bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DOAC‐Remove to counteract the interference of anti‐Xa oral anticoagulants on the monitoring of heparin
Authors: Melicine Sophie , Habay Capucine , Ghammad Wiame , Carré Julie , Diehl Jean Luc , Smadja David M. , Gendron Nicolas , Helley Dominique , Mauge Laetitia
Published: May 2024

Introduction

The monitoring of unfractionated heparin (UFH) by anti‐factor Xa activity (AXA) is commonly used to ensure effective anticoagulation and prevent bleeding risk. However, in patients previously treated with an anti‐Xa direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) switching to UFH therapy, there is a risk of interference that may lead to inappropriate anticoagulation. The first objective of this study was to validate DOAC‐Remove to remove DOAC for measuring UFH specific AXA. The second objective was to assess the length of DOAC interference on UFH monitoring and to identify potential predictive factors.

Materials and Methods

This monocentric retrospective study included all patients admitted from April 2019 to April 2021 previously treated with anti‐Xa DOAC, and for whom an interference on UFH monitoring was suspected. Interference was defined as a difference in the AXA measured before and after using DOAC‐Remove >2.8‐fold standard deviation of the method.

Results

Removal with DOAC‐Remove was specific of DOAC (apixaban n = 42, rivaroxaban n = 41, UFH n = 20) and sufficient to avoid interference on UFH AXA measurement. The exact interference length was 6.0 days [IQR 3.0–11.0] for apixaban (n = 26) and 4.5 days [IQR 2.0–5.8] for rivaroxaban (n = 20). Among the 89 patients sorted based on an interference length ≤ or >3 days, 74 (83.1%) presented an interference greater than 3 days. Correlations were observed with age for apixaban and creatinine for rivaroxaban.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that DOAC‐Remove could be of high interest in patients receiving UFH previously treated with an anti‐Xa DOAC even if DOAC was stopped for more than 3 days.
Loss of Bcl‐3 regulates macrophage polarization by promoting macrophage glycolysis
Authors: Liu Shengnan , Wang Hao , Li Jiaoyang , Gao Jingtao , Yu Li , Wei Xiaofei , Cui Mengchao , Zhao Yuxin , Liang Yinming , Wang Hui
Published: May 2024

M1/M2 macrophage polarization plays an important role in regulating the balance of the microenvironment within tissues. Moreover, macrophage polarization involves the reprogramming of metabolism, such as glucose and lipid metabolism. Transcriptional coactivator B‐cell lymphoma‐3 (Bcl‐3) is an atypical member of the IκB family that controls inflammatory factor levels in macrophages by regulating nuclear factor kappa B pathway activation. However, the relationship between Bcl‐3 and macrophage polarization and metabolism remains unclear. In this study, we show that the knockdown of Bcl‐3 in macrophages can regulate glycolysis‐related gene expression by promoting the activation of the nuclear factor kappa B pathway. Furthermore, the loss of Bcl‐3 was able to promote the interferon gamma/lipopolysaccharide‐induced M1 macrophage polarization by accelerating glycolysis. Taken together, these results suggest that Bcl‐3 may be a candidate gene for regulating M1 polarization in macrophages.
Oral health status of Egyptian children with lysosomal storage diseases: An evaluation of dental indices, salivary cytokines level, and bacterial bioburden
Authors: Matar Moustafa A. , Selima Rana A. , Marzouk Iman M. , Lotfy Walid A. , Al‐Shafie Tamer A. , Darwish Sherif S.
Published: May 2024

Background

Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs), a group of inborn errors of metabolism, include various subtypes, for example, mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) and Gaucher disease (GD). Besides the physical/mental disabilities, they suffer from several oral deteriorations.

Aim

To evaluate the oral health status of Egyptian children with LSD.

Design

Thirty LSD children and thirty non‐LSD children were enrolled for this study according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Dental indices were used to assess caries prevalence and periodontal status. Saliva samples were collected from all enrolled children to estimate interleukin 6 (IL‐6), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), and protein levels as well as Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli colony counts.

Results

Children with MPS and GD showed non‐significant differences in decayed, missing, or filled teeth (DMFT) scores (p = .115). Scores of dmft showed a significant increase in MPS, but not in GD children (p = .020, p = .127). Children with LSD showed significantly increased Modified Gingival Index (MGI), Plaque Index (PI), Oral Hygiene Index (OHI‐s) scores (p < .001) and salivary IL‐6 and TNF‐α (p = .007, p = .001, p < .0001, p = .002, respectively) and salivary total proteins (p = .001) levels. Unexpectedly, non‐significant differences were observed in salivary Streptococcus mutans or Lactobacilli counts in children with MPS and GD (p = .058, p = .420, p = .502, p = .053, respectively).

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first article that evaluates Egyptian children with LSD. We demonstrated high caries prevalence in primary teeth, not permanent teeth, in children with MPS and poor gingival/hygiene status in children with MPS and GD, which triggered a state of inflammation. The daily supplement intake prevented oral bacterial growth. The most probable cause of oral alterations is decreased salivary flow rate, as deduced from a significantly increased salivary protein.
Nurse‐sensitive quality and benchmarking in hospitals striving for Magnet® or Pathway® designation: A qualitative study
Authors: Maier Claudia B. , Gurisch Carolin , Köppen Julia , Kleine Joan , Aiken Linda H.
Published: May 2024

Aim

To examine if and how selected German hospitals use nurse‐sensitive clinical indicators and perspectives on national/international benchmarking.

Design

Qualitative study.

Methods

In 2020, 18 expert interviews were conducted with key informants from five purposively selected hospitals, being the first in Germany implementing Magnet® or Pathway®. Interviews were analyzed using content analysis with deductive‐inductive coding. The study followed the COREQ guideline.

Results

Three major themes emerged: first, limited pre‐existence of and necessity for nurse‐sensitive data. Although most interviewees reported data collection for hospital‐acquired pressure ulcers and falls with injuries, implementation varied and interviewees highlighted the necessity to develop additional nurse‐sensitive indicators for the German context. Second, the theme creating an enabling data environment comprised building clinicians' acceptance, establishing a data culture, and reducing workload by using electronic health records. Third, challenges and opportunities in establishing benchmarking were identified but most interviewees called for a national or European benchmarking system.

Conclusion

The need for further development of nurse‐sensitive clinical indicators and its implementation in practice was highlighted. Several actions were suggested at hospital level to establish an enabling data environment in clinical care, including a nationwide or European benchmarking system.

Implications for the Profession and Patient Care

Involving nurses in data collection, comparison and benchmarking of nurse‐sensitive indicators and their use in practice can improve quality of patient care.

Impact

Nurse‐sensitive indicators were rarely collected, and a need for action was identified. The study results show research needs on nurse‐sensitive indicators for Germany and Europe. Measures were identified to create an enabling data environment in hospitals. An initiative was started in Germany to establish a nurse‐sensitive benchmarking capacity.

Patient or Public Contribution

Clinical practitioners and nurse/clinical managers were interviewed.
Prevalence and factors associated with medication administration errors in the neonatal intensive care unit: A multicentre, nationwide direct observational study
Authors: Henry Basil Josephine , Premakumar Chandini Menon , Mhd Ali Adliah , Mohd Tahir Nurul Ain , Seman Zamtira , Voo James Yau Hon , Ishak Shareena , Mohamed Shah Noraida
Published: May 2024

Aim(s)

To determine the prevalence of medication administration errors and identify factors associated with medication administration errors among neonates in the neonatal intensive care units.

Design

Prospective direct observational study.

Methods

The study was conducted in the neonatal intensive care units of five public hospitals in Malaysia from April 2022 to March 2023. The preparation and administration of medications were observed using a standardized data collection form followed by chart review. After data collection, error identification was independently performed by two clinical pharmacists. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with medication administration errors.

Results

A total of 743 out of 1093 observed doses had at least one error, affecting 92.4% (157/170) neonates. The rate of medication administration errors was 68.0%. The top three most frequently occurring types of medication administration errors were wrong rate of administration (21.2%), wrong drug preparation (17.9%) and wrong dose (17.0%). Factors significantly associated with medication administration errors were medications administered intravenously, unavailability of a protocol, the number of prescribed medications, nursing experience, non‐ventilated neonates and gestational age in weeks.

Conclusion

Medication administration errors among neonates in the neonatal intensive care units are still common. The intravenous route of administration, absence of a protocol, younger gestational age, non‐ventilated neonates, higher number of medications prescribed and increased years of nursing experience were significantly associated with medication administration errors.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

The findings of this study will enable the implementation of effective and sustainable interventions to target the factors identified in reducing medication administration errors among neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Reporting Method

We adhered to the STROBE checklist.

Patient or Public Contribution

An expert panel consisting of healthcare professionals was involved in the identification of independent variables.
This Land is My Land: Teachers' integration of game and novel in English instruction
Authors: Ahmadian Shilan , Brevik Lisbeth M.
Published: May 2024

Background

The most recent Norwegian educational reform, in force from 2020, was the first to include games alongside more traditional language learning resources (e.g., novels, films, music) in the English curriculum for secondary school. This educational emphasis on games provided a unique opportunity to examine how games are actually used in secondary English instruction in combination with other resources.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate how the digital commercial game This Land is My Land was used alongside a printed novel in naturally occurring English instruction in two lower secondary classes during a two‐week project labelled ‘The Native American Experience’.

Methods

Participants involved one teacher, nine student teachers and 52 students (aged 13–14). Using a mixed methods design, we integrated quantitative and qualitative analyses of classroom video recordings (N = 20), screen recordings during gameplay (N = 32), student texts (N = 32) and retrospective student interviews (N = 7). We used the validated Protocol for Language Arts Teaching Observation (PLATO; Grossman, 2015) for analyses of video and screen recordings and reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2022) of student texts and interviews.

Results and Conclusions

The combination of digital game and printed novel during English instruction provided a dual perspective on the Native American experience. While the novel provided a window for observing the topic historically, the game provided a playground to experience the topic interactively. Although the combination of game and novel offered students different perspectives on the Native American experience, we identified missed opportunities for those who gamed before reading, whereas students who read before gameplay used their knowledge from the novel when they engaged with the game content. In the broader context of educational technology and language instruction, this study identified how to combine digital and traditional literacies that acknowledge students' prior knowledge with diverse literacies.
Metabolomics biomarkers and related pathways in endometrial cancer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Yan Xingxu , Zhao Shan , He Junjie , Sun Guijiang , Wang Fang , Ding Haoran , Zhang Wenqing , Qian Wenxiu , Li Xiaomeng , Wang Yuyan , Li Yubo
Published: May 2024

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the fourth most common malignant tumour afflicting postmenopausal women in the world. Although advances have been made in the metabolomics of EC, the controversial findings limited the clinical applicability of the research results. Therefore, we aimed to reveal metabolic characteristics disorders in EC. We included studies comparing metabolite levels between EC and controls by searching PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and other source databases. Biomarkers and metabolic pathways were subjected to meta‐analysis by calculating the standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), and summarizing the effect size using the inverse variance random effect model. Thirty studies identified the differential metabolites of EC. A total of 8 studies involved 4,006 participants with good quality were included. In terms of biomarkers, estrone and proline increased significantly in EC, while glutamine and phosphatidylcholine diacyl C32:2 decreased significantly in EC, with low heterogeneity. In terms of metabolic pathways, the levels of branched‐chain amino acid metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism increased significantly in EC with low heterogeneity. This review highlights the significance of above four biomarkers and two metabolic pathways in EC, which will help to realize the accurate screening and diagnosis of EC.
Effectiveness of shared decision‐making for mode of delivery after caesarean section: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Yu Lin , Sun Xiaoting , Gong Jianmei , Liu Man , Yu Shengmiao , Liu Lei
Published: May 2024

Aim

To review the content, format and effectiveness of shared decision‐making interventions for mode of delivery after caesarean section for pregnant women.

Design

Systematic review and meta‐analysis.

Methods

Six databases (PubMed, Web of science Core Collection, Cochrance Network, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO) were searched starting at the time of establishment of the database to May 2023. Following the PRISMAs and use Review Manager 5.3 software for meta‐analysis. Two review authors independently assessed the quality of the studies using the risk of bias 2 tool. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023410536).

Results

The search strategy obtained 1675 references. After abstract and full text screening, a total of seven studies were included. Shared decision‐making interventions include decision aids and counselling that can help pregnant women analyse the pros and cons of various options and help them make decisions that are consistent with their values. The pooled results showed that shared decision‐making intervention alleviated decisional conflicts regarding mode of delivery after caesarean section, but had no effect on knowledge and informed choice.

Conclusion

The results of our review suggest that shared decision‐making is an effective intervention to improve the quality of decision‐making about the mode of delivery of pregnant women after caesarean section. However, due to the low quality of the evidence, it is recommended that more studies be conducted in the future to improve the quality of the evidence.

Correlation with Clinical Practice

This systematic review and meta‐analysis provides evidence for the effectiveness of shared decision‐making for mode of delivery after cesarean section and may provide a basis for the development of intervention to promote the participation of pregnant women in the decision‐making process.
Factors related to clearance of the small pelvic cavity during gynecologic laparoscopic surgery
Authors: Hiraishi Hikaru , Kitahara Yoshikazu , Kobayashi Mio , Hasegawa Yuko , Tsukui Yumiko , Miida Miki , Nakao Kohshiro , Ikeda Sadatomo , Hirakawa Takashi , Iwase Akira
Published: May 2024

Aim

To identify factors influencing the Trendelenburg angle required during laparoscopic gynecological surgery.

Methods

Patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery at a single university hospital between May 1, 2019, and March 31, 2021 were enrolled. Data were extracted from the medical records, while magnetic resonance imaging scans and all laparoscopic surgery videos were retrospectively reviewed to assess the presence of the small intestine in the pelvic cavity as well as the adhesions at each site. Groups with and without the small intestine in the pelvic cavity, and those requiring a Trendelenburg angle above or below 13° were compared.

Results

In total, 219 patients were examined. The Trendelenburg angle was significantly higher (p = 0.004), while a significant increase in ovarian adhesions was observed (p = 0.033; odds ratio [OR], 2.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–5.01) in the group without the presence of the small intestine in the pelvic cavity. Furthermore, the group requiring a Trendelenburg angle of ≥13° had significantly thicker subcutaneous fat (p = 0.044) and more ileal adhesions (p = 0.040, OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.03–3.23) than the group with an angle of <13°.

Conclusion

Cases of ileal adhesions or thick subcutaneous fat are more likely to require a Trendelenburg angle of ≥13°. Therefore, Trendelenburg complications should be considered in this group. In addition, ovarian adhesions make it more difficult to exclude the small intestine from the small pelvic cavity, and may be associated with endometriosis.
First report of Nectria dematiosa causing European canker of apple in India
Authors: Bhandari Durga Prashad , Sharma Usha , Sharma Monica , Thakur Ashok Kumar , Kumar Arun
Published: May 2024

Nectria dematiosa exhibiting orange red colour perithecia on stems and branches of young and old apple trees were reported under field conditions during 2020 and 2021. Reddish discoloration followed by papery appearance of stem and branches were the characteristic symptoms observed. Ascomata were non‐papillate, surface irregular comprising numerous cylindrical to narrowly clavate asci. Ascospores were ellipsoidal to fusiform, straight or slightly curved, hyaline with 0 to 1‐septa. Richard and Royal Delicious variety of apple were more susceptible with moderate to high severity of the European canker. Based on nucleotide homology and phylogenetic analysis, the pathogen was confirmed as N. dematiosa (accession no. OQ152022). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of N. dematiosa causing European canker of apple in India.
Genetic substructure and host‐specific natural selection trend across vaccine‐candidate ORF‐2 capsid protein of hepatitis‐E virus
Authors: Khan Nasir , Kakakhel Sehrish , Malik Abdul , Nigar Kiran , Akhtar Suhail , Khan Azmat Ali , Khan Asifullah
Published: May 2024

Hepatitis E virus is a primary cause of acute hepatitis worldwide. The present study attempts to assess the genetic variability and evolutionary divergence among HEV genotypes. A vaccine promising capsid‐protein coding ORF‐2 gene sequences of HEV was evaluated using phylogenetics, model‐based population genetic methods and principal component analysis. The analyses unveiled nine distinct clusters as subpopulations for six HEV genotypes. HEV‐3 genotype samples stratified into four different subgroups, while HEV‐4 stratified into three additional subclusters. Rabbit‐infectious HEV‐3ra samples constitute a distinct cluster. Pairwise analysis identified marked genetic distinction of HEV‐4c and HEV‐4i subgenotypes compared to other genotypes. Numerous admixed, inter and intragenotype recombinant strains were detected. The MEME method identified several ORF‐2 codon sites under positive selection. Some selection signatures lead to amino acid substitutions within ORF‐2, resulting in altered physicochemical features. Moreover, a pattern of host‐specific adaptive signatures was identified among HEV genotypes. The analyses conclusively depict that recombination and episodic positive selection events have shaped the observed genetic diversity among different HEV genotypes. The significant genetic diversity and stratification of HEV‐3 and HEV‐4 genotypes into subgroups, as identified in the current study, are noteworthy and may have implications for the efficacy of anti‐HEV vaccines.
Distortion risk measures: Prudence, coherence, and the expected shortfall
Authors: Amarante Massimiliano , Liebrich Felix‐Benedikt
Published: May 2024

Distortion risk measures (DRM) are risk measures that are law invariant and comonotonic additive. The present paper is an extensive inquiry into this class of risk measures in light of new ideas such as qualitative robustness, prudence and no reward for concentration, and tail relevance. Results include several characterizations of prudent DRMs, a novel representation of coherent DRMs as well as an axiomatization of the Expected Shortfall alternative to the one recently provided by Wang and Zitikis. By linking the two axiomatizations, the paper provides a new perspective on the idea of no reward for concentration. The paper also contains results of independent interest such as the lower semicontinuity with respect to convergence in distribution of the Haezendonck–Goovaerts risk measures, the extension of non‐necessarily convex risk measures as well as the structure of the core of a general submodular distortion.
Fighting over nation or state: States, communal demography, and the type of ethnic civil war
Authors: Lange Matthew , Jeong Tay
Published: May 2024

We recognise nationalist and centre‐seeking ethnic civil wars as distinct types of conflict and draw on key ideas from political sociology to make hypotheses about the causes of each. First, we argue that the character of states shapes antistate actors in ways that channel ethnic conflict in different ways, with pluralist states promoting nationalist warfare but integrative states contributing to centre‐seeking civil war. Second, we propose that the relative power of communities affects the type of ethnic civil war, arguing that centre‐seeking civil war is most common in situations of communal multipolarity whereas nationalist civil war is concentrated in regions with asymmetric power relations. And because historical statehood promotes elements of pluralist states and asymmetric communal power relations, we hypothesise that the risk of nationalist civil war is high in places with large and longstanding states. To test these hypotheses, we use ethnic fractionalisation to measure configurations of communal power and the state antiquity index to measure level of historical statehood, create a variable measuring the extent to which colonial states were pluralist, and run panel analyses of the odds of civil war onset. With one possible exception, the findings support our hypotheses.
Beyond the protest paradigm: Four types of news coverage and America's most prominent social movement organizations
Authors: Amenta Edwin , Caren Neal , Yuan Weijun
Published: May 2024

What determines the quality of coverage received by social movement organizations when they appear extensively in the news? Research on the news coverage of social movement organizations is dominated by case studies supporting the “protest paradigm,” which argues that journalists portray movement activists trivially and negatively when covering protest. However, movement organizations often make long‐running news for many different reasons, mainly not protest. We argue that some of this extensive news will lead to worse coverage—in terms of substance and sentiment—notably when the main action covered involves violence. Extensive coverage centered on other actions, however, notably politically assertive action, will tend to produce “good news” in these dimensions. We analyze the news of the twentieth century's 100 most‐covered U.S. movement organizations in their biggest news year in four national newspapers. Topic models indicate that these organizations were mainly covered for actions other than nonviolent protest, including politically assertive action, strikes, civic action, investigations, trials, and violence. Natural language processing analyses and hand‐coding show that their news also varied widely in sentiment and substance. Employing qualitative comparative analyses, we find that the main action behind news strongly influences its quality, and there may be several news paradigms for movement organizations.
Genetic profile of RHCE, Kell, Duffy, Kidd, Diego and MNS hybrid glycophorins blood groups in ethnic northeastern Thais: Alleles, genotypes and risk of alloimmunisation
Authors: Simtong Piyapong , Jumnainsong Amonrat , Leelayuwat Chanvit
Published: May 2024

Background

Antibodies against blood group antigens play a key role in the pathophysiology of haemolytic transfusion reactions (HTRs) and haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). This study aimed to determine the frequencies of alleles, genotypes, and risk of alloimmunisation of clinically significant blood group systems in ethnic northeastern Thais.

Methods

In total, 345 unrelated, healthy, ethnic northeastern Thais were tested using the in‐house PCR‐sequence specific primers (PCR‐SSP) method for simultaneously genotyping of RHCE, Kell, Duffy, Kidd, Diego and MNS glycophorin hybrids and results confirmed by Sanger sequencing.

Results

In this cohort, the alleles RHCE*C (81.0%) and RHCE*e (84.8%) were more prevalent than RHCE*c (19.0%) and RHCE*E (15.2%). The most common predicted haplotype combinations of the RHCE alleles were C+c‐E−e+(R1R1) (59.4%) followed by the C+c+E+e+ (R1R2) (20.6%) and C+c+E−e+ (R1r) (11.3%). The KEL*01 allele was not found in this study. The frequencies of FY*01 and FY*02 were 88.3% and 11.7%, respectively. The genotype FY*02/02 was found in four samples (1.2%). The frequencies of JK*01 and JK*02 were 52.5% and 47.5%, respectively. Homozygous JK*02/02 was found in 81 samples (23.5%). The frequencies of DI*01 and DI*02 were 0.6% and 99.4%, respectively. In total, 64 samples (18.6%) were found to carry the MNS glycophorin hybrids.

Conclusions

Our results indicated a possible high risk of c, E, Fyb, Jka, Jkb and Mia alloimmunisation in these populations. Moreover, methods established for genotyping clinically significant blood groups in this study can now be utilised in routine clinical application.
Phosphate deficiency increases plant susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea infection by inducing the abscisic acid pathway
Authors: Jaskolowski Aime , Poirier Yves
Published: May 2024

Plants have evolved finely regulated defense systems to counter biotic and abiotic threats. In the natural environment, plants are typically challenged by simultaneous stresses and, amid such conditions, crosstalk between the activated signaling pathways becomes evident, ultimately altering the outcome of the defense response. As an example of combined biotic and abiotic stresses, inorganic phosphate (Pi) deficiency, common in natural and agricultural environments, can occur along with attack by the fungus Botrytis cinerea, a devastating necrotrophic generalist pathogen responsible for massive crop losses. We report that Pi deficiency in Arabidopsis thaliana increases its susceptibility to infection by B. cinerea by influencing the early stages of pathogen infection, namely spore adhesion and germination on the leaf surface. Remarkably, Pi‐deficient plants are more susceptible to B. cinerea despite displaying the appropriate activation of the jasmonic acid and ethylene signaling pathways, as well as producing secondary defense metabolites and reactive oxygen species. Conversely, the callose deposition in response to B. cinerea infection is compromised under Pi‐deficient conditions. The levels of abscisic acid (ABA) are increased in Pi‐deficient plants, and the heightened susceptibility to B. cinerea observed under Pi deficiency can be reverted by blocking ABA biosynthesis. Furthermore, high level of leaf ABA induced by overexpression of NCED6 in Pi‐sufficient plants also resulted in greater susceptibility to B. cinerea infection associated with increased spore adhesion and germination, and reduced callose deposition. Our findings reveal a link between the enhanced accumulation of ABA induced by Pi deficiency and an increased sensitivity to B. cinerea infection.
Internet linkage and international trade: From the perspective of risk alleviation
Authors: Duan Jie , Hu Zengxi
Published: May 2024

Extensive research has studied the effect of the Internet on trade, yet little is known about its role in trade facilitation through risk alleviation. This research investigates how Internet linkage facilitates exports, particularly through the novel channel of risk alleviation. Theoretically, this paper introduces a gravity model augmented with export risk to establish the stimulating effect of Internet linkage on exports. Empirically, this paper uses inter‐domain hyperlinks as a proxy for Internet linkage in 2009, uncovering a statistically significant positive impact of Internet linkage on exports. Notably, there is a 27.8% increase in exports in reaction to a doubling of the Internet linkage intensity. By employing various techniques, we meticulously address potential endogeneity issues and substantiate the risk‐alleviation mechanism at both the country and product levels. Particularly, we find that exports to riskier countries and of riskier products benefit more from the Internet linkage. This study sheds new light on the novel channel through which the Internet promotes exports, enriching the existing literature in this field.
Invertible topological field theories
Authors: Schommer‐Pries Christopher
Published: May 2024

A ‐dimensional invertible topological field theory (TFT) is a functor from the symmetric monoidal ‐category of ‐bordisms (embedded into and equipped with a tangential ‐structure) that lands in the Picard subcategory of the target symmetric monoidal ‐category. We classify these field theories in terms of the cohomology of the ‐connective cover of the Madsen–Tillmann spectrum. This is accomplished by identifying the classifying space of the ‐category of bordisms with as an ‐space. This generalizes the celebrated result of Galatius–Madsen–Tillmann–Weiss (Acta Math. 202 (2009), no. 2, 195–239) in the case , and of Bökstedt–Madsen (An alpine expedition through algebraic topology, vol. 617, Contemp. Math., Amer. Math. Soc., Providence, RI, 2014, pp. 39–80) in the ‐uple case. We also obtain results for the ‐category of ‐bordisms embedding into a fixed ambient manifold , generalizing results of Randal–Williams (Int. Math. Res. Not. IMRN 2011 (2011), no. 3, 572–608) in the case . We give two applications: (1) we completely compute all extended and partially extended invertible TFTs with target a certain category of ‐vector spaces (for ), and (2) we use this to give a negative answer to a question raised by Gilmer and Masbaum (Forum Math. 25 (2013), no. 5, 1067–1106. arXiv:0912.4706).
Exercise‐induced changes in left ventricular strain are affected by interleukin‐6 activity: An exploratory analysis of a randomised‐controlled trial in humans with abdominal obesity
Authors: Jønck Simon , Løk Mathilde , Durrer Cody , Wedell‐Neergaard Anne‐Sophie , Lehrskov Louise Lang , Legaard Grit Elster , Krogh‐Madsen Rikke , Rosenmeier Jaya , Lund Morten Asp Vonsild , Pedersen Bente Klarlund , Ellingsgaard Helga , Berg Ronan M. G. , Christensen Regitse Højgaard
Published: May 2024

Whilst the exercise‐induced myokine interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) plays a beneficial role in cardiac structural adaptations, its influence on exercise‐induced functional cardiac outcomes remains unknown. We hypothesised that IL‐6 activity is required for exercise‐induced improvements in left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV GLS). In an exploratory study 52 individuals with abdominal obesity were randomised to 12 weeks’ high‐intensity exercise or no exercise in combination with IL‐6 receptor inhibition (IL‐6i) or placebo. LV strain and volume measurements were assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance. Exercise improved LV GLS by −5.4% [95% CI: −9.1% to −1.6%] (P = 0.007). Comparing the change from baseline in LV GLS in the exercise + placebo group (−4.8% [95% CI: −7.4% to −2.2%]; P < 0.0004) to the exercise + IL‐6i group (−1.1% [95% CI: −3.8% to 1.6%]; P = 0.42), the exercise + placebo group changed −3.7% [95% CI: −7.4% to −0.02%] (P = 0.049) more than the exercise + IL6i group. However, the interaction effect between exercise and IL‐6i was insignificant (4.5% [95% CI: −0.8% to 9.9%]; P = 0.09). Similarly, the exercise + placebo group improved LV global circumferential strain by −3.1% [95% CI: −6.0% to −0.1%] (P = 0.04) more compared to the exercise + IL‐6i group, yet we found an insignificant interaction between exercise and IL‐6i (4.2% [95% CI: −1.8% to 10.3%]; P = 0.16). There was no effect of IL‐6i on exercise‐induced changes to volume rates. This study underscores the importance of IL‐6 in improving LV GLS in individuals with abdominal obesity suggesting a role for IL‐6 in cardiac functional exercise adaptations.
Research on Fatigue Stress Reconstruction of Major Equipment Based on Neural Network
Authors: Yang Bowen , Yang Chenxu , Li Hua , Yang Fan , Gao Jian , Huo Junzhou
Published: May 2024

This article first proposes a stress/strain reconstruction method based on neural networks. The construction of the dataset and the setting of the network structure are introduced around this method. Standard component strain reconstruction experiments are carried out to verify the method, and the error between the reconstructed values and the measured values is within 15%. This article further takes the tunnel boring machine (TBM) disk cutter shaft as the research object, extracts the coordinate load stress dataset of dangerous positions through finite element method, trains and tests the stress reconstruction model, and the error between the reconstruction value and the simulation value is within 10%. Finally, this article utilized a stress reconstruction model to reconstruct the stress time history of the dangerous position of the TBM rolling cutter shaft and evaluated the fatigue life of the cutter shaft based on various life criteria.
VEXAS syndrome diagnosis starting from ultrasound findings: a case report
Authors: Rácz Tamás , Burciu Sergiu , Torok Tunde , Damian Laura , Rednic Simona , Simon Siao-Pin
Published: May 2024

VEXAS syndrome is a recently described condition characterized by systemic inflammation, predisposition to hematologic malignancy and a high rate of venous thrombosis. Here we report the case of an elderly male with erythema nodosumlike lesions, ankle arthralgia, and general symptoms. B-mode and Doppler ultrasound of the subcutis diagnosed superficial thrombophlebitis of the lower limbs, which turned out to be the manifestation of a paucisymptomatic VEXAS syndrome. VEXAS should be considered in any patient who presents with unexplained superficial thrombophlebitis, macrocytic anemia and unexplained systemic inflammation.
The origins of social care and social work: Creating a global future
Authors: Matthewson Peter
Published: May 2024

Review of The origins of social care and social work: Creating a global future by Mark Henrickson. Policy Press, Bristol, 2022. ISBN 978-1-4473-5734-6, pp.257, GBP80
Social workers and their understanding of neoliberalism, advocacy, and othering
Authors: Renau Darren , Stanley-Clarke Nicky , Mafile'o Tracie
Published: May 2024

INTRODUCTION: Advocacy is a fundamental basis of social work and forms part of a social worker’s ethical responsibilities. As part of these responsibilities, it is a requirement for social workers to understand structures and power bases which sustain social injustices. The study was completed for a Master of Arts (Social Policy). The aim was to understand how neoliberalism affected the ability of social workers to provide support and advocacy to disadvantaged people.METHODS: This article reports on the findings of a qualitative-exploratory study. The data was collected from eight participant interviews using semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis then identified key themes within the data.FINDINGS: A key finding of the research was that social workers have limited understanding of neoliberalism; are placing themselves at risk of sustaining neoliberalism; and engaging in ‘othering’ discourses towards their clients.CONCLUSION: The research confirms the presence of neoliberalism, evidenced through increased compliance and a standardisation of social work practice. Social workers identify change as possible within their local communities but require greater leadership to engage in this advocacy. Further research into social workers’ understanding of neoliberalism and how this affects their worldview would offer further insight about their capacity to engage in social change.
Sound attenuation at low to mid frequencies in low velocity seabottoms
Authors: Zhou Ji-Xun , Li Zhenglin , Zhang Xuezhen , Qin Jixing
Published: May 2024

Attenuation is the most difficult seafloor acoustic property to get, particularly at low to mid frequencies. For low velocity bottoms (LVB), it becomes even more challenging, due to its small attenuation and lower velocity (relative to the velocity of the adjacent water). The latter one causes a fatal “seafloor velocity-attenuation couplings” in geo-acoustic inversions. Thus, attenuation inversions for the LVB require an accurate seafloor velocity profile, especially the velocity in the LVB layer. The propagation of explosive sound in the Yellow Sea with a strong thermocline and a top LVB layer exhibits many prominent characteristics: modal dispersion (the ground wave, water wave, Airy phase), two groups of water waves at high frequencies, and the siphon effect which causes abnormally large sound transmission loss at selected frequencies, etc. These observations are used to precisely measure the critical frequency, the Airy frequency, Airy wave velocity, 1st mode group velocity, and to derive the velocities in the LVB layer and in the basement. Using inverted seafloor parameters, the source level-normalized transmission loss and the first mode decay rate in ranges up to 27.66 km, the sound attenuations in the LVB are derived for a frequency range of 13–5000 Hz.
Double Parton Scattering Versus Jet Quenching
Authors: Baranov S. P. , Lipatov A. V. , Malyshev M. A. , Snigirev A. M.
Published: May 2024

A novel observable, the double nuclear modification factor, is proposed to probe simultaneously the initial and final state effects in nucleus–nucleus collisions. An interesting competition between the combinatorial enhancement in the double parton scattering and the suppression due to parton energy loss can be observed in the production rate of two hard particles. In particular, the production of $$J{\text{/}}\psi $$ mesons in association with a W boson is not suppressed but is enhanced in the region of moderate transverse momenta, unlike the case of unassociated (inclusive) $$J{\text{/}}\psi $$ production. At the same time, in the region of high enough transverse momenta the nuclear modification factor for associated $$J{\text{/}}\psi + W$$ production converges to that of unassociated $$J{\text{/}}\psi $$.
Refined TMD Gluon Density in a Proton from the HERA and LHC Data
Authors: Lipatov A. V. , Lykasov G. I. , Malyshev M. A.
Published: May 2024

We update the phenomenological parameters of the Transverse Momentum Dependent (TMD, or unintegrated) gluon density in a proton proposed in our previous studies. This analysis is based on the analytical expression for starting gluon distribution which provides a self-consistent simultaneous description of HERA data on proton structure function $${{F}_{2}}(x,{{Q}^{2}})$$, reduced cross section for the electron-proton deep inelastic scattering at low $${{Q}^{2}}$$ and soft hadron production in $$pp$$ collisions at the LHC conditions. We extend it to the whole kinematical region using the Catani–Ciafaloni–Fiorani–Marchesini (CCFM) evolution equation. Exploiting our previous results on a number of semihard QCD processes, we performed a combined fit to an extended set of LHC and HERA data, comprising a total of 509 points from 16 data sets. We illustrate our fit by applying the derived TMD gluon density in a proton to inclusive prompt photon photoproduction at HERA.
Endocyclotamponade with pars plana vitrectomy for management of post-traumatic tractional cyclodialysis cleft
Authors: Kumari Somya , Majumdar Aayush , Khan Ragib , Gupta Shikha
Published: May 2024

A female in her 20s presented with a diminution of vision in the right eye (RE) following an open globe injury (scleral penetration) and repair a year back. At the presentation, she had low intraocular pressure (IOP) of 7 mm Hg, posterior subcapsular cataract (PSC), retrolental vitreous bands incarcerated at the penetration site, disc oedema, tortuous vessels and choroidal folds. Inferotemporal and superonasal cyclodialysis clefts were detected on CASIA 2 optical coherence tomography (OCT). The diagnosis of RE repaired scleral penetration, PSC and cyclodialysis cleft with hypotony maculopathy was made. The case was managed by phacoemulsification with an intraocular lens in the bag and a capsular tension ring in the sulcus, as a tamponading agent to close the cleft. Intraoperatively on endoscopic visualisation, vitreous membrane was noticed encasing the ciliary processes causing a tractional cyclodialysis and hence single port 23G pars plana vitrectomy was performed to relieve the traction. Postsurgery, IOP was 14 mm Hg, and the repaired cleft was visualised on anterior segment OCT.
Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome treated with multitarget deep brain stimulation
Authors: Okoroafor Francois , Beattie Harriet , Qiang Zekai , Yianni John
Published: May 2024

Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a progressive hereditary neurodegenerative disorder which causes intention tremor and cerebellar ataxia. It typically affects the ageing population. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is widely accepted in the treatment of common movement disorders and has been trialled in treating rare and complex neurodegenerative disorders. We report a case of a man in his 40s with a long history of tremor affecting his hands. MRI brain revealed high T2 signal in the middle cerebellar peduncles. Genetic testing revealed FMR1 premutation confirming the diagnosis of FXTAS. Subsequently, he was treated with multitarget DBS of the ventralis intermediate nucleus and ventralis oralis posterior nuclei bilaterally, with excellent neurological function at 9 years follow-up. This case suggests multitarget DBS for FXTAS with neurophysiology-guided DBS programming can provide excellent long-term tremor suppression in selected patients.
Resident-led improvement project to screen for primary hyperaldosteronism in patients with resistant hypertension in an outpatient clinic
Authors: Anandasivam Nidharshan Subra , Vasudevan Jaya , Sadler Holli , Moriates Christopher , Pignone Michael
Published: May 2024

Clinical practice guidelines recommend screening for primary hyperaldosteronism (PH) in patients with resistant hypertension. However, screening rates are low in the outpatient setting. We sought to increase screening rates for PH in patients with resistant hypertension in our Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatient resident physician clinic, with the goal of improving blood pressure control. Patients with possible resistant hypertension were identified through a VA Primary Care Almanac Metric query, with subsequent chart review for resistant hypertension criteria. Three sequential patient-directed cycles were implemented using rapid cycle improvement methodology during a weekly dedicated resident quality improvement half-day. In the first cycle, patients with resistant hypertension had preclinic PH screening labs ordered and were scheduled in the clinic for hypertension follow-up. In the second cycle, patients without screening labs completed were called to confirm medication adherence and counselled to screen for PH. In the third cycle, patients with positive screening labs were called to discuss mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) initiation and possible endocrinology referral. Of 97 patients initially identified, 58 (60%) were found to have resistant hypertension while 39 had pseudoresistant hypertension from medication non-adherence. Of the 58 with resistant hypertension, 44 had not previously been screened for PH while 14 (24%) had already been screened or were already taking an MRA. Our screening rate for PH in resistant hypertension patients increased from 24% at the start of the project to 84% (37/44) after two cycles. Of the 37 tested, 24% (9/37) screened positive for PH, and 5 patients were started on MRAs. This resident-led quality improvement project demonstrated that a focused intervention process can improve PH identification and treatment.
Barriers and facilitators of implementing a multicomponent intervention to improve faecal immunochemical test (FIT) colorectal cancer screening in primary care clinics, Alberta
Authors: Adhikari Kamala , Mah Sharon S , Patterson Michelle , Teare Gary F , Manalili Kimberly
Published: May 2024

Background and objective

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is effective at reducing the incidence and mortality of CRC. To address suboptimal CRC screening rates, a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) multicomponent intervention was piloted in four urban multidisciplinary primary care clinics in Alberta from September 2021 to April 2022. The interventions included in-clinic distribution of FIT kits, along with FIT-related patient education and follow-up. This study explored barriers and facilitators to implementing the intervention in four primary clinics using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).

Methods

In-depth qualitative semistructured key informant interviews, guided by the CFIR, were conducted with 14 participants to understand barriers and facilitators of the FIT intervention implementation. Key informants were physicians, quality improvement facilitators and clinical staff. Interviews were analysed following an inductive–deductive approach. Implementation barriers and facilitators were organised and interpreted using the CFIR to facilitate the identification of strategies to mitigate barriers and leverage facilitators for implementation at the clinic level.

Results

Key implementation facilitators reported by participants were patient perceived needs being met; the clinics’ readiness to implement FIT, including staff’s motivation, skills, knowledge, and resources to implement; intervention characteristics—evidence-based, adaptable and compatible with existing workflows; regular staff communications; and use of the electronic medical record (EMR) system. Key barriers to implementation were patient’s limited awareness of FIT screening for CRC and discomfort with stool sample collection; the impacts of COVID-19 (patients missed appointment, staff coordination and communication were limited due to remote work); and limited clinic capacity (knowledge and skills using EMR system, staff turnover and shortage).

Conclusion

Findings from the study facilitate the refinement and adaption of future FIT intervention implementation. Future research will explore implementation barriers and facilitators in rural settings and from patients’ perspectives to enhance the spread and scale of the intervention.