bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Caracterização dos processos de licenciamento ambiental em Minas Gerais
Authors: Rabelo Franciely Aparecida Lopes , Salgado Eduardo Gomes
Published: January 2023

Ao mesmo tempo em que o processo de licenciamento ambiental necessita ser efetivo para atestar com segurança a viabilidade ambiental de empreendimentos e atividades poluidoras, deve ser célere e não burocrático, permitindo o progresso e o desenvolvimento econômico do país. Baseado na ideia de aprimoramento e modernização, o sistema de licenciamento ambiental do Estado de Minas Gerais foi reestruturado para estabelecer novos parâmetros de enquadramento dos empreendimentos e atividades licenciáveis, modificando procedimentos e criando novas modalidades de regularização ambiental. Para verificar como essas modificações impactaram o enquadramento dos empreendimentos e atividades licenciáveis, o presente trabalho realizou a caracterização das licenças concedidas entre os anos de 2013 e 2019, analisando, inicialmente, de forma quantitativa os dados angariados, verificando o tipo/modalidade de licenciamento empregado nos processos administrativos, a classe de enquadramento dos empreendimentos, a Superintendência Regionais de Meio Ambiente e Desenvolvimento Sustentável – (SUPRAMs) a que eles estão vinculados e as atividades mais licenciadas nesse período, para, posteriormente, verificar se as recentes mudanças aumentaram o número de enquadramento dos empreendimentos e atividades licenciáveis no modelo simplificado ou concomitante. Verificou-se pela análise das 13.860 licenças ambientais concedidas no período estudado que houve um aumento na proporção de licenças concomitantes e diminuição da proporção de licenças corretivas, se comparado às proporções desses tipos de licenças concedidas com base na legislação revogada. Também se verificou um aumento na classe de enquadramento dos empreendimentos que se submeteram às modalidades de licenciamento concomitante e simplificado, haja vista a restrição do procedimento genuinamente preventivo (trifásico) apenas aos grandes empreendimentos, com potencial poluidor considerado grande, quando instalados em áreas sensíveis.
Toward a fractalomic idiotype/anti-idiotypic paradigm
Authors:   Dental Group of Sherman Oaks, CA 91403, Chiappelli Francesco
Published: January 2023

The CoViD-19 pandemic has demonstrated the need for future developments in anti-viral immunology. We propose that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, and in particular fractal analysis could play a crucial role in that context. Fractals - never-ending repeats of self-similar shapes whose composite tend to resemble the whole - are found in most natural biological structures including immunoglobulin and antigenic epitopes. Increased knowledge of the fractalomic properties of the idiotype/anti-idiotypic paradigm should help develop a novel and improved simplified artificial model of the immune system. Case in point, the regulation and dampening of antibodies as well as the synergetic recognition of an antigen by multiple idiotypes are both immune mechanisms that require further analysis. An enhanced understanding of these complexities could lead to better data analysis for novel vaccines to improve their sensitivity and specificity as well as open other new doors in the field of immunology.
Draft genome sequence of an invasive plant Lantana camara L.
Authors:   National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS-TIFR), GKVK campus, Bangalore 560065, India, Sowdhamini Ramanathan
Published: January 2023

Lantana camara L. is an invasive species of global concern. An ornamental plant originating from central America, it has now spread across natural and human-dominated habitats across tropical and subtropical regions globally. Understanding the population and evolutionary genetics of this species could help gain deeper insights into invasion biology, and provide tools for more effective management. Such investigation would require a relatively good quality genome assembly. While there have been reports of a transcriptome, it has been challenging to construct the genome assembly because of the large genome size. We present here the first draft genome assembly of Lantana camara L. which has an N50 value of 62 Kb, genome completeness of 99.3% and genome coverage of 74.3%. We hope that such an assembly will help researchers study colonization history, the genetic basis of adaptation and invasiveness, and help design strategies to contain the invasiveness of this plant, allowing biodiversity recovery in several parts of the globe.
Virus interference in CoViD-19
Authors:   Dental Group of Sherman Oaks, CA 91403, USA, Chiappelli Francesco
Published: January 2023

Virus interference is one of the oldest concepts in immunology. Recent findings indicate that it may depend on the host痴 anti-viral cellular immune surveillance processes, as well as on sequence-specific gene silencing mechanism guided by double-stranded RNA. Other biological events, unrelated to some degree at least from immune-dependent IFN or RNA-dependent viral interference may be at play as well. We discuss these biological mechanisms in the context of of the Systemic Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona virus2 (SARS-CoV2) virus responsible for Corona Virus Disease 2019 (CoViD-19).
Data on inter-locking nail in humeral shaft fractures among Indian patients
Authors:   Dr BR Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences, Mohali, Punjab, India, Lakhani Amit
Published: January 2023

Humeral shaft fractures are commonly seen orthopaedics injuries. Open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF) with plating is a gold standard procedure despite various issues such as infection, radial nerve palsy and no-nunion. Close reduction with interlocking nails (ILN) is not a very popular procedure. Therefore, it is of interest to collect data on the significance of interlocking nail in different pattern of humerus shaft fracture. 30 patients with closed humeral shaft fracture participated in this study. The fractures were classified according to their descriptive location as proximal, middle and distal. All surgeries were performed by a single surgeon familiar with the ILN procedure. All patients had appropriate clinical, radiological and pre and postoperative assessment. Data on patients were collected at 2, 6weeks, 12weeks, 18 weeks and 6 months. 19 cases with middle third and distal third fractures were united within 10-14 weeks. 6 cases of proximal shaft fracture were united in 14-18 weeks. According to Rodrı ́guez–Merchant criteria - Middle shaft fracture has shown good results (n=9, 75%) followed by distal third shaft fracture (n=6, 60%) and proximal third fracture (n=1, 12.5%). Though there is decrease in mean ASES score in all three groups of fractures but the Mid shaft fracture has shown significant decline in ASES score suggesting improvement in pain and ROM after 6 months. Thus, ILN of humerus is a simple and a safe procedure for treating fractures of middle and distal third shaft humerus. However, this study does not support ILN for the management of proximal third humerus fracture.
El campo semántico del relevo generacional en el sector ganadero de leche: obstáculos y facilitadores
Authors: Barbeta Viñas Marc
Published: January 2023

En este trabajo se exploran las representaciones sociales que desarrollan los ganaderos del sector vacuno lechero en torno al relevo generacional. La escasa incorporación de jóvenes es uno de los mayores problemas que viven hoy los sectores agrarios, pudiendo contribuir a poner en jaque el futuro de las zonas rurales. A partir del análisis de los discursos de distintos perfiles de ganadero, presentamos los elementos principales del campo semántico del relevo generacional, señalando aquellos aspectos significados como obstáculos o facilitadores del proceso. Los resultados informan de la conciencia del problema y las dificultades de enfrentarlo dado el contexto actual que vive el sector.
How the Fascist and Non-Fascist Self May Develop
Authors: Darowska Lucyna
Published: January 2023

In the context of several authoritarian regimes around the world, there is growing interest in explain­ing these processes of change. This article follows the tradition of the social sciences in striving to understand the social mechanisms of motivational structures of the self in interaction with societal contexts. The author draws on the qualitative contributions to the studies on fascism by the Berkeley University Group, published in 1950 as ‘The Authoritarian Personality’ by Theodor W. Adorno, Else Frenkel-Brunswik, Daniel J. Levinson and R. Nevitt Sanford (1950). This article analyses the quali­tative sections of the Study presented by Else Frenkel-Brunswik and compares these with the results of selected studies on resisters. Based on this analysis, the article discusses the results of the com­parison and the relevance of Frenkel-Brunswik’s contribution, as well as the implications for further research.
Paraneoplastic pemphigus: Diagnosing with a modified criteria – A case report
Authors: Lunge Snehal , Singh Pallavi , Ashwin Arvind Rajbhog
Published: January 2023

Paraneoplastic pemphigus is a rare autoimmune blistering disorder which presents with polymorphous cutaneous lesions and recalcitrant stomatitis. The disorder has a 100% association with an underlying neoplasia, primarily lymphoproliferative disorders. We report a patient who presented with oral mucosal lesions resistant to treatment with bullous cutaneous lesion and an underlying NHL-B cell lymphoma. The condition since its inception has been diagnosed using the criteria by Anhalt et al, which still is the most standard one. The criterion has been revised and updated every now and then. A current update has been proposed by Svoboda SA et al, which is a more relaxed one making diagnosis easier in a patient of Paraneoplastic pemphigus. Our patient was confidently diagnosed with Paraneoplastic pemphigus using this criterion. A quick diagnosis with fewer investigations allowed early and aggressive institution of treatment, to which patient responded well.
Decision-making factors for job choice in Romanian rural areas. Employment on the strand of options, capabilities and access.
Authors: Elisa Dosa Cătălina , Simona Dabu Ileana
Published: January 2023

Rural area represents the population with a high work capacity, but with less employment opportunities than in urban areas, so in order to have a decent job 5 (five) needs are referred to: working conditions should be safe, both physically and mentally, people should have access to medical facilities, health, working hours should be ones in which you can rest and have time for family and compensation should be acceptable for the work done. The employment opportunities that people have differ depending on the environment they come from, so in rural areas the job opportunities are discrete, as it is the quality in work, both of them depending strongly on the area characteristics - whether it is developed or underdeveloped- and by its infrastructure, always considering that agriculture is most increased activity in these areas. The study aims to map and depict the occupational situation of people living in Romanian rural areas, coping with limited job opportunities, compared to those living in towns and cities, as well as how people in rural areas choose their jobs, how the labour market has influenced them to find a suitable job and where they can get or acquire the skills they need. As people in rural areas choose to migrate, the population is an ageing one and over time, villages will depopulate and the labour force and human resources will shrink.
The construction of the minimum wage and nutrition in Mexico in the early 20th century
Authors: Vargas Domínguez Joel
Published: January 2023

Objective/Context: This article follows some of the debates around the creation of the minimum wage mandate in Mexico during the 1930s. I focus on how different actors used science to justify their demands, especially the need to use physiological and nutritional information to know the population’s requirements. As a result, the heterogeneous way to fix the wages at the local (municipal) level changed with the proclamation of a federal mandate in the 1930s, using the most recent cost of living surveys, which included the nutritional requirements for the workers. Methodology: Following the methods used by the history of science, this article gives a panoramic view of the problems that existed before the federal minimum wage mandate and concerning the use of science as a legitimizing tool of the post-revolutionary state. Originality: This article makes a brief historical reconstruction of the minimum wage in the 1930s, and its federalization, which is absent from historiography, and proposes to articulate the history of science and its influence on economic and social accounts. Conclusions: This article shows how political and social projects—like the definition of a minimum wage—depended on science to obtain authority and, in turn, how these social projects provided inputs for the construction of specialized scientific lines of research.
The Impact of Robotic Activities on Secondary School Students’ Interest in Physics in Kenya
Authors: Ngugi Mwangi Peter , Maina Muriithi Christopher , Byrne Agufana Peace
Published: January 2023

Educational robotic activities can be used to support teaching of science subjects. Many secondary school students have little interest in Physics as a subject and hence only a few students select it in preparation of career progression. Robotic activities can be employed to facilitate practical learning in science subjects in general with the Physics subject benefiting the most. In Kenya, there is little research on the role robotic activities can play on learning of these subjects. This study developed robotic activities from educational robots fabricated by the researcher. The activities presented learners in secondary school with diverse opportunities of enriching their learning of Physics as a Science subject. The robotic activities were integrated into Physics topics to give the teaching and learning of this subject a new approach. The integrated robot activities were then introduced to Form 2 students in workshops carried out during weekends which included 3-day activities for the students. In this study 200, form 2 students were selected randomly from 20 schools in Kangema sub-county, Murang’a county in Kenya. The students were issued with questionnaires before and after exposure to the activities through the workshops for purposes of data collection. The quantitative data obtained was analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The findings of the study revealed that the robotic activities had a significant impact on students’ interest in Physics. The study recommends that the government should facilitate the integration of educational robotic activities in the current secondary school Science curriculum in order to improve interest towards these subjects.
Research on Semantic Extraction of Online Mathematics Guidance Videos in Colleges and Universities Based on Intelligent Information Technology
Authors: Zongguo Zhang , Haijing Zhu , Guangming Zheng
Published: January 2023

This article proposes a general solution for multi-granularity semantic analysis and extraction of video data based on the online instructional video of mathematics in colleges and universities of intelligent information technology. In this scheme, multi-level semantic analysis and multi-modal information fusion technology are unified and applied in the same model. This paper first proposes a method for detecting the gradual change of shots based on statistical distribution, and uses a key frame selection strategy with temporal semantic context constraints to represent the temporal content. After basic visual semantic recognition, a hierarchical approach is obtained. The multi-granularity visual semantic analysis extraction framework then uses the sound spectrum obtained by the time-frequency transformation as the observable feature, and constructs a hidden Markov model for semantic recognition of mathematical videos, which improves the efficiency by 7.93%.
Actin‐related protein 5 suppresses the cooperative activation of cardiac gene transcription by myocardin and MEF2
Authors: Morita Tsuyoshi , Hayashi Ken'ichiro
Published: January 2023

MYOCD is a transcription factor important for cardiac and smooth muscle development. We previously identified that actin‐related protein 5 (ARP5) binds to the N‐terminus of MYOCD. Here, we demonstrate that ARP5 inhibits the cooperative action of the cardiac‐specific isoform of MYOCD with MEF2. ARP5 overexpression in murine hearts induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, whereas ARP5 knockdown in P19CL6 cells significantly increased cardiac gene expression. ARP5 was found to bind to a MEF2‐binding motif of cardiac MYOCD and inhibit MEF2‐mediated transactivation by MYOCD. RNA‐seq analysis revealed 849 genes that are upregulated by MYOCD‐MEF2 and 650 genes that are repressed by ARP5. ARP5 expression increased with cardiomyopathy and was negatively correlated with the expression of Tnnt2 and Ttn, which were regulated by cardiac MYOCD‐MEF2. Overall, our data suggest that ARP5 is a potential suppressor of cardiac MYOCD during physiological and pathological processes.
Dose and organ displacement comparisons with breast conservative radiotherapy using abdominal and thoracic deep‐inspiration breath‐holds: A comparative dosimetric study
Authors: Matsumoto Yoshitsugu , Kunieda Etsuo , Futakami Natsumi , Akiba Takeshi , Nagao Ryuta , Fukuzawa Tsuyoshi , Katsumata Tomomi , Kuroki Toshihisa , Mikami Tatsuya , Nakano Yoji , Okumura Yasuhiro , Souda Kenji , Mutu Eride , Sugawara Akitomo
Published: January 2023

Deep‐inspiration breath‐hold (DIBH) reduces the radiation dose to the heart and lungs during breast radiotherapy in cancer. However, there is not enough discussion about suitable breathing methods for DIBH. Therefore, we investigated the radiation doses and organ and body surface displacement in abdominal DIBH (A‐DIBH) and thoracic DIBH (T‐DIBH). Free‐breathing, A‐DIBH, and T‐DIBH computed tomography images of 100 patients were used. After contouring the targets, heart, and lungs, radiotherapy plans were created. We investigated the heart and lung doses, the associations between the heart and left lung displacements, and the thorax and abdominal surface displacements. No significant differences were observed in the target dose indices. However, the heart and lung doses were significantly lower in A‐DIBH than in T‐DIBH for all the indices; the mean heart and lung doses were 1.69 and 3.48 Gy, and 1.91 and 3.55 Gy in A‐DIBH and T‐DIBH, respectively. The inferior displacement of the heart and the left lung was more significant in A‐DIBH. Therefore, inferior expansion of the heart and lungs may be responsible for the respective dose reductions. The abdominal surface displaced more than the thoracic surface in both A‐DIBH and T‐DIBH, and thoracic surface displacement was greater in T‐DIBH than in A‐DIBH. Moreover, A‐DIBH can be identified because abdominal surface displacement was greater in A‐DIBH than in T‐DIBH. In conclusion, A‐DIBH and T‐DIBH could be distinguished by comparing the abdominal and thoracic surfaces of A‐DIBH and T‐DIBH, thereby ensuring the implementation of A‐DIBH and reducing the heart and lung doses.
Observer‐based adaptive event‐triggered neural tracking control for nonlinear cyber‐physical systems with incomplete measurements
Authors: Li Tong , Wang Lidong , Li Zhongfeng
Published: January 2023

In this paper, an adaptive event‐triggered neural networks (NNs) tracking control problem is investigated for cyber‐physical Systems (CPSs) with incomplete measurements. The state variables can get unavailable or distorted in incomplete measurements because of data transmission problems, which can degrade the performance of the system. To solve these problems, the radial basis function neural networks (RBF NNs) control is used to approximate the unknown nonlinear function in CPSs, and the Butterworth Low‐pass Filter (LPF) is used to construct the NNs observer, which can estimate the immeasurable states. By using the Lyapunov function, the tracking error of the controller has limited to a small boundary. Based on backstepping control theory and event‐triggered theory, the control signal of the fixed threshold strategy is obtained and two adaptive controllers for CPSs are established, it can ensure that all the closed‐loop signals are uniformly ultimately bounded (UUB) in mean square and avoid the Zeno‐behavior. The simulation results confirm the feasibility and effectiveness of the controller.
Modular Approach to Creating Functionalized Surface Arrays of Molecular Qubits
Authors: Tesi Lorenzo , Stemmler Friedrich , Winkler Mario , Liu Sherri S. Y. , Das Saunak , Sun Xiuming , Zharnikov Michael , Ludwigs Sabine , van Slageren Joris
Published: January 2023

The quest for developing quantum technologies is driven by the promise of exponentially faster computations, ultrahigh performance sensing, and achieving thorough understanding of many‐particle quantum systems. Molecular spins are excellent qubit candidates because they feature long coherence times, are widely tunable through chemical synthesis, and can be interfaced with other quantum platforms such as superconducting qubits. A present challenge for molecular spin qubits is their integration in quantum devices, which requires arranging them in thin films or monolayers on surfaces. However, clear proof of the survival of quantum properties of molecular qubits on surfaces has not been reported so far. Furthermore, little is known about the change in spin dynamics of molecular qubits going from the bulk to monolayers. Here, a versatile bottom‐up method is reported to arrange molecular qubits as functional groups of self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) on surfaces, combining molecular self‐organization and click chemistry. Coherence times of up to 13 µs demonstrate that qubit properties are maintained or even enhanced in the monolayer.
Sex segregation in strength sports: Do equal‐sized muscles express the same levels of strength between sexes?
Authors: Kataoka Ryo , Spitz Robert W. , Wong Vickie , Bell Zachary W. , Yamada Yujiro , Song Jun Seob , Hammert William B. , Dankel Scott J. , Abe Takashi , Loenneke Jeremy P.
Published: January 2023

Objectives

Concerns have been raised against the current two‐sex binary category in sports competitions. The thesis states that if males and females were separated based on muscle size, it would negate the strength advantage between the sexes. We tested the possible sex differences in various strength outcomes when pair‐matched for muscle thickness.

Methods

A total of 16 different data sets (n = 963) were assessed to pair‐match females with males who had a muscle thickness value within 2%. We further compared the competition performances of the smallest male weight class within the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) to different weight classes in females.

Results

Overall, 76%–88% of the strength assessments were greater in males than females with pair‐matched muscle thickness, regardless of contraction types (i.e., isotonic, isometric, isokinetic). Additionally, males in the lightest weight division in the IPF largely outperformed females in heavier weight divisions.

Conclusions

Our results would suggest that segregation based on muscle mass or surrogates of muscle mass (e.g., lean body mass) might not be an appropriate classification to create fair competition within strength sports. This is not to refute the concept of the desegregation of the two‐sex binary category but to present data that raises important concerns about the potential sex‐based differences in strength performance.
“Power knuckle” for facilitating the “move the cap” technique
Authors: Vo Minh N. , Brilakis Emmanouil S. , Lombardi William
Published: January 2023

Chronic total occlusions with proximal cap ambiguity remains the most challenging to recanalize and are associated with higher failure rate. We describe the “power knuckle” technique, in which the subintimal space proximal to the proximal cap is safely entered with a knuckle wire supported by a microcatheter and an inflated balloon. The “power knuckle” can facilitate entry into the extraplaque space for subsequent antegrade dissection and re‐entry.
Stingray CART (K14 technique): A novel antegrade dissection reentry strategy
Authors: Kalyanasundaram Arun , Hira Ravi S. , Lombardi William L.
Published: January 2023

A novel device based CART technique (K14 technique) has been described with 2 case examples to illustrate the same. This CART has been performed after ADR and Reverse‐CART were unsuccessful.
Success rate and influencing factors of a balloon‐push technique: A new technique to remove side branch‐jailed struts under three‐dimensional optical coherence tomography guidance
Authors: Nagoshi Ryoji , Kijima Yoichi , Kozuki Amane , Fujiwara Ryudo , Shibata Hiroyuki , Suzuki Atsushi , Soga Fumitaka , Asada Hiroyuki , Higuchi Kotaro , Shite Junya
Published: January 2023

Background

Kissing balloon inflation with distal guide wire recross can cause severe stent deformation depending on the stent link location with respect to the carina. The balloon‐push technique, by which an inflated balloon is forced into the SB from the proximal main vessel (MV), is a feasible way to remove jailed struts without causing severe stent deformation.

Aims

We investigated the procedural success rate, patterns of jailed strut removal at side branch (SB) orifices, factors related to failure of jailed strut removal, and follow‐up angiogram results of the balloon‐push technique.

Methods

Between September 2015 and December 2020, 51 bifurcation stenting cases in which the balloon‐push technique was used were enrolled. Based on three‐dimensional optical coherence tomography images, strut removal with 1 stent crown length was defined as successful. Strut removal patterns were classified into two types: parallel‐slide type (stent struts shifted distally into the MV lumen without inversion) and under‐carina type (stent struts shifted distally under the carina with strut inversion or strut slide).

Results

Procedural success was attained in 39 cases (success rate: 76.5%). Parallel‐slide type and under‐carina type occurred in 43% and 33% of cases, respectively. Factors related to failure were trifurcation lesions and a smaller pushed balloon‒SB artery ratio compared with those in success cases (0.95 ± 0.18 vs. 1.10 ± 0.22, p = 0.032). Follow‐up angiography was performed in 37 cases, and 2 cases had binary in‐stent restenosis.

Conclusions

Removal of jailed struts with the balloon‐push technique was feasible, without severe stent deformation, in bifurcation stentings.
External validation of the PROGRESS‐CTO perforation risk score: Individual patient data pooled analysis of three registries
Authors: Simsek Bahadir , Tajti Peter , Carlino Mauro , Ojeda Soledad , Pan Manuel , Rinfret Stephane , Vemmou Evangelia , Kostantinis Spyridon , Nikolakopoulos Ilias , Karacsonyi Judit , Rempakos Athanasios , Dens Joseph A. , Agostoni Pierfrancesco , Alaswad Khaldoon , Megaly Michael , Avran Alexandre , Choi James W. , Jaffer Farouc A. , Doshi Darshan , Karmpaliotis Dimitri , Khatri Jaikirshan J. , Knaapen Paul , La Manna Alessio , Spratt James C. , Tanabe Masaki , Walsh Simon , Mastrodemos Olga C. , Allana Salman , Rangan Bavana V. , Goktekin Omer , Gorgulu Sevket , Poommipanit Paul , Kearney Kathleen E. , Lombardi William L. , Grantham J. Aaron , Mashayekhi Kambis , Brilakis Emmanouil S. , Azzalini Lorenzo
Published: January 2023

Background

Coronary artery perforation is one of the most feared and common complications of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

To assess the usefulness of the recently developed PROGRESS‐CTO (NCT02061436) perforation risk score in independent cohorts. Individual patient‐level data pooled analysis of three registries was performed.

Results

Of the 4566 patients who underwent CTO PCI at 25 centers, 196 (4.2%) had coronary artery perforation. Patients with perforations were older (69 ± 10 vs. 65 ± 10,p < 0.001), more likely to be women (19% vs. 13%,p = 0.009), more likely to have a history of prior coronary artery bypass graft (34% vs. 20%,p < 0.001), and unfavorable angiographic characteristics such as blunt stump (62% vs. 48%,p < 0.001), proximal cap ambiguity (52% vs. 34%,p < 0.001), and moderate‐severe calcification (60% vs. 49%,p = 0.002). Technical success was lower in patients with perforations (73% vs. 88%,p < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the PROGRESS‐CTO perforation risk model was 0.76 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72−0.79), with good calibration (Hosmer‐Lemeshowp = 0.97). We found that the CTO PCI perforation risk increased with higher PROGRESS‐CTO perforation scores: 0.3% (score 0), 2.3% (score 1), 3.1% (score 2), 5.5% (score 3), 7.5% (score 4), 14.6% (score 5).

Conclusion

Given the good discriminative performance, calibration, and the ease of calculation, the PROGRESS‐CTO perforation score may facilitate assessment of the risk of perforation in patients undergoing CTO PCI.
No “July Effect” in the management and outcomes of acute myocardial infarction: An 18‐year United States national study
Authors: Patlolla Sri Harsha , Truesdell Alexander G. , Basir Mir B. , Rab Syed T. , Singh Mandeep , Belford Peter Matthew , Zhao David X. , Vallabhajosyula Saraschandra
Published: January 2023

Background

There has been conflicting reports on the effect of new trainees on clinical outcomes at teaching hospitals in the first training month (July in the United States of America). We sought to assess this “July effect” in a contemporary acute myocardial infarction (AMI) population.

Methods

Adult (>18 years) AMI hospitalizations in May and July in urban teaching and urban nonteaching hospitals in the United States were identified from the HCUP‐NIS database (2000–2017). In‐hospital mortality was compared between May and July admissions. A difference‐in‐difference analysis comparing a change in outcome from May to July in teaching hospitals to a change in outcome from May to July in nonteaching hospitals was also performed.

Results

A total of 1,312,006 AMI hospitalizations from urban teaching (n = 710,593; 54.2%) or nonteaching (n = 601,413; 45.8%) hospitals in the months of May and July were evaluated. May admissions in teaching hospitals, had greater comorbidity, higher rates of acute multiorgan failure (10.6% vs. 10.2%, p < 0.001) and lower rates of cardiac arrest when compared to July admissions. July AMI admissions had lower in‐hospital mortality compared to May (5.6% vs. 5.8%; adjusted odds ratio 0.94 [95% confidence interval 0.92–0.97]; p < 0.001) in teaching hospitals. Using the difference‐in‐difference model, there was no evidence of a July effect for in‐hospital mortality (p = 0.19).

Conclusions

There was no July effect for in‐hospital mortality in this contemporary AMI population.
Transcatheter tricuspid valve‐in‐valve implantation for degenerated surgical bioprosthesis
Authors: Chen Jinmiao , Yang Ye , Song Wenyu , Feng Deguang , Yan Yang , Wang Chunsheng , Wei Lai
Published: January 2023

Background

Isolated redo surgery for degenerated tricuspid bioprosthesis is of very high risk. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of transcatheter valve‐in‐valve (TVIV) implantation using a novel balloon expandable Renato valve.

Methods

A prospective multicenter study was conducted to enroll patients with degenerated tricuspid bioprostheses. A total of 12 patients underwent TVIV implantation using the Renato valve system via transfemoral, transjugular, or transatrial approaches at three institutions from May 2021 to October 2021. All‐cause mortality and hemodynamic performance were evaluated up to 6 months after procedure.

Results

The median age was 68.2 years, and 75.0% were female. Six patients had a history of rheumatic left‐sided valve surgery and late tricuspid valve replacement. The median preoperative Society of Thoracic Surgeons score was 9.9%. The procedures were successful in all cases. Tricuspid regurgitation and paravalvular leak were none or mild in all patients. The median transvalvular gradient decreased from 7.8 mmHg preoperatively to 4.5 mmHg at 6 months after TVIV, respectively. No death occurred and all patients recovered to New York Heart Association functional class I or II during a 6‐month follow‐up.

Conclusions

TVIV implantation with the Renato valve was a safe and effective treatment for degenerated bioprostheses in high‐risk patients.
Acute myocardial infarction complicated by purulent pericarditis: A case report
Authors: Tamura Yamato , Abe Takehisa
Published: January 2023

A man with persistent dyspnea was brought to our hospital in an emergency. Cardiac catheterization revealed right coronary artery occlusion. The patient went into shock on the second day of treatment due to rapid pericardial effusion. The pericardial fluid was cloudy and non‐bloody, which was judged to indicate purulent pericarditis.
Primary pleural lymphoma accompanied by silicosis
Authors: Matano Yoshiki , Okazaki Akihito , Iwasaki Kazuhiko
Published: January 2023

Reports of malignant lymphoma accompanied by silicosis are limited. A 93‐year‐old man with silicosis presented with right massive pleural effusions and was diagnosed with primary pleural lymphoma. Since there was no evidence of chronic pyothorax or Epstein–Barr virus infection, it may be due to silicosis‐associated chronic inflammation.
Top advances of the year: Cervical cancer
Authors: Podwika Sarah E. , Duska Linda R.
Published: January 2023

Cervical cancer continues to affect women in the United States and throughout the world despite an effective vaccine against human papillomavirus and cancer screening programs. For the women who develop cervical cancer, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy have been the mainstays of treatment for years. Recently, novel therapeutics have been developed that offer new treatment opportunities for women living with advanced and/or recurrent disease. Immunotherapy has become an important tool against cervical cancer with the approval of pembrolizumab in the second line for advanced or recurrent disease. Checkpoint inhibitors have recently been approved in the front line for advanced and/or recurrent disease in combination with chemotherapy, and they are being studied in the front line in combination with chemoradiation. Antibody–drug conjugates—specifically tisotumab vedotin (TV)—also have recently received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, and TV is currently being studied in combination with checkpoint inhibitors and with carboplatin. Tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes have been studied in early‐phase trials and have shown promise in small patient series. Despite these new therapies, there continue to be racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic inequities with respect to access to care, access to and participation in clinical trials, and survival in the United States as well as globally. New FDA guidance requires researchers to work to reduce disparities by including women of more diverse backgrounds in clinical trials. Finally, as progress continues to be made in the treatment of established disease, prevention through vaccination and screening remains paramount.

Plain language summary

The treatment of cervical cancer remains a significant problem in the United States and especially worldwide.

Although early cases can be cured, cervical cancer that has spread remains difficult to treat.

The past few years have seen significant advances in new therapies and combinations of therapies for women with advanced or recurrent disease.

Although this is excellent news for these women, cervical cancer is a preventable disease through screening with Papanicolaou smears and vaccination with the human papillomavirus vaccine.

By improving access to and acceptance of screening and vaccination, we can eradicate cervical cancer in the United States and the world.
Open Science in eating disorders: Using current evidence to inspire a plan for increasing the transparency of our research
Authors: Gorrell Sasha , Cohen Shira , Schaumberg Katherine , Anderson Lisa Marie , Reilly Erin E.
Published: January 2023

Objective

There is increasing consensus that open science practices improve the transparency and quality of clinical science. However, several barriers impede the implementation of these practices at the individual, institutional, and field levels; understanding and addressing these barriers is critical to promoting targeted efforts in increasing effective uptake of open science.

Methods

Within this research forum, we drew from publicly available online information sources to identify initial characterizations of researchers engaged in several types of open science practices in the field of eating disorders. We use these observations to discuss potential barriers and recommendations for next steps in the promotion of these practices.

Results

Data from online open science repositories suggest that individuals using these publishing approaches with pre‐prints and articles with eating‐disorder‐relevant content are predominantly non‐male gender identifying, early to mid‐career stage, and are more likely to be European‐, United States‐, or Canada‐based.

Discussion

We outline recommendations for tangible ways that the eating disorder field can support broad, increased uptake of open science practices, including supporting initiatives to increase knowledge and correct misconceptions; and prioritizing the development and accessibility of open science resources.

Public Significance Statement

The use of open science practices has the potential to increase the transparency and quality of clinical science. This Forum uses publicly sourced online data to characterize researchers engaged in open science practices in the field of eating disorders. These observations provide an important framework from which to discuss potential barriers to open science and recommendations for next steps in the promotion of these practices.
Does affirmative action reduce disparities in healthcare use by Indigenous peoples? Evidence from Australia's Indigenous Practice Incentives Program
Authors: Saxby Karinna , Byrnes Joshua , de New Sonja C. , Nghiem Son , Petrie Dennis
Published: January 2023

Globally, Indigenous populations experience poorer health but use less primary healthcare than their non‐Indigenous counterparts. In 2010, the Australian government introduced a targeted reform aimed at reducing these disparities. The reform reduced, or abolished prescription medicine co‐payments and provided financial incentives for GPs to better manage chronic disease care for Indigenous peoples. Exploiting the framework of a natural experiment, we investigate how the reform affected these health disparities in primary and specialist healthcare utilization using longitudinal administrative data from 75,826 Australians, including 1896 Indigenous peoples, with cardiovascular disease. The differences‐in‐differences estimates indicate that the reform increased primary healthcare use among Indigenous peoples, including 12.9% more prescription medicines, 6.6% more GP services, and 34.0% more chronic disease services, but also reduced specialist attendances by 11.8%. Increases in primary care were larger for those who received the largest co‐payment relief and lived in metropolitan regions, whereas the reduction in specialist attendances was concentrated among lower income Indigenous patients. Affirmative action can reduce inequalities in Indigenous use of primary healthcare, albeit careful design is required to ensure that benefits are equitable and do not lead to substitution away from valuable, or necessary, care.
Pest prevention, risk, and risk management: The case of Drosophila suzukii
Authors: Wang Yanbing , Finger Robert
Published: January 2023

Pest prevention can play an important role in reducing pest pressure and pesticide use. Yet its adoption remains suboptimal. We develop a theoretical model to analyze the circumstances that favor or hinder the uptake of preventive measures against pests, and test the derived hypotheses using an empirical application of Swiss grapevine producers' decisions on preventive measures against Drosophila suzukii. We show that higher risk aversion hinders farmers' prevention efforts. Furthermore, lower general background risk, characterized by the use of crop insurance, decreases pest prevention. We discuss the implications for supporting policy goals of managing pest pressure and reducing pesticide use.
The employment effects of the minimum wage: A selection ratio approach to measuring treatment effects
Authors: Slichter David
Published: January 2023

I develop a method for measuring a binary treatment's effects when more than one control group is available but each control group is imperfect. To study effects of the minimum wage, for example, I compare border counties where the minimum wage increases to the set of neighboring counties, the set of neighbor‐of‐neighboring counties, and so forth. The key innovation is to model the ratio of the biases present in these comparisons. Crucially, the model contains a testable implication. The method can address spillovers and, in another application, is used to measure treatment effects away from the discontinuity in a regression discontinuity design.
Circ_0027470 promotes cadmium exposure‐induced prostatic fibrosis via sponging miRNA‐1236‐3p and stimulating SHH signaling pathway
Authors: Huang Tianqi , Chen Jinglou , Zhang Yumiao , Chen Yao , Xu Congyue , Guo Jing , Ming Hao
Published: January 2023

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal pollutant and serves as an important environmental endocrine‐disrupting chemical. Cd exposure is believed to can enhance the risks of age‐related disorders including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This study was to investigate the harms of Cd exposure on mice prostate and human nonmalignant prostate epithelial RWPE‐1 cells. Mice prostate fibrosis was evaluated by visualizing the prostatic collagen deposition via Masson and Sirius red staining, and detecting the content of hydroxyproline. Additionally, the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), primary ciliogenesis and SHH signaling pathways in both mice prostate and RWPE‐1 cells were evaluated. It was found that Cd exposure stimulated prostatic collagen deposition, EMT and primary ciliogenesis, as well as enhanced the circ_0027470 level and reduced the miRNA‐1236‐3p level. Circ_0027470 functioned as a sponge of miRNA‐1236‐3p, which had the inhibiting target of SHH. The whole results showed that circ_0027470 promoted Cd exposure‐induced prostatic fibrosis via sponging miRNA‐1236‐3p and subsequently stimulating SHH signaling pathway. This study shed a light on a novel molecular mechanism involved in circRNA for Cd exposure‐induced prostate deficits.
Solution combustion synthesized Y2O3 nanoparticles and influence of Dy doping on their microstructural, optical, and photoluminescence characteristics
Authors: Sharma Nikita , Sahay Pradosh Prakash
Published: January 2023

Dy‐doped Y2O3 nanoparticles were synthesized by solution combustion route with urea as fuel, and their microstructural features were analyzed by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The XRD study confirms the formation of a pure cubic phase of Y2O3, with the maximum textural coefficient along the (2 2 2) plane for the Dy‐doped samples. The lattice fringes in the HRTEM image and the bright spotty rings in the selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern reveal the highly crystalline nature of the nanoparticles. From the diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, using Kubelka‐Monk theory, the direct bandgap energy is estimated to be 5.61 eV for the undoped Y2O3, which is found to decrease upon Dy3+ doping. The room‐temperature excitation spectra of the nanoparticles recorded at 575 nm emission wavelength comprise several excitation bands corresponding to the f‐f transitions of Dy3+ ions in the host lattice. The photoluminescence spectra of the nanoparticles excited at the wavelength of 350 nm comprise three visible emission peaks at 477 nm (blue), 573 nm (yellow), and 666 nm (red). It has been concluded that the 0.5 mol% Dy‐doped Y2O3 nanoparticles are the potential candidate to be used for solid‐state luminescent device applications.
Aggressive COVID‐19 lockdown policies: What factors significantly drove them across nations?
Authors: Goel Rajeev K. , Nelson Michael A.
Published: January 2023

This paper examines the determinants of COVID‐19 lockdown severity across nations. How significant were health, economic, political, institutional, and social factors in determining the severity of government responses to the pandemic? Using data on 162 nations from March 2020 to July 2022, results show that it was mainly controlling the spread of the pandemic that led nations to more serve measures against the pandemic. These efforts were tempered in nations that had larger governments and in those with better enforcement and the ones with more elderly. On the other hand, economic prosperity, political structures, macro‐level uncertainties, trade openness, and corruption did not appreciably matter.
A synthesized gamma distribution‐based patient‐specific VMAT QA using a generative adversarial network
Authors: Matsuura Takaaki , Kawahara Daisuke , Saito Akito , Yamada Kiyoshi , Ozawa Shuichi , Nagata Yasushi
Published: January 2023

Background

Artificial intelligence (AI)‐based gamma passing rate (GPR) prediction has been proposed as a time‐efficient virtual patient‐specific QA method for the delivery of volumetric modulation arc therapy (VMAT). However, there is a limitation that the GPR value loses the locational information of dose accuracy.

Purpose

The objective was to predict the failing points in the gamma distribution and the GPR using a synthesized gamma distribution of VMAT QA with a deep convolutional generative adversarial network (GAN).

Methods

The fluence maps of 270 VMAT beams for prostate cancer were measured using an electronic portal imaging device and analyzed using gamma evaluation with 3%/2‐mm, 2%/1‐mm, 1%/1‐mm, and 1%/0.5‐mm tolerances. The 270 gamma distributions were divided into two datasets: 240 training datasets for creating a model and 30 test datasets for evaluation. The image prediction network for the fluence maps calculated by the treatment planning system (TPS) to the gamma distributions was created using a GAN. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of detecting failing points were evaluated using measured and synthesized gamma distributions. In addition, the difference between measured GPR (mGPR) and predicted GPR (pGPR) values calculated from the synthesized gamma distributions was evaluated.

Results

The root mean squared errors between mGPR and pGPR were 1.0%, 2.1%, 3.5%, and 3.6% for the 3%/2‐mm, 2%/1‐mm, 1%/1‐mm, and 1%/0.5‐mm tolerances, respectively. The accuracies for detecting failing points were 98.9%, 96.9%, 94.7%, and 93.7% for 3%/2‐mm, 2%/1‐mm, 1%/1‐mm, and 1%/0.5‐mm tolerances, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity were the highest for 1%/0.5‐mm and 3%/2‐mm tolerances, which were 82.7% and 99.6%, respectively.

Conclusions

We developed a novel system using a GAN to generate a synthesized gamma distribution‐based patient‐specific VMAT QA. The system is promising from the point of view of quality assurance in radiotherapy because it shows high performance and can detect failing points.