bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Real-world impact of antifibrotics on prognosis in patients with progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease
Authors: Niitsu Takayuki , Fukushima Kiyoharu , Komukai Sho , Takata So , Abe Yuko , Nii Takuro , Kuge Tomoki , Iwakoshi Shinichi , Shiroyama Takayuki , Miyake Kotaro , Tujino Kazuyuki , Tanizaki Satoshi , Iwahori Kota , Hirata Haruhiko , Miki Keisuke , Yanagawa Masahiro , Takeuchi Noriyuki , Takeda Yoshito , Kida Hiroshi , Kumanogoh Atsushi
Published: January 2023

Objective

No studies have demonstrated the real-world efficacy of antifibrotics for progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (PF-ILD). Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy of antifibrotics in patients with PF-ILD.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with ILD from January 2012 to July 2021. Patients were diagnosed with PF-ILD if they had ≥10% fibrosis on high-resolution CT (HRCT) and a relative forced vital capacity (FVC) decline of either ≥10% or >5% to <10% with clinical deterioration or progression of fibrosis on HRCT during overlapping windows of 2 years and with a %FVC of ≥45%. We compared FVC changes and overall survival (OS) between patients with and without antifibrotics. FVC changes were analysed using generalised estimating equations. We used inverse probability weighting (IPW) and statistical matching to adjust for covariates.

Results

Of the 574 patients, 167 were diagnosed with PF-ILD (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), n=64; non-IPF, n=103). Antifibrotics improved the FVC decline in both IPF (p=0.002) and non-IPF (p=0.05) (IPW: IPF, p=0.015; non-IPF, p=0.031). Among patients with IPF, OS was longer in the antifibrotic group (log-rank p=0.001). However, among patients with non-IPF, OS was not longer in the antifibrotic group (p=0.3263) (IPW and statistical matching: IPF, p=0.0534 and p=0.0018; non-IPF, p=0.5663 and p=0.5618).

Conclusion

This is the first real-world study to show that antifibrotics improve the FVC decline in PF-ILD. However, among patients with non-IPF, we found no significant difference in mortality between those with and without antifibrotics. Future studies must clarify whether antifibrotics improve the prognosis of non-IPF.
Can You Understand Why I Am Crying? A Decision-making System for Classifying Infants’ Cry Languages Based on DeepSVM Model
Authors: Rezaee Khosro , Zadeh Hossein Ghayoumi , Qi Lianyong , Rabiee Hamidreza , Khosravi Mohammad R.
Published: January 2023

Scientific and therapeutic advances in perinatology and neonatology have improved the survival prospects of preterm and extremely-low-birth-weight infants. Infants’ cries are a valuable noninvasive tool for monitoring their neurologic health, especially if they are premature. Automatic acoustic analysis and data mining are employed in this study to determine the discriminative features of preterm and full-term infant cries. The use of machine learning for recognizing sounds in a newborn's cry language has received less attention than previous methods for analyzing the sounds. Moreover, to extract appropriate features from infant cries, adequate knowledge and appropriate signal descriptors are required. Accordingly, to analyze infant cry language, we propose an approach that uses fractal descriptors to extract discriminant features from spectrograms of windowed signals, followed by iterative neighborhood component analysis (iNCA) to select appropriate features. Additionally, the improved deep support vector machine (DeepSVM) is used to classify the infants’ crying types and their meanings. The proposed method is verified using a newborn sound dataset. According to the classification of five types of crying perception based on various characteristics, 98.34% of all crying perceptions have been recognized. Although there are many classes examined, the feature extraction method based on the fractal method and our optimal classification have a much higher diagnostic accuracy compared with similar methods for analyzing baby crying language. The proposed method can overcome many problems associated with analyzing babies’ crying sounds and understanding their language, such as uncertainty and unusual errors in classification.
Boron Nitride-Graphene (BN-G) Bilayer as a Channel of Graphene Based Field Effect Transistor
Authors: Vali Mehran , Moezi Negin , Bayani Amirhossein
Published: January 2023

According to the effect of the interlayer interaction of the boron nitride sheet on electronic properties, especially the energy band gap of the graphene sheet in the boron nitride-graphene (BN-G) bilayer, we propose a gapless graphene-based field effect transistor (FET). It is comprised of a boron nitride layer on top of graphene in the channel region. In this study, we investigate the transfer characteristic and output characteristic of the proposed device for different values of the interlayer distance of (BN-G) bilayer. Also, we compare the output results with simulated bilayer graphene channel FET. We find that the Ion/Ioff ratio in the proposed device shows a significant promotion compared to graphene bilayer channel FET. Our first-principles calculations show that by decreasing the inter-layer distance of (BN-G) bilayer, the energy gap increase which leads to a dipper Ioff current and an increase of Ion/Ioff ratio up to 104 for an inter-layer distance of 2.7 angstroms. Moreover, it is found that the proposed device output characteristic displays a very good saturation due to improved pinch-off of the channel.
Sensitivity and Stability Analysis of Double-Gate Graphene Nanoribbon Vertical Tunnel FET for Different Gas Sensing
Authors: Liana Zohming , Choudhuri Bijit , Bhowmick Brinda
Published: January 2023

Sensing and detecting gases are crucial from the application point of view. The essential condition for present-time gas sensors is light, compact, less power dissipation, highly sensitive, thermally stable, and a good selection regards several gases. Due to the significant potential and modulation of the energy bandgap, two-dimensional material has recently attracted researchers attention. Graphene nanoribbon (GNR) is one of the candidates from the two-D material; it is extracted from the strip of one-dimensional graphene material, which can be a suitable contender for gas sensing devices. Therefore, in this work, the detailed investigation of the gas sensor of various gas has been reported by employing two-dimensional material-based DG-GNR VTFET as a sensor. Different gases, including Oxygen, Ammonia as well as Hydrogen gas, have been scrutinized for sensitivity and stability in several temperature ranges. In the present work, several catalytic metals are utilized in the gate electrode of the proposed device architecture for the different gas sensing applications. The intrinsic physics of the proposed gas sensor has been carried out in detail in the factor of different gas molecules and gas pressure. Finally, the temperature parameter varies to analyze the stability of the proposed device sensor within 200 K–400 K.
Effect of Solution Aging on Temperature Sensitivity of CNT/PEDOT:PSS
Authors: Tsai Ting-Wei , Ni I-Chih , Wu Chih-I , Cheng I-Chun , Chen Jian-Zhang
Published: January 2023

This study fabricated temperature sensors with a mixture of carbon nanotube (CNT) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). CNT/PEDOT:PSS solutions with three different ratios—1/5, 1/9, and 1/13—prepared and aged for 0, 3, and 6 days. The temperature sensor was fabricated by drop-casting the aged solution onto a flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate. As the aging time of CNT/PEDOT:PSS solutions with ratios of 1/5, 1/9, and 1/13 increased to 6 days, the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of CNT/PEDOT:PSS decreased from −1.97, −1.99, and −2.15 (%/°C) to −2.80, −2.61, and −2.51 (%/°C) (i.e. temperature sensitivity increased) and temperature index (TI) also increased from 2242.5, 2249.1, and 2503.8 (K) to 3530.1, 3085.7, and 3002.5 (K), respectively. As the aging time of CNT/PEDOT:PSS solution increased to 6 days, its Seebeck coefficient increased from 52.4 to 114.5 μV K−1. These results show that the aging of CNT/PEDOT:PSS solution significantly increased the temperature sensitivity and Seebeck coefficient via the dedoping of PEDOT:PSS. This serves as a facile method to improve the temperature sensitivity of the CNT/PEDOT:PSS composite.
Bonding Surface Designs in Fixed Orthodontic Attachments
Authors: Sadeghalbanaei Leila , Noorollahian Saeed , Zarei Zahra
Published: January 2023

Fixed orthodontic attachments/appliances work as a medium to transfer the force applied to the teeth. In bonded types, several factors affect the attachment bond strength and their clinical success. The primary approach for increasing the bond strength focused on altering the time and concentration of acid etching; however, the results showed that these changes might increase susceptibility to enamel decalcification. The bonding mechanism of orthodontic attachments may be chemical, mechanical, or a combination of both. Most attachment bonding surfaces (ABSs) have no chemical bond to resin composites. Hence, mechanical retention plays a major role. Developing more bonding surfaces by increasing the macroscopic size of the attachments has esthetic and hygienic limitations, so the ABS design plays a more important role in maintaining and improving the bond strength. In this research, different ABS designs are reviewed and categorized according to manufacturing methods and their features.
A Computer‐Aided Heart Valve Disease Diagnosis System Based on Machine Learning
Authors: Ding Si-ji , Ding Hao , Kan Meng-fei , Zhuang Yi , Xia Dong-yang , Sheng Shi-meng , Xu Xin-ru
Published: January 2023

Cardiac auscultation is a noninvasive, convenient, and low‐cost diagnostic method for heart valvular disease, and it can diagnose the abnormality of the heart valve at an early stage. However, the accuracy of auscultation relies on the professionalism of cardiologists. Doctors in remote areas may lack the experience to diagnose correctly. Therefore, it is necessary to design a system to assist with the diagnosis. This study proposed a computer‐aided heart valve disease diagnosis system, including a heart sound acquisition module, a trained model for diagnosis, and software, which can diagnose four kinds of heart valve diseases. In this study, a training dataset containing five categories of heart sounds was collected, including normal, mitral stenosis, mitral regurgitation, and aortic stenosis heart sound. A convolutional neural network GoogLeNet and weighted KNN are used to train the models separately. For the model trained by the convolutional neural network, time series heart sound signals are converted into time‐frequency scalograms based on continuous wavelet transform to adapt to the architecture of GoogLeNet. For the model trained by weighted KNN, features from the time domain and time‐frequency domain are extracted manually. Then feature selection based on the chi‐square test is performed to get a better group of features. Moreover, we designed software that lets doctors upload heart sounds, visualize the heart sound waveform, and use the model to get the diagnosis. Model assessments using accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and F1 score indicators are done on two trained models. The results showed that the model trained by modified GoogLeNet outperformed others, with an overall accuracy of 97.5%. The average accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and F1 score for diagnosing four kinds of heart valve diseases are 98.75%, 96.88%, 99.22%, and 97.99%, respectively. The computer‐aided diagnosis system, with a heart sound acquisition module, a diagnostic model, and software, can visualize the heart sound waveform and show the reference diagnostic results. This can assist in the diagnosis of heart valve diseases, especially in remote areas, which lack skilled doctors.
The Caffeine Content of Energy Drinks in accordance with the Information on the Package Label
Authors: Kudema Said , Thomas Claus , Ngowi Helena
Published: January 2023

Six different brands of energy drinks (EDs) were analyzed to determine the concentration of caffeine in accordance with the information on the package label. Approximately 28.1 milligrams per 100 milliliters (mg/100 ml) of caffeine was present in the Mo energy drink brand, which was nearly 1.5 times the caffeine concentration listed on the product label. The energy drink with the highest caffeine content was Dragon, which contained 30.1 mg/100 ml, or a total of 150.5 mg per 500 ml bottle. Manufacturers of energy drinks (EDs) should accurately list the amount of caffeine and other ingredients on the product label so that consumers know how much of each ingredient they are taking. Taking too much caffeine can be bad for your health.
Herpes Virus Entry Mediator Costimulation Signaling Enhances CAR T-cell Efficacy Against Solid Tumors Through Metabolic Reprogramming
Authors: Sun Shishuo , Huang Chao , Lu Mengmeng , Xu Heng , Yuan Yifan , Zhao Wanxin , Hu Xiaolei , Wang Bixi , Zhang Wei , Gao Xiaoge , Zheng Junnian , Su Lishan , Zhang Qing
Published: January 2023

Costimulatory domains (CSD) of 4-1BB and CD28 are most widely used in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)–engineered T cells. These CAR T cells have shown encouraging efficacy in the treatment of hematologic malignancies but have limited efficacy in solid tumors. The herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) is a costimulatory molecule with a novel downstream signaling pathway. In response to target cells, CAR T cells with a HVEM CSD (HVEM-CAR T) displayed more robust cytokine release and cytotoxicity than 4-1BB-CAR T or CD28-CAR T in vitro. Furthermore, HVEM-CAR T showed superior therapeutic efficacy in several mouse tumor models. Mechanistically, the HVEM CSD endowed CAR T cells with attenuated exhaustion, improved function and persistence, and enhanced metabolic activities in tumor tissue compared with 4-1BB–based or CD28-based CAR T cells. These studies establish that the HVEM CSD has the potential to improve the therapeutic efficacy of CAR T cells against solid tumors.
Epidemiology of Unconventional Histological Subtypes of Urethral Cancer
Authors: Wenzel Mike , Collà Ruvolo Claudia , Würnschimmel Christoph , Nocera Luigi , Hoeh Benedikt , Tian Zhe , Saad Fred , Briganti Alberto , Tilki Derya , Banek Severiné , Mandel Philipp , Becker Andreas , Kluth Luis A. , Chun Felix K.H. , Karakiewicz Pierre I.
Published: January 2023

Introduction: The aim of the study was to examine cancer-specific mortality (CSM) of unconventional urethral cancers. Methods: Within the SEER (2004–2016) database, we analyzed CSM of 165 patients with unconventional urethral-cancer histology. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to test the effect of unconventional histologies in urethral cancer on CSM. Results: Of 165 eligible patients, the Mullerian type accounted for 55 (33.3%) versus melanocytic (26.7%) versus neuroendocrine 25 (15.2%) versus lymphoma 22 (13.3%) versus mesenchymal/sarcoma 15 (9.1%) versus spindle cell 4 (2.1%) patients. Median age at diagnosis was 81 years in spindle cell, 75 in melanocytic, 74 in neuroendocrine and mesenchymal/sarcoma, 67 in lymphoma, and 62 years Mullerian type (p < 0.001). Of all, 116 (70.3%) were female. The Mullerian type exhibited the highest female ratio (96.4%) versus the lowest female ratio in neuroendocrine (24.0%). The Mullerian type was most frequent in African-American females. In Caucasian females, the melanocytic type was most frequent (49.1%). In African-American (38.9%) and Caucasian males (33.3%), neuroendocrine histology was most frequent. Three-year CSM was, respectively, 27.5%, 23.1% 22.3%, 20.5%, and 16.1% for melanocytic, mesenchymal/sarcoma, Mullerian type, neuroendocrine, and lymphoma histology. Median cancer-specific survival was 106 versus 10 months for combined nonmetastatic versus metastatic nonconventional histologies. Conclusion: Important age, sex, racial/ethnic group distribution, and survival differences exist between each unconventional urethral-cancer histological subtypes.
Seasonality and Delirium Tremens in Hospitalized Patients with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome
Authors: Pribék Ildikó Katalin , Kádár Bettina Kata , Péter Lea , Daróczy Júlia , Bajsz András , Kovács Csenge Sára , Demeter Ildikó , Janka Zoltán , Urbán Róbert , Demetrovics Zsolt , Lázár Bence András , Kovács Ildikó , Kálmán János , Andó Bálint
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Due to the high rate of mortality, recognizing the contributing factors of alcohol-related delirium tremens (DT), which is the most severe form of alcohol withdrawal state (AWS) is pivotal in clinical settings. Previous studies suggested relationship between seasonality and other types of delirium; however, to our knowledge, this is the first empirical study which examined the role of seasonality in DT in alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS). Methods: A retrospective study was undertaken between 2008 and 2015; medical records of 1,591 patients were included, which yielded 2,900 hospital appearances. Three groups were formed based on the ICD-10 diagnoses: ADS, AWS, and DT. The characteristics of the groups were analysed with one-way ANOVA and χ2 tests. Multinomial logistic regression was used to explore the potential predictors of DT, including seasonality. Results: The highest incidence of DT was in spring (36.8%; χ2 (3) = 27.666; p < 0.001), especially in March (13.9%; χ2 (11) = 33.168; p < 0.001). Spring, higher mean age, higher presence of comorbid somatic disorders, and lower occurrence of comorbid psychiatric disorders were significant predictive variables for DT with the control of socio-demographic and clinical variables. Conclusions: The present study revealed that spring, especially March is a critical period in temperate climate zone regarding DT. This can be interpreted as a late winter effect since the temperature is lower in this month compared to other spring months. Furthermore, higher age and the occurrence of comorbid somatic disorders can be considered as risk factors in case of DT. These results support the need of further clinical studies to better understand the impact of seasonality on DT.
Circular RNA in Retina: A Potential Biomarker and Therapeutic Target
Authors: Tian Huiwen , Zhao Lu , Li Hongyang , Huang Yingxiang , Wang Yanling
Published: January 2023

Circular RNA (circRNA) is a newly discovered noncoding RNA, which forms a closed ring with more than 200 bases in length. CircRNA is formed by back splicing of precursor RNA, and its expression abundance in body fluid is up to 10 times that of homologous linear transcripts. Recently, novel activities for circRNA in various diseases have emerged, ranging from cancer therapy and neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we reviewed the literature on the biogenesis of circRNA and its relationship with retinal diseases in recent years. We first described the mechanism, existing form and main function of circRNA. Next, we also pinpoint that circRNA has great value in the diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases represented by retinoblastoma, retinal degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. By this review, we hope to explore more possibilities of circRNA in clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Diastolic Blood Pressure and Intensive Blood Pressure Control on Cognitive Outcomes: Insights From the SPRINT MIND Trial
Authors: Jiang Chao , Li Sitong , Wang Yufeng , Lai Yiwei , Bai Yu , Zhao Manlin , He Liu , Kong Yu , Guo Xueyuan , Li Songnan , Liu Nian , Jiang Chenxi , Tang Ribo , Sang Caihua , Long Deyong , Du Xin , Dong Jianzeng , Anderson Craig S. , Ma Changsheng
Published: January 2023

Background:

The potential benefits or harms of intensive systolic blood pressure (BP) control on cognitive function and cerebral blood flow in individuals with low diastolic blood pressure (DBP) remain unclear.

Methods:

We conducted a post hoc analysis of the SPRINT MIND (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial Memory and Cognition in Decreased Hypertension) that randomly assigned hypertensive participants to an intensive (<120 mm Hg; n=4278) or standard (<140 mm Hg; n=4385) systolic blood pressure target. We evaluated the effects of BP intervention on cognitive outcomes and cerebral blood flow across baseline DBP quartiles.

Results:

Participants in the intensive group had a lower incidence rate of probable dementia or mild cognitive impairment than those in the standard group, regardless of DBP quartiles. The hazard ratio of intensive versus standard target for probable dementia or mild cognitive impairment was 0.91 (95% CI, 0.73–1.12) in the lowest DBP quartile and 0.70 (95% CI, 0.48–1.02) in the highest DBP quartile, respectively, with an interaction
P
value of 0.24. Similar results were found for probable dementia (interaction
P
=0.06) and mild cognitive impairment (interaction
P
=0.80). The effect of intensive treatment on cerebral blood flow was not modified by baseline DBP either (interaction
P
=0.25). Even among participants within the lowest DBP quartile, intensive versus standard BP treatment resulted in an increasing trend of annualized change in cerebral blood flow (+0.26 [95% CI, −0.72 to 1.24] mL/[100 g·min]).

Conclusions:

Intensive BP control did not appear to have a detrimental effect on cognitive outcomes and cerebral perfusion in patients with low baseline DBP.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT01206062
Real‐World Disparities in Remote Follow‐Up of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices and Impact of the COVID‐19 Pandemic: A Single‐Center Experience
Authors: Lehmann H. Immo , Sharma Krishan , Bhatia Roma , Mills Theresa , Lang Joshua , Li Guoping , Andrews Carl , Cullivan Jay , Singh Jagmeet , Mela Theofanie
Published: January 2023

Background

Remote monitoring (RM) of cardiac implantable electronic devices has been shown to improve cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. To date, no studies have investigated disparities in use and delivery of RM. This study was performed to investigate if racial and socioeconomic disparities are present in cardiac implantable electronic device RM.

Methods and Results

This was a retrospective observational cohort study at a single tertiary care center in the United States. Patients who received a newly implanted cardiac implantable electronic device or device upgrade between January 2017 and December 2020 were included. Patients were classified as RM positive (RM+) when they underwent at least ≥2 remote interrogations per year during follow‐up. Of all eligible patients, 2520 patients were included, and 34% were women. The mean follow‐up was 25 months. Mean age was 71±14 years. Pacemakers constituted 66% of implanted devices, whereas 26% were implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators, and 8% were cardiac resynchronization therapy with implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators. Most patients (83%) were of European American ancestry. During follow‐up, 66% of patients were classified as RM+. Patients who were younger, European American, college‐educated, lived in a county with higher median household income, and were active on the hospital's patient portals were more frequently RM+. In an adjusted regression model, RM+ remained associated with the use of the online patient portal (odds ratio [OR], 2.889 [95% CI, 2.387–3.497]), presence of an implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (OR, 1.489 [95% CI, 1.207–1.835]), advanced college degree (OR, 1.244 [95% CI, 1.014–1.527]), and lastly with European American ancestry (
P
<0.05). During the years of the COVID‐19 pandemic, the number of RM+ patients increased, whereas the association with ancestry and ethnicity decreased.

Conclusions

Despite being offered to all patients at implantation, significant disparities were present in cardiovascular implantable electronic device RM in this cohort. Disparities were partly reversed during COVID‐19. Further studies are needed to examine health center‐ and patient‐specific factors to overcome these barriers, and to facilitate equal opportunities to participate in RM.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging‐Derived Microvascular Perfusion Modeling to Assess Peripheral Artery Disease
Authors: Gimnich Olga A. , Belousova Tatiana , Short Christina M. , Taylor Addison A. , Nambi Vijay , Morrisett Joel D. , Ballantyne Christie M. , Bismuth Jean , Shah Dipan J. , Brunner Gerd
Published: January 2023

Background

Computational fluid dynamics has shown good agreement with contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging measurements in cardiovascular disease applications. We have developed a biomechanical model of microvascular perfusion using contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging signal intensities derived from skeletal calf muscles to study peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Methods and Results

The computational microvascular model was used to study skeletal calf muscle perfusion in 56 individuals (36 patients with PAD, 20 matched controls). The recruited participants underwent contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and ankle‐brachial index testing at rest and after 6‐minute treadmill walking. We have determined associations of microvascular model parameters including the transfer rate constant, a measure of vascular leakiness; the interstitial permeability to fluid flow which reflects the permeability of the microvasculature; porosity, a measure of the fraction of the extracellular space; the outflow filtration coefficient; and the microvascular pressure with known markers of patients with PAD. Transfer rate constant, interstitial permeability to fluid flow, and microvascular pressure were higher, whereas porosity and outflow filtration coefficient were lower in patients with PAD than those in matched controls (all
P
values ≤0.014). In pooled analyses of all participants, the model parameters (transfer rate constant, interstitial permeability to fluid flow, porosity, outflow filtration coefficient, microvascular pressure) were significantly associated with the resting and exercise ankle‐brachial indexes, claudication onset time, and peak walking time (all
P
values ≤0.013). Among patients with PAD, interstitial permeability to fluid flow, and microvascular pressure were higher, while porosity and outflow filtration coefficient were lower in treadmill noncompleters compared with treadmill completers (all
P
values ≤0.001).

Conclusions

Computational microvascular model parameters differed significantly between patients with PAD and matched controls. Thus, computational microvascular modeling could be of interest in studying lower extremity ischemia.
Stroke Recurrence Following 28 Days After First Stroke in Men and Women 2012 to 2020: Observations From the Swedish Stroke Register
Authors: Eriksson Marie , Grundberg Anton , Inge Erik , von Euler Mia
Published: January 2023

Background

Stroke incidence, care, and survival show continuous improvements in Sweden, including no or decreasing disparities between men and women. In this study, we aimed to estimate and compare the risk of stroke recurrence in men and women over time, accounting for the competing risk of death.

Methods and Results

We included adult patients with first‐time stroke (ischemic or intracerebral hemorrhage) registered in Riksstroke (the Swedish Stroke Register), 2012 to 2020, and followed until December 2020. Stroke recurrences included new events registered in Riksstroke from 28 days after stroke. To account for the competing risk of death, we used the cumulative incidence function to estimate crude incidences, and multivariable Cox regression to estimate cause‐specific hazard ratios (HRs) adjusting for differences in patients' risk factor profiles. The study included 72 148 (53.5%) men and 62 689 (46.5%) women. We observed 10 925 stroke recurrences and 81 811 deaths following the initial 28 days after the first stroke. The cumulative incidence of stroke recurrence was 3.7% (95% CI, 3.6–3.8) after 1 year, 7.0 (95% CI, 6.8–7.1) after 3 years, and 9.1% (95% CI, 8.9–9.3) after 5 years. The incidence decreased substantially during the study period (HR, 2019–2020 versus 2012, 0.824 [95% CI, 0.759–0.894]). Overall, men had a lower risk of stroke recurrence. After adjustments for differences in patient characteristics, men had a slightly higher risk of recurrence (of any type) after an ischemic stroke (HR, 1.090 [95% CI, 1.045–1.138]) and a lower risk after hemorrhagic stroke (HR, 0.880 [95% CI, 0.781–0.991]) compared with women.

Conclusions

The risk of stroke recurrence has decreased in both men and women. Women's higher age and other differences in risk factors partly explain their higher risk of stroke recurrence compared with men.
Poststroke Disability: Association Between Sex and Patient-Reported Outcomes
Authors: Oliveira Lara C. , Ponciano Ana , Tuozzo Carissa , Viswanathan Anand , Rost Natalia S. , Etherton Mark R.
Published: January 2023

Background:

Ischemic stroke (IS) is a leading cause of long-term disability with sex-specific differences in outcomes. Identifying the influential factors that contribute to sex-specific disparities in stroke outcomes, therefore, holds potential to develop individualized interventions for reducing long-term disability. Further, investigating the association between sex and Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) provides additional information on the individual impact and heterogeneity of IS. We aimed to identify sex-specific differences in stroke outcomes and relationship with PROMs in IS patients with 3-month follow-up.

Methods:

Between February 2017 and February 2020, a total of 410 patients admitted with IS to the Massachusetts General Hospital, in Boston, were enrolled in this prospective cohort. At 3-month poststroke, patients were assessed for Barthel Index, modified Rankin Scale, and PROM-10 questionnaires. T scores for physical and mental health were determined from the summing of PROM-10 responses in each domain. Regression analysis was performed to identify sex-specific determinants of functional and patient-reported outcomes.

Results:

At baseline, 242 participants were male (mean age, 65 years) and 168 were female (mean age, 70 years). Groups had similar rates of cardiovascular risk factors, admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, and discharge modified Rankin Scale. At follow-up, male participants were more likely to have better rates of T Physical and Barthel Index. In regression analysis, PROMs T Physical (odds ratio, 1.06;
P
=0.01), Barthel Index (odds ratio, 1.06;
P
=0.01), and modified Rankin Scale score of ≥2 (odds ratio, 2.60;
P
=0.01) were associated with female sex. Female sex was also associated with lower scores for PROMs Physical subcomponents and with patient-reported general health and emotional problems.

Conclusions:

Women have worse outcomes after ischemic stroke, including objective measures of functional disability and patient-reported outcomes. Incorporating PROMs into IS outcome measures may offer additional insight into sex-specific differences in stroke recovery and outcomes.
Agaricus radiatosquamulosus sp. nov. of A. subg. Spissicaules from Pakistan
Authors: BASHIR HIRA , FATIMA NADIA , IZHAR AIMAN , NIAZI ABDUL REHMAN , KHALID ABDUL NASIR , CALLAC PHILIPPE
Published: January 2023

In recent studies, new species and sections were described in Agaricus subg. Spissicaules. We intended to update this subgenus by including all these recent taxa, some interesting sequences retrieved in GenBank, and two new collections from the Punjab Province, Pakistan. Both morphological and phylogenetic approaches were used. Maximum Likelihood tree based on rDNA ITS sequences revealed that the sequences of the new specimens from Pakistan form a clade with five sequences from India retrieved from GenBank. For the seven samples of this clade, we described the new species Agaricus radiatosquamulosus based on the morphology of the two collections from Pakistan. This new species, which belongs to the recently proposed A. sect. Fulventes was compared to the three other species of this section. Except for the small-sized A. nanofulvus, the other species are difficult to recognize without DNA sequence data. The four species differ from each other at a poly T in ITS2. In addition, each of them is distributed on different continents. Agaricus radiatosquamulosus is the first report of a species of A. subg. Spissicaules in Pakistan. In addition, a sequence from GenBank identified as A. lanatoniger matches with another sample from New Zealand in A. sect. subrutilescentes. In absence of formally published taxonomic treatment, we provisionally named these samples A. cf. lanatoniger.
Total arch replacement for re-coarctation of the aorta after a Norwood procedure
Authors: Takeyoshi Daisuke , Konuma Takeshi , Kojima Ai , Takeuchi Takamasa
Published: January 2023

This is the first report of total arch replacement to repair re-coarctation. A 14-year-old boy with hypoplastic left heart syndrome developed re-coarctation, severe stenosis of neck vessels, and right ventricle dysfunction after a Norwood procedure. We performed total arch replacement; the postoperative course was unremarkable. He was followed up until 18 years of age and did not need re-intervention. Using artificial blood vessels in total arch replacement is rarely indicated but can be safely achieved when required. Mismatch between patient and graft size may be an issue in the future.
A Trans-Orbital Projection for Radiological Evaluation of the Maxillary First Molar Tooth in Dogs
Authors: Ruhnau Jens
Published: January 2023

A new extraoral radiology technique is described. The trans-orbital projection provides valuable information to assist in diagnosis of attachment loss and periapical pathology adjacent to the maxillary first molar tooth in dogs. It is an easy and quick supplement to the full mouth radiographic evaluation of the canine patient.
Optimization of rail profile design for high-speed lines based on Gaussian function correction method
Authors: Qi Yayun , Dai Huanyun , Gan Feng , Sang Hutang
Published: January 2023

As high-speed trains operate at a higher speed, the problem of rail wear is more serious. In this paper, a new Gaussian function correction (GFC) method is proposed to design the new rail profile, two parameters are introduced to control the removal area. Then a high-speed train vehicle dynamic model is established, the Kriging surrogate model (KSM) is used to reduce the number of simulations and the Non dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II) algorithm is used to optimize the rail profile. Finally, the dynamic characteristics and wheel/rail wear evolution of the optimized profile are analyzed. The results show that the dynamic performance of the optimized rail profile has been improved. The maximum wear depth of the optimized rail profile is reduced by 15.63% when passing a total weight of 16 Mt. The wheel wear depth of S1002CN profile contact with CHN60OPT is reduced by 4.8%. The proposed GFC method can quickly generate a new rail profile and has good engineering significance for rail grinding. The GFC-KSM-NSGA- II method can be used to optimize the rail profiles for high-speed lines, and it can further guide the operation and maintenance.
Experimental investigation on the ignition limits of a kerosene-fueled cavity in model scramjet combustor
Authors: Li Xipeng , Liu Weidong , Pan Yu , Wang Ning
Published: January 2023

The ignition limits of liquid kerosene injected upstream of a cavity flameholder using a spark plug are investigated in a model scramjet combustor with the isolator entrance Mach number of 2.52, the total pressure of 1.6 MPa, and stagnation temperature of 1486 K. The effects of injection pressure and mixing distance on ignition are studied. Flame dynamics and the evolution of the flow field during the ignition process are acquired through high-speed photography and Schlieren photography. For near-field injection, successful ignition of kerosene can only be achieved when the injection pressure is extremely low or in a higher injection pressure range. The ignition is failed due to the fuel-rich local equivalence ratio in the cavity recirculation zone when the injection pressure is in the middle of injection pressure range. For far-field injection, the ignition trend is totally opposite compared with near-field injection. The ratio of the fuel that the cavity can react completely to that consumed by the mainstream is extremely low due to the minimal mass exchange rate between the cavity and the mainstream. The local equivalence ratio in cavity is the controlling factor determining whether successful ignition could be achieved. Only local ignition with low combustion efficiency is achieved in the present single-cavity combustor. The flame could not spread to the mainstream due to the lower turbulence level weakening the interaction of combustion products in the recirculation zone with unburned reactants in the supersonic flow.
The technopolitics of security: Agency, temporality, sovereignty
Authors: Müller Frank I , Richmond Matthew Aaron
Published: January 2023

This introduction to the special issue on ‘the technopolitics of security’ outlines key concepts and engages debates pertaining to the relationship between techno-materiality, security governance and struggles over sovereignty. ‘Technopolitics’ refers to the strategic practice of designing and using technologies to enact political goals, producing hybrid forms of power that combine cultural, institutional and technological dimensions. These technopolitical practices give rise to new forms of agency, producing effects unintended by their designers that may alter logics of political contestation and allow technologies to be reappropriated for different political purposes. To illustrate the distributed forms of agency and contingent encounters that the technopolitics approach evokes, the article develops three key aspects of technopolitics in its relationship to security governance: (1) an understanding of agency as distributed between human and non-human actors, but also asymmetric in that human intentionality plays an assembling role that is frequently overrun by the unintended effects; (2) the temporal horizons of imagination and action over which technopolitical interventions unfold, identifying the importance of logics of anticipation and eventization; and (3) the relationship between technopolitics and sovereignty, arguing that it encourages a decentred and materialized understanding of how claims to sovereignty are made and contested.
Surgically adjust tibial tunnel in anatomical anterior cruciate ligament single-bundle reconstruction: A time-zero biomechanical study in vitro
Authors: Wang Hong , Teng Yuanjun , Peng Bo , Jia Gengxin , Han Hua , Xia Yayi
Published: January 2023

Background

The anatomical positioning of the graft during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is of great significance for restoring normal knee kinematics and preventing early joint degeneration. Therefore, the adjustment of the mispositioned guide pin becomes extremely important. Our research aims to test the time-zero biomechanical properties in adjusting inaccurate guide pins to the center of the tibial footprint in anatomical anterior cruciate ligament single-bundle reconstruction.

Methods

Porcine tibias and bovine extensor tendons were used to simulate a transtibial ACL reconstruction in vitro. Load-to failure testing was carried out in 4 groups: control group ( n = 45): the guide pin was drilled at the center of the ACL footprint; group I, group II and group III ( n = 45, respectively): the guide pin was respectively drilled 1 mm, 2 mm and 3 mm away from the center of the ACL footprint. In the experimental groups, a small tunnel with a 4.5 mm reamer is made and the guide pin is shifted to the center of the footprint. All the reamed tibias were scanned by CT to measure the area of the tunnel in the footprint, and time-zero biomechanical properties were recorded.

Results

All graft-tibia complexes failed because the grafts slipped past the interference screws. Compare to control group, the ultimate load, yield load, and tunnel exit area in group III decreased significantly ( p < 0.05). Regarding to the ultimate load, yield load, tensile stiffness, twisting force and tunnel exit area, t-test showed no significant differences between control group and group I, group II respectively ( p > 0.05). Pearson test showed that tunnel exit area was negatively correlated with other characteristics ( p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Surgical adjustment of the guide pin to the center of the tibial footprint may have significant influence in time-zero biomechanical properties in anatomical anterior cruciate ligament single-bundle reconstruction when the adjusted tibial tunnel was significantly enlarged compare to the standard tibial tunnel.
Beckwith-Widemann Macroglossia: The Role of Surgical Tongue Reduction
Authors: Marsh Jeffrey L , Perlyn Chad A
Published: January 2023

Objective: This review was conducted to define the natural history of unoperated Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) macroglossia and the effect of tongue reduction surgery upon breathing, eating, speaking and dentoskeletal development in individuals having BWS. Design: This is a retrospective study of medical records. Setting: All patients were evaluated and treated in one of two Children's Hospitals by an ACPA approved Craniofacial Team. Patients/Participants: Medical records were reviewed of 526 individuals having a diagnosis of BWS and evaluated in-person by a single craniofacial surgeon between 1986 and 2014 in conjunction with a series of multi-disciplinary craniofacial team colleagues. 28 individuals were excluded having had multiple tongue reductions elsewhere. 498 individuals comprise the “pre tongue-reduction group”. The “post tongue-reduction group” consists of 391 individuals who underwent surgical tongue reduction by one surgeon using one technique between 1986 and 2014. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measure was change in anterior dental occlusion following tongue reduction surgery. Tongue reduction surgery was performed on the assumption that it would improve dentoskeletal relationships. Secondary outcome measures were: breathing, feeding/swallowing, and speech. Results: A significant difference (p<0.001) over time between the two groups was found with less anterior occlusal abnormality in the tongue reduction group. Tongue reduction surgery had no mortality and minimal morbidity for breathing, feeding/swallowing, and speech and can ameliorate obstructive sleep apnea. Conclusions: Surgical tongue reduction for BWS macroglossia is recommended for the infant or child in primary dentition with a grossly abnormal anterior tooth/jaw relationship and/or obstructive sleep apnea.
Workplace Mistreatment and Employee Deviance: An Investigation of the Reciprocal Relationship Between Hostile Work Environments and Harmful Work Behaviors
Authors: Kim Yeonjeong , Cohen Taya R. , Panter Abigail T.
Published: January 2023

This study examined responses from more than one thousand employed adults across the United States to shed light on the causal directions and temporal dynamics between, on the one hand, the hostile social situations employees face at work (i.e., workplace mistreatment) and, on the other hand, the harmful behaviors that employees enact at work. Using autoregressive cross-lagged panel analyses on a 12-wave longitudinal dataset, we show that employees’ bad behaviors at work (e.g., sabotage, theft, abuse of coworkers) are both a cause and a consequence of experiencing mistreatment from colleagues and supervisors (e.g., ostracism, everyday discrimination, abusive supervision). We investigate the temporal aspects of this reciprocal relationship and find that deviance-to-mistreatment and mistreatment-to-deviance effects both occur over a 1-week time horizon. Moreover, this reciprocal relationship continued across the 12 weeks of the study, and its magnitude neither intensified nor diminished over this time period. Finally, we investigated the role of moral character evaluations in the reciprocal mistreatment-deviance relationship. Our results revealed that individuals whose moral character is more positively regarded by coworkers (i.e., those evaluated as higher in honesty-humility) are less penalized by others in response to their deviance. We discuss theoretical and managerial implications of these results for mitigating deviance and mistreatment in organizations.
Grounding the Work of Grassroots MCH Leaders in Storytelling
Authors: Irby Ashley , Macey Erin , Levine Naomi , Durham Jenna Rae , Turman Jack E.
Published: January 2023

Our Grassroots Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Initiative works to build the capacity of individuals and organizations in zip codes with persistently high infant mortality rates to bring about systems change that will improve maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes. Foundational to the Initiative is the training and mentoring of local women to become Grassroots MCH Leaders. We greatly honor that these women possess community expertise, essential to the Initiative’s success. Our training equips them with strategies they can use to bring about changes in social, economic, political, and/or cultural systems that underlie poor birth outcomes. One impactful strategy they learn is the use of critical narrative intervention (CNI). This approach, grounded in the crafting and sharing of stories, complements statistical, behavioral, and medical approaches to improve MCH outcomes. This article describes the impact of CNI within the Grassroots MCH Initiative. Drawing from 14 Grassroots MCH Leaders’ narratives, we present five significant maternal traumas and influential supports in their surrounding contexts. We explore the leaders’ reflections on the impact of story development and dissemination. Our findings reveal that situating CNI within the context of a grassroots initiative provides opportunities for leaders to use their stories to advocate for systems change. Personal MCH narratives provide a powerful and respectful approach to public health promotion, as they highlight important systems-level failures that need to be addressed to sustainability improve MCH outcomes.
Effect of sodium ligno-sulphonate on flammability of PET woven fabric
Authors: Basak Santanu , Waghmare Aditya , Gupta Deepanshu , Ali Wazed
Published: January 2023

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polyester fabric has been treated with different concentrations of sodium lignin sulphonate (SLS), a lignin based sustainable flame retarding agent. Treated PET fabric has exhibited different chemical loading on its surface varying from 15 to 60% depending on the concentration used. Treated fabric has shown 40–70% more limiting oxygen index (LOI) value as compared to the control PET fabric. 200 g/L SLS treated PET fabric (with 35% chemical loading) has shown LOI value of 27. In addition to it, melt dripping property of all the treated PET fabrics have been found to be stopped with lower shrinkage during combustion, as observed from the UL94 test results. TG analysis of the said fabric has shown 20–25% more char mass retention and lower rate of weight loss as compared to the control one. Char morphology of the control and the treated fabric has also been examined in different magnifications and analyzed in detail. Forced combustion test of the sodium ligno-sulphonate treated PET fabric has revealed 82% lower peak heat release rate (PHRR) as compared to the control PET fabric with less amount of carbon monoxide liberation during burning. Besides, a possible mechanism lies behind the flame retardancy of the SLS treated PET fabric also has been expressed and discussed scientifically.
Ripples of Hyperexcitability in Epilepsy, Autism, and Inattention
Authors: Salpekar Jay A.
Published: January 2023

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