bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Comparative Study to Assess the Efficacy of Two Different Estradiol Formulations during In Vitro Fertilization
Authors: Banker Manish , Arora Parul , Banker Jwal , Shah Sandeep
Published: August 2021

Improvements in stimulation protocols, introduction of vitrification, and changes in clinical practices have contributed to improved efficacy and safety of assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures. This has also led to a concomitant increase in number of cycles requiring hormone replacement therapy (HRT) protocol for performing an embryo transfer. Successful implantation is dependent on endometrial thickness which in turn is regulated by temporal regulation of hormones. Careful control of estrogen levels determines uterine receptivity. One of the most used drugs for achieving appropriate endometrial lining of >7 mm in HRT is estradiol valerate. Although different estrogen formulations with varying physicochemical properties exist, there is not enough literature to support if the differences translate into a discernible clinical outcome in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) setting. Objective and Method. In this study, retrospective in nature, we compare the efficacy of oral estradiol hemihydrate with estradiol valerate in HRT cycles in 2,529 Indian women, undergoing treatment at a center in India between Jan 2017 and May 2019. Results. Our results primarily indicate that between the estradiol valerate and estradiol hemihydrate treatment groups, the implantation rate (IR) was 47.42% and 49.07%, respectively (

P

value 0.284), and the endometrial thickness (

mean
±
SEM

in mm) that was achieved was

9.25
±
0.038

 mm and

9.57
±
0.058

 mm (

P

value < 0.001), respectively. There were no significant differences observed in the secondary outcome measures including clinical pregnancy rate, abortion rate, ectopic pregnancy, and live birth rate. Conclusions. Hence, this study concludes that oral estradiol hemihydrate and estradiol valerate are therapeutically equivalent and provide similar clinical outcomes in an IVF setting.
Research on Multimodality Face Antispoofing Model Based on Adversarial Attacks
Authors: Mao Junjie , Weng Bin , Huang Tianqiang , Ye Feng , Huang Liqing
Published: August 2021

Face antispoofing detection aims to identify whether the user’s face identity information is legal. Multimodality models generally have high accuracy. However, the existing works of face antispoofing detection have the problem of insufficient research on the safety of the model itself. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the vulnerability of existing face antispoofing models, especially multimodality models, when resisting various types of attacks. In this paper, we firstly study the resistance ability of multimodality models when they encounter white-box attacks and black-box attacks from the perspective of adversarial examples. Then, we propose a new method that combines mixed adversarial training and differentiable high-frequency suppression modules to effectively improve model safety. Experimental results show that the accuracy of the multimodality face antispoofing model is reduced from over 90% to about 10% when it is attacked by adversarial examples. But, after applying the proposed defence method, the model can still maintain more than 90% accuracy on original examples, and the accuracy of the model can reach more than 80% on attack examples.
Transcriptome Profiles of the Liver in Two Cold-Exposed Sheep Breeds Revealed Different Mechanisms and Candidate Genes for Thermogenesis
Authors: Jiao Dan , Ji Kaixi , Wang Wenqiang , Liu Hu , Zhou Jianwei , Degen A. Allan , Zhang Yunsheng , Zhou Ping , Yang Guo
Published: August 2021

Cold-induced thermogenesis plays an important role in the survival of lambs exposed to low air temperatures. The liver produces and mediates heat production in mammals; however, to date, little is known about the role of liver genes in cold-induced thermogenesis in lambs. In this study, the difference in the liver transcriptome between Altay and Hu ewe lambs was compared. Because of different backgrounds of the two breeds, we hypothesized that the transcriptome profiles of the liver would differ between breeds when exposed to cold. Cold-exposed Altay lambs activated 8 candidate genes (ACTA1, MYH1, MYH2, MYL1, MYL2, TNNC1, TNNC2, and TNNT3) involved in muscle shivering thermogenesis; 3 candidate genes (ATP2A1, SLN, and CKM) involved in muscle nonshivering thermogenesis related to the Ca2+ signal and creatine cycle; and 6 candidate genes (PFKM, ALDOC, PGAM2, ENO2, ENO3, and ENO4) involved in enhancing liver metabolism. In contrast, the liver may not act as the main tissue for thermogenesis in cold-exposed Hu lambs. We concluded that Altay lambs rely on liver-mediated shivering and nonshivering thermogenesis by muscle tissue to a greater extent than Hu lambs. Results from this study could provide a theoretical foundation for the breeding and production of cold-resistant lambs.
A Comprehensive Survey of Medium Access Control Protocols for Wireless Body Area Networks
Authors: Bouani Aisha , Maissa Yann Ben , Saadane Rachid , Hammouch Ahmed , Tamtaoui Ahmed
Published: August 2021

Wireless body area networks (WBANs) have emerged as a promising technology for health monitoring due to their high utility and important role in improving human health. WBANs consist of a number of small battery‐operated biomedical sensor nodes placed on the body or implanted, which are used to monitor and transmit important parameters such as blood pressure, electrocardiogram (ECG), and electroencephalogram (EEG). WBANs have strict requirements on energy efficiency and reliability during data collection and transmission. The most appropriate layer to address these requirements is the MAC layer. Medium access control protocols play an essential role in controlling the operation of radio transceivers and significantly affect the power consumption of the whole network. In this paper, we present a comprehensive survey of the most relevant and recent MAC protocols developed for WBANs. We discuss design requirements of a good MAC protocol for WBANs. We further review the different channel access mechanisms for WBANs. Then, we investigate the existing designed MAC protocols for WBANs with a focus on their features along with their strengths and weaknesses. Finally, we summarize the results of this work and draw conclusions.
An Effective Model for Glueballs and Dual Superconductivity at Finite Temperature
Authors: Issifu Adamu , Brito Francisco A.
Published: August 2021

The glueballs lead to gluon and QCD monopole condensations as by-products of color confinement. A color dielectric function

G

∣
ϕ
∣

coupled with a Abelian gauge field is properly defined to mediate the glueball interactions at confining regime after spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) of the gauge symmetry. The particles are expected to form through the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) hadronization phase where the free quarks and gluons start clamping together to form hadrons. The QCD-like vacuum

η

2

m

η

2

F

μ
ν

F

μ
ν

, confining potential

V

c

r

, string tension

σ

, penetration depth

λ

, superconducting and normal monopole densities (

n

s

 

n

n

), and the effective masses (

m

η

2

and

m

A

2

) will be investigated at finite temperature

T

. We also calculate the strong “running” coupling

α

s

and subsequently the QCD

β

-function. The dual superconducting nature of the QCD vacuum will be investigated based on monopole condensation.
MR-Based Radiomics for Differential Diagnosis between Cystic Pituitary Adenoma and Rathke Cleft Cyst
Authors: Wang Yanping , Chen Sixuan , Shi Feng , Cheng Xiaoqing , Xu Qiang , Li Jianrui , Luo Song , Jiang Pengbo , Wei Ying , Zhou Changsheng , Zheng Lijuan , Xia Kaiwei , Lu Guangming , Zhang Zhiqiang
Published: August 2021

Background. It is often tricky to differentiate cystic pituitary adenoma from Rathke cleft cyst with visual inspection because of similar MRI presentations between them. We aimed to design an MR-based radiomics model for improving differential diagnosis between them. Methods. Conventional diagnostic MRI data (T1-,T2-, and postcontrast T1-weighted MR images) were obtained from 215 pathologically confirmed patients (105 cases with cystic pituitary adenoma and the other 110 cases with Rathke cleft cyst) and were divided into training (

n
=
172

) and test sets (

n
=
43

). MRI radiomics features were extracted from the imaging data, and semantic imaging features (

n
=
15

) were visually estimated by two radiologists. Four classifiers were used to construct radiomics models through 5-fold crossvalidation after feature selection with least absolute shrinkage and selection operator. An integrated model by combining radiomics and semantic features was further constructed. The diagnostic performance was validated in the test set. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate and compare the performance of the models at the background of diagnostic performance by radiologist. Results. In test set, the combined radiomics and semantic model using ANN classifier obtained the best classification performance with an AUC of 0.848 (95% CI: 0.750-0.946), accuracy of 76.7% (95% CI: 64.1-89.4%), sensitivity of 73.9% (95% CI: 56.0-91.9%), and specificity of 80.0% (95% CI: 62.5-97.5%) and performed better than multiparametric model (

AUC
=
0.792

, 95% CI: 0.674-0.910) or semantic model (

AUC
=
0.823

, 95% CI: 0.705-0.941). The two radiologists had an accuracy of 69.8% and 74.4%, respectively, sensitivity of 69.6% and 73.9%, and specificity of 70.0% and 75.0%. Conclusions. The MR-based radiomics model had technical feasibility and good diagnostic performance in the differential diagnosis between cystic pituitary adenoma and Rathke cleft cyst.
The Role of the Reverse Fault on the Permeability Evolution in Mining Coal
Authors: Zhou Rui , Qin Yujin , Hu Yang
Published: August 2021

To prevent and control the coal seam gas disaster affected by the reverse fault, we performed gas seepage tests, which consider stress-loading and unloading schemes, to investigate the stress change and coal permeability of the mining coal with reverse fault. The experimental results show that the mechanical behavior and permeability change of the mining coal are related to the distance between the coal and the reverse fault. The stress concentration coefficient of the coal body gradually increases. The closer is the distance between the coal and the reverse fault, the larger are the deviatoric stress peak and strain. In comparison with the coal sample M1 that is 5 m away from the reverse fault, the deviatoric stress peak and axial strain of the coal sample M3, 35 m away from the reverse fault, increase by 40.74% and 26.73%, respectively. In this stage, the permeability of M1, M2, and M3 coal samples increases by 22.1%, 28.0%, and 36.7%, respectively. In another stage, the stress concentration coefficient of coal increases to the peak and then decreases, causing the deviatoric stress peak and strain of coal to rise first and then fall. In comparison with the coal sample M4 that is 65 m away from the reverse fault, the deviatoric stress peak and axial strain of coal sample M6, 5 m away from the reverse fault, decrease by 29.48% and 5.55%, respectively. The permeability of coal samples M4, M5, and M6 increases by 23.6%, 37.2%, and 20.8%, respectively. Based on the gas seepage test results, we established the permeability model of mining-induced coal under the influence of a reverse fault, with consideration of the volume changes of coal fractures induced by adsorption and desorption. In the model, the variations of permeability in both stages of the prepeak and postpeak were deduced, which was verified with the experimental data. The verification results demonstrate that the proposed model has the capacity to predict the permeability evolution of mining coal under the influence of a reverse fault.
Nasal Carriage of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
Authors: Giri Nisha , Maharjan Sujina , Thapa Tika Bahadur , Pokhrel Sushant , Joshi Govardhan , Shrestha Ojaswee , Shrestha Nabina , Rijal Basista Prasad
Published: August 2021

Introduction. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most common causes of nosocomial infections. One of the potential risk factors for nosocomial staphylococcal infections is colonization of the anterior nares of healthcare workers (HCWs). Our study aimed to determine the rate of nasal carriage MRSA among HCWs at Manmohan Memorial Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu. Methods. Two hundred and thirty-two nasal swabs were collected from HCWs of Manmohan Memorial Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal, within six months (February 2018–July 2018). Nasal swabs were cultured, and S. aureus isolates were subjected to the antimicrobial susceptibility test by the modified Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. MRSA and iMLSB (inducible macrolide lincosamide streptogramin B) resistance was screened using the cefoxitin disc (30 μg) and D-test (clindamycin and erythromycin sensitivity pattern), respectively, following CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute) guidelines. Risk factors for MRSA colonization were determined using the chi-square test considering thepvalue ˂0.05 as significant. Results. A total of 34/232 (14.7%) S. aureus were isolated, out of which 12 (35.3%) were MRSA. The overall rate of nasal carriage MRSA among HCWs was 5.2% (12/232). Colonization of MRSA was higher in males (8.7%) than in females (4.3%). MRSA colonization was found to be at peak among the doctors (11.4%). HCWs of the postoperative ward were colonized highest (18.2%). All MRSA isolates were sensitive to linezolid and tetracycline. iMLSB resistance was shown by 7(20.6%) of the isolates. MRSA strains showed higher iMLSB resistance accounting for 33.3% (4/12) in comparison to methicillin-susceptible strains with 13.6% (3/22). Smoking was found to be significantly associated with MRSA colonization (p=0.004). Conclusion. Rate of nasal carriage MRSA is high among HCWs and hence needs special attention to prevent HCW-associated infections that may result due to nasal colonization.
Image Risk Assessment of the Thyroid Cancer Model Based on Discriminant Analysis and the Value of TAP and CEA Combined Detection
Authors: Wang Bin , Wang Shengliang , Lang Shaolei , Liang Li , Yang Yang , Xue Yan , Xu Yinxia
Published: August 2021

The incidence rate of thyroid disease is increasing rapidly worldwide, and the number of thyroid patients is increasing. In this study, serum TAP (tumor abnormal protein) and CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) were used to detect patients with thyroid nodules of class IV and above to explore the value of serum TAP combined detection of CEA in the risk assessment of thyroid cancer. In this paper, 400 patients with thyroid nodules above class IV diagnosed by physical examination in our hospital health management center from January 2019 to June 2021 were included in the study. Combined with the pathological test results, the patients were divided into risk groups. At the same time, different groups of serum TAP and CEA levels were detected by aggregation and electrochemiluminescence methods, and serum TAP and CEA levels were analyzed according to the pathological diagnostic indicators of CEA levels. The results showed that the levels of serum TAP and CEA in patients with thyroid cancer were significantly higher than those in patients with benign thyroid diseases, and the difference was statistically significant (

P

 < 0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, and AUC under the ROC curve area of serum TAP were 85.25%, 85.06%, and 0.605, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and AUC under the ROC curve area of serum CEA were 89.85%, 88.00%, and 0.627, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and AUC under the ROC curve area of serum TAP combined with CEA were 96.84%, 96.79%, and 0.915, respectively. Therefore, the combined detection of serum TAP and CEA has a high early screening value in thyroid cancer.
Contralesional Cathodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Does Not Enhance Upper Limb Function in Subacute Stroke: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Boasquevisque Danielle De S. , Servinsckins Larissa , de Paiva Joselisa P. Q. , dos Santos Daniel G. , Soares Priscila , Pires Danielle S. , Meltzer Jed A. , Plow Ela B. , de Freitas Paloma F. , Speciali Danielli S. , Lopes Priscila , Peres Mario F. P. , Silva Gisele S. , Lacerda Shirley , Conforto Adriana B.
Published: August 2021

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has the potential to improve upper limb motor outcomes after stroke. According to the assumption of interhemispheric inhibition, excessive inhibition from the motor cortex of the unaffected hemisphere to the motor cortex of the affected hemisphere may worsen upper limb motor recovery after stroke. We evaluated the effects of active cathodal tDCS of the primary motor cortex of the unaffected hemisphere (ctDCSM1UH) compared to sham, in subjects within 72 hours to 6 weeks post ischemic stroke. Cathodal tDCS was intended to inhibit the motor cortex of the unaffected hemisphere and hence decrease the inhibition from the unaffected to the affected hemisphere and enhance motor recovery. We hypothesized that motor recovery would be greater in the active than in the sham group. In addition, greater motor recovery in the active group might be associated with bigger improvements in measures in activity and participation in the active than in the sham group. We also explored, for the first time, changes in cognition and sleep after ctDCSM1UH. Thirty subjects were randomized to six sessions of either active or sham ctDCSM1UH as add-on interventions to rehabilitation. The NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Motor Recovery after Stroke (FMA), Barthel Index (BI), Stroke Impact Scale (SIS), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were assessed before, after treatment, and three months later. In the intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis, there were significant GROUP*TIME interactions reflecting stronger gains in the sham group for scores in NIHSS, FMA, BI, MoCA, and four SIS domains. At three months post intervention, the sham group improved significantly compared to posttreatment in FMA, NIHSS, BI, and three SIS domains while no significant changes occurred in the active group. Also at three months, NIHSS improved significantly in the sham group and worsened significantly in the active group. FMA scores at baseline were higher in the active than in the sham group. After adjustment of analysis according to baseline scores, the between-group differences in FMA changes were no longer statistically significant. Finally, none of the between-group differences in changes in outcomes after treatment were considered clinically relevant. In conclusion, active CtDCSM1UH did not have beneficial effects, compared to sham. These results were consistent with other studies that applied comparable tDCS intensities/current densities or treated subjects with severe upper limb motor impairments during the first weeks post stroke. Dose-finding studies early after stroke are necessary before planning larger clinical trials.
Treat COVID-19, but Not Only COVID-19: Stroke Matters as Well
Authors: Sedova Petra , Brown Jr. Robert D. , Bryndziar Tomas , Jarkovsky Jiri , Tomek Ales , Sramek Martin , Skoda Ondrej , Sramkova Tereza , Littnerova Simona , Mikulik Robert
Published: August 2021

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, studies reported less number of hospitalizations for acute stroke and reduction in the use of recanalization treatments. This study analyzes nationwide data on stroke admissions and management in the Czech Republic during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We compared the early COVID-19 pandemic (March–May 2020) with the pre-pandemic period (January–February 2020 and March–May 2019): (a) the National Register of Reimbursed Health Services provided volume of all admissions for subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and ischemic stroke (IS), and volume of recanalization treatments (intravenous thrombolysis [IVT] and mechanical thrombectomy [MT]); (b) Registry of Stroke Care Quality provided door-to-needle time (DNT), onset-to-door time (ODT), and stroke severity at admission (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, NIHSS) for IS. Results: During the pandemic (March–May 2020), the peak number of COVID-19 patients treated in Czech hospitals was 39 per million. In March–May 2020 versus March–May 2019, hospital admissions decreased as follows: stroke overall by 14% (p < 0.001), IS by 14% (p < 0.001), SAH by 15% (p = 0.07), and ICH by 7% (p = 0.17). The mean age was 74 years versus 74 years (p = 0.33), and 52% versus 51% were men (p = 0.34). The volumes of IVT and MT decreased by 14% (p = 0.001) and 19% (p = 0.01), respectively. The proportions of all IS patients receiving IVT or MT remained unchanged, with, respectively, 17% versus 17% receiving IVT (p = 0.86) and 5% versus 5% receiving MT (p = 0.48). DNT and ODT were 24 versus 25 min (p = 0.58) and 168 versus 156 min (p = 0.23), respectively. NIHSS at admission did not differ (6 vs. 6; p = 0.54). Conclusion: Even with a low burden of COVID-19 during the first wave and no change in organization and logistics of stroke services, stroke admissions and volume of recanalization treatments decreased. Public health communication campaigns should encourage people to seek emergency medical care for stroke symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pembrolizumab Treatment-Induced Liver Toxicity
Authors: Calderon Benoît , Stancu Alma , Vanel François-Roger , Vazquez Léa
Published: August 2021

T cells play a critical role in immune responses against neoplasm. This finding contributed to the immunotherapy development, an effective treatment for many cancers nowadays. Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) is an inhibitory receptor on T cells which downregulate T-cell function per ligation with its ligands (PDL1 and PDL2). PD1 blockade is used to enhance antitumor immunity. Pembrolizumab is a humanized monoclonal anti-PD1 antibody currently used in the management of melanoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, and Hodgkin lymphoma. Most of the treatment toxicities are immune-related adverse events, but grade 3–4 toxicities occur in up to 5% of patients, mainly dermatologic. We present a case of grade 4 pembrolizumab-induced liver toxicity associated with an excellent treatment response in a Caucasian woman.
Vonoprazan-Associated Gastric Mucosal Redness in Non-Helicobacter pylori-Infected and Helicobacter pylori-Eradicated Stomach
Authors: Kubo Kimitoshi , Kimura Noriko , Watanabe Ryosuke , Higashino Masayuki , Tsuda Momoko , Kato Mototsugu
Published: August 2021

Vonoprazan-associated gastric mucosal redness is rare, and its endoscopic and pathological features remain poorly described. We report 4 cases of vonoprazan-associated gastric mucosal redness, that is, 2 cases each in non-Helicobacter pylori-infected and -eradicated stomach. In all cases, esophagogastroduodenoscopy demonstrated spotty and linear redness newly appearing in the greater curvature of the gastric body after initiation of vonoprazan but disappearing after its discontinuation. A tissue biopsy taken from the gastric mucosa with redness revealed various pathological findings and included inflammatory cell infiltration, parietal cell protrusions, oxyntic gland dilatations, congestion, focal hemorrhage with congestion beneath the basement membrane, and vacuolar degeneration of parietal cells. To our knowledge, this is the second report describing the endoscopic and pathological features of vonoprazan-associated gastric mucosal redness.
Micro-história italiana e jornalismo em Expectativa de vida: vinte anos e Mães vivas de uma geração morta
Authors: Queirós Francisco Aquinei Timóteo
Published: August 2021

O presente artigo é resultado das discussões desenvolvidas na tese intitulada “Brechas da narrativa e profundezas do cotidiano: micro-história italiana e jornalismo em O olho da rua, de Eliane Brum”2. A investigação busca refletir sobre a prática jornalística de Eliane Brum em O olho da rua. O estudo propõe a aproximação entre a metodologia micro-histórica e os pressupostos do jornalismo, visando discutir a presença dos sujeitos comuns nas reportagens Expectativa de vida: vinte anos e Mães vivas de uma geração morta. Para tanto, a pesquisa ancora-se nos estudos de Carlo Ginzburg (2007), Carlo Ginzburg e Poni (1991), Jacques Revel (2010), Giovanni Levi (1992, 2016) e Henrique Espada Lima (2006).
Inquietações da adolescência: da redoma da Casa Grande ao mergulho no tempo presente da cidade
Authors: Xavier Ismail
Published: August 2021

O artigo analisa Casa grande, dirigido por Fellipe Barbosa, em 2014, centrado no estudo do motivo temático “o passado no presente” na composição da trama. Motivo temático é cada uma das unidades do campo temático de uma narrativa detectada pela sua análise (Tomachevski, 1970). A trama do filme se concentra no percurso de um adolescente superprotegido por sua família rica, que guarda sobrevivências de um modus vivendi intramuros próprio do poder senhorial do passado. Uma forte crise nas finanças do Pater familias o obriga a reduzir o cordão de proteção ao filho, que passa a ir ao colégio de ônibus, iniciando uma nova vivência na cidade do Rio de Janeiro. Ou seja, ele realiza seu efetivo mergulho no tempo presente, experiência que o amadurece em várias frentes.
Associations of Insulin Resistance With Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure: A Study From the HCHS/SOL
Authors: Quesada Odayme , Claggett Brian , Rodriguez Fatima , Cai Jianwen , Moncrieft Ashley E. , Garcia Karin , Del Rios Rivera Marina , Hanna David B. , Daviglus Martha L. , Talavera Gregory A. , Bairey Merz C. Noel , Solomon Scott D. , Cheng Susan , Bello Natalie A.
Published: August 2021

Insulin resistance is hypothesized to contribute to increases in blood pressure (BP) through both the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone and sympathetic nervous systems. Prior large-scale studies examining this association are confounded by overt diabetes, obesity, and antihypertensive medication use. In a cross-sectional analysis of 10 810 HCHS/SOL (Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos) participants without diabetes and not taking antihypertensive medications, we examined the associations of insulin resistance, quantified by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), with systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP overall and stratified by sex and prediabetes status in unadjusted and adjusted analyses. The total sample included 52% women; mean (SD) age, 37.2 (13.4) years; 39% of participants had prediabetes (mean [SD] HOMA-IR, 2.8 [2.2]). Stage 1 or 2 hypertension was present in 26% of participants (mean [SD] SBP, 116.8 [15] mm Hg and diastolic BP, 71.0 [10.4] mm Hg). Overall, there was a significant linear association between HOMA-IR and both SBP (β, 2.64±0.44) and diastolic BP (β, 1.49±0.35). We found a significant interaction with sex and the association between HOMA-IR and SBP; the association was linear in men and nonlinear in women. There was no statistically significant interaction between prediabetes status and the associations between HOMA-IR and BP. In conclusion, in a large community-based sample of Hispanic/Latino adults of diverse national backgrounds not taking antihypertensive medications and free from diabetes, insulin resistance was positively associated with both SBP and diastolic BP. Future longitudinal studies, with adequate power to examine sex-specific differences, are needed to examine the independent contribution of insulin resistance to the development of hypertension.
Haters Gonna Hate: How Symbolic and Psychological Variables Explain Attitudes towards Immigrants
Authors: Pupcenoks Juris , Grillo Michael C. , Ji Qihao
Published: August 2021

This study examines how symbolic, psychological and material factors influence how Americans view migrants before and after the heated 2016 primary season leading to the nomination of Donald Trump as the Republican Party’s presidential candidate. We hypothesize that prior unfavorable predispositions towards migrants, preference for high skilled migrants, personality traits, and material variables strongly influence views on migrants. We examine the effect of these variables with two controlled experiments set a year apart, before and after the 2016 primary election. The experiments manipulate the ethnicity (Asian, Hispanic, Arab) and skill level (high skilled or low skilled) of migrant groups. In both experiments, we find that respondents have an overall positive view of migrants regardless of ethnicity. However, those respondents who hold anti-immigrant stereotypes, have authoritarian personalities, and whose economic standing is worsening see immigrants as threatening. We also find that negative emotion plays a mediating role in this process.
The grammaticalization of term focus structures in Chadic languages: A case of microvariation
Authors: Hartmann Katharina
Published: August 2021

This paper argues that the Chadic languages Bura, South Marghi, Hausa, and Guruntum show different stages of the assumed grammaticalization path from bi-clausal cleft structures to mono-clausal constructions for the expression of term focus. This development is characterized by several syntactic and semantic changes, i.e. the reinterpretation of the cleft copula into a focus marker, the loss of the exhaustive inference typically associated with clefts, as well as the loss of syntactic indicators of embedded structures. Based on a microvariational comparison of the four languages, the paper hypothesizes that clefts are diachronically abandoned in favour of mono-clausal focus structures.
Cleft constructions and focus strategies in Modern Armenian
Authors: Khurshudyan Victoria , Donabédian Anaïd
Published: August 2021

Cleft constructions are one of the possible focus strategies available in Modern Armenian alongside prosody and specific syntactic constructions. Cleft constructions in Modern Armenian are biclausal constructions with a matrix clause and a relative-like clause, with an identificational clause as a matrix clause headed by a copula (in present or past), while in the relative-like clause introduced by the main subordinator, the relativized argument is coindexed with the argument of the copula. Though typologically cleft constructions are considered typical of languages with rigid word order, they are common in Modern Armenian, a language with flexible word order. It is argued that the intensity of focalization depends on the strategy used, with simple prosody marking associated with the lowest level of intensity, and preverbal position and clefts associated with intermediate and high-intensity focalization respectively. The corpus-based data show an unequal distribution of clefted pronouns as predicate clefts (impersonal with no agreement) and subject clefts (copular verb coindexed with personal pronouns as a subject) depending on the person and the polarity. The existence of cleft-like constructions in Classical Armenian and both Modern Armenian standards is argued to be evidence of diachronic continuity and a possible grammaticalization path from cleft constructions to the auxiliary movement focus strategy.
A new genus and species of the family Microlaimidae (Nematoda: Chromadorea) from intertidal sand of the Jeju Island, South Korea
Authors: TCHESUNOV ALEXEY V. , JEONG RAEHYUK , LEE WONCHOEL
Published: August 2021

As a part of the study of marine nematofauna of a sandy intertidal zone of Jeju Island (South Korea), a number of species have been proven as new for science. Here a new species representing a new genus of the family Microlaimidae (Chromadorea), Jejulaimus sinyangensis gen. n., sp. n. is described. The new monotypic genus is characterized by head set off abruptly from the body; anterior sensilla pattern 6+10, where six outer labial setiform sensilla together with four longer cephalic setiform sensilla are integrated in a common crown; pharyngostoma armed with a dorsal tooth and surrounded by convex muscular pharyngeal tissue, forming an anterior pharyngeal bulb which is distinctly set off from the rest of the pharynx; terminal pharyngeal bulb oval; ventral pore and ampulla of the excretory-secretory gland situated just posterior to the nerve ring; an only anterior testis present. The new genus bears some resemblance to the genera Bolbolaimus, Pseudomicrolaimus and Spirobolbolaimus in having an anterior pharyngeal bulb and in the position of the ventral pore of the excretory/secretory gland, but differs from them by anterior sensilla pattern 6+10, absence of subventral teeth in buccal cavity, and monorchic condition of male reproductive system.
Early Statehood and Support for Autocratic Rule in Africa
Authors: Chlouba Vladimir , Smith Daniel S. , Wagner Seamus
Published: August 2021

Recent work highlights the importance of pre-modern political practices for explaining persistent institutional features, including representative democracy. Typically, this argument is institutional in nature—pre-industrial practices are hypothesized to either bolster or retard the transmission of democratic institutions. This article proposes a separate channel through which legacies of early statehood continue to impact the prospects of democratic governance. Using survey data from Africa, we document a positive relationship between early statehood development and support for autocratic rule among ordinary Africans. This finding is robust to a wide range of pre- and post-treatment covariates, country and survey round fixed effects, as well as an instrumental-variable design. The identified relationship is particularly prominent in respondents from precolonially centralized ethnic groups in former British colonies, suggesting the importance of locally surviving traditional institutions for propagation of norms that owe their origins to precolonial autocratic socialization.
Clients’ Hope for Counseling as a Predictor of Outcome in Psychotherapy
Authors: Bartholomew Theodore T. , Joy Eileen E. , Gundel Brittany E.
Published: August 2021

Researchers have demonstrated links between general hope and symptoms of distress. Findings like these are important given the conceptual role of hope in psychotherapy theories like Frank and Frank’s contextual model. Existing literature, however, has involved researchers employing general hope measures despite hope being variable across domains rather than a general trait. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between hope for counseling and clients’ outcomes as well as the working alliance. Self-report data were collected from 103 clients in a doctoral training clinic. Evidence (from multilevel modeling) demonstrated that increases in working alliance predict increases in hope for counseling over the course of treatment and that increases in hope for counseling significantly predict decreases in distress over the course of counseling when working alliance and session number are controlled. We discuss implications for clinical practice and positively-oriented work in counseling psychology.
Book review: Jyoti Gulati Balachandran, Narrative Pasts: The Making of a Muslim Community in Gujarat, c. 1400–1650
Authors: Asif Manan Ahmed
Published: August 2021

Jyoti Gulati Balachandran, Narrative Pasts: The Making of a Muslim Community in Gujarat, c. 1400–1650. Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2020, 248 pp.
Budget oversight in territorial autonomies: A comparative analysis of Hong Kong and Macao
Authors: Fong Brian C.H.
Published: August 2021

Traditionally, comparative budgeting scholars have focused on analysing budget oversight at the sovereign state level. Budget oversight at the territorial autonomy level remains largely under-investigated. Drawing on the Open Budget Survey methodology, this study is a pioneering attempt to compare the budget oversight institutions and practices in Hong Kong and Macao under the ‘one country, two systems’ model. This study finds that the varying practices of budget oversight of Hong Kong and Macao are the consequence of their different bases of opposition politics, including democratic opposition, the media and civil society. This study extends the research focus of existing comparative budgeting literature from sovereign states to territorial autonomies. Thus, it has important implications for budget oversight analysis and policy worldwide.

Points for practitioners

This article uses comparative studies of Hong Kong and Macao to illustrate how different bases of opposition politics have led to varying practices of budget oversight. For policymakers, the lesson from the comparative studies is that the rise of democratic opposition, the media and civil society will bring about pressures for budget oversight. More policy learning is necessary for policymakers across democracies and semi-democracies to share the experiences of handling the politics of budget oversight.
Aebersold’s Mediated Play-A-Long Pedagogy and the Invention of the Beginning Jazz Improvisation Student
Authors: Thibeault Matthew D.
Published: August 2021

In this historical study, I present the emergence and evolution of Jamey Aebersold’s Play-A-Long volumes and their key role in bringing jazz improvisation to formal music education. Drawing on oral histories and using a framework from sound studies, I present chord-scales and pattern playing as Deweyan conceptual technologies that assist beginners in developing a mature technique. I recount how Aebersold learned these as a student of David Baker at Indiana University, then applied the idea through teaching improvisation with the Dorian mode over Davis’s “So What.” In 1967 Aebersold published volume 1, and the Play-A-Long evolved into a system over a dozen years as subsequent volumes included new scale types, like the blues scale; added idiomatic patterns; incorporated his new Scale Syllabus; and licensed standard repertoire. I then describe how these technologies imply the “soloist as such”: a generic model of learning improvisation as a process of learning tunes and tasks from simple to complex around a core unity of theory and performance. This model in particular addressed beginning improvisation and the slogan “Anyone Can Improvise.” Finally, I consider criticisms of the model, note that the chord-scale approach is Black music theory, and suggest future research.
The effect of repetitive magnetic and cyclic loading on the fatigue life prediction of a magnetorheological elastomer
Authors: Hosseini Seyyed Mohammad , Shojaeefard Mohammad Hassan , Googarchin Hamed Saeidi
Published: August 2021

Prediction of fatigue life is particularly crucial in magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) based rubber components, especially when are exposed to repetitive magnetic and cyclic loading. MREs are smart composites that contain soft elastomer matrix and carbonyl iron particles (CIPs). In this research, silicon rubber was mixed with 20% of CIPs in the absence of an external magnetic field to produce MREs. Firstly, for the determination of material constants (including hyper elastic, magnetic, and viscoelastic), two types of tests such as uniaxial compression and relaxation, were performed on the samples. Then, fatigue tests were performed by a servo-hydraulic fatigue testing machine with cyclic loading in a repetitive magnetic field. Fatigue equations were obtained based on the number of fatigue life and maximum stress. The results confirmed that maximum stress could be used as a trustworthy fatigue life predictor for MREs when they are subjected to a combination of repetitive magnetic and cyclic loading. Scanning electron microscopy images from fatigue crack showed that the internal structure of MREs became stronger in the direction of the magnetic field. The maximum stress of the MRE was smaller in the absence of a magnetic field and decreased as the number of fatigue cycles increased with and without the magnetic field.
Comparing Performance of Methods to Deal With Differential Attrition in Randomized Experimental Evaluations
Authors: Anderson Kaitlin , Zamarro Gema , Steele Jennifer , Miller Trey
Published: August 2021

Background: In randomized controlled trials, attrition rates often differ by treatment status, jeopardizing causal inference. Inverse probability weighting methods and estimation of treatment effect bounds have been used to adjust for this bias. Objectives: We compare the performance of various methods within two samples, both generated through lottery-based randomization: one with considerable differential attrition and an augmented dataset with less problematic attrition. Research Design: We assess the performance of various correction methods within the dataset with problematic attrition. In addition, we conduct simulation analyses. Results: Within the more problematic dataset, we find the correction methods often performed poorly. Simulation analyses indicate that deviations from the underlying assumptions for bounding approaches damage the performance of estimated bounds. Conclusions: We recommend the verification of the underlying assumptions in attrition correction methods whenever possible and, when verification is not possible, using these methods with caution.
Establishment of a venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a rat model of acute respiratory distress syndrome
Authors: Li Yongnan , Huang Jian , Zhang Rongzhi , Wang Shixiong , Cheng Xingdong , Zhang Pengbin , Zhai Kerong , Wang Wei , Liu Debin , Gao Bingren
Published: August 2021

Introduction:

Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) is now considered a reasonable option to salvage acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, we lack a rodent model for experimental studies. This study was undertaken to establish an animal model of VV ECMO in ARDS rats.

Methods:

A total of 18 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (350 ± 50 g) were used in this study. Using a rat model of oleic acid (OA)-induced ARDS, VV ECMO was established through cavoatrial cannulation of the right jugular vein for venous drainage and venous reinfusion with a specially designed three-cavity catheter. Continuous arterial pressure monitoring was implemented by using a catheter through cannulation of the right femoral artery. The central temperature was monitored with a rectal probe. Arterial blood gas monitoring was implemented by a blood gas analyzer at three-time points: at baseline, 1-hour (after OA modeling), and 3.5-hour (after VV ECMO support). Lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were harvested respectively for protein concentration and pulmonary histologic evaluation to confirm the alleviation of lung injury during VV ECMO.

Results:

Following ARDS induced by OA, ten rats were successfully established on VV ECMO without failure and survived the ECMO procedure. VV ECMO alleviated lung injury and restored adequate circulation for the return of lung function and oxygenation. VV ECMO was associated with decreased lung injury score, wet/dry weight ratio, and ﬂuid leakage into airspaces.

Conclusion:

We have established a reliable, economical, and functioning ARDS rat model of VV ECMO.
Bridging the urban–rural gap in facilitating Local Economic Development: The case study of uMgungundlovu District Municipality in KwaZulu–Natal, South Africa
Authors: Makhaye Ayanda C , Subban Mogie , Gerwel Proches Cecile N
Published: August 2021

Municipalities are faced with poverty, unemployment and inequality, to the detriment of growth and development. As specified in the South African Constitution (1996), municipalities are obligated to advance Local Economic Development (LED). Municipalities cannot accomplish this task alone; therefore, participation of all stakeholders is required. The aim of this study is to investigate bridging the urban–rural gap in facilitating LED within uMgungundlovu District Municipality in KwaZulu–Natal in understanding this phenomenon. The district is made up of seven urban and rural local municipalities. Using a qualitative research method through an interpretive paradigm, data were collected from purposely selected participants through in-depth open-ended interviews. Collected data were analysed through induction using thematic and content analysis. Results revealed gaps in understanding LED planning, facilitation and implementation, including gaps in resource planning and provision. The study revealed numerous stakeholders were relevant in facilitating LED within the District. It is recommended that the District improves rural service delivery and infrastructure provision enabling access of opportunities and creating platforms for stakeholder engagement, with inclusion of traditional leaders driving LED facilitation. Priority areas for enhancing LED initiatives are suggested, with LED viewed as a good initiative in achieving sustainable development in district municipalities.
Testing for a Sweet Spot in Randomized Trials
Authors: Redelmeier Donald A. , Thiruchelvam Deva , Tibshirani Robert J.
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Randomized trials recruit diverse patients, including some individuals who may be unresponsive to the treatment. Here we follow up on prior conceptual advances and introduce a specific method that does not rely on stratification analysis and that tests whether patients in the intermediate range of disease severity experience more relative benefit than patients at the extremes of disease severity (sweet spot).

Methods

We contrast linear models to sigmoidal models when describing associations between disease severity and accumulating treatment benefit. The Gompertz curve is highlighted as a specific sigmoidal curve along with the Akaike information criterion (AIC) as a measure of goodness of fit. This approach is then applied to a matched analysis of a published landmark randomized trial evaluating whether implantable defibrillators reduce overall mortality in cardiac patients ( n = 2,521).

Results

The linear model suggested a significant survival advantage across the spectrum of increasing disease severity (β = 0.0847, P < 0.001, AIC = 2,491). Similarly, the sigmoidal model suggested a significant survival advantage across the spectrum of disease severity (α = 93, β = 4.939, γ = 0.00316, P < 0.001 for all, AIC = 1,660). The discrepancy between the 2 models indicated worse goodness of fit with a linear model compared to a sigmoidal model (AIC: 2,491 v. 1,660, P < 0.001), thereby suggesting a sweet spot in the midrange of disease severity. Model cross-validation using computational statistics also confirmed the superior goodness of fit of the sigmoidal curve with a concentration of survival benefits for patients in the midrange of disease severity.

Conclusion

Systematic methods are available beyond simple stratification for identifying a sweet spot according to disease severity. The approach can assess whether some patients experience more relative benefit than other patients in a randomized trial. [Box: see text]