bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Randomized Implementation of a Primary Human Papillomavirus Testing–based Cervical Cancer Screening Protocol for Women 34 to 69 Years in Norway
Authors: Nygård Mari , Engesæter Birgit , Castle Philip E. , Berland Jannicke Mohr , Eide Maj Liv , Iversen Ole Erik , Jonassen Christine Monceyron , Christiansen Irene Kraus , Vintermyr Olav Karsten , Tropé Ameli
Published: July 2022

Background:

Cervical cancer screening programs are facing a programmatic shift where screening protocol based on human papillomavirus testing (HPV-Screening protocol) is replacing the liquid-based cytology (LBC-Screening protocol). For safe technology transfer within the nationwide screening programme in Norway, HPV-Screening protocol was implemented randomized to compare the real-world effectiveness of HPV-Screening protocol and LBC-Screening protocol at the first screening round.

Methods:

Among 302,295 women ages 34 to 69 years scheduled to attend screening from February 2015 to June 2017, 157,447 attended. A total of 77,207 were randomly allocated to the HPV-Screening protocol and 80,240 were allocated to the LBC-Screening protocol. All women were followed up for 18 months.

Results:

The HPV-Screening protocol resulted in a relative increase of 60% in the detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 2 or worse [risk ratio (RR) = 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.5–1.7], 40% in CIN grade 3 or worse (RR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.3–1.6), 40% in cancer (RR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.0–2.1), and 60% in colposcopy referrals (RR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.5–1.6) compared with LBC-Screening. The performance of both protocols was age dependent, being more effective in women ages under 50 years.

Conclusions:

The HPV-Screening protocol was well accepted by women in Norway and detected more CIN2, CIN3, and cancers compared with the LBC-Screening protocol.

Impact:

A randomized implementation of the HPV-Screening protocol with real-world assessment enabled a gradual, quality assured, and safe technology transition. HPV-based screening protocol may further be improved by using HPV genotyping and age-specific referral algorithms.
Biological Misinterpretation of Transcriptional Signatures in Tumor Samples Can Unknowingly Undermine Mechanistic Understanding and Faithful Alignment with Preclinical Data
Authors: Fisher Natalie C. , Byrne Ryan M. , Leslie Holly , Wood Colin , Legrini Assya , Cameron Andrew J. , Ahmaderaghi Baharak , Corry Shania M. , Malla Sudhir B. , Amirkhah Raheleh , McCooey Aoife J. , Rogan Emily , Redmond Keara L. , Sakhnevych Svetlana , Domingo Enric , Jackson James , Loughrey Maurice B. , Leedham Simon , Maughan Tim , Lawler Mark , Sansom Owen J. , Lamrock Felicity , Koelzer Viktor H. , Jamieson Nigel B. , Dunne Philip D.
Published: July 2022

Purpose:

Precise mechanism-based gene expression signatures (GES) have been developed in appropriate in vitro and in vivo model systems, to identify important cancer-related signaling processes. However, some GESs originally developed to represent specific disease processes, primarily with an epithelial cell focus, are being applied to heterogeneous tumor samples where the expression of the genes in the signature may no longer be epithelial-specific. Therefore, unknowingly, even small changes in tumor stroma percentage can directly influence GESs, undermining the intended mechanistic signaling.

Experimental Design:

Using colorectal cancer as an exemplar, we deployed numerous orthogonal profiling methodologies, including laser capture microdissection, flow cytometry, bulk and multiregional biopsy clinical samples, single-cell RNA sequencing and finally spatial transcriptomics, to perform a comprehensive assessment of the potential for the most widely used GESs to be influenced, or confounded, by stromal content in tumor tissue. To complement this work, we generated a freely-available resource, ConfoundR; https://confoundr.qub.ac.uk/, that enables users to test the extent of stromal influence on an unlimited number of the genes/signatures simultaneously across colorectal, breast, pancreatic, ovarian and prostate cancer datasets.

Results:

Findings presented here demonstrate the clear potential for misinterpretation of the meaning of GESs, due to widespread stromal influences, which in-turn can undermine faithful alignment between clinical samples and preclinical data/models, particularly cell lines and organoids, or tumor models not fully recapitulating the stromal and immune microenvironment.

Conclusions:

Efforts to faithfully align preclinical models of disease using phenotypically-designed GESs must ensure that the signatures themselves remain representative of the same biology when applied to clinical samples.
Rb Tumor Suppressor in Small Cell Lung Cancer: Combined Genomic and IHC Analysis with a Description of a Distinct Rb-Proficient Subset
Authors: Febres-Aldana Christopher A. , Chang Jason C. , Ptashkin Ryan , Wang Yuhan , Gedvilaite Erika , Baine Marina K. , Travis William D. , Ventura Katia , Bodd Francis , Yu Helena A. , Quintanal-Villalonga Alvaro , Lai W. Victoria , Egger Jacklynn V. , Offin Michael , Ladanyi Marc , Rudin Charles M. , Rekhtman Natasha
Published: July 2022

Purpose:

RB1 mutations and loss of retinoblastoma (Rb) expression represent consistent but not entirely invariable hallmarks of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The prevalence and characteristics of SCLC retaining wild-type Rb are not well-established. Furthermore, the performance of targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) versus immunohistochemistry for Rb assessment is not well-defined.

Experimental Design:

A total of 208 clinical SCLC samples were analyzed by comprehensive targeted NGS, covering all exons of RB1, and Rb IHC. On the basis of established coordination of Rb/p16/cyclinD1 expression, p16-high/cyclinD1-low profile was used as a marker of constitutive Rb deficiency.

Results:

Fourteen of 208 (6%) SCLC expressed wild-type Rb, accompanied by a unique p16-low/cyclinD1-high profile supporting Rb proficiency. Rb-proficient SCLC was associated with neuroendocrine-low phenotype, combined SCLC with non-SCLC (NSCLC) histology and aggressive behavior. These tumors exclusively harbored CCND1 amplification (29%), and were markedly enriched in CDKN2A mutations (50%) and NSCLC-type alterations (KEAP1, STK11, FGFR1). The remaining 194 of 208 SCLC were Rb-deficient (p16-high/cyclinD1-low), including 184 cases with Rb loss (of which 29% lacked detectable RB1 alterations by clinical NGS pipeline), and 10 cases with mutated but expressed Rb.

Conclusions:

This is the largest study to date to concurrently analyze Rb by NGS and IHC in SCLC, identifying a 6% rate of Rb proficiency. Pathologic-genomic data implicate NSCLC-related progenitors as a putative source of Rb-proficient SCLC. Consistent upstream Rb inactivation via CDKN2A/p16↓ and CCND1/cyclinD1↑ suggests the potential utility of CDK4/6 inhibitors in this aggressive SCLC subset. The study also clarifies technical aspects of Rb status determination in clinical practice, highlighting the limitations of exon-only sequencing for RB1 interrogation.

See related commentary by Mahadevan and Sholl, p. 4603
The (R)evolution of Social Media in Oncology: Engage, Enlighten, and Encourage
Authors: Morgan Gilberto , Agarwal Neeraj , Choueiri Toni K. , Dizon Don S. , Hamilton Erika P. , Markham Merry Jennifer , Lewis Mark , Prowell Tatiana M. , Rugo Hope S. , Subbiah Vivek , West Howard L.
Published: July 2022

Social media (SoMe) platforms have the ability to strengthen the oncology community, leading to intellectual connections that with time develop into friendships. SoMe has immense potential in all areas of medicine, and SoMe in oncology is proof of this, raising awareness about clinical trials, promoting cancer prevention techniques, amplifying oncology information, enabling diverse viewpoints into conversations, as well as educating colleagues regardless of geography.
Potent Stimulation of the Androgen Receptor Instigates a Viral Mimicry Response in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Alizadeh-Ghodsi Mohammadreza , Owen Katie L. , Townley Scott L. , Zanker Damien , Rollin Samuel P.G. , Hanson Adrienne R. , Shrestha Raj , Toubia John , Gargett Tessa , Chernukhin Igor , Luu Jennii , Cowley Karla J. , Clark Ashlee , Carroll Jason S. , Simpson Kaylene J. , Winter Jean M. , Lawrence Mitchell G. , Butler Lisa M. , Risbridger Gail P. , Thierry Benjamin , Taylor Renea A. , Hickey Theresa E. , Parker Belinda S. , Tilley Wayne D. , Selth Luke A.
Published: July 2022

Inhibiting the androgen receptor (AR), a ligand-activated transcription factor, with androgen deprivation therapy is a standard-of-care treatment for metastatic prostate cancer. Paradoxically, activation of AR can also inhibit the growth of prostate cancer in some patients and experimental systems, but the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are poorly understood. This study exploited a potent synthetic androgen, methyltestosterone (MeT), to investigate AR agonist-induced growth inhibition. MeT strongly inhibited growth of prostate cancer cells expressing AR, but not AR-negative models. Genes and pathways regulated by MeT were highly analogous to those regulated by DHT, although MeT induced a quantitatively greater androgenic response in prostate cancer cells. MeT potently downregulated DNA methyltransferases, leading to global DNA hypomethylation. These epigenomic changes were associated with dysregulation of transposable element expression, including upregulation of endogenous retrovirus (ERV) transcripts after sustained MeT treatment. Increased ERV expression led to accumulation of double-stranded RNA and a “viral mimicry” response characterized by activation of IFN signaling, upregulation of MHC class I molecules, and enhanced recognition of murine prostate cancer cells by CD8+ T cells. Positive associations between AR activity and ERVs/antiviral pathways were evident in patient transcriptomic data, supporting the clinical relevance of our findings. Collectively, our study reveals that the potent androgen MeT can increase the immunogenicity of prostate cancer cells via a viral mimicry response, a finding that has potential implications for the development of strategies to sensitize this cancer type to immunotherapies.

Significance:

Our study demonstrates that potent androgen stimulation of prostate cancer cells can elicit a viral mimicry response, resulting in enhanced IFN signaling. This finding may have implications for the development of strategies to sensitize prostate cancer to immunotherapies.
Treatment Outcomes according to the EndoPredict Score in ER-Positive, HER2-Negative Early Breast Cancer
Authors: Jung Wonguen , Kim Kyubo , Moon Byung-In
Published: July 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the treatment outcomes of estrogen receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (ER+/HER2−) breast cancer according to the risk group using EndoPredict (EP) score. Patients and Methods: Between 2015 and 2019, 207 patients with ER+/HER2− pN0-N1 early breast cancer who underwent surgery, EP test, and adjuvant radiotherapy were accrued. The EPclin score, which combines the molecular EP score with nodal status and tumor size, was calculated, and patients were divided into EPclin low- or high-risk groups by the cutoff value of 3.3. Results: There were 154 and 53 patients in the EPclin low- and high-risk groups, respectively. Forty-one patients (81.1%) of the high-risk group received adjuvant chemotherapy, while only 1 (0.6%) of the low-risk group did. With a median follow-up of 54.1 months (range 8.2–76.6), the 5-year disease-free survival rates of low- and high-risk groups were 100% and 88.9%, respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The EPclin score was associated with recurrences in ER+/HER2− early breast cancer.
gênese imaginativa da ideia de futuros contingentes em Espinosa e o argumento da batalha naval
Authors: Batista Artur Farias
Published: July 2022

Este trabalho opõe o sistema espinosano tal como expresso nas partes I e II da "Ética" ao argumento da batalha naval. Faz-se isso primeiro enquanto preservadas todas as premissas, e em seguida enquanto extraída de seu sistema a explicação de Espinosa da gênese imaginativa da ideia de futuros contingentes. Examinar as implicações dessa explicação sobre o argumento da batalha naval — cuja conclusão é a realidade de futuros contingentes— é o principal objetivo do artigo. Propõe-se como resultado desse exame um enfraquecimento da relevância ontológica e ética do argumento aristotélico e, mais amplamente, a manifestação de um problema a argumentos que têm a concepção vulgar de tempo como parte de suas premissas.
A revision of the genus Leptotyphlops in northeastern Africa and southwestern Arabia (Serpentes: Leptotyphlopidae)
Authors: BROADLEY DONALD G. , WALLACH VAN
Published: July 2022

The species of Leptotyphlops in northeastern Africa and southwestern Arabia (i.e. between 18°N and 12°S and between 29°E and 52°E) are revised. Twenty-five species belonging to five species groups are recognised, the taxonomy being based largely on skull morphology and visceral anatomy. Seven new species (L. ionidesi, L. tanae, L. howelli, L. mbanjensis, L. keniensis, L. aethiopicus and L. nigroterminus) and one new subspecies (L. scutifrons pitmani) are described. Wallach & Lanza (2004) have revived Leptotyphlops braccianii (Scortecci) from the synonymy of L. macrorhynchus (Jan & Sordelli), with Glauconia variabilis Scortecci regarded as a synonym. They also revived L. erythraeus (Scortecci) from the synonymy of L. macrorhynchus and L. yemenicus Scortecci from the synonymy of L. nursii. Leptotyphlops monticolus (Chabanaud) is now revived from the synonymy of L. emini (Boulenger). Glauconia latirostris Sternfeld is reinstated as a full species. Leptotyphlops nursii (Boulenger), long known from the Arabian peninsula, is recorded from higher altitudes in northern Somalia. Descriptions of the visceral anatomy are presented for all species found in eastern and southern Africa. A key based on external characters is provided, the known variation in meristic and visceral characters is tabulated and the distributions mapped.
A new Hydrophylita (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) from the Neotropics, with a key to species
Authors: QUERINO RANYSE B. , PINTO JOHN D.
Published: July 2022

Hydrophylita neusae n. sp. is described and illustrated. Hydrophylita is a small genus of Trichogrammatidae which now includes four species, all known to attack eggs of damselflies (Odonata: Zygoptera). A key to species is included and those known from the Neotropics are illustrated.
A new species of Photinus (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Photinini) from Jalisco, Mexico, with comments on intraspecific aedeagal variability and a key to the species of the subgenus Paraphotinus
Authors: ZARAGOZA-CABALLERO SANTIAGO
Published: July 2022

A new species of Photinus, P. anisodrilus sp. nov., is described from material collected from a tropical deciduous forest in San Buenaventura, Jalisco, Mexico. Males of this species are characterized by having considerable intraspecific variation in the aedeagal parameres. Photinus anisodrilus appears to be closely related to P. cookii Green, P. curtatus Green, P. inmaculatus Green, and P. marginellus LeConte because they share the presence of ventral branches in their parameres. Therefore, these species are grouped in the subgenus Paraphotinus Zaragoza-Caballero (1995a). A key for the Mexican species of Paraphotinus is provided.
Tanaidacea (Crustacea: Peracarida) from Japan III. The deep trenches; the Kurile-Kamchatka Trench and Japan Trench
Authors: LARSEN KIM , SHIMOMURA MICHITAKA
Published: July 2022

Examination of the tanaidacean fauna of the Kurile-Kamchatka Trench and the Japan Trench, from the surrounding edges of the trench to the hadal depths, revealed 21 new species, belonging to the genera Agathotanais, Akanthophoreus, Carpoapseudes, Cryptocopoides, Fageapseudes, Larsenotanais, Leptognathia, Leptognathiella, Neotanais, Paragathotanais, Pseudotanais, and Siphonolabrum, and 15 of these new species are described in this volume.  Five additional species (Forcipatia rotundicauda, Leptognathiopsis langi, Paranarthrura vitjazi, Paranarthrura zevinae, Torquella angularis, and Typhlotanais compactus) are re-described/re-combined. The tanaidacean species richness in the trenches was found to be remarkably higher than in shallow water, although numbers of individuals were rather small; this was compensated for by high taxonomic diversity.
Suborders Apseudomorpha Sieg, 1980 and Neotanaidomorpha Sieg, 1980*
Authors: BAMBER ROGER N.
Published: July 2022

The tanaidacean material from the Kurile-Kamchatka Trench and Japan Trench included four apseudomorphan species and two new neotanaidomorphan species of the genus Neotanais. The apseudomorphs comprised a new species of Fageapseudes, herein moved to the subfamily Leviapseudinae, and three species of Carpoapseudes, two newly described here, the third too damaged to attribute to a species. Fageapsuedes brachyomos n.sp. is characterized by a second pereonite wider than long; Carpoapseudes spinigena n.sp. is the second species of the genus to show lateral spiniform apophyses on the cephalon anterior to the branchial chambers; C. varindex n.sp. has a unique combination of elongate triangular rostrum with only slight basal shoulders, a ten-articled antennular flagellum, an “auricular” expansion on the proximo-ventral margin of the male cheliped propodus and a distal constriction on the male cheliped dactylus. Neotanais oyashio n.sp. is close to N. barfoedi, but is distinct in its pleotelson morphology, its pleopod setation and the shape of the male cheliped carpus, inter alia. Neotanais kuroshio n.sp. has a unique combination of only five dorsal setae on the cheliped carpus, a cheliped dactylus longer than the fixed finger, no ventral pleonite spurs, and a uropod exopod only half the length of the proximal endopod segment.
Prodasineura yulan (Odonata: Zygoptera: Platycnemididae), a new species from Sarawak
Authors: DOW RORY A. , NGIAM ROBIN W.J.
Published: July 2022

Prodasineura yulan is described from a male from Maludam National Park, Betong Division, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. It is allied to Prodasineura interrupta.
A new species of six-gilled hagfish (Myxinidae: Eptatretus) from the Lakshadweep Sea
Authors: AUGUSTINA A.X. TREASA , SREERAM MIRIAM PAUL , SUKUMARAN SANDHYA , K.M. SREEKUMAR , JOSE ANJALY , K.K. JOSHI , A. GOPALAKRISHNAN
Published: July 2022

A new species of hagfish, Eptatretus wadgensis sp. nov., is described from the Wadge Bank, Lakshadweep Sea, India, obtained from a depth of ~250–300 m through deep-sea trawling. It is diagnosed by having six pairs of gill pouches and gill apertures, 3/3 multicusp teeth, total slime pores 67–69, six branchial slime pores, and ventral aorta bifurcating at the 4th or between 4th and 5th gill pouch. The new species has significant morphological differences in total dental cusps, total slime pores, body proportions and the absence of the nasal-sinus papilla when compared to congeners and formed a distinct clade in phylogenetic reconstruction and a genetic distance of 3.41–4.00% when comparing K2P parameters with the nearest species. A key to the Eptatretus species of the Indian Ocean is provided.
The genus Crostis Casey (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Baridinae) in North America
Authors: PRENA JENS , ANDERSON ROBERT S.
Published: July 2022

The originally monobasic genus Crostis Casey, 1922 (type species Crostis subexplanata Casey, 1922 from Brazil) is redefined based on two named and approximately 15 unnamed species occurring between the southern United States and northern Argentina. Three oblong-ovate northern species here grouped informally as the Crostis boreas species group are described: Crostis boreas Prena & Anderson new species from Arkansas and Texas in the U.S.A. and Querétaro and Tamaulipas in Mexico, Crostis boreodes Prena & Anderson new species from Guanajuato and Michoacán in Mexico, and Crostis caperata Prena & Anderson new species from Chiapas in Mexico. The South American Baridius thoracicus Kirsch, 1875 is transferred from Lamprobaris Champion, 1908 to Crostis, as Crostis thoracica (Kirsch) new combination.
Dual-Pol VPR Corrections for Improved Operational Radar QPE in MRMS
Authors: Hanft Wolfgang , Zhang Jian , Simpson Micheal
Published: July 2022

The radar bright band is caused by melting ice crystals, and results in inflated reflectivity observations. If uncorrected, the bright band can result in large errors in radar-derived quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE). In the operational Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) system up to version 12.1, the effects of the bright band are corrected through the use of a reflectivity-only, tilt-based apparent vertical profile of reflectivity (tilt-VPR). This study utilizes dual-polarization (dual-pol) radar observations to improve the tilt-VPR methodology. To accomplish this, a brightband area delineation was developed within the MRMS framework and the brightband top and bottom heights were identified for individual tilts of radar data. This information was used to develop a radially dependent dual-pol VPR (dpVPR) model that can better correct reflectivity in situations of nonisotropic bright bands and low brightband events. This algorithm has been tested on 14 varying brightband events across the CONUS and compared with the tilt-VPR and the National Weather Service Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler Level-3 Digital Precipitation Rate (DPR) products. The radially dependent dpVPR correction provided a more accurate detection of brightband areas and a more effective reduction in QPE errors within and above the bright band than the tilt-VPR and DPR QPEs, especially for precipitation events with low melting layers or with strong variability of vertical motions. The brightband delineation and dpVPR methodology are also evaluated in the real-time MRMS testbed for their robustness and computational efficiency and has been transitioned into operations in 2022.
Implementation of Scale-Dependent Background-Error Covariance Localization in the Canadian Global Deterministic Prediction System
Authors: Caron Jean-François , Buehner Mark
Published: July 2022

The approach of applying different amounts of horizontal localization to different ranges of background-error covariance horizontal scales as proposed by Buehner and Shlyaeva was recently implemented in the four-dimensional ensemble–variational (4DEnVar) data assimilation scheme of the global deterministic prediction system (GDPS) at Environment and Climate Change Canada operations. To maximize the benefits from this approach to reduce the sampling noise in the ensemble-derived background-error covariances, it was necessary to adopt a new weighting between the climatological and flow-dependent covariances that increases significantly the role of the latter. Thus, in December 2021 the GDPS became the first operational global deterministic medium-range weather forecasting system to rely completely on flow-dependent covariances in the troposphere and the lower stratosphere. The experiments that led to the adoption of these two related changes and their impacts on the forecasts up to 7 days for various regions of the globe during the boreal summer of 2019 and winter of 2020 are presented here. It is also illustrated that relying more on ensemble-derived covariances amplifies the positive impacts on the GDPS when the background ensemble generation strategy is improved.
Impacts of Assimilating Additional Reconnaissance Data on Operational GFS Tropical Cyclone Forecasts
Authors: Sippel Jason A. , Wu Xingren , Ditchek Sarah D. , Tallapragada Vijay , Kleist Daryl T.
Published: July 2022

This study reviews the recent addition of dropwindsonde wind data near the tropical cyclone (TC) center as well as the first-time addition of high-density, flight-level reconnaissance observations (HDOBs) into the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Global Forecast System (GFS). The main finding is that the additional data have profound positive impacts on subsequent TC track forecasts. For TCs in the North Atlantic (NATL) basin, statistically significant improvements in track extend through 4–5 days during reconnaissance periods. Further assessment suggests that greater improvements might also be expected at days 6–7. This study also explores the importance of comprehensively assessing data impact. For example, model or data assimilation changes can affect the so-called “early” and “late” versions of the forecast very differently. It is also important to explore different ways to describe the error statistics. In several instances the impacts of the additional data strongly differ depending on whether one examines the mean or median errors. The results demonstrate the tremendous potential for further improving TC forecasts. The data added here were already operationally transmitted and assimilated by other systems at NCEP, and many further improvements likely await with improved use of these and other reconnaissance observations. This demonstrates the need of not only investing in data assimilation improvements, but also enhancements to observational systems in order to reach next-generation hurricane forecasting goals.

Significance Statement

This study demonstrates that data gathered from reconnaissance missions into tropical cyclones substantially improves tropical cyclone track forecasts.
A Statutory Analysis of State-Level Sex Offender Residency, Loitering, Presence, and Entry Restrictions
Authors: Navarro John C. , Knudsen Kate E. , Richardson Christina L.
Published: July 2022

Residency restrictions stipulate the living arrangements of sex offenders, but underdiscussed are geographic restrictions that limit spatial interactions relating to loitering, presence, and entry. Our statutory analysis of state-level geographic restrictions identifies 38, 18, 19, and 14 states which have implemented residency, loitering, presence, and entry restrictions. Geographic restrictions are widely adopted, particularly between 2006 and 2010, and are dispersed randomly by region and division, with some states being more comprehensive than others, particularly in West South Central. Residency restrictions were typically older and longer, with distance markers progressively less common for loitering, presence, and entry restrictions. Geographic restrictions were more often offense-specific than registration-specific and demonstrated heterogeneity in the number and types of prohibited venues that were commonly youth-centric.
Birth Legacies and State Failure
Authors: Carter Jeff , Lemke Douglas
Published: July 2022

We argue patterns of state failure are influenced by variation in how states emerged as independent political actors. In particular, states with positive birth legacies, those whose emergence required relatively high levels of capacity and legitimacy, should be less likely to experience state failure than countries that experienced less auspicious births. We assess this claim on the universe of states in the international system between 1950 and 2002 with multistate duration models that estimate the probabilities states transition into and out of periods of failure. We find that states with positive birth legacies are less likely to experience state failure and that this relationship is driven by states with positive birth legacies being able to more quickly transition from failure back to being functioning states. Our findings offer evidence that state failure is usefully thought of in the context of state-making processes and show that how states emerge as independent actors influences phenomena central to comparative and international politics.
Existential Isolation and Suicide Ideation Among Chinese College Students: A Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Zhu Chengquan , Su Ruiying , Huang Fengying , Liu Yanan
Published: July 2022

Although previous studies have preliminarily explored the link between existential isolation (EI) and suicidal ideation, their relationship is not well understood. Drawing upon the state trait EI model and terror management theory, the present study proposes that EI could predict suicidal ideation owing to a crisis of meaning, speculating that self-esteem and perceived social support can alleviate the negative effects of EI. Most research on EI has come from individualistic cultures; no prior studies have explored this theme in China, which is widely considered to be a representative collectivist culture. The present study aims to close this gap in the literature by exploring two hypotheses using a sample of Chinese college students ( N = 480). The results showed that participants who identified as men had higher EI than participants who identified as women. Moreover, individuals living in rural areas with a lower subjective economic status or the experience of being left behind have higher levels of EI. EI can predict suicidal ideation, both directly and indirectly, through a crisis of meaning. However, self-esteem and perceived social support can alleviate the negative influence of EI, and their moderating roles were also discussed.
Planning and Executing Aiming Movements in Middle Childhood
Authors: de Oliveira Danielle S. V. , Alouche Sandra R. , de Freitas Sandra M. S. F. , Oba Gabriela H. , Giangiardi Vivian F. , de Sá Cristina dos Santos C.
Published: July 2022

Harmonious voluntary movements require efficiency in their planning and execution. Throughout middle childhood structural changes in the central nervous and musculoskeletal systems influence these processes and resultant motor behavior. In this study, we evaluated the characteristics of the motor planning and executing of aiming movements directed at targets located in different positions in space in children aged 7, 9, and 11 years. We divided 43 right-handed children, into three age groups and instructed them to perform aiming movements directed at targets using a stylus on a digital tablet. The children performed the movement with their dominant upper limbs from a starting point towards targets positioned ipsilaterally or contralaterally to this dominant limb. We analyzed temporal and spatial variables of motor performance. Younger (7-year-old) children made more errors in the initial movement direction and more frequently corrected their movements during task execution when compared to 9- and 11-year-old children who did not differ from each other. All age groups were similar in movement accuracy and precision. Movements toward contralateral targets were slower and more accurate than movements toward ipsilateral targets for all groups. These results show that performing aiming movements develop with the onset of middle childhood.
Prevalence of communicable and non-communicable diseases among adult immigrants from Venezuela at a university hospital in Colombia from 2017 to 2018
Authors: Carreño-Almánzar Fabián R , Vega-Vera Agustín , Cala-Gómez Sonia A. , Coronado-Galán Adán , Rodríguez Reynaldo M.
Published: July 2022

Since 2015 immigration has increased significantly into Colombia. As immigrants who are not insured to the national health system present to public hospitals for medical care. However, there is little knowledge about the prevalence of communicable and non-communicable diseases amongst them. Ours was a cross-sectional study at a university hospital reviewing 154 medical records of Venezuelan immigrants treated by the Internal Medicine Specialty between 2017 & 2018. Non-communicable diseases representing 66.3% are the main cause of hospitalization, possibly owing to poor primary care.
Age, Individual Resources, and Perceived Expectations for Active Aging: General and Domain-Specific Effects
Authors: Pavlova Maria K. , Radoš Sonja , Rothermund Klaus , Silbereisen Rainer K.
Published: July 2022

Exposure to expectations for active aging may be modulated by age and individual resources (socioeconomic status, social integration, and health) via multiple pathways. Using a cross-sectional, nationally representative sample of adults aged 17 to 94 ( N = 2,007), we investigated the relations between age, individual resources, and perceived expectations for active aging (PEAA) in three domains (physical health, mental health, and social engagement). Across domains, young adults and individuals aged 70+ reported slightly lower PEAA than emerging adults did; no other age differences emerged. Multiple regression showed that a higher subjective socioeconomic status, better perceived general health, and partnership (in older adults) predicted higher PEAA (almost) across domains, whereas church attendance, employment status, and occupational prestige yielded domain- and age-specific effects, which were not always positive. We conclude that the effects of individual resources on PEAA are limited in general but vary depending on life domain and age.
Councils, Managers. . . and Consultants? Management Consulting and Complementarity in Municipal Strategy Implementation
Authors: Mitchell David
Published: July 2022

American governments spend $6 billion annually on management consulting, with steady growth. However, public-sector consulting receives little scholarly and public attention—especially for local governments. For which municipal projects are management consultants best suited? Svara asserts that complementarity promotes effective governance between city councils and their managers; sometimes, however, neither has the capability to lead the other. This study explores whether consultants can effectively fill this complementarity void by examining 205 strategic initiatives from 43 US municipalities. The analysis confirms that consultants are helpful when strategic and political-administrative contexts conflict, but only when key stakeholders are supportive.
Emotional Geographies of Exclusion: Whiteness and Ability in Teacher Education Research
Authors: Beneke Margaret R. , Siuty Molly Baustien , Handy Tamara
Published: July 2022

Context:

Geographies of exclusion (e.g., segregated special education classrooms, school district zoning) are constituted through intersecting oppressive ideologies (e.g., ableism, racism, classism) that co-naturalize notions of “normalcy” and deviance and yield harmful consequences for disabled children of Color. Geographies of exclusion dynamically contribute to and constitute teacher candidates’ feelings about themselves and their social worlds. White teacher candidates’ investment in dominant racial ideologies is well-documented, and recent scholarship has interrogated the role of white emotionality in these processes. However, the extent to which white teacher candidates emotionally ascribe to oppressive constructions of ability have been underexamined.

Focus of Study:

We sought to uncover how white teacher candidates (TCs) used emotional practices to position themselves in relation to ability within geographies of exclusion as they narrated their educational journeys. Such an examination is necessary to upend ongoing constructions of racial-ability hierarchies in and through teacher education. Using disability critical race theory and emotional geographies, our study was guided by the following question: How do white, nondisabled TCs engage in emotional practices in relation to geographies of exclusion?

Research Design:

This critical narrative study took place in two teacher education programs in the Pacific Northwest with 42 white, nondisabled teacher candidates. We drew on qualitative mapping as a method for participants to tell stories about themselves and their relationships to places and people over time. All participants generated narratives through written reflections after creating their maps, clarifying aspects of their maps and providing details not captured in their visual representations. Data sources included 42 written narratives and 36 qualitative maps. We analyzed emotional dimensions of TCs’ written narratives and qualitative maps through multiple rounds of both deductive and inductive coding.

Conclusions/Recommendations:

Our analysis revealed ways white TCs weaponized emotionality to uphold racial-ability hierarchies through emotional geographies of gratitude, ambivalence, and claims to care. By sentimentalizing multiply-marginalized children’s suffering, TCs preserved a façade of being committed to educational justice. We conclude with suggestions for educational researchers, emphasizing that research with white teachers cannot ignore emotional practices that perpetuate harm for multiply-marginalized children. Instead, researchers must surface these engagements head-on, using DisCrit as a driver in teacher education research toward intersectional justice.
Swedish Preschool Teachers and Principals’ Conceptions of Giftedness and Gifted Education
Authors: Nordström Malin Ekesryd
Published: July 2022

The purpose of this article was to investigate the conditions for identifying gifted children in their first encounter with the Swedish school system, the preschool. Interviews were conducted with 10 preschool teachers and 5 principals about their conceptions of giftedness and challenges in meeting the needs of gifted preschoolers in practice. The results explored a lack of knowledge on giftedness among the respondents. Thus, their conceptions of giftedness revealed several dilemmas they face when balancing preschool education between focusing on both the group and individual children, and naming someone as gifted in the strong discourse of egalitarian education in Sweden. The findings identified principals to have a key role in terms of if and how gifted children are supported in preschool settings and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Latina/o/e technoscience: Labor, race, and gender in cybernetics and computing
Authors: Chaar López Iván
Published: July 2022

The history of cybernetics has often displaced non-white actors and women from its accounts. Recentering them offers an opportunity to rearticulate the history of computing through its entanglements with labor and race/gender as network formations. In paying attention to these actors and the silences in the STS literature, this article offers an analysis of networked asymmetries, non-essential knowledge and disposability. In doing so, it redraws the boundaries of STS with race/gender integral to the field. It proposes hemispheric approaches that trouble national bounds and move us beyond the dominant sites of Europe and the United States, and that interrogate US empire. The article follows closely the role of Arturo Rosenblueth in the development of cybernetics and of Mexican women workers in computer semiconductor assembly. These stories of technoscience show the invisible work of Latina/o/es as unacknowledged and unaccounted entities in the infrastructural assemblage of cybernetics and computing.
Application value of biopsy through the upper pole of transplanted kidney under the guidance of ultrasound cardiac probe
Authors: Tang Kui , Xu Yan , Fu Xiao , Liu Minghui , Zhang Ming
Published: July 2022

Objective:

To investigate the value of needle biopsy of the upper pole of the transplanted kidney guided by the ultrasound cardiac probe.

Methods:

The success rates of biopsy at the upper pole of the transplanted kidney under the guidance of cardiac, abdominal and superficial probes were compared in 540 patients with impaired renal function after renal transplantation. The guidance was completed by an experienced sonographer and the puncture success rate was calculated. Pathologists make the diagnosis and count the success rate of diagnosis and the incidence of complications.

Results:

The success rates of puncture of the transplanted kidney under the guidance of the cardiac, abdomen and superficial probe were 100%, 85%,and 73%, respectively, the success rates of pathological diagnosis were 92.68%, 88.9%,and 80.7%, and the incidence of hematoma was 23.2%, 25.3%, respectively, 21.9%, and the pathological diagnosis was mainly acute and chronic rejection.

Conclusion:

The cardiac probe can clearly guide the puncture through the upper pole of the transplanted kidney, with high guidance success rate and good pathological tissue satisfaction and fewer complications. It is an effective guidance method after renal transplantation.
Comparison of the somatic mutations between circulating tumor DNA and tissue DNA in Chinese patients with non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Zhang Meng , Feng Yi , Qu Changda , Meng Meizhu , Li Wenmei , Ye Meiying , Li Sisi , Li Shaolei , Ma Yuanyuan , Wu Nan , Jia Shuqin
Published: July 2022

Background

Non-invasive liquid biopsies of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a rapidly growing field in the research of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, factors affecting the concordance of mutations in paired plasma and tissue and the detection rate of ctDNA in real-world Chinese patients with NSCLC were identified.

Methods

Peripheral blood and paired formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissue samples from 125 NSCLC patients were collected and analyzed by sequencing 15 genes. Serological biomarkers were tested by immunoassay.

Results

The overall concordance between tumor and plasma samples and the detection rate of somatic mutations in ctDNA was 69.2% and 78.4%, respectively. The concordance and detection rate raised with clinical stage were stage I: 14.3%, 14.3%; stage II: 53.3%, 60.0%; stage III: 71.4%, 78.1%; stage IV: 74.1%, 85.2%. With increased tumor diameter, the concordance and detection rate raised from 33.33% to 71.64% and 33.33% to 80.8%, respectively. For patients with partial response, stable disease, progressive disease, and who were treatment-naïve, the concordance and detection rates were 0.0%, 62.7%, 75.2, 73.6%, and 16.7%, 61.9%, 83.3%, 86.5%, respectively. Serological markers: CEA, CA125, NSE, and CYFRA21-1 were significantly higher for patients with detectable somatic alterations in ctDNA than in those who were ctDNA negative (17.08 ng/mL vs. 3.95 ng/mL, 21.63 U/mL vs. 18.27 U/mL, 17.68 U/mL vs. 14.14 U/mL, and 6.55 U/mL vs. 3.81 U/mL, respectively).

Conclusion

Advanced-stage, treatment naïve or poor therapy outcome, and large tumor size were associated with a high concordance and detection rate. Patients with detectable mutations in ctDNA had a higher level of carcinoembryonic antigen, CA125, NSE, and CYFRA21-1.
In vivo therapeutic evaluation of a cellulose acetate hydrogel cross linked with ethylenediaminetetraacetic-dianhydride containing propolis ethanolic-extract for treating burns
Authors: Hausen Moema de Alencar , Melero Anna Maria Gouvea , Asami Jessica , Ferreira Lucas Martins , Gomes da Silva Guilherme Borges , Bissoli Mariana Cesar de Azeredo , Marcato Vanessa Rigoni , Nani Bruno Dias , Rosalen Pedro Luiz , Alencar Severino Matias de , Botaro Vagner Roberto , Komatsu Daniel , Senna André , Duek Eliana Aparecida de Rezende
Published: July 2022

An increasing interest in regenerative medicine has been an approach with natural products used for assorted skin treatments. Propolis from Apis mellifera species of bees have shown high acceptance due to antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. However, just a few propolis types presents stronger effects in controlling inflammation. The current work describes an organic propolis recently isolated, named as OP6, that presented strong anti-inflammatory influences in vivo when associated with EDTA cross-linked hydrogel, used as a curative device in second-degree burns in a murine model. We developed a cellulose acetate hydrogel cross-linked with ethylenediaminetetraacetic dianhydride (HAC-EDTA) as a polymeric matrix for a bandage based on an ethanolic extract of propolis at 15%, 30%, and 60% (w/v) for treating second-degree burns. In vivo studies were carried out in Wistar rats divided into three groups: negative control (only lesion), positive control (lesion with HAC-EDTA film), and treatment group (lesion with the HAC-EDTA + OP6 at 15%, 30%, and 60%). Each group was randomized and equally subdivided into two subgroups according to the period of bandage wearing (7 and 14 days). Previous work of this research group selected the propolis OP6 sample source as the best candidate for the in vivo study. HAC-EDTA + OP6 15%, 30%, and 60% films demonstrated a concentration-dependent release rate, with the highest amount of propolis released after tests (484.3 mg) by HAC-EDTA enriched with the highest concentrated extract of propolis. HAC-EDTA + OP6 films were efficient in preventing infections, promoting lesion retraction, and tissue regeneration. The HAC-EDTA + OP6 30% treatment was more efficient, revealing a reduced inflammatory process and stimulating skin regeneration. The designed HAC-EDTA + propolis films were shown as promising tools for second-degree burns treatment, accelerating healing process to a full recovery tissue repair after 14 days.
Effects of pre-osteogenic differentiation on the bone regeneration potentiality of marrow mesenchymal stem cells/poly(ethylene glycol)-diacrylate hydrogel using a rat cranial defect model
Authors: Xu Fei , Tan Fei , Zheng Ziran , Zhou Xiongwen
Published: July 2022

Transplanting cell/hydrogel constructs into a bone defect site is an effective strategy to repair the damaged tissues. However, before transplantation, there are various methods to culture cell/hydrogel constructs. Especially, the preferred pre-osteogenic differentiation period to achieve satisfied bone regeneration should be determined. To this end, Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were firstly photo-encapsulated into poly(ethylene glycol)-diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel. Then the constructs were implanted in rat calvarial defects after being osteogenically induced for 0, 7, 14, and 21 days. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the proliferation of BMSCs in the hydrogels deceased significantly from 0 day to 7 days. The activity and the gene expression of alkaline phosphatase, besides the gene expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 peaked at day 14, whereas the gene expression of osteocalcin and the formation of calcium nodules increased with the prolongation of differentiation time. In vivo results showed that limited areas of newly formed bone were found in the day0 and day21 groups. In the day7 group, obvious new bone with bone marrow space was found, while the day14 group nearly achieved complete bone healing. Our data suggested that the period of in vitro pre-osteogenic differentiation played a crucial role for the osteogenesis of BMSCs/PEGDA hydrogels. Furthermore, we found that a pre-differentiation for 14 days is preferable for bone regeneration in the rat cranial defects.
Development of a surface engineering strategy to quantify the sensitivity of surface integrity features in fatigue performance
Authors: Chomienne Vincent , Valiorgue Frédéric , Rech Joel , Verdu Catherine
Published: July 2022

The fatigue performance of a metallic component is strongly correlated with several surface integrity features (surface roughness, residual stresses, microstructure). It is commonly characterised using ISO tests. However, conventional procedures for manufacturing fatigue samples influence all the surface integrity features simultaneously. So, standard fatigue testing procedures do not discriminate between each feature’s sensitivity. This paper aims to show how an advanced combination of various processes (finish turning, belt finishing, roller burnishing) leading to complementary process signatures determines which surface integrity features are the most sensitive and how two features can be coupled. This methodology is applied to a martensitic stainless steel 15-5 PH (precipitation-hardening). It highlights that this steel is very sensitive to the presence of a nanosized white layer and that there is a synergy effect by combining a thick compressive layer and a very low surface roughness.