bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Radiomic Features of 18F-FDG PET in Hodgkin Lymphoma Are Predictive of Outcomes
Authors: Zhou Yeye , Zhu Yuchun , Chen Zhiqiang , Li Jihui , Sang Shibiao , Deng Shengming
Published: November 2021

Purpose. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether the radiomic features of baseline 18F-FDG PET can predict the prognosis of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Methods. A total 65 HL patients (training cohort: n = 49; validation cohort: n = 16) were retrospectively enrolled in the present study. A total of 47 radiomic features were extracted from pretreatment PET images. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to select the most useful prognostic features in the training cohort. The distance between the two lesions that were the furthest apart (Dmax) was recorded. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, Kaplan–Meier method, and Cox proportional hazards model were used to assess the prognostic factors. Results. Long-zone high gray-level emphasis extracted from a gray-level zone-length matrix (LZHGEGLZLM) (HR = 9.007;

p
=
0.044

) and Dmax (HR = 3.641;

p
=
0.048

) were independently correlated with 2-year progression-free survival (PFS). A prognostic stratification model was established based on both risk predictors, which could distinguish three risk categories for PFS (

p
=
0.0002

). The 2-year PFS was 100.0%, 64.7%, and 33.3%, respectively. Conclusions. LZHGEGLZLM and Dmax were independent prognostic factors for survival outcomes. Besides, we proposed a prognostic stratification model that could further improve the risk stratification of HL patients.
Electric Shovel Teeth Missing Detection Method Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Liu Xiaobo , Qi Xianglong , Jiang Yiming
Published: November 2021

Electric shovels are widely used in the mining industry to dig ore, and the teeth in shovels’ bucket can be lost due to the tremendous pressure exerted by ore materials during operation. When the teeth fall off and enter the crusher with other ore materials, serious damages to crusher gears and other equipment happen, which causes millions of economic loss, because it is made of high‐manganese steel. Thus, it is urgent to develop an efficient and automatic algorithm for detecting broken teeth. However, existing methods for detecting broken teeth have little effect and most research studies depended on sensor skills, which will be disturbed by closed cavity in shovel and not stable in practice. In this paper, we present an intelligent computer vision system for monitoring teeth condition and detecting missing teeth. Since the pixel‐level algorithm is carried out, the amount of calculation should be reduced to improve the superiority of the algorithm. To release computational pressure of subsequent work, salient detection based on deep learning is proposed for extracting the key frame images from video flow taken by the camera installed on the shovel including the teeth we intend to analyze. Additionally, in order to more efficiently monitor teeth condition and detect missing teeth, semantic segmentation based on deep learning is processed to get the relative position of the teeth in the image. Once semantic segmentation is done, floating images containing the shape of teeth are obtained. Then, to detect missing teeth effectively, image registration is proposed. Finally, the result of image registration shows whether teeth are missing or not, and the system will immediately alert staff to check the shovel when teeth fall off. Through sufficient experiments, statistical result had demonstrated superiority of our presented model that serves more promising prospect in mining industry.
Analysis and Influence of Media Degradation Image Propagation Path Based on Image Vision
Authors: Lin Yujia , Wang Xin
Published: November 2021

With the rapid development of the information age, the efficiency of image information dissemination has been improved and the way of information dissemination has gradually moved from text information to image information. In the process of using equipment to take pictures, because of some objective reasons, the images taken are different from the ideal images taken by the equipment, so the interference brought by these objective factors to the images is eliminated, thus presenting a more realistic image process. In the process of network propagation, degraded images show different characteristics in the network. In the process of propagation, images degenerate again, which makes it difficult for images to be authentic or restored. In this paper, an SIR model is selected from three classical infectious disease models to simulate and reflect the propagation path and influence of degraded images and the influence of degraded images on propagation is evaluated by extracting the moderate and degree distribution of undirected network. In addition, the distribution and integration between nodes are evaluated to distinguish the average road sources. Based on the SIR propagation model, a propagation model of information timeliness is constructed. By describing the update of subjective attitude values of nodes and then defining the probability function of state transition between different nodes, the model has higher fitting and adaptability. Finally, using BA, WS, Facebook, and Sina Weibo as the base map and setting the network environment parameters, based on the SIR model, the propagation of degraded images in different network environments is analyzed and the influence results of degraded images in network propagation are obtained.
Applications of Healthcare Robots in Combating the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Raje Shruti , Reddy Nikunj , Jerbi Houssem , Randhawa Princy , Tsaramirsis Georgios , Shrivas Nikhil Vivek , Pavlopoulou Athanasia , Stojmenović Miloš , Piromalis Dimitris
Published: November 2021

Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, there is a remarkable demand for robots, especially in the clinical sector. SARS-CoV-2 mainly propagates due to close human interactions and contaminated surfaces, and hence, maintaining social distancing has become a mandatory preventive measure. This generates the need to treat patients with minimal doctor-patient interaction. Introducing robots in the healthcare sector protects the frontline healthcare workers from getting exposed to the coronavirus as well as decreases the need for medical personnel as robots can partially take over some medical roles. The aim of this paper is to highlight the emerging role of robotic applications in the healthcare sector and allied areas. To this end, a systematic review was conducted regarding the various robots that have been implemented worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic to attenuate and contain the virus. The results obtained from this study reveal that the implementation of robotics into the healthcare field has a substantial effect in controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2, as it blocks coronavirus propagation between patients and healthcare workers, along with other advantages such as disinfection or cleaning.
Decoupling Control of a Multiaxis Hydraulic Servo Shaking Table Based on Dynamic Model
Authors: Huang Qitao , Wang Peng , Wang Yuhao , Yang Qinjun
Published: November 2021

Hydraulic servo shaking table is an essential testing facility to simulate the actual vibration situation in real time. As a parallel mechanism, multiaxis hydraulic servo shaking table shows strong coupling characteristic among different degrees of freedom. When the multiaxis hydraulic shaking table moves to one direction, some unnecessary related motions will appear in other directions, which seriously affect the control performance. An effective approach to decouple motions in command direction and in unnecessary related directions is an urgent need for a higher precision control performance. In this work, the coupling phenomena and reasons of the multiaxis hydraulic servo table are analyzed based on dynamic model of a multiaxis hydraulic servo shaking table. In this regard, multiaxis hydraulic servo shaking table with strong coupling within the physical space is transformed into a set of single‐input single‐output systems that are independent of each other in the modal space. A decoupling control strategy is proposed in modal space to restrain the coupling motions. Simulation and experimental results show that the proposed control strategy can effectively improve the control performance and the decoupling effect.
Cell on Wheels‐Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System for Providing Wireless Coverage in Emergency Situations
Authors: Shakhatreh Hazim , Hayajneh Khaled , Bani-Hani Khaled , Sawalmeh Ahmad , Anan Muhammad
Published: November 2021

Due to natural disasters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be deployed as aerial wireless base stations when conventional cellular networks are out of service. They can also supplement the mobile ground station to provide wireless devices with improved coverage and faster data rates. Cells on wheels (CoWs) can also be utilized to provide enhanced wireless coverage for short‐term demands. In this paper, a single CoW cooperates with a single UAV in order to provide maximum wireless coverage to ground users. The optimization problem is formulated to find the following: (1) the optimal 2D placement of the CoW, (2) the optimal 3D placement of the UAV, (3) the optimal bandwidth allocation, (4) the percentage of the available bandwidth that must be provided to the CoW and UAV, and (5) the priority of wireless coverage; which maximizes the number of covered users. We utilize the exhaustive search (ES) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithms to solve the optimization problem. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithms is validated using simulation results.
A Privacy‐Preserving Reinforcement Learning Approach for Dynamic Treatment Regimes on Health Data
Authors: Sun Xiaoqiang , Sun Zhiwei , Wang Ting , Feng Jie , Wei Jiakai , Hu Guangwu
Published: November 2021

Based on the clinical states of the patient, dynamic treatment regime technology can provide various therapeutic methods, which is helpful for medical treatment policymaking. Reinforcement learning is an important approach for developing this technology. In order to implement the reinforcement learning algorithm efficiently, the computation of health data is usually outsourced to the untrustworthy cloud server. However, it may leak, falsify, or delete private health data. Encryption is a common method for solving this problem. But the cloud server is difficult to calculate encrypted health data. In this paper, based on Cheon et al.’s approximate homomorphic encryption scheme, we first propose secure computation protocols for implementing comparison, maximum, exponentiation, and division. Next, we design a homomorphic reciprocal of square root protocol firstly, which only needs one approximate computation. Based on the proposed secure computation protocols, we design a secure asynchronous advantage actor‐critic reinforcement learning algorithm for the first time. Then, it is used to implement a secure treatment decision‐making algorithm. Simulation results show that our secure computation protocols and algorithms are feasible.
Clonal Hematopoiesis Mutations in Patients with Lung Cancer Are Associated with Lung Cancer Risk Factors
Authors: Hong Wei , Li Ang , Liu Yanhong , Xiao Xiangjun , Christiani David C. , Hung Rayjean J. , McKay James , Field John , Amos Christopher I. , Cheng Chao
Published: November 2021

Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is a phenomenon caused by expansion of white blood cells descended from a single hematopoietic stem cell. While CH can be associated with leukemia and some solid tumors, the relationship between CH and lung cancer remains largely unknown. To help clarify this relationship, we analyzed whole-exome sequencing (WES) data from 1,958 lung cancer cases and controls. Potential CH mutations were identified by a set of hierarchical filtering criteria in different exonic regions, and the associations between the number of CH mutations and clinical traits were investigated. Family history of lung cancer (FHLC) may exert diverse influences on the accumulation of CH mutations in different age groups. In younger subjects, FHLC was the strongest risk factor for CH mutations. Association analysis of genome-wide genetic variants identified dozens of genetic loci associated with CH mutations, including a candidate SNP rs2298110, which may promote CH by increasing expression of a potential leukemia promoter gene OTUD3. Hundreds of potentially novel CH mutations were identified, and smoking was found to potentially shape the CH mutational signature. Genetic variants and lung cancer risk factors, especially FHLC, correlated with CH. These analyses improve our understanding of the relationship between lung cancer and CH, and future experimental studies will be necessary to corroborate the uncovered correlations.

Significance:

Analysis of whole-exome sequencing data uncovers correlations between clonal hematopoiesis and lung cancer risk factors, identifies genetic variants correlated with clonal hematopoiesis, and highlights hundreds of potential novel clonal hematopoiesis mutations.
Inhibition of XPO1 Sensitizes Small Cell Lung Cancer to First- and Second-Line Chemotherapy
Authors: Quintanal-Villalonga Alvaro , Taniguchi Hirokazu , Hao Yuan , Chow Andrew , Zhan Yingqian A. , Chavan Shweta S. , Uddin Fathema , Allaj Viola , Manoj Parvathy , Shah Nisargbhai S. , Chan Joseph M. , Offin Michael , Ciampricotti Metamia , Ray-Kirton Jordana , Egger Jacklynn , Bhanot Umesh , Linkov Irina , Asher Marina , Roehrl Michael H. , Qiu Juan , de Stanchina Elisa , Hollmann Travis J. , Koche Richard P. , Sen Triparna , Poirier John T. , Rudin Charles M.
Published: November 2021

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive malignancy characterized by early metastasis and extreme lethality. The backbone of SCLC treatment over the past several decades has been platinum-based doublet chemotherapy, with the recent addition of immunotherapy providing modest benefits in a subset of patients. However, nearly all patients treated with systemic therapy quickly develop resistant disease, and there is an absence of effective therapies for recurrent and progressive disease. Here we conducted CRISPR-Cas9 screens using a druggable genome library in multiple SCLC cell lines representing distinct molecular subtypes. This screen nominated exportin-1, encoded by XPO1, as a therapeutic target. XPO1 was highly and ubiquitously expressed in SCLC relative to other lung cancer histologies and other tumor types. XPO1 knockout enhanced chemosensitivity, and exportin-1 inhibition demonstrated synergy with both first- and second-line chemotherapy. The small molecule exportin-1 inhibitor selinexor in combination with cisplatin or irinotecan dramatically inhibited tumor growth in chemonaïve and chemorelapsed SCLC patient-derived xenografts, respectively. Together these data identify exportin-1 as a promising therapeutic target in SCLC, with the potential to markedly augment the efficacy of cytotoxic agents commonly used in treating this disease.

Significance:

CRISPR-Cas9 screening nominates exportin-1 as a therapeutic target in SCLC, and exportin-1 inhibition enhances chemotherapy efficacy in patient-derived xenografts, providing a novel therapeutic opportunity in this disease.
Cyclin-dependent Kinase 4/6 Inhibitor Palbociclib in Combination with Ralaniten Analogs for the Treatment of Androgen Receptor–positive Prostate and Breast Cancers
Authors: Tien Amy H. , Sadar Marianne D.
Published: November 2021

Androgen receptor (AR) has essential roles in the growth of prostate cancer and some breast cancers. Inhibition of AR transcriptional activity by targeting its N-terminal domain with ralaniten or an analog such as EPI-7170 causes accumulation of cells in the G1-phase of the cell cycle. Inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases 4/6 with palbociclib also leads to accumulation of cells in the G1-phase. Here, a combination of EPI-7170 with palbociclib attenuated the in vivo growth of human castration-resistant prostate cancer xenografts that are resistant to antiandrogens. Cell-cycle tracing experiments in cultured cells revealed that EPI-7170 targeted cells in the S-phase, possibly through inducing DNA damage or impairing the DNA damage response, whereas palbociclib targeted the G1–S transition to delay the cell cycle. Combination treatment prevented cells in G1 and G2–M from progressing in the cell cycle and caused a portion of cells in the S-phase to arrest, which contributed to a twofold increase in doubling time to >63 hours compared with 25 hours in control cells. Importantly, sequential combination treatments with palbociclib administered first then followed by EPI-7170, resulted in more cells accumulating in G1 and less cells in the S-phase than concomitant combination which was presumably because each inhibitor has a unique mechanism in modulating the cell cycle in cancer cells. Together, these data support that the combination therapy was more effective than individual monotherapies to reduce tumor growth by targeting different phases of the cell cycle.
Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Placement under NIV in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis with Severe Ventilatory Dysfunction: A Safe and Effective Procedure
Authors: Gaspar Rui , Ramalho Rosa , Coelho Rosa , Andrade Patrícia , Goncalves Miguel R. , Macedo Guilherme
Published: November 2021

Introduction: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder with an inexorably progressive course which leads to a progressive neuromuscular weakness. Weight loss is one of the major bad prognostic factors in ALS. The placement of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is of paramount importance in patients with dysphagia to improve the disease outcomes, although some fear exists regarding the possible ventilatory complications during the procedure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of PEG tube insertion under non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in patients with ALS and severe ventilatory impairment. Methods: A retrospective study of all consecutive PEGs placed in our department from May 2011 to January 2018 in patients with ALS was performed. The procedure was performed under non-invasive positive-pressure ventilation for ventilatory support. Results: We included 59 patients with ALS with severe ventilatory impairment, 58% were female, with a mean age of 67.2 ± 10.1 years and a median follow-up of 6 [2–15] months. The main indication for PEG placement was dysphagia (98%). The median time for PEG tube insertion since the established diagnosis of ALS was 12 [6–25] months and 4 [2–18] months since the beginning of bulbar symptoms. The majority of the patients had placed a 20-Fr PEG (63%) and under mild sedation with midazolam (80%), all under NIV. There were no immediate complications during and after the procedure (no episodes of aspiration or orotracheal intubation) and mortality. Conclusion: The placement of PEG is a very important procedure in patients with ALS and severe ventilatory impairment. The interdisciplinary department collaboration permitted the placement of PEG under NIV, in a safe and effective procedure in this special population.
Medication Burden and Prescribing Patterns in Patients on Hemodialysis in the USA, 2013–2017
Authors: Paik Julie M. , Zhuo Min , York Cassandra , Tsacogianis Theodore , Kim Seoyoung C. , Desai Rishi J.
Published: November 2021

Introduction: The medication burden of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis, a patient population with a high comorbidity burden and complex care requirements, is among the highest of any of the chronic diseases. The goal of this study was to describe the medication burden and prescribing patterns in a contemporary cohort of patients with ESRD on hemodialysis in the USA. Methods: We used the United States Renal Data System database from January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2017, to quantify the medication burden of patients with ESRD on hemodialysis aged ≥18 years. We calculated the average number of prescription medications per patient during each respective year (January–December), number of medications within classes, including potentially harmful medications, and trends in the number of medications and classes over the 5-year study period. Results: We included a total of 163,228 to 176,133 patients from 2013 to 2017. The overall medication burden decreased slightly, from a mean of 7.4 (SD 3.8) medications in 2013 to 6.8 (SD 3.6) medications in 2017. Prescribing of potentially harmful medications decreased over time (74.0% with at least one harmful medication class in 2013–68.5% in 2017). In particular, the prescribing of non-benzodiazepine hypnotics, benzodiazepines, and opioids decreased from 2013 to 2017 (12.2%–6.3%, 23.4%–19.3%, and 60.0%–53.4%, respectively). This trend was consistent across subgroups of age, sex, race, and low-income subsidy status. Conclusions: Patients with ESRD on hemodialysis continued to have a high overall medication burden, with a slight reduction over time accompanied by a decrease in prescribing of several classes of harmful medications. Continued emphasis on assessment of appropriateness of high medication burden in patients with ESRD is needed to avoid exposure to potentially harmful or futile medications in this patient population.
Transvaginal Excision of Rectal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor: A Safe Minimally Invasive Approach
Authors: Kaiyasah Hadiel , Fardan Hana , Al Ozaibi Labib
Published: November 2021

Introduction: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), the specific kit-positive mesenchymal tumors, are rarely found in the anorectum and account for 5% of all GIST cases. Surgical excision remains the main treatment for anorectal GIST. The available techniques include enucleation transanal excision or sometimes an abdominoperineal resection for large or low tumors. Case Study: We present a middle-aged female with a complaint of intermittent rectal pain for 1 year. Diagnostic workup detected a mass in the rectovaginal septum. A transvaginal excision was performed. Final histopathology showed rectal GIST. On regular follow-up visits, there was no detectable recurrence, and her anal pain disappeared completely. Discussion: Colorectal GIST accounts for only 0.1% of all colorectal tumors; this infrequency has led to a controversy in its diagnosis and management. Nevertheless, surgery remains a cornerstone element in the management of rectal GISTs. Different resection methods have been described in the literature, ranging from less-invasive approach such as transanal excision to a more radical one like an abdominoperineal resection. As there is no standard approach, choosing which one to perform depends on the tumor size, its location, and the surgeon’s preference. Conclusion: Transvaginal excision could be considered a safe minimally invasive approach for low-lying rectal GISTs.
Renoprotective Role of Hypoxia-Inducible Factors and the Mechanism
Authors: Li Qiu-Yu , Liu Fei , Tang Xiaoxiao , Fu Haidong , Mao Jianhua
Published: November 2021

Background: The kidney requires abundant blood supply, and oxygen is transmitted by diffusion through blood vessels. Most physiological metabolism of the kidney depends on oxygen, so it is very sensitive to oxygen. An increasing pool of evidence suggests that hypoxia is involved in almost all acute and chronic kidney diseases (CKDs). Vascular damage, tubular injury, and fibrosis are the main pathologies associated during hypoxia. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are the main mediators during hypoxia, but their functions remain controversial. This article reviewed recent studies and described its mechanisms on renoprotection. Summary: HIF is degraded rapidly during under normal oxygen. But under hypoxia, HIFs accumulate and many target genes are regulated by HIFs. Homeostasis during injury is maintained through these genes. Pretreatment of HIF can protect the kidney from acute hypoxia and can improve repair, but HIF’s role in CKD and in renal tumor is still controversial. Due to its mechanism in kidney disease, many drugs toward HIFs are widely researched, even some of which have been used in clinical or in clinical research. Key Messages: In this review, we described the known physiological mechanisms, target genes, and renal protective roles of HIFs, and we discussed several drugs that are researched due to such renal protective roles.
Eosinopenie als Biomarker des Schweregrads einer COVID-19-Infektion
Authors: Xanthouli Panagiota
Published: November 2021

Background: Studies on the role of eosinophils in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are scarce, though available findings suggest a possible association with disease severity. Our study analyzes the relationship between eosinophils and COVID-19, with a focus on disease severity and patients with underlying chronic respiratory diseases. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 3018 subjects attended at two public hospitals in Madrid (Spain) with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from January 31 to April 17, 2020. Patients with eosinophil counts less than 0.02×109/L were considered to have eosinopenia. Individuals with chronic respiratory diseases (n = 384) were classified according to their particular underlying condition, i.e., asthma, chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, or obstructive sleep apnea. Results: Of the 3018 patients enrolled, 479 were excluded because of lack of information at the time of admission. Of 2539 subjects assessed, 1396 patients presented an eosinophil count performed on admission, revealing eosinopenia in 376 cases (26.93%). Eosinopenia on admission was associated with a higher risk of intensive care unit (ICU) or respiratory intensive care unit (RICU) admission (OR:2.21; 95%CI:1.42–3.45; p <0.001) but no increased risk of mortality (p >0.05). Conclusion: Eosinopenia on admission conferred a higher risk of severe disease (requiring ICU/RICU care), but was not associated with increased mortality. In patients with chronic respiratory diseases who develop COVID-19, age seems to be the main risk factor for progression to severe disease or death.
Posttranscriptional Regulation of the Human LDL Receptor by the U2-Spliceosome
Authors: Zanoni Paolo , Panteloglou Grigorios , Othman Alaa , Haas Joel T. , Meier Roger , Rimbert Antoine , Futema Marta , Abou Khalil Yara , Norrelykke Simon F. , Rzepiela Andrzej J. , Stoma Szymon , Stebler Michael , van Dijk Freerk , Wijers Melinde , Wolters Justina C. , Dalila Nawar , Huijkman Nicolette C. A. , Smit Marieke , Gallo Antonio , Carreau Valérie , Philippi Anne , Rabès Jean-Pierre , Boileau Catherine , Visentin Michele , Vonghia Luisa , Weyler Jonas , Francque Sven , Verrijken An , Verhaegen Ann , Van Gaal Luc , van der Graaf Adriaan , van Rosmalen Belle V. , Robert Jerome , Velagapudi Srividya , Yalcinkaya Mustafa , Keel Michaela , Radosavljevic Silvija , Geier Andreas , Tybjaerg-Hansen Anne , Varret Mathilde , Rohrer Lucia , Humphries Steve E. , Staels Bart , van de Sluis Bart , Kuivenhoven Jan Albert , von Eckardstein Arnold
Published: November 2021

Background:

The LDLR (low-density lipoprotein receptor) in the liver is the major determinant of LDL-cholesterol levels in human plasma. The discovery of genes that regulate the activity of LDLR helps to identify pathomechanisms of hypercholesterolemia and novel therapeutic targets against atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Methods:

We performed a genome-wide RNA interference screen for genes limiting the uptake of fluorescent LDL into Huh-7 hepatocarcinoma cells. Top hit genes were validated by in vitro experiments as well as analyses of data sets on gene expression and variants in human populations.

Results:

The knockdown of 54 genes significantly inhibited LDL uptake. Fifteen of them encode for components or interactors of the U2-spliceosome. Knocking down any one of 11 out of 15 genes resulted in the selective retention of intron 3 of
LDLR
. The translated LDLR fragment lacks 88% of the full length LDLR and is detectable neither in nontransfected cells nor in human plasma. The hepatic expression of the intron 3 retention transcript is increased in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease as well as after bariatric surgery. Its expression in blood cells correlates with LDL-cholesterol and age. Single nucleotide polymorphisms and 3 rare variants of one spliceosome gene,
RBM25
, are associated with LDL-cholesterol in the population and familial hypercholesterolemia, respectively. Compared with overexpression of wild-type
RBM25
, overexpression of the 3 rare
RBM25
mutants in Huh-7 cells led to lower LDL uptake.

Conclusions:

We identified a novel mechanism of posttranscriptional regulation of LDLR activity in humans and associations of genetic variants of
RBM25
with LDL-cholesterol levels.
The Ghost Club, 1882–1936
Authors: Luckhurst Roger
Published: November 2021

The Ghost Club was founded to discuss matters spiritual, psychic and occult in 1882 by Spiritualist William Stainton Moses and mystic Alfred Alaric Watts. It was intended as a club ruled by a gentleman’s code of honour—with all matters discussed kept strictly confidential. While maintaining secrecy, it also obsessively minuted and documented its discussions, leaving behind thousands of pages of records that have yet to be properly investigated, owing to conditions around their use. This essay is an attempt to examine the importance of the Club, and how it might readjust our understanding of the networks of the London occult in the late-Victorian and Edwardian eras.
Anna Kingsford and the Intuitive Science of Occultism
Authors: Ferguson Christine
Published: November 2021

Feminist, anti-vivisectionist, occultist, and one of the first British women to qualify as a medical doctor, Anna Kingsford remains notably absent from recent studies of Victorian science and spiritualism. Her efforts to synthesize occult and scientific worldviews have been side-lined by those of male contemporaries such as Oliver Lodge and Alfred Russel Wallace, ones whose professional status and gender coordinates more readily align with implicit assumptions about the kind of person for whom disenchantment posed an intellectual problem that might best be solved in the laboratory. My paper positions Kingsford at the very heart of the late Victorian project to accommodate scientific innovation and spiritual belief by tracing her attempts to forge an intuitive epistemology superior to what she viewed as the deeply suspect championship of objectivity. In doing so, it aims to expose and redress blind spots within recent esotericism studies-based approaches to the disenchantment debate.
The Talibs or the Taliban in Afghanistan
Authors: Asatryan Georgi
Published: November 2021

The rapid military and political victory of the Taliban movement during the summer offensive in 2021 shocked the system of international relations and the regional security architecture. The Taliban’s military successes in rural areas were expected and predicted, but the capture of Kabul and the instant capitulation of the official Afghan authorities became the “black swan” of regional geopolitics. This study hypothesis states that the reincarnation of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was the logical result of an unsuccessful twenty-year military campaign by the United States and NATO. The attempt to integrate the Afghan society into an accelerated modernization process was carried out under immature socio-political practices and a complete lack of institutions. Another hypothesis of the study suggests that the victory of the radical terrorist movement can cause a domino effect and lead to the strengthening of international transcontinental terrorist groups. From the systems theory perspective, the victory of a radical group and establishing control over a UN member state cannot but cause a negative reaction for the global and regional security construction. The study puts forward a third hypothesis and thesis: the Taliban victory was the victory of radical political Islam (jihadism) at the global level, which significantly strengthened its position in the system of international relations.
Colloquium 3 Aristotle on the Voluntariness of Vice
Authors: Elliott Jay R.
Published: November 2021

In Nicomachean Ethics III.5, Aristotle argues that virtue and vice are “up to us and voluntary.” Readers have long struggled to make sense of Aristotle’s arguments in this chapter and to explain how they cohere with the rest of his ethical project. Among the most influential lines of complaint is that the argument of III.5 appears to contradict his emphasis elsewhere on the power of upbringing to shape character, beginning in childhood. Scholars have developed two main interpretive approaches to III.5, which I label “libertarian” and “compatibilist.” I argue that neither approach succeeds in removing the appearance of contradiction. I develop an alternative interpretation that reveals the coherence of Aristotle’s commitments, showing that for him the voluntariness of character and the power of upbringing are in reality two sides of the same philosophical coin. Both are grounded in his fundamental idea that virtue and vice are acquired by practice.
Interpreting Observed Temperature Probability Distributions Using a Relationship between Temperature and Temperature Advection
Authors: Zhang Boer , Linz Marianna , Chen Gang
Published: November 2021

The nonnormality of temperature probability distributions and the physics that drive it are important due to their relationships to the frequency of extreme warm and cold events. Here we use a conditional mean framework to explore how horizontal temperature advection and other physical processes work together to control the shape of daily temperature distributions during 1979–2019 in the ERA5 dataset for both JJA and DJF. We demonstrate that the temperature distribution in the middle and high latitudes can largely be linearly explained by the conditional mean horizontal temperature advection with the simple treatment of other processes as a Newtonian relaxation with a spatially variant relaxation time scale and equilibrium temperature. We analyze the role of different transient and stationary components of the horizontal temperature advection in affecting the shape of temperature distributions. The anomalous advection of the stationary temperature gradient has a dominant effect in influencing temperature variance, while both that term and the covariance between anomalous wind and anomalous temperature have significant effects on temperature skewness. While this simple method works well over most of the ocean, the advection–temperature relationship is more complicated over land. We classify land regions with different advection–temperature relationships under our framework, and find that for both seasons the aforementioned linear relationship can explain ∼30% of land area, and can explain either the lower or the upper half of temperature distributions in an additional ∼30% of land area. Identifying the regions where temperature advection explains shapes of temperature distributions well will help us gain more confidence in understanding the future change of temperature distributions and extreme events.
Rapid Dynamical Evolution of ITCZ Events over the East Pacific
Authors: Gonzalez Alex O. , Ganguly Indrani , McGraw Marie C. , Larson James G.
Published: November 2021

The latitudinal location of the east Pacific Ocean intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) changes on time scales of days to weeks during boreal spring. This study focuses on tropical near-surface dynamics in the days leading up to the two most frequent types of ITCZ events, nITCZ (Northern Hemisphere) and dITCZ (double). There is a rapid daily evolution of dynamical features on top of a slower, weekly evolution that occurs leading up to and after nITCZ and dITCZ events. Zonally elongated bands of anomalous cross-equatorial flow and off-equatorial convergence rapidly intensify and peak 1 day before or the day of these ITCZ events, followed 1 or 2 days later by a peak in near-equatorial zonal wind anomalies. In addition, there is a wide region north of the southeast Pacific subtropical high where anomalous northwesterlies strengthen prior to nITCZ events and southeasterlies strengthen before dITCZ events. Anomalous zonal and meridional near-surface momentum budgets reveal that the terms associated with Ekman balance are of first-order importance preceding nITCZ events, but that the meridional momentum advective terms are just as important before dITCZ events. Variations in cross-equatorial flow are promoted by the meridional pressure gradient force (PGF) prior to nITCZ events and the meridional advection of meridional momentum in addition to the meridional PGF before dITCZ events. Meanwhile, variations in near-equatorial easterlies are driven by the zonal PGF and the Coriolis force preceding nITCZ events and the zonal PGF, the Coriolis force, and the meridional advection of zonal momentum before dITCZ events.
Assessing Content of Accredited Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship Websites: Is there Adequate Information for Applicants?
Authors: Abdou Hossam , St John Ace , Bafford Andrea C. , Kubicki Natalia S. , Kidd-Romero Sarah , Kavic Stephen M. , Brown Rebecca F.
Published: November 2021

Electronic information is a vital resource used by fellowship applicants. This study aimed to assess the completeness of colon and rectal surgery (CRS) fellowship program online information. Program information on the Association of Program Directors for Colon and Rectal Surgery (APDCRS) website as well as each institutional website was evaluated based on templated criteria. Sixty-eight accredited fellowship programs were identified. Six (9%) programs had complete profiles on the APDCRS platform, with an average of 3.5 details completed per program. Sixty-two (91%) websites were easily accessible. None of these contained all 28 criteria assessed and 47 (69%) contained less than half of assessed content. The most common data point was fellowship program description (96%), while board pass rate (1%) was the least common. Most CRS fellowship websites were grossly incomplete. Electronically available information is vital to fellowship applicants, and programs should try to provide easily accessible information about their program.
Socialist Construction for Siberia: Comecon Cooperation and the Making of Ust'-Ilimsk Forest Industrial Complex in the USSR, 1970s and 1980s
Authors: Kochetkova Elena , Popov Aleksei
Published: November 2021

This article examines the history of socialist collaboration in Comecon through the lens of a large industrial project in Soviet Siberia. It examines the construction of the Ust'-Ilimsk forest industrial complex which was conceived as a collective effort of six socialist European countries. On the one hand, the project formed part of the Soviet Union's strategy of technological colonization of Soviet Eastern lands, and on the other, it aimed to enhance socialist collaboration and integration efforts through the exchange of material goods and expertise, as prescribed by the project agreements. The paper focuses on the interplay between ideological implications, national interests and material shortages when completing the project, showing the contradictory nature of socialist collaborative construction. It argues that the Soviet central government sought material resources for the construction from ‘brother’ socialist countries with an ideological emphasis on how important it was for further cooperation in the Eastern bloc. In fact, the project exposed difficulties, ranging from material shortages typical of state socialism and the predominance of national economic interests, with the result that this socialist project was compelled to also make use of Western equipment and expertise, transforming Ust'-Ilimsk from a socialist to a far more international construction site.
The Myth of Madness: Murderous Mothers and Maternal Infanticide
Authors: Mason James
Published: November 2021

The sex-specific doctrine of infanticide provides a merciful method of dealing with women who kill their newborn children in circumstances of psychological distress. This article examines the contentious medical rationale which underpins infanticide legislation with the purpose of providing a substantiated argument for the abolition of this antiquated doctrine. Specifically, a two-pronged approach is taken. First, by utilising the views of contemporary medical science, the scientific credibility of the medical rationale is scrutinised. Second, by drawing upon feminist legal theory, a myriad of concerns associated with the medicalisation of female offenders are critically discussed. Ultimately, it is suggested that the offence/defence of infanticide should be abolished and that crimes of this nature should be readily subsumed under the current partial defence of diminished responsibility.
Gender Differences in the Factors Associated With the Fear of COVID-19 Among Taiwanese Older People
Authors: Li Yueh-Ping , Lin Chung-Ying , Kuo Yi-Jie , Chen Yu-Pin , Griffiths Mark D.
Published: November 2021

Objectives: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, older people are threatened, and there may be different psychological responses toward COVID-19 between women and men. The present study explored the factors and gender differences related to the fear of COVID-19 among older women and men in Taiwan. Methods: Geriatric patients (n = 139; 42 men; mean age = 71.73 years) who visited outpatient departments were recruited. They self-reported demographic data and completed questions asking about (i) their fear of COVID-19, (ii) whether they paid attention to COVID-19 news, (iii) whether searched for COVID-19 news, (iv) whether they believed in COVID-19 news, and (v) their preventive COVID-19 behaviors. Results: Both women and men reported a low fear of COVID-19, paid close attention to COVID-19 news, and practiced good preventive COVID-19 infection behaviors. The perceived chance of COVID-19 infection was a significant factor contributing to the fear of COVID-19 among both women and men. Preventive behaviors had a positive effect in lowering the fear of COVID-19. News about COVID-19 had a negative effect in lowering the fear of the disease among women but not men. Conclusions: As the performing of preventive COVID-19 infection behaviors was associated with a lower fear of COVID-19, healthcare providers should consider strategies for improving preventive behaviors among older people to help ease their worries and fears concerning COVID-19.
Rationality Assumptions and their Limits
Authors: Feleppa Robert
Published: November 2021

In “Different Cultures, Different Rationalities” (2000) Stephen Lukes weighs in on the controversies concerning the killing of Captain Cook by Hawaiians and what it says about the role of rationality assumptions in translation. While at first seeming to adopt a Davidsonian anti-relativist position concerning the enabling role of assumptions of common rationality in interpretation, Lukes rejects Davidson’s view, and opts instead for a “totalizing” strategy inspired by Mauss. Here I explore rationales for Lukes’ position and endeavor to reconcile Lukes’, Davidson’s, and Mauss’s positions by developing a case for a limited interpretive requirement of shared rationality.
Reciprocal self-disclosure and rejection strategies on bumble
Authors: Halversen Audrey , King Jesse , Silva Lauren
Published: November 2021

Dating apps are an increasingly common element of modern dating, yet little research describes users’ experiences rejecting potential partners through these apps. This study examines how female Bumble users reject potential partners online in relation to self-disclosure, perceived partner disclosure, pre-rejection stress, and app usage. To investigate these issues, we conducted an online survey of 419 female Bumble users who had recently rejected someone through the app. Results revealed that women on Bumble employ ghosting strategies far more often than confrontational rejection and suggest that the degree to which women self-disclose, perceive a partner’s self-disclosure, and experience pre-rejection stress may impact their rejection strategies. This study informs the hyperpersonal model by demonstrating that reciprocal disclosure may characterize online dating interactions—even in relationships that fail to reach the face-to-face stage. However, results also broach the possibility of communication burnout in online dating, in which some users may lessen self-disclosure after extensive app usage.
Social participation and marital satisfaction in mid to late life marriage
Authors: Piechota Amanda , Ali Talha , Tomlinson Jennifer M. , Monin Joan K.
Published: November 2021

Objectives

Research shows that social participation is beneficial for overall health and well-being. Yet, no research to our knowledge has examined whether social participation is associated with greater marital satisfaction in middle-aged and older couples. We hypothesized that middle-aged and older adults would have greater marital satisfaction when their spouse engaged in social groups because there would be greater opportunity for self-expansion and for social support from ties outside the marriage.

Methods

We used background self-report data from a multi-method study of 98 middle-aged and older adult married couples ( N = 196) with chronic conditions. As part of the study, spouses completed questionnaires that measured the frequency and intensity of involvement in social groups (e.g., church, business groups). Marital satisfaction was measured with the Locke Wallace Marital Adjustment Test.

Results

Contrary to our hypotheses, results from actor–partner interdependence models provided no evidence that one’s own social participation was associated with one’s own marital satisfaction (actor effects). However, in line with our hypotheses regarding partner effects, one spouse’s (a) report of any social participation with church organizations, business groups, or social groups, (b) greater number of affiliations with different organizations, (c) greater frequency of participation, and (d) being an active officer in a social organization were significantly associated with the other spouse’s greater marital satisfaction.

Discussion

Findings of this study suggest that having a spouse who participates in social groups is good for relationship satisfaction in mid to late life marriage.
Effects of intensive multiplanar trunk training coupled with dual-task exercises on balance, mobility, and fall risk in patients with stroke: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Ahmed Umair , Karimi Hossein , Amir Syed , Ahmed Ashfaq
Published: November 2021

Objective

We determined whether an exercise regime comprising high-intensity training, multiplanar trunk movements, and dual-task practice could improve trunk control, balance, functional mobility, and reduce fall risk in patients with hemiplegic stroke.

Methods

In this randomized controlled trial, 74 patients (mean age 61.71 years) were randomly assigned to the experimental and comparison groups. Primary outcome was trunk impairment scale (TIS) scores. Secondary outcomes were scores on the Berg balance scale, 10-meter walk test, Timed-up-and-go test, timed-Up-Go–cognitive, and Stroke Impact Scale-16 to measure between-group changes from baseline. We used linear mixed modeling to identify changes over time within and between groups on each scale and whether changes persisted at 6- and 12-month follow-ups.

Results

We observed significantly increased mean TIS scores from baseline to 3 months post-treatment (7.74); the increased scores were maintained at 6- and 12-month follow-ups (8.60 and 8.43, respectively). In the experimental group, all secondary outcomes showed significant and clinically meaningful results. Fall risk between groups was significantly reduced at 6 and 12 months.

Conclusions

Intensive multiplanar trunk movements coupled with dual-task practice promoted trunk control, balance, and functional recovery in patients with stroke, reduced fall risk, and improved independent mobility. Trial registration: #IRCT20200127046275N1.