bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nutritional Content and Characteristics of Pumpkin Cream Soup with Tempeh Addition as Supplementary Food for Elderly
Authors: Setiawan Budi , Aulia Salma S. , Sinaga Tiurma , Sulaeman Ahmad
Published: August 2021

An increase in the number of elderly people indicates a higher life expectancy. However, this is also a new challenge since the elderly tends to have age-related diseases, thus the physical, psychological, and sensory disorders that will affect their nutritional status. The development of geriatric foods such as cream soup made from pumpkin and tempeh is considered to be the solution to prevent this situation. This study used a factorial randomized design, containing processing methods (fresh and instant) and the addition of tempeh (0%, 75%, and 100%). Sensory evaluation (rating and ranking test), physical characteristics (pH, yield, rehydration, and viscosity), nutritional analysis (proximate, crude fibre, dietary fibre, vitamins B6 and B12, and β-carotene content), and acceptance analysis of cream soup fresh and instant were examined. Physical characterization revealed that the product had a pH of 5.4–5.7, a viscosity of 1250–2190 cP, a rehydration ratio of 5.51–6.47 g mL-1, and a yield of 19.44%–26.9%. The result of sensory evaluation showed that the processing method and tempeh addition had a significant effect (p<0.05) on the product acceptance. This also affects the nutritional value, in which fresh products had higher nutritional value than the instant product, and products with tempeh had higher ash, protein, dietary fibre, and vitamin B12 than products without tempeh. Based on this analysis, the instant cream soup with 75% tempeh is the best formula. In one portion size (50 g), instant cream soup with 75% tempeh met 10% or more of the Indonesian recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for the elderly in terms of protein, carbohydrates, fat, energy, dietary fibre, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, and vitamin A, so it can be recommended as a complementary food for the elderly.
Comparison of Pharmacokinetics and Tissue Distribution Characteristics of Three Diterpenoid Esters in Crude and Prepared Semen Euphorbiae
Authors: Wang Hui-Nan , Wang Pei-Hua , Yang Zi-Ye , Zhang Gui-Mei , Chen Meng-Yu , Jiang Ming-Rui , Yue Zhu-Zhu , Wang Zhi-Cheng , Zhang Jing-Qiu , Cao Yan-Hua , An Hong , Wang Ying-Zi
Published: August 2021

Background. Semen Euphorbiae (SE) and Semen Euphorbiae Pulveratum (SEP) have a long history of medicinal use. SEP is the processed product of SE; both ancient and modern studies have shown that SEP has a lower toxicity compared to SE. To clarify the influence of processing on the pharmacological properties of SE and SEP, a study was carried out to compare the pharmacokinetics and distribution characteristics of three active compounds after oral administration of SE and SEP extracts. Methods. A UPLC-MS/MS method was established to simultaneously determine the contents of Euphorbia factors L1, L2, and L3 in rat plasma and mouse tissues after an oral administration of crude and processed SE with approximately the same dosage. Plasma and heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and colon tissue samples were treated with ethyl acetate and separated by gradient elution on a C18 column with a mobile phase of 0.1% formic acid and methanol. Results. The established method had good selectivity, linear range, accuracy, precision, stability, matrix effect, and extraction recovery. The area under the concentration time curve, time to maximum concentration, maximum concentration, half-life of elimination, and mean retention time of plasma samples in SEP-treated group decreased, and the clearance in SEP-treated group increased. Moreover, the active component concentrations in colon, liver, and kidney tissues were more followed by those in the heart, lungs, and spleen. Conclusion. These results indicate that the processing could influence the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of Euphorbia factors L1, L2, and L3 after oral administration of crude and processed SE. The data obtained may lay a foundation for the clinical use of SE and for further study on the processing mechanism of SE.
A Biological Insight into the Susceptibility to Influenza Infection in Junior Rats by Comprehensive Analysis of lncRNA Profiles
Authors: Qiu Fen-Sheng , Chen Hao-Kun , Ying Hua-Zhong , Yu Wen-Ying , Guo Mei-Ying , Zhou Wen-Wei
Published: August 2021

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to participate in regulating many biological processes, including immune response to influenza A virus (IAV). However, the association between lncRNA expression profiles and influenza infection susceptibility has not been well elucidated. Here, we analyzed the expression profiles of lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs among IAV‐infected adult rat (IAR), normal adult rat (AR), IAV‐infected junior rat (IJR), and normal junior rat (JR) by RNA sequencing. Compared with differently expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) between AR and IAR, 24 specific DElncRNAs were found between IJR and JR. Then, based on the fold changes and P value, the top 5 DElncRNAs, including 3 upregulated and 2 downregulated lncRNAs, were chosen to establish a ceRNA network for further disclosing their regulatory mechanisms. To visualize the differentially expressed genes in the ceRNA network, GO and KEGG pathway analysis was performed to further explore their roles in influenza infection of junior rats. The results showed that the downregulated DElncRNA‐target genes were mostly enriched in the IL‐17 signaling pathway. It indicated that the downregulated lncRNAs conferred the susceptibility of junior rats to IAV via mediating the IL‐17 signaling pathway.
Forecasting Chinese Wind Power Installed Capacity Using a Novel Grey Model with Parameters Combination Optimization
Authors: Luo Xiaoshuang , Zeng Bo , Li Hui , Zhou Wenhao
Published: August 2021

The intermittent and uncertain characteristics of wind generation have brought new challenges for the hosting capacity and the integration of large-scale wind power into the power system. Consequently, reasonable forecasting wind power installed capacity (WPIC) is the most effective and applicable solution to meet this challenge. However, the single parameter optimization of the conventional grey model has some limitations in improving its modeling ability. To this end, a novel grey prediction model with parameters combination optimization is proposed in this paper. Firstly, considering the modeling mechanism and process, the order of accumulation generation of the grey prediction model is optimized by Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) Algorithm. Secondly, as different orders of accumulation generation correspond to different parameter matrixes, the background value coefficient of the grey prediction model is optimized based on the optimal accumulation order. Finally, the novel model of combinational optimization is employed to simulate and forecast Chinese WPIC, and the comprehensive error of the novel model is only 1.34%, which is superior to the other three grey prediction models (2.82%, 1.68%, and 2.60%, respectively). The forecast shows that China’s WPIC will keep growing in the next five years, and some reasonable suggestions are put forward from the standpoint of the practitioners and governments.
Intelligent Vision-Enabled Detection of Water-Surface Targets for Video Surveillance in Maritime Transportation
Authors: Guo Yongqi , Lu Yuxu , Guo Yu , Liu Ryan Wen , Chui Kwok Tai
Published: August 2021

The timely, automatic, and accurate detection of water-surface targets has received significant attention in intelligent vision-enabled maritime transportation systems. The reliable detection results are also beneficial for water quality monitoring in practical applications. However, the visual image quality is often inevitably degraded due to the poor weather conditions, potentially leading to unsatisfactory target detection results. The degraded images could be restored using state-of-the-art visibility enhancement methods. It is still difficult to generate high-quality detection performance due to the unavoidable loss of details in restored images. To alleviate these limitations, we first investigate the influences of visibility enhancement methods on detection results and then propose a neural network-empowered water-surface target detection framework. A data augmentation strategy, which synthetically simulates the degraded images under different weather conditions, is further presented to promote the generalization and feature representation abilities of our network. The proposed detection performance has the capacity of accurately detecting the water-surface targets under different adverse imaging conditions, e.g., haze, low-lightness, and rain. Experimental results on both synthetic and realistic scenarios have illustrated the effectiveness of the proposed framework in terms of detection accuracy and efficacy.
Antimicrobial Effect of Electrospun Nanofibers Loaded with Silver Nanoparticles: Influence of Ag Incorporation Method
Authors: Villarreal-Gómez Luis Jesús , Pérez-González Graciela Lizeth , Bogdanchikova Nina , Pestryakov Alexey , Nimaev Vadim , Soloveva Anastasiya , Cornejo-Bravo José Manuel , Toledaño-Magaña Yanis
Published: August 2021

The antimicrobial bioactivity of silver nanoparticles is well known, and they can be used widely in many applications, becoming especially important in the biomedical industry. On the other hand, the electrospun nanofibers possess properties that can enhance silver nanoparticle applicability. However, silver nanoparticle bioactivity differs depending on the loading of silver ions into electrospun nanofibers. This review is aimed at comparing different silver incorporation methods into electrospun nanofibers and their antimicrobial activity, discussing each procedure’s limitations, and presenting the most promising one. This review showed that the preferred techniques for incorporating silver nanoparticles were direct blending and ultraviolet irradiation methods due to their simplicity and efficient results. Besides, polyacrylonitrile nanofibers (PAN) have been the most reported system loaded with silver nanoparticles. Finally, independently of the technique used, silver nanoparticle-loaded nanofibers show high antimicrobial activity in all cases.
Virtual Network Resource Optimization Model for Network Function Virtualization
Authors: Vladislavić Đani , Huljenić Darko , Ožegović Julije
Published: August 2021

Network function virtualization (NFV) is a concept aimed at achieving telecom grade cloud ecosystem for new‐generation networks focusing on capital and operational expenditure (CAPEX and OPEX) savings. This study introduces empirical throughput prediction model for the virtual network function (VNF) and network function virtualization infrastructure (NFVI) architectures based on Linux kernel. The model arises from the methodology for performance evaluation and modeling based on execution area (EA) distribution by CPU core pinning. EA is defined as a software execution unit that can run isolated on a compute resource (CPU core). EAs are derived from the elements and packet processing principles in NFVIs and VNFs based on Linux kernel. Performing measurements and observing linearity of the measured results open the possibility to apply model calibration technique to achieve general VNF and NFVI architecture model with performance prediction and environment setup optimization. The modeling parameters are derived from the cumulative packet processing cost obtained by measurements for collocated EAs on the CPU core hosting the bottleneck EA. The VNF and NFVI architecture model with performance prediction is successfully validated against the measurement results obtained in emulated environment and used to predict optimal system configurations and maximal throughput results for different CPUs.
On the Distribution Properties of the Smarandache Prime Part
Authors: Yu Yahui , Hu Jiayuan
Published: August 2021

For each integer

n

, denote by

p

p

n

the largest prime

≤
n

and by

P

p

n

the smallest prime

≥
n

, called as the Smarandache inferior prime part and superior prime part of

n

, respectively. Define

I

n

≔

1
/
n

∑

m
≤
n

p

p

m

and

S

n

≔

1
/
n

∑

m
≤
n

P

p

m

. In this short note, we proved some estimates on

I

n

−

S

n

and

I

n

/

S

n

, answering a question proposed by Kashihara and improving a result of Yan.
Dynamical Analysis and Periodic Solution of a Chaotic System with Coexisting Attractors
Authors: Chen Mingshu , Wang Zhen , Zhang Xiaojuan , Tian Huaigu
Published: August 2021

Chaotic attractors with no equilibria, with an unstable node, and with stable node‐focus are presented in this paper. The conservative solutions are investigated by the semianalytical and seminumerical method. Furthermore, multiple coexisting attractors are investigated, and circuit is carried out. To study the system’s global structure, dynamics at infinity for this new chaotic system are studied using Poincaré compactification of polynomial vector fields in R3. Meanwhile, the dynamics near the infinity of the singularities are obtained by reducing the system’s dimensions on a Poincaré ball. The averaging theory analyzes the periodic solution’s stability or instability that bifurcates from Hopf‐zero bifurcation.
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Artificial Intelligence Chest CT Lung Nodule Detection Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Liang Fukui , Li Caiqin , Fu Xiaoqin
Published: August 2021

Lung cancer is one of the most malignant tumors. If it can be detected early and treated actively, it can effectively improve a patient’s survival rate. Therefore, early diagnosis of lung cancer is very important. Early-stage lung cancer usually appears as a solitary lung nodule on medical imaging. It usually appears as a round or nearly round dense shadow in the chest radiograph. It is difficult to distinguish lung nodules and lung soft tissues with the naked eye. Therefore, this article proposes a deep learning-based artificial intelligence chest CT lung nodule detection performance evaluation study, aiming to evaluate the value of chest CT imaging technology in the detection of noncalcified nodules and provide help for the detection and treatment of lung cancer. In this article, the Lung Medical Imaging Database Consortium (LIDC) was selected to obtain 536 usable cases based on inclusion criteria; 80 cases were selected for examination, artificial intelligence software, radiologists, and thoracic imaging specialists. Using 80 pulmonary nodules detection in each case, the pathological type of pulmonary nodules, nonlime tuberculous test results, detection sensitivity, false negative rate, false positive rate, and CT findings were individually analyzed, and the detection efficiency software of artificial intelligence was evaluated. Experiments have proved that the sensitivity of artificial intelligence software to detect noncalcified nodules in the pleural, peripheral, central, and hilar areas is higher than that of radiologists, indicating that the method proposed in this article has achieved good detection results. It has a better nodule detection sensitivity than a radiologist, reducing the complexity of the detection process.
Anesthetic Technique (Spinal vs. General Anesthesia) in Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate: Retrospective Analysis of Procedural and Functional Outcomes among 1,159 Patients
Authors: Yu Hang , Gild Philipp , Pompe Raisa S. , Vetterlein Malte W. , Ludwig Tim A. , Soave Armin , Kölker Mara , Maurer Valentin , Marks Phillip , Becker Andreas , Punke Mark-Andree , Fisch Margit , Rink Michael , Dahlem Roland , Meyer Christian P.
Published: August 2021

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare procedural efficacy, early and late functional outcomes in holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) under spinal anesthesia (SA) versus general anesthesia (GA). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing HoLEP at our institution between 2012 and 2017. Standard pre-, peri-, and postoperative characteristics were compared according to anesthetic technique. Multivariable logistic regression analyses (MVAs) were employed to study the impact of SA on procedural efficacy and postoperative complications. Results: Our study cohort consisted of 1,159 patients, of whom 374 (32%) underwent HoLEP under SA. While a medical history of any anticoagulation/antiplatelet therapy except low-dose acetylsalicylic acid was significantly more common among patients undergoing GA (16% vs. 10%, p = 0.001), no other significant differences in preoperative characteristics were noted including age, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists Classification (ASA), prostate size, or International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and quality of life scores. Patients under SA exhibited shorter times of enucleation 42 min (interquartile range [IQR]:27–59 vs. 45 min [IQR: 31–68], p = 0.002), and combined time of enucleation/morcellation/coagulation (57 min [IQR: 38–85] vs. 64 min [IQR: 43–93], p = 0.002), as well as fewer complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥3) (12 [3.2%] vs. 55 [7%], p = 0.013). These associations were confirmed in MVA. Patients did not differ significantly with regard to early micturition including post-void residual volume and maximum flow-rate improvement. At a median follow-up of 33 months (IQR: 32–44), patients with SA had a lower IPSS score (median 3 [IQR: 1–6] vs. 4 [IQR: 2–7], p = 0.039). However, no significant differences were observed with respect to any urinary incontinence, urge symptoms, and postoperative pain. Conclusion: In this large retrospective series, HoLEP under SA was a safe and efficacious procedure with comparable early and long-term functional outcomes.
Personalized Exercise Programs Based upon Remote Assessment of Motor Fitness: A Pilot Study among Healthy People Aged 65 Years and Older
Authors: Netz Yael , Yekutieli Ziv , Arnon Michal , Argov Esther , Tchelet Keren , Benmoha Eti , Jacobs Jeremy M.
Published: August 2021

Background: The World Health Organization has recently updated exercise guidelines for people aged >65 years, emphasizing the inclusion of multiple fitness components. However, without adequate recognition of individual differences, these guidelines may be applied using an approach that “one-size-fits-all.” Within the shifting paradigm toward an increasingly personalized approach to medicine and health, it is apparent that fitness components display a significant age-related increase in variability. Therefore, it is both logical and necessary to perform an accurate individualized assessment of multiple fitness components prior to optimal prescription for a personalized exercise program. Objective: The aim of the study was to test the feasibility and effectiveness of a novel tool able to remotely assess balance, flexibility, and strength using smartphone sensors (accelerometer/gyroscope), and subsequently deliver personalized exercise programs via the smartphone. Methods: We enrolled 52 healthy volunteers (34 females) aged 65+ years, with normal cognition and low fall risk. Baseline data from remote smartphone fitness assessment were analyzed to generate 42 fitness digital markers (DMs), used to guide personalized exercise programs (×5/week for 6 weeks) delivered via smartphone. Programs included graded exercises for upper/lower body, flexibility, strength, and balance (dynamic, static, and vestibular). Participants were retested after 6 weeks. Results: Average age was 74.7 ± 6.4 years; adherence was 3.6 ± 1.7 exercise sessions/week. Significant improvement for pre-/posttesting was observed for 10/12 DMs of strength/flexibility for upper/lower body (sit-to-stand repetitions/duration; arm-lift duration; torso rotation; and arm extension/flexion). Balance improved significantly for 6/10 measures of tandem stance, with consistent (nonsignificant) trends observed across 20 balance DMs of tandem walk and 1 leg stance. Balance tended to improve among the 37 participants exercising ≥3/week. Discussion: These preliminary results provide a proof of concept, with high adherence and improved fitness confirming the benefits of remote fitness assessment for guiding home personalized exercise programs among healthy adults aged >65 years. Further examination of the application within a randomized control study is necessary, comparing the personalized exercise program to general guidelines among healthy older adults, as well as specific populations, such as those with frailty, deconditioning, cognitive, or functional impairment. The study tool offers the opportunity to collect big data, including additional variables, with subsequent utilization of artificial intelligence to optimize the personalized exercise program.
Contemporary Trends in the Treatment of Mild Ischemic Stroke with Intravenous Thrombolysis: Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program
Authors: Asaithambi Ganesh , Tong Xin , Coleman King Sallyann M. , George Mary G.
Published: August 2021

Background: Presentation with mild symptoms is a common reason for intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) nonuse among acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. We examined the impact of IVT on the outcomes of mild AIS over time. Methods: Using the Paul Coverdell National Stroke Program data, we examined trends in IVT utilization from 2010 to 2019 among AIS patients presenting with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores ≤5. Outcomes adjudicated included rates of discharge to home and ability to ambulate independently at discharge. We used generalized estimating equation models to examine the effect of IVT on outcomes of AIS patients presenting with mild symptoms and calculated adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: During the study period, 346,762 patients presented with mild AIS symptoms. Approximately 6.2% were treated with IVT. IVT utilization trends increased from 3.7% in 2010 to 7.7% in 2019 (p < 0.001). Patients treated with IVT had higher median NIHSS scores upon presentation (IVT 3 [2, 4] vs. no IVT 2 [0, 3]). Rates of discharge to home (AOR 2.06, 95% CI: 1.99–2.13) and ability to ambulate at time of discharge (AOR 1.82, 95% CI: 1.76–1.89) were higher among those treated with IVT. Conclusion: There was an increased trend in IVT utilization among AIS patients presenting with mild symptoms. Utilization of IVT increased the odds of being discharged to home and the ability to ambulate at discharge independently in patients with mild stroke.
Pediatric Acute Ischemic Stroke by Age-Group: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Published Studies and Hospitalization Records
Authors: Oleske Denise M. , Cheng Xianbin , Jeong Anna , Arndt Thomas J.
Published: August 2021

Background: Although stroke is rare among the pediatric population, it is nevertheless associated with serious or life-threatening consequences. The etiologic factors of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) are likely to vary over the course of childhood development. The incidence rates of AIS, not previously systematically examined by pediatric age subgroup, could guide studies of its etiology. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence rate of AIS by age-group in the pediatric population (aged 0–17/18 years) and identify any common trends or sources of variability across different countries. Methods: Rates of pediatric AIS were collated from a systematic literature review of published studies globally (1983–2020) and hospitalization records from Europe and the USA (2015–2018). Records that were included in the analysis reported the code or description used for AIS diagnosis and age-specific data for children aged 0–17/18 years. AIS incidence rates were summarized by age-group, data source, country, and geographic region. A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the heterogeneity of AIS rates in neonates. Results: The pooled AIS incidence rate was 5.6 per 100,000 children across all records. When only records reporting the AIS incidence rates for children across the full age range (0–17/18 years) were analyzed, the pooled AIS incidence rate was 4.6 per 100,000 children and ranged from 7.0 per 100,000 (Germany) to 1.3 per 100,000 (Denmark). The highest pooled rates were observed in the 0–28-day age-group (24.6 per 100,000 live births), declining to the lowest rates in the 5–9-year age-group, and rising again in the 10–17/18-year age-group. AIS rates were the most heterogeneous in the 0–28-day age-group and across European countries. Significantly higher AIS rates in neonates were observed from hospital databases (35.9 per 100,000) than in the literature (19.4 per 100,000). AIS rates may be underestimated as pediatric AIS events are rare and challenging to diagnose, and limited age-specific data are available. Conclusions: Incidence rates of pediatric AIS by age-groups followed a consistent overall pattern of a reverse J-shaped curve, with the highest rates in neonates, across predominantly European and North American countries. Further research is warranted to examine if this pattern is observed in other geographic regions and to identify AIS risk factors specific to different phases of childhood development.
Cidade Alerta e Modo de Endereçamento: o papel dos mediadores na cobertura do “Caso Marcela”
Authors: Negrini Michele , Redü Natália
Published: August 2021

A apresentação de eventos de morte no telejornalismo é uma tarefa complexa para os veículos de comunicação e que requer cautela por parte dos jornalistas. No caso Marcela, a mãe da jovem ficou sabendo ao vivo de seu falecimento pelo Cidade Alerta, o que gerou grande repercussão em redes sociais e em outros veículos de comunicação. O apresentador Luiz Bacci e o programa foram muito criticados. A partir disso, o presente artigo tem como foco principal analisar o papel do apresentador, repórteres e cinegrafistas na apresentação do caso no Cidade Alerta. Vamos tomar as discussões de modo de endereçamento como olhar teórico-metodológico, a partir das discussões de Gomes (2007).
Jornalismo Contracultural
Authors: Demétrio Silvio Ricardo
Published: August 2021

Como fenômeno, o new journalism está vinculado diretamente à contracultura. É possível pensar até uma extrapolação do fenômeno de modo a estabelecer parâmetros mais abrangentes que configurem uma noção de uma atitude epistêmica voltada para um jornalismo contracultural como um conjunto de pressupostos que pode ser observado na produção de alguns jornalistas. O presente artigo trabalha com esse horizonte a partir das noções nietzschianas de "valor" e de "bem comum" como antagônicas.
ESG (Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance) e a comunicação: o tripé da sustentabilidade aplicado às organizações globalizadas
Authors: Costa Edwaldo , Ferezin Nataly Bueno
Published: August 2021

Este artigo tem por finalidade discutir o tripé da sustentabilidade ocupando um lugar de destaque nas organizações, ao levar em consideração os três pilares que o sustentam, sendo o ambiental, o social e a governança corporativa. Para isso, o objetivo é apresentar a notória importância da comunicação na gestão da sustentabilidade, dentro das organizações contemporâneas, inseridas na lógica do capital e da sociedade global. Este estudo é um recorte da realidade, e a pesquisa se justifica pelos fatos apresentados e pela importância das informações obtidas por meio de diversos estudos. A metodologia utilizada foi a abordagem bibliográfica qualitativa, e na conclusão da análise verificou- se como é promissor trabalhar o ESG alinhado à comunicação organizacional.
Myocardial Contraction Fraction for Risk Stratification in Low-Gradient Aortic Stenosis With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Rusinaru Dan , Bohbot Yohann , Kubala Maciej , Diouf Momar , Altes Alexandre , Pasquet Agnès , Maréchaux Sylvestre , Vanoverschelde Jean-Louis , Tribouilloy Christophe
Published: August 2021

Background:

Myocardial contraction fraction (MCF) is a volumetric measure of myocardial shortening independent of left ventricular size and geometry. This multicenter study investigates the usefulness of MCF for risk stratification in low-gradient severe aortic stenosis with preserved ejection fraction.

Methods:

We included 643 consecutive patients with low-gradient severe aortic stenosis with preserved ejection fraction in whom MCF was computed at baseline and analyzed mortality during follow-up.

Results:

Throughout follow-up with medical and surgical management (34.9 [16.1–65.3] months), lower MCF tertiles had higher mortality than the highest tertile. Eighty-month survival was 56±4% for MCF>41%, 41±4% for MCF 30% to 41%, and 40±4% for MCF<30% (
P
<0.001). After comprehensive adjustment, mortality risk remained high for MCF 30% to 41% (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.53 [1.08–2.18]) and for MCF<30% (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.82 [1.24–2.66]) versus MCF>41%. The optimal MCF cutoff point for mortality prediction was 41%. Age, body mass index, Charlson index, peak aortic velocity, and ejection fraction were independently associated with mortality. MCF (χ
2
to improve 10.39;
P
=0.001), provided greater additional prognostic value over the baseline parameters than stroke volume (SV) index (χ
2
to improve 5.41;
P
=0.042), left ventricular mass index (χ
2
to improve 2.15;
P
=0.137), or global longitudinal strain (χ
2
to improve 3.67;
P
=0.061). MCF outperformed ejection fraction for mortality prediction. When patients were classified by SV index and MCF, mortality risk was low when SV index was ≥30 mL/m
2
and MCF>41%, higher for patients with SV index ≥30 mL/m
2
and MCF≤41% (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.47 [1.05–2.07]) and extremely high for patients with SV index <30 mL/m
2
(adjusted hazard ratio, 2.29 [1.45–3.62]).

Conclusions:

MCF is a valuable marker of risk in low-gradient severe aortic stenosis with preserved ejection fraction and could improve decision-making, especially in normal-flow low-gradient severe aortic stenosis with preserved ejection fraction.
Stroke Genetics: Turning Discoveries into Clinical Applications
Authors: Dichgans Martin , Beaufort Nathalie , Debette Stephanie , Anderson Christopher D.
Published: August 2021

The field of medical and population genetics in stroke is moving at a rapid pace and has led to unanticipated opportunities for discovery and clinical applications. Genome-wide association studies have highlighted the role of specific pathways relevant to etiologically defined subtypes of stroke and to stroke as a whole. They have further offered starting points for the exploration of novel pathways and pharmacological strategies in experimental systems. Mendelian randomization studies continue to provide insights in the causal relationships between exposures and outcomes and have become a useful tool for predicting the efficacy and side effects of drugs. Additional applications that have emerged from recent discoveries include risk prediction based on polygenic risk scores and pharmacogenomics. Among the topics currently moving into focus is the genetics of stroke outcome. While still at its infancy, this field is expected to boost the development of neuroprotective agents. We provide a brief overview on recent progress in these areas.
Using Human Genetics to Understand Mechanisms in Ischemic Stroke Outcome: From Early Brain Injury to Long-Term Recovery
Authors: Lee Jin-Moo , Fernandez-Cadenas Israel , Lindgren Arne G.
Published: August 2021

There is a critical need to elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying brain injury, repair, and recovery following ischemic stroke—a global health problem with major social and economic impact. Despite 5 decades of intensive research, there are no widely accepted neuroprotective drugs that mitigate ischemic brain injury, or neuroreparative drugs, or personalized approaches that guide therapies to enhance recovery. We here explore novel reverse translational approaches that will complement traditional forward translational methods in identifying mechanisms relevant to human stroke outcome. Although genome-wide association studies have yielded over 30 genetic loci that influence ischemic stroke risk, only a few genome-wide association studies have been performed for stroke outcome. We discuss important considerations for genetic studies of ischemic stroke outcome—including carefully designed phenotypes that capture injury/recovery mechanisms, anchored in time to stroke onset. We also address recent genome-wide association studies that provide insight into mechanisms underlying brain injury and repair. There are several ongoing initiatives exploring genomic associations with novel phenotypes related to stroke outcome. To improve the understanding of the genetic architecture of ischemic stroke outcome, larger studies using standardized phenotypes, preferably embedded in standard-of-care measures, are needed. Novel techniques beyond genome-wide association studies—including exploiting informatics, multi-omics, and novel analytics—promise to uncover genetic and molecular pathways from which drug targets and other new interventions may be identified.
Ethical Emergentism and Moral Causation
Authors: Stringer Ryan
Published: August 2021

This paper focuses on a recently articulated, emergentist conception of ethical naturalism and its commitment to causal efficacy, or the idea that moral properties have causal powers, along with its supporting commitment to moral causation. After I reconstruct the theory, I explain how it offers some interesting theoretical benefits to moral realists in virtue of its commitment to causal efficacy. Then, after locating some examples of moral causation in support of this commitment, I present and respond to five objections to such causation, which all threaten to undermine this support. Lastly, I consider a very serious problem that the theory faces in virtue of positing emergent moral properties as responsible for moral causation – namely, the problem of downward moral causation. I describe this problem in detail and argue that, as it stands, it does not spell doom for the theory.
Critical Repetition Rates for Perceptual Segregation of Time-Varying Auditory, Visual and Vibrotactile Stimulation
Authors: Jurado Carlos , Larrea Marcelo , Rosero David , Vizuete Juan , Marquardt Torsten
Published: August 2021

What sound quality has led to exclude infrasound from sound in the conventional hearing range? We examined whether temporal segregation of pressure pulses is a distinctive property and evaluated this perceptual limit via an adaptive psychophysical procedure for pure tones and carriers of different envelopes. Further, to examine across-domain similarity and individual covariation of this limit, here called the critical segregation rate (CSR), it was also measured for various periodic visual and vibrotactile stimuli. Results showed that sequential auditory or vibrotactile stimuli separated by at least ~80‒90 ms (~11‒12-Hz repetition rates), will be perceived as perceptually segregated from one another. While this limit did not statistically differ between these two modalities, it was significantly lower than the ~150 ms necessary to perceptually segregate successive visual stimuli. For the three sensory modalities, stimulus periodicity was the main factor determining the CSR, which apparently reflects neural recovery times of the different sensory systems. Among all experimental conditions, significant within- and across-modality individual CSR correlations were observed, despite the visual CSR (mean: 6.8 Hz) being significantly lower than that of both other modalities. The auditory CSR was found to be significantly lower than the frequency above which sinusoids start to elicit a tonal quality (19 Hz; recently published for the same subjects). Returning to our initial question, the latter suggests that the cessation of tonal quality — not the segregation of pressure fluctuations — is the perceptual quality that has led to exclude infrasound (sound with frequencies < 20 Hz) from the conventional hearing range.
Agricultural Involution and Bureaucratic Involution: Types, Concepts, Empirical Generalizations, and Theoretical Mechanisms
Authors: Huang (黄宗智) Philip C. C.
Published: August 2021

The article reviews the history of the word “involution,” the empirical basis of the concept of “agricultural involution,” and the mechanisms operating behind that phenomenon. It then considers the very different empirical bases and mechanisms of “bureaucratic involution.” State and peasant might interact in a positive way that leads to development – as when the state in the Reform era gave peasants the power and right to respond to market stimuli and develop the “labor and capital dual intensifying” “new agriculture” that has led to genuine development, demonstrating how small peasants have been the true primary subjects of Chinese agriculture and the true key to genuine agricultural development. By contrast, if bureaucratic involution should force on peasants policies that run counter to realities, it can lead to malignant “ultra-involution.” Similar consequences can be seen in spheres with scarce opportunities relative to the number of people seeking them, once they are placed under the forces of bureaucratic involution, as in the “examinations-above-all-else education system” as well as in similar (public and private) enterprise management. That is why the word “involution” has recently triggered such widespread resonance among so very many people. What is needed is state-party policies that truly accord with the interests of the people and draw their active participation. That kind of combination is what can check tendencies toward ultra-involution.
Notaries and Basic-Level Society: A Study of the Itinerant Notary System during the Republican Period
Authors: Guo (郭玉龙) Yulong
Published: August 2021

The itinerant notary system was an important measure taken by the Nationalist government in Nanjing to enhance its control of grassroots society in rural China. There was no intent to challenge the central government’s wishes of “enlarging government revenues for the benefit of the state treasury” and safeguarding the integrity of the central government’s jurisdiction, which made smooth implementation of the itinerant notary system possible. It was against this background that the court of Linxia, Gansu province, expanded its reach to local business centers, selected superintendents of public notaries from among local gentry elites, and offered awards for notary services. The itinerant notary system thus combined a “modern” legal institution transplanted from the West with endogenous resources, and turned out to be an experiment conducive to overcoming the either/or binary of Western vs. Chinese, exploring a pluralistic and less disruptive path of institutional development.
Studies of Bulbophyllum (Orchidaceae) in eastern Indochina Ⅳ. New species in the flora of Laos and Vietnam
Authors: AVERYANOV LEONID , DAT PHAM THI THANH , TRUONG BA VUONG , ORLOV NICOLAI , MAISAK TATIANA , NGUYEN TUAN HOANG , DINH QUANG DIEP
Published: August 2021

The paper provides a short review of Bulbophyllum species recorded in Laos and Vietnam during the two last decades and continues the publication of results of our successive studies of the genus in this area. It presents data on two new species for science discovered in Laos (Bulbophyllum pachypodum) and Vietnam (B. neglectipetalum), one lesser known species for the flora of Laos (B. microtepalum), two new records for the flora of Vietnam (B. echinulus, B. setilabium), and new illustrated data on B. secundum insufficiently known in the flora of Vietnam. Bulbophyllum fascinator earlier accepted in specific rank reduced into the synonymy of B. putidum on the base of studies of newly obtained materials. Taking into consideration the new data presented in this paper, the flora of Laos presently includes 85, and flora of Vietnam 151 Bulbophyllum species, excluding Monomeria, Trias, and Sunipia. It is the largest genus in the orchid floras of both countries.
Revealing the endophytic mycoflora in tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves in Sri Lanka: the first comprehensive study
Authors: THAMBUGALA KASUN , DARANAGAMA DINUSHANI , KANNANGARA SAGARIKA , KODITUWAKKU THENUKA
Published: August 2021

Endophytic fungi are a diverse group of microorganisms that live asymptomatically in healthy tissues of host and they have been reported from all kinds of plant tissues such as leaves, stems, roots, flowers, and fruits. In this study, fungal endophytes associated with tea leaves (Camellia sinensis) were collected from Kandy, Kegalle, and Nuwara Eliya districts in Sri Lanka and were isolated, characterized, and identified. A total of twenty endophytic fungal isolates belonging to five genera were recovered and ITS-rDNA sequence data were used to identify them. All isolated endophytic fungal strains belong to the phylum Ascomycota and the majority of these isolates were identified as Colletotrichum species. Phyllosticta capitalensis was the most commonly found fungal endophyte in tea leaves and was recorded in all three districts where the samples were collected. This is the very first investigation on fungal endophytes associated with C. sinensis in Sri Lanka based on molecular sequence data. In addition, a comprehensive account of known endophytic fungi reported worldwide on Camellia sinensis is provided.
Two new combinations in the genus Panus (Panaceae, Polyporales) based on morphology and molecular phylogeny
Authors: N. VINJUSHA , KUMAR T. K. ARUN
Published: August 2021

Panus is a genus of the order Polyporales with a gilled hymenium. Although Panus was earlier considered as a sub genus of the genus Lentinus, molecular phylogenetic studies support the independent status of the genus. As a result, many species were transferred from Lentinus to Panus. Many more species of Lentinus that are more related to Panus, still await critical taxonomic studies and formal transfers. Morphological and molecular data obtained from L. bambusinus and L. roseus reveal that these are Panus species. Two new combinations in the genus Panus are proposed here.
Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Fossia Volynkin, Ivanova & S.-Y. Huang, 2019 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini) from China with description of a new subspecies
Authors: HUANG CHU-YANG , VOLYNKIN ANTON V. , ZHU LI-JUAN , WANG MIN , HUANG SI-YAO
Published: August 2021

New information on the genus Fossia Volynkin, Ivanova & S.-Y. Huang, 2019 from China is provided. A new subspecies of F. bachma (Volynkin & Černý, 2018) is described from Hainan, southern China: Fossia bachma hainanensis S.-Y. Huang & Volynkin ssp. nov., which is confirmed by morphological and molecular evidences. Fossia punicea (Moore, 1878) has been formally recorded from Yunnan, southwestern China, where it is represented by the subspecies F. punicea kachina (Volynkin & Černý, 2018). Adults and genitalia of the aforementioned taxa are illustrated.
A standardized and statistically defensible framework for quantitative morphological analyses in taxonomic studies
Authors: CHAN KIN ONN , GRISMER L. LEE
Published: August 2021

Although body size correction and inferential statistics have been used in morphological studies for many decades, their applications are far from being ubiquitous. We performed a meta-analysis to quantify the extent of taxonomic papers that performed body size correction and implemented a statistical hypothesis testing framework during the analysis of morphological data. Our results indicate that in most papers, neither of these analyses were performed but instead, cursory comparisons of descriptive statistics were presented. With the development of numerous freely available and powerful statistical programs such as R, we find it prudent to outline a standardized and statistically defensible framework to enhance the workflow of morphological analyses in taxonomic studies. This 5-step approach can be applied to meristic and mensural data across a wide range of taxonomic groups. We include an easy-to-use companion R script to facilitate the implementation of this workflow. Our proposed framework is not rooted in phylogenetic or evolutionary theory and hence, should not be used in place of explicit species delimitation techniques. Nevertheless, it can be incorporated into a more robust integrative taxonomic framework and is particularly useful for identifying diagnostic characters for species diagnoses.
Sila qanuippa? (how's the weather?): Integrating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and environmental forecasting products to support travel safety around Pond Inlet, Nunavut in a changing climate
Authors: Simonee Natasha , Alooloo Jayko , Carter Natalie Ann , Ljubicic Gita , Dawson Jackie
Published: August 2021

As Inuit hunters living in Pond Inlet, Nunavut, we (Natasha Simonee and Jayko Alooloo) travel extensively on land, water, and sea ice. Climate change, including changing sea ice and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, has made it riskier and harder for us to travel and hunt safely. Inuit knowledge supporting safe travel is also changing and shared less between generations. We increasingly use online weather, marine, and ice products to develop locally relevant forecasts. This helps us to make decisions according to wind, waves, precipitation, visibility, sea ice conditions, and floe edge location. We apply our forecasts and share them with fellow community members to support safe travel. In this paper, we share the approach we developed from over a decade of systematically and critically assessing forecasting products such as: Windy.com; weather and marine forecasts; tide tables; C-CORE’s floe edge monitoring service; SmartICE; ZoomEarth; and time lapse cameras. We describe the strengths and challenges we face when accessing, interpreting, and applying each product throughout different seasons. Our analysis highlights a disconnect between available products and local needs. This disconnect can be overcome by service providers adjusting services to include: more seasonal and real-time information, non-technical language, familiar units of measurement, data size proportional to internet access cost and speed, and clear relationships between weather/marine/ice information and safe travel. Our findings have potential relevance in the Circumpolar Arctic and beyond, wherever people combine Indigenous weather forecasting methods and online information for decision-making. We encourage service providers to improve product relevance and accessibility.
21st Century Lens on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Surgery Antiracism Symposium
Authors: Johnson Shaneeta M. , Stewart John H.
Published: August 2021

Inequities in society and health care combined with underlying structural and systemic racism have demonstrated significant consequences which have resulted in a renewed focus on the current state of diversity in health care and the field of surgery. However, efforts to combat racism and increase diversity and inclusion at all levels in the field of surgery require a comprehensive review, significant commitment, and purposeful action to achieve. These actions must include increasing diversity within training program recruitment, improving retention of minority and under-represented trainees, and implementing inclusive, transparent pathways to promotion, leadership, and involvement in scientific inquiry. This symposium brings together experts in surgery, health equity and policy to address antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion in a comprehensive manner ranging from workforce diversity and promotion, pipeline diversity, scholarly pursuits, social and political determinants of health.