bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Imposed volunteering: Gender and caring responsibilities during the COVID-19 lockdown
Authors: Andersen Ditte , Toubøl Jonas , Kirkegaard Sine , Bang Carlsen Hjalmar
Published: October 2021

This article contributes to the sociology of care-relational justice by identifying, conceptualising and unpacking ‘imposed volunteering’ as a mechanism that shapes societal caring arrangements. Contemporary societies allocate care work disproportionately to women, ethnic minorities and working-class citizens, which exacerbates social inequalities. Distribution of caring responsibilities is a political question but often not recognised as such, because it is deeply immersed in everyday routines. Our study uses the context of the COVID-19 pandemic to dissect the distribution mechanisms that became unusually palpable when the lockdown of public welfare provision in Denmark relocated some forms of care work from professionals to volunteers. With the term imposed volunteering, we conceptualise the feeling of being coerced into taking on new caring responsibilities, which some women – and men – experienced during the lockdown. Drawing on a national, representative survey, we document that, compared to men, women carried out significantly more voluntary care work and organised voluntary work through informal personal networks rather than through formal civil society organisations to a significantly higher degree. We unpack the experience of imposed volunteering as it unfolded during the lockdown through qualitative case studies, and clarify how relational and institutional factors, such as gendered expectations and the sense of personal obligation, imposed volunteering. Our study illuminates the importance of public care, reciprocal caring relationships and care for carers, and demonstrates why the mobilisation of care work volunteers must take gendered implications into account if it is to be consistent with democratic commitments to justice, equality and freedom for all.
Dynamic walking characteristics and control of four-wheel mobile robot on ultra-high voltage multi-split transmission line
Authors: Wei Jiang , De hua Zou , Shuangbao Ma , Gaocheng Ye , Wei Chen
Published: October 2021

High-voltage lines are an important channel for power transmission, and multi-split transmission lines are the main strength of power transmission. Compared with double-wheel single-wire maintenance robots, ultra-high-voltage multi-split transmission lines and four-wheel mobile robots have a wider application range and greater demand. The maintenance of multi-split transmission lines relies on the stable walking and control of four-wheel mobile robots on heterogeneous multi-split transmission lines. However, uncertain disturbance factors such as wind load in the complex field environment cause vibration of double-split and quad-split lines. The slight change in the line spacing causes the line contact to the edge of the robot’s walking wheel, which increases the friction during the robot’s walking. It also directly hinder the movement of the robot on the multi-split transmission line, thus restricting the completion of the robot’s maintenance operation. Based on the analysis, this paper establishes a mathematical model of the external force disturbance influence on the spacing of the double-split lines. At the same time, the robot walking mechanics characteristics model under the change of the line space has been established. Three different forms of the robot walking online have been obtained through abstraction processing. A method of side friction identification based on fuzzy control has been proposed, through the online monitoring of the friction between line and edge of the walking wheel, the robot walking wheel motor walking force can be intelligently controlled in real time, and effectively avoids the “wheel-line” jam phenomenon under the external uncertain factors in the field environment. Finally, the feasibility and engineering practicability of the method have been verified through MATLAB/ADAMS simulation and field operation experiments. Therefore, the automation and intelligence level of the operation and the transmission system maintenance management has been improved.
A tube-based robust MPC for duty-cycled rotation needle steering systems with bounded disturbances
Authors: Qi Zhi , Luo Qianyue , Zhang Hui
Published: October 2021

In this paper, we aim to design the trajectory tracking controller for variable curvature duty-cycled rotation flexible needles with a tube-based model predictive control approach. A non-linear model is adopted according to the kinematic characteristics of the flexible needle and a bicycle method. The modeling error is assumed to be an unknown but bounded disturbance. The non-linear model is transformed to a discrete time form for the benefit of predictive controller design. From the application perspective, the flexible needle system states and control inputs are bounded within a robust invariant set when subject to disturbance. Then, the tube-based model predictive control is designed for the system with bounded state vector and inputs. Finally, the simulation experiments are carried out with tube-based model predictive control and proportional integral derivative controller based on the particle swarm optimisation method. The simulation results show that the tube-based model predictive control method is more robust and it leads to much smaller tracking errors in different scenarios.
The Mediating Effects of Social Self-Concept on Gender, Sexual Orientation, and Parenting Intentions
Authors: Miles Jeffrey A. , Naumann Stefanie E.
Published: October 2021

College students’ parenting intentions have received increased attention by scholars around the world in recent years, but little is known about potential demographic differences affecting the decision, such as gender and sexual orientation. The study proposed and empirically examined a model of the relationships between gender, sexual orientation, social self-concept, and parenting intentions in a large sample of university students on the west coast of the United States. The study found that social self-concept mediated the relationship between gender and parenting intentions for heterosexual students, but not for non-heterosexual students.
Evaluation of the effectiveness and acceptability of the long-acting oral antipsychotic penfluridol: Illustrative case series
Authors: Dunnett Danielle , Oloyede Ebenezer , Oduniyi Oluwakemi , Arroyo Barbara , Dzahini Olubanke , Taylor David , Shergill Sukhi S , Whiskey Eromona
Published: October 2021

Aim:

In this study, we sought to determine clinical outcomes at 1 year for patients prescribed penfluridol in an inner London National Health Service Trust. Using noninterventional data, we describe the use, effectiveness and safety of this treatment modality.

Results:

We retrospectively followed up 17 patients prescribed penfluridol as part of routine clinical practice. All patients took penfluridol once weekly. Of these patients, 12 (70.6%) were considered treatment resistant. The average duration of illness for this cohort was 10 years (SD = 6.7). At 1 year, nine (53%) patients remained on treatment. Median survival time was not reached at 1-year follow-up; mean time on penfluridol was 251 days (95% confidence interval (CI), 184–318). The mean number of admissions to hospital in the year following penfluridol initiation was 0.6 compared with 0.8, 1 year before initiation ( p = 0.465). The median number of bed days 1 year before penfluridol initiation was 24, whereas in the year following penfluridol initiation, it was 0 ( p = 0.514).

Clinical Implications:

Although penfluridol is unlicensed in the United Kingdom, limited data suggest that this long-acting oral therapy has the potential to be used safely and effectively for the treatment of psychotic disorders. However, more data are required to establish the place of penfluridol and other potential long-acting oral antipsychotic formulations in the treatment of psychotic disorders.
Association between the interleukin (IL)-17A rs2275913 polymorphism and rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility: a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis
Authors: Chen Ping , Li Yuhao , Li Liangliang , Zhang Guixin , Zhang Feng , Tang Yan , Zhou Li , Yang Yi , Li Jing
Published: October 2021

Objective

This meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between the interleukin (IL)-17A rs2275913 polymorphism and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility.

Methods

Eligible studies were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. The fixed- or random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) on the basis of heterogeneity.

Results

Overall, 11 studies containing 4019 RA patients and 4137 controls were included in this meta-analysis. The results suggested a significant association between the IL-17A rs2275913 polymorphism and RA susceptibility in the overall population (allelic model A vs. G: OR = 0.89, 95%CI: 0.83–0.95; heterozygote model GA vs. GG: OR = 0.87, 95%CI: 0.78–0.96; homozygote model AA vs. GG: OR = 0.82, 95%CI: 0.71–0.96; dominant model GA + AA vs. GG: OR = 0.86, 95%CI: 0.78–0.94). In the subgroup analyses, the IL-17A rs2275913 polymorphism was significantly associated with RA risk in Europeans (allelic model A vs. G: OR = 0.87, 95%CI: 0.78–0.97; heterozygote model GA vs. GG: OR = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.68–0.93; dominant model GA + AA vs. GG: OR = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.68–0.92), but not in Africans or Americans.

Conclusion

This study suggests that the IL-17A rs2275913 polymorphism is significantly associated with RA susceptibility in Europeans. INPLASY registration number: INPLASY202170056.
Comparative models for multi-step ahead wind speed forecasting applied for expected wind turbine power output prediction
Authors: Djuidje Kenmoé Germaine , Fogno Fotso Hervice Roméo , Aloyem Kazé Claude Vidal
Published: October 2021

This paper investigates six of the most widely used wind speed forecasting models for a combination of statistical and physical methods for the purpose of Wind Turbine Power Generation (WTPG) prediction in Cameroon. Statistical method based on both single static and dynamic neural networks architectures and two hybrid neural networks architectures in comparison to ARIMA model are employed for multi-step ahead wind speed forecasting in two Datasets in Bapouh, Cameroon. The physical method is used to estimate 1 day ahead expected WTPG for each Dataset using the previous predicted wind speed from better forecasting models. The obtained results of multi-step ahead forecasting showed that the ARIMA and nonlinear autoregression with exogenous input neural network (NARXNN) models perform well the wind speed forecasting than other forecasting models in both Datasets. The better performances of ARIMA are achieved with one-step ahead and two-step ahead forecasting, while NARXNN is better with one-step ahead forecasting. But NARXNN models have more computational time than other models such as ARIMA models. Furthermore, the effectiveness of employed hybrid method for WTPG prediction is proven.
Viscoelastic–Plastic Constitutive Model Considering the Damage Characteristics of Concrete in the Process of Nonlinear Creep
Authors: Li Yu , Qiang Sheng , Xu Chao , Xu Wenqiang , Lai Jiayu , Zhang Chengpeng , Zhu Zhongyuan , Zhang Hongshi
Published: October 2021

Under long-term load, the creep deformation of concrete materials has a serious impact on the structural safety of hydraulic structures, especially under the action of ultra-high stress levels, the concrete materials will undergo nonlinear creep, which is extremely easy to cause structural damage. In this study, the uniaxial nonlinear creep test of concrete specimens was used to establish the damage index based on the wave velocity value of ultrasonic flaw detection, and the creep and damage degree curve of the concrete specimen were obtained. The ideal elastic element, the Kelvin body, and the nonlinear viscoplastic element are connected in series, and a new viscoelastic–plastic model considering the creep characteristics of concrete is proposed. Based on the principle of least squares, the Levenberg–Marquardt (LM) algorithm is used to inverse the parameters of the nonlinear creep test. In addition, the model is verified by the measured data of linear creep. At the same time, the sensitivity of each model parameter is analyzed. The research shows that the LM algorithm can give the fitting parameters of the model better and faster, and the fitting values of the model are similar to the experimental results. The sensitivity analysis of the parameters shows that the proposed model has good stability and good adaptability. The model has a more accurate description of the various stages of creep, and may be conveniently applied to concrete creep calculations in actual projects.
CytoSorb purification in critically ill SARS-CoV-2 patients
Authors: Pieri Marina , Fominskiy Evgeny , Nardelli Pasquale , Bonizzoni Matteo A , Scandroglio Anna M
Published: October 2021

Objective:

To describe the experience with CytoSorb treatment in patients with refractory acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods:

Retrospective observational study on 15 patients treated in a University Hospital.

Results:

All patients were male, with a mean age of 55 ± 14 years; eight patients (53%) were on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) due to refractory ARDS and all (100%) under mechanical ventilation at the time of CytoSorb use. We observed reduction in the level of C reactive protein (−52%, p = 0.002), total bilirubin (−46%, p = 0.03), direct bilirubin (−50%, p = 0.02), and D-dimers (−39%, p = 0.04) during CytoSorb treatment and a trend toward reduction in lactate dehydrogenase (−20%, p = 0.2), creatine phosphokinase (−38%, p = 0.1), and fibrinogen (−15%, p = 0.07). Eight patients died (53%) and seven (47%) were discharged from the ICU, of which five had recovery of the native lung function and two were successfully bridged to lung transplantation on VV ECMO support. No difference between survivors and non-survivors was present at baseline. Patients received three CytoSorb cycles on average: mean duration of CytoSorb cycle was 17 h 21 min, but premature circuit clotting despite appropriate level of systemic anticoagulation was frequently observed.

Conclusions:

CytoSorb treatment was effective in improving several laboratory parameters and inflammation in our experience and no treatment-related adverse effects were recorded. In the light of the unique pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection, CytoSorb treatment is extremely promising, since it might both reduce inflammation and activation of coagulation.
Nursing Students and Nurses’ Recommendations Aiming at Improving the Development of the Humanistic Caring Competency
Authors: Létourneau Dimitri , Goudreau Johanne , Cara Chantal
Published: October 2021

Background

Most nursing education programs prepare their students to embody humanism and caring as it is expected by several regulatory bodies. Ensuring this embodiment in students and nurses remains a challenge because there is a lack of evidence about its progressive development through education and practice.

Purpose

This manuscript provides a description of nursing students’ and nurses’ recommendations that can foster the development of humanistic caring.

Methods

Interpretive phenomenology was selected as the study's methodological approach. Participants (n = 26) were recruited from a French-Canadian university and an affiliated university hospital. Data was collected through individual interviews. Data analysis consisted of an adaptation of Benner’s (1994) phenomenological principles that resulted in a five-stage interpretative process.

Results

The following five themes emerged from the phenomenological analysis of participants’ recommendations: 1) pedagogical strategies, 2) educators’ approach, 3) considerations in teaching humanistic caring, 4) work overload, and 5) volunteerism and externship.

Conclusion

The findings suggest the existence of a challenge when using mannikins in high-fidelity simulations with the intention of developing humanistic caring. The findings also reaffirm the importance of giving concrete and realistic exemplars of humanistic caring to students in order to prevent them from making “communication” synonymous to “humanization of care”.
The EU, the Visegrád Group, and Southeast Europe: Conflicting Perspectives within an Enlarging “European Identity”
Authors: Meredith Sebastian
Published: October 2021

This paper will compare and contrast Visegrád and Southeast European mobility towards (and away from) the European Union (EU) ideal of cohesion, in the process investigating conflicting “core” and “peripheral” assertions of “Europeanness.” Though the Visegrád states have exceeded economic expectations, they have to varying degrees stood in opposition to the values of the EU’s self-professed “European identity,” with Hungary and Poland in particular demonstrating increasing illiberalism. Meanwhile, in Southeast Europe, lacklustre economic performance has tended to contrast with increasingly liberal democratic rule and strong popular support for the EU “project.” The EU’s cohesion strategy has prioritized economic convergence and, ultimately, this has meant that budgetary considerations, and political rhetoric and scrutiny, have often favoured the rebellious but economically resurgent Visegrád states over the weaker economies of a more compliant Southeast Europe. The EU’s integration strategy of constructing “identity hegemony” depends upon both economic and socio-political convergence. This paper questions the congruence of these focuses, given the discriminatory application of integration incentives and the persistence of Orientalism/Balkanism in West European rhetoric.
Factors associated with congenital syphilis: A retrospective study in Jiangxi Province, China
Authors: Wan Zhihua , Tao Yuling , Zhang Huan , Hu Yang , Shu Kuanyong
Published: October 2021

Background

There are a lack of studies about factors influencing congenital syphilis (CS) in economically underdeveloped areas, such as Jiangxi Province, China.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted based on the information system of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of syphilis management in Jiangxi Province, China. Pregnant women with syphilis infection who delivered ≥28 gestational weeks and registered in this system from 1 January 2013 to 2030 June 2018 were enrolled. Maternal characteristics and treatment regimens associated with CS were evaluated using multivariable regression analysis.

Results

1196 syphilis infected mothers and their 1207 infants were included in the analyses, and 116 infants were diagnosed with CS, providing an overall incidence of 9.61% (116/1207). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that increasing maternal age was barely associated with the risk of CS (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.97, 95% CI, 0.93–1.00, p = .047). Women with a high nontreponemal serum test titer (≥1:8) had a 126% increased risk of delivering an infant with CS than those with a low titer (<1:8) (aOR = 2.26, 95% CI, 1.51–3.39, p < .001). The risk for CS decreased significantly in infants born to mothers receiving adequate treatment than those receiving no treatment (aOR = 0.36, 95% CI, 0.21–0.61, p < .001).

Conclusions

Adequate treatment is critical for the prevention of CS. Further strategies focusing on early diagnosis and adequate treatment among syphilis infected pregnant women, particularly among those with younger age and high nontreponemal titer, should be strengthened to prevent CS.
Minding Your Own Business? Mindfulness Decreases Prosocial Behavior for People With Independent Self-Construals
Authors: Poulin Michael J. , Ministero Lauren M. , Gabriel Shira , Morrison C. Dale , Naidu Esha
Published: October 2021

Mindfulness appears to promote individual well-being, but its interpersonal effects are less clear. Two studies in adult populations tested whether the effects of mindfulness on prosocial behavior differ according to individuals’ self-construals. In Study 1 ( N = 366), a brief mindfulness induction, compared with a meditation control condition, led to decreased prosocial behavior among people with relatively independent self-construals but had the opposite effect among those with relatively interdependent self-construals. In Study 2 ( N = 325), a mindfulness induction led to decreased prosocial behavior among people primed with independence but had the opposite effect among those primed with interdependence. The effects of mindfulness on prosocial behavior appear to depend on individuals’ broader social goals. This may have implications for the increasing popularity of mindfulness training around the world.
When Helping Is Risky: The Behavioral and Neurobiological Trade-off of Social and Risk Preferences
Authors: Gross Jörg , Faber Nadira S. , Kappes Andreas , Nussberger Anne-Marie , Cowen Philip J. , Browning Michael , Kahane Guy , Savulescu Julian , Crockett Molly J. , De Dreu Carsten K. W.
Published: October 2021

Helping other people can entail risks for the helper. For example, when treating infectious patients, medical volunteers risk their own health. In such situations, decisions to help should depend on the individual’s valuation of others’ well-being (social preferences) and the degree of personal risk the individual finds acceptable (risk preferences). We investigated how these distinct preferences are psychologically and neurobiologically integrated when helping is risky. We used incentivized decision-making tasks (Study 1; N = 292 adults) and manipulated dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain by administering methylphenidate, atomoxetine, or a placebo (Study 2; N = 154 adults). We found that social and risk preferences are independent drivers of risky helping. Methylphenidate increased risky helping by selectively altering risk preferences rather than social preferences. Atomoxetine influenced neither risk preferences nor social preferences and did not affect risky helping. This suggests that methylphenidate-altered dopamine concentrations affect helping decisions that entail a risk to the helper.
Do Monkeys and Young Children Understand Exclusive “Or” Relations? A Commentary on Ferrigno et al. (2021)
Authors: Gautam Shalini , Suddendorf Thomas , Redshaw Jonathan
Published: October 2021

Ferrigno et al. (2021) claim to provide evidence that monkeys can reason through the disjunctive syllogism (given A or B, not A, therefore B) and conclude that monkeys therefore understand logical “or” relations. Yet their data fail to provide evidence that the baboons they tested understood the exclusive “or” relations in the experimental task. For two mutually exclusive possibilities—A or B—the monkeys appeared to infer that B was true when A was shown to be false, but they failed to infer that B was false when A was shown to be true. In our own research, we recently found an identical response pattern in 2.5- to 4-year-old children, whereas 5-year-olds demonstrated that they could make both inferences. The monkeys’ and younger children’s responses are instead consistent with an incorrect understanding of A and B as having an inclusive “or” relation. Only the older children provided compelling evidence of representing the exclusive “or” relation between A and B.
Systematic Analyses of a Chemokine Family-Based Risk Model Predicting Clinical Outcome and Immunotherapy Response in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Chen Jiarui , Liu Xingyu , Wu Qiuji , Jiang Xueping , Zeng Zihang , Li Jiali , Gao Yanping , Gong Yan , Xie Conghua
Published: October 2021

Chemokines exhibited complicated functions in antitumor immunity, with their expression profile and clinical importance of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients remaining largely undetermined. This study aimed to explore the expression patterns of chemokine family in LUAD and construct a predictive chemokine family-based signature. A total of 497 samples were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data portal as the training set, and the combination of 4 representative Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets, including GSE30219, GSE50081, GSE37745, and GSE31210, were utilized as the validation set. A three gene-based signature was constructed using univariate and stepwise multivariate Cox regression analysis, classifying patients into high and low risk groups according to the overall survival. The independent GEO datasets were utilized to validate this signature. Another multivariate analysis revealed that this signature remained an independent prognostic factor in LUAD patients. Furthermore, patients in the low risk group featured immunoactive tumor microenvironment (TME), higher IPS scores and lower TIDE scores, and was regarded as the potential beneficiaries of immunotherapy. Finally, the role of risky CCL20 was validated by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and patients possessed higher CCL20 expression presented shorter overall survival ( P = 0.011).
Non-Partisan School: A Conservative Education Initiative in Brazil
Authors: Hypolito Álvaro Moreira , Lima Iana Gomes de
Published: October 2021

The main goal of this article is to analyse the Non-Partisan School movement (EsP, or Escola sem Partido) which articulates social and political actors around a conservative agenda for education in Brazil. Based on Ball’s studies, this article analyses political governance networks using a free software, GEPHI, using a qualitative network methodology. The article analyses some relevant social actors in this conservative initiative. The research shows that the Non-Partisan School, though presented as an initiative against ideological indoctrination, is in fact the result of a strong combination of ideological, conservative and partisan interests. The article shows that EsP is a conservative agenda among other movements in the struggle for ideological hegemony in the educational field.
A computational study of effects of material properties, strain level, and friction coefficient on smart stent behavior and peripheral artery performance during the interaction process
Authors: Nematzadeh Fardin
Published: October 2021

Peripheral artery stenting (PAS) is an effective alternative for peripheral endarterectomy. Smart stents can be used to minimize the problems of interaction between peripheral arteries and smart stent. To evaluate the biomechanical properties of smart stents and their interactions with the peripheral artery, a 3D nonlinear finite element method (FEM) model that was composed of a peripheral artery and a smart stent was built. The present simulation modeled smart superelasticity material based on thermodynamics of the Helmholtz free energy (Auricchio theory) and Peripheral artery based on hyperelastic models (Mooney-Rivlin and Ogden). Additionally, the present study used FEM to assess the influences of the material properties, strain level, and friction coefficient (with attention to smart stent’s materials properties) of the newly designed smart stent during crimping and its interaction with the peripheral artery. The results showed that the smart stent with high Af: Austenite finish temperature, 90% crimping, and friction coefficient of 0.1 between smart stent and peripheral artery performed better mechanically and clinically, which can be attributed to suitable Chronic Outward Force (COF), high Radial Resistive Force (RRF), whole mechanical hysteresis regarding superelastic performance, the high martensite formation, the low stress on the peripheral artery, and the high strain on the internal curvature of the smart stent and peripheral artery. Moreover, it was found that the Mooney-Rivlin model showed a better mechanical performance that the Ogden model given the distribution of stress and strain level on the peripheral artery. These models were appropriate for the description of the peripheral artery performance and smart stent behavior with considering material properties, strain level, and friction coefficient during the interaction process.
Implementing a Novel Interprofessional Caregiver Support Clinic: A Palliative Medicine and Social Work Collaboration
Authors: Toor Harleen , Barrett Rebecca , Myers Jeff , Parry Natalie
Published: October 2021

Background:

High levels of burden and, in more severe instances, burnout represents a significant issue for caregivers of patients with advanced cancer. Early identification and management of caregiver distress and cultivating caregiver resiliency are seldom considered elements of routine care.

Aim:

To leverage the complementary expertise of palliative medicine and social work using an integrated model of care to assess and manage caregiver needs.

Methods:

This quality improvement initiative involved the design and implementation of a novel and collaborative Caregiver Support Clinic (CSC), providing joint palliative medicine-social work encounters to caregivers of patients with advanced cancer.

Results:

Caregivers felt the CSC provided a forum to discuss and review relevant, but previously neglected, care elements. The concerted collaborative efforts demonstrated by clinicians were found to be reassuring and comforting. Clinicians felt CSC visits prevented duplicative information gathering processes, enabled the ability to efficiently arrive at recommendations and both ensured continuity with, and avoided fragmentation of, care.

Conclusions:

By addressing the needs of caregivers through a dyadic, joint encounter, fragmentation and duplication in care can be reduced and both integrated and coordinated management can be efficiently provided. Caregiver and clinician experiences confirm this model of care for caregivers is likely to be beneficial and feasible.
Mapping and Visualization of Cancer Research in Indonesia: A Scientometric Analysis
Authors: Puspitaningtyas Herindita , Espressivo Aufia , Hutajulu Susanna H , Fuad Anis , Allsop Matthew J
Published: October 2021

Introduction

The incidence of cancer and its prevalence are increasing in Indonesia. It is crucial to ensure national cancer policies are evidence-based and promote research. While cancer research is being conducted across Indonesia, the extent and focus of research activities are not known, with no existing synthesis of the cancer research landscape. We seek to address this gap by characterising trends in the extent and types of cancer research conducted in Indonesia.

Methods

Scientometric study using descriptive analyses to determine annual growth patterns in publications across all cancer research literature from Indonesia. We developed a classification system for both research type and study design which was applied to all included publications. A visualisation software tool (VOSviewer) was used to explore the geographical distribution of research activity. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to determine the influence of international collaboration on the impact factor of journals in which articles were published.

Results

We retrieved 1773 cancer-related articles published by Indonesia-affiliated authors from 1961 to 2020, with notable year-on-year increases in the annual total number of published articles since 2015. Most articles (84.0%) were published by authors affiliated with institutions on Java Island. The most commonly published article type was basic research and discovery science (28.8%), using a one-group analytical study design (28.8%). International collaboration was significantly correlated with a higher h-index of the journal in which research was published (P < .0001, r = .317).

Conclusion

An increase in the number and range of topics explored in cancer-related publications over time was identified. The summary of the current corpus of cancer-related research for Indonesia can be used to direct the development of the national cancer control plan alongside informing the national cancer research strategy. Our novel and feasible scientometric approach can be used to direct future national and regional mapping of cancer research.
miR-124 Is Downregulated in Serum of Acute Cerebral Infarct Patients and Shows Diagnostic and Prognostic Value
Authors: Zhou Xiaojuan , Qi Lizhong
Published: October 2021

Acute cerebral infarct (ACI) is a severe subtype of ischemic stroke. microRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in the pathogenesis of ACI. This study investigated the expression pattern and clinical implication of miR-124 in ACI patients. Serum samples were collected from 108 healthy people and 108 ACI patients at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. Serum miR-124 expression was tested using qRT-PCR. The levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were detected using ELISA kits. The correlations between miR-124 expression and infarct classification, infarct size, risk factors, and inflammatory factors were analyzed. The diagnostic efficacy of miR-124 in ACI was analyzed by the ROC curve. ACI patients were assigned to the miR-124 high/low expression group and the incidence of poor prognosis was compared between the two groups. miR-124 expression was poorly expressed in the serum of ACI patients. The area under the ROC curve of miR-124 in the diagnosis of ACI was 0.9527, the specificity was 91.67%, and the sensitivity was 93.52%. miR-124 expression in ACI patients was not affected by infarct classification, infarct size, low-density lipoprotein level, and homocysteine level. miR-124 expression was negatively correlated with IL-6, IL-8, and CRP in ACI patients. Low expression of miR-124 was positively correlated with the poor prognosis of ACI. miR-124 was poorly expressed in the serum of ACI patients and served as a biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis. This study shall confer a promising novel target for the diagnosis and treatment of ACI.
Serum Neurofilament Light as a Biomarker of Traumatic Brain Injury in the Presence of Concomitant Peripheral Injury
Authors: Wong Ker Rui , O’Brien William T , Sun Mujun , Yamakawa Glenn , O’Brien Terence J , Mychasiuk Richelle , Shultz Sandy R , McDonald Stuart J , Brady Rhys D
Published: October 2021

Introduction:

Serum neurofilament light (NfL) is an emerging biomarker of traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the effect of peripheral injuries such as long bone fracture and skeletal muscle injury on serum NfL levels is unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether serum NfL levels can be used as a biomarker of TBI in the presence of concomitant peripheral injuries.

Methods:

Rats were randomly assigned to one of four injury groups: polytrauma (muscle crush + fracture + TBI; n = 11); peripheral injuries (muscle crush + fracture + sham-TBI; n = 12); TBI-only (sham-muscle crush + sham-fracture + TBI; n = 13); and triple-sham (n = 7). At 2-days post-injury, serum levels of NfL were quantified using a Simoa HD-X Analyzer.

Results:

Compared to triple-sham rats, serum NfL concentrations were higher in rats with peripheral injuries-only, TBI-only, and polytrauma. When compared to peripheral injury-only rats, serum NfL levels were higher in TBI-only and polytrauma rats. No differences were found between TBI-only and polytrauma rats.

Conclusion:

Serum NfL levels did not differ between TBI-only and polytrauma rats, indicating that significant peripheral injuries did not affect the sensitivity and specificity of serum NfL as a biomarker of moderate TBI. However, the finding of elevated serum NfL levels in rats with peripheral injuries in the absence of a TBI suggests that the presence of such injuries may limit the utility of NfL as a biomarker of less severe TBI (eg, concussion).
Methods for identifying and evaluating disruptive technologies in university spinoffs
Authors: Almeida Fernando
Published: October 2021

The entrepreneurs responsible for establishing university spinoffs are incessantly looking for new ways to leverage existing technology or create an entirely new product or service market. The creation of disruptive innovative solutions has assumed a key role in enhancing the role of university spinoffs in the global marketplace. This study aims to characterize and explore the phenomenon of disruptive innovation in university spinoffs and identify how university spinoffs recognize and evaluate low-end and new-market disruptive technologies. The findings reveal that university spin-offs have essentially privileged new-market disruptive technologies. Participation in trade fairs, conferences and journals have been the main methods adopted by these organizations to identify disruptive technologies, while the evaluation of the potential of these disruptive technologies is essentially based on the experience and scientific knowledge of the founders of the university spin-offs. Furthermore, the size and number of years of activity of university spinoffs are two factors that allow us to understand the greater proximity of the younger and smaller spinoffs with universities and research centers, whereas the larger organizations prioritize mainly market analysis and product research techniques.
Dreamlands: stories of enchantment and excess in a search for lost sensations
Authors: Dickens Luke , Edensor Tim
Published: October 2021

This paper reflects on the search for a lost, obscure piece of experimental architecture that appeared on the west coast of Scotland in the late 1960s. Encouraged by cultural geography’s efforts to recuperate storytelling as a valid mode of inquiry and to adopt a more enchanted, affirmative disposition to our endeavors, we develop a geographical story intended to draw out how enchanted experiences gained through curiosity and an openness to contingencies can serve as a vital force for sustaining geographical ways of being, doing and knowing with the world. This account focuses on our encounters with various research sites that we identify as ‘dreamlands’ to express the idiosyncratic, unregulated, unexpected sensations of wonder and delight that such places evoked, the excessive materialities they revealed and the imaginative processes they elicited. We argue that such dreamlands are not as superfluous as might be assumed by their uncanny absence from the polished end-products of scholarship, and instead, allude to the latent forces of enchantment to which geographers might become better attuned when conducting and crafting their research.
In the End, There Is No Such Thing as Unconscious Racism: CRT/Asian American Crit Counterstories by Undergraduate Students During the Pandemic
Authors: Hau Lam Jeremy , Le Katrina , Parker Laurence
Published: October 2021

This article emerged from undergraduate students in an Honors College class on critical race theory at the University of Utah during the spring semester 2020 during the pandemic. The counterstories evolve around critical race theory/Asian American Crit and the historical and current violence against the Asian American community in the United States. Given the recent anti-Asian American backlash which has emerged through the COVID-19 crisis, to the March 2021 murders of the Asian American women and others in Atlanta, we present these counterstories with the imperative of their importance for critical social justice to combat White supremacy.
Organized memory and popular remembering: The encounter of Yugonostalgia theories with socialism
Authors: Breznik Maja , Močnik Rastko
Published: October 2021

The article first examines the contrast between popular remembering and the official presentation of Yugoslav socialist past in Slovenia. We examine the discursive patterns in political dignitaries’ declarations and reconstruct popular remembering as it emerges from the existing research. We focus on theories that conceptualize positive popular attitudes towards socialist past with the notion of ‘nostalgia’. Following the ways how researchers overcome the difficulties of the ‘Yugonostalgia’ approach, we note that they do not take into account the embeddedness of the positive achievements of socialism into the overall fabric of socialist system. According to our hypothesis, this omission induces the researchers to overestimate the present social and political impact of positive attitudes to socialist past. Furthermore, social struggles in which researchers are engaged seem to raise barriers to scientific practice. This study attempts to contribute to the project of Yugoslav memory studies.
Ovarian metastases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: clinical presentation, role of surgery, and potential value of the mutational profile for the differential diagnosis with primary mucinous ovarian carcinoma
Authors: de Malet Alice , Svrcek Magali , Kerbaol Anne , Theou-Anton Nathalie , Granier Sandra , Dokmak Safi , Paye François , André Thierry , de Mestier Louis , Cros Jérôme , Hammel Pascal
Published: October 2021

Background:

Ovarian metastases (OM) of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA) (OM-PA) can mimic primary ovarian mucinous carcinoma (POMC) on imaging and histology. These metastases are often symptomatic and not highly chemosensitive, so that oophorectomy may be considered.

Aims:

The aims of this study were to compare the characteristics of OM-PA and POMC, and discuss the role of surgery.

Patients and Methods:

Clinical, imaging, and histological data of patients with OM-PA and POMC (2000–2017) in three tertiary centers were reviewed. Twenty-six genes were analyzed by next generation sequencing (NGS) on both primary PA and OM-PA.

Results:

Twenty-two women with OM-PA ( n = 13, 11 with surgical resection) or POMC ( n = 9) were selected. OM-PA were smaller than POMC ( p = 0.02); imaging, histological, and immunohistochemistry data did not clearly differentiate OM-PA from POMC in 12 of 22 cases (54%). Seven PA/OM-PA pairs were analyzed, and a concordant KRAS mutation was identified in all cases. In four OM-PA, concordant mutations were also found in TP53 ( n = 3), SMAD4 ( n = 1), MET ( n = 1), and PDGFRA ( n = 1) genes. The aim of oophorectomy in 11 OM-PA was for antalgic ( n = 6) or curative ( n = 5) intent. Pain improved in 4/6 of the former patients, but 2/6 had significant morbidity, and 2/6 died of rapid tumor progression. After oophorectomy, median progression-free and overall survivals were 6 (0–11) and 8 months (1–131), respectively.

Conclusion:

Analysis of mutation profiles in both primary PA and ovarian tumors, especially KRAS, can help to determine the pancreatic origin of OM-PA. Surgical resection of OM-AP in highly selected patients may improve pelvic symptoms but may also cause significant morbidity. The benefit to survival requires further studies.
Tanshinone IIA Shows Higher Antiproliferative Activities than Sinapic Acid in 4 Cancer Cell Lines and Simultaneously Induces Apoptosis and Necroptosis in Human Lung Cancer A549 Cells
Authors: Lin Chueh-Yu , Tam Ly Minh , Yang Shih Hsien , Lai Shang-Chih , Chang Tung-Wu , Lin I-Hsin , Tzeng Yin-Jeh
Published: October 2021

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) and sinapic acid (SA) are 2 components separately isolated from 2 Asian medicinal plants, Hydnophytum formicarum Jack and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. The antitumor activities of them were worth exploring, therefore, we examined their antitumor activities in A549, HCT116, HeLa, and Colo320 cancer cell lines by means of WST-1 assay. The results show that Tan IIA exerted far higher (IC50 from 1.0 ± 0.0 to 166.3 ± 24.0 µg/mL) antiproliferative activities than SA (IC50 from 2236.3 ± 484.1 to >10 000.0 µg/mL). Of the 4 cell lines, A549 cells were the most sensitive to Tan IIA; thus, we used Western blotting to explore the cytotoxic mechanisms of Tan IIA in A549 cells and found that they rely on simultaneous induction of apoptosis and necroptosis in the cells. Apoptosis was hallmarked by the induction of cleaved caspase-3 by Tan IIA and necroptosis by the necroptotic marker proteins cyclophilin A and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), as well as increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities. The necroptotic effect was confirmed by the necroptosis inhibitor necrostatin-1 (Nec-1), which eliminated these effects and restored cell survival rates. The levels of cyclophilin A decreased in response to the pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk, and those of cleaved caspase-3 decreased in response to Nec-1. Conclusively, Tan IIA has the potential to prevent lung cancer and the mechanism seems to be apoptosis and necroptosis, of which the relationship is mutually interdependent. This is the first report of Tan IIA eliciting necroptosis in A549 cells. Tan IIA may be used for necroptosis-based cancer therapy, especially to overcome apoptosis resistance.
Consensus Enables Accurate Social Judgments
Authors: Bjornsdottir R. Thora , Hehman Eric , Human Lauren J.
Published: October 2021

Ubiquitous to theories of social perception is an assumed relationship between an attribute’s (e.g., intelligence) “signal” and judgment accuracy, with accuracy impossible without the presence and consensual use of signal. Yet this foundational assumption remains untested. Our investigation focused on consensus (quantified using intraclass correlations, ICCs), which should suggest signal availability, according to theories of accurate social perception. Study 1 confirmed that judgments of different social attributes exhibit different degrees of consensus. Study 2 specifically tested the consensus → accuracy link, anticipating that social judgments with higher consensus (target ICCs) would show greater judgment accuracy. Using 497,780 judgments of 3,847 targets from 4,162 participants across 45 data sets testing a broad variety of social judgments, we found that consensus moderated the relationship between targets’ self-report and participants’ judgments: Judgment accuracy was higher when consensus was higher. Results show the first empirical support for a foundational assumption of theories of social perception.
Current updates on protein as biomarkers for diabetic kidney disease: a systematic review
Authors: Sauriasari Rani , Safitri Dhonna Dwi , Azmi Nuriza Ulul
Published: October 2021

Background:

In the past decade, researchers have been focused on discovering protein biomarkers for diabetic kidney disease. This paper aims to search for, analyze, and synthesize current updates regarding the development of these efforts.

Methods:

We systematically searched the ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and PubMed databases for observational studies of protein biomarkers in patients with diabetes mellitus. We included studies published between January 2018 and April 2020, that were based on a population of patients with type-1 or type-2 diabetes mellitus aged ⩾18 years, with an observational design such as cross-sectional, case–control, or cohort studies. The dependent variable of the research results was in the form of protein biomarkers from urine, plasma, or serum.

Results:

Following the screening process, 20 research articles with available full text met the inclusion criteria. These could be categorized as glomerular biomarkers (ANGPTL4, beta-2 microglobulin, Smad1, and glypican-5); inflammatory biomarkers (MCP-1 and adiponectin); and tubular biomarkers (NGAL, VDBP, megalin, sKlotho, and KIM-1). The development of a panel of biomarkers showed more promising results than those for a single biomarker in diagnosing diabetic kidney disease.

Conclusion:

All the biomarkers discussed in this review showed promising results for predicting diabetic kidney disease because they correlate with albuminuria, eGFR, or both. However, of the 11 protein biomarkers, none have prognostic value beyond albuminuria and eGFR.