bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Literature Review on Schema Evolution in Databases
Authors: Brahmia Zouhaier , Grandi Fabio , Oliboni Barbara
Published: June 2024

Changing a database schema is a fact of life in information systems, as a response to changes inside the enterprise (e.g., new users’ requirements, correction of errors in the current database schema) or outside it (e.g., new regulations, new partners’ requirements). In the database research field, a well-known technique has been proposed for managing schema changes, called schema evolution. It allows the database to survive schema changes by adapting existing data to conform to the new schema. A lot of research efforts addressed the topic of schema evolution, in both conventional (i.e., relational) and advanced (e.g., XML, stream, NoSQL) databases, providing a plethora of heterogeneous approaches and solutions making up a quite large literature. Since there is no research work that extensively deals with different proposals and compares them, the purpose of this paper is to fill this gap by reviewing the available schema evolution literature. For that, first we collected and summarized the contributions of research papers dealing with database schema evolution. Then we organized their presentation in a chronological order, also giving a historical perspective on the topic development. Finally, we defined a list of six comparison criteria (database model, implementation, schema change semantics, schema change propagation, integrity constraints, and software evolution) that have helped us to categorize and compare the different database schema evolution proposals. In sum, our paper (i) provides an overview of the state-of-the-art research approaches on database schema evolution, with tables that compare such approaches based on some proposed criteria, (ii) studies the support of schema evolution in commercial DataBase Management Systems (DBMSs), and (iii) points out some possible future research directions in this area.
AI-Based Affective Music Generation Systems: A Review of Methods and Challenges
Authors: Dash Adyasha , Agres Kathleen
Published: June 2024

Music is a powerful medium for altering the emotional state of the listener. In recent years, with significant advancements in computing capabilities, artificial intelligence-based (AI-based) approaches have become popular for creating affective music generation (AMG) systems. Entertainment, healthcare, and sensor-integrated interactive system design are a few of the areas in which AI-based affective music generation (AI-AMG) systems may have a significant impact. Given the surge of interest in this topic, this article aims to provide a comprehensive review of controllable AI-AMG systems. The main building blocks of an AI-AMG system are discussed and existing systems are formally categorized based on the core algorithm used for music generation. In addition, this article discusses the main musical features employed to compose affective music, along with the respective AI-based approaches used for tailoring them. Lastly, the main challenges and open questions in this field, as well as their potential solutions, are presented to guide future research. We hope that this review will be useful for readers seeking to understand the state-of-the-art in AI-AMG systems and gain an overview of the methods used for developing them, thereby helping them explore this field in the future.
Secure UAV (Drone) and the Great Promise of AI
Authors: Zolfaghari Behrouz , Abbasmollaei Mostafa , Hajizadeh Fahimeh , Yanai Naoto , Bibak Khodakhast
Published: June 2024

UAVs have found their applications in numerous applications from recreational activities to business in addition to military and strategic fields. However, research on UAVs is not going on as quickly as the technology. Especially, when it comes to the security of these devices, the academia is lagging behind the industry. This gap motivates our work in this article as a stepping stone for future research in this area. A comprehensive survey on the security of UAVs and UAV-based systems can help the research community keep pace with, or even lead the industry. Although there are several reviews on UAVs or related areas, there is no recent survey broadly covering various aspects of security. Moreover, none of the existing surveys highlights current and future trends with a focus on the role of an omnipresent technology such as AI. This article endeavors to overcome these shortcomings. We conduct a comprehensive review on security challenges of UAVs as well as the related security controls. Then we develop a future roadmap for research in this area with a focus on the role of AI. The future roadmap is established based on the identified current trends, under-researched topics, and a future look-ahead.
Three-Dimensional Nonlocal Thermodynamic Equilibrium Abundance Analyses of Late-Type Stars
Authors: Lind Karin , Amarsi Anish M.
Published: June 2024

The chemical compositions of stars encode the history of the universe and are thus fundamental for advancing our knowledge of astrophysics and cosmology. However, measurements of elemental abundance ratios, and our interpretations of them, strongly depend on the physical assumptions that dictate the generation of synthetic stellar spectra. Three-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic (3D RHD) box-in-a-star simulations of stellar atmospheres offer a more realistic representation of surface convection occurring in late-type stars than do traditional one-dimensional (1D) hydrostatic models. As evident from a multitude of observational tests, the coupling of 3D RHD models with line formation in nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE) today provides a solid foundation for abundance analysis for many elements. This review describes the ongoing and transformational work to advance the state of the art and replace 1D LTE spectrum synthesis with its 3D non-LTE counterpart. In summary:
▪3D and non-LTE effects are intricately coupled, and consistent modeling thereof is necessary for high-precision abundances; such modeling is currently feasible for individual elements in large surveys. Mean 3D (〈3D〉) models are not adequate as substitutes.▪The solar abundance debate is presently dominated by choices and systematic uncertainties that are not specific to 3D non-LTE modeling.▪3D non-LTE abundance corrections have a profound impact on our understanding of FGK-type stars, exoplanets, and the nucleosynthetic origins of the elements.
Observed and Potential Range Shifts of Native and Nonnative Species with Climate Change
Authors: Bradley Bethany A. , Beaury Evelyn M. , Gallardo Belinda , Ibáñez Inés , Jarnevich Catherine , Morelli Toni Lyn , Sofaer Helen R. , Sorte Cascade J.B. , Vilà Montserrat
Published: June 2024

There is broad concern that the range shifts of global flora and fauna will not keep up with climate change, increasing the likelihood of population declines and extinctions. Many populations of nonnative species already have advantages over native species, including widespread human-aided dispersal and release from natural enemies. But do nonnative species also have an advantage with climate change? Here, we review observed and potential range shifts for native and nonnative species globally. We show that nonnative species are expanding their ranges orders of magnitude faster than native species, reflecting both traits that enable rapid spread and ongoing human-mediated introduction. We further show that nonnative species have large potential ranges and range expansions with climate change, likely due to a combination of widespread introduction and broader climatic tolerances. With faster spread rates and larger potential to persist or expand, nonnative populations have a decided advantage in a changing climate.
Commercial Boilerplate: A Review and Research Agenda
Authors: Scott Robert E. , Choi Stephen J. , Gulati Mitu
Published: June 2024

Boilerplate contracts have long fascinated legal scholars. But the focus has been largely on consumer contracts, with the debate centered on the question of whether take-it-or-leave-it mass-produced forms imposed on consumers by large corporations should be treated as contracts or as a problem in regulation. By contrast, commercial boilerplate—the standard forms used in transactions for corporate or sovereign bonds or merger agreements—has traditionally received little attention. The assumption has been that form contracts among sophisticated parties may differ in form but not in substance from bespoke contracts between business entities. Yet a growing body of scholarship is questioning that assumption. This article reviews the complexities of contract production in these large markets and provides a window into an exciting new area of contracts research.
Effect of Process Parameters on the Roughness and Wetting Characteristics of SS304 Surfaces Using Electrolytic and Plasma Electrolytic Polishing Techniques
Authors: Sushil K. , Sharma Vyom , Jha Shikhar Krishn , Chandraprakash C. , Ramkumar J.
Published: June 2024

Metallic parts manufactured by conventional machining and additive manufacturing techniques possess poor surface quality and require post-processing operations before their end-use. Many methods exist for the post-processing of parts with free-form surfaces. In this study, two of the most used polishing techniques, electrolytic polishing (EP) and plasma electrolytic polishing (PeP), were investigated to understand the morphology of the resultant surface after both techniques. Pilot experiments suggested that an aqueous solution of ammonium sulphate is the most effective electrolyte for both the polishing techniques in terms of the lowest achievable value of average surface roughness (

R

a

). A systematic investigation of the electrolyte concentration, applied voltage, and polishing time revealed an identical dependence on all these process parameters: First, a decrease and then an increase in

R

a

.

A minimum

R

a

of 0.63 μm and 0.49 μm were achieved with EP and PeP, respectively. Samples polished by PeP possess high gloss with negligible changes to the shape and form of the samples. Furthermore, static contact angle measurements with water revealed that surfaces treated with PeP showed higher hydrophilicity compared to those polished with EP. This can be attributed to the lower

R

a

value achieved with PeP.
METTL3-mediated upregulation of FAM135B promotes EMT of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via regulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway
Authors: Zhang Tong-Tong , Yi Wei , Dong De-Zuo , Ren Zheng-Yun , Zhang Yu , Du Feng
Published: June 2024

This study reveals for the first time that the novel cancer-related gene, FAM135B, promotes ESCC metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Besides, we substantiate FAM135B’s action on the β-catenin pathway through interacting with TNIK, thereby elucidating the promotional effect of FAM135B on ESCC EMT. Furthermore, we provide initial evidence demonstrating that METTL3-mediated m6A modification upregulates the expression of FAM135B in ESCC cells.
Genome-wide association study of exercise-induced skeletal muscle hypertrophy and the construction of predictive model
Authors: Yang Xiaolin , Li Yanchun , Mei Tao , Duan Jiayan , Yan Xu , McNaughton Lars Robert , He Zihong
Published: June 2024

The interindividual variability induced muscle hypertrophy by resistance training (RT) or high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and the associated genetic architecture remain uncertain. We identified genetic variants that underlie RT- or HIIT-induced muscle hypertrophy and established them as pivotal factors influencing the response regardless of the training type. The genetic-phenotype predictive model developed has the potential to identify nonresponders or individuals with low responsiveness before engaging in exercise training.
Hybrid Heat Pipe Shutdown Rod as a Novel Concept of Passive Safety System for Microreactor
Authors: Lee Dong Hun , Bang In Cheol
Published: June 2024

Ensuring the structural integrity of the monolithic core, which houses critical components such as heat pipes and fuel rods, is crucial for the safety of a microreactor. This research introduces a hybrid heat pipe shutdown rod as a novel passive safety system to address potential temperature rises in the monolithic core during accidents. It is designed to perform a dual function under accident conditions. It simultaneously absorbs neutrons and removes heat through structural modifications to the existing shutdown rod. Specifically, this system provides a heat transfer path within the monolithic core without increasing the size of the microreactor. By selecting cesium as the working fluid, we aimed to achieve rapid operation of the heat pipe to quickly reduce the temperature gradient in the monolithic core under accident conditions. The hybrid heat pipe was fabricated and evaluated and found to develop continuous flow even at temperatures around 205.1°C. However, its unique structure causes a pronounced converging–diverging effect, resulting in a temperature drop from about 70–170°C in the evaporator region, followed by a slight recovery to below 50°C in the condenser. This effect arises from changes in the cesium vapor mass flow rate due to phase changes and variations in the flow area between the evaporator and condenser. Despite these effects, the use of liquid cesium as the working fluid enables the hybrid heat pipe to operate under natural convection, avoiding startup problems that could cause flow blockage.
Numerical Analysis of the Effect of Different Internal Structures on Gas‐Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone Vortices and Velocities
Authors: Yu Ling , Li Yi , Wang Haigang
Published: June 2024

This research uses numerical simulations to analyze the vortices and velocities inside gas‐liquid separators of various shapes in order to investigate their separation. The gas‐liquid flow inside the separator is simulated using the Eulerian and RNG k‐ε models, which also provide iso‐vorticity surfaces based on the Ω approach. The findings indicate that more powerful turbulence effects are caused by larger vortex surfaces, such as mixed structure (CS) separators, more vortex volume, and a substantially higher density of vortex nuclei. The liquid film extraction structure (LFES) separator has a larger tangential velocity at high cross sections, which is favorable for reducing film build‐up. Because of its high positive radial velocity, the filter structure (FS) separator helps to lessen droplet carryover. At high cross sections, the tangential velocity of the LFES separator is higher, which is advantageous for lowering droplet carryover. The pressure and phase volume fraction distributions are consistent with the results of the vorticity and velocity analyses. When comparing the liquid separation efficiencies of separators with various designs, the FS separator outperforms the LFES separator, with the CS separator having the best efficiency. The study’s conclusions offer guidance for the separator’s structural modifications and industrial uses.
Integration of Clinical Trial Spatial Multiomics Analysis and Virtual Clinical Trials Enables Immunotherapy Response Prediction and Biomarker Discovery
Authors: Zhang Shuming , Deshpande Atul , Verma Babita K. , Wang Hanwen , Mi Haoyang , Yuan Long , Ho Won Jin , Jaffee Elizabeth M. , Zhu Qingfeng , Anders Robert A. , Yarchoan Mark , Kagohara Luciane T. , Fertig Elana J. , Popel Aleksander S.
Published: June 2024

Due to the lack of treatment options, there remains a need to advance new therapeutics in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The traditional approach moves from initial molecular discovery through animal models to human trials to advance novel systemic therapies that improve treatment outcomes for patients with cancer. Computational methods that simulate tumors mathematically to describe cellular and molecular interactions are emerging as promising tools to simulate the impact of therapy entirely in silico, potentially greatly accelerating delivery of new therapeutics to patients. To facilitate the design of dosing regimens and identification of potential biomarkers for immunotherapy, we developed a new computational model to track tumor progression at the organ scale while capturing the spatial heterogeneity of the tumor in HCC. This computational model of spatial quantitative systems pharmacology was designed to simulate the effects of combination immunotherapy. The model was initiated using literature-derived parameter values and fitted to the specifics of HCC. Model validation was done through comparison with spatial multiomics data from a neoadjuvant HCC clinical trial combining anti-PD1 immunotherapy and a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor cabozantinib. Validation using spatial proteomics data from imaging mass cytometry demonstrated that closer proximity between CD8 T cells and macrophages correlated with nonresponse. We also compared the model output with Visium spatial transcriptomics profiling of samples from posttreatment tumor resections in the clinical trial and from another independent study of anti-PD1 monotherapy. Spatial transcriptomics data confirmed simulation results, suggesting the importance of spatial patterns of tumor vasculature and TGFβ in tumor and immune cell interactions. Our findings demonstrate that incorporating mathematical modeling and computer simulations with high-throughput spatial multiomics data provides a novel approach for patient outcome prediction and biomarker discovery.

Significance: Incorporating mathematical modeling and computer simulations with high-throughput spatial multiomics data provides an effective approach for patient outcome prediction and biomarker discovery.
Investigation of Siblings of Patients Diagnosed with Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorder in terms of Cognitive Functions and Clinical High-Risk State for Psychosis
Authors: Çukurova Merve , Sancak Barış , Özdemir Armağan
Published: June 2024

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the influence of familial predisposition on substance-induced psychosis among healthy siblings of patients diagnosed with substance-induced psychotic disorder, who themselves lack any family history of psychotic disorders. Additionally, the study aimed to explore clinical high-risk states for psychosis, schizotypal features, and neurocognitive functions in comparison to a healthy control group. Method: The study compared healthy siblings of 41 patients diagnosed with substance-induced psychotic disorder with 41 healthy volunteers without a family history of psychotic disorders, matching age, gender, and education. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of participants were obtained using data collection forms. The Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States (CAARMS) and the Structured Interview for Schizotypy-Revised Form (SIS-R) scales were utilized to assess clinical high risk for psychosis. Neurocognitive functions were evaluated with digit span test (DST), trail making test part A-B (TMT), verbal fluency test (VFT), and Stroop test (ST). Results: Analysis using the CAARMS scale revealed that 39% of siblings and 7.3% of the control group were at clinically high risk for psychosis, indicating a significant difference in rates of psychotic vulnerability. Comparison between siblings and the control group showed significant differences in mean SIS-R subscale scores, including social behavior, hypersensitivity, referential thinking, suspiciousness, illusions, and overall oddness, as well as in mean neurocognitive function scores, including errors in TMT-A, TMT-B, and VFT out-of-category errors, with siblings exhibiting poorer performance. Conclusion: Our study suggests that healthy siblings of patients with substance-induced psychosis exhibit more schizotypal features and have a higher risk of developing psychosis compared to healthy controls. Additionally, siblings demonstrate greater impairment in attention, response inhibition, and executive functions compared to healthy controls, indicating the potential role of genetic predisposition in the development of substance-induced psychotic disorder.
Eosinophil-Epithelial Cell Interactions in Asthma
Authors: Steffan Breanne N. , Townsend Elizabeth A. , Denlinger Loren C. , Johansson Mats W.
Published: June 2024

Background: Eosinophils have numerous roles in type 2 inflammation depending on their activation states in the blood and airway or after encounter with inflammatory mediators. Airway epithelial cells have a sentinel role in the lung and, by instructing eosinophils, likely have a foundational role in asthma pathogenesis. Summary: In this review, we discuss various topics related to eosinophil-epithelial cell interactions in asthma, including the influence of eosinophils and eosinophil products, e.g., granule proteins, on epithelial cell function, expression, secretion, and plasticity; the effects of epithelial released factors, including oxylipins, cytokines, and other mediators on eosinophils, e.g., on their activation, expression, and survival; possible mechanisms of eosinophil-epithelial cell adhesion; and the role of intra-epithelial eosinophils in asthma. Key Messages: We suggest that eosinophils and their products can have both injurious and beneficial effects on airway epithelial cells in asthma and that there are bidirectional interactions and signaling between eosinophils and airway epithelial cells in asthma.
Enamel Caries Lesion Depth Obtained by Optical Coherence Tomography and Transverse Microradiography: A Comparative Study
Authors: Braga Aline Silva , Meißner Tobias , Schulz-Kornas Ellen , Haak Rainer , Magalhães Ana Carolina , Esteves-Oliveira Marcella
Published: June 2024

Introduction: Visual imaging of subsurface caries lesions is of vital interest in dentistry, which can be obtained by invasive radiography technique as well as by available non-destructive imaging approaches. Thus, as a first step toward the development of a new innovative approach, Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was applied to detect the lesion depth in comparison to the established reference technique (transverse microradiography [TMR]). Methods: Bovine enamel specimens were demineralized for 5 days, following previous studies. For OCT, the resulting artificial lesions were scanned three-dimensionally (SD-OCT) and semi-automated measured (CarLQuant). For TMR, specimens were sectioned and the lesion depth was manually determined (Inspektor Research System). Results: The range of lesion depth detected with OCT was 24.0–174.0 μm (mouth rinse study), 18.0–178.0 μm (toothpastes study) and with TMR 59.2–198.0 μm (mouth rinse study), 33.2–133.4 μm (toothpastes study). We found a strong correlation between both methods in terms of lesion depth (Spearman rankwith outlierp < 0.001, Rho = 0.75, Spearman rankwithout outlierp = 0.001, Rho = 0.79). The two methods produce similar results (Passing-Bablok regression, 1.16). As deeper is the lesion, the smallest is the difference between both methods as indicated by Bland-Altman-plots. Conclusion: Especially in the case of deep lesions, the values obtained by both methods are in agreement, and OCT can potentially substitute TMR to detect and assess lesion depth with the benefit of being non-destructive.
Weight-Loss Endoscopy Trial: A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial Comparing Weight Loss in Endoscopically Implanted Duodenal-Jejunal Bypass Liners versus Intragastric Balloons versus a Sham Procedure
Authors: Hollenbach Marcus , Feisthammel Jürgen , Prettin Christiane , Gundling Felix , Schepp Wolfgang , Stein Jürgen , Petroff David , Hoffmeister Albrecht
Published: June 2024

Introduction: Obesity is associated with reduced life expectancy and various comorbidities. Surgical interventions are effective but accompanied by the risk of serious complications. Less invasive endoscopic procedures mainly comprise the intragastric balloon (IB) and the duodenal-jejunal bypass liner (DJBL). A randomized, sham-controlled study comparing both procedures has not been undertaken so far. Methods: We performed a randomized, patient- and assessor-blinded, controlled trial comparing weight loss in IB versus DJBL versus a sham procedure (2:2:1 ratio). Patients with a BMI >35 kg/m2 or >30 with obesity-related comorbidities were included. The IB was removed after 6 months and the DJBL after 12 months. The main objective was successful weight loss (>10% from baseline) 12 months after explantation of the devices. Secondary outcomes were changes in comorbidities, quality of life, and complications. Results: Thirty-three patients were randomized. Recruitment has to be stopped suddenly in after the DJBL device lost its CE mark in Europe. In all, 11 patients received DJBL, 15 IB, and 7 were allocated to the sham group. Blinding was feasible in all patients. Weight decreased from baseline until explantation (DJBL: 129.4 ± 28.3 kg to 107.4 ± 16.7 kg; IB: 118.3 ± 22.8 kg to 107.4 ± 25.7 kg; sham: 134.6 ± 18.0 kg to 131.2 ± 14.3 kg), but patients regained weight almost to the baseline level 12 months after explantation. Only 1 patient in IB group reached the primary endpoint. Severe device-related complications were very rare. Conclusion: Endoscopic bariatric procedures failed to achieve effective weight loss 12 months after explantation of the devices. The results of this trial need to be interpreted with caution due to its early termination.
Development of Self-Concept in Childhood and Adolescence: How Neuroscience Can Inform Theory and Vice Versa
Authors: Crone Eveline A. , van Drunen Lina
Published: June 2024

How do we develop a stable and coherent self-concept in contemporary times? Susan Harter’s original work, The Construction of Self (1999; 2012), argues that cognitive and social processes are building blocks for developing a coherent sense of self, resulting in self-concept clarity across various domains in life (e.g., [pro-]social, academic, and physical). Here, we show how this framework guides and can benefit from recent findings on (1) the prolonged and nonlinear structural brain development during childhood and adolescence, (2) insights from developmental neuroimaging studies using self-concept appraisal paradigms, (3) genetic and environmental influences on behavioral and neural correlates of self-concept development, and (4) youth’s perspectives on self-concept development in the context of 21st century global challenges. We examine how neuroscience can inform theory by testing several compelling questions related to stability versus change of neural, behavioral, and self-report measures and we reflect on the meaning of variability and change/growth.
Disease characterization in cloned foals in Colombia, the effect of placental pathologies on the success and survival of cloned foalsfrom two different cell lines
Authors: Ayala Martha Susana Franco , Espinosa Olimpo Oliver
Published: June 2024

Cloned foals born in the different cloning programs in the USA, Argentina, and recently in Colombia have experienced several pathological entities during their pregnancy and neonatal period. These entities include abortions, stillbirths, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, large umbilical remanent, and angular deformity on the fore limb. The objectives of this study were to determine whether cloned foals suffer similar diseases and have the same mortality rate as noncloned ones and the differences between cloned foals from two different cell lines (fibroblastic and bone marrow cells) and, to establish whether mares carrying cloned foals from different cell lines have ultrasonographic, paraclinical, and hormonal profile parameters equal to traditional pregnancies and to determine whether there are differences between the cloned foals from the two different cell lines. In the analysis of the continuous variables, significant mean differences were established in the three groups of mares in PCV, hemoglobin, erythrocyte count, MCV, MCH, serum proteins and globulins, and in lymphocyte counts p<0.05. A risk analysis was made for morbidity and mortality associated with the cell origin of the clone and its pregnancy using chi-square sequential tests and logistic regression, and it was considered statistically significant at p< 0.05. A principal component analysis of the paraclinical findings of the mares with the outcome of the foal and the paraclinical parameters of the foals divided by the origin of gestation was performed to evaluate the components of the response variable and their dynamics. Thirty-four pregnancies of clones of fibroblastic origin, 26 of clones of bone marrow origin, and 32 of non-clones were studied. The presentation of placental diseases compatible with placentitis was significantly more frequent (p= 0.026) in mares with cloned foals from fibroblastic cell lines. Neonatal sepsis was determined to be the most frequent disease and was diagnosed more commonly in foals of fibroblastic cell origin—an increase in the risk (OR 37) (p=0.0006). The risk of death was positive and significant with the fibroblast cell line foals (OR: 9.1. P<0.01) compared to the cloned foals of marrow cell origin and non-cloned foals. The risk of death can be predicted in the neonatal period, and some indicators found in this study, such as signs related to placentitis, are associated with increased neonatal mortality and are more frequent in foals of fibroblastic cell origin.
Catástrofe e resistência: uma meditação
Authors: Vasconcellos Cláudia Maria de
Published: June 2024

O ensaio é uma meditação sobre o dramatículo Catástrofe, de Samuel Beckett, à luz dos conceitos de totalitarismo, segundo Hannah Arendt, e de poesia, segundo Octavio Paz.
Immune Mechanisms in Hypertension
Authors: Harrison David G. , Patrick David M.
Published: June 2024

It is now apparent that immune mediators including complement, cytokines, and cells of the innate and adaptive immune system contribute not only to blood pressure elevation but also to the target organ damage that occurs in response to stimuli like high salt, aldosterone, angiotensin II, and sympathetic outflow. Alterations of vascular hemodynamic factors, including microvascular pulsatility and shear forces, lead to vascular release of mediators that affect myeloid cells to become potent antigen-presenting cells and promote T-cell activation. Research in the past 2 decades has defined specific biochemical and molecular pathways that are engaged by these stimuli and an emerging paradigm is these not only lead to immune activation, but that products of immune cells, including cytokines, reactive oxygen species, and metalloproteinases act on target cells to further raise blood pressure in a feed-forward fashion. In this review, we will discuss these molecular and pathophysiological events and discuss clinical interventions that might prove effective in quelling this inflammatory process in hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases.
Chronic Hypertension During Pregnancy: Prevalence and Treatment in the United States, 2008–2021
Authors: Leonard Stephanie A. , Siadat Sara , Main Elliott K. , Huybrechts Krista F. , El-Sayed Yasser Y. , Hlatky Mark A. , Atkinson Jheanelle , Sujan Ayesha , Bateman Brian T.
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND:

Treatment of chronic hypertension during pregnancy has been shown to reduce the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. In this study, we examined the prevalence and treatment of chronic hypertension during pregnancy and assessed changes in these outcomes following the release of the updated 2017 hypertension guidelines of the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association.

METHODS:

We analyzed the Merative
TM
Marketscan
®
Research Database of United States commercial insurance claims from 2007 to 2021. We assessed the prevalence of chronic hypertension during pregnancy and oral antihypertensive medication use over time. We then performed interrupted time series analyses to evaluate changes in these outcomes.

RESULTS:

The prevalence of chronic hypertension steadily increased from 1.8% to 3.7% among 1 900 196 pregnancies between 2008 and 2021. Antihypertensive medication use among pregnant individuals with chronic hypertension was relatively stable (57%–60%) over the study period. The proportion of pregnant individuals with chronic hypertension treated with methyldopa or hydrochlorothiazide decreased (from 29% to 2% and from 11% to 5%, respectively), while the proportion treated with labetalol or nifedipine increased (from 19% to 42% and from 9% to 17%, respectively). The prevalence or treatment of chronic hypertension during pregnancy did not change following the 2017 American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association hypertension guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS:

The prevalence of chronic hypertension during pregnancy doubled between 2008 and 2021 in a nationwide cohort of individuals with commercial insurance. Labetalol replaced methyldopa as the most commonly used antihypertensive during pregnancy. However, only about 60% of individuals with chronic hypertension in pregnancy were treated with antihypertensive medications.
Argia sertaneja sp. nov. (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) from Northern Minas Gerais state, Brazil
Authors: VILELA DIOGO SILVA , JACQUES GABRIEL DE CASTRO , SOUZA MARCOS MAGALHÃES DE
Published: June 2024

Argia sertaneja sp. nov. (BRAZIL, Minas Gerais state, Chapada Gaúcha, Grande Sertão Veredas National Park, Vereda lodging (15.iv.2023, 15°11’14.7”S 45°41’01.7”W, 807 m asl, M.M. Souza leg., Coleção Biológica de Vespas Sociais—CBVS) is described, illustrated, and diagnosed. The new species can be separated from its congeners by the wide morphology of male cercus, and shape of female hind lobe of prothorax and mesostigmal lobes.
Abdominal Instillation of Crystalloid Fluid Decreases the Recurrence of Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction
Authors: Nemeth Zoltan H. , Flanagan Joseph S. , Stopper Patricia B. , Rolandelli Rolando H.
Published: June 2024

Peritoneal adhesion is a common cause of small bowel obstruction (SBO). In this study, we included 40 adult patients who had SBO, or partial obstructive symptoms. In the abdominal instillation of crystalloid fluid (AICF) cohort, 16 patients underwent lysis of adhesions and abdominal crystalloid fluid instillation at the end of the procedure. In the control (CO) group, 24 patients received lysis of adhesions without fluid instillation. AICF was achieved by the abdominal instillation of 1864 ± 97.5 mL of crystalloid fluid. We analyzed the recurrence of peritoneal adhesions resulting in reoperation for SBO within the 64.3 ± 9.15 months of follow-up time for the CO and the 70.5 ± 13.16-month follow-up for the AICF group. The AICF group had a lower SBO recurrence rate of 12.5% compared to the CO group’s 41.6% rate ( P = .049). Taken together, AICF decreased the recurrence of SBO requiring reoperation secondary to adhesion formation compared to the lysis of adhesions alone, as seen in the CO group.
Prognostic Value of Systemic Inflammatory Response in Lymph Node-Negative Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Takano Yasuhiro , Kubota Akihito , Kai Wataru , Kodera Keita , Koyama Muneyuki , Kobayashi Yasunobu , Kanno Hironori , Hanyu Nobuyoshi
Published: June 2024

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of systematic inflammatory response in patients with lymph node-negative colorectal cancer.

Methods

We retrospectively investigated 245 patients with lymph node-negative colorectal cancer who underwent curative resection and evaluated the prognostic impact of systematic inflammatory response, which was represented by neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR). Then, the prognostic significance of the systematic inflammatory response on survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method in patients selected by propensity score matching (PSM) analysis.

Results

In the multivariate analysis, CAR ≥ .081 ( P = .004) was independent predictors of disease-free survival, while American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status ≥3 ( P = .049) and CAR ≥ .081 ( P < .001) were independent predictors of overall survival. By PSM analysis, PSM-high-CAR was significantly associated with worse disease-free survival ( P = .043) and overall survival ( P = .041) in patients with lymph node-negative colorectal cancer.

Conclusions

C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio may be a significant indicator of poor long-term outcomes in patients with lymph node-negative colorectal cancer.
Corporate Tax Responsibility: Expectations of Implicit and Explicit CSR in the U.K. Media
Authors: Scarpa Francesco , Signori Silvana , Crane Andrew
Published: June 2024

Corporations have increasingly been called on to assume responsibilities for paying fairer shares of tax, while, at the same time, governments have been repeatedly urged to develop more effective corporate tax systems to tackle tax avoidance. Therefore, institutional attributions of tax responsibility for companies seem to have features of both explicit and implicit corporate social responsibility (CSR). However, given that we lack a clear understanding of which form or forms of CSR in relation to tax are expected of companies and how exactly this might be changing, we examine the evolution in institutional expectations of explicit and implicit CSR for corporate taxation. Drawing on a longitudinal content analysis of 992 news media articles from the United Kingdom between 2000 and 2021, we find that institutional expectations of corporate tax responsibility have followed a process of continuous and non-linear hybridization characterized by a pendulum-like trajectory of explicitization followed by implicitization. We discuss the implications of these findings for the theory and practice of corporate tax responsibility and the framework of explicit/implicit CSR.
Postoperative Bleeding in Children With Tonsillectomy: A Retrospective Cohort
Authors: Liu Yan , Xu Jiayan , Fan Yamei , Zhou Ying
Published: June 2024

Background:

It is necessary to evaluate the risk factors of secondary bleeding after tonsillectomy in children, to provide reference for clinical children management and care.

Methods:

Children who underwent tonsillectomy from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2022, in our hospital were retrospectively included. The characteristics of children with and without secondary bleeding were analyzed.

Results:

A total of 1068 children undergoing tonsillectomy were included, and the incidence of secondary bleeding children undergoing tonsillectomy was 4.87%. Age ≥ 9 years old (odds ratio [OR] = 2.609, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.112-3.437), type of surgery (OR = 1.764, 95% CI = 1.148-2.291), and degree of tonsil embedding (OR = 2.116, 95% CI = 1.805-2.644) were the risk factors of secondary bleeding after tonsillectomy in children (all P < .05).

Conclusion:

Medical staff should proactively monitor and address the identified risk factors by implementing timely warning systems and preventive strategies to reduce the postoperative bleeding following tonsillectomy.
Perspectives of Parents of Highly and Profoundly Gifted Children Regarding Competence, Belonging, and Support Within a Sociocultural Context
Authors: Johnson Rebecca M. , Rinn Anne N. , Mun Rachel U. , Yeung Glorry
Published: June 2024

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to investigate the experiences and perspectives of parents of highly and profoundly gifted children in developmental and cultural contexts. A purposive sample was selected from parents who are members of networks and organizations serving highly and profoundly gifted students. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 11 parents. Data were analyzed using the six-step approach of thematic analysis and revealed eight overarching themes including (a) self-efficacy within sociocultural contexts; (b) feelings of confidence; (c) role in fulfilling children’s needs; (d) decisions and actions related to children’s giftedness; (e) development of the parent/child dyads; (f) sense of belonging within the larger community; (g) impact of Covid-19 pandemic on their child’s gifted education; and (h) resources needed to facilitate children’s social-emotional and academic needs. Implications inform educators, counselors, and communities of the lived experiences of parents and their need for a sense of support and belonging.
A comparative study on PI-PD controller design using stability region centroid methods for unstable, integrating and resonant systems with time delay
Authors: İrgan Hilal , Menak Ramazan , Tan Nusret
Published: June 2024

In this paper, controller tuning methods based on stability region centroid methods reported in the literature are used to design PI-PD controllers for unstable, integrating and resonant systems with time delay. By analyzing the stability boundary locus (SBL) for the PD controller, which is utilized in the inner loop of this structure, the controller parameters are obtained using three methods which are the Weighted Geometric Center (WGC), Centroid of Convex Stability Region (CCSR), and Stability Triangle Approach (STA). These techniques were applied analytically, step by step. For the closed loop transfer function obtained in the inner loop of the controlled system, these three methods were utilized to design the PI controller in the outer loop, individually. Unit step responses of the controlled system, using PI-PD gains determined by each method, have been obtained. Furthermore, a disturbance of a certain time and amplitude was added to the systems to test the disturbance rejection behavior and the robustness performance of the methods. Perturbed responses were obtained through changing the model parameters at a certain rate. Time domain performance metrics were analyzed to compare the responses. The simulations were evaluated using settling time, rise time, and percentage overshoot as the assessment criteria. As a result of this study, the effectiveness of three methods, namely WGC, CCSR, and STA, in controller design for unstable, integrating, and resonant time-delay systems has been demonstrated. In addition, a comparison of time domain performance metrics is presented for the nominal and perturbed systems. Based on these comparisons, it is concluded that the methods outperform each other only in some time response performance measures. The presented results showed the advantages of these methods over each other in terms of some performance criteria. The contribution of this study to the literature is the comparative analysis of these three analytical methods.
Mirror Mirror on the Wall: The Bible and Ethics in Jordan Peele’s 2019 film Us
Authors: Reinhartz Adele
Published: June 2024

Jordan Peele’s horror movie, Us, takes moral ambiguity to its logical extreme by creating a world, or, rather, two worlds, in which good and evil mirror each other on multiple planes—the narrative, the visual, the spatial, the racial, the ethical—and by its use of a biblical verse—Jer 11:11. The Wilsons, who inhabit “our” world, view the “Tethered”, who inhabit a nether world, as evil insofar as they have emerged from the shadows to terrorize and kill them. The Tethered, however, view the humans as evil, insofar as they take for granted the ability to enjoy and act in the world. Like the prophet Jeremiah, the film draws the audience’s attention to its own iniquity—and the consequences.
Failing (into) Meaning: Everything Everywhere All At Once and Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes)
Authors: Rindge Matthew S.
Published: June 2024

Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes) and the 2022 film Everything Everywhere All At Once understand the embrace of life's meaninglessness as essential for learning how to live meaningfully. Whereas life's pervasive meaninglessness leads Qoheleth to recommend enjoyment (of food and drink) as the ultimate good, the film insists that the optimal response to life's meaninglessness is to adopt postures of vulnerability and kindness, and to understand how failure can be a virtue.
Revelation as Reality: Star Trek Deep Space Nine's "Far Beyond the Stars" and Black Prophetic Visions
Authors: Sneed Roger
Published: June 2024

Star Trek Deep Space Nine's episode "Far Beyond the Stars" positions Captain Benjamin Sisko and his alter ego Benny Russell as Black prophetic voices. Star Trek Deep Space Nine engages Black visions for the future in the form of Benjamin Sisko's role as the Emissary to the Prophets. Sisko/Russell's prophetic presence calls to mind the ancient Hebrew prophets, the book of Revelation, and the prophetic vision of life beyond oppression. Science fiction as prophetic imagination has the potential to show us better worlds.
The Prosocial Ambassador Effect: Adopting an Ambassador Role Increases Sustainable Behavior
Authors: Hassler Corinne M.K. , Mende Martin , Scott Maura L. , Bolton Lisa E.
Published: June 2024

This research introduces the prosocial ambassador effect as a novel means to elicit prosocial behavior. Consumers adopt a prosocial ambassador role when they personally commit to engage in a prosocial behavior and interpersonally promote (i.e., encourage another person to engage in) the prosocial behavior. Four experiments, including two studies in the field, investigate prosocial ambassadorship behaviors and their impact on the ambassadors’ subsequent prosocial behavior. Results reveal that the ambassador role activates a collective identity, which drives prosocial behavior. Findings also indicate that the ambassador effect endures over time. Furthermore, the ambassador effect replicates via product giveaways and communications (e.g., text messages). This research offers novel implications for marketers on the ambassador role's positive impact on prosociality, providing guidance to firms on how to leverage the ambassador effect in the marketplace.
Can Empathy Provide a Route to Democratic Inclusivity?
Authors: Hyams Keith
Published: June 2024

How can democracies promote full consideration of all relevant interests in political decision-making? Is there a role for empathy, especially where there are obstacles to direct inclusion of relevant groups, as for example in the case of future generations and citizens of other countries? Critics of existing uses of empathy in political theory press that limits to our capacity to empathise can lead to bias and partiality. I argue instead for a more nuanced ‘holistic’ approach to the use of empathy into democratic design. The approach recommends, first, that we be sensitive to the potential consequences of catalysing empathy in specific decision-making contexts, rather than making general prescriptions. Second, it asks us to consider how different methods of empathic induction generate insight and motivation of different strength and degrees of generality. Third, the approach proposes not only that empathy be introduced into existing institutions and designs, but that we aim through democratic design to bring patterns of power into closer alignment with naturally occurring patterns of empathy. Fourth, the approach recommends taking a pragmatic view of which interventions might be most useful in any particular institutional context.
Book review: Shivam Singh, Rural Culture in Hindi Cinema
Authors: Ghatode Jesika
Published: June 2024

Shivam Singh, Rural Culture in Hindi Cinema. Rawat Publications, 2020, 317 pp., ₹1295 (Hardback). ISBN: 9788131610343.