bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disability Empowerment in Kerala: A Status Analysis and Vision for the Future
Authors: Kunnath Suja K. , George Vinitha Mary , Kumar K. G. Satheesh , Babu Anithamol
Published: February 2023

The opportunity to live and take part in community life is a basic human right, and persons with disabilities (PwD) often need additional care and support to achieve this. This becomes a real challenge in a developing society. The goal of this research is to create a vision for the empowerment of people with disabilities and to pave the way for their independent living in a developing society. The study used a mixed design method. Analyzing data from various government reports resulted in a status analysis of disability in the state of Kerala, India. The study found that the gaps identified in the disability sector in Kerala were primarily in the areas of the availability of sustainable model programs, innovations, research, education, skill development, and employment coupled with an inadequate ecosystem for the implementation of projects and schemes. A qualitative study design was adopted. The participants were selected using the expert analysis technique of purposeful sampling and data was collected using an interview guide. The interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis and are presented in a descriptive format. Despite the fact that the data in several government agencies are incomplete, it was encouraging to learn that several schemes to assist people with disabilities are being implemented. Local governments were responsive to disability even during disasters such as floods and the COVID-19 pandemic, but more planned approaches should be spearheaded. The vision for the future is targeted at achieving, among other goals, independent living for PwD.
Unleashing speculative urbanism: Speculation and urban transformations
Authors: Leitner Helga , Sheppard Eric
Published: February 2023

The papers and commentaries constituting this special issue offer new insights into speculative urbanism from the perspective of two southern metropolises. Based on an international and interdisciplinary collaboration comparing speculative urbanism in central and peri-urban Jakarta (Indonesia) and Bengaluru (India), and interrogating the literature triggered by a seminal 2011 paper by Michal Goldman, this issue extends existing speculative urbanism scholarship in four ways. First, the papers in this special issue take a multi-scalar approach, placing speculative urban practices within the broader spatio-temporal conjunctural contexts shaping their emergence. Second, extending currently economistic framings, they show how speculation also is socio-cultural. The diverse actors engaged in speculative urbanism do not simply seek to accumulate wealth; they do so with aspirations in mind for differentially imagined, but yet-to-be-realized, urban/peri-urban futures. Third, they highlight how speculative urbanism involves a broader range of actors than the usual suspects (developers and financial institutions), including land brokers, individual landlords, the state and its actors, and residents displaced from informal settlements. Fourth, they draw attention to diverse objects of urban speculation; not only land and property, but also more-than-human phenomena such as urban socio-ecologies and socio-technical networks.
Making space for the new state capitalism, part II: Relationality, spatiotemporality and uneven development
Authors: Alami Ilias , Whiteside Heather , Dixon Adam D , Peck Jamie
Published: February 2023

The theme issue ‘Making Space for the New State Capitalism’ brings together insights from critical economic geography and heterodox political economy through a series of papers published in three installments, each accompanied by an introductory essay written by the guest editors. In this, the second of these introductory commentaries, we explore the consequences of embracing relationality, spatiotemporality and uneven development, together with the second group of papers. Introducing a final group of papers, the third installment will address the challenges and opportunities of thinking conjuncturally.
Molecular characterization of physis tissue and hormonal profiles of female rats neonatally exposed to low-dose bisphenol A
Authors: Jiang Chenyan , Gao Guanglin , Sun Wen , Sun Yanyan , Yu Jian
Published: February 2023

Physis is a complex cartilaginous structure that is critical for longitudinal bone growth. As one of the endocrine-disrupting chemicals, bisphenol A (BPA) can interfere with the physis by deranging the complex networks of nutritional, cellular, paracrine, and endocrine factors, and this affects longitudinal bone growth, leading to different growth outcomes. However, the exact mechanisms underlying these phenomena remain unclear. Therefore, understanding the molecular pathways involved in the physis after neonatal exposure to low-dose BPA may permit the identification of research targets for therapeutics, which may aid in modulating the process of growth plate closure. In the present study, female Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to 0.05 mg·kg−1·day−1 of BPA and corn oil vehicle from postnatal day 1 (PND1) to 15 via subcutaneous injection. Next-generation RNA sequencing was performed for the mRNA isolated from the physis. The levels of osteocalcin (OC), growth hormone (GH), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) were measured on PND30 (BPA0.05mg vs. Vehicle; n = 5 for each group). We observed statistically significant enrichment of gene sets in the BPA0.05mg tissues compared with the Vehicle tissues. Further analysis of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified BPA0.05mg-specific networks of secreted proteins (LEP, NPY, AGT, ACE2, C4B, and C4BPA) as well as those of local matrix and protease proteins (FBN2, LAMC2, ADAMTS16, and ADAMTS19). Furthermore, the levels of OC and GH were affected by BPA exposure. Our results revealed the specific molecular characteristics of physis contaminated with BPA and may provide new clues for physis maturation and supervision of industrial products and occupational exposure.
The Choice and Evaluation of Sexual Harassment Interventions in Institutions of Higher Education
Authors: Perry Elissa L.
Published: February 2023

This paper provides a qualitative review of research related to sexual harassment interventions employed in institutions of higher education (IHEs) and introduces a needs assessment process that IHE administrators can use to inform their choice of intervention. Additionally, this paper provides direction regarding how to assess the impact of sexual harassment interventions as prevention programs can only be effective if they are continuously evaluated. This review may help researchers identify under researched sexual harassment related topics in higher education and IHE administrators make evidence-based decisions related to the choice, implementation, and assessment of sexual harassment interventions.
Albiflorin ameliorates mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis by PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway
Authors: Yu Haiyan , Wang Yu , He Zida , Chen Ruixue , Dai Yingni , Tang Yingqian , Chen Ye
Published: February 2023

Background: The most common type of glomerulonephritis in China is mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) featured with mesangial cell overproliferation and inflammation, as well as fibrosis. Albiflorin (AF) is an effective composition extracted from Paeonia Alba Radix and has been administrated for various diseases. Nevertheless, there is no research reporting the effect of AF on MPGN.

Purpose: Our work aims to probe into the role and possible mechanism of AF on MPGN.

Research Design: We investigated the effects of AF on mesangial cell overproliferation, inflammation, and fibrosis  in vitro and  in vivo and identified the related signaling pathways.

Study Sample: human mesangial cells (HMCs) and male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats.

Data Analysis: SPSS 18.0 was used to analyze the data.

Results: AF attenuated the proliferation and inflammation both  in vitro and  in vivo. In detail, AF decreased the ki67 expression in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-treated HMCs and MPGN rats, and the mRNA expression or contents of inflammatory cytokines were reduced after AF treatment. The fibrosis of LPS-treated HMCs and MPGN rats was also reduced by AF. Moreover, AF effectively restrained 24 h urinary protein, improved kidney function, and mitigated dyslipidemia and pathological injury of MPGN rats. Additionally, we found that the protective effects of AF were accompanied by the blocking of PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway, and the inhibitory effects of AF on MPGN were reversed by insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), the PI3K agonist.

Conclusions: AF alleviates MPGN via restraining mesangial cell overproliferation, inflammation, and fibrosis via PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling.
Change plane model averaging for subgroup identification
Authors: Liu Pan , Li Jialiang , Kosorok Michael R
Published: February 2023

Central to personalized medicine and tailored therapies is discovering the subpopulations that account for treatment effect heterogeneity and are likely to benefit more from given interventions. In this article, we introduce a change plane model averaging method to identify subgroups characterized by linear combinations of predictive variables and multiple cut-offs. We first fit a sequence of statistical models, each incorporating the thresholding effect of one particular covariate. The estimation of submodels is accomplished through an iterative integration of a change point detection method and numerical optimization algorithms. A frequentist model averaging approach is then employed to linearly combine the submodels with optimal weights. Our approach can deal with high-dimensional settings involving enormous potential grouping variables by adopting the sparsity-inducing penalties. Simulation studies are conducted to investigate the prediction and subgrouping performance of the proposed method, with a comparison to various competing subgroup detection methods. Our method is applied to a dataset from a warfarin pharmacogenetics study, producing some new findings.
Reflections on Multidisciplinary Scholarship in the Study of Himalayan Borders and Borderlands
Authors: George Noel Mariam
Published: February 2023

Early mapping of Himalayan frontiers, were intimately tied to the imperial conquest of space. Polycentric contestations of the British, Russian, Qing and even Tibetan expansionist imaginaries dominated such territorial endeavours. In the mid-twentieth century, in the switch from empire to nation, scholarship on borders and borderlands reinforced methodological nationalism in spaces with multiple sovereignty and overlapping treaties. While early post-colonial scholarship critiqued the colonial construction of borders, there have been efforts to tease out newer ways of narrating borders that take cognisance of the continuing heterarchies of violence in the modern nation. Such scholarly ‘decolonial’ endeavours have challenged the overwhelming emphasis on state and territoriality in colonial and later national accounts on borders. By imagining the Himalayan transregional frontier as central, rather than peripheral to state making, these notes challenge the cultivation of the Himalayas as culturally, even civilisationally ‘primitive’. Conceptualising the borderland as an epistemic category, these survey notes synthesise more recent decolonial scholarship on Himalayan borders and borderlands to sketch out emerging geographies of (im)mobility, militarisation and violence.
A tale of two continents: The performance of six early warning scores in two emergency departments
Authors: Lo Ronson Sze Long , Lyngholm Le Elias , Brabrand Mikkel , Leung Ling Yan , Hung Kevin Kei Ching , Laugesen Sune , Posth Stefan , Cooksley Tim , Graham Colin A , Nickel Christian H
Published: February 2023

Background:

Several early warning scores have been designed to optimize acute care by identifying patients at risk of deterioration.

Methods:

In this post hoc dual center study, we analyzed the performance of six clinical scores (the Goodacre score, Groarke, Worthing Physiological Score, Rapid Acute Physiology Score, Rapid Emergency Medicine Score, United Kingdom National Early Warning Score. The primary outcome is 30-day all-cause mortality after inclusion and data were obtained from previous studies performed at two different emergency departments on two continents (Denmark, Europe, and Hong Kong, Asia).

Results:

We included 2952 people; 1482 (50.2%) were male, mean age (standard deviation) was 65.7 (18.3) years, and 109 (3.7%) died within 30 days. Mortality rate increased steadily with increasing scores for all six scoring systems in Hong Kong while this was less obvious in Denmark. In all patients, Rapid Acute Physiology Score had the lowest discriminatory power while National Early Warning Score had the highest. National Early Warning Score performed best in Hong Kong while Worthing performed marginally better in Denmark.

Discussion:

Surprisingly, the performance of the scoring systems varied considerably, but were largely unaffected by location, and none of them performed close to what clinicians would normally require for predicting 30-day all-cause mortality

Conclusion:

All scores performed similarly across both centers, with poor prediction of 30-day all-cause mortality. Based on these findings, we believe that clinical scores must be supplemented by either biochemical values or global markers of physiological reserve to reflect reality and to be of true value.
Everyday Cognitive Control and Emotion Dysregulation in Young Adults With and Without ADHD: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study
Authors: Ben-Dor Cohen Maayan , Maeir Adina , Eldar Eran , Nahum Mor
Published: February 2023

Objective:

This study examined the contribution of the temporal dynamics of two cognitive control mechanisms—inhibitory control (IC) and working memory (WM)—to emotion dysregulation (ED) in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in ecological settings.

Method:

One hundred twenty-two participants (age 18–33 years; 60 with ADHD) reported their ED at baseline, followed by a 5-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study, with short behavioral IC and WM tasks performed five times/day.

Results:

For IC, mean and lability of performance over EMA significantly accounted for differences in ED but not baseline performance. For WM, both baseline and mean of EMA, but not EMA lability, accounted for ED variance. ADHD status further contributed to the explained variance of ED.

Conclusions:

Our results support the contribution of dynamic IC processes to ED in ADHD, in addition to WM performance level, and highlight the importance of dynamic and ecological investigation of different cognitive control components.
Predictors of Quality of Life and Functional Impairments in Emerging Adults With and Without ADHD: A 10-Year Longitudinal Study
Authors: Orm Stian , Øie Merete Glenne , Fossum Ingrid Nesdal , Fjermestad Krister , Andersen Per Normann , Skogli Erik Winther
Published: February 2023

Objective:

We tested the hypotheses that (1) a diagnosis of ADHD in childhood or adolescence is associated with reduced quality of life (QoL) and everyday functioning in emerging adulthood, and (2) executive function (EF) deficits, internalizing difficulties, and ADHD symptoms predict reduced QoL and more functional impairments.

Method:

We assessed 85 children and adolescents with ADHD and 50 typically developing (TD) peers at baseline ( Mage = 11.6 years, 58% males), 2-year follow-up, and 10-year follow-up with neuropsychological tests of EF and self-reports.

Results:

Individuals with ADHD reported lower QoL and functional impairments in emerging adulthood compared to TD peers. More internalizing difficulties and ADHD symptoms at baseline and 2-year follow-up significantly predicted lower QoL and more functional impairments at the 10-year follow-up.

Conclusion

ADHD and internalizing difficulties in childhood or adolescence have a negative impact on QoL and everyday functioning in emerging adulthood.
Papillary Intralymphatic Angioendothelioma in a Child With PIK3CA-Related Overgrowth Spectrum: Implication of PI3K Pathway in the Vascular Tumorigenesis
Authors: Debelenko Larisa , Mansukhani Mahesh M. , Remotti Fabrizio
Published: February 2023

Papillary intralymphatic angioendothelioma (PILA) is an extremely rare vascular tumor and its pathogenesis is unknown. Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA)-related overgrowth spectrum (PROS) is a heterogeneous group of disorders caused by mosaicism for activating mutations of PIK3CA and characterized by asymmetric overgrowth, skeletal anomalies, skin lesions, and vascular malformations. An association between PILA and PROS has not been known. We report a case of PILA involving the spleen of a young girl with the clinical and molecular diagnosis of PROS. Sequencing of the patient’s germ-line DNA detected a pathogenic PIK3CA variant c.1357G>A in 10.6% of alleles. Splenectomy revealed a 4-cm tumor composed of ectatic lymphatics with intraluminal papillary projections, consistent with PILA. The tumor cells showed immunohistochemical expression of CD31, CD34, ERG, FLI-1, PROX1, and caldesmon, while D2-40 was negative. The latter may suggest that the tumor derived from an endothelial precursor arrested in the final steps of lymphothelial differentiation, in keeping with the known role of the PIK3CA-governed molecular pathway in the progression of vascular progenitors to mature endothelial cells. The data implicates PIK3CA in the pathogenesis of PILA and broadens the spectrum of phenotypic expressions of PROS.
Investigating fixed and growth teaching mindsets and self-efficacy as predictors of language teachers’ burnout and professional identity
Authors: Zarrinabadi Nourollah , Jamalvandi Behrouz , Rezazadeh Mohsen
Published: February 2023

Learning about the factors that play a positive or negative role in language teachers’ dissatisfaction, stress and exhaustion, and challenge their identity as a teacher might provide teaching programs with suggestions on how to prevent teacher burnout. This study investigated whether teachers’ mindsets about stability or malleability of teaching ability (fixed and growth mindsets) and self-efficacy predicted their burnout and professional identity beliefs. The participants of the present study were 166 English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers. The teachers completed self-report scales on teaching mindsets, burnout, professional identity, and self-efficacy. The results of path analysis showed that fixed teaching mindsets productively predicted emotional exhaustion and depersonalization while growth teaching mindsets and teacher self-efficacy positively predicted personal accomplishment and teacher professional identity. The implications for future research in the field are presented.
Measuring the comparative advantage of camping businesses: A multicriteria sorting methodology
Authors: Grande Kevin , Botti Laurent
Published: February 2023

The adoption of appropriate strategies is an obligation for firms to gain in competitiveness. This paper develops a camping comparative advantage measure methodology by composing an operational definition of this concept and by implementing an assessment method. The paper first undertakes a literature review concerning competitiveness and performance measurement in tourism and hospitality. Secondly, it develops a multi-criteria framework to evaluate comparative advantage of camping businesses. This framework is then applied to French firms by using the ELECTRE TRI methodology. The article has management implications in relation to the usefulness of the proposed methodology to real-world situations. Its results have theoretical significances: the paper extends the literature regarding hospitality firms’ competitiveness and specifies criteria concerning camping businesses advantage against competitors. Findings reveal three homogeneous categories. To ensure the relevance of these categories, the investment strategies and then the camping manager feedbacks are detailed. In terms of limitations, the adopted approach recalls to an accumulation of resources, and this does not automatically equate to competitiveness as exposed the resource quality or capabilities to manage these large number of resources.
Experimental visualization of the gas-liquid two-phase flow inside the multi-cavity during reciprocating motion
Authors: Liang Bing , Ming Pingjian , Yu Guopeng , Hao Zhaohui , Zhao Haiyang
Published: February 2023

The piston cooling of engines are usually controlled by the “cocktail shake” mechanism inside the single cooling cavity, according to most studies of piston cooling published before. This paper researched on flow in multiple cooling cavities which are extensively used on pistons of low-speed engines, revealing that the flow in multi-cavity is quite different from that in a single cooling cavity. In this work, complete reciprocating cycles are captured to study the gas-liquid two-phase flow behavior of each cavity inside the multi-cavity piston, by conducting synchronous experiments using benchmarked high-speed camera and a real size piston. The effects of different engine speeds (40–64 rpm) and different inlet pressures (0.1–0.3 MPa) were investigated. Both the inner and annular cavities are cooled mainly by cocktail shaking, but two cooling mechanisms are observed in the outer cavity, the oscillatory effect and cyclonic effect, providing further development on piston cooling studies. The cyclonic effect enhances the heat transfer capacity of the sidewall surfaces. The coupling effect between multiple cavities produces a secondary mixing effect of the liquid and improves the overall turbulence. In this paper, a comprehensive analysis of the flow mechanism within a typical multi-cavity piston is presented.
The tenets of distributed pedagogical leadership in educational contexts—A systematic literature review on perception and practice
Authors: Okiri Peter Ochieng , Hercz Mária
Published: February 2023

The concept of distributed pedagogical leadership (DPL) practice in education is advanced as an acceptable element in enhancing the quality of pedagogical improvement and the academic achievement of learners across educational contexts. This concept is conceived as a leadership style, where stakeholders are formally and informally involved in the leadership process. The interdependence of stakeholders in the enactment of this concept is underpinned by the five dimensions of DPL, namely: enhancing shared consciousness of visions, and strategies between stakeholders; distributing responsibilities for pedagogical leadership; distributing and clarifying power relationship between the stakeholders; distributing the enactment of pedagogical improvement within centers; and developing a strategy for DPL. This study employed a systematic literature review that mapped relevant literature to the topic. The database of sources consists of 10 articles on DPL published in the English language and in high-ranking journals between January 2010 and December 2021. The review highlights empirical and theoretical-conceptual contributions to the literature on DPL including the methodologies used in the studies. The study extensively expounds on the underpinning theoretical and conceptual frameworks to elucidate this concept. The result implies the need to promote the culture of DPL in all learning levels and spheres of education.
A new approach to digital health? Virtual COVID-19 care: A scoping review
Authors: Chung-Lee Leinic , Catallo Cristina
Published: February 2023

Aims

The use of virtual care enabled by digital technologies has increased, prompted by public health restrictions in response to COVID-19. Non-hospitalized persons in the acute phase of COVID-19 illness may have unique health needs while self-isolating in the community. This scoping review aimed to explore the nature of care, the use of digital technologies, and patient outcomes arising from virtual care among community-based self-isolating COVID-19 patients.

Methods

Literature searches for peer-reviewed articles were conducted in four bibliographic databases: CINAHL, Medline, Embase and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews between January and February 2022, followed by hand-searching reference lists of included articles. Two levels of screening using defined eligibility criteria among two independent reviewers were completed.

Results

Of the 773 articles retrieved, 19 were included. Results indicate that virtual care can be safe while enabling timely detection of clinical deterioration to improve the illness trajectory. COVID-19 virtual care was delivered by single health professionals or by multidisciplinary teams using a range of low-technology methods such as telephone to higher technology methods like wearable technology that transmitted physiological data to the care teams for real-time or asynchronous monitoring.

Conclusion

The review described the varied nature of virtual care including its design, implementation, and evaluation. Further research is needed for continued exploration on how to leverage digital health assets for the delivery of appropriate and safe virtual COVID-19 community care, which can support patient recovery, control transmission, and prevent intensifying the burden on the health care system, especially during surges.
Book review: K. R. Shyam Sunder (Ed.), Contemporary Reforms of Labour Market and Industrial Relations Systems in India: Ease of Doing Business versus Labour Rights: In Honour of Prof. Lalit Deshpande
Authors: Banerjee Parag , Kumar Avinash
Published: February 2023

K. R. Shyam Sunder (Ed.), Contemporary Reforms of Labour Market and Industrial Relations Systems in India: Ease of Doing Business versus Labour Rights: In Honour of Prof. Lalit Deshpande (New Delhi: Academic Foundation, 2018), 380 pp. US$79.95, ISBN 9789332704527 (Hardback).
A supplementary study on the Chinese writings in Pidgin English Lyrics
Authors: Nie Daxin
Published: February 2023

Chinese Pidgin Language has existed in the southern coastal areas of China since the 16th century and is a lingua franca of European languages, Mandarin and Chinese dialects, influenced by the class of users and the particular using occasion. Chinese people mainly rely on Chinese transcriptions to express and record this idiosyncratic dialect without regard for original foreign letters and spelling rules. This method, however, reserves the dialectal phonetic feature and writing system of sight words in an early period. Limited by the material recorded, relevant concerns about Chinese Pidgin Language have been at a standstill. Referring to the regional variations, studies on Yang King Pang English needs to be worthy of attention. By referring to the corresponding agreements of Chinese Pidgin Language extracted from earlier studies as well as the historical evidence, the present article makes a thorough correction of and supplement to all questioned Chinese transcriptions embedded in these Pidgin English Lyrics not well-known by the academic. The achievement, integrated with the existing transcriptions of these lyrics, would provide one complete glossary of Yang King Pang English in that period.
The Prognostic Role of VEGFR-2 Gene Amplification in Relation to Serum AFP Levels Among Liver-Transplanted Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Koksal Ulkuhan Iner , Saglam Sezer , Dayangac Murat , Dogusoy Gulen Bulbul , Akyildiz Murat , Buyukdogan Murat , Qipa Egzona
Published: February 2023

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver neoplasia. Vascular endothelial factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) plays an important role in angiogenesis and it has been associated with poor survival in certain other tumor types. Although a recent study also suggested an association between VEGFR-2 expression and HCC, the relationship between VEGFR-2 amplification and HCC is still obscure.

Aim

To evaluate prognostic role of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) amplification in relation to serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels and tumor clinicopathological parameters among liver-transplanted patients with HCC.

Study design

Cohort study

Methods

A total of 54 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded and frozen HCC samples from patients who underwent liver transplantation between 2009 and 2015 were analyzed. VEGFR-2 amplification was determined via fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method in tissue samples obtained during liver transplantation and analyzed with respect to serum AFP levels, tumor clinicopathological parameters, and oncological outcomes including recurrence free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS).

Results

Amplified VEGFR-2 gene was prominent in 27 (50.0%) patients, while AFP levels were ≥100 ng/mL in 14 (25.9%) patients. Presence of amplified VEGFR-2 gene was associated with significantly shorter RFS time (mean 72.8 vs 101.3 months for positive and negative patients respectively, P = .015), whereas had no significant impact on OS time (median 79.2 vs 93.1 months, respectively, P = .206). Presence versus absence of amplified VEGFR-2 gene was associated with significantly higher levels of AFP (mean±SD 266.6±405.8 vs 40.6±94.6 ng/mL, P = .016) and higher recurrence rate (81.8 vs 18.2%, P = .018), and significantly predicted the AFP levels ≥100 ng/ml (OR, 10.2, 95%CI 1.8-56.9, P = .008). Lymphatic invasion and vascular invasion emerged as independent predictors of poor OS (HR, 12.4 [95% CI, 2.7-57.3], P = .01) and RFS (HR, 8.3 [95% CI, 2.3-29.8], P = .01).

Conclusion

In conclusion, our findings revealed the presence of amplified VEGFR-2 gene and its association with serum AFP elevation for the first time in HCC. VEGFR-2 amplification was associated with significantly shorter RFS and it emerged as a significant predictor of elevated AFP. Accordingly, our findings seem to indicate the role of AFP elevation in VEGFR-2-mediated tumorigenesis as well as the likelihood of amplified VEGFR-2 gene and high AFP levels to determine the risk status and efficacy of VEGFR-2-inhibitors in HCC liver transplanted patients.
Constructing Aggregated Revealed Comparative Advantage Index of a Country
Authors: Chakrabartty Satyendra Nath
Published: February 2023

The measures of revealed comparative advantage (RCA) with multiplicative specification and dependency on world trade of export items are incomparable across time and places. Intra-country comparisons by Balassa RCA and its variants are problematic, calling for a method of aggregating RCA of all sectors of a country reflecting the overall export potential of the country. Overall RCA of a country ([Formula: see text]) is necessary to know the country’s RCA of all the export items as a function of trade flows relative to a point of reference, that is, a base period. The article proposes geometric aggregation of the ratio of RCA at the current period over the base period for each sector to get [Formula: see text] by a continuous, monotonically increasing function of time, satisfying time-reversal test, formation of chain indices and generates time-series data. Progress path of [Formula: see text] and similar path of jth sector may help policymakers to decide on appropriate action for the economy and individual sectors. Distribution of [Formula: see text] will approach lognormal. Knowledge of distributions of [Formula: see text] for different countries helps to have a better inter-country comparison. The similarity of two RCA curves may be evaluated by similarity measures. An empirical illustration of the proposed method is given.

JEL Codes: C43, F14
Hepatitis C micro-elimination through the retrieval strategy of patients lost to follow-up
Authors: Chen Cheng-Jen , Huang Yung-Hsin , Hsu Chao-Wei , Chen Yi-Cheng , Chang Ming-Ling , Lin Chun-Yen , Shen Yi-Hsien , Chien Rong-Nan
Published: February 2023

Background and aim

World Health Organization sets up an ambitious and attainable goal to eliminate hepatitis C (HCV) by 2030. The previous diagnosed HCV patients lost to follow-up were considered as an important target group for HCV elimination. We conducted a call back program to retrieve the lost to follow-up HCV patients and link them to care in our hospital. By analyzing and comparing our result with that from other studies, we wish to improve our retrieval strategy and provide our experience to the general communities.

Methods

A list of the patients with a medical record showing seropositive for antibody to HCV (anti-HCV Ab) from 2004 to 2017 was retrieved by the department of intelligent technology of our hospital. Three dedicated staff members reviewed the patients’ electronic medical records (EMRs) and recruited the patient lost follow-up to the call back program. The staff members contacted the qualified patients by telephone and inquired about their opinions for treating their chronic HCV infection. We also informed the patients about the retrieval strategy and why we contact them. As our National Health Insurance request, we gave all patient one informed consent for hepatitis C treatment. Informed consents have been obtained from all patients. Referrals to our gastroenterology unit (GU) were arranged for the patients who would like to continue their chronic HCV care in our hospital.

Results

There were 31,275 anti-HCV positive patients. We included 11,934 patients (38.2%) into the call back system and contacted them by telephone. Based on the response to our call, we ascertained 1277 eligible cases (10.7%) for retrieval. The patients who were younger (< 55), lived in Taoyaun City or had tested positive for anti-HCV Ab at the department of internal medicine department had an increased rate of successful call back. There were 563 patients (44.1%) returning to our GU. Of them, 354 patients (62.9%) were positive for HCV viremia. 323 patients (91.2%) received the DAAs treatment. The SVR12 with Grazoprevir + elbasvir, Glecaprevir + pibrentasvir, Sofosbuvir + ledipasvir and Sofosbuvir + velpatasvir were 97.9%, 98.8%, 100% and 97.5%, respectively.

Conclusions

Call back system can expand our reach to those unaware or ignoring chronic HCV infection patients and link them to treatment.
Nomogram for predicting the overall survival of underweight patients with colorectal cancer: a clinical study
Authors: Bong Jun Woo , Na Younghyun , Ju Yeonuk , Cheong Chinock , Kang Sanghee , Lee Sun Il , Min Byung Wook
Published: February 2023

Background

An underweight individual is defined as one whose Body Mass Index (BMI) is < 18.5 kg/m2. Currently, the prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) who are also underweight is unclear.

Methods

Information on South Korean patients who underwent curative resection for CRC without distant metastasis was collected from health insurance registry data between January 2014 and December 2016. We compared the overall survival (OS) of underweight and non-underweight (BMI ≥ 18.5 kg/m2) patients after adjusting for confounders using propensity score matching. A nomogram to predict OS in the underweight group was constructed using the significant risk factors identified in multivariate analysis. The predictive and discriminative capabilities of the nomogram for predicting 3- and 5-year OS in the underweight group were validated and compared with those of the tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) staging system in the training and validation sets.

Results

A total of 23,803 (93.6%) and 1,644 (6.4%) patients were assigned to the non-underweight and underweight groups, respectively. OS was significantly worse in the underweight group than in the non-underweight group for each pathological stage (non-underweight vs. underweight: stage I, 90.1% vs. 77.1%; stage IIA, 85.3% vs. 67.3%; stage IIB/C, 74.9% vs. 52.1%; and stage III, 73.2% vs. 59.4%, P < 0.001). The calibration plots demonstrated that the nomogram exhibited satisfactory consistency with the actual results. The concordance index (C-index) and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the nomogram exhibited better discriminatory capability than those of the TNM staging system (C-index, nomogram versus TNM staging system: training set, 0.713 versus 0.564, P < 0.001; validation set, 0.691 versus 0.548, P < 0.001; AUC for 3- and 5- year OS, nomogram versus TNM staging system: training set, 0.748 and 0.741 versus 0.610 and 0.601; validation set, 0.715 and 0.753 versus 0.586 and 0.579, respectively).

Conclusions

Underweight patients had worse OS than non-underweight patients for all stages of CRC. Our nomogram can guide prognostic predictions and the treatment plan for underweight patients with CRC.
Implementing a home-based personalised cognitive rehabilitation intervention for people with mild-to-moderate dementia: GREAT into Practice
Authors: Clare Linda , Kudlicka Aleksandra , Collins Rachel , Evans Suzannah , Pool Jackie , Henderson Catherine , Knapp Martin , Litherland Rachael , Oyebode Jan , Woods Robert
Published: February 2023

Background

Evidence-based rehabilitative interventions, if widely implemented, could equip people with dementia and their families to manage life with the condition and reduce the need for health and care services. The aim of this translational study, building on evidence from the GREAT randomised controlled trial, was to develop a foundation for implementing the GREAT Cognitive Rehabilitation intervention in community-based services for people with mild-to-moderate dementia.

Methods

Key elements of the implementation strategy were identifying and supporting managerial and clinical leadership, conducting collaborative planning and target-setting, training and supporting practitioners, and providing external facilitation. We developed implementation plans with, and trained staff in, 14 organisations. We subsequently worked closely with 11 of these, 10 National Health Service organisations and one private home care provider, to support practitioners to deliver GREAT Cognitive Rehabilitation over a 12-month period. Outcome evaluation examined the perspectives of local steering group members, practitioners and service users, and the reach, effectiveness and cost of the intervention.

Results

Implementation was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but six organisations completed at least six months of intervention delivery. Forty-one practitioners, mainly occupational therapists, provided the intervention, and 54 people with dementia completed a course of GREAT Cognitive Rehabilitation. Goal attainment by people with dementia exceeded levels of improvement seen in the original trial. People with dementia, carers, practitioners and steering group members all evaluated the intervention positively, and economic analysis indicated that the intervention could be provided at modest cost. However, we identified a range of mainly organisational barriers that impeded implementation and limited the potential for sustainability.

Conclusions

GREAT Cognitive Rehabilitation benefits people with dementia, can be delivered effectively at modest cost in routine services, and is viewed positively by people with dementia, family carers and practitioners. To fully realise these benefits and achieve widespread and sustainable implementation, however, requires sufficient resources and a reorientation of service priorities towards preventive and rehabilitative approaches.

Trial Registration

National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Central Portfolio Management System, registration number 38994.
Colorectal cancer survivors’ long-term recollections of their illness and therapy up to seven years after enrolment into a randomised controlled clinical trial
Authors: Völkel Vinzenz , Steinger Brunhilde , Koller Michael , Klinkhammer-Schalke Monika , Lindberg-Scharf Patricia
Published: February 2023

Background

As a consequence of effective treatment procedures, the number of long-term survivors of colorectal cancer is ever increasing. Adopting the method of a previous study on breast cancer patients, the goal of the present research was to investigate colorectal cancer patients’ recollections of their illness and treatment experiences up to seven years after they have been enrolled in a randomised controlled clinical trial on the direct improvement of quality of life (RCT DIQOL).

Methods

Colorectal cancer survivors in Bavaria, Germany were mailed a questionnaire on average 78·3 months after the start of their therapy and enrolment into RCT DIQOL. The questionnaire enquired about their worst experience during the colorectal cancer episode, positive aspects of the illness, and any advice they would give to newly diagnosed patients. Patient responses were categorised by two independent raters and cross-checked by a third independent rater. Frequencies of these categories were then quantitatively analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results

Of 146 remaining survivors initially enrolled in RCT DIQOL, 96 (66%) returned the questionnaire. The majority (33%) of statements regarding the worst experience was referring to “psychological distress”, followed by “indigestion and discomfort during defecation” (17%), and “cancer diagnosis” (16%). Among survivors with history of a stoma, the majority (36%) regarded “stoma” as their worst experience. With 45%, “change in life priorities” has been the most frequent positive category before “support by physicians/ nurses” (25%). 43% of the survivors deemed “fighting spirit” as most important advice to overcome the disease.

Conclusion

Even after many years, colorectal cancer survivors clearly remember experiences from the time of their illness. Echoing the results of the previous breast cancer survivors’ study, “psychological distress”, “change in life priorities” and “fighting spirit” emerged as prominent concepts. In addition, some aspects like the impact of a stoma are of specific importance for colorectal cancer survivors. These findings can be used to inform programmes to improve patient- and quality of life centred aftercare of tumour patients.

Clinical trial information

NCT04930016, date of registration 18.06.2021.
CXCL10 is a prognostic marker for pancreatic adenocarcinoma and tumor microenvironment remodeling
Authors: Nie Yuan , Liu Chao , Liu Qi , Zhu Xuan
Published: February 2023

Background:

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in the progression of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD). However, challenges remain regarding the role played by TME associated genes in the prognosis of PAAD.

Methods:

The scores of tumor infiltrating immune cells (TICs), the immune and stroma scores of 182 PAAD patients in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were determined using CIBERSORT and ESTIMATE calculations. The final genes were identified by protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and univariate Cox regression of differentially expressed genes. Finally, the correlation between gene expression and TCGA and clinical characteristics of patients in local hospital database was discussed. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), the association between CXCL10 expression and TICs components were conducted.

Results:

In TCGA database and local hospital data, CXCL10 expression was correlated with the survival rate and TNM classification of patients with PAAD. Immune-related activities were enriched in the CXCL10 high expression group, while metabolic pathways were enriched in the CXCL10 low expression group. The expression of CXCL10 correlated with the proportion of TICs. CXCL10 expression was correlated with the proportion of TICs.

Conclusion:

CXCL10 is a potential prognostic marker for PAAD and provide additional insights into the treatment of PAAD based on TME transformation. However, more independent experimentation with the CXCL10 is need.
Comparison of anterior sclera thickness in emmetropes and myopes
Authors: Zhou Jie , He Hai , Yang Qiang , Wang Jiang-Ying , You Zhi-Peng , Liu Li-Li
Published: February 2023

Background

This study aimed to compare anterior scleral thicknesses (ASTs) in people with emmetropia and myopia to explore the effect of myopia on AST.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 93 participants (i.e., 93 eyes) with emmetropia and myopia underwent ocular imaging via anterior segment optical coherence tomography. We acquired raw B-scan OCT images along each of the four meridians (superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal), The AST was estimated from the limbus to a distance of 6 mm. The participants were aged between 20 and 50 years (mean age: 30.2 ± 8.8 years). The axial length (AL) was 22.50 ~ 33.04 mm (mean AL: 26.51 ± 2.65 mm), and the spherical equivalent (SE) was + 0.50 ~ 27.5 D (mean SE: −7.20 ± 6.5 D). The selected sample comprised 37 males and 56 females who were categorized as emmetropes, mild–moderate myopes, or high myopes. The four meridians of AST, AL, and refractive error were observed.

Results

The AL was significantly negatively correlated with the four meridians of AST (the r value ranged between − 0.511 and − 0.228, P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between age and inferior diameter (r = 0.113, P = 0.314), but age was positively correlated with the average AST of the superior, temporal, and nasal diameters (the r value ranged between 0.452 and 0.552, P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between sex and AST (the T value ranged between − 1.816 and − 0.130, P > 0.05). Except for the inferior diameters of 1 mm, 5 mm, and 6 mm and the temporal diameter of 1 mm, the four diameters in the emmetropia group and the high myopia group were statistically significant at a distance of 0 ~ 6 mm from the limbus (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The AST is negatively correlated with AL and positively correlated with age. Compared with emmetropic eyes, the AST is thinner in highly myopic eyes. Myopia affects AST, which may be useful for monitoring progression in cases of myopia.
Changes in aberrations and biomechanics after femtosecond laser-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) in eyes with high astigmatism: a retrospective case control study
Authors: Li Na , Chen Tong , Tian Ge , Lin Yue , Meng Yuan , Gao Hua , Liu Mingna
Published: February 2023

Background:

To compare the 6-month changes in aberration and biomechanics after femtosecond laser-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) for high astigmatism.

Methods:

In this retrospective case control study, 47 eyes with high astigmatism (≥ 2.5 D, HA group) and 47 eyes with low astigmatism (≤ 1.0 D, LA group) underwent FS-LASIK. Preoperative and follow-up examinations included visual outcomes, higher order aberrations (HOAs) and biomechanics. Biomechanical parameters include a deformation amplitude ratio of 2 mm (DA ratio 2 mm), integrated inverse radius (IIR), stiffness parameter at first applanation (SP-A1), and ambrosio relational thickness through the horizontal meridian (ARTh).

Results:

Six months postoperatively, there was no significant difference in the efficacy and safety index (both P > 0.05) between the two groups, but the cylinder was higher in the HA group. The HOAs increased significantly after surgery in both groups (all P < 0.05). Six months postoperatively, the changes in spherical aberration and HOAs were larger in the HA group (both P < 0.005), but there was no significant difference between the changes in coma (P > 0.05). Significant decreases in SP-A1 and ARTh and significant increases in the IIR and DA ratio of 2 mm (all P < 0.05) were observed after surgery in both groups. The changes in the DA ratio 2 mm, IIR, SP-A1, and ARTh were not significantly different between the groups.

Conclusion:

FS-LASIK had relative comparable efficacy and safety in correcting high and low myopic astigmatism, with higher astigmatic under-correction in eyes with high astigmatism. High astigmatism in eyes after FS-LASIK could introduce larger corneal aberrations, but the impact on corneal stiffness was the same as that in eyes with low astigmatism.