is more pronounced, suggesting that including low-carbon policies as a part of the government’s performance assessment weakens the opportunistic behaviour of local governments in pursuing economic growth at the expense of the environment. It also finds that manufacturing firms typically do not respond to the policy in a negative way (by limiting or reducing production) but instead achieve positive emissions reduction by increasing resource recycling. The findings of this paper provide empirical evidence and policy implications to support the government expanding its low-carbon policies to a national level to mitigate climate change and achieve green manufacturing development.
Epidemiology and pattern of injury of pediatric trauma patients in level l trauma centre of Northern India
Authors: Thakur (Rai) Neha , Jaiswal Vaibhav , Singh Anita , Kumar Narendra , Misra Maitreyi , Tiwari Sandeep , Misra Samir , Shukla Devesh Kumar , Dheer Yadvendra
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Uttar Pradesh ranks first in India as far as trauma deaths are concerned with 40% of victims under 18 years of age. In spite of such high mortality and morbidity no national portal for trauma registry data exists. This study was conducted to evaluate the profile of injured pediatric patients, to provide baseline knowledge for further research, management and development of pediatric injury prevention programmes.

Methods

A retrospective observational study was conducted in the only Level 1Trauma Centre of the most populous state of India. Children aged less than 18 years of age admitted to the trauma centre were analysed for mechanism, type and severity of injury, the mode of management and outcome.

Result

In a 2 year period 916 children were admitted and their data analysed. Most were boys (73%) and the most common age group was 12–18 years. Half of injuries were caused by road traffic accidents, and blunt injuries were commonest. Blunt abdominal trauma then head injury were the commonest areas injured; 20% of children had life-threatening injuries. Nearly half (47%) had moderate to severe trauma according to the Pediatric Trauma Score. 507 patients (55.4%) were managed conservatively and 409 children (44.6%) required surgery; 657 (71%) were successfully discharged and 39 children (4.25%) unfortunately died.

Conclusion

This study identifies the need for dedicated trauma registries, training of trauma team according to standard operating procedures, the development of paramedical teams for in-the-field management of patients and development of injury prevention programmes according to both age and gender.
Multilayer friction surfacing of AA6061 aluminum alloy on 316L steel plate
Authors: Li Hongjun , Cao Bowen , Gao Huangyu , Wang Bingxu , Zhou Jian
Published: August 2022

Friction surfacing is a solid-state metal deposition technology, which has potential application in additive manufacturing. In this paper, multilayer of AA6061 deposition was fabricated on 316L steel plate by friction surfacing. The morphology, temperature field, axial force, microstructure, and mechanical properties of the deposition were analyzed. It was found that with the increase of substrate surface roughness, the thickness of deposition increased, the width decreased, and the bonding strength increased. The grain size increased and the hardness decreased from the top layer to the bottom layer of the deposition as a result of reheating by subsequent layer surfacing process. The bonding strength between the substrate and deposition decreased when the number of layers increased.
Using the talking album to elicit the views of young children in foster care regarding a reading intervention
Authors: Winter Karen , Sebba Judy , Tah Priya , Connolly Paul , Roberts Jennifer , Millen Sharon
Published: August 2022

There is wide ranging research that uses innovative methods to seek the views of children in out-of-home care. In the area of education, this group of children increasingly participate in research that involves various educational interventions (including book-gifting, tutoring, paired reading), that are designed to improve their educational attainment and achievements. Despite the overall growth in research evidence, there remains an absence of widely reported research on children’s views of the educational interventions that they are involved in and secondly, an absence of more reflective contributions that outline the methodological opportunities and challenges involved. This paper makes a contribution to both areas by reporting both the findings of and critical reflections on the use of an innovative method, the Talking Album, to gather the views of young children, aged 7–9 years old, regarding a reading intervention they were involved in, known as the Reading Together programme. The methodological approach is outlined. Informed by the basic principles underpinning children’s rights as set out in the UNCRC, key learning on the selection, introduction, and support of such methods/tools is reflected upon. From the findings and reflections, recommendations for future research that concerns interventions with children are made.
Patient and Provider Emergency Care Experiences Related to Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Review of the Existing Evidence
Authors: Duchesne Emma , Nathoo Aisha , Walker Melanie , Bartels Susan A.
Published: August 2022

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health problem that has devastating physical, psychological, and economic consequences. The emergency department (ED) is an important point of contact for individuals experiencing IPV. However, there are few studies synthesizing interactions between patients experiencing IPV and providers. We aimed to summarize the existing evidence regarding (1) ED care experiences of patients with a history of IPV and (2) experiences of ED providers interacting with them. The secondary aim of this review was to evaluate high-quality care barriers and facilitators and to elucidate common causes of care avoidance. A literature search of peer-reviewed electronic databases was undertaken. Inclusion criteria consisted of studies detailing IPV-related patient or provider experiences surrounding ED visits. Articles published before 2000 or unavailable in English/French were excluded. A total of 772 studies were screened, yielding a final number of 41 studies. Negative patient experiences arose from individual-, institutional-, and system-level issues, commonly including adverse provider behavior. Negative provider experiences stemmed from individual-, institutional-, and system-level issues, such as a lack of knowledge and lack of infrastructure. Facilitators to positive patient experiences included interacting with empathetic providers, having privacy, and receiving timely specialized care. Facilitators to positive provider experiences included feeling well-equipped to manage IPV and having policies leading to appropriate care. Negative ED care experiences reveal inadequate care quality, ultimately leading to secondary victimization of individuals experiencing IPV. This review also uncovered important literature gaps regarding experiences of those who identify as equity-deserving.
Reconceptualizing Education Grounded in the Multimodal Discourses of Girls of Color Labeled with Significant Cognitive Disabilities
Authors: Miller Amanda L.
Published: August 2022

The experiences of girls of color labeled with significant cognitive disabilities in middle school and high school have historically been excluded from educational research. This study sought to better understand how girls of color labeled with significant cognitive disabilities navigated multimodal discourses and classroom practices as well as how they were impacted by them. Using Disability Critical Race Theory and critical discourse theory, six students were focal participants and eight educators were secondary participants. Multiple case studies were used with primary (i.e., observations, audio/video recordings) and secondary (i.e., interviews, focus groups) data sources. Findings revealed how focal participants showed their discursive resourcefulness, despite absent communication supports and prioritization of oral/aural communication. Students also repositioned themselves in response to marginalization through talk and actions. Implications for research and practice are discussed. This study underscores the necessity of centering the experiences of girls of color labeled with significant cognitive disabilities in educational research to improve their school experiences.
Security performance analysis for cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output system with multi-antenna access points deployment in presence of active eavesdropping
Authors: Wang Xiaoyu , Gao Yuanyuan , Zhang Guangna , Guo Mingxi , Xu Kui
Published: August 2022

This article investigates the influence of multiple-antenna deployment at access points on physical layer security under cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output systems. To embody the concept of network multiple-input multiple-output, cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output employs a great deal of geographically distributed access points, which jointly serve multiple users in the same frequency-time resource. Assuming a malicious active eavesdropper having knowledge of instantaneous channel state information, we derive the asymptotic closed-form expression of the achievable secrecy rate, which is used to evaluate network security performance. A distributed power allocation scheme is developed based on channel fading degrees of different users. All of access points distribute a larger proportion of local transmission power to the users with better channel conditions. We verified that the security performance of the multi-antenna access points outperforms that of the single one. Compared to equal power allocation, the proposed power control algorithm can further boost the network security performance.
Research on wear of Ni-Cr alloy milling based on residual network
Authors: Cheng Shengming , Wang Yajun , Leng Junyu , Zhang Xinchen
Published: August 2022

With the development of the manufacturing industry and information technology, the quality requirements of products are getting higher and higher. A cutting tool is one of the important factors affecting product quality, so it is of great significance to study cutting tool wear. In this paper, the influence of Ni-Cr alloy on milling cutter wear was studied. Deep learning is widely used in the neighborhood of signal recognition. In this paper, a convolution neural network with residual structure is proposed to classify the wear state of cutting tools. The input of the model is the collected vibration signal, and the output is the classification of tool wear. A convolution neural network can automatically extract the characteristics of signals and identify different types of wear signals. The experimental results show that the convolution neural network with residual structure can converge faster and have higher accuracy than the traditional convolution neural network and the accuracy of tool wear classification is about 98.5%. The loss rate of the model is only about 0.25%.
A perspective on BBC television news in India
Authors: Jaggi Ruchi Kher , Patankar Sushobhan
Published: August 2022

This provocation gives an overview of the BBC in India in terms of television news. It discusses the BBC's sensibilities in relation to the interests and perceptions of Indian audiences through two methods: one, a review of available secondary literature; and two, brief conversations with media professionals who have previously or currently work with the BBC in India. It briefly comments on the conflicting journey of the BBC in India but argues that despite the colonial legacy and the initial narrative of privileging the imperial voice, the BBC is largely viewed as a fair and impartial news source by Indian audiences.
Open questions on the management of targeted therapies for the treatment of systemic sclerosis-interstitial lung disease: results of a EUSTAR survey based on a systemic literature review
Authors: Campochiaro Corrado , Lazzaroni Maria Grazia , Bruni Cosimo , Zanatta Elisabetta , De Luca Giacomo , Matucci-Cerinic Marco
Published: August 2022

Background:

The results of randomized controlled (RCT) and retrospective studies have expanded the armamentarium of drugs for systemic sclerosis (SSc) – interstitial lung disease (ILD) treatment. The correct positioning of these drugs is not yet clarified.

Objectives:

Systemic literature review (SLR) on rituximab (RTX), tocilizumab (TCZ), nintedanib and abatacept (ABT) for the treatment of SSc-ILD. The results of the SLR were used to create a dedicated survey.

Design:

The study was performed as a systematic review.

Data sources and methods:

the SLR was performed using the following terms: “(systemic sclerosis OR scleroderma) AND (interstitial lung disease OR lung fibrosis OR pulmonary fibrosis) AND (rituximab OR tocilizumab OR abatacept OR nintedanib)”. The results of the SLR were integrated in a survey including 8 domains. These were sent to all EUSTAR members and to the participants of the 2020 Scleroderma World Congress.

Results:

41 studies (34 on RTX, 5 on TCZ, 2 on ABT, and 1 on nintedanib) were identified. RCTs supported the use of TCZ and nintedanib, while retrospective studies supported the use of RTX for SSc-ILD. No clear data were obtained about ABT. The survey showed that RTX is the most available option (96%) whereas the most frequent reason for targeted therapy introduction is lung progression while on csDMARDs (86% RTX, 59% TCZ and 63% nintedanib). Combination therapy was the most frequently mentioned therapeutic scheme for nintedanib (75%) and RTX (63%). Physicians’ perception of safety was similar for all drugs, while drug efficacy was the same for RTX and nintedanib, followed by TCZ (4.8 ± 2). The most frequently raised concerns pertained to efficacy, safety and combination regimens.

Conclusion:

Our SLR supports the use of RTX, TCZ and nintedanib for SSc-ILD patients and underlines the need for more data about upfront combination versus monotherapy. It also highlighted the need to identify predictors supporting drug choice according to both pulmonary and extra-pulmonary manifestations.
Antipsychotic polypharmacy and clozapine prescribing patterns: evolution and correlates before and after a psychiatric hospitalisation
Authors: Lagreula Juliette , de Timary Philippe , Elens Laure , Dalleur Olivia
Published: August 2022

Background:

Antipsychotic polypharmacy (APP) prescribing and clozapine underuse are considered inappropriate prescribing in schizophrenia. Psychiatric hospitalisations may be suitable occasions to re-evaluate patient pharmacotherapy and to switch to monotherapy.

Objectives:

To explore the evolution of APP and other psychotropic prescribing patterns during psychiatric hospitalisations, to detect characteristics associated with APP on admission and at discharge, and to examine clozapine prescribing patterns.

Design:

We performed a retrospective observational study based on electronic health records.

Methods:

Data on adult inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were collected retrospectively from 6 Belgian hospitals in 2020-2021.

Results:

Of the 516 patients included, APP prescribing increased significantly from 47.9% on hospital admission to 59.1% at discharge. On admission and at discharge, APP was associated with prior clozapine use (ORadmission = 2.53, CI = 1.1–5.84, ORdischarge = 11.01, CI = 4.45–27.28), treatment with a first-generation antipsychotic (ORadmission = 26.79, CI = 13.08–54.86, ORdischarge = 25.2, CI = 12.2–52.04), increased antipsychotic exposure (ORadmission = 8.93, CI = 5.13–15.56, ORdischarge = 19.89, CI = 10–39.54), and a greater number of hypno-sedatives (ORadmission = 1.88, CI = 1.23–2.88, ORdischarge = 4.18, CI = 2.53–6.91). APP was negatively associated with involuntary admission (ORadmission = 0.31, CI = 0.14–0.7, ORdischarge = 0.3, CI = 0.13–0.68). When using an alternative definition of monotherapy (i.e. including patients with an add-on low-dose antipsychotic for sleep disorders), alcohol use disorder (ORadmission = 0.26, CI = 0.13–0.54) and higher age (ORdischarge = 0.53, CI = 0.29–0.95) were negatively associated with APP, and living in a residential facility (ORdischarge = 2.39 CI = 1.21–4.71) and a higher daily dosage of benzodiazepines during the stay (ORdischarge = 1.32 CI = 1.03–1.69) increased the odds of being discharged on APP. On admission, 9.3% of patients were being treated with clozapine. Although 28.1% of patients were eligible for clozapine treatment, only 11% of patients were discharged with a clozapine prescription. For 7 of the 10 patients with a new clozapine prescription, it was directly prescribed in combination with another antipsychotic, without a prior trial of clozapine monotherapy.

Conclusion:

Suboptimal prescriptions of antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia persist after psychiatric hospitalisations and are associated with identifiable characteristics.
Red blood cell folate level and associated factors of folate insufficiency among pregnant women attending antenatal care during their first trimester of pregnancy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Tefera Alemu Adela , Seifu Daniel , Menon Menakath , Talargia Feredegn , Belete Abebe Muche
Published: August 2022

Objective:

Folate is an essential vitamin for de novo DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. Folate insufficiency at the time of conception and during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with unintended pregnancy and birth outcomes, particularly neural tube defects. Hence, this study aimed to assess folate status and associated factors of folate insufficiency among pregnant women attending antenatal care during their first trimester of pregnancy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Materials and methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted from 8 August 2017 to 3 January 2018 in Addis Ababa. In this study, 160 participants were enrolled via the convenience sampling method. Red blood cell folate was measured by the electrochemiluminescence binding assay method. Data were entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and analyzed by SPSS version 22.0. Descriptive statistics were used to describe demographic characteristics and to determine the magnitude of folate deficiency. Logistic regression was used to identify the risk factors for folate deficiency. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

In this study, 44/160 (27%) participants had red blood cell folate level <400 ng/mL, insufficient to prevent neural tube defect. Multivariate regression showed that regular vegetable consumption was an independent determinant factor for red blood cell folate level (adjusted odds ratio: 0.41, confidence interval: 0.18–0.93).

Conclusion:

This study shows that a large magnitude of the first-trimester pregnant women had red blood cell folate concentrations below levels that are maximally protective against neural tube defects. Folic acid supplementation and supplemental nutrition containing green leafy vegetables should be promoted during the periconceptional period. In addition, the policymakers should set rules for mandatory folic acid fortification.
Aristotle in the Anthropocene: The comparative benefits of Aristotelian virtue ethics over Utilitarianism and deontology
Authors: Morrell Kevin , Dahlmann Frederik
Published: August 2022

In the Anthropocene, humanity faces a pressing question: ‘what should we do?’ Here we are interested in the underlying sense and reference of the normative ‘should’ as it applies to ethics with respect to different actors. To excavate ‘should’, we unearth the foundations of three conventional groupings of normative ethical systems: Mill’s utilitarianism, Kantian deontological ethics and Aristotelian virtue ethics. Each provides a normative basis for saying what humans ‘should’ do. We draw on specific examples from the private sector to argue that debates on the role of ethics in business are dominated by consequentialist and deontological accounts which, while essential, entail certain limitations regarding the realities of this new geological epoch. Identifying the comparative benefits of Aristotelian virtue ethics enables us to develop new insights and suggestions for ethics in the Anthropocene. We identify three distinctive features of Aristotelian virtue ethics: (i) a focus on agents rather than acts, (ii) a distinction between laws and customs versus nature and (iii) the importance of tradition. We set out corresponding implications for ethics and sustainability as applied to the private sector.
Incorporation of Blood and Fluid Management Within an Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Protocol in Complex Spine Surgery
Authors: Yokoi Hana , Chakravarthy Vikram , Winkleman Robert , Manlapaz Mariel , Krishnaney Ajit
Published: August 2022

Study design

retrospective review.

Objective

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is a multidisciplinary set of evidence-based interventions to reduce morbidity and accelerate postoperative recovery. Complex spine surgery carries high risks of perioperative blood loss, blood transfusion, and suboptimal fluid states. This study evaluates the efficacy of a perioperative fluid and blood management component comprised of a restrictive transfusion policy, goal directed fluid management, number of tranexamic acid (TXA) utilization, and autologous blood transfusion within our ERAS protocol for complex spine surgery.

Methods

A retrospective review compared patients undergoing elective complex spine surgery prior to and following implementation of an ERAS protocol with intraoperative blood and fluid management. Outcomes included incidence of blood transfusion, estimated blood loss, intraoperative crystalloids administered, frequency of intraoperative TXA utilized, incidence of patients extubated within the operating room (OR), intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and hospital length of stay.

Results

Following implementation, the rate of blood transfusion decreased by 11.7%( P = .017) and average crystalloid infusion was reduced 680 mL per case( P < .001). Intraoperative blood loss decreased on average 342 mL per case( P = .001) and TXA use increased significantly by 25%( P < .001). Postoperative ICU admissions declined by 8.5%( P = .071); extubation within the OR increased by 13.3%( P = .005).

Conclusions

This protocol presents a unique perspective with the inclusion of an interdisciplinary and comprehensive blood and fluid management protocol as an integral part of our ERAS pathway for complex spine surgery. These results indicate that a standardized approach is associated with reduced rates of blood transfusion and optimized fluid states which was correlated with decreased postoperative ICU admissions.
Race-shifting in the United States: Latinxs, Skin Tone, and Ethnoracial Alignments
Authors: Irizarry Yasmiyn , Monk Ellis P. , Cobb Ryon J.
Published: August 2022

In the study, we engage the question of racial “fluidity” by examining patterns of ethnoracial identification in adolescence and, importantly, shifts in ethnoracial identification between adolescence and adulthood using two waves of data from a nationally representative, longitudinal study of adolescents who were in Grades 7 to 12 during the 1994 to 1995 school year. Our theoretical framework draws from social identity theory and brings together bodies of research in race and immigration to make a case for the importance of phenotype, ancestry, and sociocultural elements as potential mechanisms for patterns among Latinx youth, as shifts in ethnoracial identification are predominantly a Latinx phenomenon. The bulk of the findings suggest that both phenotype and immigration are important factors for ethnoracial self-identification among Latinx youth, as well as shifts in their ethnoracial identification in young adulthood. Given what we know about ethnoracial categorization and ascription, findings suggest that, overall, shifts in ethnoracial identification among Latinx youth are primarily about bringing their self-identification into alignment with how they think they tend to be (and most likely are) perceived by others, which we suggest represents a Sedimentation of the Color Line. We close by discussing the myriad implications of our findings for the U.S. racial order and the ongoing debate about how to “measure” the Latinx population.
Off-the-shelf cryopreserved platelets for the detection of HIT and VITT antibodies
Authors: Kanack Adam J. , Jones Curtis G. , Singh Bandana , Leger Rachel R. , Splinter Noah P. , Heikal Nahla M. , Pruthi Rajiv K. , Chen Dong , George Gemlyn , Abou-Ismail Mouhamed Y. , Wool Geoffrey D. , Gundabolu Krishna , Padmanabhan Anand
Published: August 2022

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is suspected much more often than it is confirmed. Technically simple platelet factor 4 (PF4)-polyanion enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) are sensitive but nonspecific. In contrast, accurate functional tests such as the serotonin release assay, heparin-induced platelet activation assay, and PF4-dependent P-selectin expression assay require fresh platelets and have complex assay end points, limiting their availability to specialized reference laboratories. To enable broad deployment of functional testing, we sought to extend platelet viability significantly by optimizing storage conditions and developed a simple functional assay end point by measuring the release of a platelet α-granule protein, thrombospondin-1 (TSP1), in an ELISA format. Platelet cryopreservation conditions were optimized by freezing platelets at controlled cooling rates that preserve activatability. Several-month-old cryopreserved platelets were treated with PF4 or heparin and were evaluated for their ability to be activated by HIT and vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) antibodies in the TSP1 release assay (TRA). HIT and spontaneous HIT patient samples induced significantly higher TSP1 release using both PF4-treated (PF4-TRA) and heparin-treated cryopreserved platelets relative to samples from patients suspected of HIT who lacked platelet-activating antibodies. This latter group included several patients that tested strongly positive in PF4-polyanion ELISA but were not platelet-activating. Four VITT patient samples tested in the TRA activated PF4-treated, but not heparin-treated, cryopreserved platelets, consistent with recent data suggesting the requirement for PF4-treated platelets for VITT antibody detection. These findings have the potential to transform the testing paradigm in HIT and VITT, making decentralized, technically simple functional testing available for rapid and accurate in-hospital diagnosis.
LTPConstraint: a transfer learning based end-to-end method for RNA secondary structure prediction
Authors: Fei Yinchao , Zhang Hao , Wang Yili , Liu Zhen , Liu Yuanning
Published: August 2022

Background

RNA secondary structure is very important for deciphering cell’s activity and disease occurrence. The first method which was used by the academics to predict this structure is biological experiment, But this method is too expensive, causing the promotion to be affected. Then, computing methods emerged, which has good efficiency and low cost. However, the accuracy of computing methods are not satisfactory. Many machine learning methods have also been applied to this area, but the accuracy has not improved significantly. Deep learning has matured and achieves great success in many areas such as computer vision and natural language processing. It uses neural network which is a kind of structure that has good functionality and versatility, but its effect is highly correlated with the quantity and quality of the data. At present, there is no model with high accuracy, low data dependence and high convenience in predicting RNA secondary structure.

Results

This paper designs a neural network called LTPConstraint to predict RNA secondary structure. The network is based on many network structure such as Bidirectional LSTM, Transformer and generator. It also uses transfer learning to train modelso that the data dependence can be reduced.

Conclusions

LTPConstraint has achieved high accuracy in RNA secondary structure prediction. Compared with the previous methods, the accuracy improves obviously both in predicting the structure with pseudoknot and the structure without pseudoknot. At the same time, LTPConstraint is easy to operate and can achieve result very quickly.
Biosynthetic mechanisms of isoflavone accumulation affected by different growth patterns in Astragalus mongholicus products
Authors: Zhang Fusheng , Zhang Xuan , Luo Yangyang , Li Huijuan , Qin Xuemei
Published: August 2022

Background

At present, Astragalus mongholicus products on the market represent two growth patterns: imitative wild A. mongholicus (WAM) and cultivated A. mongholicus (CAM). The 6-year-old WAM (A6) and 2-year-old CAM (B2) products are often sold as commodities. This study aimed to explore the effects of the abovementioned growth patterns on the biosynthetic mechanisms of isoflavone accumulation in A. mongholicus products.

Results

In this paper, the content of calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside in 6-year-old WAM (A6) was significantly higher than that in 2-year-old CAM (B2) based on high-performance liquid chromatography. Tissue anatomy indicated that A6 has developed phloem fibers, thickened secondary walls, and a more well-developed vascular system than B2. Thirteen differentially accumulated metabolites were found in A6 and B2 by UHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS, of which isoflavones were highly and significantly enriched in A6. By combining transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis, we found that the metabolomics profile was the same as the transcriptomics profile in both A6 and B2. In total, 11 novel isoflavone-related genes were isolated using BLAST and functional annotation through RNA-Seq and Iso-Seq. The results of integrated analysis, Short Time-series Expression Miner analysis, and Pearson correlation analysis showed that the regulation of four key enzymes, cinnamate 4-hydroxylase, 6-deoxychalcone synthase, chalcone reductase, and chalcone isomerase, led to the high accumulation of isoflavones in A6. In addition, AmUFGT (c778119) and AmUCGT (c303354) were predicted to be 7-O-glycosyltransferases by phylogenetic analysis; these genes catalyze formononetin and calycosin, respectively.

Conclusions

The findings of this work will clarify the differences in the biosynthetic mechanism of isoflavone accumulation between A6 and B2, which will guide the cultivation of A. mongholicus.
Variations of pulse pressure and central venous pressure may predict fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients during lung recruitment manoeuvre: an ancillary study
Authors: Desebbe Olivier , Mondor Whitney , Gergele Laurent , Raphael Darren , Vallier Sylvain
Published: August 2022

Background

Maintaining a constant driving pressure during a prolonged sigh breath lung recruitment manoeuvre (LRM) from 20 to 45 cmH20 peak inspiratory pressure in mechanically ventilated patients has been shown to be a functional test to predict fluid responsiveness (FR) when using a linear regression model of hemodynamic parameters, such as central venous pressure (CVP) and pulse pressure (PP). However, two important limitations have been raised, the use of high ventilation pressures and a regression slope calculation that is difficult to apply at bedside. This ancillary study aimed to reanalyse absolute variations of CVP (ΔCVP) and PP (ΔPP) values at lower stages of the LRM, (40, 35, and 30 cm H20 of peak inspiratory pressure) for their ability to predict fluid responsiveness.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of a prospective study data set in 18 mechanically ventilated patients, in an intensive care unit. CVP, systemic arterial pressure parameters and stroke volume (SV) were recorded during prolonged LRM followed by a 500 mL crystalloid volume expansion. Patients were considered as fluid responders if SV increased more than 10%. Receiver-operating curves (ROC) analysis with the corresponding grey zone approach were performed.

Results

Areas under the ROC to predict fluid responsiveness for ΔCVP and ΔPP were not different between the successive stepwise increase of inspiratory pressures [0.88 and 0.89 for ΔCVP at 45 and 30 cm H20 (P = 0.89), respectively, and 0.92 and 0.95 for ΔPP at 45 and 30 cm H20, respectively (P = 0.51)]. Using a maximum of 30 cmH2O inspiratory pressure during the LRM, ΔCVP and ΔPP had a threshold value to predict fluid responsiveness of 2 mmHg and 4 mmHg, with sensitivities of 89% and 89% and specificities of 67% and 89%, respectively. Combining ΔPP and ΔCVP decreased the proportion of the patients in the grey zone from 28 to 11% and showed a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 83%.

Conclusions

A stepwise PEEP elevation recruitment manoeuvre of up to 30 cm H20 may predict fluid responsiveness as well as 45 cm H20. The combination of ΔPP and ΔCVP optimizes the categorization of responder and non-responder patients.
A study on the impact of Internet use on depression among Chinese older people under the perspective of social participation
Authors: Yang Hua-lei , Zhang Shuo , Cheng Si-meng , Li Zhi-yun , Wu Yuan-yang , Zhang Si-qing , Wang Jia-hao , Tao Yi-wen , Yao Yi-dan , Xie Lin , Xiao Wen-jing , Tang Xiao-qing , Wu Jing , Shen Zheng , Tang Li-li
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the role of social participation in the relationship between internet use and depressive symptoms among Chinese older adults and investigate how the internet use interact with social participation to reduce the risk of depressive symptoms.

Methods

Based on the survey from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2018, we identified 4645 subjects and used the Ordinary Least Square method (OLS) and Propensity Score Matching method (PSM) to identify the association between Internet use and depression of older people, and further test how social participation played a role in the relationship.

Results

The level of depression of older people was significantly reduced in those who using internet in China, and the effect was still robust under different identification methods. The mental health was improved when using internet because of the increase of social participation and social capital. Further, The positive effect was stronger especially in those who were female, living in rural areas, has low education attainments and were 70–79 years old.

Conclusions

The popularity of internet use has a positive effect on the depressive symptoms of Chinese older adults. Effective measures were encouraged to improve the friendliness of internet for older people and promote the popularization of the Internet and older group, achieving the spiritual well-being of them in the Internet society.
Benefit of a flash dose of corticosteroids in digestive surgical oncology: a multicenter, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial (CORTIFRENCH)
Authors: Magnin Joséphine , Fournel Isabelle , Doussot Alexandre , Régimbeau Jean-Marc , Zerbib Philippe , Piessen Guillaume , Beyer-Berjot Laura , Deguelte Sophie , Lakkis Zaher , Schwarz Lilian , Orry David , Ayav Ahmet , Muscari Fabrice , Mauvais François , Passot Guillaume , Trelles Nelson , Venara Aurélien , Benoist Stéphane , Messager Mathieu , Fuks David , Borraccino Baptiste , Trésallet Christophe , Valverde Alain , Souche François-Régis , Herrero Astrid , Gaujoux Sébastien , Lefevre Jérémie , Bourredjem Abderrahmane , Cransac Amélie , Ortega-Deballon Pablo
Published: August 2022

Background

The modulation of perioperative inflammation seems crucial to improve postoperative morbidity and cancer-related outcomes in patients undergoing oncological surgery. Data from the literature suggest that perioperative corticosteroids decrease inflammatory markers and might be associated with fewer complications in esophageal, liver, pancreatic and colorectal surgery. Their benefit on cancer-related outcomes has not been assessed.

Methods

The CORTIFRENCH trial is a phase III multicenter randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial to assess the impact of a flash dose of preoperative corticosteroids versus placebo on postoperative morbidity and cancer-related outcomes after elective curative-intent surgery for digestive cancer. The primary endpoint is the frequency of patients with postoperative major complications occurring within 30 days after surgery (defined as all complications with Clavien-Dindo grade > 2). The secondary endpoints are the overall survival at 3 years, the disease-free survival at 3 years, the frequency of patients with intraabdominal infections and postoperative infections within 30 days after surgery and the hospital length of stay. We hypothesize a reduced risk of major complications and a better disease-survival at 3 years in the experimental group. Allowing for 5% of drop-out, 1 200 patients (600 per arm) should be included.

Discussion

This will be the first trial focusing on the impact of perioperative corticosteroids on cancer related outcomes. If significant, it might be a strong improvement on oncological outcomes for patients undergoing surgery for digestive cancers.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03875690, Registered on March 15, 2019, URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03875690.