bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Small-Molecule CCR4 Antagonists in Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma
Authors: Enriquez José S. , Wang Xiaohong , Velatooru Loka Reddy , Han Wei , Bijani Pedram , Ni Xiao
Published: September 2024

Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS) are two most common types of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Despite advances in understanding the pathogenesis of MF and SS, effective treatments remain limited. CC chemokine receptor-4 (CCR4) is highly expressed on CTCL cells and serves as a great therapeutic target. Mogamulizumab, an FDA-approved anti-CCR4 antibody, has shown efficacy in treating MF/SS; however, its side effects have raised concerns, underscoring the need for more effective and less toxic CCR4-targeted therapies. Although small-molecule CCR4 antagonists have been studied in other diseases involving CCR4+ Th2 cells and regulatory T cells, their effects in CTCL have not been previously explored. This study assessed the effects of two small-molecule CCR4 antagonists: C021 (class-I) and AZD-2098 (class-II) in MF-derived cell line (MJ) and SS-derived cell line (HuT 78) in vitro and in vivo. As per results, both C021 and AZD-2098 inhibited chemotactic responses to CCL17 and CCL22 in MJ and HuT 78 cells. However, only C021 downregulated CCR4 expression, inhibited cell proliferation, induced cell apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest, and decreased colony formation in MJ and HuT 78 cells in vitro. Furthermore, only C021 inhibited tumor growth in CTCL xenograft mice in vivo. These findings suggest that class-I CCR4 antagonists such as C021 exert more potent antitumor effects on CTCL cells in vitro and in vivo than do class-II CCR4 antagonists like AZD-2098, highlighting their potential for clinical application.

Significance:

Our findings are of interest to readers because they bring new evidence that small-molecule CCR4 antagonists may be an alternative therapeutic strategy to target CCR4+ CTCL cells. They may inhibit CCR4 function but not eradicate cells, so the side effects may be avoided or minimized.
Combining the benefits of 3D acquisitions and spiral readouts for VASO fMRI at UHF
Authors: Monreal-Madrigal Alejandro , Kurban Denizhan , Huber Laurentius , Ivanov Dimo , Boulant Nicolas , Poser Benedikt A.
Published: September 2024

We present a slice-saturation slab-inversion VASO (SS-SI-VASO) sequence with a 3D stack-of-spirals readout implemented in Pulseq and show that it can accurately capture changes in cerebral blood volume. Its performance is compared to a state-of-the-art SS-SI-VASO sequence with a 3D EPI readout. We observed an increase in tSNR and improvement in z-scores in spiral compared to 3D EPI acquisition, demonstrating that spiral readouts are suitable for CBV-weighted laminar fMRI. Additionally, we found an increase in sensitivity and relative specificity with the proposed method using spiral readouts, compared to EPI readouts. Several correction approaches were employed in the spiral reconstruction to improve image quality. Incidentally, BOLD contrast in the proposed short-TE spirals is almost as high as that of the 3D EPI at longer TE. In this work, we demonstrate that spiral readouts are promising, especially in applications where there is a need for short TE, such as mesoscopic fMRI at higher fields. The vendor-agnostic Pulseq implementation of VASO, together with an open-source reconstruction framework, aims at increasing the availability and utilization of VASO in high-resolution fMRI experiments.
Protecting the Ocean in the Contemporary International Order: Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer from the Stockholm Declaration to the BBNJ Agreement
Authors: Derrig Ríán , Grainger Carl , Hassanali Kahlil , Bateh Fuad
Published: September 2024

This article traces the concepts of capacity-building and technology transfer from the Stockholm Declaration and London Convention of 1972, through the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and its three implementing agreements of 1994, 1995, and 2023. These instruments suggest a story of changing ideas about how capacity-building and technology transfer should relate to protecting and using our ocean. With a view to informing contemporary efforts to use law to protect and use our ocean sustainably, the article concludes with a review of the capacity-building and technology transfer provisions of the 2023 Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement to highlight how law has been used to leverage funding for these activities, and how they could again be viewed as part of an agenda for global economic equality.
Japan’s Release of Wastewater from Fukushima: What Role for the Law of the Sea?
Authors: Lee Seokwoo , Schofield Clive
Published: September 2024

In March 2011, a powerful earthquake off the east coast of Japan triggered a tsunami leading to a nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. A consequence of this accident was the accumulation of contaminated wastewater at the nuclear power plant. Japan’s announcement that, following treatment, this wastewater would be released into the ocean over a 30-year period from 2023 raised environmental concerns. This article provides background context to this issue, briefly notes how certain environmental instruments are not applicable, before discussing the potential relevance of the international law of the sea.
Effective Implementation of the Stockholm Declaration and the London Convention Regime on Dumping: Dynamically Incorporating the Development of the Concept of Environment in the Twenty-First Century into the LOSC
Authors: Kanehara Atsuko
Published: September 2024

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC) has an established dynamism by which it can incorporate newly developed concepts concerning the environment and environmental harms. This dynamism consists of two methods that function in conjunction with each other: horizontal and vertical. Horizontal development of the LOSC is realised by its interplay with treaties and international documents, particularly under Part XII. Vertical development takes place within each treaty regime through protocols and annexes, and amendments thereto. Vertical development of the London Convention regime on dumping can support the horizontal development of the LOSC. For that purpose, precise assessment as to whether newly emerging matters fall under the London Convention regime, being mindful of its objects and purposes, is critically important. From this perspective, Japan’s discharge of treated water containing tritium from land, which is not dumping, falls outside the London Convention regime on dumping.
Foreword to the Special Issue on Protecting the Ocean: the London Convention and Stockholm Declaration at Fifty
Authors: Domínguez Arsenio
Published: September 2024

The foreword to this special issue of 19 short articles, a result of the International Maritime Organization-World Maritime University International Academic Conference, held in Malmö, Sweden, from 10–13 October 2022 to mark the fiftieth anniversaries of the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (London Convention) and the 1972 Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm Declaration).
‘Can You Hear Me? Are We Live Yet?’: An Autoethnography of Online Live Music Performances amid the Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Anacin Carljohnson
Published: September 2024

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, artists could not perform live at music venues, and online performance on social media platforms has become an ordinary event. This transition from the physical stage to virtual platforms benefited many artists and audiences. However, it has also raised some questions about the music industry and its impacts on musicians. Through an autoethnographic analysis of my experience as an independent Filipino musician delivering livestreamed performances during the pandemic, this paper analyzes the constraints – personal, technological, and performative – on musicians in doing online gigs on social media. I also show the relationship between these constraints and the larger issues of inequality and vulnerability among musicians. The discussion is reflexive, as it presents the sociological underpinnings of online gigs by amateur and independent musicians. The paper also describes opportunities and inequalities created by online livestreaming, especially during the pandemic.
An Early Stage of Ismaʿili Studies: The Correspondence between Paul Kraus and Wladimir Ivanow (1934–1939, 1943)
Authors: Schmidtke Sabine
Published: September 2024

This paper presents an annotated edition of the extant epistolary exchange between Wladimir Ivanow and Paul Kraus during the years 1934 through 1939, with an additional final letter in 1943. The letters not only provide new insights into the scholarly biographies of both scholars but also shed some new light on an early stage of Ismaʿili studies.
Exochorionic morphology in four genera of Coeini: Pycina, Historis, Smyrna, and Tigridia (Nymphalidae: Nymphalinae)
Authors: NIEVES-URIBE SANDRA , LLORENTE-BOUSQUETS JORGE , FLORES-GALLARDO ADRIÁN
Published: September 2024

We describe and compare the exochorion of four species currently recognized as belonging to the nymphalid tribe Coeini: Pycina zamba zelis, Historis a. acheronta, Smyrna karwinskii, and Tigridia acesta latifascia, based on specimens collected in the field and rehydrated specimens from entomological collections. We use a staining technique and scanning electron microscopy to observe and describe the main exochorionic characters as ridges, prebasal modifications, and microstructure. We include plates with photographs, drawings, and diagrams to provide a clear visualization of these structures. We also compiled exochorionic data of other Coeini species for comparison. The eggs of Coeini share the presence of colonnade ridges with those of Nymphalini but differ from the latter in in modifications in the prebase and base, which are its distinguishing characteristics and distinct from those in Nymphalini. Exochorionic characters indicate that Coeini contains three subtribes—Pycinina, Coeina, and Coloburina—which exhibit a morphological continuum in the prebasal/basal diagnostic characters within the tribe.
Cyrtodactylus panitvongi, a new cave-dwelling Bent-toed Gecko from Lopburi Province, central Thailand (Squamata: Gekkonidae)
Authors: PAUWELS OLIVIER S. G. , CHOTJUCKDIKUL NATTHAPHAT , DONBUNDIT NATTASUDA , SUMONTHA MONTRI , MEESOOK WORAWITOO
Published: September 2024

We describe Cyrtodactylus panitvongi sp. nov. from Tham Khao Chan (14°58’42.2”N 101°18’40.6”E), a limestone cave in Lopburi Province, central Thailand. The new species is characterized by the following combination of morphological characters and pattern: maximal known snout-vent length of 85 mm, 15–18 interorbital scales, 35–37 interciliary scales, 10–12 supralabials, 9–11 infralabials, 29–33 paravertebral tubercles of which 22–25 between limb insertions, 18 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles at midbody, 40–42 ventral scale rows at midbody, poorly defined, non-denticulate ventrolateral folds, a series of 13 or 14 enlarged femoroprecloacal scales including 2 pores on the proximalmost scales on each side separated by a single smaller medial scale in males, or six precloacal pits on a continuous series of 32–34 enlarged femoroprecloacal scales in females, no precloacal groove or depression, two or three postcloacal spurs on each side of the base of the tail in males and females, no interdigital webbing, 16–19 total subdigital lamellae on 4th toe, a row of widened median subcaudal plates, a banded dorsal pattern including an uninterrupted nuchal collar and three dark bands on dorsum, 10 or 11 dark-colored rings on original tail, and a golden iris. This trogloxene species is added to a long list of squamates endemic to the Saraburi Group Limestones.
Two new species of Stylopoma (Bryozoa, Cheilostomatida) from the Southwestern Atlantic
Authors: RODRIGUES MARIA J.S. , LARRÉ IGOR R.N.M. , VIEIRA LEANDRO M.
Published: September 2024

Two new species of the cheilostomate bryozoan genus Stylopoma are described from Brazil—Stylopoma anacarolinae sp. nov. and Stylopoma priscilae sp. nov. Stylopoma anacarolinae sp. nov. exhibits zooids with single or paired small avicularia and an orifice with a U-shaped sinus, in contrast to the long avicularia and orifice with a teardrop-shaped sinus of Stylopoma priscilae sp. nov. In addition to taxonomic description, a revised comparative table of living species worldwide is provided.
The Combined Link of the Indian Ocean Dipole and ENSO with the North Atlantic–European Circulation during Early Boreal Winter in Reanalysis and the ECMWF SEAS5 Hindcast
Authors: Raganato Alessandro , Abid Muhammad Adnan , Kucharski Fred
Published: September 2024

During early boreal winter, the extratropical atmospheric circulation is influenced by Rossby waves propagating from the Indian Ocean toward the North Atlantic–European (NAE) regions, resulting in a North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)-like pattern. The mechanisms driving these teleconnections are not well understood and are crucial for improving model skills. This study investigates these mechanisms using the ERA5 dataset and tests the predictive capabilities of the ECMWF SEAS5, exploring potential reasons for a weak model response. Linear regression methods are employed to examine the extratropical links with the Indian Ocean dipole (IOD), both in isolation and in combination with El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Our findings demonstrate a connection between October IOD sea surface temperature anomalies and December Indian Ocean precipitation patterns. Furthermore, a correlation between the October IOD and December NAO time series suggests a link between the IOD and NAE circulation. The early winter European response to a positive IOD is characterized by a north–south precipitation dipole and a large positive surface air temperature anomaly. Positive feedback from transient eddy forcing reinforces the wavenumber-3-like propagation across extratropical regions, with ENSO playing a minor role compared to the IOD. This phenomenon is particularly evident in regions such as the North Pacific and North Atlantic, where wave energy propagation is intensified. Although SEAS5 replicates the NAO response, its magnitude is significantly weaker. The model struggles to simulate the delayed rainfall dipole response to the IOD accurately and shows structural discrepancies compared to reanalysis data.
Investigating Hailstorm Updrafts and Nowcasting Hail Size Using a Novel Radar-Based Updraft Detection
Authors: Klaus Vinzent , Krause John
Published: September 2024

Nowcasting hail size poses a major challenge in operational practice due to physical limitations of weather radar technology once hailstones are sufficiently large to enter the resonance scattering regime. Numerous radar-based hail size proxies have been derived in recent decades, but their performance is generally poor in identifying giant hail (≥10 cm). Using a novel thunderstorm updraft detection method, we examine the updraft characteristics of hailstorms in the U.S. Great Plains based on a NEXRAD dataset of 114 hail events between 2013 and 2023. We find that some radar-derived variables within the detected updraft are well suited for discriminating between small hail (1.0–3.0 cm) and severe hail (≥3.5 cm), e.g., minimum copolar cross-correlation coefficient in the midlevel updraft, whereas other radar metrics such as the area of reflectivity > 50 dBZ in the upper portion of the updraft suggest the presence of giant hail. However, the statistical distributions of each variable overlap for different hail sizes, and there is no single metric which performs well across the entire hail size spectrum. Therefore, we trained a random forest model to nowcast hail size categories using a multitude of these radar metrics. The model shows promising performance for discriminating hail sizes > 5 cm but requires further refinement for smaller hail. We showcase the model’s capabilities for a set of hailstorms in the Great Plains.

Significance Statement

Large hail, which may reach sizes up to 20 cm in extreme cases, is a severe threat in thunderstorms and responsible for significant damage in thunderstorm-prone areas around the world. Weather radars are generally used for issuing warnings for the threat of large hail, but it is surprisingly difficult to apply their data to distinguish between hail sizes. We utilize a new approach that detects the thunderstorm updraft region, which is where hailstones grow, and analyze the radar data therein. Based on these data, we then develop a model for assessing hail sizes that could be used for warnings and illustrate the model results for six hailstorms.
Associations Between Fundamental Motor Skill Domains and Physical Fitness Components in 5-11-Year-Old Children
Authors: Mazzardo Oldemar , Weis Bárbara Maria , Sampaio Adelar Aparecido , de Lima Dartel Ferrari , de Souza Dayane Cristina , Furtado Ovande
Published: September 2024

High competence in fundamental motor skills (FMS) and adequate physical fitness (PF) levels are a solid foundation for acquiring an active and healthy lifestyle during childhood and adolescence. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to compare gender and age groups and identify correlations between FMS and PF in young elementary school students. We used a structured questionnaire to gather sociodemographic information from parents, and we characterized the children’s economic profile with the Brazil Social Economic Status Criterion. We collected FMS data using the Furtado-Gallagher Children Observational Movement Pattern Assessment System (FG-COMPASS), and we used the Brazil Sports Project Battery Test to measure PF levels. Statistical analyses involved descriptive data and inferential tests to determine group differences in FMS and PF levels. Hierarchical regression helped identify the associations between FMS and PF, as controlled by sociodemographic factors. Participants were 720 students (and parents) of both genders (383 girls, 337 boys; M age = 8.8, SD = 1.52 years) from grades 1 to 5 in an elementary school in a municipality in the western region of the Paraná state in Brazil. The results showed significant differences in children’s motor skills and PF based on gender and age. The hierarchical regression model showed different combinations of flexibility, abdominal resistance, upper limb strength, agility, speed, and lower limb strength, which explained 33.7% of the variability in the global FMS index, 41% of the variability in manipulative skills, and 12.7% of the variability in locomotor skills. In addition, there was a positive association between FMS and PF related to neuromuscular development for both sexes, regardless of age.
Should Adolescents Listen to Their Hearts? A Closer Look at the Associations Between Interoception, Emotional Awareness and Emotion Regulation in Adolescents
Authors: Braet Jolien , Giletta Matteo , Desmedt Olivier , Wante Laura , Rapp Lorenz , Pollatos Olga , Braet Caroline
Published: September 2024

The aim of the current study was to replicate findings from prior work among adults showing that individuals with better interoceptive skills have more emotional awareness, and show better emotion regulation abilities, in a sample of adolescents and by relying on instructions that reduce the contamination of known confound variables. A total of 102 Belgian adolescents ( M age = 14.10 years, SD age = .63; 50 males) completed self-report questionnaires of emotional processes (FEEL-KJ and DERS) and the modified heartbeat counting task. From this task, interoceptive accuracy, interoceptive sensibility (confidence ratings), and interoceptive awareness scores (within-person correlations) were derived per participant. Results revealed no associations between the three dimensions of interoception and adolescents’ levels of emotional awareness, adaptive, and maladaptive emotion regulation. The lack of associations which contrast some prior work with adults may be due to developmental differences. However, these might also support the low validity of the heartbeat counting task, or could be attributed to the measurement of the emotion measures (i.e., self-report). Future studies should, nevertheless, also test whether these non-significant results can be explained by the developmental differences in adolescents. Longitudinal research is needed to capture interoceptive changes during adolescence, as well as to replicate the current findings using rigorous multimethod approaches that increase the validity of interoception measurement.
Water, Politics, and Disease: The Diffusion of Water Supply Infrastructure in Urban Germany, 1850-1913
Authors: Gallardo-Albarrán Daniel
Published: September 2024

This article examines the causes and consequences of the diffusion of modern water supplies in Germany during the period from 1850 to 1913. It offers a comprehensive view of sanitary investments with a newly digitized dataset on water supply infrastructure construction dates for almost three hundred urban settlements. The diffusion of these investments was rather slow until the 1870s and then accelerated in subsequent decades, mostly because of financial constraints and then increasing demand for water. Regressing water supply infrastructure with mortality indicators shows that water supply improvements are associated with declines in mortality, but that their effect is small. In the absence of efficient systems of sewage disposal, water supply improvements had a limited impact on mortality rates.
Water and Waste: A History Reluctant Policymaking in U.S. Cities
Authors: Beach Brian
Published: September 2024

U.S. cities experienced a sanitary revolution during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The abandonment of cesspools, privy vaults for waste containment and cisterns, pumps, and shallow wells for water delivery brought about a large increase in living standards. While the gains are impressive, investments were often made reluctantly. Scientific advances clarifying the origins of waterborne illness improved, and filtration plants and universal access to water and safe sewerage offered a solution. Yet few cities made those investments. Only with chlorination, a low-cost purification solution, did rapid adoption occur. These delays came at a large human cost.
Triplex event-triggered recursive quantizer-based networked control system under communication delay and packet dropouts
Authors: Xiang Biao , Liu Xia
Published: September 2024

In light of network congestion, communication delay, and packet dropouts, a triplex event-triggered recursive quantizer-based networked control system (TERQNCS) is proposed in this paper. To constrain quantization error while alleviating network congestion, the recursive quantizer is constructed in the TERQNCS. Considering it is insufficient to adequately alleviate network congestion only with either the quantizer or the event trigger, a triplex event-triggered mechanism is designed through the recursive quantizer. For revealing the impacts of communication delay and packet dropouts, four Bernoulli random variables are adopted to model the network channels in the TERQNCS. Then, the model-based predictive controller is designed by virtue of the predictive states, estimated states, and Bernoulli-based model. The proposed TERQNCS can achieve the desired system performance under communication delay and packet dropouts while adequately alleviating network congestion and constraining quantization error. The stability of the TERQNCS is proved by theoretical analysis. Besides, the advantages of the TERQNCS are substantiated by a tunnel diode circuit networked control system.
Applying Deep Learning with Convolutional Neural Networks to Laryngoscopic Imaging for Automated Segmentation and Classification of Vocal Cord Leukoplakia
Authors: Xiong Ming , Luo Jia-wei , Ren Jia , Hu Juan-Juan , Lan Lan , Zhang Ying , Lv Dan , Zhou Xiao-bo , Yang Hui
Published: September 2024

Objectives: Vocal cord leukoplakia is clinically described as a white plaque or patch on the vocal cords observed during macroscopic examination, which does not take into account histological features or prognosis. A clinical challenge in managing vocal cord leukoplakia is to assess the potential malignant transformation of the lesion. This study aims to investigate the potential of deep learning (DL) for the simultaneous segmentation and classification of vocal cord leukoplakia using narrow band imaging (NBI) and white light imaging (WLI). The primary objective is to assess the model’s accuracy in detecting and classifying lesions, comparing its performance in WLI and NBI. Methods: We applied DL to segment and classify NBI and WLI of vocal cord leukoplakia, and used pathological diagnosis as the gold standard. Results: The DL model autonomously detected lesions with an average intersection-over-union (IoU) >70%. In classification tasks, the model differentiated between lesions in the surgical group with a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 94% for WLI, and a sensitivity of 99% and a specificity of 97% for NBI. In addition, the model achieved a mean average precision of 81% in WLI and 92% in NBI, with an IoU threshold >0.5. Conclusions: The model proposed by us is helpful in assisting in accurate diagnosis of vocal cord leukoplakia from NBI and WLI.
Naturalistic psychedelic therapy: The role of relaxation and subjective drug effects in antidepressant response
Authors: Calder Abigail E , Rausch Benjamin , Liechti Matthias E , Holze Friederike , Hasler Gregor
Published: September 2024

Background:

Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is permitted in Switzerland under its limited medical use program. Data from patients in this program represent a unique opportunity to analyze the real-world practice of PAT.

Aims:

This study compared the subjective effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin between patients undergoing PAT and healthy volunteers. For the patients, it also investigated the relationship between antidepressant effects and six measures of acute drug effects.

Methods:

We compared data on acute psychedelic drug effects between 28 PAT patients with data from 28 healthy participants who participated in a randomized, double-blind crossover trial. All participants received varying doses of psilocybin and LSD. Subjective effects were assessed on an hourly basis during the acute drug effects, and the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ) was completed retrospectively. For patients, depressive symptoms were assessed using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).

Results:

Ratings of overall drug effect and mystical experience were similar across groups. Compared with healthy controls, patients reported lower ratings of ego dissolution. Patients showed a significant decrease in MADRS scores, and the greatest predictor of antidepressant outcome was relaxation during the PAT session. We did not observe a relationship between mystical-type experiences and antidepressant effects. Most patients experienced mild adverse effects which resolved within 48 h.

Conclusion:

PAT reduced depressive symptoms in this heterogeneous patient group. Patients may experience more challenging psychedelic effects and reduced ego dissolution. Hourly assessment of drug effects may predict clinical outcomes better than retrospectively assessed mystical experiences, and the impact of relaxation during PAT should be investigated further.
A new design and analysis of low-profile soft rotary pneumatic actuator for enhanced rotation and torque
Authors: Lee Young Min , Moon Hyungpil , Choi Hyouk Ryeol , Koo Ja Choon
Published: September 2024

Soft actuators producing bending motions have gained significant attention for their advantages in mimicking the properties and movements of human muscles. However, the research on soft rotary actuators has yet to keep pace with other soft actuators. This paper makes two key contributions to the design and modeling of these actuators. First, we introduce a novel design for a soft rotary pneumatic actuator. This design outperforms existing cylindrical shaped soft actuators, especially in terms of torque. Second, we present an analytical model based on finite deformation. This model accurately describes the relationship between rotational movement and corresponding torque. The accuracy of this model is validated through Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations and corresponding tests. By providing a mechanically efficient design and a highly accurate analytical model, this work offers a comprehensive solution for the development of new soft pneumatic actuators.
Comparison of Qanadli score with conventional risk stratifiers in non-massive pulmonary emboli
Authors: Hajsadeghi Shokoufeh , Shamsedini Ali , Bahadoran Pooriya , Amouei Erfan , Mirshafiee Shayan
Published: September 2024

Objective

The management and risk stratification of non-massive pulmonary embolism (PE) remain unclear. However, early assessment of PE severity can aid physicians in establishing better treatment milestones. There has been no direct comparison of mortality rates in patients with non-massive PE, and existing data are sometimes contradictory. Therefore, we examined the relationship between the Qanadli index and conventional risk stratifiers in PE.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 200 consecutively selected patients diagnosed with PE. The assessment included computed tomography pulmonary angiography, electrocardiography, echocardiography findings, outcomes, and a comparison with the Simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (SPESI) score. Descriptive, regression, and receiver operating characteristic analyses were performed.

Results

The mean Qanadli score was 13.5 ± 1.15. Pearson correlation analysis revealed significant associations between the total Qanadli score and several variables: right ventricular enlargement, follow-up ejection fraction, and SPESI score. Although the Qanadli score did not significantly predict mortality, the risk of death increased by 58.8% for each 1-unit increase in the SPESI score.

Conclusions

Although the Qanadli index is valuable in assessing PE and guiding treatment strategies, its standalone predictive value for mortality may be insufficient. Therefore, incorporating scoring systems such as the SPESI and echocardiographic findings is recommended for more accurate mortality prediction.
Put in Humour: Creating Indifference Through the Generation of Grotesque Memes
Authors: Beck Daniel
Published: September 2024

This article proposes a power-focused perspective for International Relations to specifically undertake an examination of grotesque and ridiculous representations of leader figures. This is illustrated by examples of Vladimir Putin in public media and online. By bringing together the theoretical insights of Achille Mbembe and Michel Foucault on the grotesque, the paper elaborates how displaying Putin in public in grotesque ways contributes to political power through creating indifference towards excessive behaviour and the truthfulness of representations among the audience. The theoretical concept of the grotesque enables an innovative and context-sensitive understanding of power mechanisms underlying the public representations of Putin’s governance. The article highlights how ridiculous performances can be a source of political power. Mbembe observed how elements of the grotesque are fundamental to any dominance structure. Grotesque leaders operate outside of the establishment and thereby can subvert the existing power hierarchy. Consequently, Putin seems to be immune to ridicule and even benefits from being ridiculed in public. By being represented and perceived as laughable, the grotesque protects dictators through a pre-emptive critique from fierce and sustainable opposition as the satisfaction of joking about the most powerful is highly fascinating and thereby disincentivises resistance. Simultaneously, audiences encounter indifferences in distinguishing between reality and the imaginative creations of meme creators. By analysing prominent examples of grotesque media representations, such as depictions of Putin seated on an oversized table or riding shirtless on horses, the study explores the connection between grotesque representations, humour, and indifference towards rude behaviour.
Critical geoeconomics, critique of geoeconomics or something else?
Authors: Glassman Jim
Published: September 2024

I argue that a genealogical critique of geoeconomics is highly valuable but a critical geoeconomics, as proposed by Mallin and Sidaway, is of less certain value. Even if a useful critical geoeconomics approach is framed, the real traction in a geoeconomic (or geopolitical, or geopolitical economic) explanation has to be gained by specific analytical approaches that are more granular than the general theoretical vistas provided by geoeconomics, geopolitics or geopolitical economy. I highlight this by noting the traction a detailed institutional and power elite analysis provides in explanation of recent ventures by the US National Security State.
Nonlinear temperature dependent and visco-elastic foundation effects on the free vibration of functionally graded sandwich plates with ceramic foam core
Authors: Menasria Abderrahmane , Tamrabet Abdelkader , Bouhadra Abdelhakim , Refrafi Salah , Alselami Nimer Ali , Mamen Belgacem , Tounsi Abdelouahed
Published: September 2024

This paper investigates the vibrations of a functionally graded sandwich plate (FG sandwich plate) with a ceramic foam core resting on a viscoelastic foundation. The focus is on the influence of temperature changes on sandwich plates that have foam core and FG face sheet on the free vibration. The damping coefficient and different schemes of sandwich plate have been considered in the current work. The analysis uses a quasi-3D theory, which reduces the number of unknown displacements and simplifies the equations by incorporating integral terms. Two models are employed to represent the non-uniformity of the ceramic foam core. To account for the influence of the supporting layer, a viscoelastic foundation is included. The governing equations are derived using Hamilton’s principle and solved using the Navier solution method. The paper comprehensively discusses how the volume fraction index k, geometric properties, ceramic foam distribution, viscoelastic foundation, and different temperature rise profiles impact the vibration response of the FG sandwich plate.
A Pilot Project to Implement a Pharmacist-Managed Remote Blood Pressure Monitoring Service
Authors: Boehmer Kaci , Johnson Chris
Published: September 2024

Background: Clinicians often hesitate to adjust antihypertensive medications based solely on clinic blood pressure (BP) readings. Limitations to obtaining home readings include access to sphygmomanometers and ability to provide accurate, reliable readings upon follow-up. Objective: This study examined whether an online platform linked to remote BP monitoring improved BP management and facilitated effective clinical interventions by pharmacists. Methods: Thirty patients with uncontrolled hypertension were enrolled and provided a remote BP monitor for home use. BP data downloaded to an online platform were monitored by two clinic pharmacists. Daily BP checks were requested (up to twice daily), and pharmacists called patients approximately weekly for 6 months. Through approved protocols, pharmacists individualized interventions to improve patient care. Descriptive statistics were used for demographic and clinical data. Results: The average systolic BP reduction was 39 mmHg (IQR = 17-52.5) for the 21 patients included in analysis. A target BP <140/<90 was achieved by 67%, and 76% had improved BP control. Patients utilized the cuff 2-4 times (n = 10) or >5 times weekly (n = 11). Through 261 patient contact attempts, the pharmacists requested more BP checks (n = 62), changed medications (n = 57), or provided non-pharmacologic counseling (n = 24) most often. Medication changes commonly included dose increases (n = 35) and additional agents (n = 17) for BP control. Spironolactone (n = 5) and thiazide diuretics (n = 5) were the most added medications. Conclusions: Most patients were willing to check their BP when provided with devices. The majority achieved a clinically significant decrease in home BP readings, demonstrating that pharmacist-driven home-monitoring programs can improve the optimization of hypertension regimens.
A novel digital twin method based on diffusion models for imbalanced fault diagnosis of rotating machinery
Authors: Jiang Zeyu , Ren Zhaohui , Zhang Yongchao , Zhou Shihua , Yu Tianzhuang
Published: September 2024

The operating time of rotating machinery under fault conditions significantly falls short compared to its normal functioning state, and procuring fault signals proves exceptionally challenging due to concerns related to safety and costs. Consequently, an imbalance between normal and fault status samples in rotating machinery frequently arises, gravely restricting the performance of intelligent diagnostic techniques. This paper aims to develop a novel digital twin method based on diffusion models to alleviate the data imbalance issues. When faced with a scarcity of fault samples, the digital twin model can create virtual signals to accurately mimic the rotating machinery’s fault conditions. Initially, a non-autoregressive network, Idfwave, is built to execute the denoising task within the diffusion model, enabling the stable production of high-fidelity fault vibration signals. Additionally, integrating bidirectional dilated convolution, cutting-edge convolutional modulation techniques, and fast sampling strategies substantially enhances the quality of the generated signals. Subsequent fault diagnosis experiments were conducted across diverse datasets and various data imbalance scenarios to verify the generated samples’ availability. The results indicate that the proposed model consistently produces signals indistinguishable from real ones, even when trained on a limited set of fault signals, and boosts the accuracy of fault identification and diagnosis in classification models. Furthermore, the proposed model surpasses other prevalent generation models in generating vibration signals, confirmed through comparative analyses.
Armond S. Goldman (1930–2023) and the development of the immunobiology of human milk
Authors: Malloy Michael H
Published: September 2024

The understanding of the immunobiology of human milk is primarily a 20th-century phenomenon, but, even with our contemporary understanding, it remains a bit of a mystery. Breastfeeding of human milk, although the most obvious and natural form of nutrition for human infants, has been hindered by cultural and societal norms since ancient times. Thus, not all infants have experienced the advantages this form of nutrition may offer. Although these advantages have been anecdotally suggested since ancient times, it was only in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that the superiority of human milk was scientifically documented. The underlying immunobiological properties of human milk underpinning its observed superiority only became appreciated with advances in immunology that occurred in the mid to late 20th century. Armond S. Goldman (1930–2023) was in the vanguard of those promoting and developing an understanding of the immunobiology of human milk and its superiority in promoting the health of human infants.
Understanding Behavioural Biases Driving Equity Investors in India: A Factor Analysis Approach
Authors: Makwana Chetna
Published: September 2024

In the dynamic realm of equity investment decisions, this study challenges the traditional assumption of investor impartiality and rationality, arguing that investors’ choices are often shaped more by beliefs and psychological inclinations than by objective reasoning alone. Drawing from behavioural finance theory, which contests the adequacy of the standard finance model in capturing the nuances of decision-making, this research delves into the psychological forces influencing private investors. Recognizing the prevalent biases coloring their decisions, the study investigates common prejudices impacting investor choices. Leveraging survey data from 375 equity investors, the research employs exploratory factor analysis and regression models to disentangle the effects of cognitive biases, such as the gambler’s fallacy, overconfidence, aversion to ambiguity, lack of representativeness, aversion to loss, and anchoring. The findings challenge the assumption of investor rationality, offering valuable insights into the complexities of financial decision-making. Notably, the study underscores a robust and positive association between these biases and equity investment decisions, shedding light on the intricate interplay between psychological factors and investment behaviour.
How Innovative Activities Impact Firm Performances in Latecomer Countries? An Analysis of Five Manufacturing Clusters from Indian Punjab
Authors: Mehta Swati , Kaur Harmandeep
Published: September 2024

Firms engage in innovative activities, either to maintain the status quo or to catch up with the front-runners. Innovation is difficult to comprehend as it may include efforts to introduce something ‘new to the world’ or it may include simply the efforts to introduce something ‘new to the firm’. It is equally difficult to comprehend how the clustered firms located in latecomer countries are coping with the fast technological changes happening within the industry at the global level. Therefore, taking the case of five manufacturing clusters belonging to the Indian state of Punjab, an attempt is made to comprehend the impact of innovative activities on firm performances. We have done a survey for collecting the primary data for different variables reflecting four types of innovations and four types of performance indicators from the firms belonging to bicycles, hand tools & machine tools, pharmaceuticals, sports goods and textile clusters located in the north Indian state of Punjab. The focus on different clusters belonging to a particular region was done with intent to control the broad social, economic, cultural, political and historical aspects of the different clusters. Estimating the structural equation model with partial least-squares method, we found that the impact of process innovation, organizational innovation and marketing innovation is significant for firm innovative performances, production performance, market performance and financial performance. Specifically, we found that the introduction of new machines with advanced production systems, improvements in the manner of doing routine activities, improving product quality and modernization of human management systems within the firms have a positive impact on firm performance.
The political stance of Ibero-American national teams on social media towards Qatar during the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Authors: Zákravský Jiří , Gutiérrez-Chico Fernando , Pulleiro Méndez Carlos
Published: September 2024

This article investigates the role of national teams on social media and how they shape international perceptions of Qatar during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This tournament was an essential element of Qatar's sports diplomacy that faced criticism because of corruption allegations, organisational skills, labour conditions and human rights issues, including the treatment of the LGBTQIA+ community. This study is based on a conceptual content analysis of the Twitter (now called X) and Instagram accounts of the footballers and coaches of the eight Ibero-American national teams participating in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The aim is to identify how they communicated about the State of Qatar in their social media posts. Accordingly, this article studies the posting frequency, how they address Qatar's image, and their engagement with the aforementioned criticism of the host country. The findings show that from 2173 posts collected, a total of 275 posts mentioned Qatar. Neutral messages were dominant with 268 posts, while there were only seven positive posts. In conclusion, the Ibero-American players and coaches have contributed to the normalisation of the event through sharing content and images of Qatar in a neutral, informative tone.
Developing social capital through sport? The case for an intersectional lens
Authors: Young Dana , Block Karen , Gibbs Lisa
Published: September 2024

This commentary paper draws on existing theory and literature to explore the application of an intersectional lens to research regarding social capital development through sport. Sport is frequently endorsed as a site to facilitate social capital development for those from newly arrived and migrant backgrounds due to its potential to diversify social networks. However, systemic discrimination has marginalized and minoritized groups of people based on attributes such as race, gender and class, making access to capital associated with positive life outcomes less attainable for some. An intersectional lens is vital for understanding the impact of systemic discrimination on access to resources via social networks, and for research into the mechanisms involved in social capital development for diverse individuals and settings. This paper argues that there has been insufficient attention given to ways in which intersectionality shapes experiences and outcomes associated with social networks, particularly in sport settings. We apply this argued case to a discussion regarding the specific role sports participation may have in social capital development for migrant background women from culturally and racially marginalized groups.
Sociodemographic, Occupational, and Health Profile of Brazilian Housekeepers and House Cleaners—A Hypothesis-Generating Study
Authors: Cardoso Viviane de Freitas , Moriguchi Cristiane Shinohara , Sato Tatiana de Oliveira
Published: September 2024

For many women, house cleaning is an important way to participate in the labor market. In Brazil, there are 2 types of domestic workers: housekeepers have relatively secure employment and house cleaners are day laborers. The aim of this hypothesis-generating study was to describe the sociodemographic, occupational and health profile of a sample of domestic workers in Brazil. House cleaners received lower wages, had longer daily working hours and worked in a larger number of homes each week in comparison to housekeepers. About 51% of the domestic workers in this sample reported the use of pain medication and 34% reported spinal problems. Musculoskeletal symptoms were frequent in the lower back and upper limbs. Forty-seven percent reported high blood pressure. This study highlights the vulnerability of domestic workers, especially house cleaners, regarding workload, salary, and health conditions. Level of education is a contributing factor to this vulnerability.