Superior Access Research Articles

How Partisanship Can Moderate the Influence of Communicated Information on the Beliefs of Agents Aiming to Form True Beliefs

ABSTRACT Partisan epistemology – individuals granting greater credibility to co-partisan sources in evaluating information – is often taken to be evidence of directionally motivated reasoning in which concerns about group membership override concerns about accuracy. Against this dominant view, I outline a novel accuracy-based account of this mode of reasoning. According to this account, partisan epistemology stems from the inference that co-partisans are more likely to be right as they have superior epistemic access to the relevant facts and seek to realize the correct values. I argue that this theory fits better with relevant findings than motivated-reasoning theories of partisan epistemology. Finally, I suggest it has adequate explanatory power vis-à-vis patterns of misinformation belief.

Corporate insider purchases and the options market: Competition among informed investors

Corporate insiders have superior access to information; their trades, particularly purchases, should be informative. However, the extent of their informational advantage may be limited by the presence of other informed market participants. We document less frequent insider purchases in stocks with relatively high options trading activity. These purchases are followed by negligible abnormal returns. In contrast, stocks with less active options trading experience more frequent insider purchases, which yield positive abnormal returns over the subsequent six months. Our novel approach highlights the options market's role in screening uninformed insider trades, which ultimately contributes to more efficient stock market price formation.

Spatial Barriers to Transforming toward a Healthy Food System in the Noreste of Mexico.

In the past five decades, global food systems have undergone a notable transition, moving from predominantly rural settings to increasingly urban and industrialized environments, largely driven by processes of globalization and supply chain integration. However, this evolution has not adequately addressed equitable access to nutritious diets and food environments, resulting in adverse health outcomes. This study delves into the spatial and non-spatial barriers that impede the adoption of healthy diets in the Noreste of Mexico, particularly focusing on the challenges associated with accessing and cultivating plant-based foods. Through an examination of suitable areas for urban agriculture and an exploration of the socio-cultural factors influencing the adoption of plant-based diets, the research focuses on interventions aimed at promoting healthier and more sustainable eating practices in Monterrey. The findings of the study reveal significant disparities in food access across the Monterrey metropolitan area, with central urban zones exhibiting superior access to fresh foods compared to suburban and peripheral regions. This inequality disproportionately affects marginalized areas characterized by higher poverty rates, exacerbating issues of food insecurity. Nevertheless, traditional dietary practices could offer promising avenues for creating culturally significant and healthier dietary transitions, even amidst the ongoing process of urbanization.

Investigating the civic emotion dynamics during the COVID-19 lockdown: Evidence from social media

While quality environments (e.g., greenery) have been widely reported to alleviate residents' psychological stress during COVID-19 quarantines, this study argues that roles of the built environment and other commonly found emotion determinants can vary or reverse under strict lockdowns when human mobility is seriously restricted. We took Shanghai’s "citywide static management" as a case study and scraped over 100,000 Weibo posts between February and July 2022 to capture civic emotions before/during/after the lockdown. Natural Language Processing (NLP) was applied to grade the unique “helplessness” sentiment along with other negative emotions. Spatial regressions were utilized to investigate their determinants. We present three controversial findings: 1) Quality environments (e.g., perceived greenness, sky view) alleviated negative emotions before/after the lockdown but exacerbated stress during the lockdown, indicating that residents become more vulnerable when they lose superior access to urban amenities for which they have paid price premiums; 2) Sociodemographics’ impact on negative emotions varied significantly throughout three lockdown phases, with the elderly experiencing increased stress when losing access to emergency services; 3) Housing prices and rents inversely correlated with negative emotions (higher housing price indicated richer social resources), implying the complex interplay between residents’ socioeconomic status and well-being. Our data-driven approach effectively retraces local voices and discloses civic emotions, informing more human-centric urban management strategies to facilitate social sustainability in the face of future crises.

Shareholders' political hierarchy and regulatory enforcement: Evidence from corporate risk management

In our study, we investigate the impact of shareholders' political hierarchy on regulatory enforcement within the context of a Chinese local state-owned enterprise where multiple government shareholders, each with different political hierarchical levels, coexist. Our research reveals that the presence of higher-level noncontrolling government shareholders, specifically noncontrolling government shareholders with a higher hierarchical level than the controlling government shareholders, enhances the risk-reducing effect of derivative use. This indicates that higher-level noncontrolling government shareholders play a role in facilitating the enforcement of derivative-related regulations. Additionally, we find that these higher-level noncontrolling government shareholders enhance the efficiency of derivative use through two primary channels: their superior access to regulatory information and their monitoring of corporate regulatory compliance. We also explore the impact of higher-level noncontrolling government shareholders in regulatory enforcement by examining the 2009–2010 top-down derivative-related regulation. In summary, our analysis underscores the positive influence of higher-level noncontrolling government shareholders on risk management efficiency, primarily due to their information advantage regarding regulations, which subsequently strengthens the enforceability of regulatory measures.

Developing non-traditional firm-specific advantages in domestic strategic factor markets: evidence from China

PurposeChinese firms are winning market share from foreign multinational enterprises in domestic markets. The international business literature suggests that this is happening because these firms are developing non-traditional firm-specific advantages (FSAs). Strategic factor market (SFM) theory provides a good basis for explaining how this is happening. However, it is underdeveloped in terms of analysing unique resources and unique access to those resources by Chinese firms in their domestic markets. This paper aims to develop a framework to understand how Chinese firms have developed non-traditional FSAs.Design/methodology/approachThe case study method is adopted to explore how Chinese firms develop non-traditional FSAs. Specifically, the authors compare paired case studies of a Chinese firm and a foreign multinational in each of two industries.FindingsThe authors find that Chinese firms have developed non-traditional FSAs because of more relevant experience, better adapted strategies and privileged relationships. This has enabled Chinese firms to develop non-traditional FSAs.Originality/valueThe authors propose a framework that conceptualises non-traditional FSA development in Chinese firms as a product of superior access to unique and valuable resources in their domestic SFMs.

Upregulation of ATP6V0D2 benefits intracellular survival of Leishmania donovani in erythrocytes-engulfing macrophages.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is the most severe type of leishmaniasis which is caused by infection of Leishmania donovani complex. In the BALB/c mouse model of VL, multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) with heavy parasite infection consist of the largest population of hemophagocytes in the spleen of L. donovani-infected mice, indicating that MGCs provide the parasites a circumstance beneficial for their survival. Although ATP6V0D2 is a demonstrated factor inducing the formation of hemophagocytic MGCs during L. donovani infection, functions of this protein in shaping the infection outcome in macrophages remain unclear. Here we evaluated the influence of upregulated ATP6V0D2 on intracellular survival of the parasites. L. donovani infection-induced hemophagocytosis of normal erythrocytes by macrophages was suppressed by RNAi-based knockdown of Atp6v0d2. The knockdown of Atp6v0d2 did not improve the survival of amastigotes within macrophages when the cells were cultured in the absence of erythrocytes. On the other hand, reduced intracellular survival of amastigotes in macrophages by the knockdown was observed when macrophages were supplemented with antibody-opsonized erythrocytes before infection. There, increase in cytosolic labile iron pool was observed in the L. donovani-infected knocked-down macrophages. It suggests that ATP6V0D2 plays roles not only in upregulation of hemophagocytosis but also in iron trafficking within L. donovani-infected macrophages. Superior access to iron in macrophages may be how the upregulated expression of the molecule brings benefit to Leishmania for their intracellular survival in the presence of erythrocytes.

Use of the transfemoral access approach for cardiac stimulation device implantation when the superior venous approach is not feasible: A single-centre twenty-year series

Background: When permanent cardiac stimulation device implantation via superior venous access (i.e., cephalic, axillary or subclavian veins) is not possible or advisable, safe and feasible surgical alternatives must be used. The transfemoral approach is relatively unknown; therefore, it is seldom used and studied. This single-centre study analysed the 20-year outcomes of patients who underwent implantation using a transfemoral implantation approach. Methods: Data on the implantation procedure (indication, approach, lead and pacemaker models, complications), patient characteristics (age, sex, medications, comorbidities), and follow-up were analysed for all patients who underwent permanent cardiac stimulation device implantation using the transfemoral approach between June 2001 and December 2021. Results: A permanent cardiac stimulation device was implanted using the transfemoral approach in 66 patients (mean age, 76 years [range: 45-96], 40 [60%] men). The most frequent indication was atrioventricular block, associated with sinus rhythm in 36 patients and atrial fibrillation in 11 patients. The mean implantation time was 61 min (range: 20-210), and the mean fluoroscopy time was 7.9 min (range: 0.2-87). The minimum follow-up period was one year (December 2022), with a mean of 60 months [range: 2-180]). Overall, 26 patients (42%) were treated with oral anticoagulants postimplantation. No deaths, septic episodes, or severe complications were associated with the procedure in the short or long term. Follow-up data were available for 64 patients, of whom 52 (81%) died during follow-up (mean age, 84 years [range: 55-101]). No deaths were associated with the use of the transfemoral technique. Conclusions: Permanent cardiac stimulation device implantation using the transfemoral access approach is feasible and straightforward for an experienced implant surgeon. The outcomes of systems implanted by the transfemoral access approach were comparable to those of systems implanted by the superior venous approach, and no severe complications were observed at the 20-year follow-up.

Assessment of Disparity in Accessing Railway Stations in Thailand: an Application Geographic Information System Network Analysis

Ensuring that people from all regions in a country can easily access railway stations is a crucial objective in the development of transportation and mobility systems and is essential for the convenient travel within the country. Furthermore, accurately assessing accessibility in disadvantaged areas is pivotal in designing and implementing development policies for equitable and sustainable transportation systems. Although various methods and tools are available for measuring accessibility, interpreting local-level data remains challenging. This study was conducted in Thailand, a country with severe accessibility disparities but undergoing considerable development. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate accessibility disparities to analyze accessibility capabilities and inequality of railway stations. The objective of the study was to aid the development of inequality and railway services to cover all areas. The geographic information system methodology with network analysis tools was used to visualize and analyze spatial accessibility data and identify regional disparities. The results of this study indicate inequality in accessing railway services, which revealed that densely populated areas have superior access to railway stations compared with districts with a lower population density. Additionally, over 41% of the study area’s population resides more than half an hour away from access to a railway station. This study highlights regional inequality in accessing railway station services. Furthermore, strategies to alleviate this inequality are presented, and the findings will aid government agencies and railway planners in designing critical strategies or formulating policies for improving accessibility to rail transportation systems and reducing inequality in accessing railway services.

Transvenous lead extraction: Experience of the Tandem approach.

Transvenous lead extraction (TLE) is important in the management of cardiac implantable electronic devices but carries risk. It is most commonly completed from the superior access, often with 'bail-out' support via the femoral approach. Superior and inferior access may be used in tandem, which has been proposed as an advance in safety and efficacy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Tandem approach. The 'Tandem' procedure entailed grasping of the targeted lead in the right atrium to provide countertraction as a rotational dissecting sheath was advanced over the lead from the subclavian access. Consecutive 'Tandem' procedures performed by a single operator between December 2020 and March 2023 in a single large-volume TLE centre were included and compared with the conventional superior approach (control) using 1:1 propensity score matching; patients were statistically matched for demographics. The Tandem in comparison with the conventional approach extracted leads of much greater dwell time (148.9 ± 79 vs. 108.6 ± 77 months, P < 0.01) in a shorter procedure duration (96 ± 36 vs. 127 ± 67 min, P < 0.01) but requiring more fluoroscopy (16.4 ± 10.9 vs. 10.8 ± 14.9 min, P < 0.01). The Tandem and control groups had similar clinical (100% vs. 94.7%, P = 0.07) and complete (94.8% vs. 92.8%, P = 0.42) success, with comparable minor (4% vs. 6.7%, P = 0.72) and major (0% vs. 4%, P = 0.25) complications; procedural (0% vs. 1.3%, P = 1) and 30-day (1.3% vs. 4%, P = 0.62) mortality were also similar. The Tandem procedure is as safe and effective as the conventional TLE. It can be applied to leads of a long dwell time with a potentially shorter procedure duration.

Schumpeterian creative destruction and temporal changes in business models of US banks

Schumpeter theorizes that capitalism is characterized by a constant process of creative destruction. Newcomers introduce disruptive innovations and technologies that replace older, less efficient business practices. Thus, established firms must either continually adapt or perish. Christensen (1997) argues that large, established firms cannot innovate as fast as newcomers and thus are likely to perish over time. We test these predictions in the setting of the United States banking sector. We examine banks' credit and liquidity risks as proxies for their business models, as well as their reliance on brokered deposits, commercial real estate loans, off-balance sheet items, and noninterest income as proxies for operational strategies. We find that banks' credit and liquidity risks increased significantly over the last 40 years or so, indicating a steady change in banks' business models. This trend stems primarily from progressively aggressive business models introduced by incoming cohorts. Older cohorts respond to changing market conditions by increasing the aggressiveness of their own business models, but not as much as the newcomers. Surprisingly, surviving large banks among older cohorts change their business models faster than smaller banks from the same cohorts. Thus, while we find support for Schumpeterian creative destruction and Christensen's (1997) arguments, we also find that large and established banks are better able to adapt to new market conditions, perhaps because they have superior access to resources and talent necessary to implement transformation. Our findings at least partly explain why the dominant players in the US banking sector have remained the same decade after decade.

Münster standard: modified Paul® implantation in a condition following Preserflo® MicroShunt implantation. Video article

The aim of this surgical technique is the modified placement of aPaul® implant (Fa. Advanced Ophthalmic Innovations, Singapur) in eyes after failure of Preserflo® MicroShunt (Fa. Santen, Osaka, Japan) implantation for the best possible adjustment of the intraocular pressure. The technique presented here is intended for patients suffering from more complex glaucomas, which were unsuccessfully previously treated with a Preserflo® Microshunt (Santen Inc.). The special feature of the Münster standard is the choice of the surgical field and the waiver of a further tunnel placement. The patients receive a Paul® implant in the same quadrant as the previously inserted Preserflo® MicroShunt implant (superior temporal). The latter is explanted after preparation of the conjunctiva and priming of the Paul® implant with aProlene 6.0suture and fixation of the plate. In order to carry out the implantation of the Paul® tube through the existing 25-gauge tunnel, the latter is dilated laterally with an iris spatula under positioning of the anterior chamber. Asurgical video, which is available online, shows the surgical technique in detail. ADVANTAGES OF THE MüNSTER STANDARD: The superior temporal surgical access promises easier handling. The fact that there is no need for anew tunnel effectively saves surgery time and is expected to reduce endothelial cell loss as only one tube remains in place in comparison to two anterior chamber tubes.

An Assistive Model for the Visually Impaired Integrating the Domains of IoT, Blockchain and Deep Learning

Internet of Things, blockchain and deep learning are emerging technologies that have recently gained popularity due to their various benefits and applications. All three domains have had success independently in various applications such as automation, agriculture, travel, finance, image recognition, speech recognition, and many others. This paper proposes an efficient, lightweight, and user-friendly solution to help visually impaired individuals navigate their way by taking advantage of modern technologies. The proposed method involves the usage of a camera lens attached to a Raspberry Pi device to capture live video frames of the user’s environment, which are then transmitted to cloud storage. The link to access these images is stored within a symmetrical private blockchain network (no superior access), where all deep learning servers act as nodes. The deep learning model deployed on these servers analyses the video frames to detect objects and feeds the output back to the cloud service. Ultimately, the user receives audio notifications about obstacles through an earphone plugged into the Raspberry Pi. In particular, when running the model on a high-performing network and an RTX 3090 GPU, the average obstacle notification time is reported within 2 s, highlighting the proposed system’s responsiveness and effectiveness in aiding visually impaired individuals.

Portal Vein Recanalization–Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (PVR-TIPS) with superior mesenteric vein access and balloon-assisted shunt placement

BackgroundTo report the technique and outcome of ultrasound-guided percutaneous access to the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) for balloon-assisted portal vein recanalization–transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (PVR-TIPS) in a patient with chronic portal venous and splenic vein occlusion.Case presentationA 51-year-old, non-cirrhotic patient with severe portal hypertension was admitted for PVR-TIPS. Neither splenic nor hepatic access was feasible due to chronic portal and splenic vein occlusion. Percutaneous ultrasound-guided direct puncture of the SMV was performed to obtain access for balloon-assisted PVR-TIPS. The transmesenteric approach in combination with a balloon puncture technique for PVR-TIPS was successful, and no immediate complications were observed post-procedure. The subsequent follow-up exams showed patent TIPS and SMV without signs of intraabdominal hemorrhage.ConclusionPercutaneous ultrasound-guided superior mesenteric vein access for balloon-assisted PVR-TIPS is a feasible option in cases where hepatic or splenic access is not.

An Efficient On-Chip Data Storage and Exchange Engine for Spaceborne SAR System

Advancements in remote sensing technology and very-large-scale integrated circuit (VLSI) have significantly augmented the real-time processing capabilities of spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR), thereby enhancing terrestrial observational capacities. However, the inefficiency of voluminous data storage and transfer inherent in conventional methods has emerged as a technical hindrance, curtailing real-time processing within SAR imaging systems. To address the constraints of a limited storage bandwidth and inefficient data transfer, this study introduces a three-dimensional cross-mapping approach premised on the equal subdivision of sub-matrices utilizing dual-channel DDR3. This method considerably augments storage access bandwidth and achieves equilibrium in two-dimensional data access. Concurrently, an on-chip data transfer approach predicated on a superscalar pipeline buffer is proposed, mitigating pipeline resource wastage, augmenting spatial parallelism, and enhancing data transfer efficiency. Building upon these concepts, a hardware architecture is designed for the efficient storage and transfer of SAR imaging system data, based on the superscalar pipeline. Ultimately, a data storage and transfer engine featuring register addressing access, configurable granularity, and state monitoring functionalities is realized. A comprehensive imaging processing experiment is conducted via a “CPU + FPGA” heterogeneous SAR imaging system. The empirical results reveal that the storage access bandwidth of the proposed superscalar pipeline-based SAR imaging system’s data efficient storage and transfer engine can attain up to 16.6 GB/s in the range direction and 20.0 GB/s in the azimuth direction. These findings underscore that the storage exchange engine boasts superior storage access bandwidth and heightened data storage transfer efficiency. This considerable enhancement in the processing performance of the entire “CPU + FPGA” heterogeneous SAR imaging system renders it suitable for application within spaceborne SAR real-time processing systems.

Ventral Subaxial Cervical Access Using Tailored Access Osteotomies, A Cadaveric Study.

Ventral lesions of the subaxial cervical spine are challenging because approaches must circumvent endodermal and neurovascular structures. To use cadaveric study to describe 4 posterolateral approaches to the ventral subaxial cervical spine with various facilitating techniques and osteotomies. Three cadaveric specimens of the cervical spine were sequentially subjected to multilevel laminectomy (Type 1), transfacet (Type 2), transpedicular (Type 3), and extreme lateral transforaminal (Type 4) approaches. Approach working angles and proportion of visualized zones were compared, the former calculated using trigonometric methods. There was a significant stepwise increase in working angle in the ventral space, associated with increasing osteotomy type, from an average of 3.7° in single-level type 1 to 19.47° in the type 4 osteotomy. Regarding anatomic zones, proportional partial and total visualization achieved with Type 2 to 4 approaches were significantly greater than with Type 1. Complex osteotomies allowed superior access to be obtained to contributing and adjacent vessels of the ventral spinal axis. Ventral subaxial cervical lesions are difficult to access. We report increased working angles using quantified cadaveric data in increasingly complex posterior and posterolateral approaches graded as type 1 through 4. We advocate continued translational research in such approaches to lesions often considered to lie in surgically inaccessible locations.

Graceful: Galaxy II Retrospective Safety and Effectiveness Follow Up Long-term Study–An Original Article

A new self-retaining retractor was invented to remove loose screw parts, use less plastic, provide superior surgical access and improve patient safety compared to older retractor models. The retractor is designed to be used in a range of specialties from pediatric ENT to inguinal hernia, urology, andrology, orthopedics, and spinal surgery, in any surgery that retracts delicate and/or solid tissue. This study aims to assess the use of this new retractor in the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK for 4 years since introduction, specifically looking at patient safety as recorded in adverse events and infection rates.

Superior gluteal artery as a reliable back door to embolize mycotic pseudoaneurysm of an isolated Internal Iliac artery

BackgroundAntegrade access through the origin of the internal iliac and direct percutaneous access under cross-sectional imaging guidance are commonly used for embolization of internal iliac artery aneurysms, pseudoaneurysms, or endoleaks. Here, we report superior gluteal artery retrograde access to treat internal iliac artery mycotic pseudoaneurysm in a patient with failed direct percutaneous access.Case presentationWe present a 65-year-old female with a history of diverticulitis and sigmoidectomy. Post-sigmoidectomy course was complicated by left common iliac artery (CIA) iatrogenic injury which required surgical ligation of the left CIA and graft placement. However, the graft was subsequently resection due to infection. Follow up CT imaging showed a 6 cm mycotic pseudoaneurysm (PSA) of the left internal iliac artery. Initially, the PSA sac was directly accessed and embolized under direct CT-guidance using Onyx. However, enlargement of the PSA sac was noted on one week follow-up CT images. Then, superior gluteal artery was accessed under ultrasound guidance, and the PSA sac and feeding vessels were re-embolized with coil and Onyx under fluoroscopy.ConclusionRetrograde access through superior gluteal artery is a feasible and safe approach to embolize internal iliac aneurysms, pseudoaneurysms, or endoleaks, when the antegrade or direct percutaneous access is limited.

Surgeon-placed peripheral nerve block and continuous non-opioid analgesia in total knee arthroplasty is accessible intraoperatively: A cadaveric study

BackgroundPain management in TKA patients is challenged by a postoperative requirement for early ambulation along with the concurrent goal of reducing opioid consumption while simultaneously reducing the length of hospital stay. Peripheral nerve blocks (PNB) address these concerns to some degree, with femoral nerve and adductor canal blocks being the most-used regional nerve blocks for surgeries performed around the knee joint. PurposeThe authors hypothesized that placing a catheter between the muscles that make up the adductor canal during a standard surgical approach for a Total Knee Arthroplasty would provide equitable or superior access for a peripheral nerve block in the adductor canal. The nerves that are located between the muscles that make up the adductor canal transmit the majority of the pain after TKA. MethodsThis cadaveric study was conducted in 12 fresh-frozen human cadaveric lower limbs, comparing the standard technique of adductor canal block, placed under ultrasound guidance, to this experimental technique. Using colored indicator dyes to locate the site of surrogate peripheral nerves, the techniques were compared. ResultsThrough a standard anterior surgical approach to the knee, an intraoperative catheter placement technique can be performed to provide a peripheral nerve block to the saphenous nerve for patients undergoing TKA that is comparable to standard ultrasound guided anesthesia block techniques. ConclusionsThis cadaveric study demonstrates the availability for the surgeon to place a catheter between the muscles that form the adductor canal during a standard surgical approach for TKA. This novel technique can provide equivalent coverage of the nerves for an ACB when compared to a standard ultrasound guided ACB.

Leadless Micra pacemaker implantation in patient with previous Senning procedure for dextro-transposition of the great arteries

Leadless pacemakers have been developed with key advantages over traditional transvenous pacemakers by substantially mitigating the risks of device infection and lead related complications, and providing an alternative pacing strategy in patients with barriers to superior venous access. The Medtronic Micra leadless pacing system is designed for implantation through a femoral venous approach across the tricuspid valve, via Nitinol tine fixation into the trabeculated subpulmonic right ventricle. Patients with surgically corrected dextro-transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA) have an increased risk of pacing requirement. There is limited published experience of implantation of leadless Micra pacemakers in this population, with key challenges relating to trans-baffle access, and deployment of the device into the less trabeculated subpulmonic left ventricle. Here we describe a case report of leadless Micra implantation in a 49 year old male with d-TGA and Senning procedure in childhood, who required pacing for symptomatic sinus node disease, with anatomic barriers to transvenous pacing. Micra implantation was successfully performed following careful consideration of patient anatomy, including the utilisation of 3D modelling to guide the implantation procedure.