bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Vascular Disease of Diabetic Kidney Disease
Authors: Lentini Paolo , Zanoli Luca , Ronco Claudio , Benedetti Claudia , Previti Antonino , Laudadio Giorgio , Vienna Federica , Andrighetto Sofia , Fuso Valeria , Gambaro Giovanni
Published: October 2022

Background: The incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increased in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Summary: Aortic stiffness is a well-accepted biomarker for cardiovascular (CV) events in all stages of CKD. The worldwide prevalence of diabetes continues to grow, as does the prevalence of DKD. Insulin resistance, hyperglycaemia, hypertension, and the metabolic abnormalities of type-2 diabetes are all involved in the pathogenesis of CVD. The effect of these toxins on cardiac and vascular function is amplified by the worsening of renal function and the parallel rise of uraemic toxins. Key Messages: In this narrative review, we analysed why arterial stiffening can be considered a vascular mediator between diabetes and cardiac dysfunction, and we discussed the strong CV and nephroprotective effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter type-2 inhibitors.
Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter-2 Inhibitors in Type 1 Diabetes: A Scoping Review
Authors: Hropot Tim , Battelino Tadej , Dovc Klemen
Published: October 2022

Background: With recent developments in diabetes technology, attaining adequate glucose control is more achievable than ever. Despite these improvements, a significant proportion of individuals with type 1 diabetes do not reach recommended glycaemic goals. Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are glucose-lowering agents that inhibit the reabsorption of filtered glucose in the kidneys, thus promoting glucosuria. Because the glucose-lowering effect of SGLT2 inhibitors is achieved independently of insulin secretion, it has been speculated whether they could bridge the gap towards achieving glycaemic targets in individuals with type 1 diabetes. Summary: Our main goal was to systematically map the current knowledge on the efficacy and safety of SGLT2 inhibitor use in adults with type 1 diabetes and present recent studies regarding the use of SGLT2 inhibitors in youth with type 1 diabetes. Using a scoping review approach, we searched MEDLINE to identify relevant clinical trials of SGLT2 inhibitors as adjunctive therapy to insulin in type 1 diabetes published from January 31, 2012, to January 31, 2022. We included the most relevant, large-scale, and long placebo-controlled clinical trials of SGLT2 inhibitors as an add-on therapy to insulin in adults with type 1 diabetes. Additionally, we included all relevant pilot studies evaluating the use of SGLT2 inhibitors as add-on therapy to insulin in youth with type 1 diabetes. We identified eight placebo-controlled clinical trials in adults with type 1 diabetes meeting our inclusion criteria and two relevant pilot studies in youth with type 1 diabetes. The clinical trials in adults with type 1 diabetes confirmed the efficacy of SGLT2 inhibitors as add-on therapy to insulin. However, this was associated with an increased incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) versus placebo in all identified clinical trials. The two relevant pilot studies in youth with type 1 diabetes showed promising results of SGLT2 inhibitor use as an add-on therapy to insulin, especially when combined with a fully closed-loop system. Key Messages: SGLT2 inhibitors, as an add-on therapy to insulin, improve glycaemic outcomes in adults with type 1 diabetes with a potential cost of increasing DKA risk. The use of add-on SGLT2 inhibitors to insulin shows promising results in youth with type 1 diabetes. Moreover, SGLT2 inhibitors as add-on therapy in combination with closed-loop insulin therapy could provide additional benefits in improving glycaemic control. The current role of SGLT2 inhibitors as an adjunct therapy to insulin in individuals with type 1 diabetes is yet to be determined.
In-line measurement of multiphase flow viscosity
Authors: Ushkova Taisiia , Kopteva Alexandra , Shpenst Vadim , Sutikno Tole , Jopri Mohd Hatta
Published: October 2022

The transportation modes depend entirely on the viscosity of the oil. To date, none of the viscometric methods are able to provide measurements to meet all the requirements of oil flow, features of main oil pipelines, and trends in the oil industry, such as decarbonization and digitalization. The method of inline viscosity measurement of multiphase flow through a metal pipeline can be based on direct gamma ray measurement. It is stipulated by the ability of gamma-radiation to penetrate through the pipeline material without destroying it, as well as by the ability to work with flows containing free gas and the high capability to be introduced into automatic control systems. The authors consider the physical forces acting on the gas inclusions in the oil flow. They determine the physical dependence between the parameters determined by the radioisotope method and the viscosity of oil in the three-phase flow. These studies show good agreement with the work of other scientists. The prospect of further research will be to clarify the mathematical model of gas-oil flow, to increase the accuracy by reducing the number of assumptions made.
Ninety-Day Risk-Standardized Home Time as a Performance Metric for Cardiac Surgery Hospitals in the United States
Authors: Mentias Amgad , Desai Milind Y. , Keshvani Neil , Gillinov A. Marc , Johnston Douglas , Kumbhani Dharam J. , Hirji Sameer A. , Sarrazin Mary-Vaughan , Saad Marwan , Peterson Eric D. , Mack Michael J. , Cram Peter , Girotra Saket , Kapadia Samir , Svensson Lars , Pandey Ambarish
Published: October 2022

Background:

Assessing hospital performance for cardiac surgery necessitates consistent and valid care quality metrics. The association of hospital-level risk-standardized home time for cardiac surgeries with other performance metrics such as mortality rate, readmission rate, and annual surgical volume has not been evaluated previously.

Methods:

The study included Medicare beneficiaries who underwent isolated or concomitant coronary artery bypass graft, aortic valve, or mitral valve surgery from January 1, 2013, to October 1, 2019. Hospital-level performance metrics of annual surgical volume, 90-day risk-standardized mortality rate, 90-day risk-standardized readmission rate, and 90-day risk-standardized home time were estimated starting from the day of surgery using generalized linear mixed models with a random intercept for the hospital. Correlations between the performance metrics were assessed using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Patient-level clinical outcomes were also compared across hospital quartiles by 90-day risk-standardized home time. Last, the temporal stability of performance metrics for each hospital during the study years was also assessed.

Results:

Overall, 919 698 patients (age 74.2±5.8 years, 32% women) were included from 1179 hospitals. Median 90-day risk-standardized home time was 71.2 days (25th–75th percentile, 66.5–75.6), 90-day risk-standardized readmission rate was 26.0% (19.5%–35.7%), and 90-day risk-standardized mortality rate was 6.0% (4.0%–8.8%). Across 90-day home time quartiles, a graded decline was observed in the rates of in-hospital, 90-day, and 1-year mortality, and 90-day and 1-year readmission. Ninety-day home time had a significant positive correlation with annual surgical volume (
r
=0.31;
P
<0.001) and inverse correlation with 90-day risk-standardized readmission rate (
r
=–0.40;
P
 <0.001) and 90-day risk-standardized mortality rate (
r
=–0.60;
P
 <0.001). Use of 90-day home time as a performance metric resulted in a meaningful reclassification in performance ranking of 22.8% hospitals compared with annual surgical volume, 11.6% compared with 90-day risk-standardized mortality rate, and 19.9% compared with 90-day risk-standardized readmission rate. Across the 7 years of the study period, 90-day home time demonstrated the most temporal stability of the hospital performance metrics.

Conclusions:

Ninety-day risk-standardized home time is a feasible, comprehensive, patient-centered metric to assess hospital-level performance in cardiac surgery with greater temporal stability than mortality and readmission measures.
Patients With Bicuspid Aortic Stenosis Demonstrate Adverse Left Ventricular Remodeling and Impaired Cardiac Function Before Surgery With Increased Risk of Postoperative Heart Failure
Authors: Wedin Johan O. , Vedin Ola , Rodin Sergey , Simonson Oscar E. , Hörsne Malmborg Jonathan , Pallin Johan , James Stefan K. , Flachskampf Frank A. , Ståhle Elisabeth , Grinnemo Karl-Henrik
Published: October 2022

Background:

Differences in adverse cardiac remodeling between patients who have bicuspid (BAV) and tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) with severe isolated aortic stenosis (AS) and its prognostic impact after surgical aortic valve replacement remains unclear. We sought to investigate differences in preoperative diastolic and systolic function in patients with BAV and TAV who have severe isolated AS and the incidence of postoperative heart failure hospitalization and mortality.

Methods:

Two hundred seventy-one patients with BAV (n=152) or TAV (n=119) and severe isolated AS without coronary artery disease or other valvular heart disease, scheduled for surgical aortic valve replacement, were prospectively included. Comprehensive preoperative echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular (LV) diastolic and systolic function was performed. The heart failure events were registered during a mean prospective follow-up of 1260 days versus 1441 days for patients with BAV or TAV, respectively.

Results:

Patients with BAV had a more pronounced LV hypertrophy with significantly higher indexed LV mass ([LVMi] 134 g/m
2
versus 104 g/m
2
,
P
<0.001), higher prevalence of LV diastolic dysfunction (72% versus 44%,
P
<0.001), reduced LV ejection fraction (55% versus 60%,
P
<0.001), significantly impaired global longitudinal strain (
P
<0.001), significantly higher NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide) levels (
P
=0.007), and a higher prevalence of preoperative levosimendan treatment (
P
<0.001) than patients with TAV. LVMi was associated with diastolic dysfunction in both patients with BAV and TAV. There was a significant interaction between aortic valve morphology and LVMi on LV ejection fraction, which indicated a pronounced association between LVMi and LV ejection fraction for patients with BAV and lack of association between LVMi and LV ejection fraction for patients with TAV. Postoperatively, the patients with BAV required significantly more inotropic support (
P
<0.001). The patients with BAV had a higher cumulative incidence of postoperative heart failure admissions compared with patients with TAV (28.2% versus 10.6% at 6 years after aortic valve replacement, log-rank
P
=0.004). Survival was not different between patients with BAV and TAV (log-rank
P
=0.165).

Conclusions:

Although they were significantly younger, patients with BAV who had isolated severe AS had worse preoperative LV function and an increased risk of postoperative heart failure hospitalization compared with patients who had TAV. Our findings suggest that patients who have BAV with AS might benefit from closer surveillance and possibly earlier intervention.
Effect of Exercise on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Stroke Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ashcroft Sarah K. , Ironside Daniel D. , Johnson Liam , Kuys Suzanne S. , Thompson-Butel Angelica G.
Published: October 2022

Background:

BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) is a biomarker of neuroplasticity linked with better functional outcomes after stroke. Early evidence suggests that increased concentrations after exercise may be possible for people with stroke, however it is unclear how exercise parameters influence BDNF concentration.

Methods:

This systematic review and meta-analysis searched 7 electronic databases. Experimental or observational studies measuring changes in BDNF concentration after exercise in people poststroke were included. Data were extracted including characteristics of the study, participants, interventions, and outcomes. Several fixed and random effects meta-analyses were completed.

Results:

Seventeen studies including a total of 687 participants met the eligibility criteria (6 randomized trials). Significant improvements were observed in BDNF concentration following a single session (mean difference, 2.49 ng/mL; [95% CI, 1.10–3.88]) and program of high intensity aerobic exercise (mean difference, 3.42 ng/mL; [95% CI, 1.92–4.92]).

Conclusions:

High intensity aerobic exercise can increase circulating BDNF concentrations, which may contribute to increased neuroplasticity.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/
; Unique identifier: CRD42021251083.
Misinterpreted Elliptical Structures in 1QIsaa
Authors: Fleck Einav
Published: October 2022

This article examines elliptical structures in MT Isaiah that were apparently interpreted as non-elliptical in 1QIsaa. The different interpretation in the scroll is evident from various changes compared to the Masoretic Text of Isaiah, e.g., a change in gender or number of a verb; a change in the lexical category of a word; omission or addition of function word. These variants are evaluated from a language-processing perspective. It is argued that since elliptical structures require the inference of linguistic material that is not overt in the surface structure, if the scribes had perceived a non-elliptical interpretation based on the surface structure, or if a such structure could have been perceived by a minor change of the input due to the absent material, these variants were generated. These processes occur unintentionally and hence in such cases the resulting readings are not the outcome of deliberate editing.
Reconfiguring Deep Time
Authors: Kidwell Jeremy H.
Published: October 2022

Deep time comes in many forms, including a range of temporal frames, and various approaches to more ethical engagement with the biosphere. In this paper, I explore the recent use and contestation of history, in light of its legacy as a Christian theological project (from Eusebius and Bede into more recent renderings) and a potent political tool. In particular I argue for a pluralising of deep time against forms of white supremacy, and point to work in Black philosophy of history, particularly Caribbean critical thought, which offer a reframing of history, and by extension a different sort of ethical engagement with deep time.
Deep Time and Domestication in Vahni (Anthony Ezekiel) Capildeo’s ‘Dog or Wolf’
Authors: Farrier David
Published: October 2022

In this short article, I read Vahni (Anthony Ezekiel) Capildeo’s lyric poem ‘Dog or Wolf’ as an illustration of how a poem can encompass the deep time of co-evolution and speciation (the process whereby species diverge). According to Jonathan Culler, there is a “special now” of lyric poetry: we encounter any poem in a perpetual present, but one with an open temporal horizon. Drawing on Deborah Bird Rose’s concept of ethical time, I suggest that the “gentle howling” of Capildeo’s ambiguous canid, which echoes Rose’s suggestion that other species call us into being, shows how poetry can also be a means of marking very deep time.
Size-related changes and chemical basis of melanin-based body coloration in the amphisbaenian Trogonophis wiegmanni
Authors: Recio Pablo , Rodríguez-Ruiz Gonzalo , López Pilar , Martín José
Published: October 2022

Melanin is a fundamental pigment in animal coloration as it is involved in many different adaptive functions such as signaling or thermoregulation. Two forms of melanin are known to produce different colors (eumelanin: black; pheomelanin: yellow or brown). Here, we explored whether there were intersexual differences and/or size-related changes in melanization of the amphisbaenian Trogonophis wiegmanni, a fossorial species with a characteristic black and yellow color pattern of scales. We found a clear effect of body length, but not of sex, on the levels of melanization, which was also dependent on the body region; the proportion of melanin-dependent blackish coloration increased with body length in the dorsum, but decreased with body length in the ventral belly area. We also studied the chemical basis of this coloration using Raman spectroscopy and found that eumelanin was present in both black and yellow scales, but pheomelanin was not found in yellow scales, suggesting that this yellow coloration is caused by the reduction of eumelanin or dispersion of melanosomes and/or perhaps by other pigments.
Black Magicians and Foreign Devils in Little Britain
Authors: Doherty Bernard
Published: October 2022

The unlikely literary success of Dennis Wheatley as an author of occult-themed popular fiction has had an integral and lasting impact on British popular ideas about Satanism. Writing between the 1930s and the 1970s, Wheatley’s “Black Magic Stories” pieced together a culturally specific demonology through which he filtered his often reactionary political and social views in the areas of race, class, gender, sexuality, and religion. Wheatley’s writings became one of the key conduits via which the traditional mythology of Satanism was disseminated over the course of the twentieth century—particularly in Britain. To highlight Wheatley’s cultural significance this article introduces the Wheatley phenomenon and the critical reception of his works. Second, it examines his demonological imaginary by looking at his treatment of a series of themes in his “Black Magic Stories.” Third, it interrogates the evidence for Wheatley’s sources and his direct involvement in the occult. Finally, it considers the high point of Wheatley’s cultural impact between the 1950s and the 1970s, showing some of the avenues by which his writings influenced and shaped the popular image of Satanism which became ubiquitous during this period, and which fed directly into the Satanic Panics of the 1980s and 1990s.
Assessment of the Dutch Rules on Health Data in the Light of the GDPR
Authors: Kist Irith
Published: October 2022

In 2021, the European Commission published its Assessment of the EU Member States’ rules on health data in the light of General Data Protection Regulation. The Commission concluded that the GDPR has been interpreted in many ways in the EU as regards health research, and national implementation legislation has resulted in a fragmented legal landscape. Several lawful bases are used as a legitimation for the secondary use of health data. I address the Dutch legislation on the re-use, or secondary use of health data for scientific research where explicit consent is the general rule. However, both the GDPR, the Dutch GDPR Implementation Act and sectoral health legislation leave room for alternatives. I conclude that a further review of these alternatives is required to enhance scientific health research with the secondary use of health data, and I sketch a few avenues for further exploration.
A Case of Mǝhǝrkä Dǝngǝl
Authors: Gusarova Ekaterina V.
Published: October 2022

Within the framework of medievel Ethiopian historiography Mǝhǝrkä Dǝngǝl is often considered as its typical representative. He was a royal secretary, the Court confessor and authored the beginning of the chronicle of the Ethiopian King Susǝnyos (1604–1632). The present article deals with the other side of this highly educated scribe, who proved to be a translator from Arabic into Gə‘əz of the Universal History by John of Nikiu (fl. 680–690) and one of the rare Ethiopian Christian scholars, who converted to Catholicism. Therefore, the written heritage of Mǝhǝrkä Dǝngǝl and his religious beliefs require particular attention. Although it would be tempting to explain his apostasy from the so-called “Alexandrian Faith” by expanding his confessional horizons through acquaintance with the early Byzantine history described in detail in the Chronicle of John of Nikiu, it seems quite more probable that Catholicism aroused his sympathy as a reliable ideological basis for royal autocracy.
Zwischen Universitätsreformen und katholischer Renaissance
Authors: Hlade Josef , Meer Rudolf
Published: October 2022

With the first edition of the Philosophical Criticism, published in the 1870s and 1880s, Alois Riehl became the founder and most important representative of Realistic Criticism, and emerged as one of the leading figures in German-speaking philosophy at the turn of the century. In 1901, he applied for a chair at the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Vienna. In the appointment procedure for the succession to Ernst Mach, he was chosen by the committee with the recommendation unico loco, and also confirmed by the faculty. Nevertheless, the Minister of Education, Wilhelm von Hartel, rejected the recommendation for political and ideological reasons. Using previously unpublished archival sources, the present study reconstructs Riehl’s academic career, the conditions of the appointment procedure, the internal decision-making processes, and the reasons that ultimately led to his rejection. The aim of the article is to develop a case study that, first, makes educational policy in Austria visible and, second, critically evaluates the term Austrian Philosophy that dates back to this time.
Capitalism in Academia and the Theory of Academic Capitalism: Political Economy of Higher Education in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Authors: Sundell Taavi
Published: October 2022

The theory of academic capitalism (ac) is a prominent attempt to grasp the multifaceted organizational and functional transformations of universities and higher education (he) in contemporary times. However, this has rarely provided an in-depth examination of the meaning of capitalism in the context of he and has largely ignored the Global South. Focusing on the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, this paper begins by examining the political economy of this country’s little-studied he system. It explores its entanglements with the broader Jordanian political economy by focusing on for-profit private universities and the implications of capitalist (foreign) ownership for their functioning and governance. The article draws, in part, on novel interview data gathered by the author in Jordan from 2015–17 to elaborate Jordanian he elite’s understanding of this system. The Jordanian case is juxtaposed with ac to appraise the applicability of the theory to contexts distinct from advanced capitalist economies.
GL-impsing Bodish
Authors: ZHUANG Lingzi
Published: October 2022

A heretofore unrecognized prefix **g- is reconstructed for Proto-Bodish as an agentive transitivization prefix. This prefix is fossilized before liquids in at least 9 Tamangic verbs, and preserved as a root preinitial in at least 39 Tibetan verbs. The semantic value of agentive transitivization is characterized as an increase in the level of Agent involvement, and/or in the Agent’s conscious effort in performing the action. I describe a newly-documented suffix -wʌ in Sikleś Gurung (Tamangic) which innovatively grammaticalize this meaning category. The reconstruction of **g- lends support to the notional Bodish subgroup by grounding it in a shared innovation.
Tone and vowel uvularity in Rma
Authors: SIMS Nathaniel A.
Published: October 2022

Evans’ 2006b recognition of a phonological opposition between plain and uvularized vowels in the Hóngyán variety of Northwestern Rma was an important discovery for Rma linguistics, yet the diachronic origins of this phenomenon have not been fully considered. This paper considers the origin of uvularized vowels in the Hóngyán dialect through comparison with the tonal Lóngxī variety, finding plain and uvularized vowels in Hóngyán to correspond regularly with H and L tones in Lóngxī Rma.
Made in the City of Baghdad? Medieval Textile Production and Pattern Notation Systems of Early Lampas Woven Silks
Authors: Mühlemann Corinne
Published: October 2022

A small Arabic inscription on a fragment of an early lampas woven silk, today preserved in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston (inv. no. 33.371), states that it was made in the city of Baghdad. But an orthographic error within the Arabic inscription reveals the actual place of manufacture: al-Andalus. I analyze this fragment together with a passage from the ḥisba manual of al-Saqati. Ḥisba manuals contain rules composed by the muḥtasib, the market inspector. Abu ʿAbdallah Muhammad Ibn Abu Muhammad al-Saqati was the market inspector of Málaga in Spain, and his work, the Kitāb fī ādāb al-ḥisba, was compiled at the close of the eleventh and opening of the twelfth centuries, at the same time that the new lampas weaving technology arrived in al-Andalus. Through a discussion of the Arabic terms rasm and bayt and a calculation of a hypothetical standard-sized silk produced in Málaga, I demonstrate the potential of ḥisba manuals to shed light on textile manufacture, loom technology, and the transfer of weaving knowledge and patterns in early twelfth-century al-Andalus. Further, shared terminology between looms, poetry, and music, evident in the term bayt, permits a discussion of rhythm in the making of lampas woven silks and an exploration of the traditions in which weaving knowledge is rooted.
Legitimacy, Syncretism, and Bangsamoro Jihad: Discourses of Struggle and Community within the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
Authors: Galsim Miguel
Published: October 2022

Islam’s influence in nationalism and political legitimacy is frequently studied, but diversity across the umma warrants continued investigation into how Islamic tradition shapes its style, content, and potency. Investigating the discourse of 1980s Mindanao’s Moro Islamic Liberation Front, this article adopts a syncretic approach for understanding encounters between Islamic traditions, particularly jihad, and nationalist symbols. Through discourse analysis, this article creates a textured understanding of the power of Islamic-nationalism, focusing on both intellectual genealogy and textual practice. It concludes that in this instance, Islamic-nationalism can be an inherently legitimising phenomenon, animated by the uniquely moral, temporal drive of jihadi tradition.
Doctors and ‘Educational Overpressure’ in Nineteenth-Century Britain: A Fatigue State that Divided Medical Opinion
Authors: Connor Henry
Published: October 2022

The expansion of education in the later nineteenth century led to concerns that ‘educational overpressure’ was damaging the health of children. Overpressure was an ill-defined condition which presented nosological problems and diagnostic difficulties. These were further clouded by political and sociocultural issues which included malnutrition, learning disabilities and postulated hereditable physical and mental degeneration. Uncertainty about the true nature of overpressure divided the British medical profession with a vocal minority alleging that it was common and could result in serious illness, another group who thought that the consequences were minor, and some who altogether doubted its existence. In Britain the debate was intensified by politically motivated funding decisions which put pressures on elementary schoolchildren. In continental Europe the emphasis was on secondary schoolchildren but in other respects the condition was similar, though severe symptoms were more commonly described in Britain. Comparisons with neurasthenia and similar states show that overpressure was what is now recognized as a fatigue state. Nosological difficulties are common in these conditions and often result in conflicting opinions. Disputes about overpressure temporarily damaged the British profession’s credibility at a time when some doctors were pressing for further medical involvement in the educational arena. However, schools could now no longer be regarded as exclusively pedagogical and overpressure had contributed to wider concerns about child health and welfare.
A Typology for Science and Religion
Authors: Bishop Steve
Published: October 2022

The various understandings of the relationship between science and religion can be grouped into six categories: science replaces religion; religion replaces science; science shapes religion; religion shapes science; science and religion are independent; science and religion are in dialogue. The article illustrates and evaluates each of these theories of the relationship between science and religion. It is concluded that each of the categories discussed collapses into aʽreligion shapes scienceʼ position, since religious convictions of some sort are basic to humanity. Ultimate (religious) beliefs are integral to science and maths, and so religious beliefs shape science.
Stateless Status and Expulsion from Italian Territory
Authors: Marinai Simone
Published: October 2022

In this judgment the Corte di Cassazione addresses the issue of the prohibition on the expulsion of stateless persons guaranteed by Article 31 of the New York Convention of 1954 Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and affirms that it represents an exception to the general rule under international law according to which every State has, in principle, the right to expel at any moment an alien from its territory. The decision is particularly interesting because it allows a reflection on the vulnerable condition of stateless persons, on the distinction between de jure and de facto statelessness, and on the burden and standard of proof in establishing statelessness.
The Development of the Italian Doctrine in the Words of Antonio Cassese
Authors: Capone Francesca
Published: October 2022

The present review essay discusses Antonio Cassese’s book Il diritto internazionale in Italia, which was written in the late 1980s and saw the light only in 2021. Each part of this short and very dense volume contains and triggers significant reflections on various topics that are still extremely relevant to this day, and perhaps now more than ever. The starting point of Professor Cassese’s inquiry is a straightforward question: how is the work of the Italian international lawyers perceived abroad? More in detail, he wonders if and to what extent it is true that the Italian doctrine, which is characterized by unparalleled scientific rigor and in-depth theoretical disquisitions, pays scant or no attention to practical problems and political, economic, and social implications at large. Professor Cassese’s analysis revolves around this initial question but at the same time departs from it in order to offer a wider and extremely accurate overview of its ramifications. In particular, Antonio Cassese helps the reader to better understand the role of international lawyers and the tools at their disposal to contribute to enhancing the society they live and operate in.
Statistical Inference for the Factor Model Approach to Estimate Causal Effects in Quasi-Experimental Settings
Authors: Li Kathleen T. , Sonnier Garrett P.
Published: October 2022

Causal inference using quasi-experimental data is of great interest to marketers. The factor model approach to estimate treatment effects accommodates a large number of control units and can easily handle a large number of treatment units while flexibly allowing for cases where the treatment is outside the range of the control units. However, the factor model method lacks formal inference theory, instead relying on bootstrap or permutation procedures with strong assumptions. Specifically, the extant Xu (2017) bootstrap procedure requires that the treatment and control error variances are equal. In this research the authors establish that when this assumption is violated, the bootstrap procedure results in biased coverage intervals. The authors develop a formal inference theory for the factor model approach to estimate the average treatment effects on the treated. The approach enables formal quantification of uncertainty through hypothesis testing and confidence intervals. The inference method is applicable to both stationary and nonstationary data. More importantly, the inference theory accommodates treatment and control unit outcomes with different distributions, which includes different error variances as a special case. The authors show the performance of the inference theory with simulated data. Finally, they apply the method to empirically quantify the uncertainty in the effect of legalizing recreational marijuana on the beer market and the sales effect of a digitally native online brand opening a physical showroom.
A Self-Controlled Mind Is Reflected by Stable Mental Processing
Authors: Kleinert Tobias , Nash Kyle , Leota Josh , Koenig Thomas , Heinrichs Markus , Schiller Bastian
Published: October 2022

Self-control—the ability to inhibit inappropriate impulses—predicts economic, physical, and psychological well-being. However, recent findings demonstrate low correlations among self-control measures, raising the question of what self-control actually is. Here, we examined the idea that people high in self-control show more stable mental processing, characterized by processing steps that are fewer in number but longer lasting because of fewer interruptions by distracting impulses. To test this hypothesis, we relied on resting electroencephalography microstate analysis, a method that provides access to the stream of mental processing by assessing the sequential activation of neural networks. Across two samples (Study 1: N = 58 male adults from Germany; Study 2: N = 101 adults from Canada, 58 females), the temporal stability of resting networks (i.e., longer durations and fewer occurrences) was positively associated with self-reported self-control and a neural index of inhibitory control, and it was negatively associated with risk-taking behavior. These findings suggest that stable mental processing represents a core feature of a self-controlled mind.
Environmental DNA detects Spawning Habitat of an ephemeral migrant fish (Anadromous Rainbow Smelt: Osmerus mordax)
Authors: Holmes Vaughn , Aman Jacob , York Geneva , Kinnison Michael T.
Published: October 2022

Background

Anadromous rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) have experienced a large range reduction in recent decades and the status of remnant spawning populations is poorly known in Maine, where these fish have significant ecological, cultural, and commercial relevance. Defining the remnant range of anadromous smelt is more difficult than for many declining fish species because adults are only ephemerally present while spawning in small coastal streams at night during spring runoff periods when traditional assessments can be unreliable or even hazardous. We hypothesized that eDNA might facilitate improved survey efforts to define smelt spawning habitat, but that detection could also face challenges from adult eDNA quickly flushing out of these small stream systems. We combined daytime eDNA sampling with nighttime fyke netting to ascertain a potential window of eDNA detection before conducting eDNA surveys in four streams of varying abundance. Hierarchical occupancy modeling was in turn employed to estimate eDNA encounter probabilities relative to numbers of sampling events (date), samples within events, and qPCR replicates within samples.

Results

Results from the combined eDNA and fyke net study indicated eDNA was detectable over an extended period, culminating approximately 8–13 days following peak spawning, suggesting developing smelt larvae might be the primary source of eDNA. Subsequently, smelt eDNA was readily detected in eDNA surveys of four streams, particularly following remediation of PCR inhibitors. Hierarchical occupancy modeling confirmed our surveys had high empirical detection for most sites, and that future surveys employing at least three sampling events, three samples per event, and six qPCR replicates can afford greater than 90% combined detection capability in low abundance systems.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that relatively modest eDNA sampling effort has high capacity to detect this ephemerally present species of concern at low to moderate abundances. As such, smelt eDNA detection could improve range mapping by providing longer survey windows, safer sampling conditions, and lower field effort in low density systems, than afforded by existing visual and netting approaches.
Association between the number of remaining teeth and disability-free life expectancy, and the impact of oral self-care in older Japanese adults: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Yamato Maya , Matsuyama Sanae , Murakami Yoshitaka , Aida Jun , Lu Yukai , Sugawara Yumi , Tsuji Ichiro
Published: October 2022

Background

Tooth loss has been reportedly associated with shorter disability-free life expectancy (DFLE). However, no study has explored whether oral self-care offsets reduction in DFLE. The present study aimed to assess the association between oral self-care and DFLE in older individuals with tooth loss.

Methods

Data on the 13-year follow-up from a cohort study of 14,206 older Japanese adults aged ≥ 65 years in 2006 were analyzed. Information on the number of remaining teeth was collected using a questionnaire, and the participants were then categorized into three groups (0–9, 10–19, and ≥ 20 teeth). Additionally, “0–9” and “10–19” groups were divided into two subgroups based on whether they practiced oral self-care. DFLE was defined as the average number of years a person could expect to live without disability, and was calculated by the multistate life table method based on a Markov model.

Results

DFLE (95% confidence interval) was 19.0 years (18.7–19.4) for 0–9 teeth, 20.1 (19.7–20.5) for 10–19 teeth, and 21.6 (21.2–21.9) for ≥ 20 teeth for men. For women, DFLE was 22.6 (22.3–22.9), 23.5 (23.1–23.8), and 24.7 (24.3–25.1), respectively. Practicing oral self-care was associated with longer DFLE, by 1.6–1.9 years with brushing ≥ 2 times a day in people with 0–9 and 10–19 teeth, and by 3.0–3.1 years with the use of dentures in those with 0–9 teeth.

Conclusions

Practicing oral self-care is associated with an increase in DFLE in older people with tooth loss.
Based on CT at the third lumbar spine level, the skeletal muscle index and psoas muscle index can predict osteoporosis
Authors: Huang Cheng-bin , Lin Duo-duo , Huang Jian-qiang , Hu Wei
Published: October 2022

Background

With the increasing number of studies on osteoporosis and muscle adipose tissue, existing studies have shown that skeletal muscle tissue and adipose tissue are closely related to osteoporosis by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurement. However, few studies have explored whether the skeletal muscle and adipose tissue index measured at the lumbar spine 3 (L3) level are closely related to bone mineral density (BMD) and can even predict osteoporosis. Therefore, this study aimed to prove whether skeletal muscle and adipose tissue index measured by computed tomography (CT) images based on a single layer are closely related to BMD.

Methods

A total of 180 participants were enrolled in this study to obtain skeletal muscle index (SMI), psoas muscle index (PMI), subcutaneous fat index (SFI), visceral fat index (VFI), and the visceral-to-subcutaneous ratio of the fat area (VSR) at L3 levels and divide them into osteoporotic and normal groups based on the T-score of DXA. Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze the correlation between SMI, PMI, SFI, VFI, VSR, and BMD. Similarly, spearman rank correlation was also used to analyze the correlation between SMI, PMI, SFI, VFI, VSR, and the fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was used to analyze the efficacy of SMI, PMI, SFI, VFI, and VSR in predicting osteoporosis.

Results

BMD of L1-4 was closely correlated with SMI, PMI, VFI and VSR (r = 0.199 p = 0.008, r = 0.422 p < 0.001, r = 0.253 p = 0.001, r = 0.310 p < 0.001). BMD of the femoral neck was only correlated with PMI and SFI (r = 0.268 p < 0.001, r = − 0.164 p-0.028). FRAX (major osteoporotic fracture) was only closely related to PMI (r = − 0.397 p < 0.001). FRAX (hip fracture) was closely related to SMI and PMI (r = − 0.183 p = 0.014, r = − 0.353 p < 0.001). Besides, FRAX (major osteoporotic fracture and hip fracture) did not correlate with VFI, SFI, and VSR. SMI and PMI were statistically significant, with the area under the curve (AUC) of 0.400 (95% confidence interval 0.312-0.488 p = 0.024) and 0.327 (95% confidence interval 0.244-0.410 p < 0.001), respectively. VFI, SFI, and VSR were not statistically significant in predicting osteoporosis.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that L3-based muscle index could assist clinicians in the diagnosis of osteoporosis to a certain extent, and PMI is superior to SMI in the diagnosis of osteoporosis. In addition, VFI, SFI, and VSR do not help clinicians to diagnose osteoporosis well.
Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among adolescents in India: a population-based study
Authors: Ramesh Sowmya , Abraham Ransi Ann , Sarna Avina , Sachdev Harshpal S. , Porwal Akash , Khan Nizamuddin , Acharya Rajib , Agrawal Praween K. , Ashraf Sana , Ramakrishnan Lakshmi
Published: October 2022

Background

In India, the prevalence of overweight among adolescents is on the rise, setting the stage for an increase in metabolic syndrome (MS). This paper presents the national prevalence of MS in adolescents in India.

Methods

A nationally representative data of adolescents (10–19 years) from the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey was used. MS was defined based on the NCEP–ATP III criteria for adolescents. Bivariate analysis was used to report socio-demographic differentials in prevalence and to assess interstate variability. Multivariate logistic regression model was constructed to measure the association between socio-demographic characteristics and prevalence of MS. Census data from 2011 was projected to 2017 to calculate burden.

Results

The prevalence of MS was 5.2% among adolescents. 11.9%, 15.4%, 26.0%, 31.9% and 3.7% had central obesity, high blood pressure, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL-cholesterol and high fasting glucose, respectively. The prevalence was higher among males (5.7% vs. 4.7%, adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0, 1.6), those residing in urban areas (7.9% vs 4.2%, AOR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1, 1.8), and from wealthier households as compared to their counterparts (8.3% vs. 2.4%, AOR: 3.4, 95% CI: 2.1, 5.5). There was wide interstate variability in the prevalence of MS (0.5% – 16.5%). In 2017, 14.2 million adolescents had MS in India.

Conclusions

The prevalence of MS among adolescents in India is low and clustered in urban areas and richer households. Early prevention interventions promoting a healthy lifestyle, especially in high prevalence areas, are needed to keep MS from becoming a public health issue.
Implementing a general practitioner-to-general physician eConsult service (eConsultant) in Australia
Authors: Job Jennifer , Nicholson Caroline , Calleja Zoe , Jackson Claire , Donald Maria
Published: October 2022

Background

In response to lengthy wait times for specialist outpatient appointments, electronic consultation (eConsult) services have developed globally, providing asynchronous, secure and timely communication between general practitioner (GP) and specialist. This study aims to track adoption of a Queensland eConsultant service in two Australian Primary Health Networks (Western Queensland and Brisbane South) to understand key barriers and enablers to adoption and inform modification of the implementation strategy. 

Methods

Our theory-informed mixed-methods evaluation assessed implementation between July 2020 and March 2022. Adoption and implementation activities were prospectively recorded in bespoke tracking spreadsheets with implementation activities coded against the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) strategies. Semi-structured interviews with GPs and stakeholders informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) were conducted to understand determinants of implementation. 

Results

Of the 40 practices invited to take part in the eConsultant service, 20 (50%) enrolled. Of the 97 GPs who consented, 38 sent at least one Request for Advice (RFA) to the eConsultant with a total of 112 RFA sent. Implementation was predominantly guided by eight strategies. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 11 GPs and 4 stakeholders (12 from rural/remote regions, 11 females and two sole practitioners). Interviewees felt the eConsultant service supported outpatient appointment avoidance and provided efficient, timely access to specialist support for GPs and their patients. Barriers identified to using eConsultant related to digital infrastructure, competing priorities, and keeping the service ‘front of mind’. Key enablers identified were the relative advantage of eConsultant over other options, patient benefits and COVD-19 facilitating the use of digital technology.

Conclusions

This evaluation highlighted service enablers as well as user priorities for broader implementation. A focus on a well-integrated digital system and availability of a variety of eConsultant specialties are seen as key strategies to embedding the eConsultant option in GP advice processes in Australia.
CCHCR1-astrin interaction promotes centriole duplication through recruitment of CEP72
Authors: Ying Zhenguang , Wang Kaifang , Wu Junfeng , Wang Mingyu , Yang Jing , Wang Xia , Zhou Guowei , Chen Haibin , Xu Hongwu , Sze Stephen Cho Wing , Gao Feng , Li Chunman , Sha Ou
Published: October 2022

Background

The centrosome is one of the most important non-membranous organelles regulating microtubule organization and progression of cell mitosis. The coiled-coil alpha-helical rod protein 1 (CCHCR1, also known as HCR) gene is considered to be a psoriasis susceptibility gene, and the protein is suggested to be localized to the P-bodies and centrosomes in mammalian cells. However, the exact cellular function of HCR and its potential regulatory role in the centrosomes remain unexplored.

Results

We found that HCR interacts directly with astrin, a key factor in centrosome maturation and mitosis. Immunoprecipitation assays showed that the coiled-coil region present in the C-terminus of HCR and astrin respectively mediated the interaction between them. Astrin not only recruits HCR to the centrosome, but also protects HCR from ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated degradation. In addition, depletion of either HCR or astrin significantly reduced centrosome localization of CEP72 and subsequent MCPH proteins, including CEP152, CDK5RAP2, and CEP63. The absence of HCR also caused centriole duplication defects and mitotic errors, resulting in multipolar spindle formation, genomic instability, and DNA damage.

Conclusion

We conclude that HCR is localized and stabilized at the centrosome by directly binding to astrin. HCR are required for the centrosomal recruitment of MCPH proteins and centriolar duplication. Both HCR and astrin play key roles in keeping normal microtubule assembly and maintaining genomic stability.