bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spinal subdural hematoma in a patient with immune thrombocytopenic purpura following microvascular decompression: a rare case report
Authors: Su Daoqing , Chong Zonglei , Ran Ran , Peng Xiaoxiao , Hou Lei , Zong Qiang , Li Hongxing
Published: April 2023

This article reports a case of spontaneous spinal subdural hematoma (SSDH) after brain surgery in a patient with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), reviews the relevant literature, and discusses the etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical features of SSDH in patients with ITP. A male patient in his early 50 s with an 8-year history of ITP and suffering from coexistent hemifacial spasm and trigeminal neuralgia underwent microvascular decompression in our department. His preoperative corrected platelet count was within the normal range. On postoperative day 2, the patient complained of acute low back pain and sciatica. Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an SSDH extending from L3 to L4 with a significantly decreased platelet count (30.0 × 109/L). The pain was gradually relieved after 2 weeks of conservative treatment, and no neurological deficit occurred during the 1-year follow-up. Brain surgery may increase the risk of postoperative SSDH in patients with ITP. Clinicians planning brain surgery must conduct a rigorous assessment through detailed physical examination, laboratory tests, and medical history records and maintain perioperative platelet counts within the normal range to prevent various risks associated with spinal cord compression.
Ethical leadership communications scale: Development and validation of a measure and multi-level test
Authors: Abu Bakar Hassan , Connaughton Stacey L.
Published: April 2023

Ethical leadership emphasizes the promotion of ethical behavior through two-way communication with followers. This article introduces the development of an ethical leadership communication scale that was created based on three categories of an ethical leadership conceptual framework, namely, the leader being an example of ethics in action, the leader treating his/her followers fairly, the leader actively managing morality. Relevant items were developed and subjected to factor analysis with a sample of 175 respondents from organization A, resulting in a 1-factor solution with 15 items. Using a 522-person sample from organizations B and C, we verified the 1-factor solution with 15-item with confirmatory factor analysis. We further validated the 15-item ethical leadership communication scale by regressing outcomes with structural equation modeling (SEM) from Organization D. We then tested the ethical leadership communication scale with the ethical leadership questionnaire and ethical leadership survey (ELS), and analyzed the data using multi-level hierarchical regression. Results suggest that the ethical leadership communication scale as a construct is a unique contribution beyond the ethical leadership constructs in explaining organizational citizenship behaviors. The new ethical leadership communication scale (the Ethical Leadership Communication Scale-15) demonstrates adequate reliability, validity, and across organization generalizability. Findings of this study further the model of ethical leadership and communication behavior and help to re-conceptualize the role of dyadic communication in ethical leadership. This study paves the way for finer-grained theorizing and analysis of ethical leadership and communication dynamics in the workplace.
The 2022 Conservative leadership campaign and post-racial gatekeeping
Authors: Saini Rima , Bankole Michael , Begum Neema
Published: April 2023

The UK Conservative Party leadership contest that took place in the summer of 2022 was unprecedented for, among other things, its level of ethnic diversity. This article argues that this does not indicate a sharp, contemporary liberal turn within the party. It argues the opposite, in fact, that recent senior ethnic minority cabinet members and leadership contenders represent some of the party’s most rightwing ideologues in years. Through critical discourse analysis of narrative related to race, borders, immigration and the ‘nation’ in selected media appearances made by ethnic minority leadership contenders Rishi Sunak, Sajid Javid, Nadhim Zahawi, Suella Braverman and Kemi Badenoch as part of their campaigns, this piece positions these individuals – in distinct yet interrelated ways – as ethnic minority post-racial gatekeepers, continuing yet intensifying a long trend within the Conservative Party of the reproduction of the racial status quo legitimised through nominal ethnic minority representation.
Long-term Assessment of Subchondral Bone Changes and Intralesional Bony Overgrowth After Third-Generation Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Zak Lukas , Kleiner Anne , Trattnig Siegfried , Albrecht Christian , Aldrian Silke
Published: April 2023

Background:

There is an increasing interest in subchondral bone changes and intralesional bony overgrowth (ILBO) after cartilage repair. Their clinical and predictive relevance is unclear and debated.

Purpose:

To evaluate the long-term development of ILBO and bone marrow edema–like signals (BMELSs) after autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) treatment of cartilage defects to find any predictive factors for their appearance.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

A total of 130 patients with 160 cartilage defects in the knee joint treated with third-generation ACI were included in this study. Radiological scores as the MOCART (magnetic resonance observation of cartilage repair tissue), the MOCART 2.0 and the 3D-MOCART using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and patient-reported outcome measures such as the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Noyes Sports Activity Rating Scale (NSARS) score, and Tegner Activity Scale (TAS) score were evaluated between 60 and 120 months (mean, 88 months) postoperatively. The radiological evaluation focused on the occurrence and size of subchondral bone changes, BMELSs, and ILBO during short-, medium-, and long-term follow-up.

Results:

In long-term evaluation of clinical data, the IKDC score increased preoperatively from 36 to 64, the overall KOOS from 43 to 64, the NSARS score from 30 to 67, and the TAS score from 2 to 3.7. The mean MOCART score was 73; the MOCART 2.0, 69; and the 3D-MOCART, 69 and 70. The authors observed ILBO in 77% and BMELSs in 74% of patients after 60 to 120 months. Previous cartilage surgeries and osteochondral defect buildup showed higher rates of these abnormalities. Early lesions of the subchondral lamina did not predict ILBO in long-term follow-up, but BMELSs predicted later appearance with decreasing size.

Conclusion:

Subchondral changes frequently appeared in long-term MRI evaluation of patients after ACI. BMELSs showed a decreasing diameter over the years, while the size of ILBO increased in the later follow-ups. These findings did not affect the clinical outcome in the study population. However, osteoarthritis is likely to progress. The degenerative effect and influence on longer-term outcomes needs to be clarified in future studies.
Effect of secretory DKK3 on circulating CD56bright natural killer cells in patients with liver cancer
Authors: Liu Da-Hua , Wen Gui-Min , Song Chang-Liang , Xia Pu
Published: April 2023

Background

Liver cancer seriously threatens human health. Natural killer (NK) cells are an important part of the innate immune system and have strong anti-tumor ability. Immunotherapy based on NK cells has become a hot topic in the treatment of liver cancer.

Methods

In this study, we checked the serum DKK3 (sDKK3) and circulating CD56bright NK cells using ELISA and flow cytometry, respectively, in the blood of liver cancer patients. The effect on recombinant human DKK3 (rhDKK3) on CD56bright NK cells was analyzed in vitro.

Results

We found low levels of sDKK3 in liver cancer patients and a negative correlation between sDKK3 and circulating CD56bright NK cells. In addition, we found that DKK3 induced the differentiation and improved the cytotoxicity of CD56bright NK cells for the first time. It could be used as an agonist for NK cell-based immunotherapy.

Conclusions

Improving the clinical efficacy of NK cells through DKK3 will become a new strategy for cancer immunotherapy.
Heterogeneity in the Course of Suicidal Ideation and its Relation to Suicide Attempts in First-Episode Psychosis: A 5-Year Prospective Study
Authors: Sicotte Roxanne , Iyer Srividya N. , Lacourse Éric , Séguin Jean R. , Abdel-Baki Amal
Published: April 2023

Objectives

Although the risk of suicide is high in first-episode psychosis (FEP), little is known about the course of suicidal ideation and its relation to suicide attempts. Therefore, we aimed to identify 5-year trajectories of suicidal ideation and associated factors in FEP and compare how suicide attempts were distributed across these identified trajectories.

Method

This 5-year prospective study assessed suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and potentially associated factors through research interviews, chart review and coroners’ reports in 382 FEP patients [mean age = 23.53 ( SD = 3.61)] admitted to 2 5-year early psychosis services in Montreal, Canada. Trajectories were identified using a semiparametric mixture model, and associated factors with multinomial logistic regression.

Results

Three suicidal ideation trajectories were identified: low and decreasing ( n = 325, 85.08%); early decline, then increasing ( n = 30, 7.85%), and persistent suicidal ideation ( n = 27, 7.07%). Suicidal ideation prior to admission (OR = 2.85, 95% CI, 1.23 to 6.63, P < 0.05) and cocaine use disorder (OR = 6.78, 95% CI, 1.08 to 42.75, P < 0.05) were associated with the early decline, then increasing suicidal ideation trajectory. Persons with prior suicide ideation (OR = 4.33, 95% CI, 1.66 to 11.29, P < 0.05) and attempts (OR = 8.18, 95% CI, 2.39 to 27.97, P < 0.001) and alcohol use disorder (OR = 3.63, 95% CI, 1.4 to 9.42, P < 0.05) were more likely to belong to the persistent suicidal ideation trajectory, and to attempt suicide during follow-up.

Conclusions

Our study highlights heterogeneity in the course of suicidal ideation over 5 years and the importance of ongoing assessment of suicidal risk in FEP patients, particularly for patients who persistently report suicidal ideation, as they are likelier to engage in suicide attempts. Patients with factors associated with increasing or persistent suicidal ideation trajectories should be targeted for suicide prevention interventions from the early phase of follow-up. Given the small number of persons in these trajectories and the wide CIs for some factors, larger studies are however needed to further characterize who belongs in each group.
The Association of Cognitive Impairment With Depressive Symptoms, Function, and Pain in Hospitalized Older Patients With Dementia
Authors: Paudel Anju , Boltz Marie , Kuzmik Ashley , Resnick Barbara , Liu Wen , Holmes Sarah
Published: April 2023

This study examined the associations between cognition and depressive symptoms, function, and pain among hospitalized older patients with dementia. We utilized baseline data of 461 hospitalized older patients with dementia who participated in an intervention study implementing Family-centered Function-focused Care (Fam-FFC) and conducted stepwise linear regression. On average, the participants (males = 189; 41% and females = 272; 59%) were 81.64 years old (Standard Deviation, SD = 8.38). There was a statistically significant association of cognition with depressive symptoms (b = −0.184, p < .001), functional status (b = 1.324, p < .001), and pain (b = −0.045, p < .001) when controlling for covariates. This study utilized a large sample of a relatively underrepresented population, hospitalized older adults with dementia, and addressed a topic with great clinical significance. Specific focus on testing and implementing best practices or interventions to support the clinical outcomes, and the cognitive function of hospitalized older adults with dementia is warranted in both practice and research.
Comparing Dementia Classification by Self-Report and Administrative Records in the National Core Indicators-Aging and Disability Survey: A Predictive Modeling Approach
Authors: Mulcahy John F. , Bucy Taylor , Shippee Tetyana , Jutkowitz Eric
Published: April 2023

Policymakers are interested in the long-term services and supports (LTSS) needs of people living with dementia. The National Core Indicators-Aging and Disability (NCI-AD) survey is conducted to evaluate LTSS care needs. However, dementia reporting in NCI-AD varies across states, and is either obtained from state administrative records or self-reported during the survey. We explored the implications of identifying dementia from administrative records versus self-report. We analyzed 24,569 NCI-AD respondents age 65+, of which 22.4% had dementia. To assess dementia accuracy by data source, we fit separate logistic regression models using the administrative and self-reported subsamples. We applied model coefficients to the population whose dementia status came from the opposite source. Using the administrative model to predict self-reported dementia resulted in higher sensitivity than using the self-report model to predict administrative dementia (43.8% vs. 37.9%). The self-report model’s diminished sensitivity suggests administrative records may capture cases of dementia missed by self-report.
Environment-friendly, efficient process for mechanical recovery of waste lithium iron phosphate batteries
Authors: Bai Yuxuan , Zhu Huabing , Zu Lei , Zhang Yanlong , Bi Haijun
Published: April 2023

Technology for recycling retired lithium batteries has become increasingly environment-friendly and efficient. In traditional recovery methods, pyrometallurgy or hydrometallurgy is often used as an auxiliary treatment method, which results in secondary pollution and increases the cost of harmless treatment. In this article, a new method for combined mechanical recycling of waste lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries is proposed to realize the classification and recycling of materials. Appearance inspections and performance tests were conducted on 1000 retired LFP batteries. After discharging and disassembling the defective batteries, the physical structure of the cathode binder was destroyed under ball-milling cycle stress, and the electrode material and metal foil were separated using ultrasonic cleaning technology. After treating the anode sheet with 100 W of ultrasonic power for 2 minutes, the anode material was completely stripped from the copper foil, and no cross-contamination between the copper foil and graphite was observed. After the cathode plate was ball-milled for 60 seconds with an abrasive particle size of 20 mm and then ultrasonically treated for 20 minutes with a power of 300 W, the stripping rate of the cathode material reached 99.0%, and the purities of the aluminium foil and LFP reached 100% and 98.1%, respectively.
Reducing waste management scenario space for developing countries: A hierarchical clustering on principal components approach
Authors: Mekonnen Gemechu Beyene , dos Muchangos Leticia Sarmento , Ito Lisa , Tokai Akihiro
Published: April 2023

The complexity of waste management (WM) problems resulted in the explosion of scenarios that challenge focused discussion among stakeholders and hinder the integrity of policy responses in developing countries. Hence, drawing similarities is essential to reduce the number of scenarios to simplify the WM efforts. To extract similarities, measuring WM performance is not enough, but the background factors related to this performance should be incorporated. These factors form a unique system characteristic that facilitates or hinders WM functions. Thus, this study applied multivariate statistical analysis to clarify underlying characteristics that facilitate efficient WM scenario developments for developing countries. The study first analysed drivers associated with improved WM system performance using bivariate correlation analysis. As a result, twelve significant drivers associated with controlled solid waste were identified. Then, it mapped the countries based on their WM system characteristics using the combined principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering approach. Thirteen variables were examined to extract similarities between the countries. The results identified three homogenous clusters. The clusters were found considerably parallel to the global classifications based on income and human development index. Hence, the presented approach is efficient in explaining similarities that reduce WM scenarios and favours cooperation among countries.
Types of Bystanders Among South Koreans Based on Their Subjective Reactions to Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Park Sihyun , Woo Hyunji
Published: April 2023

Intimate partner violence (IPV) can occur when bystanders are present, and these bystanders may intervene to prevent the situation from worsening and assist the victims. Despite the importance of bystanders’ roles and behaviors in relation to IPV incidents, as well as extensive research to understand and promote it, there have been relatively few studies aimed at understanding their reactions in non-Western populations. Moreover, bystanders’ subjective opinions and thoughts have largely been neglected when predicting their intention to intervene. Therefore, the current study identified the types of bystanders in South Korea based on their subjective reactions when witnessing IPV incidents. Q-methodology was utilized. A Q-set comprising 31 statements describing the possible range of bystander reactions was constructed using a systematic review method. The 42 participants were asked to sort the Q-set based on their agreement and provide qualitative responses regarding the reasons behind their sorting. The data were analyzed using the PQMethod software. Consequently, three types of bystander groups were extracted based on the participants’ sorting statement patterns: (1) hesitant helpers needing justification, (2) outsiders denouncing the couple, and (3) active interveners opposing the violence. Each type of bystander expressed different opinions and thoughts about bystander reactions and behaviors in IPV situations. However, participants frequently showed a willingness to intervene when they knew the victim personally and when the victim directly requested help. With our findings as a reference, we expect that various bystander programs with specified purposes will be developed to effectively increase the competency of diverse bystanders to maximize their roles in relation to IPV.
Chinese Adolescents’ Perceptions of Aggressive Peers: The Roles of Gender and Cultural Values
Authors: Zhang Linlin , Eggum Natalie D.
Published: April 2023

Aggression is a prevalent, maladaptive behavioral problem, yet how adolescents view and respond to aggressive peers vary across individual characteristics and cultural contexts. Using a dyadic peer-rating approach, this study investigated adolescents’ perceptions of real-world, rather than hypothetical, aggressive peers, and the role of dyadic gender and individual cultural values. The sample included 274 adolescents ( Mage = 13.23 years, SD = 0.68; 52% boys) from two public schools in rural China. Adolescents rated each classmate’s physical and relational aggression, as well as their affiliative preference and social acceptance toward the classmate. Adolescents reported horizontal and vertical individualistic and collectivistic cultural values. Results indicated that (a) adolescents had similarly negative perceptions of physically and relationally aggressive peers; (b) boys and girls had more negative perceptions of male than female physically aggressive peers, and of same-gender than other-gender relationally aggressive peers; and (c) horizontal collectivistic values were associated with more negative, whereas vertical collectivistic and vertical individualistic values were associated with more benign, perceptions of aggressive peers. These findings uncover the complexity of adolescents’ perceptions of aggressive peers and highlight the role of gender and cultural values in understanding attitudes toward aggression in a collectivistic context.
Pipeline Philanthropy: Understanding Philanthropic Corporate Action in Education During the COVID-19 Era and Beyond
Authors: Reikosky Nora
Published: April 2023

In response to COVID-19 many companies, particularly technology companies, voluntarily attended to the strained education sector by donating or temporarily discounting their core products, generating public support and gratitude. This type of philanthropic corporate action demonstrates an expansive and perhaps increasing function in the provisioning of certain educational materials and resources by private actors. This article analyzes this strand of corporate activity as pipeline philanthropy and shows how this model of strategic corporate giving differs from existing models of philanthropy in education. Through illustrations this study assesses the democratic implications of corporate entanglement through philanthropic action to evaluate whether the benefits brought about by an enhanced role for corporate actors in education are worth what they compromise.
We are here: An archive of portraits to look at myself
Authors: Segarra Abdiel
Published: April 2023

This is an introduction to a selection of portraits that are part of a personal archive of photographs collected over the last 6 years. The portraits are of artists, cultural agents, activists and people who, like me, have settled in the diaspora and who, despite the nuances of each experience, share the journey as a common element that allows us to learn from each other. The intention of the essay is to pay tribute to these people as a gesture of gratitude for their guidance and solidarity in the distance. At the same time, the exercise is a bet on the construction of an imaginary of our own about migration and a strategy to combat invisibility and silence through the recognition of the identities that emerge as a result of these processes.
Buckling-Controlled Member for Improving the Ductile Behavior of Double-Layer Latticed Space Structures
Authors: Kheirollahi Mohammad , Chenaghlou Mohammad Reza , Abedi Karim
Published: April 2023

In this paper, a new buckling-controlled member (BCM) is introduced for use in space structures. This member is composed of four components; namely: the encasing, joints, core, and adjustable nuts. The core is intended to act as a structural element to resist the axial loads by its yielding under compression loading. The steel encasing is supposed to confine the steel core. Adjustable steel nuts on the steel core act as lateral bracings and are responsible for lateral load transmission between the encasing and core. The joints at the two ends of the supports of the member. Six experimental tests have been performed under compression load to show the efficiency of the new member. The test results reveal that the proposed member can provide the needed ductility and can delay the brittle buckling of the members. Also, the BCM is capable of considering buckling modes and controlling the plastic range. The experimental and numerical results have also been compared. Additional numerical evaluations have been carried out using finite element models, in which the effects of different parameters of the member have been investigated. The obtained results showed that the arrangement of inner elements is the main factor affecting ductility and postponing the buckling of the members. In the end, the effects of the BCMs on the overall behavior of four double-layer space structures have been studied. The obtained results of analyses indicated that the BCMs can enhance the strength and ductility of space structures, thereby reducing the risk of collapse. Also, the seismic collapse of the space structure was postponed.
Wind effect on scallop domes with negative amplitude and prominence using Experimental and Numerical Study
Authors: Nejati Amir , Sadeghi Hossein , Heristchian Mahmoud
Published: April 2023

This study investigates the wind effect on hexa-sectored scallop domes using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnel tests. Similar to the shape of a seashell, the scallop dome is one of the most common domes used to cover large spans. The scallop dome has an additional curvature equal to its sectors compared to a base dome (spherical). Hence, it has better structural efficiency compared to a spherical dome under the same condition. The curvatures on the scallop dome create alternate “ridges” and “grooves” on it. According to the computations of the article, the grooves created on this dome in the sector, as well as their position angle to the wind direction significantly affect pressure coefficient value. Due to these differences, wind pressure on scallop domes significantly differs from wind pressure on spherical domes. The results indicate that the ridges cause negative wind pressure coefficients whose magnitude reaches a maximum of −2.0 for an angle of alignment of 30°. The analyses have been conducted through Ansys-Fluent. This study presents the equation of wind pressure coefficient in the most critical of dome groove positions. The arch created between the grooves of a scallop dome is another effective parameter on maximum negative pressure. In the case study scallop dome, if the wind effect angle is considered α = 15, the maximum deformation in the structure will be created, which is 20% higher than that of α = 0.
Younger Than Ever? Subjective Age Is Becoming Younger and Remains More Stable in Middle-Age and Older Adults Today
Authors: Wettstein Markus , Wahl Hans-Werner , Drewelies Johanna , Wurm Susanne , Huxhold Oliver , Ram Nilam , Gerstorf Denis
Published: April 2023

Little is known about historical shifts in subjective age (i.e., how old individuals feel). Moving beyond the very few time-lagged cross-sectional cohort comparisons, we examined historical shifts in within-person trajectories of subjective age from midlife to advanced old age. We used cohort-comparative longitudinal data from middle-age and older adults in the German Ageing Survey ( N = 14,928; ~50% female) who lived in Germany and were between 40 and 85 years old when entering the study. They provided up to seven observations over 24 years. Results revealed that being born later in historical time is associated with feeling younger by 2% every birth-year decade and with less intraindividual change toward an older subjective age. Women reported feeling younger than men; this gender gap widened across cohorts. The association of higher education with younger subjective age became weaker across cohorts. Potential reasons for the subjective-rejuvenation effect across cohorts are discussed.
Regulating the unobservable: The impact of the environmental regulation on informal economy and pollution
Authors: Abid Mehdi , Sekrafi Habib , Gheraia Zouheyr , Abdelli Hanane
Published: April 2023

This paper examines the impact of informal economy and ecological footprint on environmental regulation for a sample of 25 Sub-Saharan Africa economies (SSA) countries from 1991 to 2017. The results obtained from the techniques of static panel (Pooled ordinary least squares (POLS), random effects (RE), fixed effects (FE), and panel corrected standard error (PCSE)) as well as from dynamic panel (generalized method of moments in differences (D-GMM), and generalized method of moments in system (S-GMM)) were all consistent. They showed that the environmental regulation has a significant positive impact for both informal economy and ecological footprint in the selected economies. Regarding the relation between ecological footprint and per capita gross domestic product (GDP), an inverted U-shaped environmental Kuznets curve is verified. The study concludes that weak environmental regulation in the region reinforces informal economy and environmental pollution. Hence, findings from this study can help policymakers in the region to have a better understanding of the role of environmental regulation in reducing informal economy and environmental degradation.
Examining the nexus of energy intensity, renewables, natural resources, and carbon intensity in India
Authors: Özkan Oktay , Obekpa Hephzibah Onyeje , Alola Andrew Adewale
Published: April 2023

India remained the third-largest energy consumer in the world, responsible for around 7% of global carbon emissions due to rising incomes and improving living standards. Although resource extraction has quadrupled since 1970 due to rising population and demand for natural resources, energy use and transformation, notably of fossil fuel energy, have increased by around 45%, thus increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this view, this study aims to explore energy intensity, renewable energy, natural resources, economic growth, and environmental degradation nexus in India. The novel dynamic simulated autoregressive distributed lag and kernel-based regularized least squares (KRLS) approaches are used to explore the effects of energy intensity, renewable energy, natural resources, and economic growth on carbon intensity for India from 1970 to 2020. The empirical results reveal that renewable energy and natural resources improve India's environmental quality via the mitigation of carbon emissions. It is also found that energy intensity and economic growth deteriorate the country's environmental quality by increasing carbon emissions in the short- and long run. A series of robustness estimation affirms the above evidence, thus providing requisite guideline for relevant policy recommendations for the country.
Social technologies in and out of psychology
Authors: Beck Timothy J. , Friedman Emaline
Published: April 2023

Data on human behavior have become a highly valuable commodity under contemporary capitalism. Psychology’s stronghold on knowledge about individuals is thus threatened by new enterprises that lack formal commitments to public wellbeing: social media platforms. For Shoshana Zuboff, this represents a new form of capitalism—surveillance capitalism—where information technologies not only generate data from user activity, but effectively repurpose this data to shape behavior for corporate gains. We argue that Zuboff’s analysis, while a useful starting point, frames problems related to social media at a macrosociological level in ways that obscure the possibility for effective collective action. We then demonstrate how insights from Karl Marx and Gilbert Simondon can help psychologists understand the profound shifts in subjectivity elicited by hyper-networked digital media landscapes. Their shared process-relational ontology foreshadows a collective form of subjectivity in response to contemporary capitalism, something which Zuboff alludes to but fails to fully explain.
Anti-oxidative properties of nanocrocin in Zearalenone induced toxicity on Hek293 cell; The novel formulation and cellular assessment
Authors: Ghafari Fatemeh , Sadeghian Zohre , Oftadeh Harsin Akram , Khodabandelo Sodabe , Ranjbar Akram
Published: April 2023

Background

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin produced by fungi and induces cytotoxicity by the generation of reactive oxygen species. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the nephroprotective effects of crocin and nano-crocin against ZEA-induced toxicity in HEK293 cell line via modulation of oxidative stress and special formulation to make nano-crocin.

Method

Nano-crocin physicochemical properties, such as size, load, appearance, and drug release profile were determined. Also, the viability of intoxicated HEK293 cells was evaluated by MTT assay. Furthermore, lactate dehydrogenase lipid Peroxidation (LPO), and oxidative stress biomarkers were measured.

Result

The best nano-crocin formulation with superior entrapment effectiveness (54.66 ± 6.02), more significant drug loading (1.89 ± 0.01), better zeta potential (−23.4 ± 2.844), and smaller particle size (140.3 ± 18.0 nm) was chosen. This study showed that treatment with crocin and nano-crocin in ZEA-induced cells, significantly decreased LDH and LPO levels and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels compared to the control group. Moreover, nano-crocin had a more curative effect against oxidative stress than crocin.

Conclusion

Niosomal structure of crocin, when administered with the special formulation, may be more beneficial in reducing ZEA-induced in vitro toxicity than conventional crocin.
Relationship between clock gene expression and CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 with benzodiazepines
Authors: Tani Naoto , Ikeda Tomoya , Ishikawa Takaki
Published: April 2023

The present study aimed to clarify the expressions and roles of clock genes involved in drug metabolism in patients taking benzodiazepines (BZDs), as well as the drug metabolism regulators controlled by clock genes for each BZD type. The relationships between the expressions of the clock genes BMAL1, PER2, and DBP and the drug-metabolizing enzymes CYP3A4 and CYP2C19 were investigated using livers from BZD-detected autopsy cases. In addition, the effect of BZD exposure on various genes was examined in HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The expressions of DBP, CYP3A4, and CYP2C19 in the liver were lower in the diazepam-detected group than in the non-detected group. Furthermore, BMAL1 expression correlated with CYP2C19 expression. Cell culture experiments showed that the expressions of DBP and CYP3A4 decreased, whereas those of BMAL1 and CYP2C19 increased after diazepam and midazolam exposure. The results of the analyses of autopsy samples and cultured cells suggested that DBP regulates CYP3A4 when exposed to BZD. Understanding the relationship between these clock genes and CYPs may help achieve individualized drug therapy.
Significance of the weighted complement domain of the EULAR/ACR classification criteria in juvenile onset systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Kisaoglu Hakan , Baba Ozge , Kalyoncu Mukaddes
Published: April 2023

Objective

We aimed to compare the clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with SLE according to the weighted complement status of the EULAR/ACR criteria and investigate whether different weighting of the complement status at disease onset is associated with outcomes.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with juvenile onset SLE who fulfilled the 2019 EULAR/ACR classification criteria were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Among 43 patients included, hypocomplementemia was observed in 37 (86%), mostly with a low level of both complement C3 (C3) and complement C4 (C4) (53.5%). In patients with low levels of both C3 and C4, more common cutaneous (65.2% vs 28.6%, p: 0.045), musculoskeletal involvement (78.3% vs 42.9%, p: 0.039), autoimmune hemolytic anemia (52.2% vs 14.3%, p: 0.035), positive anti-dsDNA (65.2% vs 21.4%, p: 0.017) and anti-Sm antibodies (60.9% vs 21.4%, p: 0.04) were observed. In addition these patients had higher scores from the 2019 EULAR/ACR classification criteria (26 vs 15.5, p: < 0.0001). Remission and flare rates, and SLE associated damage were not differed according to the complement status in patients with hypocomplementemia.

Conclusion

Observation of more frequent clinical and serological activity with higher total scores from the EULAR/ACR classification criteria supported the higher scoring of patients with low C3 and C4 in the weighted criteria. However, since significant number of patients did not exhibit low complement C4, and the frequency of kidney involvement did not differ according to the weighted complement status, complement C3 might be suggested as a more important diagnostic tool in patients with juvenile onset SLE. Also, weighted complement status at onset did not seem to affect the disease outcomes.
Determinants of Adaptive Behaviour in Stock Market: A Review
Authors: Saldanha Diana , Mallikarjunappa T. , Oware Kofi Mintah
Published: April 2023

This article is an attempt to determine the factors that are involved making the stock market behave in a manner consistent with the Adaptive Market Hypothesis (AMH). We have followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology to select appropriate articles that meet our research objectives and carried out a bibliometric analysis to obtain a network visualization map based on keyword co-occurrences. We find that most of the studies have focused primarily on the return predictability aspect of stock returns. We suggest that the methodology should be extended towards incorporating other aspects of adaptive behaviours, such as investor behaviour, cyclical profitability of trading strategies and price–volume relationships in order to get a more comprehensive picture of the nature of adaptive stock markets. The review also demonstrates how the location of the stock market and methodology used in study influences the conclusions drawn regarding the nature of adaptive efficiency.
Plumbagin Suppresses Growth, Induces Apoptosis, and Inhibits Migration in Cholangiocarcinoma via Reactive Oxygen Species Generation and Mitochondrial Function
Authors: Buranrat Benjaporn , Utsintong Maleeruk
Published: April 2023

Objectives:

Plumbagin has been displayed on growth inhibition in several cancer cells; however, the anticancer effects of plumbagin on cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cell are still less information. This article will explore the potential anticancer effects and underlying mechanisms of plumbagin on CCA cells.

Materials and Methods:

Two types of CCA cell, including KKU-100 with slow growth and migration and KKU-M452 with rapid growth and migration, were treated with plumbagin and measured the growth inhibition and migratory suppression by sulforhodamine B, colony formation, acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, wound healing, and Matrigel migration. Apoptosis induction, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, and mitochondrial function were analyzed by the flow cytometric method.

Results:

To compare the plumbagin effects on two types of CCA cells, the data indicated that plumbagin strongly reduced cell proliferation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. At 72 h, IC50 values were 1.11 ± 0.12 µM for KKU-100 and 2.52 ± 0.40 µM for KKU-M452 cells, with inhibition of the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase for KKU-100 and the G2/M phase for KKU-M452, respectively. Moreover, plumbagin decreased cell migration in both CCA cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, late apoptosis was significantly induced after treatment with plumbagin. Mechanistically, plumbagin increased ROS along with decreased mitochondrial function in CCA cells. Finally, the position of 5-hydroxy on the naphthoquinone ring of plumbagin was in a good position to form an H-bond with the amino group for all caspase 3, cytochrome C, and p21 binding sites, and these data indicated that plumbagin suppressed CCA cells via modulation of these proteins.

Conclusion:

Plumbagin strongly suppresses cell viability and stimulates apoptosis in CCA cells via induction of ROS and inhibition of mitochondrial function.
Temperature Monitoring in Children: An Agreement Study
Authors: Patel Dipen V. , Barot Rushi B. , Cecil Rashmin , Phatak Ajay G. , Shinde Mayur K. , Patel Arya J. , Nimbalkar Somashekhar M.
Published: April 2023

Background:

Noncontact infrared thermometer (NCIT) measures temperature rapidly and noninvasively. It is commonly used at forehead, but other potential sites such as axilla and abdomen are yet to be explored. We assessed agreement of temperature recordings of axillary temperature by glass mercury thermometer (the “gold standard”) with axillary temperature by the digital thermometer as well as with NCIT at forehead, axilla, mid abdomen, and at right hypochondriac areas.

Methods:

Neonates and children below 5 years admitted in neonatal and pediatrics wards were enrolled in the study through convenience sampling. For each participant, temperature was measured using NCIT at forehead, mid abdomen, right hypochondrium, and right axilla as well as using digital thermometer at right axilla and using glass mercury thermometer at right axilla. The agreement between methods was presented as mean difference (95% limits of agreement) using Bland-Altman analysis.

Results:

Total 400 temperature readings were taken for each method from 132 participants. There was a good agreement between mercury axillary with digital axillary in both the groups, that is, neonates and children (>1 month to 5 years) (Mean difference [95% limits of agreement] = –0.046 [–0.26 to 0.169]°C and –0.028 [–0.183 to 0.128]°C, respectively). While for all the methods using NCIT, there was a poor agreement with mercury axillary temperature in both the groups.

Conclusion:

Agreement between axillary temperatures using digital and glass mercury thermometers was good, while agreements between the axillary temperature using glass mercury thermometer with NCIT readings at different sites were poor in neonates and children below 5 years.
Evaluation of the quality of life of adult patients admitted to the bone marrow transplantation unit
Authors: Ozturk Gozde Seray , Ratip Siret , Umar Rashida Muhammad , Tezcan Songül
Published: April 2023

Introduction

The complexity of treatment and extended therapy duration associated with bone marrow transplantation directly affect the psychological well-being of the patients, create anxiety, and reduce their quality of life. The aim of our study was to evaluate the quality of life of patients admitted to the bone marrow transplantation unit.

Methods

This prospective and descriptive study was conducted between January and June 2021 in an adult BMT unit in Turkey. The sociodemographic characteristics of the patients were recorded. The patient's quality of life was measured twice using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplantation (FACT-BMT) scale at the beginning of the study and 30 days later. SPSS 15 was used for the analysis.

Results

A total of 40 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 46 years. Most of the patients were diagnosed with multiple myeloma and 58% had at least one comorbid disease. Most of the patients (78%) were receiving myeloablative therapy. High dose melphalan regimen was the most commonly applied regimen (25%). Thrombocytopenia was the most common side effect (14%). Although there was no change in the quality of life, it was found that the social/family well-being scores increased ( p < 0.05).

Conclusions

In our study, it was observed that the number of comorbid diseases was higher in patients with bone marrow transplantation. The incidence of side effects may be high in these patients. We believe that clinical pharmacists have an important role in monitoring adverse effects and improving the quality of life in bone marrow transplantation units.
Acquired angioedema late in the course of nivolumab treatment
Authors: Habibi Shaghayegh , Patel Niket , Plaxe Steven C , Dasanu Constantin A
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Although programmed cell death-1 inhibitors have become the mainstay of treatment for many cancers, their use can at times be accompanied by unusual side effects.

Case report

We describe herein a 43-year-old patient with Lynch syndrome and colon cancer who developed facial swelling 18 months after starting nivolumab therapy. Our patient also experienced a grade 1 maculopapular rash due to this agent. Naranjo nomogram assessment showed a probable causality between nivolumab and angioedema (score of 8).

Management & outcome

Given the modest intensity of symptoms and the excellent response of metastatic colon cancer to nivolumab, this agent was continued without interruptions. She was prescribed prednisone 20 mg orally daily as needed to be taken if the swelling progressed, or if respiratory symptoms developed. The patient experienced another two similar episodes over the next months; however, they were self-limiting and did not require steroids. Subsequently, she had no further similar symptoms.

Discussion

Rare reports of angioedema associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment have previously been described. The exact mechanism of these phenomena is unknown, but bradykinin release leading to increased vascular permeability might be involved. Clinicians, pharmacists, and patients should be aware of this rare side effect of ICIs as it can be life-threatening when involving the respiratory tract and causing impending airway obstruction.
Altered White Matter Integrity in ADHD Revealed by Meta-analysis of Tract-based Spatial Statistics
Authors: Cui Jian , Wang Zhonggang , Xu Yinghong , Li Ying , Yu Hao , Ping Liangliang , Jin Shushu , Cheng Yuqi , Xu Xiufeng , Zhang Yuebing , Zhou Cong
Published: April 2023

Objective:

We conducted an updated coordinate-based meta-analysis (CBMA) to determine the most prominent and robust white matter (WM) abnormalities in ADHD based on tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) findings.

Method:

The seed-based d mapping (SDM) software was applied to compare regional fractional anisotropy (FA) alterations in ADHD. Subgroup meta-analyses in the pure ADHD without comorbidity subgroup, the children and adolescents subgroup, and the adults subgroup were also explored, respectively. Meta-regression analysis was subsequently used to examine potential correlations between demographics and FA changes.

Results:

Only one cluster in the splenium of corpus callosum (CC) exhibited age-related FA decrease in ADHD individuals in the pooled meta-analysis. The adults ADHD subgroup revealed two clusters with reduced FA lied in the splenium and body of CC.

Conclusion:

This updated CBMA confirmed the WM abnormalities in the splenium of CC in ADHD, and improved our understanding of the pathogenesis of this neurodevelopmental disorder.
Visual impairment as a risk factor of cognitive function impairment A six-year cohort study
Authors: Cao Kai , Hao Jie , Wang Ning-Li
Published: April 2023

Purpose

To explore whether baseline visual impairment (VI) increases the risk of cognitive function impairment (CFI).

Methods

We conducted a population-based cohort study, with a six-year follow-up period. The exposure factor of interest in this study was VI. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to assess participants’ cognitive function. The Logistic regression model was used to investigate whether baseline VI had an effect on CFI. Confounding factors were adjusted in the regression model. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to quantify the effect of VI on CFI.

Results

A total of 3297 participants were included in the present study. The mean age of included participants was 58.5 ± 7.2 years. Male accounted for 1480 (44.9%) of all participants. At baseline, 127 (3.9%) of the participants had VI. The MMSE score of participants who had VI at baseline decreased by 1.7 ± 3.3 points on average during the six-year follow-up, and that of participants who had no VI at baseline decreased by 1.1 ± 3.3 points on average. The difference was significant (t = 2.03, p = 0.040). Results of the multivariable Logistic regression model showed that VI was a risk factor for CFI, with an OR of 1.052 (95%CI: 1.014 to 1.092, p = 0.017).

Conclusions

Averagely, participants with VI experienced a decline in cognitive function 0.1 points faster per year than participants without VI, as measured by MMSE score. VI is an independent risk factor for CFI.