The Transformation of Japan from 1868 to 1970s: Detective Fiction as the Carrier of Social Anxieties

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies and Languages and Literature of Bard College

From an Ordinary Snopes to a Social Being—An Interpretation of “Barn Burning” from the Perspective of Ethical Literary Criticism

“Barn Burning” is one of the most well-known short stories written by William Faulkner. The story tells about the struggle and final choice of a boy, Sarty, when he faced his father’s tyrannous way to vent his anger and cope with conflicts. This paper uses ethical literary criticism to interpret the growth of Sarty from an ordinary Snopes to a social being from four aspects — ethical environment, ethical identity, ethical choice, and ethical consciousness, hoping that readers can read the text historically and critically, understand the dilemma Sarty faced, discover his greatness in choosing reason instead of being engulfed by animal nature, as well as gain some ethical enlightenments

Development and validation of a visualized prediction model for early miscarriage risk in patients undergoing IVF/ICSI procedures: a real-world multi-center study

BackgroundThis study focuses on the risk of early miscarriage in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). These patients commonly experience heightened stress levels and may discontinue treatment due to emotional burdens associated with repeated failures. Despite the identification of numerous potential factors contributing to early miscarriage, there exists a research gap in integrating these factors into predictive models specifically for IVF/ICSI patients. The objective of this study is to develop a user-friendly nomogram that incorporates relevant risk factors to predict early miscarriage in IVF/ICSI patients. Through internal and external validation, the nomogram facilitates early identification of high-risk patients, supporting clinicians in making informed decisions.MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 20,322 first cycles out of 31,307 for IVF/ICSI treatment at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital between January 2011 and December 2020. After excluding ineligible cycles, 6,724 first fresh cycles were included and randomly divided into a training dataset (n = 4,516) and an internal validation dataset (n = 2,208). An external dataset (n = 1,179) from another hospital was used for validation. Logistic and LASSO regression models identified risk factors, and a multivariable logistic regression constructed the nomogram. Model performance was evaluated using AUC, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA).ResultsSignificant risk factors for early miscarriage were identified, including female age, BMI, number of spontaneous abortions, number of induced abortions and medical abortions, basal FSH levels, endometrial thickness on hCG day, and number of good quality embryos. The predictive nomogram demonstrated good fit and discriminatory power, with AUC values of 0.660, 0.640, and 0.615 for the training, internal validation, and external validation datasets, respectively. Calibration curves showed good consistency with actual outcomes, and DCA confirmed the clinical usefulness. Subgroup analysis revealed variations; for the elder subgroup (age ≥35 years), female age, basal FSH levels, and number of available embryos were significant risk factors, while for the younger subgroup (age <35 years), female age, BMI, number of spontaneous abortions, and number of good quality embryos were significant.ConclusionsOur study provides valuable insights into the impact factors of early miscarriage in both the general study population and specific age subgroups, offering practical recommendations for clinical practitioners. We have taken into account the significance of population differences and regional variations, ensuring the adaptability and relevance of our model across diverse populations. The user-friendly visualization of results and subgroup analysis further enhance the applicability and value of our research. These findings have significant implications for informed decision-making, allowing for individualized treatment strategies and the optimization of outcomes in IVF/ICSI patients

Meta-Analysis of Risk Stratification of SCN5A With Brugada Syndrome: Is SCN5A Always a Marker of Low Risk?

Background:SCN5A with Brugada syndrome (BrS) is not commonly considered as an independent risk marker for subsequent cardiac events. However, the risk of SCN5A combined with other clinical characteristics has not been fully investigated.Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate and evaluate risk stratification and related risk factors of SCN5A in BrS.Methods: The databases of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang Data were searched for related studies published from January 2002 to May 2018 followed by meta-analysis. The BrS patients who underwent SCN5A gene tests were included. The prognosis and risk stratification of SCN5A combined with symptoms and asymptoms diagnosis in BrS, electrophysiology study (EPS) were then investigated and evaluated. Outcomes were defined as ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF), sudden cardiac death (SCD).Results: Eleven suitable studies involving 1892 BrS patients who underwent SCN5A gene tests were identified. SCN5A (+) was not considered to be a significant predictor of future cardiac events (95% CI: 0.89–2.11; P = 0.15; I2 = 0%). However, SCN5A (+) patients with symptoms at diagnosis revealed a higher prevalence of future VT/VF, SCD compared to SCN5A (–) patients with symptoms at diagnosis. (95% CI: 1.06–3.70; P = 0.03 I2 = 0%) Among asymptomatic patients, the risk did not significantly differ between SCN5A (+) patients and SCN5A (–) patients. (95% CI: 0.51–4.72; P = 0.45 I2 = 0 %). In an investigation involving patients in EPS (–) BrS electrocardiogram (ECG), the risk of SCN5A (+) is higher than that of SCN5A (–) (P < 0.001).Conclusions: In BrS patients with symptoms at diagnosis or EPS (–), the meta-analysis suggests that SCN5A (+) are at a higher risk of arrhythmic events than SCN5A (–)

Anticancer Therapy-Induced Atrial Fibrillation: Electrophysiology and Related Mechanisms

Some well-established immunotherapy, radiotherapy, postoperation, anticancer drugs such as anthracyclines, antimetabolites, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 blockers, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, alkylating agents, checkpoint inhibitors, and angiogenesis inhibitors, are significantly linked to cardiotoxicity. Cardiotoxicity is a common complication of several cancer treatments. Some studies observed complications of cardiac arrhythmia associated with the treatment of cancer, including atrial fibrillation (AF), supraventricular arrhythmias, and cardiac repolarization abnormalities. AF increases the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality; it is associated with an almost doubled risk of mortality and a nearly 5-fold increase in the risk of stroke. The occurrence of AF is also usually researched in patients with advanced cancer and those undergoing active cancer treatments. During cancer treatments, the incidence rate of AF affects the prognosis of tumor treatment and challenges the treatment strategy. The present article is mainly focused on the cardiotoxicity of cancer treatments. In our review, we discuss these anticancer therapies and how they induce AF and consequently provide information on the precaution of AF during cancer treatment

Trans-arterial positive ICG staining-guided laparoscopic liver watershed resection for hepatocellular carcinoma

IntroductionAnatomical liver resection is the optimal treatment for patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Laparoscopic Couinaud liver segment resection could be performed easily as liver segments could be stained by ultrasound-guided indocyanine green (ICG) injection into the corresponding segment portal vein. Several smaller liver anatomical units (liver watersheds) have been identified (such as S8v, S8d, S4a, and S4b). However, since portal veins of liver watersheds are too thin to be identified under ultrasound, the boundaries of these liver watersheds could not be stained intraoperatively, making laparoscopic resection of these liver watersheds demanding. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) could identify arteries of liver watersheds with a diameter of less than 2 mm. Yet, its usage for liver watershed staining has not been explored so far.PurposeThe aim of this study is to explore the possibility of positive liver watershed staining via trans-arterial ICG injection under DSA examination for navigating laparoscopic watershed-oriented hepatic resection.MethodsWe describe, in a step-by-step approach, the application of trans-arterial ICG injection to stain aimed liver watershed during laparoscopic anatomical hepatectomy. The efficiency and safety of the technique are illustrated and discussed in comparison with the laparoscopic anatomical liver resection via ultrasound-guided liver segment staining.ResultsEight of 10 HCC patients received successful trans-arterial liver watershed staining. The success rate of the trans-artery staining approach was 80%, higher than that of the ultrasound-guided portal vein staining approach (60%). Longer surgical duration was found in patients who underwent the trans-artery staining approach (305.3 ± 23.2 min vs. 268.4 ± 34.7 min in patients who underwent the ultrasound-guided portal vein staining approach, p = 0.004). No significant difference was found in major morbidity, reoperation rate, hospital stay duration, and 30-day and 90-day mortality between the 2 groups.ConclusionsTrans-arterial ICG staining is safe and feasible for staining the aimed liver watershed, navigating watershed-oriented hepatic resection under fluorescence laparoscopy for surgeons

Feasibility and validity of the Health Status Classification System-Preschool (HSCS-PS) in a large community sample: The Generation R study

Objectives To evaluate the feasibility, discriminant validity and concurrent validity of the Health Status Classification System-Preschool (HSCS-PS) in children aged 3 years in a large community sample in the Netherlands. Design/setting A prospective population-based cohort in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Participants A questionnaire was administrated to a sample of parents of 4546 children (36.7±1.5 months). Outcome measures Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of children was measured by HSCS-PS. The HSCS-PS consists of 10 original domains. Two single-item measures of General health' and Behavior' were added. A disability score was calculated by summing up all 10 original domains to describe the overall health status. Feasibility was assessed by the response rate, percentages of missing answers, score distributions and the presence of floor/ceiling effects. Discriminant validity was analysed between subgroups with predefined conditions: low birth weight, preterm birth, wheezing, Ear-Nose-Throat surgical procedures and behaviour problems. In the absence of another HRQOL measure, this study uses the single-items General health' and Behavior' as a first step to evaluate concurrent validity of the HSCS-PS. Results Feasibility: response rate was 69%. Ceiling effects were observed in all domains. Discriminant validity: the disability score discriminated clearly between subgroups of children born with a very low birth weight', very preterm birth', with four or more than four times wheezing', at least one ear-nose-throat surgical procedures', behaviour problems present' and the reference' group. Concurrent validity: HSCS-PS domains correlated better with hypothesised parallel additional domains than with other non-hypothesised original domains. Conclusions This study supports the feasibility and validity of the HSCS-PS among preschoolers in community settings. We recommend developing a utility-based scoring algorithm for the HSCS-PS. Further empirical studies and repeated evaluations in varied populations are recommended

Differential Detection of Genetic Loci Underlying Stem and Root Lignin Content in Populus

In this study, we established a comprehensive genetic map with a large number of progeny from a three-generation hybrid Populus intercross, and phenotyped the lignin content, S/G ratio and 28 cell wall subcomponents both in stems and roots for the mapping individuals. Phenotypic analysis revealed that lignin content and syringyl-to-guaiacyl (S/G) ratio using pyrolysis molecular beam mass spectroscopy (pyMBMS) varied among mapping individuals. Phenotypic analysis revealed that stem lignin content is significantly higher than that in root and the quantified traits can be classified into four distinct groups, with strong correlations observed among components within organs. Altogether, 179 coordinating QTLs were detected, and they were co-localized into 49 genetic loci, 27 of which appear to be pleiotropic. Many of the detected genetic loci were detected differentially in stem and root. This is the first report of separate genetic loci controlling cell wall phenotypes above and below ground. These results suggest that it may be possible to modify lignin content and composition via breed and/or engineer as a means of simultaneously improving Populus for cellulosic ethanol production and carbon sequestration

Household, community, sub-national and country-level predictors of primary cooking fuel switching in nine countries from the PURE study

Introduction. Switchingfrom polluting (e.g. wood, crop waste, coal)to clean (e.g. gas, electricity) cooking fuels can reduce household air pollution exposures and climate-forcing emissions.While studies have evaluated specific interventions and assessed fuel-switching in repeated cross-sectional surveys, the role of different multilevel factors in household fuel switching, outside of interventions and across diverse community settings, is not well understood. Methods.We examined longitudinal survey data from 24 172 households in 177 rural communities across nine countries within the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology study.We assessed household-level primary cooking fuel switching during a median of 10 years offollow up (∼2005–2015).We used hierarchical logistic regression models to examine the relative importance of household, community, sub-national and national-level factors contributing to primary fuel switching. Results. One-half of study households(12 369)reported changing their primary cookingfuels between baseline andfollow up surveys. Of these, 61% (7582) switchedfrom polluting (wood, dung, agricultural waste, charcoal, coal, kerosene)to clean (gas, electricity)fuels, 26% (3109)switched between different polluting fuels, 10% (1164)switched from clean to polluting fuels and 3% (522)switched between different clean fuels