bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Imagining the End of Official Social Work: Thinking Beyond the Possible and Probable
Authors: Brockmann Oliver 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
This article seeks to critically engage Chris Maylea’s 2020 provocative call to end official social work by suggesting that the debate it sparked has the potential to expand the contemporary social work discourse. This article explores the complexities and potential dangers of Maylea’s radical call, particularly its susceptibility to co-option by neo-conservative agendas. Whilst the idea of calling for the end of official social work may seem absurd, the article maintains that it might serve as an intellectual tool to overcome the ‘imaginary inertia’ that arguably plagues discussions about reforming the profession. Drawing on Michel Foucault’s concept of ‘episteme’ and Gaston Bachelard’s ‘categories of the real’, it suggests that Maylea’s call for abolition challenges the established boundaries of what is considered possible and probable in the critical social work discourse. This might open new avenues that might otherwise remain invisible to reimagine the future of the profession. Consequently, it is posited that imagining the end of official social work may align with and expand opposing calls for reformation of the profession.
Mapping interictal discharges using intracranial EEG-fMRI to predict postsurgical outcomes
Authors: Wilson William , Tehrani Negar , Pittman Daniel J , Dykens Perry , Mosher Victoria , Gill Laura , Peedicail Joseph , George Antis G , Beers Craig A , Goodyear Bradley , LeVan Pierre , Federico Paolo 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Various subjective and objective methods have been proposed to identify which interictal epileptiform discharge (IED)-related EEG-functional MRI (fMRI) results are more likely to delineate seizure-generating tissue in patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy for the purposes of surgical planning. In this intracranial EEG-fMRI study, we evaluated the utility of these methods to localize clinically relevant regions preoperatively and compared the extent of resection of these areas to postoperative outcome.
Seventy patients admitted for intracranial video-EEG monitoring were recruited for a simultaneous intracranial EEG-fMRI study. For all analyses of blood oxygen level-dependent responses associated with IEDs, an experienced epileptologist identified the most clinically relevant brain activation cluster using available clinical information. The maximum cluster (the cluster with the highest z-score) was also identified for all analyses and assigned to one of three confidence levels (low, medium or high) based on the difference of the peak z-scores between the maximum and second maximum cluster (the cluster with the second highest peak z-value). The distance was measured and compared between the peak voxel of the aforementioned clusters and the electrode contacts where the interictal discharge and seizure onset were recorded. In patients who subsequently underwent epilepsy surgery, the spatial concordance between the aforementioned clusters and the area of resection was determined and compared to postoperative outcome.
We evaluated 106 different IEDs in 70 patients. Both subjective (identification of the clinically relevant cluster) and objective (maximum cluster much more significant than the second maximum cluster) methods of culling non-localizing EEG-fMRI activation maps increased the spatial concordance between these clusters and the corresponding IED or seizure onset zone contacts. However, only the objective methods of identifying medium and high confidence maps resulted in a significant association between resection of the peak voxel of the maximum cluster and postoperative outcome. Resection of this area was associated with good postoperative outcomes but was not sufficient for seizure freedom. On the other hand, we found that failure to resect the medium and high confidence maximum clusters was associated with a poor post-surgical outcome (negative predictive value = 1.0, sensitivity = 1.0).
Methods to identify higher confidence EEG-fMRI results are needed to localize areas necessary for good postoperative outcomes. However, resection of the peak voxel within higher confidence maximum clusters is not sufficient for good outcomes. Conversely, failure to resect the peak voxel in these clusters is associated with a poor post-surgical outcome.
The Evergrande Story: A Look into Chinese Corporate Law and the Redefinition of Privately Owned Enterprises and Their Relationship to State-Owned Enterprises in the Chinese Economy
Authors: Chow Yun Kei 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
In December 2021, Evergrande, the second-largest private property developer in China, defaulted on its debt and became the most indebted firm in the world with over $300 billion in liabilities. Its default marked the beginning of a real estate crisis in China, one that is still in the process of being resolved. The Chinese State, through its State-owned enterprises (SOEs), has played an enormous role in mitigating the crisis. Had it not, it is very unlikely that Evergrande would remain in existence today, with huge ramifications for Chinese society and the national economy. This article undertakes a case study of Evergrande, a privately owned enterprise (POE) that exhibits SOE characteristics, to shed further light on the web of interactions between large enterprises in China. It reconsiders how ‘private’ some POEs are in the Chinese economy and argues that, at a certain level, both SOEs and POEs operate in a co-dependent manner. Not only does this challenge the conventional distinction between SOEs and POEs, but it also has wide-ranging implications for corporate governance in China. Indeed, SOEs find themselves having to bail out POEs and are exerting control over POEs in which they have no equity stake. SOEs are thus financially burdened with protecting all large enterprises including POEs, whereas POEs can operate in an unregulated fashion and receive rents from their close ties to SOEs. Altogether, this article’s analysis showcases the operation of various themes of Chinese corporate governance and contributes to the existing literature seeking to understand the unique role of the State in Chinese enterprises.
Adenosine kinase inhibition protects mice from abdominal aortic aneurysm via epigenetic modulation of VSMC inflammation
Authors: Xu Jiean , Liu Zhiping , Yang Qiuhua , Ma Qian , Zhou Yaqi , Cai Yongfeng , Zhao Dingwei , Zhao Guizhen , Lu Tammy , Ouyang Kunfu , Hong Mei , Kim Ha Won , Shi Huidong , Zhang Jifeng , Fulton David , Miller Clint , Malhotra Rajeev , Weintraub Neal L , Huo Yuqing 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Aims
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common, serious vascular disease with no effective pharmacological treatment. The nucleoside adenosine plays an important role in modulating vascular homeostasis, which prompted us to determine whether adenosine kinase (ADK), an adenosine metabolizing enzyme, modulates AAA formation via control of the intracellular adenosine level, and to investigate the underlying mechanisms.

Methods and results
We used a combination of genetic and pharmacological approaches in murine models of AAA induced by calcium chloride (CaCl2) application or angiotensin II (Ang II) infusion to study the role of ADK in the development of AAA. In vitro functional assays were performed by knocking down ADK with adenovirus-short hairpin RNA in human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), and the molecular mechanisms underlying ADK function were investigated using RNA-sequencing, isotope tracing, and chromatin immunoprecipitation quantitative polymerase chain reaction (ChIP-qPCR). The heterozygous deficiency of ADK protected mice from CaCl2- and Ang II-induced AAA formation. Moreover, specific knockout of ADK in VSMCs prevented Ang II-induced AAA formation, as evidenced by reduced aortic extracellular elastin fragmentation, neovascularization, and aortic inflammation. Mechanistically, ADK knockdown in VSMCs markedly suppressed the expression of inflammatory genes associated with AAA formation, and these effects were independent of adenosine receptors. The metabolic flux and ChIP-qPCR results showed that ADK knockdown in VSMCs decreased S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)-dependent transmethylation, thereby reducing H3K4me3 binding to the promoter regions of the genes that are associated with inflammation, angiogenesis, and extracellular elastin fragmentation. Furthermore, the ADK inhibitor ABT702 protected mice from CaCl2-induced aortic inflammation, extracellular elastin fragmentation, and AAA formation.

Conclusion
Our findings reveal a novel role for ADK inhibition in attenuating AAA via epigenetic modulation of key inflammatory genes linked to AAA pathogenesis.
Combined biomarker testing for the assessment of cardio-renal interactions among myocardial infarction patients
Authors: Shacham Y , Frydman S , Freund O , Abu Katash H , Banai S 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
None.

Background
The utility of different biomarkers for the prediction of either renal or cardiovascular outcomes following ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has been evaluated in several studies however, very few data exist on the prognostic value of combining biomarkers. Among numerous biomarkers examined, C-reactive protein (CRP) and Neutrophil gelatinase associated Lipocalin (NGAL) stand high in their utility to assess the cardiorenal crosstalk. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of combined CRP and NGAL measurement for the assessment of renal and cardiovascular outcomes in reperfused STEMI patients.

Methods
Blood samples for plasma NGAL and CRP were drawn 24 hours after admission. High NGAL and CRP were defined as values within the 4th quartile (&gt;75percentile). Patients were stratified into 4 study groups: Low NGAL/Low CRP, LOW NGAL/high CRO, High NGAL /low CRP and high NGAL/high CRP. Patients were assessed for the occurrence of in-hospital adverse clinical events (MACE). These included occurrence of acute kidney injury , 30-day mortality and their combination.

Results
A total of 311 patients were included (mean age 66 ± 14 years, 81% males).
According to the 4 study groups, there was a stepwise increase in the proportion of in hospital MACE ( 9% vs. 21% vs. 40% vs. 68% ;p,0.001,figure 1). In a multivariate regression model , compared to patients having low NGAL/low CRP we observed a graded, independent increase in the risk for MACE for low NGAL/high CRP , high NGAL/low CRP and high NGAL/high CRP levels( OR 2.89, p=0.02 vs. OR 3.29,p&lt;0.001 vs. OR 17.6,p&lt;0.001 respectively).
Peak concentrations showed significant areas under the curves (AUCs) for the prediction of MACE for both CRP AUC (0.692,95% CI 0.62-0.76) and NGAL ( AUC 0.778,95% CI 0.72-0.84). The combination of NGAL and CRP yielded a significant increase in AUC to 0.822 (95% CI 0.77 to 0.88) (combined biomarkers vs CRP: p&lt;0.001 and combined vs. NGAL :p=0.02,figure 2).

Conclusions
In patients with reperfused STEMI, the combined assessment of NGAL and CRP provided incremental prognostic information for the prediction of in hospital MACE when compared with single-biomarker measurement.Proportion of in-hospital MACEAUC CR NGAL
Screening the influence of features for metabolic syndrome in occupational population based on Lasso and Elastic Net algorithms
Authors: Wang M 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
None.

Objective
Screening features associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) is essential for early detection in the occupational population. In this study, we utilized two machine learning algorithms to screen MetS features and compared the performance of models constructed from these screened features.

Method
A total of 3,077 workers’examination records were considered from our hospital. However, 233 records were excluded due to incompleteness and errors, resulting in a final dataset of 2,844 workers’examination records used for the study. We collected and analyzed available data to extract usable indicators initially. Then, we applied the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (Lasso) algorithm and Elastic Net algorithm to identify features related to MetS. Subsequently, different models, namely K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Logistic Regression (LR), Random Forest (RF), and Support Vector Machine (SVM),were established using these two groups of features to predict the probability of MetS in the occupational population. The performance of these models was evaluated using the Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC), Calibration Curve, and Decision Curve Analysis (DCA).

Results
It was indicated that features screened by the Elastic Net algorithm were more stable and demonstrated better predictive performance compared to LASSO, particularly when the data had high dimensionality and correlations. Furthermore, this study presents the first application of the Elastic Net algorithm in screening features related to MetS and establishing a risk prediction model for routine physical examinations of the occupational population.

Conclusion
Notably, Elastic Net demonstrated improved stability when dealing with multiple indicators exhibiting high dimensional correlations. This enhanced stability allowed for a more accurate prediction of MetS, providing a basis for utilizing common universal indicators in health screening for the general occupational population.Study the basic characteristics of the p(a) AUC performance of 9 features screen
P2Y12 monotherapy versus standard dual antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Buot B C J , David B J , Gaspar D C , Tanedo A N , Valencia A E , Castro R 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
None.

Introduction
Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and a P2Y12 receptor inhibitor after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the recommended therapy for lowering the ischemic risk among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, the increased incidence of bleeding is a major concern. Monotherapy with a P2Y12 inhibitor after short-term DAPT to reduce adverse cardiovascular events and bleeding rates has not been fully established and remains uncertain. This meta-analysis aims to determine the effectiveness of P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy after short-term DAPT in reducing cardiovascular and bleeding events.

Methods
A comprehensive search of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the use of short-term DAPT followed by P2Y12 monotherapy in patients with ACS who underwent PCI was conducted. Outcome measures for all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and bleeding rates were analyzed using a random-effects model via Review Manager V5.4.

Results
A total of six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 36,724 subjects were analyzed. There were no significant differences in all-cause mortality (RR 0.89 [95% CI: 0.78-1.02], I² = 0%, p = 0.10) and myocardial infarction (RR 1.00 [95% CI: 0.88-1.14], I² = 0%, p = 0.72) between the P2Y12 inhibitor group and dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) group. There was a lower rate of major bleeding in the P2Y12 group compared to the DAPT group (RR 0.65 [95% CI: 0.49-0.88], I² = 76%, p = 0.002). The major sources of substantial heterogeneity are due to different intervals of de-escalation and baseline risk factors prior to PCI in each study.

Conclusion
P2Y12 monotherapy has similar rates of all-cause mortality and myocardial infarction. However, early de-escalation leads to a lower incidence of bleeding. P2Y12 monotherapy showed a 35% decreased risk of bleeding compared to the DAPT strategy. This suggests that P2Y12 monotherapy is a preferable antiplatelet strategy in patients undergoing PCI, especially in the high-risk bleeding population.
The biological equivalent and prognostic relevance of c-reactive protein (CRP) velocity in ST segment elevation myocardial infarction
Authors: Shacham Y , Banai S , Berliner S , Rogowski O , Brzezinski R 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
None.

Background
The rate of increase, i.e. the velocity, of circulating C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations during myocardial infarction has been associated with left ventricular dysfunction. However, the prognostic yield of this biomarker as well as the underlying biological process that links high CRP velocity (CRPv) with increased myocardial injury are not clear. Therefore, we sought to determine the associations between CRPv early during STEMI with short- and long-term mortality and its correlation to myocardial necrosis.

Methods
We retrospectively examined 1,155 patients with the diagnosis of acute STEMI, who had at least two successive CRP measurements (up to 48 hours apart) and at least one echocardiographic evaluation, all within the first 96 hours of admission. We calculated CRPv and examined its correlation with myocardial injury, measured by cardiac troponin and overall mortality over a median follow-up period of 5.2 years [IQR 3.7-6.5].

Results
Patients with high CRPv values (above 90th percentile, &gt; 1 mg/L/h) had higher concentrations of cardiac troponin upon presentation regardless of their left ventricular systolic function (EF above or below 40%; Figure 1). Patients with high CRPv had increased 30-day and long-term mortality rates; OR= 4.6, 95% CI 2.3-9.2, p&lt;0.001 for 30-day mortality and HR= 2.2, 95% CI 1.5-3.2, p&lt;0.001 for long-term mortality. Furthermore, CRPv was associated with increased 30 –day and long term mortality rates even among patients with similar systolic function (EF above or below 40%; Figure 2).

Conclusions
High levels of CRPv early during STEMI are associated with increased mortality rates and elevated cardiac troponin release across all levels of left ventricular function. The higher mortality risk might be explained by an aggravated systemic inflammatory response to STEMI.CRP velocity and troponinCRP velocity and mortality
De-escalating treatments and transitioning care in a cardiac intensive care units network
Authors: Sacco A , Tavecchia G , Frea S , Sorini Dini C , Briani M , Bertaina M , Marini M , Trombara F , Ravera A , Colombo C , Villanova L , Tavazzi G , Pappalardo F , Morici N , Potena L 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
None.

Background
Recent data (1) have shown that end-of-life (EOL) management of patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) in Cardiac Intensive Care Units (CICU) is aggressive, with late or no involvement of palliative care (PC) teams.

Purpose
To evaluate current PC and EOL practices in a contemporary multicenter registry of patients with ADHF who deteriorated to cardiogenic shock (CS).

Methods
A survey-based approach was used to collect data on PC and EOL management practices. We enrolled CS patients from 12 participating centers.
A subset of 153 patients with ADHF-CS, enrolled between March 2020 and March 2023, was analyzed. We asked participating centers to report their practice regarding de-escalating treatments and transitioning care in the context of EOL, focusing on 1) discussion of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) deactivation with patients, 2) documentation of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders in the patient's medical record, and 3) documentation of advance directives in the patient's medical record. We also examined early PC team involvement and ICD deactivation as indicators of de-escalating treatments and transitional care in ADHF-CS.
Results are presented as numbers and percentages (%) for categorical variables and medians (interquartile range, IQR) for continuous variables.

Results
Baseline characteristics of the population are shown in Table 1. Figure 1 describes the practices of the participating centers. DNR was routinely documented in the medical records in only 5 of 12 centers (41.7%). PC teams were involved in 21 of 153 enrolled ADHF-CS patients (13.7%). Of the 51 patients with an ICD, 17 died: 13 patients (76%) died in the hospital and 4 (24%) died within 6 months of discharge. ICD deactivation occurred in 6 of 17 deceased patients (35.3%). One patient had ICD deactivation supported by home PC services.

Conclusions
This study shows that the practice of de-escalating therapy, including ICD deactivation, is not routine in the participating centers. Our findings highlight the importance of integrating PC as a concurrent process with intensive care to effectively address the unmet needs of these patients and their families.
Use of Levosimendan in patients with INTERMACS 3 profile: weaning from inotropic support and short- to medium-term evolution
Authors: Enachi S , Bochaton T , Hayek A , Prieur C , Tomasevic D , Scheppler B , Bonnefoy Cudraz E , Jobbe Duval A 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Funding Acknowledgements
None.

Introduction
Patients with advanced heart failure (HF) in cardiogenic shock (CS) present a markedly high mortality rate. For CS patients dependent on inotropes, management is difficult with few therapeutic options available, especially in the absence of a suitability for heart transplantation (HTX) or left ventricular assist device implantation (LVAD), thus associating an even worse prognosis.

Purpose
With our study we aim to analyse the rate of weaning from inotropic support when Levosimendan, a calcium sensitizer with positive inotropic effects, is used in INTERMACS 3 CS patients and their short to medium-term evolution. We then evaluate if the absence of right ventricular dysfunction, of renal dysfunction, non-ischemic aetiology and QRS width could be predicting factors of a successful weaning from inotropes.

Materials and methods
We conducted a monocentric retrospective analysis of patients from a tertiary cardiac intensive care unit that have received a 24 hours Levosimendan infusion in the context of INTERMACS 3 cardiogenic shock between August 2015 – April 2023.

Results
Of the 137 subjects included in the analysis, 62 patients received Levosimendan for INTERMACS 3 CS. The median age was 59±15.3 and 91.9% (n=57) were male. Baseline LVEF was 19±6%, cardiac index 1.67±0.4L/min/m2, median NTproBNP 13 378 ± 11 126ng/L. 51.6% (n=32) had ischemic heart disease and 40.3% (n=25) had dilated cardiomyopathy. After Heart Team discussion, only 37% (n=23) were considered eligible for HTX or LVAD.
Successful inotrope weaning was experienced in 68% (n=42). Amongst patients with weaning failure, most outcomes resulted in either death (45%), ambulatory continuous Dobutamine infusion (30%), or benefited from a HTX if eligible (15%). The weaning failure rates were similar amongst patients eligible and non-eligible to HTX or LVAD with different outcomes after weaning failure as shown in Figure 1. The overall survival rates at 1 month and 6 months were of 83.8% and 53.2% respectively, with a significant difference between survival rates according to inotrope weaning success or failure as shown in Figure 2. We found no clinical, biological, or echocardiographic parameter to be significantly associated with an increased probability of weaning.

Conclusion
Levosimendan use in INTERMACS 3 CS patients provides a good rate of success in weaning from inotropic support and could be a useful tool in allowing treatment optimization and stabilization in non HTX or LVAD eligible patients, as well as being a "bridge to transplantation" alternative. No predicting factors for successful weaning have been identified.