bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ripple-Based Analysis of Asymmetrical Subharmonic Instability in Grid-Connected Inverters
Authors: Zhang Hao , Liu Wei , Wan Xiaojin , Ren Han , Liu Wei , Zhang Yuan
Published: February 2023

The unexpected subharmonic oscillation with an evident asymmetric feature is one of the most salient dynamical behaviors in the grid-connected inverter, which will bring disaster to normal system operation. In view of time-varying equilibrium points and complex dynamical response of the system, this asymmetrical subharmonic oscillation is difficult to predict through traditional analysis methods. In this paper, a ripple-based current model is proposed to describe the special subharmonic oscillation of single-phase grid-connected DC–AC inverter with the One-Cycle Compensation (OCC) method. Based on the proposed model, the influence of dynamic response and the time-varying equilibrium points on the stability of the system are comprehensively analyzed, and the internal mechanism of asymmetric subharmonic oscillation is revealed. Furthermore, the critical points of the subharmonic oscillation at the beginning and the end of the whole circuit cycle are predicted. Particularly, a global stable operation boundary is identified from the ripple-based analysis to optimize circuit design. Finally, circuit experiments are performed to verify these numerical and theoretical results.
Dynamics of a Stoichiometric Regrowth-Consumer Model
Authors: Xue Ling , Fu Jiayue , Rong Xinmiao , Zhang Hongyu
Published: February 2023

The relationship between the producer and the consumer is important in grassland ecosystems. Most producer-consumer models only consider food quantity and focus on the above ground part of producers in producer-consumer interactions, while food quality and the below ground part of the producer can be an important factor in these models. We developed a stoichiometric producer-consumer model, where the producer represents a primary production in terrestrial plant with above ground and below ground parts subject to stoichiometric constraints of carbon and phosphorus. The analysis shows that the dynamic behavior of the model is richer than that of the traditional producer-consumer models. The solution curves of the model can be used to explain the paradox of enrichment and reflect the rapid growth of the vegetation. Our findings help understand and interpret the relationship between the producer and the consumer in grassland ecosystems and provide guidance for ecosystem management on maintaining ecological equilibrium.
Innovation in SMEs in Times of Crisis: The Ability to Reconcile Formality, Agility and Speed
Authors: Blais Caroline
Published: February 2023

During the recent health crisis, certain small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) successfully developed and commercialized new products, sometimes outside their usual business sector. What practices were adopted to carry out these product innovations? To answer this question, an exploratory case study was conducted with two SMEs to learn about their motivations, practices and challenges. The results show that they engaged in innovation to survive, using a succinct and flexible innovation process, combining the principles of the stage gate system with certain aspects of the Xpress and Agile versions. During a crisis, SMEs can deploy an innovation process quickly and with agility if resources and skills are accessible and collaborations possible.
Half-Metallic Bandgap Measurement Using Circularly Polarized Infrared Light
Authors: Alhuwaymel Tariq F. , Kubota Takahide , Kim Jun-Young , Takanashi Koki , Hirohata Atsufumi
Published: February 2023

One avenue toward next-generation spintronic devices is to develop half-metallic ferromagnets with 100% spin polarization and Curie temperature above room temperature. Half-metallic ferromagnets have unique density of states, where the majority spins are metallic but the minority spins are semiconducting with the Fermi level lying within an energy gap. To date, the half-metallic bandgap has been predominantly estimated using Jullière’s formula in a magnetic tunnel junction or measured by the Andreev reflection at low temperature, both of which are very sensitive to the surface/interface spin polarization. Alternative optical methods such as photoemission have also been employed but with a complicated and expensive setup. In this study, we developed and optimized a new technique to directly measure the half-metallic bandgap by introducing circularly polarized infrared light to excite minority spins. The absorption of the light represents the bandgap under a magnetic field to saturate the magnetization of a sample. This technique can be used to provide simple evaluation of a half-metallic film.
Density and Risk Prediction with Non-Gaussian COMFORT Models
Authors: Paolella Marc S. , Polak Paweł
Published: February 2023

The CCC-GARCH model, and its dynamic correlation extensions, form the most important model class for multivariate asset returns. For multivariate density and portfolio risk forecasting, a drawback of these models is the underlying assumption of Gaussianity. This paper considers the so-called COMFORT model class, which is the CCC-GARCH model but endowed with multivariate generalized hyperbolic innovations. The novelty of the model is that parameter estimation is conducted by joint maximum likelihood, of all model parameters, using an EM algorithm, and so is feasible for hundreds of assets. This paper demonstrates that (i) the new model is blatantly superior to its Gaussian counterpart in terms of forecasting ability, and (ii) also outperforms ad-hoc three-step procedures common in the literature to augment the CCC and DCC models with a fat-tailed distribution. An extensive empirical study confirms the COMFORT model’s superiority in terms of multivariate density and Value-at-Risk forecasting.
CEMDA
Authors: May Michael J , Cohen Yaakov , Menachem Hovav , Swisa Yogev
Published: February 2023

People use smartphones to do many tasks: view email attachments, read social media posts, create and edit photographs, and forward files. The user's perspective on actions performed when creating, viewing, and modifying files (her
mental model
) reflects the visible clicks and swipes performed. At the file system and OS, however, such actions are less clear. A single click can lead to a flurry of hundreds of file system reads and writes, system calls, and communication steps. While individual apps can use analytics to record in-app user actions, common patterns such as download-read-forward cross app boundaries and become difficult to discover. That lack leads to inefficiencies in on-device file management and backup.

To better enable apps and devices to discover the user's mental model, we present CEMDA, an Android app that automatically detects the user's mental model by applying the theories of file lifecycle events and complex events. CEMDA detects over 10 high level user stories in 4 categories of user actions (create, access, share, modify) while operating completely in user space and without OS modification. CEMDA successfully detects user actions in cross-app actions across popular messaging and productivity apps (e.g., WhatsApp, Adobe Reader) with 75%-100% success while consuming minimal battery and memory.
Undergraduate students’ neurophysiological reasoning: what we learn from the attractive distractors students select
Authors: Doherty Jennifer H. , Cerchiara Jack A. , Wenderoth Mary Pat
Published: February 2023

Investigating students’ alternative reasoning in neurophysiology, this research is the first to investigate how analyzing the most common incorrect answer can shed light on the concepts students struggle with when reasoning about neurophysiological problems, especially those dealing with both chemical and electrical driving forces to predict ion movement across cell membranes.
Exercise-induced release of cardiac troponin is attenuated with repeated bouts of exercise: impact of cardiovascular disease and risk factors
Authors: Somani Yasina B. , Uthman Laween , Aengevaeren Vincent L. , Rodwell Laura , Lip Gregory Y. H. , Hopman Maria T. E. , Van Royen Niels , Eijsvogels Thijs M. H. , Thijssen Dick H. J.
Published: February 2023

We show the magnitude of postexercise cardiac troponin concentrations following prolonged walking exercise significantly declines upon repeated days of exercise in healthy individuals and those with cardiovascular risk factors, while this decline is not present in patients with established cardiovascular disease.
Combining three independent pathological stressors induces a heart failure with preserved ejection fraction phenotype
Authors: Li Yijia , Kubo Hajime , Yu Daohai , Yang Yijun , Johnson Jaslyn P. , Eaton Deborah M. , Berretta Remus M. , Foster Michael , McKinsey Timothy A. , Yu Jun , Elrod John W. , Chen Xiongwen , Houser Steven R.
Published: February 2023

Our study shows that three independent pathological stressors (increased Ca2+ influx, high-fat diet, and l-NAME) together produce a profound HFpEF phenotype. The primary mechanisms include HDAC-dependent-CM hypertrophy, necrosis, increased M2-macrophage population, fibroblast activation, and myocardial fibrosis. A role for HDAC activation in the HFpEF phenotype was shown in studies with SAHA treatment, which prevented the severe HFpEF phenotype. This “3-Hit” mouse model could be helpful in identifying novel therapeutic strategies to treat HFpEF.
A single session of EMS training induces long-lasting changes in circulating muscle but not cardiovascular miRNA levels: a randomized crossover study
Authors: Biss Sinje , Teschler Marc , Heimer Melina , Thum Thomas , Bär Christian , Mooren Frank C. , Schmitz Boris
Published: February 2023

Our study describes the long-term effects of electromyostimulation (EMS) on circulating miRNA levels. The observed increase of functional myomiR-206 and -133a levels over 72 h suggests long-lasting effects on muscle proliferation and differentiation, whereas cardiovascular miRNAs appear unaffected. Our findings suggest that circulating miRNAs provide useful insight into muscle regeneration processes after EMS and may thus be used to optimize EMS training effects.
Muscle disuse as hindlimb unloading in early postnatal mice negatively impacts grip strength in adult mice: a pilot study
Authors: Reidy Paul T. , Smith Austin D. , Jevnikar Benjamin E. , Doctor Abbas K. , Williams Ryan W. , Kachulkin Anthony A. , Monnig Jackie M. , Fix Dennis K. , Petrocelli Jonathan J. , Mahmassani Ziad S. , McKenzie Alec I. , de Hart Naomi M. M. P , Drummond Micah J.
Published: February 2023

We demonstrate that early life disuse resulted in less grip strength in adulthood. Analysis of muscle composition demonstrated no loss of whole muscle or myofiber size indicating lower muscle quality akin to premature aging. This poor muscle quality was characterized by altered muscle macrophages and extracellular matrix area. We demonstrate intriguing correlations between this loss of grip strength and muscle macrophages and also area of noncontractile tissue in the muscle.
The Dynamics of a Delayed Ecoepidemiological Model with Nonlinear Incidence Rate
Authors: Hussien Reem Mudar , Naji Raid Kamel
Published: February 2023

In this paper, the general framework for calculating the stability of equilibria, Hopf bifurcation of a delayed prey-predator system with an SI type of disease in the prey population, is investigated. The impact of the incubation period delay on disease transmission utilizing a nonlinear incidence rate was taken into account. For the purpose of explaining the predation process, a modified Holling type II functional response was used. First, the existence, uniform boundedness, and positivity of the solutions of the considered model system, along with the behavior of equilibria and the existence of Hopf bifurcation, are studied. The critical values of the delay parameter for which stability switches and the nature of the Hopf bifurcation by using normal form theory and center manifold theorem are identified. Additionally, using numerical simulations and a hypothetical dataset, various dynamic characteristics are discovered, including stability switches, chaos, and Hopf bifurcation scenarios.
An Adaptive Sparse Regularization Method for Response Covariance-Based Structural Damage Detection
Authors: Lin Jian-Fu , Wu Wei-Lin , Huang Jian-Liang , Wang Jun-Fang , Ren Wen-Xin , Ni Yi-Qing , Wang Li-Xin
Published: February 2023

Structural damage detection is usually an ill-posed inverse problem due to the contamination of measurement noise and model error in structural health monitoring. To deal with the ill-posed damage detection problem, l2-regularization is widely used. However, l2-regularization tends to provide nonsparse solutions and distribute identified damage to many undamaged elements, potentially leading to false alarms. Therefore, an adaptive sparse regularization method is proposed, which considers spatially sparse damage as a prior constraint since structural damage often occurs in some locations with stiffness reduction at the sparse elements out of the large total number of elements in an entire structure. First, a response covariance-based convex cost function is established by incorporating an l1-regularized term and an adaptive regularization factor to formulate the sparse regularization-based damage detection problem. Then, optimal sensor placement is conducted to determine the optimal measurement locations where the acceleration responses are adopted for computing the response covariance-based damage index and cost function. Further, the predictor-corrector primal-dual path-following approach, an efficient and robust convex optimization algorithm, is applied to search for solutions to the damage detection problem. Finally, a comparison study with the Tikhonov regularization-based damage detection method is conducted to examine the performance of the proposed adaptive sparse regularization-based method by using an overhanging beam model subjected to different damage scenarios and noise levels. The numerical study demonstrates that the proposed method can effectively and accurately identify damage under multiple damage scenarios with various noise levels, and it outperforms the Tikhonov regularization-based method in terms of high accuracy and few false alarms. The analyses on time consumption, adaptiveness of the sparse regularization factor, model-error resistance, and sensor number influence are conducted for further discussions of the proposed method.
Global Governance From Below: Regional Sanctions as Drivers of UN Sanctions
Authors: von Borzyskowski Inken , Portela Clara
Published: February 2023

The imposition of sanctions by the UN Security Council (UNSC) is notoriously selective. Many crises have qualified for UNSC sanctions by endangering peace and security, yet the UN has imposed sanctions in only a few. Selectivity in UNSC sanctions is conventionally explained by conflict intensity or the interests of the Council’s permanent members. Complementing these accounts, we document a third explanation: pre-existing sanctions by regional organizations. We argue that the UNSC has incentives to sanction countries which are already under sanctions by regional organizations because regional sanctions embody neighborhood consensus on the legitimacy of these sanctions and reassure the Council about implementation. Statistical analyses of original data, text analyses, a case study, and interviews strongly support our argument: regional sanctions increase the likelihood of UNSC sanctions adoption, particularly when these are enacted by regional organizations composed of neighboring states. This study advances research on sanctions, conflict resolution, and regime complexity.
Special Education Google Scholar Metrics to Facilitate Career Development and Advance Impact
Authors: Giangreco Michael F. , Garvey Jason C. , DeSanto Daniel , Suter Jesse C.
Published: February 2023

Author-level bibliometrics are one way to measure scholarly contributions. Such metrics are often calculated from journals indexed in the Web of ScienceTM. Google Scholar more comprehensively reflects the contributions of special education scholars by including many more social science and education journals. The current study analyzed 348 publicly available Google Scholar profiles of special education faculty at 213 U.S. universities to explore currently available measures (i.e., citation counts, h-index, i10-index). Using descriptive statistics, quartile distributions, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), we identified several significant differences across variables based on academic rank and Carnegie classification with medium to large effect sizes. Currently reported metrics (i.e., citation counts, h-index, i10-index) advantaged scholars with higher academic rank and those working at universities with a greater amount of research activity. Suggestions are offered to support career development.
Beyond the Post Normal
Authors: Visvanathan Shiv , Parmar Chandrika
Published: February 2023

The essay argues for an exploration of alternative worldviews and a search for a different set of categories. It proposes that the classic ‘for a Sociology of India’ debate draw upon Ziauddin Sardar’s essays on the post normal society. Sardar explores a sociology of complexity, chaos and contradiction, thus calling for an epistemic examination of the relation between science and society, which in turn anticipates a set of thought experiments on the future of the Anthropocene.
Computed tomography with adjusted dose for body mass index may be superior to whole-body radiography especially in elderly patients with multiple myeloma
Authors: Weber Lars , Hansson Markus , Geijer Mats
Published: February 2023

Background

Whole-body skeletal radiography has traditionally been used in the management of multiple myeloma for defining treatment strategies. For several reasons, radiography has been replaced by computed tomography (CT) covering the same regions.

Purpose

To evaluate the body mass index (BMI) adjusted effective radiation dose from two different methods of whole-body radiologic imaging for multiple myeloma assessment.

Material and Methods

The current investigation analyses the dose to patients resulting from the two methods, conventional radiography supplemented with tomosynthesis (203 examinations) and CT (264 examinations). All patients subject to myeloma staging for 4.5 years were included in the study. Exposure parameters were collected from the PACS and conversion factors were calculated using the software packages PCXMC and VirtualDose enabling the calculation of the effective dose to each patient based on BMI. The Mann–Whitney U test was used for comparisons between groups.

Results

Patients were subject to a median effective dose of 2.5 mSv for conventional radiography and 5.1 mSv for CT, a statistically significant difference.

Conclusion

The effective dose for whole-body CT in assessing multiple myeloma is twice as high as for whole-body skeletal survey with modern digital radiography, but at a low level and considerably less than the levels quoted in the earlier studies of ∼30 mSv when the technique was first explored.
New migraine prophylactic drugs: Current evidence and practical suggestions for non-responders to prior therapy
Authors: Lee Mi Ji , Al-Karagholi Mohammad Al-Mahdi , Reuter Uwe
Published: February 2023

Background

Monoclonal antibodies against calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) or its receptor (anti-CGRP(-R) mAbs) and small-molecule CGRP receptor antagonists (gepants) are new mechanism-based prophylactic drugs developed to address the unmet needs of pre-existing migraine prophylactic medications. However, several uncertainties remain in their real-world applications.

Methods

This is a narrative review of the literature on the use of CGRP-targeting novel therapeutics in specific situations, including non-responders to prior therapy, combination therapy, switching, and treatment termination. In the case of lack of available literature, we made suggestions based on clinical reasoning.

Results

High-quality evidence supports the use of all available anti-CGRP(-R) mAbs (erenumab, galcanezumab, fremanezumab, and eptinezumab) in non-responders to prior therapy. There is insufficient evidence to support or reject the efficacy of combining CGRP(-R) mAbs or gepants with oral migraine prophylactic agents or botulinum toxin A. Switching from one CGRP(-R) mAb to another might benefit a fraction of patients. Currently, treatment termination depends on reimbursement policies, and the optimal mode of termination is discussed.

Conclusions

New prophylactic drugs that target the CGRP pathway are promising treatment options for patients with difficult-to-treat migraine. Individualized approaches using a combination of new substances with oral prophylactic drugs or botulinum toxin A, switching between new drugs, and adjusting treatment duration could enhance excellence in practice.
Short-Term Performance Characterization and Fatigue Damage Prediction of Asphalt Mixtures Containing Polymer-Modified Binders and Recycled Plastics
Authors: Yin Fan , West Randy , Powell Buzz , DuBois C.J.
Published: February 2023

This study evaluated the short-term performance properties and predicted cracking performance of asphalt mixtures containing polymer-modified asphalt (PMA) binders and recycled polyethylene (RPE). To that end, binder rheological testing, mixture performance testing, and FlexPAVE simulations were conducted. Furthermore, three PMA mixtures were selected for field evaluation on the National Center for Asphalt Technology Test Track and rapid performance testing during production. The PMA binders modified with styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), reactive elastomeric terpolymer (RET), and RET-compatibilized RPE had significantly improved elasticity and rutting resistance compared with the unmodified binder. The PMA binders also exhibited good storage stability with minimal separation tendency. Both polymer modification of the asphalt binder and adding RPE via the dry process improved the rutting resistance of the mixture. Although the unmodified and PMA mixtures exhibited notably different load-versus-displacement curves from the Indirect Tensile Asphalt Cracking Test (IDEAL-CT), they had similar cracking tolerance index ( CTindex) results. The Gf-versus- l75 /m75 interaction diagram allowed a more robust understanding of the IDEAL-CT results by considering mixture toughness and brittleness, and their interactions with CTindex. In all cases, polymer modification increased the stiffness and fatigue damage resistance of asphalt mixtures, while adding RPE via the dry process embrittled the mixtures, making them more susceptible to fatigue damage. The PMA mixtures had significantly better predicted cracking performance in FlexPAVE simulations than the unmodified mixture. This improvement was mainly caused by polymer modification of the asphalt binder. Finally, adding dry RPE pellets improved the rutting resistance but reduced the intermediate-temperature cracking resistance of the plant-produced PMA mixture containing an SBS-modified binder.
Mock-Jurors’ Judgements in a Sexual Assault Case: The Influence of Defendant Race and Occupational Status, Delayed Reporting, and Multiple Allegations
Authors: Fraser Bailey M. , Pica Emily , Pozzulo Joanna D.
Published: February 2023

Reports of sexual offences have increased in recent years, with many cases involving allegations against high-status individuals (e.g., Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby). In addition, many of these cases have involved allegations against the defendant from multiple victims, with long delays in reporting of the alleged assault. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of defendant occupational status (low vs. high), defendant race (White, Black), number of allegations (one vs. five victims), and the length of reporting delay (5, 20, or 35 years) on mock-juror decision-making. Mock-jurors ( N = 752) read a mock-trial transcript describing a sexual assault case. After reading the trial transcript, mock-jurors were asked to provide dichotomous and continuous guilt ratings, as well as ratings regarding their perceptions of the defendant and victim. Results revealed that mock-jurors rendered more guilty verdicts, assigned higher guilt ratings, and perceived the defendant less favorably and the victim more favorably, when the defendant was White (as opposed to Black) and when there were multiple allegations against the defendant. The current findings suggest that defendant race and the number of allegations are highly influential in the context of a sexual assault case.
A comprehensive review on recent developments in materials and technological parameters for plasma transferred arc hardfacing process
Authors: Hirpara Keyur P , Valaki Janak B , Chaudhari Mrunalkumar D , Siddhpura Milind A
Published: February 2023

Critical equipments of process and heavy engineering industries are prone to significant wear due to intense service conditions. Uneven and uncontrolled wear causes significant changes in dimensional and geometrical accuracies of the part surfaces, which adversely affect the parts’ functionality and service life of these parts. Shorter service life of these equipments and subsequent replacement of the same is one of the serious economic concerns. Hardfacing or hardsurfacing is comparatively an advanced metal deposition technology to deposit a hard and complex metal substrate layer on simple and softer base material surface. This process is gaining popularity at commercial level due to its unique capabilities to develop superior wear, corrosion, and impact resistance properties on worn out parts and offer huge economic advantage as substitute to costly replacement. The primarily aim of this study is to present a comprehensive review of the work done on the probable candidates for deposition materials, and summarize the influence of various process parameters on hard-faced surface characteristics. The critical issues like dilution, debonding, and residual stresses have been discussed for multi-layered hardfacing for iron-, nickel-, and cobalt-based hardfacing materials. The secondary aim of this study is to address practical issues such as selection of proper combination of base-substrate material, to understand the response characteristics of ‘plasma transferred arc hardfacing (PTAHF)’ process to minimize the de-bonding, dilution, and residual stresses and finally to improve quality of hardfacing practice.
Retail Health Clinic Growth as a Potential Primary Care Disruptor
Authors: Barnes Hilary , Alexander Diane , Richards Michael R.
Published: February 2023

Retail health clinics (RHCs) have been described as a disruptive model of care delivery. We describe RHC market presence in the United States from 2008 to 2016 with a focus on the characteristics of counties where new clinics open. We merge national data on RHC openings and closings from Merchant Medicine with the Area Health Resources File. We examined county-level counts and ownership of RHCs over time. From 2008 to 2016, we found increasing ownership of RHCs by retail pharmacies, and, contrary to earlier predictions, RHCs continue to be located in affluent counties and did not open in underserved or provider shortage areas. Most new clinics opened in counties where RHCs already had a presence, and these counties also had greater primary care physician, nurse practitioner, and physician assistant density per capita (100,000). As RHCs expand and offer more services, they may place new competitive pressures on nearby primary care providers and practices.
Toward a critical social theory of AI: Knowledge, information, and intelligence in the later works of André Gorz
Authors: Kang Jaeho
Published: February 2023

In his last scholarly work, L’Immatériel, André Gorz grapples with the emergence of the new cognitive capitalism based on immaterial labor and capital and, crucially, he seeks to comprehend how advanced technologies—such as nanotechnology, biotechnology, ICTs, and specifically, AI—reshape the very nature of the human subject. Despite its vital contributions, his conventional form of humanism—one that draws clear lines between organic human culture and inorganic machinic systems—is questioned and challenged by the increasingly complex and pervasive interplay between the two domains. Focusing on his later writings, this essay critically examines Gorz’s social theory of cognitive capitalism with particular reference to knowledge, information and intelligence. In doing so, the essay draws out some theoretical implications of Gorz’s defense of the humanities against post-human civilization for the development of a critical social theory of AI.
I Believe I Can Try: Self-Efficacy, Pandemic Behaviors, Coping, and Learning
Authors: Gurung Regan A. R. , Byers Stephanie , Grapentine Jor , Stone Arianna
Published: February 2023

While colleges and universities grapple with delivering instruction face-to-face during the pandemic, there is still a lot to learn from remote teaching experiences. The present study aimed to predict self-reported learning during the first year of the pandemic. Building on previous scholarship on the topic, we focus on the moderating effects of self-efficacy, and the mediating effects of coping styles on the relationship between stress and self-reported learning experiences. We also included self-perceptions of class effort, the instructor, and changes in class, personal, professor, and health behaviors. Students ( N = 272) in Introductory Psychology classes participated in an online survey as part of a class research requirement. Analyses demonstrated that self-efficacy predicted differences in many measures associated with learning and predicted learning over and above all other variables entered in a hierarchical regression. The relationship between stress and learning was mediated by coping, but not moderated by self-efficacy. These results suggest student beliefs about their ability to perform online are important to learning outcomes, but coping mechanisms mediate the relationship of stress and learning. Especially while teaching during pandemic times using different modalities, instructors will do well to directly address students’ perceptions of their own ability and build self-efficacy.
Evolving indications for pediatric neurointerventional radiology: A single institutional 25-year experience in infants less than one year of age and a brief historical review
Authors: Baker Amanda , Caton Michael Travis , Smith Eric R , Narsinh Kazim H , Amans Matthew R , Higashida Randall T , Cooke Daniel L , Dowd Christopher F , Hetts Steven W
Published: February 2023

Background and Purpose

Pediatric neurointerventional radiology is an evolving subspecialty with growing indications and technological advancement such as miniaturization of devices and decreased radiation dose. The ability to perform these procedures is continuously balanced with necessity given the inherently higher risks of radiation and cerebrovascular injury in infants. The purpose of this study is to review our institution's neurointerventional experience in infants less than one year of age to elucidate trends in this patient population.

Methods

We retrospectively identified 132 patients from a neurointerventional database spanning 25 years (1997–2022) who underwent 226 procedures. Treatment type, indication, and location as well as patient demographics were extracted from the medical record.

Results

Neurointerventional procedures were performed as early as day of life 0 in a patient with an arteriovenous shunting malformation. Average age of intervention in the first year of life is 5.9 months. Thirty-eight of 226 procedures were completed in neonates. Intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) for the treatment of retinoblastoma comprised 36% of neurointerventional procedures completed in infants less than one year of age followed by low flow vascular malformations (21.2%), vein of Galen malformations (11.5%), and dural arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) (9.3%). Less frequent indications include non-Galenic pial AVF (4.4%) and tumor embolization (3.0%). The total number of interventions has increased secondary to the onset of retinoblastoma treatment in 2010 at our institution.

Conclusion

The introduction of IAC for the treatment of retinoblastoma in the last decade is the primary driver for the increased trend in neurointerventional procedures completed in infants from 1997 to 2022.
Trying to be like everybody else: A qualitative study revealing the importance of social contexts and illness representations among adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their parents
Authors: Hussein Sana , Jespersen Louise Norman , Ingersgaard Marianne Vie , Skovby Pernille , Grabowski Dan
Published: February 2023

Objective

Type 1 diabetes is one of the most common chronic conditions in young children and adolescents. During the period of adolescence, young people with diabetes often struggle with self-management and have compromised health-related quality of life. This often leads to familial conflicts affecting all family members negatively. The aim of this study is to provide qualitative insight into the everyday life of families with adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Methods

The data consisted of participatory family workshops conducted using interactive dialogue tools. The total number of participants was 33 (adolescents n = 13, parents n = 20). The adolescents were between 15 and 17 years. The data were analyzed using systematic text condensation.

Results

The results showed two main themes. The first theme, Diabetes-friendly and unfriendly social contexts, highlighted how the (dis)comfortability of disclosing diabetes was a significant factor in achieving optimal metabolic control. For parents, it affected their perception of social support. The second theme, incongruent illness representations among family members, dealt with the extended family conflict during the period of adolescence.

Discussion

Insights from our study could help healthcare professionals apply a family-centered approach minimizing family conflict and supporting metabolic control when consulting families with adolescents with type 1 diabetes.
Emotional response evoked by viewing facial expression pictures leads to higher temporal resolution
Authors: Kobayashi Misa , Ichikawa Makoto
Published: February 2023

We examined the effects of emotional response, with different levels of valence and arousal, on the temporal resolution of visual processing by using photos of various facial expressions. As an index of the temporal resolution of visual processing, we measured the minimum lengths of the noticeable durations for desaturated photographs using the method of constant stimuli by switching colorful facial expression photographs to desaturated versions of the same photographs. Experiments 1 and 2 used facial photographs that evoke various degrees of arousal and valence. Those photographs were prepared not only in an upright orientation but also in an inverted orientation to reduce emotional response without changing the photographs’ image properties. Results showed that the minimum duration to notice monochrome photographs for anger, fear, and joy was shorter than that for a neutral face when viewing upright face photographs but not when viewing inverted face photographs. For Experiment 3, we used facial expression photographs to evoke various degrees of arousal. Results showed that the temporal resolution of visual processing increased with the degree of arousal. These results suggest that the arousal of emotional responses evoked by viewing facial expressions might increase the temporal resolution of visual processing.
Targeting connexin 43 expression via scaffold mediated delivery of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide preserves neurons, enhances axonal extension, reduces astrocyte and microglial activation after spinal cord injury
Authors: Chin Jiah Shin , Milbreta Ulla , Becker David L , Chew Sing Yian
Published: February 2023

Injury to the central nervous system (CNS) provokes an inflammatory reaction and secondary damage that result in further tissue damage and destruction of neurons away from the injury site. Upon injury, expression of connexin 43 (Cx43), a gap junction protein, upregulates and is responsible for the spread and amplification of cell death signals through these gap junctions. In this study, we hypothesise that the downregulation of Cx43 by scaffold-mediated controlled delivery of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (asODN), would minimise secondary injuries and cell death, and thereby support tissue regeneration after nerve injuries. Specifically, using spinal cord injury (SCI) as a proof-of-principle, we utilised a fibre-hydrogel scaffold for sustained delivery of Cx43asODN, while providing synergistic topographical cues to guide axonal ingrowth. Correspondingly, scaffolds loaded with Cx43asODN, in the presence of NT-3, suppressed Cx43 up-regulation after complete transection SCI in rats. These scaffolds facilitated the sustained release of Cx43asODN for up to 25 days. Importantly, asODN treatment preserved neurons around the injury site, promoted axonal extension, decreased glial scarring, and reduced microglial activation after SCI. Our results suggest that implantation of such scaffold-mediated asODN delivery platform could serve as an effective alternative SCI therapeutic approach.
Attitudes of university students towards traditional face-to-face learning systems and learning with ICT
Authors: Ferrero Ana M , Álvarez Sainz María
Published: February 2023

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have generated a global revolution and forced to rethink and redefine basic paradigms of the teaching learning process such as where and how does learning happen? How to develop new study environments? And what role must teachers play? Literature shows that in education ICTs facilitate efficient and effective access to digital information; that those students may become more focused and capable of self-pace learning; generate a creative learning environment; ease and promote collaborative learning …. We present the results of the research developed in 2019 at the University of the Basque Country where active methodologies and ICTs support are used to turn students into protagonists of their learning process. Analyzing students’ perception and attitude towards ICTs, related to traditional learning and digital learning, we conclude that students consider and use ICTs as a complement to transmission model. However, we strongly believe that the knowledge society requires a model that takes into account the principles of the constructivism learning theory. Students must develop a more independent attitude towards teachers and face-to-face (F2F) learning, as well as critical skills to evaluate the data offered by the Internet.
A Qualitative Analysis of Access to Healthcare Among African American Adults in South Carolina
Authors: Maness Sarah B. , Low Jonathan H. , Vu Tony
Published: February 2023

Access to healthcare is a Social Determinant of Health that is associated with public health outcomes and barriers to access disproportionately affect African American adults. This study used a health and financial literacy approach to qualitatively assess how African American adults access healthcare and potential barriers faced (n = 20). Results indicated a wide range of experiences generally split between positive and negative experiences in access to healthcare. Specific themes that emerged included scheduling issues and appointment availability, expense of care, lack of transparency in insurance coverage, the need for more primary care clinics and enhanced community outreach and education on how to access healthcare. This research identifies a need for increased education surrounding health insurance coverage and an identified need for more local physicians or ease of scheduling. All participants in this study stated they were covered by health insurance of some form. Future research should examine these issues in the context of socioeconomic and insurance status.
“There Are Just Too Many Rooms Here!” Perception of Clients and Health Care Workers on the Implementation of Test and Treat Strategy at Area 25 Health Center in Lilongwe, Malawi
Authors: Chigona Regina Kasiya , Mipando Alinane Linda Nyondo
Published: February 2023

Background: Malawi adopted World Health Organisation test-and-treat policy in 2016. The policy initiates early antiretroviral treatment to all clients diagnosed with HIV, irrespective of their CD4 count. However, some facilities record low linkage following the strategy. Perceptions of clients and health care workers on the implementation of test-and-treat strategy were explored in Malawi. Methods: A descriptive qualitative approach was conducted in which 21 in-depth interviews, 9 key informant interviews, and 15 non-participatory observations were conducted. Data were analyzed following thematic approach. Results: Most participants had positive perceptions of the test-and-treat strategy. However, negative perceptions stemmed from the fragmented structure of the facility with multiple rooms in which the client navigates through as well as limited privacy. Conclusion: Optimal implementation of the test-and-treat strategy will need to strengthen privacy and minimize unintended disclosure that is inherent in the organization of services.
Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa in a Preschooler in a Middle Eastern Country
Authors: Prabhakaran Harshita , Arulappan Judie , Elizabeth J Sheeba , Cyril Vincent Sophia
Published: February 2023

Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is a very rare genetic skin disorder associated with skin fragility. It results in blister formation on the skin. The purpose of this paper is to update the progress of a child with Dystrophic EB (DEB) who survived from infancy to preschool years and later died with recurrent skin blisters, bone marrow transplantation, and life support measures. A case analysis was done to evaluate the progress of the child. The mother of the child signed the written informed consent and granted permission to publish the details of the child with images and without disclosing the identifying information. The management of EB requires a multidisciplinary team approach. The care of the child should be aimed at protecting the child’s skin from injury, nutritional support, meticulous wound care, and management of complications as required. The prognosis varies from case to case.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Surveillance in Barrett’s Esophagus and Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia
Authors: Kirtane Tejas , Parasa Sravanthi
Published: February 2023

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been increasingly applied in medical imaging for improved accuracy and efficiency. One area that has seen significant advances is the use of AI in the detection of Barrett’s esophagus (BE) and gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM). BE is a pre-cancerous condition that occurs in the esophagus and can lead to esophageal adenocarcinoma, while GIM is a precancerous lesion that occurs in the stomach. In this review article, we will provide an overview of current AI techniques used in the detection and diagnosis of BE and GIM, including computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems, deep learning algorithms, and image analysis techniques. The performance of AI in detecting these conditions will be evaluated and compared to traditional methods. The challenges and limitations of using AI in the diagnosis of BE and GIM will also be discussed. The article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the use of AI in BE and GIM detection and to guide future research in this field.
Correspondence and improvisation: An autoethnographic exploration of drumming in nature
Authors: Smith Gareth Dylan
Published: February 2023

The author explores the liberatory experience of improvised, woodland drumming as DIY music-making music and DIY learning in nature. A drummer and music education professor, he presents descriptive vignettes on the transformative possibilities of making music amongst trees and by water. The method is autoethnographic, itself a DIY type of doing and recording research. Using Tim Ingold's lens of correspondence, the author suggests that, more than making music merely on trees and on ice, we channel music together with non-human co-musicians. The author draws on research in eco-psychology and eco-literacy to suggest, more than indulgence, being and making music in nature might be foundational to humanity recovering respect for our world and taking seriously how we might continue to live in it. Moreover, this article explores music making as a DIY pedagogical practice, grounded in the depth of listening and engagement with nature.
Metabolic agricultural ethics: Violence and care beyond the gate
Authors: Cusworth George
Published: February 2023

A substantial body of scholarship now exists describing an agricultural ethics of care. This work has integrated insight from feminist ethicists into research on food production, human–nature relations, and agricultural land use. As scholars elsewhere in the humanities have discussed, though, there is often a violence committed in care's name. In the case of food production and farming, I argue that the focus on affect, local multispecies relations and a proximal encounter-based ethics risks obscuring ethically significant and potentially violent food system dynamics that unfold beyond the farm gate. To better accommodate these remote yet important outcomes, I argue that scholars deploying an ethics of agricultural care should pay greater attention to the metabolisms of the farms, labs, nurseries, gardens, and allotments they study. Such an approach can accommodate those things that enter the case study site (fertilizer, animal feed, seed, etc.) and those things that leave it (vegetables, grain, pollution, etc.) as well the more-than-human transformations and interactions that take place within it. By being attentive to these material inflows and outflows, new ethical responsibilities emerge to act in the speculative hope that violence can be minimized, and care can flourish across a broader spatial range.
Immune landscape and prognostic index for pancreatic cancer based on TCGA database and in vivo validation
Authors: Xu Pan-ling , Cheng Chien-shan , Wang Ting , Dong Shu , Li Ping
Published: February 2023

The immunotherapy efficacy on pancreatic cancer remains unsatisfactory. Therefore, it is still necessary to further clarify the pancreatic immune cell infiltration and search for immune-related prognostic indicators. We analyzed the 135 pancreatic cancer patients’ data retrieved from the TCGA database for the immune cell infiltration, tumor microenvironment score and the correlation of the immune cells, followed by identification of prognostic immune clusters and genes clusters. The R language was used for the immune score calculation, and immune cells proportion related survival differences identification. The function of immune cells was verified through datasets in the GEO database and in vivo experiments. The results showed that M0 Macrophages had negative relations to CD8 + T cells and immune scores. There were differences in median survival in ICI clusters, gene clusters, and immune score groups (p < 0.05). M0 macrophages accounted for more than 9.8%, indicating a poor prognosis, while T cells accounted for more than 9.2%, indicating a good prognosis. In vivo results showed that M0 macrophages promote pancreatic cancer growth. Elimination of M0 macrophages may be a hopeful strategy against pancreatic cancer.