bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
O elo perdido da fotografia
Authors: Lissovsky Maurício
Published: November 2023

Fotografia e cinema colocados frente a frente: “aprender algo a respeito da fotografia pelo viés do cinema” – a isso se propunha Dubois. Ou ao contrário. Para além das ontologias, nesta aproximação “transterritorial”, como é possível que permaneçam ainda estranhos um ao outro? Será necessário desde já estabelecer as condições deste encontro: onde ele acontece e, sobretudo, quando acontece. Disponho-me, desde já, a sugerir uma temporalidade própria para este rendez-vous. Pretendo assim escapar do regime de visualidade a que o cinema submete a fotografia.
O corpo e a escrita
Authors: Santos Lucas Ferraço Nassif Ferreira dos
Published: November 2023

Este trabalho foi desenvolvido ao longo do projeto de pesquisa “O drama dos objetos: cinema e pintura”, coordenado pelo professor da ECO-UFRJ Denilson Lopes. Ele parte da questão: “É possível traduzir a construção de uma cena a partir de teorias voltadas, inicialmente, para o abstracionismo pictórico?”. O exercício é desvendar as relações entre as propostas de encenação de John Cassavetes e a possibilidade de cenas de caráter abstrato, observadas a partir do conceito da “sensação” utilizado por José Gil.
Além do acaso estúpido da química: o informe como manipulação do tempo em Decasia, de Bill Morrison
Authors: Costa Alexandre Rodrigues da , Mendes Miriam Aparecida
Published: November 2023

This article analyzes Decasia: the state of decay, a film by Bill Morrison, in order to understand how the formless can be thought in relation to dismantling of time on the appropriation of deteriorated and fragmented images.
Conceito e lógica em Frege
Authors: Zilhão António
Published: November 2023

Um dos feitos mais notáveis alcançados por Frege no âmbito do seu trabalho lógico-filosófico foi o de ter proposto uma visão inteiramente nova do conceito. Como aqui se mostrará, é esta visão do conceito, em que o mesmo é tomado como uma função de um tipo específico, que, por sua vez, se encontra subjacente aos sucessos e insucessos da Lógica de Frege e do seu programa logicista.
UnB, uma universidade inovadora: Relações Internacionais como campo de estudo no Brasil
Authors: Sato Eiiti
Published: November 2023

O campo de estudos sobre Relações Internacionais foi implantado no Brasil pela Universidade de Brasília que, em 1974, estabeleceu o primeiro curso regular sobre o tema. Este ensaio faz um relato analítico dessa experiência para a UnB e para o meio intelectual e político no Brasil que, por sua vez, passava por grandes transformações econômicas, sociais e políticas.
O que é uma sentença teórica? Estrutura e implicações sistemáticas de uma constante filosófica elementar nunca adequadamente tematizada
Authors: Puntel Lorenz B.
Published: November 2023

Neste ensaio é tratado um tema aparentemente marginal e completamente desleixado por filósofos de todas as correntes, a saber: a estrutura e a relevância sistemática das sentenças teóricas. O conceito central explicativo é o conceito de operador teórico aplicado a sentenças.
Utilitarismo e teoria da justiça
Authors: Peluso Luis Alberto
Published: November 2023

O Utilitarismo, com especial referência ao Utilitarismo Clássico, tem sido considerado uma Teoria do Direito que padece dos defeitos de uma interpretação empirista e positivista. Assim, não teria uma resposta para algumas perguntas que interrogam sobre questões abstratas atinentes aos fundamentos da ordem jurídica. Neste texto se pretende argumentar que essa alegação é infundada.
Eventos naturais e responsabilidade moral
Authors: Dias Maria Clara
Published: November 2023

Neste artigo pretendo discutir a questão dos supostos desastres naturais, a partir de uma perspectiva moral. Para tal, pretendo, em primeiro lugar, analisar o próprio conceito de desastre natural, distinguindo juízos descritivos acerca de eventos naturais e juízos valorativos, que envolveriam uma interpretação negativa acerca da ocorrência de certos eventos naturais. Em seguida, pretendo analisar a responsabilidade dos seres humanos em face das consequências negativas de tais eventos. Com isso pretendo analisar algumas escolhas por formas de vida feitas por seres humanos, o risco inerente as mesmas e o nosso compromisso moral com a prevenção de eventos naturais, cujas consequências possam vir a ser desastrosas. Para concluir pretendo esboçar algumas medidas morais e políticas necessárias à prevenção de desastres e apontar, senão para uma solução, ao menos para uma forma de vida mais responsável e comprometida.
Metafísica e Crítica da Metafísica
Authors: Röd Wolfgang
Published: November 2023

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Inventing a Selfie Studio
Authors: Baykan Calafato Özge Baykan
Published: November 2023

Through a case study of Istanbul’s Foto Görçek, playfully dubbed ‘the world’s first selfie studio’, this article focuses on the changing photographic practices from the mid-1940s–1960s in modern Turkey, which experienced a dramatic political transition during the 1950s with the introduction of the multi-party regime following three decades of strictly secular Kemalist rule. This study explores how Foto Görçek challenged and transformed studio practices in Turkey, particularly during its increasing popularity in the 1950s–1960s, by allowing people to take up Elizabeth Edwards’ notion of the ‘theater of the self’, or when the self also takes on the role of the photographer. Accordingly, the article looks at the affordances of the photo studio as a space where citizens reimagined their desired selves and when new ways of imagining the self were made available to them. Moreover, this study investigates how such new imagined selves in the aftermath of the Second World War served to renegotiate a desired modern Turkish identity resulting from the rigorous state-controlled nation-building process during the 1920s–1930s.
Framing Moroccan Judiciary on tv Dramas: a Public Asset under Constraints
Authors: Chalfaouat Abderrahim
Published: November 2023

An efficient, impartial, and independent judiciary is a major demand for Moroccan citizens. In online advocacy, citizens denounce the flawed judiciary, sometimes virally circulating content on its corruption and susceptibility to interference. On tv, non-fiction programs respond to frequent requests for legal advice from audiences. Meanwhile, dramas employ frames that reflect codes on how society should perceive the judiciary and the rule of law. This article assesses the dominant frames of the judiciary on tv dramas. Two programs, Moudāwala and Al-Māḍī Lā Yamūt, are selected based on their relevance and popularity. The qualitative analysis of these programs incorporates character and narrative portrayals into thematic and frame analyses. As the two programs illustrate judicial struggles from within and without, they exemplify portrayals of the legal system that uncover discrepancies between normative practices and ruthless realities. The judiciary’s dominant frames focus on individual solutions and blame citizens for ignoring judicial texts or institutions. Frames reflect how media avoid watchdogging the judiciary and extend, directly or otherwise, hegemony over both the judiciary and the media.
Pteronemobius yuani Ma & Wang sp. nov. and Metiochodes tianfuensis Ma, Yuan & Gu sp. nov., new species of Trigonidiidae from China (Orthoptera: Trigonidiidae; Trigonidiinae)
Authors: WANG RUI , YUAN WEI , ZHENG YAN-NA , GU JUN-JIE , MA LI-BIN
Published: November 2023

The article describes two new species of Trigonidiidae Saussure, 1874, namely Pteronemobius yuani Ma & Wang sp. nov. and Metiochodes tianfuensis Ma, Yuan & Gu sp. nov. The former belongs to Pteronemobius Jacobson, 1904, and is similar to Pteronemobius gifuensis (Shiraki, 1911) but has a long and narrow epiphallic median lobe, and the outer posterior tibia is armed with three dorsal spurs; while the latter belongs to Metiochodes Chopard, 1932, which is similar to Metiochodes flavescens Chopard, 1932, but the epiphallic median lobe is concave. Here, we describe and illustrate these new species.
Atmosphere–Ocean Coupled Energy Budgets of Tropical Convective Discharge–Recharge Cycles
Authors: Wolding Brandon , Rydbeck Adam , Dias Juliana , Ahmed Fiaz , Gehne Maria , Kiladis George , Dellaripa Emily M. Riley , Chen Xingchao , McCoy Isabel L.
Published: November 2023

An energy budget combining atmospheric moist static energy (MSE) and upper ocean heat content (OHC) is used to examine the processes impacting day-to-day convective variability in the tropical Indian and western Pacific Oceans. Feedbacks arising from atmospheric and oceanic transport processes, surface fluxes, and radiation drive the cyclical amplification and decay of convection around suppressed and enhanced convective equilibrium states, referred to as shallow and deep convective discharge–recharge (D–R) cycles, respectively. The shallow convective D–R cycle is characterized by alternating enhancements of shallow cumulus and stratocumulus, often in the presence of extensive cirrus clouds. The deep convective D–R cycle is characterized by sequential increases in shallow cumulus, congestus, narrow deep precipitation, wide deep precipitation, a mix of detached anvil and altostratus and altocumulus, and once again shallow cumulus cloud types. Transitions from the shallow to deep D–R cycle are favored by a positive “column process” feedback, while discharge of convective instability and OHC by mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) contributes to transitions from the deep to shallow D–R cycle. Variability in the processes impacting MSE is comparable in magnitude to, but considerably more balanced than, variability in the processes impacting OHC. Variations in the quantity of atmosphere–ocean coupled static energy (MSE + OHC) result primarily from atmospheric and oceanic transport processes, but are mainly realized as changes in OHC. MCSs are unique in their ability to rapidly discharge both lower-tropospheric convective instability and OHC.
Rotational V-Y Fasciocutaneous Advancement Island Flap to Cover Deep Sacrococcygeal Defects due to Pilonidal Disease, Pressure Ulcers, and Other Inflammatory Conditions
Authors: Baek Sang Oon , Kim Su Ram , Kim Hye Sung , Lee Jun Yong
Published: November 2023

The sacrococcygeal area supports the lower body and endures mechanical forces during movement. However, current treatment methods for deep caudal sacrococcygeal defects have limitations, resulting in insufficient tissue for deep pocket obliteration and considering only the two-dimensional advancement plane in a three-dimensional defect topology. Our study proposes using a rotational V-Y fasciocutaneous advancement island flap to reconstruct deep caudal sacrococcygeal defects. By considering the three-dimensional nature of the defect, we distinguish a coccygeal plane of the V-Y flap from a sacral plane and set different directions and depths of movement for each plane. From March 2016 to July 2022, 12 patients underwent successful treatment with this surgery, and no complications or recurrences were observed in the study group. Our research found that patients in our study exhibited a smaller intercoccygeal angle than the average angle of the general Korean population, as previously reported. This implies a more pronounced curvature between the sacral and coccygeal planes. Therefore, our methods, which consider the three-dimensional structures of sacrococcygeal pathology, are significant. This technique provides a mechanically robust reconstruction after resecting deep sacrococcygeal pathology, with well-padded tissue to prevent dead space and wound disruption.
Misogyny and Organization Studies
Authors: McCarthy Lauren , Taylor Scott
Published: November 2023

Misogyny is a significant but unspoken presence in organization studies, in terms of people’s experiences of work and as a theorized concept. In this essay we argue that our community should dare to name misogyny for its unique insight into the enduring patriarchal power relations that condition so many organizations and so much of our organization theory. We develop this argument in two ways: first, we suggest that misogyny provides a unique descriptive linguistic label for experiences of gendered hatred, violence and social policing; and second, a philosophical understanding of misogyny enables analysis and understanding of, as well as challenges to, the physical or symbolic violence that many experience in and around organizations as sites for the reproduction of patriarchy. Drawing on recent developments in feminist analytic philosophy, we follow the movement away from understanding misogyny-as-individual-emotion to misogyny-as-affective-practice. This allows us to frame two related concepts, organized and organizational misogyny, demonstrating the potential that misogyny brings to understanding individual experiences, collective affect and influential social forces. Despite the discomfort produced by hate-based concepts such as misogyny, we conclude that their exclusion from organization studies has two effects: the continuing reproduction of violent hostility, and acceptance of a partial account of multiple forms of oppression and inequality. Our research agenda, founded on this need for naming such experiences, the significance of affect and aggregated oppressions, demonstrates the potential contribution of misogyny to addressing these issues and finding some hope for change.
The first epidemiology of urolithiasis in Northern Vietnam: Urinary stone composition, age, gender, season, and clinical features study
Authors: Nguyen Lien D , Nguyen Trung T , Mai Luc V , Bui Phuong V , Nguyen Van Thi , Truong Giang TB , Luu Minh TN , Duong Hung T , Vu Loi D , Hoang Thao TH
Published: November 2023

Objectives:

The aim of this study is to analyze the compositions of urinary stones and investigate their distributions in different ages, genders, seasons, and clinical features of Northern Vietnamese patients.

Methods:

A total of 231 patients with urinary stones from Northern Vietnam were collected and analyzed composition from 1/2021-12/2022. For all patients, age, sex, stone location, stone side, urine pH, and hospitalized date (month) were collected.

Results:

Kidney stones are more frequently found in men than women with the male: female urinary stones ratio in this study being 1.96:1. The highest stone prevalence appeared between 60 and 69 years old. The most common stone composition was calcium oxalate, followed by calcium phosphate, uric acid, struvite, and cysteine. Mix stones of CaOx and CaP were more prevalent than pure stones. Males submitted more CaOx, CaP, and UA stones, whereas females were susceptible to infectious stones. Stones were more frequently found on the left side of the upper urinary tract (51.9%) than on the right side (27.3%) and lower urinary tract (7.8%). Cultural tendency leads to a smaller number of stones during the Lunar new year (February), and Ghost month (August).
The Effect of Home- and Community-Based Services on Social Engagement
Authors: Sun Peter C. , Shen Huei-Wern
Published: November 2023

Objectives: Home- and community-based services (HCBS) help older adults to remain active in community settings. However, it is not known if there is a causal relationship between HCBS and social engagement. Methods: We used data from the 2010 and 2012 Health and Retirement Study and measured the effect of HCBS on social engagement via nearest-neighbor Mahalanobis matching, optimal pair matching, genetic matching, and optimal full matching. Results: Genetic matching showed that the odds of social engagement for participants who received at least one HCBS (congregate meal, home-delivered meal, transportation service, case management, homemaker or housekeeping services, or caregiver services) in the prior two years was 1.07 times more likely than participants who have not received any HCBS (robust SE = .030, p = .040). Discussion: HCBS may remove barriers to social engagement through increasing older adults’ personal resources and personal networks.
Detecting early-stage Parkinson’s disease from gait data
Authors: Nair Parvathy , Shojaei Baghini Maryam , Pendharkar Gita , Chung Hoam
Published: November 2023

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder with an estimated 10 million people worldwide living with PD. Since early signs are benign, many patients go undiagnosed until the symptoms get severe and the treatment becomes more difficult. The symptoms start intermittently and gradually become continuous as the disease progresses. In order to detect and classify these minute differences between gaits in early PD patients, we propose to use dynamic time warping (DTW). For a given set of gait data from a patient, the DTW algorithm computes the difference between any two gait cycles in the form of a warping path, which reveals small time differences between gait cycles. Once the time-warping information between all possible pairs of gait cycles is used as the main source of gait features, K-means clustering is used to extract the final features. These final features are fed to a simple logistic regression to easily and successfully detect early PD symptoms, which was reported as challenging using conventional statistical features. In addition, the use of DTW ensures that the obtained results are not affected by the differences in the style and speed of walking of a subject. Our approach is validated for the gait data from 83 subjects at early stages of PD, 10 subjects at moderate stages of PD, and 73 controls using the Leave-One-Out and N-fold cross-validation techniques, with a detection accuracy of over 98%. The high classification accuracy validated from a large data set suggests that these new features from DTW can be effectively used to help clinicians diagnose the disease at the earliest. Even though PD is not completely curable, early diagnosis would help clinicians to start the treatment from the beginning thereby reducing the intensity of symptoms at later stages.
The Importance of Spiritual Mindfulness in Palliative Care
Authors: Corpuz Jeff Clyde G.
Published: November 2023

Palliative care is a specialized medical approach that aims to improve the quality of life for individuals facing serious illnesses. While palliative care addresses the physical and emotional aspects of illness, one dimension often overlooked but of great significance is spirituality. Many end-of-life caregivers fail to incorporate spirituality as part of the holistic approach in end-of-life care. It is crucial that all physicians and medical professionals possess a holistic understanding of caring for the whole person. Integrating spirituality and mindfulness into palliative care can lead to profound benefits for both patients and caregivers, offering comfort, solace, and a sense of purpose in the face of mortality. This correspondence adds to the discussion on importance of spiritual mindfulness in palliative care.
Long-term outcomes, residual symptoms and quality of life in COVID-19 hospitalized patients: A 12-month longitudinal study
Authors: Manta Aspasia , Michelakis Ioannis , Dafni Maria , Spanoudaki Anastasia , Krontira Sofia , Tsoutsouras Theodoros , Flessa Konstantina , Papadopoulos Constantinos , Mantzos Dionysios , Tzavara Vasiliki
Published: November 2023

The long-term impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a critical public health concern. The presence of residual symptoms in COVID-19 survivors has been investigated with various results; however, there is limited data documenting outcomes longer than 6 months post-hospitalization. We aimed to investigate the 12-month lasting effects of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients. From October 2020 through March 2021, 92 patients were enrolled. At admission and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-hospitalization, demographic, clinical, laboratory and imaging data, and echocardiography and spirometry test results were recorded. Possible cognitive and functional impairment, as well as the quality of life (QoL), were also assessed. In our cohort (median age: 61 years), 31.5% had severe disease at admission, which correlated with worse laboratory findings and a longer hospital stay (p < 0.001). Inflammatory markers were associated with severity initially, but reverted to normal after 3 months. In total, 55%, 37%, 19%, and 15.5% of patients reported at least one persistent symptom in months 1, 3, 6, and 12, respectively, while “brain fog” persisted up to 12 months in 10% of patients. Spirometry and echocardiography tests returned to normal in most patients during the evaluation, and no one had substantial residual disease. Our study provides insight into the long-term effects of COVID-19 on patients’ physical and mental health. Despite the lack of significant residual disease or major complications after a year of thorough follow-up, COVID-19 survivors experienced lasting symptoms and a negative impact on their QoL.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors plus chemotherapy for HER2-negative advanced gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer: a cost-effectiveness analysis
Authors: Zhu Youwen , Liu Kun , Zhu Hong , Wu Haijun
Published: November 2023

Background:

Nivolumab plus chemotherapy (NC) was recently approved as the first-line intervention for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative advanced gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC/GEJC). Moreover, in the latest KEYNOTE-859 (NCT03675737), pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy (PC) was demonstrated to produce remarkable patient survival outcomes.

Objectives:

The clinicians and patients need to assess NC and PC preference for cancer drugs.

Design:

The cost-effective analysis.

Methods:

In an economic assessment of the United States, United Kingdom, and Chinese healthcare systems using a Markov model simulated patients with GC/GEJC, two treatment decision branches with three health states and a tracked time horizon of 15 years were developed. The overall cost and efficacy outcomes of first-line strategies PC and NC were evaluated at willingness-to-pay (WTP) thresholds of different national, including life-years (LYs), quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs), and incremental net-health benefit (INHB). Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were considered.

Results:

Given a WTP threshold of $150,000, $60,161, and $37,653 per QALY in the United States, United Kingdom, and China, respectively, both PC and NC achieved QALYs of 1.67 and 1.65 (2.51 and 2.48 LYs), 1.65 and 1.63 (2.48 and 2.45 LYs), and 1.60 and 1.58 (2.40 and 2.37 LYs), with total costs of $242,444 and $232,617, $148,367 and $127,737, and $16,693 and $24,016, respectively. Based on our sensitivity analysis, the programmed death-1 inhibitors cost produced the largest impact on the outcome. In addition, the cost-effectiveness probabilities of PC were 38.3%, 4.1%, and 100% in the three aforementioned countries, respectively.

Conclusion:

In the case of the Chinese payers’ perspective, PC appeared more dominant as first-line therapy for advanced GC/GEJC patients, whereas NC was preferred in the United States and United Kingdom.
Hyperoxic ventilatory response in infants is related to nocturnal hypoxaemia
Authors: Koucký Václav , Koucká Pavlína , Koucký Miroslav
Published: November 2023

Background

The carotid bodies primarily serve as oxaemia sensors that affect tidal breathing. Their function has not yet been studied in infants with nocturnal hypoxaemia. This cross-sectional study aimed to characterise the hyperoxic ventilatory response (HVR) in infants and its relationship to nocturnal hypoxaemia.

Methods

The HVR was analysed in term infants aged <24 months with childhood interstitial lung disease (chILD), those with severe recurrent wheezing (wheeze), and nonrespiratory controls. The HVR timing was characterised using hyperoxia response time (HRT1), and HVR magnitude was characterised by the relative change in minute volume between normoxia and 30-s hyperoxia (VE_dH30). Time spent with an arterial haemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO2) <90% during overnight monitoring (t90) was estimated.

Results

HVR data were available for 23 infants with chILD, 24 wheeze and 14 control infants. A significant decrease in minute volume under 30 s of hyperoxia was observed in all patients. HRT1 was shorter in chILD (5.6±1.2 s) and wheeze (5.9±1.5 s) groups than in the controls (12.6±5.5 s) (ANOVA p<0.001).VE_dH30 was increased in the chILD group (24.3±8.0%) compared with that in the controls (14.7±9.2%) (p=0.003).t90was abnormal in the wheeze (8.0±5.0%) and chILD (32.7±25.8%) groups and higher in the chILD group than in the controls (p<0.001). HRT1 negatively correlated witht90in all groups.

Conclusion

Significant differences in HVR timing and magnitude were noted in the chILD, wheeze and control groups. A relationship between nocturnal hypoxaemia and HRT1 was proposed. HVR characterisation may help identify patients with abnormal nocturnalSpO2.
Inhaled salbutamol induces leanness in well-trained healthy females but not males during a period of endurance training: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Hostrup Morten , Weinreich Cecilie , Bjerre Mathias , Kohlbrenner Dario , Bangsbo Jens , Jessen Søren
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Many athletes use short-acting inhaled β2-agonists multiple times weekly during training sessions to prevent exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, but it is unclear if treatment impairs training outcomes. Herein, we investigated performance adaptations in well-trained females and males training with prior inhalation of salbutamol.

Methods

19 females and 21 males with maximal oxygen uptake (V′O2max) of 50.5±3.3 and 57.9±4.9 mL·min−1·kg−1, respectively, participated in this double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. We randomised participants to placebo or salbutamol inhalation (800–1600 µg·training day−1) for 6 weeks of combined endurance (1× per week) and high-intensity interval training (2× per week). We assessed participants’ body composition,V′O2maxand muscle contractile function, and collected vastus lateralis muscle biopsies.

Results

Salbutamol induced a sex-specific loss of whole-body fat mass (sex×treatment: p=0.048) where only salbutamol-treated females had a fat mass reduction compared to placebo (–0.8 kg at 6 weeks; 95% CI: −0.5 to −1.6; p=0.039). Furthermore, salbutamol-treated females exhibited a repartitioning effect, lowering fat mass while gaining lean mass (p=0.011), which was not apparent for males (p=0.303). Salbutamol negatively impactedV′O2maxin both sexes (treatment main effect: p=0.014) due to a blunted increase inV′O2maxduring the initial 4 weeks of the intervention. Quadriceps contractile strength was impaired in salbutamol-treated females (−39 N·m; 95% CI: −61 to −17; p=0.002) compared to placebo at 6 weeks. Muscle electron transport chain complex I–V abundance increased with salbutamol (treatment main effect: p=0.035), while content of SERCAI, β2-adrenoceptor and desmin remained unchanged.

Conclusion

Inhaled salbutamol appears to be an effective repartitioning agent in females but may impair aerobic and strength-related training outcomes.
A comprehensive lettuce variation map reveals the impact of structural variations in agronomic traits
Authors: Zhang Zhaowu , van Treuren Rob , Yang Ting , Hu Yulan , Zhou Wenhui , Liu Huan , Wei Tong
Published: November 2023

Background

As an important vegetable crop, cultivated lettuce is grown worldwide and a great variety of agronomic traits have been preserved within germplasm collections. The mechanisms underlying these phenotypic variations remain to be elucidated in association with sequence variations. Compared with single nucleotide polymorphisms, structural variations (SVs) that have more impacts on gene functions remain largely uncharacterized in the lettuce genome.

Results

Here, we produced a comprehensive SV set for 333 wild and cultivated lettuce accessions. Comparison of SV frequencies showed that the SVs prevalent in L. sativa affected the genes enriched in carbohydrate derivative catabolic and secondary metabolic processes. Genome-wide association analysis of seven agronomic traits uncovered potentially causal SVs associated with seed coat color and leaf anthocyanin content.

Conclusion

Our work characterized a great abundance of SVs in the lettuce genome, and provides a valuable genomic resource for future lettuce breeding.
Airway management for a patient with tracheobronchomegaly undergoing lobectomy: a case report
Authors: Wang Sai-Nan , Wu An-Shi , Miao Jin-Bai , Chen Shuo , Jiang Jia
Published: November 2023

Background

Tracheobronchomegaly (TBM) is a rare disorder mainly characterized by dilatation and malacia of the trachea and major bronchi with diverticularization. This will be a great challenge for airway management, especially in thoracic surgery requiring one-lung ventilation. Using a laryngeal mask airway and a modified double-lumen Foley catheter (DFC) as a “blocker” may achieve one-lung ventilation. This is the first report introducing this method in a patient with TBM.

Case presentation

We present a 64-year-old man with TBM receiving left lower lobectomy. Preoperative chest computed tomography demonstrated a prominent tracheobronchial dilation and deformation with multiple diverticularization. The most commonly used double-lumen tube or bronchial blocker could not match the distorted airways. After general anesthesia induction, a 4# laryngeal mask was inserted, through which the modified DFC was positioned in the left main bronchus with the guidance of a fiberoptic bronchoscope. The DFC balloon was inflated with 10 ml air and lung isolation was achieved without any significant air leak during one-lung or two-lung ventilation. However, the collapse of the non-dependent lung was delayed and finally achieved by low-pressure artificial pneumothorax. The surgery was successful and the patient was extubated soon after the surgery.

Conclusions

Using a laryngeal mask airway with a modified double-lumen Foley catheter acted as a bronchial blocker could be an alternative method to achieve lung isolation.
Associations of screen-based sedentary activities with all cause dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia: a longitudinal study based on 462,524 participants from the UK Biobank
Authors: Yuan Shiqi , Li Wanyue , Ling Yitong , Huang Xiaxuan , Feng Aozi , Tan Shanyuan , He Ningxia , Li Li , Li Shuna , Xu Anding , Lyu Jun
Published: November 2023

Background

Current drug treatments for dementia aren't effective. Studying gene-environment interactions can help develop personalized early intervention strategies for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, no studies have examined the relationship between screen-based sedentary activities and genetic susceptibility to AD risk, and further understanding of the causal relationship is also crucial.

Methods

This study included 462,524 participants from the UK Biobank with a follow-up of 13.6 years. Participants' screen-based sedentary activities time was categorized into three groups based on recorded time: ≥ 4 h/day, 2–3 h/day, and ≤ 1 h/day. Cox proportional risk models were used to analyze the association between computer use/TV viewing groups and the risk of all-cause dementia, AD and vascular dementia (VD). Generalized linear model (GLM) were used to examine the relationship between screen-based sedentary activities and brain structure. Bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) was used to validate the causal relationship between TV viewing and AD.

Results

Compared to TV viewing ≤ 1 h/day, 1)TV viewing 2–3 h/day was correlated with a higher risk of all-cause dementia (HR = 1.09, 95% CI:1.01–1.18, P < 0.05), and TV viewing ≥ 4 h/day was associated with a higher risk of all-cause dementia (HR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.19–1.40, P < 0.001), AD (HR = 1.25, 95% CI:1.1–1.42, P < 0.001), and VD (HR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.04–1.49, P < 0.05); 2) TV viewing ≥ 4 h/day was correlated with a higher AD risk at intermediate (HR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.03–1.75, P < 0.001) and high AD genetic risk score (AD-GRS) (HR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.65–2.87, P < 0.001);3) TV viewing 2–3 h/day [β = (-94.8), 95% CI: (-37.9) -(-151.7), P < 0.01] and TV viewing ≥ 4 h/day [β = (-92.94), 95% CI: (-17.42) -(-168.46), P < 0.05] were correlated with a less hippocampus volume. In addition, a causal effect of TV viewing times was observed on AD analyzed using MR Egger (OR = 5.618, 95%CI:1.502–21.013, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

There was a causal effect between TV viewing time and AD analyzed using bidirectional MR, and more TV viewing time exposure was correlated with a higher AD risk. Therefore, it is recommended that people with intermediate and high AD-GRS should control their TV viewing time to be less than 4 h/ day or even less than 1 h/day.
Food insecurity and associated factors among households with under-5 children in slum communities in Ibadan, Nigeria
Authors: Oderinde Tinuola Maria , Ilesanmi Olayinka Stephen , Afolabi Aanuoluwapo Adeyimika
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Food insecurity is a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. This study assessed the prevalence of household food insecurity and its associated factors among under-5 children in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional household survey of 1,027 under-5 children and their caregivers in urban and rural slums in Ibadan. We used an electronic interviewer-administered, semi-structured questionnaire adapted from the Nigeria Demographic Health Survey and Household Food Insecurity Access Scale was used to report sociodemo-economic characteristics, food insecurity, and anthropometric measurement. The household food insecurity scale consisted of nine questions graded from 0 (Never) to 3 (Often) computed to determine the presence of food insecurity. Nutrition indices were computed, and the results were classified according to World Health Organization 2006 cut-off points. Chi-square tests were used to assess associations between food insecurity and the independent variables. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the predictors of food insecurity (α = 0.05).

Results

The mean ages of the caregivers and under-5 children were 31.7 ± 7.47 years and 34.49 ± 15.8 months respectively. Overall, 530 (51.7%) children were females, and 765 (74.5%) had normal weight for height. In all, 195 (19.0%) households had food insecurity, while 832 (81.0%) households had food security (Chi-square = 103.364, p = < 0.001). Under-5 children living in urban slums were seven times more likely to experience household food insecurity compared to those in rural slums (AOR = 6.859, 95%CI = 4.524–10.509, p = < 0.001).

Discussion

Household food insecurity was more prevalent in urban slums. Strengthening of the school health program would help identify children with nutritional deficits, and improve the overall health status of children living in slum communities.
Effect of the TERT mutation on the prognosis of patients with urothelial carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Shuai Hui , Duan Xi , Zhou Jun-Jie , Liu Yuan , Wu Tao
Published: November 2023

Background

Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) mutation represents the most prevalent genetic mutation found in urothelial carcinoma (UC) and holds potential as a prognostic indicator for tumor outcomes. However, the association between TERT mutation and prognosis in UC patients remains poorly elucidated due to conflicting findings in existing literature. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of the TERT mutation on the survival of UC patients.

Methods

We systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for studies that investigated the relationship between the TERT mutation and the prognosis of UC patients. Endpoints included the 2-year and 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) tool was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. Review Manager 5.3 was used for the meta-analysis.

Results

Nine studies with a total of 1,552 patients were included in the analysis. Two studies were prospective, and seven were retrospective. The TERT promoter mutation was associated with a lower 2-year OS (relative risk [RR] = 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.86–0.98; P = 0.007) and a lower 5-year OS (RR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.68–0.94; P = 0.008) compared with the TERT wild type. However, no significantly differences were found between two groups in terms of HR for OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.29, 95% CI 0.80–2.08; P = 0.29). Furthermore, we investigated the differences in RFS and disease-specific survival (DSS) between the two groups.

Conclusion

The TERT mutation increases the risk of death and decreases the survival time of UC patients. TERT may be a valuable marker with individual prognostic value.
The expression of ultimate life goals in co-creative art processes with palliative cancer patients
Authors: Weeseman Yvonne , Scherer-Rath Michael , Christophe Nirav , Dörr Henny , Helmich Esther , Sprangers Mirjam A. G. , van Poecke Niels , van Laarhoven Hanneke W. M.
Published: November 2023

Background

Co-creation, characterized by artists and patients creating a joint work of art, may support patients with the integration of disruptive life events into their life story, such as living with cancer. Focusing on experiences of contingency and life goals could support this process. The research questions are: (1) ‘how are patient’s ultimate life goals and experiences of contingency expressed in the work of art as created in a process of co-creation?’; (2) ‘how do the four phases of integration of experiences of contingency unfold during co-creation?’

Methods

Ten patients who were in a palliative stage of cancer treatment completed co-creation processes. Audio recordings of these co-creation processes were imported in Atlas-Ti and analysed by applying directed content analysis. We searched for life goals and experiences of contingency in the four phases of co-creation;Art communications, Element compilation, Consolidation, Reflection.

Results

Patients used 4–8 sessions (median 5 sessions) with a duration of 90–240 min each (median duration 120 min). All patients expressed their experience of contingency and their ultimate life goals within the four phases of co-creation and in their work of art. A case description is presented illustrating the co-creation process.

Conclusions

During co-creation, patients move through four phases in which experiences of contingency and ultimate life goals can be made explicit through art making and can be expressed in the work of art, supporting integration of experiences of contingency into one’s life narrative.
The antithrombin activity recovery after substitution therapy is associated with improved 28-day mortality in patients with sepsis-associated disseminated intravascular coagulation
Authors: Iba Toshiaki , Tanigawa Tomoki , Wada Hideo , Levy Jerrold H.
Published: November 2023

Background

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a common and critical complication in sepsis. Antithrombin activity, which is considered a biomarker for disease severity, was measured in septic DIC treated with antithrombin concentrates in this study.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of post-marketing survey data that included 1,800 patients with sepsis-associated DIC and antithrombin activity of 70% or less who were treated with antithrombin concentrates. The changes in sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, DIC score, and antithrombin activity were sequentially assessed. Logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed to evaluate the performance of antithrombin activity to assess 28-day survival. Furthermore, the relationship between post-treatment antithrombin activity and survival was examined by Logistic regression analysis.

Results

Sex, baseline SOFA score, baseline antithrombin activities, and the presence of pneumonia and soft tissue infection were significantly associated with 28-day mortality. The area under the curve for mortality was 0.639 for post-treatment antithrombin activity, and higher than those of baseline- and delta antithrombin activities. Logistic regression analysis revealed that higher post-treatment antithrombin activity was associated with better 28-day survival. When post-treatment antithrombin activity was more than 80%, the estimated survival was 88.2%. Whereas, the survival was 74.4% when the antithrombin activity was 80% or less (P < 0.0001). However, the relationship between post-treatment antithrombin activity and 28-day survival was considerably different between patients who recovered from DIC by Day 6 compared to those who did not. Similarly, the estimated 28-day survival, based on antithrombin activity, varied among patients with high and low SOFA scores, and the calculation needs to be adjusted based on the severity of the condition.

Conclusions

Post-treatment antithrombin activity measurement was helpful in estimating the 28-day survival in patients with sepsis-associated DIC. However, patient outcomes vary considerably depending on factors that include baseline SOFA score, age, and baseline antithrombin activity. These variables play a substantial role in determining patient prognosis and should be considered when evaluating and interpreting the results.
Development of a novel delivery quality assurance system based on simultaneous verification of dose distribution and binary multi-leaf collimator opening in helical tomotherapy
Authors: Tanaka Yuichi , Hashimoto Masatoshi , Ishigami Minoru , Nakano Masahiro , Hasegawa Tomoyuki
Published: November 2023

Background

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) requires delivery quality assurance (DQA) to ensure treatment accuracy and safety. Irradiation techniques such as helical tomotherapy (HT) have become increasingly complex, rendering conventional verification methods insufficient. This study aims to develop a novel DQA system to simultaneously verify dose distribution and multi-leaf collimator (MLC) opening during HT.

Methods

We developed a prototype detector consisting of a cylindrical plastic scintillator (PS) and a cooled charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. Scintillation light was recorded using a CCD camera. A TomoHDA (Accuray Inc.) was used as the irradiation device. The characteristics of the developed system were evaluated based on the light intensity. The IMRT plan was irradiated onto the PS to record a moving image of the scintillation light. MLC opening and light distribution were obtained from the recorded images. To detect MLC opening, we placed a region of interest (ROI) on the image, corresponding to the leaf position, and analyzed the temporal change in the light intensity within each ROI. Corrections were made for light changes due to differences in the PS shape and irradiation position. The corrected light intensity was converted into the leaf opening time (LOT), and an MLC sinogram was constructed. The reconstructed MLC sinogram was compared with that calculated using the treatment planning system (TPS). Light distribution was obtained by integrating all frames obtained during IMRT irradiation. The light distribution was compared with the dose distribution calculated using the TPS.

Results

The LOT and the light intensity followed a linear relationship. Owing to MLC movements, the sensitivity and specificity of the reconstructed sinogram exceeded 97%, with an LOT error of − 3.9 ± 7.8%. The light distribution pattern closely resembled that of the dose distribution. The average dose difference and the pass rate of gamma analysis with 3%/3 mm were 1.4 ± 0.2% and 99%, respectively.

Conclusion

We developed a DQA system for simultaneous and accurate verification of both dose distribution and MLC opening during HT.
Tumor-associated macrophage-derived exosomes LINC01592 induce the immune escape of esophageal cancer by decreasing MHC-I surface expression
Authors: Qiao Xinwei , Cheng Zaixing , Xue Kaming , Xiong Cui , Zheng Zhikun , Jin Xin , Li Jinsong
Published: November 2023

Background

TAMs (tumor-associated macrophages) infiltration promotes the progression of esophageal cancer (EC). However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Methods

Abnormal expression of LINC01592 from EC microarrays of the TCGA database was analyzed. LINC01592 expression level was validated in both EC cell lines and tissues. Stable LINC01592 knockdown and overexpression of EC cell lines were established. In vitro and in vivo trials were conducted to test the impact of LINC01592 knockdown and overexpression on EC cells. RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP), RNA pulldown assays, and Immunofluorescence (IF) were used to verify the combination of E2F6 and LINC01592. The combination of E2F6 and NBR1 was verified through the utilization of ChIP and dual luciferase reporter assays.

Results

LINC01592 is carried and transferred by exosomes secreted by M2-TAMs to tumor cells. The molecular mechanism underlying the promotion of NBR1 transcription involves the direct binding of LINC01592 to E2F6, which facilitates the nuclear entry of E2F6. The collaborative action of LINC01592 and E2F6 results in improved NBR1 transcription. The elevation of NBR1 binding to the ubiquitinated protein MHC-I via the ubiquitin domain caused a higher degradation of MHC-I in autophagolysosomes and a reduction in MHC-I expression on the exterior of cancerous cell. Consequently, this caused cancerous cells to escape from CD8+ CTL immune attack. The tumor-promoting impacts of LINC01592, as well as the growth of M2-type macrophage-driven tumors, were significantly suppressed by the interruption of E2F6/NBR1/MHC-I signaling through the effect of siRNA or the corresponding antibody blockade. Significantly, the suppression of LINC01592 resulted in an upregulation of MHC-I expression on the tumor cell membrane, thereby enhancing the efficacy of CD8+ T cell reinfusion therapy.

Conclusions

The investigation conducted has revealed a significant molecular interaction between TAMs and EC via the LINC01592/E2F6/NBR1/MHC-I axis, which facilitates the progression of malignant tumors. This suggests that a therapeutic intervention targeting this axis may hold promise for the treatment of the disease.